Chapter 143 – Rank War (3)
“Me and——”
Summer is approaching. Before half of the year passed, the girl told me. Almost white, azure hair, blue azure eyes. It was a girl who seemed to have retained the sunny sky and clouds of a summer day.
Although he himself was born in a snowy field where the sun never rises and blizzards blow all day long.
Hold on. The girl, Anna Kroychev, nervously clasped her own hands.
Even so, the eyes filled with determined will stared at me without trembling.
She continued her words without taking her eyes off me for a moment, as if she would never give up.
Her pronunciation was very smooth, as if she had stuttered.
“Please fight one more time.”
As I said, it was a declaration of war.
*
Although it was said to be a declaration of war, it was not really something grandiose. It means that we will meet in the finals in the ranking match that will come soon.
If you think about it that way, it seems that there is nothing special about it.
Come to think of it, it wasn’t that easy.
The ranking match in the first semester of the first year is held as a tournament.
When she checked the group, she had to defeat Iris first before Anna could meet me. Only then can she and I meet in the finals.
Iris.
Maybe it was during the semester, but the current Iris would be a tough opponent for Anna.
I don’t know if the evaluation in the practical test was boiling, but Iris was following me in the meantime and had already jumped over what I call a ‘wall’.
In other words. If Anna still can’t get over her wall and says she’s at a standstill, then she’s a long way from Anna defeating Iris.
But. That strong will and determination that dwells in the eyes that look at me.
When she thinks of that, even if she learns that Iris has outdone herself to become a Master, she thinks that Anna might have said the same to me.
If so, wouldn’t it be right for me to accept that feeling? At least, it’s not like we have to face it.
I do not know.
Thinking a lot What should I do? What do I think of Anna?
In fact, until now, wasn’t she just avoiding it with various excuses?
I heard such thoughts.
“After.”
It’s like a showdown with the demon king soon.
Or lost memories.
Even though it’s been solved now, it’s like an ordeal of balance.
Because of those problems that had been bothering me until now, the past times when I avoided them, saying that I had no time for them.
Even if I didn’t do it intentionally to avoid it, the actions that ended up being that way.
Reviewed those things.
I thought it was because there were already a lot of things I had to shoulder.
But for that reason, is it right to avoid her pure heart?
At least, shouldn’t we face each other without avoiding this time?
Lean on your back. I buried myself in the backrest and brushed her face.
Okay.
What.
If you hit it right once, the answer will come out.
Like that.
The day was bright.
*
Wow-.
Cheers rang out.
At the opening of the ranking match, everyone cheered regardless of you. Although the Ranking Match is a test, on the contrary, it was also a huge event to finish the semester.
Especially this year. It’s already been said, but this year, there were many members who could attract people’s attention. Princess Iris, heir to the Grand Duke of the North, Anna, and me.
When I go up in grade, I have an older sister.
To be honest, in terms of weight class, I don’t dare compare the other two.
However, from the standpoint of an ordinary cadet, both me and the other two were equally distant.
Anyway. In terms of topicality, it can’t even be compared to the previous year.
Everyone must be thinking that way.
‘Who is stronger, Iris or Anna?’ As much as the rank war was a hit, it was a topic that was attracting a lot of attention. Originally, it was often discussed, but now it has become a topic that is always discussed when two or more cadets gather.
Normally, I would be cautious about daring to say anything, but in front of a big event, that cautiousness fades a bit.
Which of the two is stronger?
Opinions are quite divided. Although this is because no one knows that Iris has crossed the wall. Each of the cadets debated who was stronger based on what they had seen so far.
The two never collided separately during the semester. Rather, that’s why people are interested in this ranking match.
My expectation.
Well, for now, of course, Iris wins. As I said, the current split is because we don’t know what Iris went through outside of the academy.
No matter how much Anna is said to be the successor of the ‘Sword Saint’, she cannot defeat the current Iris. I don’t know if Anna broke through her wall alone in the meantime.
Because it doesn’t seem like it.
Anyway, as Anna wished, she had to overcome Iris in order for her to meet me in the finals.
The cadets seemed to expect the two of them to fight fiercely, but it would be difficult for that wish to happen.
Who is the strongest freshman at the academy?
Anyway, even if you put this and that aside, it couldn’t be an interesting topic.
I’m going to leave it out of the question in the first place, but it’s common for people to think that ‘the one who wins out of the two is number one’.
I’m probably
An ecosystem disruptor?
Could it be that kind of treatment? I couldn’t help it. In fact, I was thinking that I should drop out and not participate in the rank war. If it hadn’t been for Anna’s declaration of war, I probably would have done so.
Of course, that is a story that has become an if to the end, and I am still here.
From the highest point, to the position to welcome challengers.
To do that, I had to go all the way to the finals first.
It wouldn’t be too difficult to make it to the finals, but it would be better to deal with it with sincerity.
Let’s take a look at which tidy up.
“Next, the seven pillars of the Empire, the rightful owner of the Duchy of Chepes, a friend of the Arcadia Imperial Family, and the Imperial Moon who makes the night of the immortal Empire peaceful! The Duke of Scarlett Tepesh!”
Just then, I heard a voice calling me. The heat on the stage was to the extent that it reached here.
Truly the biggest event in the academy.
I went up to the prepared stage with a fluttering heart.
“Wow!”
People’s cheer.
Not only the first year, but also the 2nd and 3rd year cadets were quite visible. Rarely, even cadets in their senior year. In addition to that, there were not a few outsiders who came from outside the academy.
The outsiders I see a lot in particular are the people of the Mage Tower who want to see even a little bit of my magic.
It was easy to infer the reason for coming from the Mage Tower.
The former owner of the Mage Tower who passed away without being able to cross the wall of the Grand, and the successor who has yet to reach the realm.
I can feel it.
Among the crowd wearing the robes of the Mage Tower, there was a mixture of incarnations of talent equal to those of Anna and Iris.
Dwarf physique.
Her voluptuous breasts, which could not be covered even by the robe she wore, and her immaculate skin and beautiful face, which could be seen through the slightly exposed chin.
It seems like they used some kind of perception-damping magic.
That kind of thing doesn’t work for high-ranking magicians.
Shall we talk once more later?
A look of envy toward me.
I raised my hand slightly. It flashed lightly and did not shake. There were a lot of people watching me, but I couldn’t be like a Duke.
With dignity and dignity, I moved my hand, and the cheers of the people were heard again.
“Hey, you saw this way!”
“What are you talking about! Your Highness looked this way!”
If I had to pick a target, it was for the heir of the Mage Tower watching me over there, but good is good.
Just like the successor of the Magic Tower… Since it’s long, I’ll just call it the Master of the Magic Tower. Anyway, the mage lord touched the man in the robe standing next to him and whispered a whisper.
I was curious and decided to steal it.
Although there was a barrier that was basically put in place to prevent the people around them from listening to their conversations.
Like I said, it’s the same thing that higher-ranking wizards don’t have.
Contents is.
‘I guess His Highness the Duke doesn’t like people’s cheers.’
‘I guess so.’
‘If it were my father, he would have been angry with me for being loud and vulgar.’
‘…’
I felt a little sorry for Rob, who was hearing gossip from his former boss and the father of his current boss (the deceased).
I can’t even hit the ball.
Anyway, that inspiration, I couldn’t give my habit to others, so I guess I couldn’t fix that eccentric personality after all.
Still, it seems that he wasn’t a bad father, judging by the subtle longing on his daughter’s face when she talks about her father.
But.
He wasn’t bad, except that he was a bit eccentric, picky, looked down on people who were uglier than him, and was stubborn because he was old.
… ?
… What.
While I am confused by the memory that suddenly came to my mind.
The emcee, who was excited, called out my opponent.
“Next! The second son of the Sharon family! This is Oscar Sharon!”
A little more than when you call me. It was a very different introductory phrase. People didn’t care. Even so, it was even more strange that the duke and the aristocrat Yeongsik were introduced in the same way.
… I put the confusion aside for now, and decided to think about the memories that came to me later.
Opposite of where I entered. From the entrance of the other, my opponent, Oscar Shalon, came up.
Big stature and stout body. He was a typical fighter with strong muscles.
A confrontation between a typical warrior and a wizard.
Although there will be no one here who doesn’t know what the outcome will be, but this alone is quite a picture.
Somehow, I am the head of Chepes, who is treated as a big adult in the empire, and there are expectations about me that I won’t end it in one blow after becoming an arch mage.
“Then let’s begin!”
People’s expectant gazes gathered.
What splendid fights and splendid magic will you see!
I tried to live up to their expectations, and even though the power was mediocre, I tried to create a splendid appearance with a complicated technique.
“I will surrender——!!”
What.
