Chapter 2: The Resolve of the Magician

At this moment, the central competition field of the Celica-Elliot Grand Arena was covered with a vast forest stretching as far as the eye could see.

A faint mist and an intense green scent drifted through the deep, verdant sea of densely growing trees.

The terrain rose and fell dramatically, resembling a sea of trees.

And in the center, as well as at the western and eastern ends of the field, a total of three lines glowed with the light of mana, drawn across the field.

“Se… Sensei, what are the rules for this match?”

Rumia, looking down at the field from the spectator seats, asked Glenn.

“Oh, this is a rare one—it’s a Line Assault Battle.”

Glenn answered, crossing his arms.

“First, two teams are divided into west and east, with one side attacking and the other defending. You see those glowing lines at the west and east ends? Those are each team’s defense lines. Basically, if anyone from the attacking side breaks through the defending side’s line within the time limit, they score one point. Both sides get a healing time to treat their injuries, then switch roles and restart. That’s one set, and it goes on endlessly. After twelve sets, the team with the most points wins.”

“Of course, direct attacks on players are allowed regardless of whether you’re attacking or defending. And in this Line Assault Battle specifically, the main wizard’s incapacitation doesn’t immediately end the match.”

Eve added, supplementing Glenn’s explanation.

“Oh, is that… because of the healing time?”

“Exactly. If the main wizard recovers from incapacitation and becomes combat-ready during the healing time, the match continues. If they can’t recover, it’s over. For sub-wizards, though, they’re just considered ‘out’ and that’s it.”

“That’s a pretty harsh rule…”

“Yeah, it’s a rule that carries the remnants of the era when magicians first appeared on the battlefield.”

Glenn added, addressing Rumia’s anxious murmur.

“Back then, magicians were so rare that if even one enemy magician broke through the defense line, that country was doomed. That’s why this kind of match rule was created.”

“…!”

Rumia swallowed hard, once again struck by the latent terror of magic.

“Will Sistie be okay…? With rules like this, there could be strategies to deal so much damage to the main wizard during healing time that they can’t recover…”

“Well, that’s possible.”

Eve responded casually.

“This arena is protected by a warding barrier that ensures ‘any damage to registered players during the match stops just short of instant death.’ But even so, the Magic Festival can still see fatalities or career-ending injuries.”

“…”

“But that’s rare. As long as healing time is properly provided, unless someone pushes their recovery limits to the extreme, they’ll be back for the next set. Focusing too much on taking out the main wizard can leave you vulnerable to others scoring points, which could cost you the match. Overly aggressive strategies targeting the main wizard are a bad move in this game.”

“Well, either way, we’ve got no choice but to trust White Cat.”

“Yeah. Sistine will be fine.”

Re=L nodded vigorously at Glenn’s words.

Then—

“Hell yeah! Sistine’s gonna wipe the floor with whatever the enemy throws at her, no sweat!”

“Indeed! Sistine is my eternal rival, acknowledged even by me, so such a feat is only natural!”

“Uh, I’ve been thinking this for a while, but Wendy, that’s probably a one-sided rivalry…”

“Quiet, Teresa!”

“Still… I kinda feel like Sistine’s got this.”

“Y-yeah… but everyone… please don’t get hurt…”

Kash, Wendy, Teresa, Cecil, and Lynn, who had casually taken seats in the players’ section behind, were all cheering loudly.

“Tch… with all the shady stuff going on around us, these guys are way too carefree…”

“Now, now, Sensei. Your students are safe with me and Re=L protecting them. It’s part of our mission, after all. Right, Re=L?”

“Yeah. No problem.”

To Elsa and Re=L’s words, Glenn glanced at his students with an exasperated expression before turning his gaze back to the forested field below.

There, Sistine, who had chosen the western side, was briskly giving instructions to her teammates.

It was likely the final briefing before the match began.

(…Yeah… we— I—have no choice but to believe in her…)

With that thought in mind, Glenn continued to watch over his beloved student.

 

—Meanwhile.

Near the blue glowing line marking the western defense line, surrounded by dense forest.

“First set, first half… we, the western team, are on defense. So, what’s the plan?”

At Rize’s words, Sistine fell into brief thought.

“First, I’d like to get a read on what the Land of the Rising Sun is capable of… They probably haven’t shown their full hand in the previous matches. Levin, how’s the barrier? Can you set it up?”

“Yes, a severance barrier to protect the line… I can set it up, no problem.”

Levin responded to Sistine’s question with a smug look.

“However, this field seems designed to disperse mana quite effectively. Even if I set it up, it’d only hold them off briefly at best. Unless the opponent is utterly incompetent, they’ll break through easily. Relying on a barrier to defend the line would be a poor choice.”

“Hmm, got it… Then sending everyone out for a full-on power recon would be too reckless.”

Sistine mentally mapped out the field’s terrain.

“Given the terrain and size, this battlefield can be roughly divided into three zones: center, right wing, and left wing… So, we’ll assign three-person tactical units to each zone. And I’ll place one skirmisher at the very back to act as both the final line of defense and the overall commander.”

“…Reasonable. It’s a complex formation, but with our training from the camp, we can pull it off.”

Rize nodded in approval at Sistine’s decision.

“I’ll assign team leaders for each zone. Center: Levin. Right wing: Rize-senpai. Left wing—Gibul.”

“Well, that’s a fair choice.”

“…I accept.”

“!”

Levin smugly tossed his hair, Rize nodded solemnly, and Gibul’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at being chosen.

“I judged based on magical prowess, situational judgment, and mental flexibility. Can you handle it, Gibul?”

“…Hmph, obviously.”

At Sistine’s words, Gibul snorted and turned away.

“As for the rest, considering specialties and balance… Maria and Heinkel, you’re with Levin’s team.”

“Yes, sir! Leave it to us!”

“Understood.”

“Colette and Francine, you’re with Rize-senpai’s team.”

“Hell yeah! We’re with Rize-neesan!? You got it!”

“Ohohoho! Does this not make us the strongest team!?”

“You two are skilled, but your brains are a bit disappointing, so listen closely to Rize-senpai’s orders, got it!? And then, Ginny and Jaill-kun, you’re with Gibul’s team.”

“…Ugh, got it~”

“Right.”

With the teams assigned, Sistine took a deep breath and declared:

“And I’ll take on the role of defending the final line and conducting field-wide detection as the commander. I’ll use a detection barrier to monitor the battlefield and relay instructions to each team leader via communication magic. …Any objections?”

At Sistine’s words, everyone nodded silently.

They all believed—this formation was their strongest.

“…Alright, let’s do this. Everyone, we’re absolutely going to win!”

 

“…So? What’s the plan, Sakuya-han?”

Meanwhile, on the eastern side, the players from the Rising Sun’s Imperial Onmyou Bureau were holding a similar briefing.

“We’ll split into three teams and advance across the three zones.”

“But they’re probably setting up a similar formation, no? I don’t think there’s much of a gap in overall strength between us and them. If we attack normally, we’ll just run out of time.”

“Yes, so… when the time is right, I’ll make my move.”

Sakuya responded to Shigure’s concern with a faint smile.

“First, let’s secure one point cleanly and seize the momentum.”

“You’re going out there, Sakuya-han? I wouldn’t recommend it…”

Shigure wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

All the surrounding players looked slightly anxious.

They all knew about Sakuya’s heart condition and didn’t want her to push herself too hard.

“It’s fine, everyone. Since the Magic Festival began, my body’s been feeling unusually good. I’ll definitely win. Please, lend me your strength.”

“Well, if Sakuya-han says so, I guess it’s fine.”

And if it comes to it, I’ll use that technique… the secret technique even Sakuya-han doesn’t know about… Shigure added in his mind.

“…It’s almost time for the match to start. Let’s go, everyone!”

 

Thus, both teams took their positions, separated by the central white mana line.

And as the crowd’s cheers enveloped the arena, a signal flare marking the start of the match soared into the sky above the Celica-Elliot Grand Arena—

 

The moment the match began, both the eastern and western teams sprang into action simultaneously.

The imperial side adopted an aggressive defensive stance, aiming to take out enemy players proactively.

Levin’s central team, Rize’s right-wing team, and Gibul’s left-wing team advanced in parallel, putting pressure on the eastern side.

“Levin! You’re moving too fast! Sync up with the wings a bit more! If gaps form, they’ll slip through!”

From the rear, Sistine, who stayed behind alone, issued precise instructions to the three teams via communication magic.

“Well, I wouldn’t make such a blunder… but fine, I’ll comply.”

With that, the western side began a slow advance, pressuring the eastern side, which had started its own cautious advance.

“The attacking rights are with the east right now, but we should fight as far from our defense line as possible—ideally in their territory!”

As the front line pushed eastward, Sistine gradually moved forward as well.

Maintaining a detection barrier, Sistine kept a mental image of the entire field and the players’ positions in the back of her mind, constantly monitoring the battle without letting her guard down.

And as Sistine watched, the central Levin team finally clashed with one of the eastern teams—

 

“Hmph… Is that all the Land of the Rising Sun’s got?”

Levin stood calmly as—

“Kuh!?《Water Spirit Explosive Veil》!”

“《Thunderfire Purification》!”

“—《Swift As The Law Commands》!”

Three Onmyou sorcerers from the Land of the Rising Sun chanted their spells in succession.

A torrent of water surged from their hands, with violet lightning crackling along it.

It was a wide-area coordinated attack combining water and lightning.

With such a broad suppression attack, relying solely on water made it difficult to defend with standard counterspells.

Damage seemed inevitable—but.

“I see, an advanced version of what we’d call synchronized chanting… separating the roles of loading the spell and pulling the trigger, achieving rapid spell fusion through synchronized chanting. Impressive. However—”

Levin muttered something under his breath and split the approaching torrent, accompanied by thunderfire, with a flick of his finger.

Splash!

The torrent split in two, flowing harmlessly without causing any destruction—

“W-What…!? Our technique…!?”

“Pardon my insolence, but I’ve ‘disassembled’ your spell.”

Levin gave an elegant, courteous bow.

“When you prioritize activation speed and layer spells so carelessly, it’s easier than taking apart a sandwich. And—”

“Now!《Thunder Spirit’s Violet Bolt》—《Go》!《One more!》!”

Maria leapt out from behind, triple-casting Black Magic [Shock Bolt]—

“《O blazing lion, roar and rage in your fury》!”

Heinkel calmly unleashed Black Magic [Blaze Burst].

The Onmyou sorcerers, pinned down by Maria’s diversion, had no means to counter Heinkel’s high-powered Black Magic [Blaze Burst].

“Tch—!?”

They could only scramble to leap out of its effective range.

—Boom!

A tremendous explosion and a pillar of fire erupted in the central forest.

“Kuh… That Levin guy at the front… what kind of monster is he…!?”

“Is this the might of the magicians from the renowned magical superpower, the Alzano Empire…!?”

“He’s been effortlessly reading and countering our spells from the start!”

The struggling Onmyou sorcerers stared in shock at Levin, who stood confidently in the burning forest.

“Hmph—”

As Levin smugly swung his arm, the surrounding flames instantly died down. This casual display of skill further unnerved the Onmyou sorcerers watching.

“Levin-senpai, you’re actually kinda amazing, huh!?”

Maria chirped excitedly at Levin.

“You were always overshadowed by Sistine-senpai and didn’t stand out much, but from now on, I totally respect you!”

“Guh… You sure know how to hit where it hurts…”

Levin’s cheek twitched at Maria’s innocently blunt words.

“…What now, Levin?”

Heinkel, ever taciturn, quietly asked for instructions.

“Hmm, given the situation… we shouldn’t push too far. Let’s hold this position for now. Advancing too much risks getting flanked from the sides.”

As a frontline commander, Levin was also exceptional.

Led by Levin, the central team demonstrated remarkable stability—

 

Meanwhile, on the right wing—

“《Taiyi Divine Calculation・Qimen Dunjia・Liuren Divine Oracle》! Haaaaaa—!”

[T/N: These are forms of Chinese calendrical astrology dating from the later Warring States period. The Three Styles of Divination, Qi Men Dun Jia, Da Liu Ren, and Taiyi.]

“—Hmph!”

Rize parried a Onmyou sorcerer girl’s sharp sword strikes with her rapier.

Clad in the gusts of Black Magic [Rapid Stream], Rize moved like the wind, swiftly dodging the girl’s relentless attacks.

Sword flashes clashed in an instant, the metallic clangs ringing out intermittently.

Rize suddenly leapt back, as if luring her opponent—

The girl, seizing the opportunity to pursue, raised her sword to close the distance—

“—!?”

Noticing something, the girl halted.

At that moment—

Crash!

Countless icicles suddenly stabbed into the ground just in front of her nose.

Black Magic [Freeze Floor].

Had she not stopped in the nick of time, she would’ve taken massive damage.

“Oh my… Did you ‘see’ that one too?”

Rize flicked her rapier with a whoosh. Frost swirled around its blade.

“How troublesome… Having your next move read by that [Shikisen] or whatever it’s called.”

Above the Onmyou sorcerer girl’s head, an octagonal wooden plate spun curiously.

“Kuh, what’s with you…? You’re way too good at weaving magic into close combat… When are you even chanting…!? Is that kind of fighting style even fair!?”

Rize smiled lightly.

Seizing that moment—

“Explosive Talisman—!”

“Shiki Talisman! Come forth—my servant!”

The Onmyou sorcerers in the rear hurled talismans one after another.

These were talismans unique to eastern magic, imbued with magical power that unleashed their effects instantly upon being thrown—a fearsome magical tool.

But—

“Not on my watch—!”

Francine’s white angel, Maruaha, soared through the air like an arrow, slicing an explosive talisman in half with a swing of its sword—

“Ooooooooh—!”

Colette, her hands blazing with flames from Black Arts, grabbed the dog-shaped shikigami emerging from a shiki talisman and burned it to ashes in an instant.

“Rize-neesama! Leave this to us!”

“Yeah! Go all out, you two!”

“Thank you, both of you.”

With a quick word of thanks, Rize readied her rapier toward the girl before her.

“…As you can see, for the sake of my juniors, I won’t let you pass.”

“Kuh… I don’t have time to waste on you…!”

The girl facing Rize had one role: to swiftly incapacitate as many opponents as possible, giving her team a numerical advantage. Her [Shikisen] divination, which could predict an opponent’s next move, was overwhelmingly powerful in close combat.

Yet, she couldn’t break through. She couldn’t overpower this magician named Rize.

Even with her divination reading Rize’s movements, Rize was simply too skilled in combat. She subtly, masterfully kept just outside the girl’s lethal range. Even with a move predicted, it didn’t matter.

For the first time, the girl was struggling this much in close combat, her own domain.

All she could do was grit her teeth in frustration before Rize.

 

Further, on the right wing—

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH—!”

A colossal monster, towering like a mountain, shook the earth with its roar.

Its form resembled a human’s, yet it was something distinctly different.

Standing three meters tall, with limbs like logs and a gleaming steel-like physique.

Most striking of all were its terrifying visage and the horns sprouting from its head—

It was an oni, a monster of the East.

The oni, with a creaking surge of power in its mighty arms, swung a massive iron club upward… and mercilessly brought it down toward the diminutive human below.

But an attack that would have crushed an ordinary human into a mangled pulp—

GAAAAAANG!

That person blocked it with a greatsword raised in both hands.

“…Oh my, is that all you got…? Bring it on…!”

—It was Jaill.

The impact of the iron club naturally reverberated through the greatsword, battering Jaill.

The damage inflicted on his body must have been considerable.

Yet Jaill stood firm on his second step as if it were nothing… glaring back at the oni above with a truly demonic expression.

“GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Perhaps irritated that it couldn’t crush a single puny human, the oni raised its club again, slamming it down on Jaill repeatedly with brute force.

But—

“OAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Jaill roared in return, catching the oni’s strikes and pushing back relentlessly.

His visage was that of a true demon god, making it hard to tell which of them was the real oni.

“W-Who is that man…? To clash evenly with my oni shikigami… Is he even human…?”

“Enough gawking! Summon more oni shiki! Overwhelm them with numbers!”

At that moment—

“—Oh, I don’t think so.”

A somewhat carefree girl’s voice echoed through the air.

A shuriken pierced the talisman one of the onmyouji had begun to draw.

“What—?”

Looking up, they saw Ginny perched on a tree branch above.

“Gotta say, if you call any more of those, it’s gonna be a real pain…”

The moment Ginny yawned—

Countless talismans suddenly swirled around her.

Like a blizzard of confetti, the talismans moved at incredible speed, intertwining and shifting in texture to form iron chains—binding Ginny in an instant.

“—!?”

“Fool! You fell for it! We set a trap—!”

But the moment the onmyouji smirked triumphantly—

“Poof.”

Ginny’s bound figure was enveloped in smoke, transforming into a log.

“W-What!?”

“Yeah, that’s called the substitution technique. …Mixed with a bit of my original magic, though.”

With a casual hop—

Ginny peeked out from the shadow of an entirely different tree.

“Ngh!? You… a ninja!?”

“Why is a ninja on the Empire’s side!?”

“Well… the details don’t really matter, do they? More importantly…”

Slowly, Ginny’s form blended into the surrounding scenery, melting away.

This was likely an application of Black Magic [Self Illusion], adapted in the style of ninjutsu.

“…This is getting annoying, so let’s just do this casually, yeah?”

“Kuh…!? Where’d she go!?”

“W-we can’t even perform the ritual to summon the oni like this!”

Faced with Ginny’s complete disappearance, the onmyouji could only stand back-to-back, warily scanning their surroundings…

At that moment—

Gibul, who had been observing the battle from the rear, suddenly moved.

“…Jaill, it’s done. Fall back.”

“!”

In that instant, Jaill retreated.

The next moment, the oni slammed its club into the ground where Jaill had been—

DOGA! GOOOOON!

The struck earth cracked and shattered, collapsing with a rumble.

The oni, caught in the collapse, was buried up to its abdomen.

“Hmph.”

Gibul’s Alchemy [Grave Digger]—a technique that instantly alters the terrain to create a pitfall trap.

The oni, now stuck in the pit, was at the perfect eye level for Jaill…

“Oh?”

And before he knew it, Gibul had already imbued Jaill’s greatsword with offensive magical power using Black Magic [Weapon Enchant].

“Heh, nice setup, Glasses… UOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”

With a grin, Jaill swung his greatsword with tremendous strength in a single horizontal slash.

The oni’s head was effortlessly blown off—

 

—Such was the Empire’s valiant struggle.

“OOOOOOOOOH! Everyone’s so freaking awesome!”

From the spectator seats, Kash and the others watched with unrestrained excitement.

“They’re holding their own—no, they’re pushing them back!”

“Yeah! If this keeps up…!”

Currently, the Empire team was on the defensive.

As such, they couldn’t aim for points, but they were aggressively pushing the front line, putting pressure on the Land of the Rising Sun team. It was an unusually proactive stance for a defensive side.

In contrast, the Land of the Rising Sun team was completely faltering under the Empire’s offensive.

While no one had been rendered combat-incapacitated yet… it was undeniably a bad flow for the Land of the Rising Sun team.

“…It’s a good formation.”

With arms crossed, Eve calmly assessed the battle below.

“The Empire’s forces are executing a bold offensive defense. Normally, the fear of having the defensive line breached would make them hunker down at the rear, but…”

“It’s thanks to White Cat.”

Glenn concluded, cutting into Eve’s analysis.

“This ain’t favoritism or anything. Even if they get breached, White Cat’s got their backs… That sense of security is what’s letting them fight so boldly.”

“Indeed. Sistine’s instructions to the three frontline teams are precise, too… It seems she’s truly grown into the Empire’s main wizard, in both name and deed.”

Eve glanced toward the rear of the western camp.

There, Sistine stood at the center of a magic circle array spread across the ground, hands raised, eyes closed, muttering something under her breath.

“Well, if things keep going like this, it’s a win for our Alzano Empire… is what I’d like to say.”

“Don’t be naive. The kind of people who make it to the world stage aren’t going to back down this easily.”

Eve now glanced toward the eastern camp.

True, the Land of the Rising Sun was being pushed back by the Empire, their battle lines forced downward… but their members’ movements remained coordinated, showing no signs of breaking despite the pressure.

“If they’re going to make a move… it’ll be soon.”

 

“…This ain’t good. The enemy’s all stupidly strong…”

Near the red mana line marking the eastern defensive line—

Shigure, who had been assisting Sakuya with far-seeing magic for reconnaissance, clutched his head with a grimace.

“Seriously, no matter how many times I look, what’s with them…? A bunch of people with totally different skills and fighting styles, and yet Sistine-han’s managing to coordinate them so well…”

Then, with a chime of bells, Sakuya stepped forward.

“What’s the plan, Sakuya-han?”

“…As expected, I’ll have to step in.”

When Sakuya elegantly spread her fan, several paper shikigami appeared atop it.

“You’re using that right off the bat? But that technique puts a huge strain on your heart…”

“It’s fine. I’ll just use it to secure one point and shift the momentum to our side…”

Smiling reassuringly at Shigure—

Sakuya began weaving signs with one hand while chanting a spell, gradually building her magical power—

“《Descend・Soldier・Battle・Person・All・Formation・Row・Exist・Front・Heaven・Origin・Perform・Body・Spirit・Transform・Divine・Communicate・Power》!”

The paper shikigami orbiting Sakuya began to transform.

Emerging from the paper shikigami were—

 

—Sistine’s eyes widened at the anomaly.

“…What’s that!?”

Suddenly, eighteen new signatures appeared on the battlefield.

Every single one of them was Sakuya Konoha, the main wizard.

Eighteen Sakuyas—identical in appearance, mana, and presence—suddenly materialized across the battlefield, splitting into right, left, and central flanks, advancing forward—

“W-What kind of technique is this…!?”

From the reactions of her detection barrier, Sistine deduced the nature of this phenomenon: a technique that created tangible clone bodies with the same strength as the original, controlled as familiars.

As if to prove it, the confusion and bewilderment of the Empire’s members reached Sistine through communication magic.

“Calm down! Fall back while lowering the front line!”

Sistine’s sharp command cut through their agitation.

“Even with the numerical disadvantage, if you focus on defense, you won’t be taken down so easily!”

“But—”

“A ridiculous large-scale spell like this can’t be used repeatedly! The mana consumption must be enormous… For now, endure! Focus on containment and defense, prioritize not getting taken out! Let the clones pass if you have to!”

“—!?”

“Familiars breaching the line don’t score points! Let the clones through! One of them must be the real Sakuya-san, and I’ll handle her!”

With Sistine’s dependable orders—

The Empire’s teams quickly recovered from their confusion, rallying around their team leaders, retreating while tenaciously holding off the new wave of enemies.

Magic clashed against magic, bursts of light erupting across the great forest.

But with the clear numerical disadvantage, it was inevitable that Sakuya’s clones began slipping through the Empire’s frontline, closing in on the western defensive line.

“…Sorry, two clones got through.”

“Three on our side.”

“…Two here. The rest is up to you, Sistine.”

“Got it.”

Sistine stared at the battlefield map projected in her mind.

Indeed, two clones from the center, three from the right, and two from the left were charging straight for the final defensive line Sistine guarded, moving at incredible speed.

This must be the rumored Eastern technique [Shukuchi], a special magical movement method.

Their shadowy forms flickered between the trees, barely visible, as if skipping through space itself.

“Now, the real Sakuya-san is definitely among them…”

Seven Sakuyas approached the defensive line, all using the same high-level [Shukuchi].

They were spread evenly across the entire field.

There was no way to distinguish the real one by sight, and no time to deal with all of them—a practical one-against-seven situation.

In this moment, the Land of the Rising Sun camp was certain they’d secured a point—

While the Alzano Empire camp bit their lips, thinking it might be impossible to stop.

 

—But.

“No problem—Gale Kick!”

Boom!

Sistine activated Black Magic [Rapid Stream] in rapid succession, cloaking herself in gusts of wind and darting through the gaps between the forest trees.

The opponent Sistine targeted was—the Sakuya leading the charge on the right flank.

There wasn’t a shred of hesitation in her charge—

 

“W-What!?”

Observing from the rear, Shigure let out a bewildered cry.

“No way! How’d she know!? Sakuya-han’s technique is perfect! Appearance, mana wavelength, skill—everything’s perfectly copied! There’s no way to tell! So how did she distinguish the clone from the real one!? What kind of magic did she use!?”

 

“‘You lot get paranoid about things that can’t be seen, but you’re careless about what’s right in front of you’—that’s what my teacher said!”

“—!?”

Closing in on Sakuya to within fifty meters, weaving between trees, Sistine shouted boldly.

“During Rize-senpai’s counterattack, the other clones shielded you! If you wanted to fake it, you should’ve been more obvious about it!”

“Kuh—my mistake!”

Currently, Sakuya was racing straight toward the Empire’s defensive line, with Sistine pursuing from the side.

“But—I’m faster! It’s mine!”

After all, the dense trees between Sistine and Sakuya would force her to weave around them, causing a significant time lag.

Being exposed as the real body was unexpected, but Sakuya was still faster—she could breach the line.

That’s what Sakuya believed, at that moment—

“《Roar, Warhammer of the Tempest》—《Zwei》! 《Drei》!”

Sistine unleashed Black Magic [Blast Blow].

A ferocious wind hammer, boasting tremendous power, tore through the trees in its path, barreling toward the real Sakuya.

The first two shots were feints, with the third meant to finish her—a skillful “offset strike” with a triple chant.

The spell’s aim was flawless, perfectly locked onto Sakuya.

There was no way to dodge. It would hit Sakuya.

Or so it seemed—

“Too naive, Sistine-san.”

Suddenly, Sakuya shifted her movement technique.

Without slowing her vanishingly fast speed—

“Yuho Step—Forward Left, Right Over Left, Left to Right, Next Forward Right, Left Over Right, Right to Left, Next Forward Left, Right Over Left, Left to Right, Thus Three Steps, Covering Two Jyo and One Shaku, Leaving Nine Tracks—!”

Swiftly, sharply, elegantly, and fluidly, with a bewildering grace—

Sakuya danced nine steps, as if performing a ritual.

Then, something unbelievable happened.

The spell Sistine had cast, which should have been a guaranteed hit… veered away from Sakuya on its own.

As if the spell itself had a will, it altered its trajectory to avoid Sakuya, missing entirely.

“The warding step [Yuho]. …Better luck next time.”

The defensive line was mere moments away. With [Shukuchi], Sakuya needed only one more step.

As Sakuya prepared for her final burst—

ROAR!

A raging storm swirled violently before Sakuya’s eyes.

At its center appeared—

“Huh… a magic cast through footwork instead of spells? The world’s a big place.”

“S-Sistine-san!?”

Sakuya’s eyes widened in shock.

Somehow, Sistine, cloaked in wind—Sistine, who shouldn’t have been able to catch up—stood blocking Sakuya’s path.

“Why…? No matter how fast you are, you couldn’t have closed that distance…”

In that moment, Sakuya realized.

The Black Magic [Blast Blow] Sistine had cast earlier—it wasn’t just a containment attack against her, but also a means to clear a “path” for herself to charge through.

Glancing sidelong at the trees felled in a straight line toward her, Sakuya could only marvel.

“But—facing me alone now is a bad move!”

Whoosh!

Multiple presences closed in around Sistine.

Slightly delayed, the other six clones converged on Sistine from all sides.

Sistine was completely surrounded.

“《Flame, Conquer, and Extinguish the Sun・Swift as the Law Commands》!”

“《Stone-Shattering Slash・Swift as the Law Commands》!”

“—Five Consecutive Explosive Talismans!”

“《Calamity Unveils Divinity・Great Crimson Lotus Heaven・Punishment of Evil Deeds・Iza Iza》!”

The Sakuyas encircling Sistine began casting their techniques in unison.

Instantly, roaring flames swirled, and countless tethered stone darts sliced through the air.

Launched talismans flew, and from a pentagram sigil drawn in the void, a mighty spiritual entity began to manifest, cloaked in fearsome cold—

——However.

“That was a mistake, Sakuya-san.”

Whoosh!

A moment faster than that, a fierce storm erupted with Sistine at its center.

The localized tempest completely engulfed both herself and Sakuya’s group.

“Wha—!?”

“A mage’s battle doesn’t always mean numerical superiority guarantees victory!”

In the next instant, the swirling, ferocious storm created a vacuum, transforming into blades that slashed at Sakuya’s clones surrounding Sistine.

Sistine’s wide-area, all-encompassing suppression attack.

For Sakuya’s group, already swallowed by the storm, there was no way to evade it.

Slash!

Sakuya’s clones were cut down helplessly by the wind blades—

Though the clones, fortified with robust curse-based defenses, didn’t sustain deep damage—

Pop! With a puff of smoke, Sakuya’s clone bodies reverted to their original paper dolls.

“Phew…”

Confirming the annihilation of the clones, Sistine dispelled her spell.

The lingering gusts of the swirling storm made her hair and robe flutter dramatically.

“The clones are fragile and vanish with even a single hit… just as I thought! The spell’s capacity has its limits… otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.”

“That was… Modified Black Magic [Storm Grasper]…”

Sistine’s trump card, the same one she displayed in her battle against Adil.

Complete dominion over the winds within a certain radius around herself. A spell that manipulates all forms of wind at will.

“That spell… it’s not the type you can activate on a whim… You read me, didn’t you? You predicted that once I caught up to you, I’d surround you with clones as my next move…”

To Sakuya’s words, Sistine flashed a confident grin.

(This person… she’s incredible!)

At that moment, Sakuya trembled with awe.

(Unshaken resolve in the face of a sudden disparity in forces, the keen observation to instantly discern my real body, a layered and relentless offensive that never stops at a single strike, the insight to deduce the weaknesses of my spell, and the strategic foresight to anticipate my next move! Among her peers, she’s undoubtedly a top-tier mage!)

And Sakuya responded with a soft chuckle.

Hiding her smile behind her fan, she prepared to cast her next spell.

“—!”

Sistine, too, aimed her left hand at Sakuya, bracing herself and readying her next incantation.

Once again, the air grew taut with tension, as if Sistine and Sakuya’s magic were about to clash head-on.

But at that moment, a flare shot up above their heads.

The sound and light broke the tension between them.

Time was up.

The first set’s first half, the Land of the Rising Sun’s attack, had just concluded.

The continuous, gripping developments from the outset drew roaring cheers from the spectators.

“Phew… that was close…”

Ignoring the distant cheers, Sistine wiped the sweat from her brow and exhaled.

“Hehe, you completely fended me off. I was quite serious about scoring a point just now. Well done, Sistine-san.”

Sakuya snapped her fan shut and offered Sistine sincere praise.

“You were amazing too. I only managed to spot your real body because I happened to see you pass through the route where Rize-senpai was… If I hadn’t, you probably would’ve scored

Sistine spoke her honest thoughts.

“Victory hinges on the whims of fate; luck is part of strength. …But please, don’t think this is the extent of my abilities. I still have plenty of tricks up my sleeve.”

“Of course. …I’ll be coming at you with everything I’ve got too.”

They exchanged such words.

Sistine watched as Sakuya’s figure faded back to her team’s side like dissipating mist.

 

“Ooooooooh!? She did it! She held them off!”

“Amazing, Sistie! Incredible, incredible, incredible!”

Kash and Ellen were in a frenzy, cheering wildly.

“Phew… damn, that had me on edge…”

“Haha, that went well, didn’t it, Sensei?”

“Yeah.”

Glenn let out a heavy sigh, with Rumia and Re=L responding.

“Well then… it seems the preliminary skirmish to gauge each other’s strengths is over.”

Eve, as usual, maintained her cool demeanor, brushing her hair back as she looked down at the field.

On the western side of the central field, members of the Alzano Empire’s team surrounded Sistine, praising her valiant effort.

“What happens next, I wonder?”

 

Meanwhile—

In a corner of the eastern side of the central competition field.

“Guh… unbelievable…”

Shigure from the Land of the Rising Sun groaned in frustration.

“To think Sakuya-han used even the [Eighteen-Character Lattice Formula] and still couldn’t score a single point… That girl’s a real monster.”

“You shouldn’t say such things about a girl, Shigure.”

Sakuya spoke gently, as if to soothe the irritated Shigure.

“In this bout, Sistine-san was simply a step ahead… That’s all there is to it.”

“B-but still…”

“Besides… this battle confirmed it.”

Sakuya addressed her somewhat anxious team members.

“The Alzano Empire’s main wizard, Sistine Fibel, is undoubtedly a formidable opponent. To defeat her, I’ll have to fight with every ounce of my being. Illness or conserving strength… such naive thoughts won’t suffice against her.”

“—!”

“But fear not, everyone. I will absolutely defeat Sistine-san. So please… lend me your utmost support!”

As Sakuya bowed her head, her teammates responded.

“Of course! I’ve decided to follow you no matter what!”

“Use our strength however you see fit!”

“Yeah, we’d gladly be pawns if it means making you win!”

The team members, now brimming with enthusiasm, voiced their unwavering support.

But amidst them—

“…Are you really okay? Your chest.”

Shigure whispered to Sakuya, ensuring the other teammates didn’t hear.

Having been her attendant in childhood and later her physician, Shigure was closest to Sakuya and couldn’t ignore certain signs.

Sakuya’s complexion… had grown just slightly worse.

“I’m fine, Shigure.”

But Sakuya smiled brightly.

“My body feels great today. No issues at all. Even I’m surprised.”

“Alright… Just in case, I’ve prepared a medicinal bath with elixir. Drink it during this healing time.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Sakuya accepted the steaming cup from Shigure.

Sitting politely on a nearby log, sipping the medicinal brew, Sakuya was watched by Shigure, who fell into deep thought.

(Even Sakuya-han is a peerless talent in this generation. Despite her illness, using magic to handle lesser opponents poses no problem…)

Shigure’s gaze drifted to the distant eastern side.

(But as expected, Sistine-han is Sakuya-han’s equal, if not more. To win, Sakuya-han would need to expend magic that grinds her soul down… What kind of burden would that place on her frail, sickly body…?)

After a moment of silent contemplation, Shigure steeled his resolve.

(…I didn’t want to, but… it looks like my time to step up has finally come.)

Thinking such thoughts, Shigure let out a cold, silent smirk.

 

——The healing time ended, and the match resumed.

From there, the battle became a back-and-forth struggle, with both sides unleashing their secret techniques and full strength.

First set, second half: the Empire’s attack.

With Sistine at the forefront, the Empire team, as in the first half, aggressively pressured the enemy as a whole. After applying sufficient pressure, they created a gap between the center and the left wing, which Sistine exploited with her Gale Kick technique.

No one could keep up with her overwhelming speed.

But just one step short, Sakuya, having predicted the move, blocked her with multiple layers of defensive barriers, stopping Sistine just shy of the line. No points scored.

Second set, first half: the Land of the Rising Sun’s attack.

Completely changing tactics, the Land of the Rising Sun now took the offensive. Each member summoned a large number of shikigami, unique Eastern familiars, launching an assault based on sheer numbers.

Levin and Heinkel’s overwhelming firepower held them off well, but the battlefield descended into chaos.

Amid the chaotic battlefield, Sakuya opened a portal with spatial teleportation, aiming to breach the Empire’s defensive line in one fell swoop.

But—Black Magic [Lightning Pierce] shot through Sakuya’s leg.

It was Sistine’s 1000-grade magical sniping from a high vantage point.

Even with Maria’s assistance as a spotter, Sistine’s godlike precision—threading the shot through countless trees like a needle through a pinhole—sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Thanks to Sistine’s brilliant play, the Land of the Rising Sun was held scoreless.

Second set, second half: the Empire’s attack.

This time, the strategy involved Colette, Francine, Jaill, and Rize—those with exceptional breakthrough power—guarding Sistine for a lightning-fast central breakthrough.

The strategy, prioritizing speed and attack power, worked, tearing the Land of the Rising Sun’s defensive formation to shreds.

But Sakuya secretly activated a spatial manipulation talisman, looping the central space where Sistine’s group charged.

No matter how fiercely they advanced, Sistine’s group found themselves back at the starting point, realizing too late as time ran out. Sistine wasted mana, and the Empire scored no points.

And then—

Third set, first half: Land of the Rising Sun’s attack. No points.

Third set, second half: Empire’s attack. No points.

Fourth set, first half: Land of the Rising Sun’s attack. No points.

Fourth set, second half: Empire’s attack. No points.

Fifth set—sixth set—as the spectators watched with bated breath, the sets piled up.

The score remained zero for both sides. A perfect stalemate.

As expected, the standout players were the main wizards of both teams, Sistine and Sakuya.

They were the heart of the match, with every play revolving around them.

Neither yielded an inch in their relentless offense and defense. A magical battle that felt like it was grinding their souls.

The players gradually grew exhausted.

Soon, every spectator came to a realization.

This match—the first to score a single point would win.

With that premonition in everyone’s minds—

A shift in the deadlocked battle came in the seventh set, first half: the Land of the Rising Sun’s attack.

 

“Haa… haa… As expected, you’re here, Sistine-san…”

“Huff… huff… As expected, you’re here, Sakuya-san…”

Near the Empire’s defensive line.

Sistine and Sakuya faced each other, separated by a dozen meters.

Both had already expended significant mana, their outfits tattered.

Yet both brimmed with fighting spirit, their resolve unwavering.

They eyed each other cautiously, searching for any opening.

“Push through! Support Sakuya-san!”

“Don’t let them break through!”

The clamor of battle echoed from various parts of the field.

The Land of the Rising Sun’s team members charged with all their might to breach the line.

But the Empire team, spread across the field, barely held back the Land of the Rising Sun’s onslaught.

“…It’s about time I take a point.”

Sakuya pulled out a strange necklace made of talismans and magatama beads.

“…I won’t let you.”

In response, Sistine prepared for every possible counterspell.

Then, Sakuya began chanting, shaking the magatama necklace.

“《One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine-ten, With this sacred treasure…”

But Sistine wasn’t one to let such a long incantation complete right in front of her.

“—That’s the end!”

Stock Delay Boot—Black Magic [Blast Blow].

She moved to activate her spell far faster than Sakuya, aiming to interrupt her.

But, to counter that, Sakuya moved to throw a talisman—

—That was the moment.

 

…Thump.

 

“Kah—!?”

Suddenly, Sakuya dropped the talisman and collapsed to her knees.

Canceling her incantation, she clutched her left chest and crouched in pain.

“…Huh?”

The abrupt, unexpected event caused Sistine’s spell activation to halt.

“Ha! Kh-gh… Kuh…!? N-no way… at a time like this…!?”

Sakuya’s labored, wheezing breaths echoed painfully around her.

Even from a distance, her face was visibly pale, her body trembling uncontrollably.

The radiant mana that had surged through her seemed to flicker weakly, like a candle in the wind, as if her body were on the verge of death.

Clutching her chest, drenched in cold sweat, Sakuya’s state was clearly abnormal.

Seeing Sakuya’s agonizing condition—

“What’s this…? N-no way…?”

—Sistine recalled something in her heart.

Words she’d heard from the boy Shigure before the match—

“Actually, Sakuya-han has a bad heart.”

“The more she uses magic, the more it strains her heart, shortening her lifespan. She probably doesn’t have much time left…”

(No way, was that true!? Did Sakuya-san lie to me just so I could fight her at my best…!?)

The fiery passion in her heart was doused with cold water, leaving her trembling with shock.

—Even in this situation, the match didn’t stop.

No matter the accident, the Magic Festival never paused a match.

At this very moment, the match continued.

And so—

(It doesn’t matter! I—we—are mages!)

—Sistine made a ruthless decision.

(We can’t afford to lose either! I—)

Hardening her heart, she prepared to cast her spell at the defenseless Sakuya.

But at that moment.

As if creeping into her mind, her own voice echoed within her.

‘…Hey, is this okay?’

“Huh?”

Once again, Sistine’s spell activation stopped.

‘Is this really okay? Do I really have the cause or resolve to defeat Sakuya-san?’

‘I, who grew up pampered in a perfect environment without a single hardship, defeating Sakuya-san, who’s fought through illness to protect her family, suffering all this time… Is it okay to defeat her like this? To ruin her life? Is that really just…?’

The self-doubt seeped into her heart like a narcotic, eroding her resolve.

“I, I…”

Something was wrong. Something was off.

Why was she questioning herself like this at such a critical moment?

But unable to grasp the source of that unease, Sistine couldn’t hide her confusion and turmoil.

“Kafu! O great pillar of strength, eight corners and eight energies, five yangs and five gods, the divine force of dual impact, dispel harmful energies, protect the four pillar gods, open the path for the five gods, drive out evil spirits, let the radiant spirit’s light pierce the four corners, and may the great pillar of strength find peace and stability! With reverence, I humbly offer my prayer to the five yang spirit gods! 《With this・sacred treasure・I summon》!”

[T/N: Yes, it’s the same chant as Megumi uses for Mahoraga in JJK.]

With a burst of fervor and self-suggestion, Sakuya, steadied by deep breaths, completed her incantation with sheer willpower.

At that moment.

A chilling spiritual aura swirled fiercely around Sistine—

“Wha—!?”

Countless skeletal corpses, clad in decayed armor, appeared in droves, clinging to Sistine.

Their ghastly, withered arms restrained her limbs.

Struggling to suppress her visceral disgust, Sistine tried to break free, but the skeletal arms exerted terrifying strength, showing no sign of relenting.

Whether due to some curse, she could no longer even muster mana.

“Th… this is… Necromancy…!?”

“It’s called [Ten Sacred Treasures: Furu no Koto]. The grudges of the dead will rob you of all your actions.”

With that, Sakuya stood up.

“My apologies. Due to cultural differences, this technique might seem ghastly to you… but for those who have fallen into depravity, lost their way, and have no place for their souls, we Eastern mages, known as onmyouji, take it upon ourselves to become their master and grant them a place to belong. That, too, is an important duty for us.”

“…Kgh!?”

“Now then… this round is my victory, isn’t it?”

As Sistine, bound by the spirits of the dead and unable to do anything, stood helpless, Sakuya, though slightly unsteady, passed by her gracefully.

She crossed the Empire’s defensive line.

Instantly, several signal flares shot into the sky, announcing the acquisition of points…

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

 

A thunderous cheer erupted from the spectators.

“…Damn it!?”

Sistine gritted her teeth in frustration.

Confirming that her team had earned the point, Sakuya softly chanted a spell, releasing the technique she had cast on Sistine.

At once, the spirits binding Sistine turned into white mist and dissipated… and Sistine collapsed to her knees on the spot.

To Sistine, Sakuya spoke with a tone of reproach.

“Why… when I was crouching in pain… did you hold back your attack, Sistine-san?”

“W-Well… that’s because…”

Sistine faltered, unable to respond.

Sakuya had likely already realized that Sistine had seen through the truth of her illness.

Yet, deliberately avoiding that topic, Sakuya declared,

“Let me say this again: my circumstances are none of your concern. I stand here with my own resolve. Showing pity or holding back is an insult to your opponent, you know.”

“I-I know… I understand… but…”

“Do you decide whether to fight seriously or hold back based on your opponent’s situation or circumstances?”

“—!?”

Sistine froze, as if struck by a crushing blow.

“If that’s what you’re saying… then I’m sorry to say, you should give up being a mage. That kindness of yours will surely lead to regret someday…”

Leaving those words behind, spoken with genuine concern for Sistine, Sakuya turned and headed back to her team’s base.

Sistine stared blankly at Sakuya’s retreating figure.

To Sistine’s side…

“Argh, damn it! We got done in, didn’t we!?”

“Switch gears, Sistine. Accept that Sakuya-san was one step ahead this time.”

Colette, Rize, and other teammates gathered around, offering words of scolding or encouragement.

But…

“I… I…”

For some reason, Sistine could only let their words pass through her in a daze.

 

“…Strange.”

“Yeah, something’s off.”

In the background, while Kash and the other supporters, along with Ellen, clutched their heads in frustration…

Eve and Glenn, looking down at Sistine, muttered as if analyzing her.

“Sure, White Cat’s still mentally immature and has a soft side. But even she’s a mage standing here carrying her own burdens. She knows she’s shouldering everyone’s expectations. She’s not the type to hold back just because of her opponent’s circumstances.”

“Yet, she hesitated. She held back. And as a result, she let an impossible point slip through.”

Eve concluded as such.

“Um… what does that mean…?”

“Hmph. I don’t get it.”

Rumia asked anxiously, while Re=L responded with a hint of dissatisfaction.

“…This situation… could it be someone’s deliberate interference?”

Unlike her less perceptive partner, Elsa’s sharp question was met with Glenn’s confident reply.

“Yeah, exactly. Twisting the impossible into reality… that’s gotta be the work of the ‘magic’ we’re all too familiar with.”

Then, Glenn glanced around the field and the audience.

“Probably… somewhere out there, someone’s pulling something on White Cat…”

 

(—And I bet that’s what that teacher’s thinking, judging by his face.)

At that moment, catching a distant glimpse of Glenn in the stands, Shigure smirked to himself.

(He plays dumb, but he’s a sharp one… Ooh, scary, scary…)

Shigure, the young physician and attendant to Sakuya, the Main Wizard of the Land of the Rising Sun’s team, was considered a burden to the team. But he had another hidden side—a master of Jugon, a nearly extinct form of magic even in the Land of the Rising Sun: a curse-weaving sorcerer.

Jugon was a terrifying curse technique that, in exchange for bearing immense risk, could forcibly restrict an opponent’s actions through mere words.

(My true nature as a Jugon master… that’s a secret even Sakuya-san and the others don’t know. A mage’s trump card is best kept hidden, right?)

Shigure stuck out his tongue playfully. On it, normally concealed, was the faintly glowing pattern of a Jugon spell, actively in use.

(But the legendary Jugon masters who could say ‘Don’t move’ and freeze someone, or ‘Die’ and kill them… they’re long gone. All I can manage is child’s play compared to that.)

He glanced toward the west, where Sistine likely stood.

(My Jugon can’t do anything as grand as restricting someone’s actions. All it does is borrow the opponent’s inner voice to make my words echo in their heart like a drug, without any sense of dissonance. It’s barely even comparable to the Empire’s White Magic mental domination attacks—just a cheap trick to exploit gaps in someone’s heart and shake them up. That’s all this pathetic, high-risk, low-reward spell can do. Its only real strength is its incredible range… but it’s useless against anyone with a strong mind.)

Yet, Shigure smirked secretly to himself.

(But… it works on Sistine-san! I’ve researched her thoroughly. And ever since this tournament began, I’ve been watching her closely… I was certain my Jugon would affect her! Deep down, she’s still naive, mistaking mages for heroes or something. That’s not what being a mage is about. My spell won’t work on even a lowlife who’s resolved to be a mage, but it’ll pierce a top-tier mage who lacks that resolve!)

Indeed. That’s why Shigure had deliberately revealed Sakuya’s illness and family background to Sistine before the match.

So that, if Sakuya’s illness flared up during the match, Shigure’s words from earlier would resurface vividly in Sistine’s mind.

This was the ‘spell’ Shigure had planted in Sistine… a Jugon nail. A trap, unavoidable, that preyed on Sistine’s conscience using nothing but words.

In the previous bout, when Sakuya’s condition flared and the critical moment arrived, Shigure, from far away, had used Jugon to speak directly to Sistine’s heart: ‘Is this really okay?’

The words of Jugon traveled through space, reaching their target and resonating like a drug. They couldn’t be ignored, forcing her to confront them.

As expected, Sistine wavered… and this was the result.

Shigure, satisfied with the outcome, smirked to himself…

“…Phew, thank you, Shigure.”

Suddenly, Sakuya’s voice startled him.

“W-What’s that, Sakuya-san!?”

“Thanks to the medicinal tea you prepared, I’m feeling much better… I can keep fighting.”

Sakuya held the teacup in both hands, smiling brightly.

“That elixir is different from the usual stuff—much stronger. It’s a huge strain on your body… and it’s only a temporary fix. As your physician, I’d rather you withdraw.”

“I understand. But… I can’t afford to lose.”

“Yeah, I get it.”

Shigure nodded solemnly to Sakuya, who spoke with quiet determination.

Then, he suddenly recalled.

The path Sakuya had walked, which he had witnessed since childhood.

Despite the handicap of her congenital illness, for the sake of her family and her house, Sakuya had endured hardship upon hardship to enter the Onmyou Academy. Through relentless effort, literally coughing up blood, she had built her current status and position. Her life was a testament to that struggle.

(Do you know the biting cold of winter winds blowing through tattered shoji screens we couldn’t afford to replace? The hunger and misery of seeing even a rat as a feast? The humiliation and tears of selling your body to vile nobles to feed your younger siblings? To say Sakuya-san could lose is a lie. To say she won’t be rewarded is a lie!!)

Once again, Shigure glared at Sistine in the distance, as if she were a sworn enemy.

(Yeah, I’m scum. A hopeless lowlife who tramples on people’s hearts without a care… But even so, I’ll make sure Sakuya-san wins…!)

With that resolve burning in Shigure’s heart…

The healing time ended—and a signal flare shot into the sky, announcing the start of the second half of the seventh set, the Empire’s attack.

 

—The match resumed.

First, they’d take back one point. They’d seize the momentum.

With that determination, the Empire launched their assault on the Land of the Rising Sun.

It was a fierce attack, betraying no hint of the shaken confidence from losing the first point.

But—they couldn’t break through.

The Empire had plenty of chances to breach the Land of the Rising Sun’s defensive line.

Yet, no matter how many opportunities arose, they couldn’t convert them into a point.

The reason lay in…

“Haa…! Haa…! Haa…!”

Sistine, who, no matter how you looked at it, seemed to be struggling.

In a match this close, the critical moments involving points inevitably involved the main wizards of both teams—Sistine and Sakuya. It was unavoidable.

But whenever Sistine faced Sakuya in a magical duel… she always, at some point, faltered.

At crucial moments, she’d suddenly hesitate, freeze up, or make a string of mistakes.

Sakuya, despite appearing unwell, carried an indomitable spirit. With reckless, soul-scorching determination, she overwhelmed Sistine time and again.

And above all, Sistine was in far worse shape than Sakuya’s condition warranted.

Her uncharacteristic performance left the Empire’s team members tilting their heads in confusion…

“Kgh… Why… Why am I…!?”

Even Sistine herself couldn’t hide her bewilderment at her own state.

Sakuya, merciless, pressed her attack.

“Haa… haa… Is that all you’ve got!? 《Flame, Conquer, and Extinguish the Sun・Swift as the Law Commands》!”

Using [Shukuchi], Sakuya flanked Sistine and unleashed a blaze of fire magic.

A roaring vortex of flames surged toward her.

But Sistine had anticipated it.

(A magical trap—!)

She had already set up Black Magic [Stun Floor] at Sakuya’s predicted position.

(Activate it, blow Sakuya-san away, and, prepared for some damage, charge through to breach the enemy’s defensive line—for a tie!)

As Sistine moved to trigger her trap—

 

“If you hit her with that, with Sakuya-san’s weak heart, she might die, y’know?”

 

‘If you hit her with that spell, Sakuya-san, with her weak heart, might die.’

“—!?”

Startled, Sistine abruptly halted the spell’s activation and leaped backward instead.

Sakuya’s flames landed one after another, chasing Sistine’s retreat.

Explosions and shockwaves erupted. Heatwaves scorched her skin.

“Anyway, what’s the point of winning? Unlike Sakuya-san, what’s it all for? Wouldn’t everyone be happier if you just lost?”

‘—What even is my goal? To catch up to my grandfather? That’s hardly a big deal, is it? Is it something worth hurting others or trampling them to achieve?’

“I… I…!”

There was still a chance. The opportunity hadn’t passed.

Shaking her head to dispel the relentless self-doubt that kept surfacing, she pressed on.

If she could slip through the gaps in Sakuya’s oncoming fire spells with Gale Kick, she could score a point.

“Does someone as frivolous as you have the right to beat Sakuya-san, who carries such heavy burdens?”

‘—Is that really the right thing to do?’

“I—I—!”

But Sistine didn’t activate Gale Kick. She couldn’t.

The spell she chose was—Black Magic [Force Shield].

The glowing barrier she deployed in front of her steadfastly blocked Sakuya’s flames, but—

“Sakuya-san! We’ve got your back!”

“Raaagh! No one’s getting through to Sakuya-san!”

The Land of the Rising Sun’s players quickly rallied in front of Sistine.

At this point, forcing a breakthrough was nearly impossible.

“…Kgh!?”

Now—the opportunity was completely lost.

Sistine could only abandon that battle zone in frustration, retreating with Gale Kick.

 

“Arghhh, that was so close!”

“Just a little more, and we would’ve had it!”

Kash and Wendy in the stands watched Sistine retreat with regret…

“…White Cat. You…”

Glenn, his expression grim, gazed down at Sistine, whose face twisted in anguish below.

 

And on the field…

Behind Sakuya…

“Heh heh heh… Sorry ’bout that, Sistine-san…”

Shigure, one eye half-open, stuck out his tongue—etched with the spell’s pattern—and smirked secretly.

“More effective than I expected. That girl’s got monstrous magical talent, but her mental game’s not quite there, huh… Heh heh heh…”

In an extreme magical duel, mental fortitude often decided the outcome.

“That’s more than enough. It’s over. She’s completely broken. After all those bad moves in a row, her confidence and judgment are in tatters. She won’t even manage half her usual strength now… Haha, a mage of words… Gotta say, that’s a pretty fitting description.”

And so, Shigure continued to laugh coldly, unnoticed.

At that moment, a signal flare shot into the sky, announcing the end of the Empire’s attack.

 

—As expected, the match unfolded exactly as Shigure had planned.

Sistine, lacking her usual sharpness and making critical errors at key moments, dragged the Empire team down. No matter how fiercely they attacked, they couldn’t break through that final step.

They couldn’t breach the Land of the Rising Sun’s defensive line.

And as if to pile on Sistine’s abysmal performance, the Land of the Rising Sun launched a ferocious counterattack.

Everyone in the audience thought the Land of the Rising Sun would rack up points and pull away from the Empire for good.

But—

“—Hmph!”

Rize.

“I won’t let you!”

Levin.

“Tch, what a pain…”

Gibul.

The team leaders, each holding their respective zones, fought valiantly, keeping the Land of the Rising Sun scoreless.

The Empire clung to a one-point deficit.

And so—with the one-point gap intact, the first half of the twelfth set, the Land of the Rising Sun’s attack, came to an end.

Now, it was healing time.

Once this ended, the twelfth and final set’s second half—the Empire’s last attack—would begin.

If they could tie the score here, it’d go to sudden death. If not, the Empire would lose.

Neither team had any dropouts, but everyone’s mana was depleted, and their fatigue was nearing its limit.

A heavy atmosphere hung over the Empire’s team—

 

Amid the roaring cheers of the spectators—

(Tch, those Empire guys… they’re a tenacious bunch…)

On the east side of the field, in a corner of the Land of the Rising Sun’s team, Shigure wore a sour expression.

(Never would’ve thought they’d hold on this long. They’re really a solid group…)

“Shigure… how do I look to you? My condition?”

Sakuya, sitting on a stump and catching her breath, spoke to Shigure.

Shigure placed a hand on her forehead and checked her pulse at her wrist.

“Honestly, it’s pretty bad… The next set’s probably your limit. Beyond that…”

“I see… Then I’ll be fine. For some reason, my magical finesse feels sharper than usual.”

This must be what it meant for the spirit to surpass the body.

Sakuya was drenched in sweat, her complexion poor, but paradoxically, her magical precision was honed to an unprecedented edge.

(Meanwhile, Sistine-san’s been mentally shattered by my Jugon interference, probably beyond recovery… We’ve got this…)

With dark conviction, Shigure was certain.

(That’s right… It was a close call, but we’re winning! We just need to hold firm in the next set and secure the victory…! Sakuya-san wouldn’t approve of winning this way, but a win’s a win…! This is fine!)

 

Meanwhile, in the stands…

“I’ve figured it out. The reason behind White Cat’s slump.”

Glenn’s sudden declaration drew the attention of those around him.

“It’s Jugon.”

“…Jugon…?”

“Yeah, I only know a bit from what Celica told me, but the East has this kind of magic. Not a spell, but just words—a special hypnotic curse that speaks directly to someone’s heart, manipulating or forcing their actions and emotions…”

Glenn explained to a puzzled Rumia.

“I’ve been watching closely when White Cat’s been unnaturally off her game. Every single time, that Shigure guy’s been relatively nearby.

I got curious and used far-sight magic to observe him. At key moments, he’s muttering something. I caught a glimpse of what looked like a Jugon spell pattern on his tongue… and from lip-reading, it seems he’s directing words at White Cat. Stuff like, ‘Don’t you feel guilty beating Sakuya?’ or ‘Do you really have the resolve and right to defeat Sakuya?’ and so on.”

“Th… That’s…”

Rumia, aware of the earlier exchange between Sistine and Shigure, seemed to piece it together. Her face paled.

“Yeah, White Cat’s being targeted for her natural kindness. Of course, she’s not so naive as to hold back against an opponent in the heat of battle… but deep down, she’s got a tiny bit of softness, a trace of kindness. Jugon amplifies that small weakness, forcing it to overwhelm her mind. In short, she’s under a mental attack, like White Magic’s mind assault.”

“No way… Then, if we use White Magic [Mind Up] to protect her mind…””

“No good. [Mind Up] is a spell that creates a barrier in your mind to block external mental interference. Cursed words don’t mean a thing. After all—White Cat isn’t being led astray… she’s just getting lost in her own head all by herself.”

In truth, Sistine must have suspected she was under some kind of mental attack. She’d likely already tried [Mind Up].

“Haa… If only this were the work of those so-called Thirteenth Holy Execution Squad, the Last Crusaders. If the perpetrator was a competitor, this would be a proper magical battle. As it stands, there’s no way to counter this.”

Eve says this with a grim expression.

“…So, it’s the price of rapid growth catching up to her, huh?”

“The price of rapid growth…?”

“Yes, exactly. Sure, Sistine’s skills have grown by leaps and bounds. But her mental growth hasn’t kept pace. You could say the cursed words exploited a gap in her heart… but in essence, if there’s no gap to exploit, they can’t touch you. If she had a firm ‘resolve’ and ‘answer’ of her own against the interference of those cursed words, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“!”

As Rumia catches her breath, Eve continues matter-of-factly.

“Magicians, you see, are arrogant and greedy. Those emotions, which most people shun, are the spark that fuels their magic, bending the laws of reality. Humble, selfless types just don’t cut it.”

“…‘If thou desirest, cast the desires of others into the furnace’… is that it?”

Rumia mutters the words every aspiring magician is taught first, and Eve nods.

“That’s the essence of a magician, for better or worse. Can you trample the desires of others for your own? Can you cast aside kindness and softness for your goals? Normally, you’d build that resolve and find your answers gradually as you gain power, bit by bit…”

Eve glances down at Sistine, who’s staring at the ground in the field below.

“She grew too fast. She’s gained the courage to fight relentlessly against enemies she must defeat without hesitation. But facing the grim, ruthless essence of a magician… she’s still too soft, too immature.”

“!”

“Of course, that softness, that immaturity, is right for a person. You could even call it a virtue. But if you can’t overcome it, you’ll never truly succeed as a magician. There are countless gifted prodigies who had the potential but never bloomed because they couldn’t.”

This is a trial. From what I’ve heard, Sakuya Konoha, that magician, must be standing here with a heavy resolve. How Sistine faces her, what choices and decisions she makes… that could determine the course of her entire life from now on.”

At Eve’s words, everyone present falls into a heavy, somber silence…

“Heh heh heh…”

…except for one person—Glenn.

“…What’s so funny?”

Annoyed by Glenn’s complete inability to read the room, Eve snaps at him.

“Do you get it? Your precious little student is facing the greatest crisis of her life! If she loses half-heartedly here, it could become a trauma she’ll never recover from—”

“Yeah, I get it, alright.”

But Glenn brushes it off with a calm air.

“Still… I don’t think for a second that White Cat is immature or lacks resolve.”

“Hah!? But look at her—”

“She’s just thrown off, caught up in some unfamiliar spell. That girl already has the resolve and answers she needs to be a magician… I know it better than anyone.”

With that, Glenn stands up.

He cracks his neck and stretches his back.

“And when someone’s like that, there’s only one thing we, as spectators… as her teachers, should do. It’s been decided since forever, hasn’t it?”

Smirking confidently, Glenn rummages through his pocket and pulls something out.

It’s—

 

(What… what am I even doing…!? This is so pathetic…!)

—Meanwhile.

Sistine is clutching her head, crouched on the ground.

(Everyone’s counting on me… I have to live up to their expectations… but all I keep doing is this…)

“S-Sistine-senpai…”

“D-Don’t worry… these things happen…”

“Y-Yeah… we’ll figure something out, alright…?”

Marianne, Francine, and Colette look at Sistine with concern, offering words of comfort, but… there’s nothing they can do.

Everyone’s trying to suppress the creeping sense of resignation, the feeling of “Is this it?” or “Is this as far as we go?”

And then—it happens.

“Sistine. We need to talk.”

Someone addresses Sistine with an unusually stern expression.

It’s Rize.

“R-Rize-senpai…?”

“First, I’ll state the cold, hard truth. Right now, you’re a liability. You’re dragging the team down.”

Rize voices what everyone, including Sistine herself, has been vaguely aware of.

Hearing it laid bare makes Sistine’s face twist in pain.

“Sure, everyone has their ups and downs. But if your downturn is so severe that it’s pulling the team down and you can’t pull yourself out of it, then as the main wizard, you need to make a decision. For the final set… will you continue as the team’s commander, or will you pass that role to someone else?”

“Ah…”

“We’re the empire’s representatives. We can’t afford to fight a shameful battle that tarnishes our nation’s honor. We’re obligated to choose the path with the highest chance of victory… So, what will it be, Sistine Fibel?”

“……”

A heavy silence envelops the group.

Everyone holds their breath, watching Rize and Sistine closely.

“I…”

Sistine murmurs, as if questioning herself.

(Stepping down… might be an option…)

Because she’s failing.

Seeing Sakuya fight so desperately, staking her life for something she can’t lose… Sistine can’t shake her unease and hesitation. Her hands freeze. Her feet feel heavy. Her breath catches.

The guilt wells up, overwhelming her—

(Do I even have a reason to fight like that? I’ve lived a comfortable life, never struggling, never wanting for anything… What reason do I have to trample over Sakuya-san, who’s fighting so desperately… What right do I have…!?)

There’s none.

She doesn’t feel like she can match her.

Catching up to her grandfather? What’s that supposed to mean? That flimsy, shallow reason?

For something so trivial, does she have the right to crush Sakuya, who’s burning her limited life for her family? Is that allowed? Is it just?

(I can’t… I can’t fight Sakuya-san anymore… My heart’s too heavy…)

Her head droops, as if unable to bear the weight of her heart…

And then—

“I’m sorry… I can’t do this anymore… Rize-senpai… please take over…”

—She starts to say, but at that moment—

 

KABOOM!

 

A tremendous burst of light and a deafening shockwave erupt from a corner of the spectator stands.

The blinding light whites out the vast competition field for a split second—and in the next moment…

From the source of the light, an overwhelming shockwave of light surges skyward in a massive pillar, piercing the clouds and vanishing into the infinite expanse of the heavens—

“Wha—!?”

Half a breath later, the aftershock of the light wave crashes over Sistine and the others like a storm, shaking the treetops, her hair, and the hem of her robe violently.

“W-What was that…?”

She recognizes it instantly. It’s a sight she’s seen too many times.

That’s the light of Black Magic [Extinction Ray]—Glenn’s magic.

“S-Sensei…?”

Sistine blinks in confusion, staring far off toward the center of the stands where the light originated—

 

Shhh…

The audience of thousands in the Celica-Elliot Grand Arena is stunned into silence, as if doused with water, reeling from the shock of witnessing Glenn’s incomprehensible act of unleashing the legendary Black Magic [Extinction Ray] into the sky.

“Heh.”

At the center of it all—Glenn stands with a smug grin, his left hand, still crackling with the purple sparks of residual mana, raised toward the heavens.

 

“…What’s the point?”

Ignoring Eve’s deadpan jab…

In the midst of the hushed arena, Glenn mutters something under his breath, tapping his throat with his fingers.

And then—

 

“SISTINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE—!”

 

BOOM! He shouts with earth-shattering volume.

His voice, magically amplified to colossal proportions, feels like a volcanic eruption right beside them. The surrounding spectators clutch their ears as the sonic shockwave sends them reeling like leaves in a storm. It’s an utterly disruptive, disaster-level noise.

But Glenn keeps shouting.

He bellows with every ounce of his voice—

 

“DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT—! DO WHATEVER YOU WANT—! WHO CARES ABOUT ANYONE ELSE—! NO MATTER WHAT CHOICE YOU MAKE! NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS! NO MATTER WHO HATES YOU! I’M—! I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO’LL ALWAYS BE ON YOUR SIDE—! I’M YOUR TEACHER—!”

 

“SHUT UP!!”

Eve, rushing back with teary eyes, kicks Glenn to the ground.

“I thought my eardrums were going to burst! At least give a warning first!?”

“Ow, ow, ow!?”

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Eve relentlessly kicks Glenn’s back as he lies sprawled out.

The surrounding spectators, Kash and the others, Re=L, and Elsa, all clutch their ringing ears, watching the two with wry, exasperated smiles.

The stands have descended into complete chaos—

 

—But Glenn’s encouragement has reached Sistine loud and clear.

“…S-Sensei…!?”

Sistine, who’s known Glenn for a long time, understands exactly what he’s trying to say.

It’s okay to keep pushing forward with stubborn pride. It’s okay to back off and admit weakness.

Whatever choice she makes, it doesn’t matter.

But… Glenn will always acknowledge her. He’ll always be on her side.

That’s the message he’s sending.

“I-I…”

Knowing that no matter what choice she makes, no matter who resents, hates, or curses her, Glenn will be there… acknowledging her… this gives her the strength and reassurance…

In the slight calm born from that relief, Sistine suddenly remembers.

The reason she strives to be a magician—her original, primal motivation.

 

It’s a distant, nostalgic memory from her childhood—

The image of her grandfather gazing up at the sky castle, as if beholding something far-off and dazzling.

The weather was clear, the sunlight pouring brilliantly through a cloudless blue sky, and the translucent castle floating in Fejite’s heavens shone vividly.

At that moment, the radiant castle and her grandfather’s figure captivated Sistine’s soul.

Because her grandfather’s back, his gaze, was so achingly poignant—

Because the illusory castle floating in the sky was so dazzling, so beautiful—

From that day, that moment, her grandfather’s dream became Sistine’s dream.

—If that’s the case, I’ll do it—

—I’ll become a greater magician than Grandfather—

—I’ll unravel the mystery of [Melgalius’s Sky Castle] in his place—

 

“…I can’t lose…!”

In an instant, a sensation like her soul igniting overtakes Sistine.

True, she carries the expectations of the empire’s representatives, and she understands Sakuya’s circumstances.

But deep within her, beyond all that—there’s something even more important.

“It’s not some grand reason like Sakuya-san’s… People might laugh and call it childish or silly, but… I can’t give it up…! I don’t want to give it up…! I can’t afford to lose…!”

Her shout, like a rebuke to her own soul, sweeps away the murky self-doubt and guilt that had been poisoning her heart—

“And even if it’s a trivial reason… Sensei acknowledges me…! He’s cheering for me…! If that’s the case, then I—!”

 

——

 

“…As expected, that’s how you’d respond, Sistine.”

At the edge of the grand plaza in front of the Celica-Elliot Grand Arena…

In a secluded puppet theater stall where no one lingers, the Grandmaster—Felord Belif—manipulates a silver-haired girl puppet, murmuring to no one in particular with a wistful expression.

“…Thank you…”

No one is there to hear his faint whisper—

 

——

 

“Rize-senpai! Please! Let me do this!”

Sistine bows deeply to Rize.

The listless, defeated girl from moments ago is gone, replaced by a Sistine brimming with vigor, leaving the empire’s team members blinking in surprise.

“I’m sorry for being so pathetic until now! I’ll make up for this failure, I swear! So—please let me do this! As the empire’s main wizard, I’ll defeat Sakuya Konoha—and I’ll win, no matter what! So—!”

Rize steps forward and places both hands on Sistine’s shoulders.

She peers into Sistine’s eyes up close… and then smiles warmly.

“You’re alright now, aren’t you, Sistine?”

“R-Rize-senpai…”

“Heh, you shouldn’t make your senpai worry so much, you know.”

With that, Rize turns to the group.

“Everyone, let’s proceed as planned. We’ll fight together, with Sistine at the center.”

“…!”

At Rize’s resolute words, everyone nods firmly.

“We’ll put ourselves on the line to protect Sistine and push her forward. …Sistine, got it? You can do this, right?”

“Yes! Leave it to me! Everyone, I’m counting on you!”

Sistine shouts with conviction.

 

Win or lose, this is it—

The second half of the twelfth set—the empire’s final attack begins—

 

“W-What the heck!? No way!?”

Right after the match resumes…

Shigure can only panic at the unbelievable sight unfolding across the battlefield.

The empire’s team, which had been steeped in despair and on its last legs, is now charging at the Land of the Rising Sun with the morale and momentum of a team that’s just started the match.

And that’s not the only shock—

“HAAAAAAA—! 《Roar, Warhammer of the Storm》! 《Zwei》! 《Drei》!”

Leading the charge at the forefront, zigzagging like lightning with [Gale Kick], and overwhelming the Land of the Rising Sun’s members with devastating firepower—is Sistine.

Her ferocious onslaught, as if venting all her pent-up frustration, is unstoppable.

The Land of the Rising Sun’s members are overwhelmed, forced to retreat under her pressure.

“What’s going on!? She’s back!? No way, was it that weird, nonsensical cheering just now!? What kind of magic was that!?”

But if she’s recovered, Shigure will just break her again.

Suppressing his unease, Shigure activates the curse spell etched into his tongue.

Fixing his gaze on Sistine charging toward her from afar… he whispers softly, as if murmuring into her ear.

“Like I’ve said over and over, if you win, Sakuya-han’s life and family will be ruined… How could you do something so cruel…?”

 

“SHUT—UP—!”

Sistine screams, as if blasting away the doubts seeping into her heart—

With that momentum, she triggers the pre-chanted Black Magic [Blaze Burst].

“Kyaaaa!?”

“Gwaaaaa—!”

Two Land of the Rising Sun competitors are caught in the massive explosion that erupts on the field, sent flying high into the air—

“I am Sistine Fibel! The one who will follow in my grandfather, Redolf Fibel’s, footsteps! The sky I saw that day, the feelings I held that day—that’s everything I am as a magician! I swear to that sky and to my grandfather—no one will stand in my way! Not even myself!!”

 

Snap! Crunch!

“Guh!?”

Suddenly, Shigure spews blood violently.

His tongue splits vertically, his throat collapses, and his lungs cave in.

(Geh—!? No way, a “curse rebound”…!? She completely broke the spell…)

Indeed, even the seemingly invincible curse spell carries immense risk.

If the target breaks the spell, all the curses cast on them rebound as damage to the caster. This overwhelming risk is the price—

“Gehhh—!? Cough! Hack! Gahhh—!? (No, I’m gonna die…!? If this keeps up, I won’t be able to breathe…!?)”

As Shigure trembles in fear of the reaper looming at his throat…

Tap. Someone places a hand on his back, murmuring something.

It’s Sakuya.

Instantly, Shigure’s breathing eases. He still can’t speak, but… it seems she’s out of immediate danger.

“…Shigure. I think I understand now… why Sistine-san suddenly faltered in our fight.”

“~!?”

“We’ll talk later. …For now, I just want to settle this battle… with the greatest rival I’ve met at this festival.”

Leaving those words with an unreadable expression, Sakuya walks away from Shigure.

Sistine Fibel strides gracefully toward the encroaching front line.

“…Sa… kuya… ha… n…”

Shigure can only watch Sakuya’s retreating figure.

With head hung low, there’s nothing left but to see her off—

 

The central eastern field has now become a chaotic melee of utmost intensity.

Players from both teams have all converged, fiercely exchanging magical spells.

Lightning strikes, blizzards, and raging flames sweep through like a storm, while shikigami, spirits, and familiars clash head-on in a spectacular magical battle, unfolding like the depths of hell’s cauldron.

And, at the heart of this tempestuous maelstrom, naturally—

“《O maiden of the sword・brandish your blade in the sky・dance upon the earth》—!”

—is Sistine.

Countless blades of wind swirl around Sistine, cutting down the horde of shikigami charging to overwhelm her, slicing them apart one by one—

—and then, with Gale Kick, she charges forward, sharply piercing deep into the enemy’s ranks.

“Stop her! Stop that woman!”

“Don’t let her advance any further!”

Naturally, to halt Sistine’s ferocious onslaught, members of the Land of the Rising Sun stand in her way one after another, chanting spells in rapid succession, cooperatively erecting barrier walls, lining up shikigami, and unleashing barrages of assault spells.

Even for someone like Sistine, facing such an onslaught would normally force her to halt—

“Raaaaaah!”

From the side, Jaill leaps in, his monstrous strength cleaving through the barrier wall blocking Sistine’s path with a single swing of his greatsword—

“Like I’d let you!”

“We’ll handle them!”

“Well… just to pass the time.”

The swarm of shikigami is swept away—Colette’s Black Arts strike, Francine’s white angel Malaha swoops down like an arrow from the sky, and Ginny’s explosive-tagged shuriken mow them down—

“《Let calamity and mist dissipate》, 《Two》, 《Three》, 《Four》, 《Five》—”

Gibul counters the lightning and flame spells closing in on Sistine with rapid-fire Black Magic [Tri-Banish], neutralizing them one after another.

“—Everyone!?”

“Leave this to us, Sistine!”

Kiiiiiin!

From the shade of a nearby tree, an onmyouji girl suddenly ambushes Sistine.

Rize swiftly intervenes, parrying the girl’s sword strike with her rapier.

“Well, I’ll take care of clearing out these small fries for you.”

“Sistine-senpai! Fight on!”

Looking around, Levin and Maria are there too.

Even the usually taciturn Heinkel.

Everyone, without exception, is giving their all, expending mana and magic to ensure Sistine can press forward.

“…Thank you, everyone.”

As if responding to their collective resolve.

“Gale Kick! Haaaaaaa—!”

Boom!

Entrusting the battlefield to her comrades, Sistine exploits a fleeting gap in the Land of the Rising Sun’s encirclement, breaking through and leaving everything behind in her wake.

The shockwave generated in her trail tears through the forest—

 

“—One-on-one!”

At the Land of the Rising Sun’s rearguard.

Sakuya, guarding the defensive line, senses the moment has finally come.

Sistine, riding a jet stream, closes in on Sakuya.

Distance between them: 100 meters. Time to contact: a mere 2 seconds.

Both Sistine and Sakuya are at their limits—mana and stamina depleted. There’s no time, no leeway, no strength left for tricks.

All that remains is a pure, head-on contest of strength.

No, it’s a battle of who holds the stronger desire for victory—

“Sakuya-san—!”

Sistine charges straight at Sakuya.

She pushes the voltage of mana in her Gale Kick even higher, cloaking herself in gales for hyper-acceleration, running straight, straight, straight—

“Sistine-san—!”

In response, Sakuya gracefully weaves her spell, erecting barriers between herself and Sistine. Barrier. Barrier. Barrier…

Squeezing out every last drop of mana, she conjures multiple layers of rejection barriers to halt Sistine’s advance.

“Haaaaaaaa—!”

Sistine gathers offensive wind mana into her left palm strike—and thrusts it forward.

Without any tricks, she slams it into the barrier walls blocking her path.

Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!

Sistine shatters the barriers one after another with unrelenting momentum, charging forward, forward, forward without slowing—

“Kuh…!? 《One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine-ten・With this・sacred treasure・I summon》—!”

Desperate to slow Sistine’s momentum, Sakuya summons cursed spirits.

But the dense phalanx formed by the horde of spirits—

“《Obey me・people of the wind・for I am the princess who commands the gales》—!”

Sistine’s modified Black Magic [Storm Grasper] unleashes an overwhelming barrage of wind cannonballs, scattering the spirits like debris into the sky—

Distance between them—0 meters.

Contact.

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!”

“Kuuuuuuuu—!”

Sistine’s left palm strike, infused with ferocious wind, clashes head-on with Sakuya’s fan, brimming with immense mana.

Zazazazazazaza—!

Sakuya is pushed back by the force of Sistine’s charge.

The colliding mana at Sistine’s palm and Sakuya’s fan clashes and crushes against each other.

Sakuya’s boots scrape and carve into the forest floor, yet the momentum of their struggle gradually diminishes—

Distance to the defensive line: 50, 40, 30, 25—

“Geh! Goh! I can’t lose… I can’t afford to lose…! For my brothers… my sisters… my family…!”

Finally reaching her limit, Sakuya clutches her chest, coughing up blood, yet she channels mana into her fan and legs, resisting Sistine’s pressure, trying to push back.

“I have things I can’t yield either! I swore to my grandfather… I’d become a mage surpassing him… and aim for the Sky Castle—!”

Similarly afflicted by mana deficiency, Sistine coughs violently but heightens the mana in her palm and Gale Kick even further.

“And besides—”

Grit.

Sistine grits her teeth.

In this critical moment, for some reason, the image flashing in her mind is that good-for-nothing teacher with his perpetually unmotivated, aloof expression.

That man who, despite his cheerful demeanor, seems like a lost child who’s strayed from his path—

“I want him… my teacher… to see me like this…!”

Sistine’s charging momentum is about to falter—Sakuya is gaining the upper hand—

—It was at that moment.

“I want my teacher to see me—!”

“—!?”

With a cry from her soul, Sistine takes one final step, pouring every last ounce of strength into it—

 

Boom!

 

“Ah—”

In that instant, Sakuya’s body is sent flying through the air—

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!”

Like an overwhelming flood breaking through a dam, unstoppable in its rush.

Sistine, transformed into a cannonball of wind, obliterates the remaining 10 meters in an instant.

Nothing stands in her way any longer.

Sistine mercilessly breaches the Land of the Rising Sun’s defensive line—

 

Ooooooooooooooooooo—!

 

Instantly, a thunderous roar of cheers erupts from the entire venue.

It feels like an event from some distant land.

(Ah… I lost…)

Blown away and soaring through the air, Sakuya gazes blankly at the sky, nearly swallowing her, lost in thought.

The score is now 1-1. A tie.

Naturally, the match isn’t over yet—it’s sudden death.

But… Sakuya has already realized. The match is decided.

“Koh! Keh…”

She… probably can’t stand again. Not even after the next healing time.

She’s given everything.

She’s used up every last bit of herself—mind, body, and soul.

Yet… strangely, she feels no regret. If anything, there’s a sense of satisfaction.

What will happen to her now? What will become of her family?

There are countless anxieties tied to defeat.

(But… for now, I want to bask in this comforting sense of defeat…)

As an onmyouji, bound by the duties she imposed on herself, she relentlessly honed her skills.

The hardships and pain never fazed her, but she never once found them enjoyable.

But on this day, in this moment…

(It was fun… Sistine-san… Competing with you, putting everything on the line, giving my all… It was truly fun…)

She finds it strange that, despite losing, she’s smiling.

“Congratulations, Sistine-san… I’m glad I got to meet you…”

Murmuring those words to no one in particular.

Sakuya surrenders to the comforting exhaustion and gravity, falling along with her consciousness—

 

The Land of the Rising Sun’s main wizard, Sakuya Konoha, is incapacitated and eliminated from combat.

Even after the healing time, she couldn’t recover.

Thus—

Signal flares announcing the Alzano Empire’s victory light up the sky in multitude.

The venue is swept into an even greater vortex of fervor by this miraculous comeback—