Chapter 5: The Surface Ablaze, The Underbelly in Turmoil

The magic tournament arena was still enveloped in unrelenting fervor. On the central competition field, dramas of joy and sorrow unfolded one after another, each moment igniting the spectators with frenzied excitement.

“…They’re late.”

In stark contrast to the vibrant enthusiasm of the surrounding crowd, Sistine muttered anxiously.

“Rumia… still hasn’t been found, has she…?”

Quite some time had passed since the afternoon session began. Despite Glenn’s absence, Class 2’s students fought valiantly, their overall ranking fluctuating—now sitting at fourth place. Aiming for the championship was starting to feel like a tough prospect. The gap in raw ability was beginning to show.

“As expected, without Sensei…”

The morale of the group was starting to wane. It’s no good, is it? Well, we did pretty well for ourselves, didn’t we? That kind of lax atmosphere was creeping in. Even Sistine herself was beginning to be swayed by thoughts like, I’ve had enough fun. We tried our best…

“Where on earth did those two go…? Don’t tell me that guy’s doing something shady with Rumia, is he?”

Just as Sistine was gripped by an inexplicable mix of frustration and anger, it happened.

She sensed a familiar presence behind her and turned around.

“You’re finally back!? You’re late, Sen—huh?”

For a moment, she thought it was Glenn and Rumia, but standing there was an unfamiliar pair—a man and a woman.

A young man with long hair and sharp, hawk-like eyes.

A girl with rare blue hair in the empire, her emotions and expressions as lifeless as a doll’s.

Both were dressed in formal black suits with cravats and white gloves, the standard imperial attire. Though their outfits were a tad stiff for the occasion, they weren’t particularly unusual. Yet, for some reason, Sistine couldn’t shake a sense of unease.

“You’re the Class 2 bunch, right?”

“Y-Yes, that’s us… Um, who are you two…?”

“I’m an old friend of Glenn Radars. Name’s Albert. This here’s Re=L.”

“……”

The young man, introducing himself as Albert, answered Sistine’s question, while the girl called Re=L silently tilted her head slightly, presumably as a greeting.

“Glenn invited me to the academy after the magic tournament to catch up. As you can see, I’ve got an official visitor’s pass.”

Albert pulled out a card from his pocket, embossed with the academy’s owl crest in silver foil. It was a magical talisman issued to formal guests after strict vetting, serving as a key to enter and exit the academy’s warded premises.

“But it seems he’s caught up with some sudden business for now.”

The students of Class 2 exchanged bewildered glances at the unexpected visitors.

“…So, here’s the deal. I know this is sudden and probably confusing, but that guy’s tied up for a bit. He asked me to take care of the class in his stead. Starting now, I’ll be taking over as your commander. And—”

In a corner of the town, far from the magic academy.

A young man, clutching a blonde girl in a side carry, was running with single-minded determination.

Flashing through his mind were the words he’d exchanged earlier with a former colleague.

“Rumia is a Sympathetic Amplifier, but using her ability to break this situation is absolutely out of the question.”

“You know how it is—once an Ability User’s power is exposed, it’s over. Persecution, hatred, and in the worst case, death. You’re aware of those unofficial, fanatical militant sects that would purge an Ability User in the name of God, right? If they set their sights on her, it’s the end.”

“Given the absolute necessity of keeping Rumia’s identity hidden, using her ability to turn the tables is strictly forbidden, and we can’t explain the situation to anyone. In this dead-end scenario, the only way to get close to Her Majesty without interference is for my class to win the magic tournament.”

“If we win, just this once, Queen Alicia VII will personally appear on the award platform, and the class’s representative instructor will receive a medal. This is the only chance to slip past the Royal Guard, who are currently on high alert around Her Majesty, and make contact with her.”

“Because, at that moment when Her Majesty stands on the platform to bestow the medal in the name of the queen, the Royal Guard has no choice but to temporarily ease their tight surveillance. To constrain Her Majesty under their watch during this moment of granting a medal to the masses would be to tarnish her authority and prestige. For the pride of the Royal Guard, the leading faction of the right wing, that’s simply unacceptable.”

“And so, I came up with a way to stand before Her Majesty without raising suspicion. It’s—”

——

—To be honest, it’s a long shot.

But the truth is, in the current situation, it is the only feasible option to break the deadlock.

“There they are—!?”

At that moment, a furious shout erupted from behind.

Without slowing his pace, he glanced back—

“Over there—! After them—!?”

Far behind at a crossroad, he spotted a group of Royal Guards who had caught sight of them.

Getting caught here was not an option.

“…Hmph, what a pain.”

With a single snort, he quickened his pace even further—

“Switching supervisors… and telling us to win… Why?”

Sistine, along with the rest of Class 2, couldn’t hide their confusion at this incomprehensible request from Albert, who claimed to be Glenn’s old friend.

To begin with, who was this guy? The academy was protected by wards that kept out unauthorized visitors. The fact that this man had an official visitor’s pass and was inside the academy grounds meant he was likely trustworthy, but…

As Sistine hesitated, unsure how to judge the situation, the petite girl standing beside Albert stepped forward and took her hand.

“…Please. Trust us.”

At a distance where they could feel each other’s breath, Sistine peered deeply into the girl’s eyes.

Then, she glanced back and forth between the young man and the girl.

“You two…”

Sistine fell silent for a moment, as if lost in thought, before speaking.

“…Alright. I’ll entrust you with commanding our class, Albert-san.”

Her decision drew bewildered stares from the entire class.

“It’s fine. These people are probably trustworthy. Besides, no matter who’s in charge, our job stays the same, right? We’re all aiming to win!”

The students exchanged looks, as if to say, Well, that’s true.

“I don’t know where Glenn-sensei is or what he’s doing right now, but…”

Sistine shot a meaningful glance at Albert before turning back to her classmates and declaring boldly,

“Let’s win this thing! Thanks to Sensei, we’ve made it this far, haven’t we!? We’re so close! It’s too early to give up!”

“W-Well, that’s…”

“Sure, Sistine, but…”

“Without Sensei, we…”

To her wavering classmates, Sistine threw out words to stoke their fire.

“Listen… If we lose on our own while Sensei’s gone, that guy’s gonna be like, ‘Gahaha! You lot are totally useless without me, huh!? Oh, sorry, kiddos, I kinda bailed halfway through—tehepero!’ He’d totally say something like that, you know he would…”

Tch. Grr. Clench.

That all-too-plausible scenario seemed to light a spark in the students’ hearts.

“Ugh, that’s so annoying… That would be unbearably annoying…”

“I can’t stand the thought of that idiot teacher saying something like that…”

“Argh, damn it! Just thinking about it pisses me off! Fine, I’m in—let’s do this!”

The atmosphere, which had been cooling off, reignited with fervor.

“…That ought to do it.”

Having successfully rallied the class, Sistine shot another meaningful glance at Albert.

“Well then, shall we see what you’re capable of, Al-ber-to-san?”

At Sistine’s provocative tone, the man scratched his head with a grimace.

“And now, the magic tournament is reaching its climax! After an impressive showing in the morning session, has Class 2 of the second year finally lost steam in the second half—!?”

The announcer’s spirited voice echoed through the arena as always.

“And this ‘Transformation’ match—if they lose this, Class 2’s hopes for the championship might be dashed! So, what’s their move, Class 2—!?”

“U-Ugh…”

Inside a tent near the circular stage set up for the transformation magic demonstration on the central competition field, reserved for waiting competitors,

Lynn was trembling with nervousness, clutching the hem of her uniform skirt.

“If I lose… our championship… the championship…”

“Ohhh—and there it is—!?”

Suddenly, the announcer’s raised voice and the cheers from the stands made Lynn flinch.

“Class 1, under Halley-sensei, with Seta! A magnificent transformation into a dragon—!? This is incredible!”

Peeking cautiously out of the tent toward the stage, Lynn saw it—a dragon with glistening black scales, majestic wings spread wide, ferocious claws and fangs glinting, and a massive frame that seemed ready to crush onlookers. Its sheer realism was overwhelming.

“Eek!?”

The transformation’s fidelity was so striking that Lynn instinctively recoiled in fear.

“The judges are giving high marks! 9, 9, 10, 9… a total of 37 points! Has this sealed the deal—!?”

“A-Ah… W-What do I do…?”

At that moment,

Someone tapped the shoulder of Lynn, who was clutching her head and paling.

“G-Glenn-sen—”

She whipped around reflexively, but—

“Oh… Albert-san…”

Standing there was Albert, the mysterious young man claiming to be Glenn’s friend.

“S-Sorry… I mistook you for someone else…”

“Looks like you’ve done plenty of mental preparation.”

Albert’s gaze fell on the holy art book Lynn was clutching to her chest as he spoke.

“Huh? Oh, yes… Glenn-sensei told me to…”

“Then there’s no problem.”

Albert nodded firmly.

“Lynn, was it? You’ll be fine. You’re far more capable than you give yourself credit for. You’re probably just lacking a bit of confidence. Glenn’s always talking about you—your skill is the real deal.”

“Albert… san?”

“Don’t worry about failing. I told you to aim for the win, but this is just a festival. No one’s going to die or complain. If anyone dares blame you for losing, I’ll deal with them myself. So, take it easy. Got it?”

The words felt familiar, like something someone else had once said. They brought back the same sense of relief and calm Lynn had felt when she first heard them.

Taking a deep breath—

“Got it! I’ll do my absolute best!”

She nodded with newfound resolve.

“Next up, a bit of a celebrity in transformation magic at the academy—Class 2’s Lynn-chan! What kind of transformation will she show us—!?”

“I’m off!”

Albert nodded silently, and Lynn strode toward the stage.

“Heh, telling her it’s okay to lose when winning this is crucial for the championship?”

Sistine, watching the exchange, smirked meaningfully.

“Pretty bold, Albert-san.”

“…A leader needs to show composure, or those below can’t perform. Especially for someone with her personality. Scolding or encouragement depends on the person and the situation.”

“I see. You’ve got a sharp eye. Almost like you’re always watching.”

“……”

And then—

“An angel—!? An angel straight out of holy art has descended upon the magic academy—!? This is breathtaking! Class 2’s Lynn-chan has pulled off a stunning transformation—! Now, the judges’ scores—!?”

With a halo shaped like a clock face at her back, three pairs of pure white wings, flowing silver hair, and a delicate silk garment fluttering softly. Her slender frame was gently wrapped in countless golden chains, and her delicate arms held a massive golden key, symbolizing the Angel of Time, connected to her chains.

The entire form was as intricate and beautiful as a sculpture.

The Angel of Time, La`tirika.

A divine presence, as if proving the existence of a mythical angel.

At the center of a whirlwind of thunderous applause and roaring cheers, an angel so majestic stood that any devout soul might kneel and make the sign of the holy cross in awe—

“Damn it, they’re so slippery…!”

Cross Fars, a veteran of the Royal Guard, was growing frantic.

Tasked with protecting Queen Alicia VII during her visit to Fejite, he had been fully dedicated to his duty with pride—until, out of nowhere, an order came from Zelos to eliminate a certain girl. They’d even provided a monochrome photograph of her, captured by a projection device, with meticulous detail.

When had Zelos prepared such a thing? And the order to kill her on the spot upon capture was bizarre. Even if the girl was a national traitor guilty of lèse-majesté, the situation felt unnaturally extreme.

Despite the bad taste the mission left, Cross set out to fulfill his duty, pursuing the girl and the man fleeing with her. A considerable amount of time had already passed.

Now, Cross and his men, split into dozens of small units, were scouring the streets of Fejite. Ahead of the unit he commanded was the man, carrying the girl in question.

Alerts had already been sent to the district guards, and Fejite’s gates—north, south, east, and west—were sealed.

The duo was nothing more than a bird trapped in the giant cage of Fejite.

In fact, Cross’s unit had them in their sights at that very moment.

Capturing them was only a matter of time.

Or so it should have been—

They couldn’t catch them. They were always just out of reach, eluding capture time and again.

Coordinating with other units via communication magitech, they’d set up a tightening net, yet the pair consistently pierced the weakest points, breaking through and darting freely across the north, east, central, south, and west districts, throwing their pursuers into chaos.

It was as if they were looking down on Fejite from above, fully grasping the city’s layout and their own movements with uncanny precision. Worse, it felt like their communication lines were being intercepted somehow, completely exposed.

Even more baffling—whenever Cross’s team was about to lose sight of them, the duo would conveniently reappear right in front of them. It was almost like they were being toyed with.

“Tch… Mocking us, huh…!?”

Alongside his comrades, Cross doggedly chased the man’s retreating figure, his dozens of footsteps pounding the pavement—

—.

——.

“Class 2, having clinched the highest score in the ‘Transformation’ event, is regaining momentum! They’ve also delivered results in ‘Familiar Control’ and ‘Detection & Lockpicking,’ climbing to third place! The championship is back within reach! Wow, this magic tournament is truly thrilling!”

An upset was indeed the flower of competition. The spectators, rekindled by Class 2’s resurgence, were once again swept up in a feverish uproar.

“And now, in the midst of the traditional mage’s game, ‘Granzia’! It’s a brutal territory battle between Halley-sensei’s Class 1 team and Glenn-sensei’s Class 2 team, washing blood with blood!”

On the elliptical Granzia field, players—distinguished by bibs over their uniforms—frantically chanted spells to place spirit points, constructing territorial barriers. Blue points of light, connected by blue lines, formed glowing walls that vividly segmented the arena—

“But what’s with Class 2!? They haven’t shown the slightest sign of building their own barriers! They’re solely focused on destroying the territorial barriers set up by Class 1!”

As the announcer noted, Class 2’s team made no effort to build their own territory, instead relentlessly sabotaging the barriers Class 1 had constructed.

“Tch, how cunning…! Damn you, Class 2! Aiming for a draw, huh!? No points for your class, but given the skill gap, that’s still a huge upset!”

Halley, directing his team from outside the field, gritted his teeth.

The match had devolved into a stalemate. Class 2’s team—Alf, Bix, and Cycer—were clearly outclassed by Class 1, yet their knack for dismantling barriers was oddly impeccable.

As a result, neither side scored any points.

Even when Class 1 briefly gained points, they were quickly reset to zero.

In this event, the point differential determined the class’s score. If it ended like this, Class 2 would break even, but Class 1 would fall significantly behind other classes.

Growing impatient, Halley barked orders in frustration.

“Tch, damn it, we’re running out of time! Fine—Absolute Field! Deploy the Absolute Field! Show those weaklings the fundamental gap in skill!”

Following his command, Class 1’s players began constructing a barrier with red light.

This required more effort than a normal barrier, but if countered, it would incur a hefty point penalty.

“Ohhh—Class 1 has started building an Absolute Field! If this goes through, a draw is off the table! Class 2’s players are scrambling to set up a Normal Field, but—true to form, Class 1’s response is swift! Their defender, Noel-kun, has crushed Class 2’s field in no time—!”

Class 2’s trio desperately tried to establish barriers to maintain an advantage, but Class 1’s defender thwarted them at every turn. Meanwhile, Class 1’s Absolute Field was steadily nearing completion.

“Fuhahaha! Class 2! You’ve been a pain with your petty tricks, but this is checkmate! With this victory, our overall first place is secured! It’s over!”

The moment Halley triumphantly declared victory from the sidelines, Class 1’s Absolute Field was complete—and simultaneously, their defeat was sealed.

“Wha—what is this—!?”

The utterly unexpected outcome filled the arena with deafening roars.

As Class 1’s red field took shape, it triggered the sudden appearance of a yellow light field that engulfed it entirely.

“A Silent Field Counter—!? Class 2 had set up a Silent Field that activates upon the completion of Class 1’s Absolute Field—!?”

Per Granzia’s rules, a field completely enveloped by another held no point value and added to the score of the team that built the outermost field. In other words—

“No… impossible…”

Halley stood stunned, reeling from the absurd turn of events.

“A Silent Field…!? A high-level tactic even Granzia masters rarely pull off… Those weaklings did this!? And to set it up to trigger on an Absolute Field of this scale… One misstep, and it’s a useless spell that never sees the light of day…! This is outrageous—!”

On the field, Class 1’s players were in disarray. They’d never dreamed their supposedly inferior opponents had laid such an advanced trap, and the sudden massive point gap threw them into confusion and mental shutdown.

“—!? Idiots! What are you doing!? Crush it! Crush it—! Even a little! Break that field—!”

At that moment, the referee’s merciless whistle rang out, and Halley clutched his head.

“And that’s time—! An unbelievable comeback! With this, Class 2 has closed the gap with the leading Class 1—! It’s anyone’s game now! Class 1’s seemingly certain overall first place is now up in the air—!?”

“…Good.”

Watching the team from the sidelines like Halley, Albert gave a small nod.

“Amazing… We actually won…”

Beside him, Sistine, who’d been keeping records and timing, widened her eyes in shock.

“A match we’d lose nine times out of ten. We just got lucky pulling the one win first.”

“Even so… Albert-san, you’re really incredible.”

“Incredible? Me? The incredible ones are your classmates. They held their own against a superior opponent.”

“No, that’s true, but… During the match, you were giving our players detailed instructions with signs, weren’t you? I was keeping time and records, so I noticed—those were scarily perfect.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah, the counter working so well was almost entirely thanks to you.”

“You’re wrong.”

Albert firmly rejected Sistine’s praise.

“To make the counter work, your class came together as one, adjusting the barrier spells to be as user-friendly as possible for the players, didn’t they?”

“Huh? How do you know that?”

“…I heard it from Glenn. Point is, this victory is yours and yours alone. I just gave a slight push.”

“Hmm, well, if you say so, I’ll let it slide.”

Sistine brushed back her hair, smirking meaningfully.

“Now, the tournament’s reaching its climax! Next up is the ‘Duel Battle’—my turn!”

“I see… I’m counting on you.”

“…! Yes, please look forward to it!”

At Albert’s words, Sistine blinked in surprise for a moment before flashing a fearless grin.

“Hah… hah…! Got him! We’ve finally cornered him!”

Cross, panting as he ran, was at last certain of victory.

In the narrow alley, ahead of their pursuit, he could see the back of that detestable man, carrying a girl and fleeing with unrelenting vigor. Likely, he was enhancing his physical abilities with the white magic [Physical Boost] spell, but to maintain such a pace against them, who were trained in combat, was nothing short of astonishing.

But that was over now.

At the end of the man’s path, his comrades, the royal guards, had already circled ahead, forming a formation to intercept him.

“A pincer attack! You’ve slipped through our encirclement so far, but not this time!”

Soon, Cross could see several guards waiting ahead of the fleeing man.

“Stop! If you don’t, you’ll taste the might of our magic!”

The waiting guards issued their warning.

Cross sensed that this chase was finally nearing its end, but—

“W-What!?”

The man didn’t stop.

Carrying the girl, he charged straight toward the waiting royal guards with almost foolish determination—

“You were warned!”

The waiting guards began chanting their spells in unison.

“《O crimson lion・in your wrath・roar and rage》!”

Black Magic [Blaze Burst]. A military assault spell that hurls a fireball of compressed thermal energy, spreading explosive flames over a wide area upon impact. Without magical defenses, a direct hit would reduce a human to ashes, leaving nothing behind—a powerful area-suppression spell.

In this narrow alley, there was no way to dodge multiple [Blaze Burst] spells. Even if Black Magic [Tri-Resist] was cast, its defenses would be pierced, ensuring certain death. The spell Black Magic [Tri-Banish], which returns the three elemental energies to their base state to negate attacks, lacked the speed to keep up. Deploying a sturdy magical barrier with Black Magic [Force Shield] would halt the man’s movement, making him easy prey for Cross and his pursuing comrades’ swords.

Every guard was certain of the end, hurling fireballs toward the oncoming man.

But at that moment—the solid stone wall of the alley suddenly shifted like clay, swiftly forming a thick barrier between the man and the guards who had cast their spells.

In that instant, the stone wall’s texture changed, transforming into a wall of water. The fireballs struck the massive water barrier.

The water wall, swallowing the fireballs, boiled, evaporated, and expanded in an instant, turning into a tremendous amount of steam that exploded outward, racing through the alley as a white tempest, blanketing the guards’ vision in pure white.

“Gwaaaah!?”

Blinded and battered by the scalding steam-laden wind, none of the guards could move.

When their vision finally cleared, the man and the girl were, predictably, gone.

The alley wall, likely the material for the initial stone barrier, had a gaping hole where it had been carved away. The two had probably escaped through it.

“Damn it, what the hell was that…? Alchemy, seriously!? That’s absurd…! That transmutation speed—it’s inhuman!”

This chase was far from over.

Exasperated, Cross resumed pursuit of the man—

—.

——.

“And now, the Magic Tournament’s second-year division is reaching its climax! At last, we’ve arrived at today’s main event: the Duel Battle! As always, it’s a three-on-three team match, a tournament featuring ten participating teams! Which class will claim the top spot!?”

In the center of the arena, a circular dueling stage had been constructed, with the participating teams gathered around it.

“Each class sends its strongest trio! They’ll fight fair and square, carrying the honor of their class! And let’s not forget, the much-anticipated Class 2, led by Sensei Glenn, can still turn the tables on Sensei Halley’s Class 1, currently in first place overall, if they win this Duel Battle! What’s going to happen!?”

This was the moment everything would be decided.

Would a team that leveraged everyone’s strengths prevail? Or would one driven by a few elite powerhouses dominate?

The second-year division of the Magic Tournament, which had drawn so much attention for better or worse, would be settled here—

“Here we go, the tournament begins! First round: Class 6 versus Class 4! Both teams, send your vanguard forward!”

Meanwhile, around the VIP seats where Her Majesty the Queen sat, the atmosphere was frantic, in stark contrast to the excitement of the arena.

Guards bustled back and forth around the VIP area, their angry shouts echoing.

“Still nothing!? You still haven’t caught them!?”

Zelos, venting his frustration, bellowed at a guard reporting in.

“B-But… as we’ve been saying, there’s someone aiding the target’s escape, and that man is proving far more formidable than expected…!”

“Fool! It’s just that magic instructor, isn’t it!? To be outdone by a single mage! Are you truly members of the proud Royal Guard!?”

“My deepest apologies!”

“Chase them! No matter what, you must eliminate Lady Rumia! Or else… you know what happens!”

“Yes, sir!”

Then, another guard, who had been standing by, offered a suggestion to Zelos.

“However, Your Excellency, it’s true the enemy is formidable. This may be beyond our ability to handle alone. Perhaps we should reveal the truth and request support from the academy—”

“Absolutely not!”

Zelos cut off the suggestion with a furious shout.

“That’s the one thing we cannot do! Have you forgotten!? If we do that, we might survive, but Her Majesty—! That alone must be avoided at all costs!”

“Y-Yes, you’re right… my apologies!”

“When this is over, I’ll take full responsibility and end my own life! I’ll bear the disgrace of a traitor who betrayed Her Majesty! But Her Majesty—Her Majesty alone must be protected! So—”

The young guard bowed his head deeply.

“To think you’d go so far, Your Excellency… Understood. We’ll hasten to apprehend Lady Rumia and the man aiding her escape.”

“I’m sorry… for forcing such a distasteful task on you. I’ll divert some of Her Majesty’s escorts to reinforce your efforts. Capture the target as quickly as possible. Everything is for Her Majesty’s sake—”

Suddenly, a crimson explosion erupted, filling the alley with flames, the shockwave raging through the surroundings.

“Gaaaah!?”

A guard caught in the blast became a human torch, collapsing to the ground.

“A-Are you alright!?”

Cross hurriedly rushed to his burning comrade.

“I-I’m fine… the flames aren’t that strong… but the explosion’s impact got my arm…”

The guard, managing to extinguish the flames enveloping him, stood up, groaning in frustration. He clutched his arm, his face contorted in pain, likely having injured it.

“Damn it… Black Magic [Burn Floor]… another magical trap!”

The countless magical traps the enemy had set weren’t lethal to them, given their equipment was enchanted with [Tri-Resist], but they weren’t negligible either. Healing each injury with curative magic drained their mana, personnel, and time. As a result, Cross and his team had to remain constantly vigilant, slowing their pursuit to a crawl.

Moreover, the enemy didn’t set traps haphazardly. Throughout the prolonged chase, they struck precisely when Cross and his team’s guard against traps wavered, with impeccable timing and finesse. Because of this, despite knowing traps were present, Cross and his team kept falling into them repeatedly.

Frustrated by this relentless stalemate, Cross stomped the ground in anger.

“What the hell? Who are these guys we’re chasing? They’re far too battle-hardened… they’ve been toying with us this whole time! And they haven’t killed a single one of us… what’s their deal!? Wasn’t the one helping them just some magic instructor!?”

“Cross-san! We’ve got a report from the third unit! The targets are currently heading south on Tolt Street, East District, Second Avenue!”

“Got it! Alright, everyone, let’s move!”

—.

——.

The Duel Battle continued.

Lines of lightning, arrows of flame, and gusts of frost clashed across the dueling stage.

Fifth round: Class 2 versus Class 4—

“《O mighty wind》—!”

Sistine’s Black Magic [Gale Blow] spell completed faster than her opponent’s counter-spell, unleashing a ferocious gust that struck her opponent.

“U-Uwaaaah!?”

Unable to resist, the opposing player was blown away.

“Oh no! Ridley’s [Air Screen] spell didn’t make it in time! He’s out of bounds! Class 2 sweeps Class 4 with a flawless victory! They’re strong! Kash-kun, who was thought to be a weak link as the vanguard, is actually holding his own—this team is solid!”

Amid the roaring cheers, Sistine and Kash high-fived.

“As expected of you, Sistine—a total rout! Unlike me, who barely scraped by in a messy fight.”

“What are you talking about, Kash? A win’s a win. You were impressive too.”

Sistine and Kash laughed, praising each other’s efforts.

“Hmph. Not bad, Sistine. But isn’t that a bit soft? If you didn’t care about injuring your opponent, you could’ve won even more easily, no?”

“You really never change, do you, Gibul…”

As the class united in excitement, Sistine sighed in exasperation at Gibul, the only one whose cynical, detached demeanor remained unshaken.

“No time for chatter, you lot.”

Albert sharply cut through the team’s buoyant mood.

“The next duel is starting. Watch it. Study how the other players fight and imagine how you’d handle them. And listen while you watch.”

Albert turned to Kash, pointing at the players now taking the stage.

“Class 7’s Isaac. Likely your next opponent. His rapid-fire [Shock Bolt] casting speed is remarkable. With your skill, you won’t be able to banish them. You’ll be forced into a defensive stalemate, constantly recasting [Tri-Resist] and [Force Shield].”

“Y-Yeah, you’re right… I’m not good enough…”

“Here’s the plan, Kash. Stop using [Force Shield]. Use [Tri-Resist] enchantment only once at the start. No stacking, understood?”

Kash’s eyes widened in shock at the words.

“Hmph. Another reckless order… I’ve never heard of a magic duel where you abandon defense,” Gibul scoffed, shrugging in disbelief, but Albert ignored him and continued.

“Kash, you’re the most athletic and physically robust of the three. Use your agility and endurance to dodge and endure [Shock Bolt] with just your body and grit. Isaac has a habit of disrupting his Mana Biorhythm after five consecutive casts, leaving an opening.”

“!”

“Endure the first four shots with just [Tri-Resist] and dodge the fifth at all costs. Do that, and you win. You’re a man, aren’t you? Tough out a little pain.”

“…G-Got it. I’ll do it!”

Kash, shown a path to victory, nodded solemnly.

“Next, Gibul. Your opponent is…”

“Hmph, spare me. I don’t need your advice.”

“Listen anyway. Your next opponent is—”

Despite Gibul’s brusque dismissal, Albert patiently continued offering guidance.

“…Hmm.”

Sistine watched Albert’s profile, her gaze tinged with some unspoken meaning.

In Fejite’s South District, where countless street stalls and shops crowded together.

Pushing through the throngs of people, Cross and his team rendezvoused with two other units.

“Damn it, the evening market… they’ve blended into the crowd! What’s the situation!?”

In response to Cross’s shout, a fellow guard ran up.

“We lost them! My apologies!”

“No choice, then. We’ll impose martial law on this area immediately! Clear out the civilians and—”

Just as Cross began barking orders to his comrades, it happened.

“Gyaaah!?”

One of the gathered guards suddenly convulsed, screamed, and collapsed.

“What!? What’s going on!?”

“S-Sniping!”

“What!?”

Before Cross’s horrified eyes, bolts of [Lightning Pierce] arced through the air from an unknown source, striking down his comrades one by one.

“Gyaaah!?”

“Guaaaah!?”

The crackle of purple lightning mingled with the guards’ screams—

“Insane! Are they serious!? Magic sniping in a crowd like this!? Tch! Don’t bunch up, scatter! Take cover behind anything nearby!”

Realizing they were targeted, the guards frantically dispersed, diving into alleys or behind buildings.

“Tch, what’s happening!? Our gear is strongly enchanted with [Tri-Resist]… we shouldn’t be going down in one hit!”

“T-The thing is, a [Dispel Force] barrier seems to have been set up around this area… our [Tri-Resist] enchantments have been neutralized without us noticing!”

“What!? We were lured into a trap…!? Damn it! Report the damage!”

“Four men down! But the attacks seem restrained! The fallen were shot through the legs and knocked out, but their lives aren’t in danger! No civilians were caught in the crossfire either!”

“Tch… they’re targeting only us… and sparing our lives… what kind of people are they…?”

To make matters worse, the sight of guards felled by magic had thrown the plaza into chaos. People ran in every direction, the crowd surging like a violent wave. For a while, their movements would be severely restricted.

If this was all calculated—Cross couldn’t help but shudder at the enemy’s superhuman magic sniping skills and cunning precision.

“No choice! Units three and four, prioritize civilian evacuation and enforce martial law! Unit two, tend to the wounded! Unit five, we’ve pinpointed their location from the sniping! Let’s corner them!”

“Understood!”

Receiving their orders, the Royal Guard members dispersed to fulfill their roles—

—.

——.

“Defeating Class 5 and crushing Class 8, Class 2 has finally advanced to the finals!”

The crowd’s cheers erupted. The arena’s excitement had reached its peak.

“The final opponent—is this fate at work? It’s none other than their destined rivals, Halley-sensei’s Class 1! A head-on showdown! The winner of this match will be the champion of this Magic Tournament! What a clear-cut showdown!”

The moment everyone had secretly hoped for had finally arrived.

But in contrast to the arena’s fervor, one corner was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere.

In the VIP seats of the Magic Tournament arena.

Surrounded by elite guards, Alicia murmured with a prayerful expression.

“Please, Lord… I beg you… protect that child…”

Seeing Alicia’s utterly exhausted face, Celica groaned, deeply apologetic.

“I’m sorry. To think this would happen while I was with her… damn it.”

“…Celica, it’s not your fault… If anyone’s to blame, it’s me…”

“But there’s still hope.”

Celica glanced briefly at the stage below. Her gaze fell on Albert, who was coaching Sistine and the other two students for their final battle.

“…Trust in Glenn. That guy… he’ll definitely pull through.”

“Glenn…?”

“Yeah, that’s the kind of guy he’s always been, right?”

Alicia fell silent for a moment, then nodded firmly.

“You’re right. If it’s him… if it’s him, surely…”

The Duel Battle, the finals.

The match lived up to its name as the championship bout.

Vanguard match: Class 2’s Kash versus Class 1’s Ena. After a fierce battle where both gave their all, Ena’s Alchemy [Paralyzing Mist Array] incapacitated Kash, leading to Kash’s narrow defeat. Score: 0-1.

Middle match: Class 2’s Gibul versus Class 1’s Kreiss. At first, it seemed evenly matched, but as time passed, the difference in raw skill became apparent. Gibul’s Summoning [Call Elemental] summoned an Earth Elemental, which pinned Kreiss with both arms, forcing Kreiss to concede. Score: 1-1.

Everything now rested on the captain’s match, pitting Class 2’s Sistine against Class 1’s Heinkel.

“…Not bad, Gibul.”

Sistine offered a nod of praise to Gibul, who returned to the bench with a composed expression.

“Hmph. I brought it back to a tie. Don’t waste my effort.”

“Not even a ‘leave it to you.’ You really never change, do you?”

Sistine pressed her temple in exasperation.

“…Sorry, Sistine. If I’d won earlier, we’d have clinched it by now…”

Kash muttered regretfully.

“Well, for a dead-last student like you, you did alright. Leave the rest to our captain.”

“Yes, yes, you and your mouth…”

Sistine shot a playful jab at the ever-sarcastic Gibul as she stepped toward the stage.

Albert called out briefly to her back.

“…It’s in your hands.”

Without turning, Sistine extended her right hand sideways, giving a thumbs-up in response.

Then, carrying the expectations of her class, Sistine stepped onto the dueling stage.

The cheers of her classmates in the stands reached her ears.

In front of her stood her opponent for the captain’s match, Heinkel.

An exceptional student, no less talented than Sistine, and her constant rival for the top spot in their year. Honestly, the odds were fifty-fifty.

—Win it, I’m counting on you.

She recalled Albert’s words.

—Believe in me, please.

She recalled Re=L’s words.

“…Sheesh, so roundabout… Fine, let’s do this!”

Clapping her palm against her fist to psych herself up, Sistine removed the glove from her left hand.

Following the traditional mage’s duel etiquette, they bowed to each other. And then—

“Here we go—the captain’s match begins!”

At the signal to start, Sistine and Heinkel moved simultaneously.

“《O purple lightning of the thunder spirit》!”

Heinkel unleashed [Shock Bolt] with lightning-fast chanting.

“《Let the calamity disperse》!”

Sistine swiftly chants the spell [Tri-Banish], neutralizing it.

At the center, the remnants of mana scatter with a sharp pop.

In that fleeting moment, both sides maintain a fixed distance, darting sideways as if tracing a circle.

“《O mighty wind》—!”

“《O wall of air》—!”

They continue chanting spells while running. The gust of [Gale Blow] unleashed by Sistine collides with the air barrier Heinkel had erected, the compressed air seeking escape and raging in all directions.

Their opening moves were nearly evenly matched—

“Come on—! Don’t lose, Sistine!”

“Please! Hang in there—!”

Cheers rise from their classmates.

“Damn it, to think Class 2 would cling on this far! Heinkel, win! Losing to a ragtag bunch of weaklings would be a lifelong disgrace for a mage! Just win—!”

Halley’s hysterical shouts echoed.

“Woooah! Both of you, give it your all—!”

“That’s it! Go for it—!”

The crowd roared with excitement, electrified by the intense magical duel from the very start.

At last, the chaotic Magic Tournament was reaching its climax—

“《O crimson flame array》—!”

Heinkel casts [Fire Wall], unleashing a radially expanding wall of flames.

“《May the guardian’s protection be upon us》—”

Sistine counters with [Tri-Resist], deftly deflecting it. The fiery tempest brushes past her body, wildly fluttering her hair and the cape-robe she wears.

“《Let power return to naught》—”

Heinkel immediately responds, activating [Dispel Force] to nullify Sistine’s [Tri-Resist]—

“《Let there be light》!”

But a split second faster, Sistine completes the [Flash Light] spell.

A blinding flash erupts, painting the arena white.

To protect his eyes, Heinkel instinctively looks away—causing [Dispel Force] to falter. Sistine fully deflects the fiery tempest—

“《O white winter storm》—!”

She chants [White Out], a black magic spell. A chilling shockwave surges, robbing the opponent’s limbs of sensation and rendering them immobile. The cold shrouds the field in a white haze—

“《O mighty wind》—!”

But Heinkel is no slouch, casting [Gale Blow]—countering the chilling shockwave with a gust. The overpowering wind nearly sweeps Sistine’s body away—

“Tch… 《The scales tip to starboard》—”

As the fierce wind threatened to lift her, Sistine manipulated gravity with [Gravity Control], temporarily increasing her weight to anchor herself desperately to the ground.

Shielding her eyes with her arm and crouching low, she endures the violent gale. Her prized long silver hair was toyed with by the wind and whipped fiercely backward—

—He’s strong.

While inwardly marveling at Heinkel’s spell-casting speed, mana, and judgment, Sistine carefully regulates her tension and mana biorhythm with each breath—

“《O purple lightning of the thunder spirit》!”

Pointing at Heinkel, who emerges as the white haze parts, Sistine unleashes a bolt of lightning. The violet arc pierces through the wind, streaking straight toward him—

“Yo, as expected, this is one heck of a match—! Neither side’s giving an inch!”

Assault spells and counter spells fly back and forth endlessly, clashing and intertwining.

Though the spells permitted in this duel are limited to low-lethality ones that academy students can master, the skill in their offensive and defensive maneuvers is undeniably beyond student level. A match this spectacular is a rare sight.

“《Come, winged servant of flame, fulfill the contract》—!”

“《Return to your rightful place, let the contract be forsaken》—!”

The spell exchanges continue without end—

Everyone watches the match’s outcome with bated breath, caught in excitement and thunderous cheers—

“You’ve given us a hell of a time so far—but there’s nowhere left to run, you thieves!”

Cross races through a cramped alley with his fellow guards, certain that victory is finally within reach.

“I’ll admit your spell-casting prowess and sniping skills are exceptional… but letting us catch your line of fire was your mistake! We’ve pinned your location! This time, we’ve cornered you!”

“Cross-san! Squads 1, 7, 8, and 9 are advancing toward the target location as planned!”

“Good! Perfect! We’ve blocked every escape route from that sniping position! Those rats are trapped!”

It’s finally over. This time, it’s truly over.

With that conviction, Cross and his team boldly charge into the deepest part of the labyrinthine alleys, an open lot surrounded by high building walls—

“Wha…”

They freeze in shock.

No one’s there. The dim, weed-choked wasteland, far removed from the town’s bustle, is eerily silent. Not a single person, not even a stray cat, is in sight.

“What!? Squad 5, Cross’s team!?”

“What’s going on!? Where’s the enemy!?”

At that moment, the hurried footsteps of other Royal Guard squads converge on the lot from the surrounding alleys.

“Impossible!? They escaped!?”

“That can’t be—!? We blocked all escape routes—”

The guards falter, shaken by the complete absence of the enemy.

Amid his colleagues’ panic, Cross suddenly notices something.

The four walls enclosing the lot.

Scattered across them—strange objects are affixed.

“…Mirrors?”

He senses traces of mana. Likely an application of alchemy.

Using [Material Transmutation] to reshape part of the wall into a perfectly flat surface, and [Elemental Reconfiguration] to treat that surface with a silver mirror reaction, turning it into a mirror. For some reason, the mirror surfaces are imbued with mana processing.

These mysterious mirrors are arranged at various angles across the walls of the lot.

Undoubtedly, the enemy’s doing.

The question is—why did they do this?

“No… impossible…!?”

No. He knows.

Cross had already grasped the enemy’s intent.

That’s why he felt this chill, this shudder, this sickening sensation of blood draining from his body.

In that moment, Cross’s thoughts freeze for a few seconds, delaying his warning to the others, simply because he didn’t want to believe the nightmarish reality that a human capable of such an absurd feat could exist.

Yes, their sniping—the sniping that had toyed with them relentlessly—

It wasn’t aimed directly at them. From some distant location, they fired [Lightning Pierce] into the mirrors here, reflecting the bolts to strike Cross and his team’s limbs with pinpoint accuracy—

“Everyone, get out of here—!”

Cross screams.

The moment everyone present jolts at his cry,

From one of the alleys leading to the lot, far in the depths of its straight path—

A glint flashes.

Countless streaks of lightning tear through the darkness, hurtling toward the defenseless Cross and his team, one after another—

—

—And so, a quarter-hour after the duel began.

As expected, Sistine, who had witnessed life-and-death magical combat in the prior incident, held a slight edge.

With both sides exhausting their arsenal of spells and mana nearly depleted, at that moment,

“《Deny and obstruct, O wall of storms, grant peace to their limbs》—!”

Seizing a fleeting gap in the spell rhythm caused by mana biorhythm, Sistine plays her trump card: a custom-modified spell, [Storm Wall].

“Wha—!? What’s this spell—!?”

Caught off guard by the unfamiliar spell, Heinkel hastily erects [Air Screen], but the sprawling wall of wind restricts his movement—panic steals the time needed to choose his next spell—

As if to seal the deal, Sistine musters her last reserves of mana and unleashes a full-force [Gale Blow].

“There! 《O mighty wind》—!”

The power of [Gale Blow], layered atop [Storm Wall], just barely breaches the sturdy [Air Screen] Heinkel had deployed—

“Ugh, uwaaaah—!”

At last, Heinkel’s body is blasted out of the arena.

…

A moment of silence. Then—

“It’s over—!? Out of bounds! Unbelievable, unbelievable—!? Class 2, Class 2 takes the championship—!”

The next instant, the arena erupts in a standing ovation, thunderous cheers filling the air.

Friend and foe, victor and vanquished, even differences in grade vanish. It’s a pure storm of praise for the two who fought a spectacular duel.

Only Halley slumps, shoulders drooping in regret.

“Haa—haa… we won…”

Having narrowly clinched victory, Sistine, drained by the intense exertion and fatigue, collapses to one knee.

“Yesss—!”

“Alright—!”

Class 2 students leap from the stands, rushing to Sistine’s side.

“Eh!? W-Wait, kyaa!?”

Swept up by her jubilant friends, Sistine is hoisted into the air. Flustered and wide-eyed as she’s tossed about, her classmates revel in her valiant effort.

“…Well done.”

Albert watches Sistine and the others from a distance, murmuring to himself in a voice no one else hears.

“Who could’ve predicted this outcome!? This Magic Tournament was a rollercoaster of dramatic twists and turns! With the conclusion of this ‘Duel Battle,’ we announce to all in attendance that the second-year division of today’s Magic Tournament has concluded all events. To our distinguished guests, thank you for traveling from afar. To the students, well done! We will now proceed to the closing ceremony and awards. This broadcast was brought to you by Arth of the organizing committee—”

In stark contrast to the unrelenting excitement of the arena, the VIP seats are steeped in a mournful silence.

“The tournament’s over, hasn’t it?”

Alicia speaks to Zelos, whose eyes gleam beside her.

“…So it seems.”

“I have the duty of presenting commendations and medals to the winning class’s representative… Will I be allowed to do so?”

“…Of course, that’s fine. In exchange, permit me to accompany you. I will ensure Your Majesty’s safety… Celica-dono.”

“What?”

“Would you also accompany Her Majesty?”

“…Hmph. No need to tell me.”

Celica rises from her seat with a listless expression.

Then, Alicia pleads softly.

“Zelos, please.”

“What is it?”

“I understand your loyalty. But… can’t we stop this?”

“No.”

Zelos firmly refuses.

“Your Majesty is indispensable to this nation. For that, we must sacrifice all others.”

“…But.”

“I understand Your Majesty’s feelings painfully well. But… I cannot comply. For Your Majesty, for this nation, I will eliminate… Princess Ermiana.”

“…!”

Alicia lowers her eyes, pained.

“Come, Your Majesty. Let us go bestow your praise upon the youths who will uphold the empire’s future.”

To Alicia, silently looking down, Celica, standing beside her, whispers softly.

“Let’s go, Alice.”

“!”

“…Trust Glenn. Trust that guy.”

Nodding at Celica’s firm, almost scolding words, Alicia rises from her seat.