The rankings were finalized, and the top four contestants were announced.
From the Upper Class, it was Helios and Charlotte.
From the Top Class, it was me and Senia.
However, our specific rankings at this stage were not disclosed.
“I can’t believe I made it to the top four…”
“You did pretty well, from what I saw.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Eriol. I really appreciate it.”
As I was talking with Senia in the waiting area, Charlotte, who had been watching from the side, spoke up.
“Hmph, such a heartwarming display of camaraderie.”
Her sharp tone made even the usually gentle Senia frown.
“That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
“This isn’t the time to be all buddy-buddy. You two could end up as enemies.”
“We’re just having practice matches. Calling each other ‘enemies’ is a bit…”
At that moment, the professors approached the waiting area.
Standing in the center was Professor Horizon.
“Are you all prepared?”
“Yes.”
Senia, Helios, Charlotte, and I all nodded.
“The matchups have been decided.”
“……”
“The first match will be between Senia and Charlotte. The second match will be between Eriol and Helios. The winners of the first and second matches will face off in a final match to determine the overall ranking. Third and fourth place will be considered tied without an additional match.”
It seemed they had arranged the matchups to avoid pitting students from the same class against each other from the start.
“Then, best of luck to you all.”
A tense atmosphere settled over the waiting area.
“Phew…”
As she wore her sparring equipment, Senia took a deep breath.
The gear was enchanted to automatically activate defensive spells, ensuring that no matter how much damage she took, she wouldn’t be injured.
At the same time, a tracking spell was always active, measuring the damage she received in real time.
‘If I take a certain amount of damage, I lose…’
It was an unfamiliar system, but there was no choice but to adapt.
“Senia, was it?”
Charlotte, now fully equipped, called out to her.
“You only seem capable of casting ordinary spells. You should just forfeit instead of wasting your energy.”
“Um… why are you being so hostile?”
Honestly, it was excessive.
“I heard you have a complex about not making it into the Top Class… but no matter the reason, this attitude isn’t right.”
“You…!”
Charlotte raised her voice but quickly shut her mouth, perhaps realizing the attention she was drawing.
“Hah, seriously…”
She let out a sigh before glaring at Senia again.
“Let me make one thing clear—I don’t have some inferiority complex. I just don’t like that you two made it into the Top Class instead of me.”
“But why? Once enough time passes, there’s hardly any difference between the Upper and Top Classes.”
“That may be true for you, but not for me.”
Charlotte brushed her golden hair back and spoke.
“If I don’t achieve excellent results at the academy, I have to drop out.”
“What?”
“I made a deal with my parents. If my grades aren’t good enough, they’ll drag me back home and arrange a political marriage for me.”
“A political marriage? That’s so outdated…”
“Aren’t you from the renowned swordsmanship family, Artian? Prestigious families always have some outdated traditions.”
“……”
Senia found herself at a loss for words.
“I’m not going to apologize for my attitude. I have my own urgent circumstances, and I don’t have the luxury of being friendly with my competitors.”
With that, Charlotte turned and walked toward her starting position.
Watching her proud and confident stride, Senia felt conflicted.
‘She’s… similar to me.’
Senia had made a similar deal with her parents.
The only reason she was still here was that she had earned a spot in the Top Class with her strong entrance exam performance. If she had ended up in the Upper Class or lower, she would have been forced to withdraw and return to the Artian family.
That was why she could understand Charlotte’s feelings.
‘If she loses to me here, what will happen to her?’
Judging by what she had said, she wouldn’t be forced to leave immediately.
But if defeats like this piled up, one day she would have no choice but to quit the academy and go through with that arranged marriage.
‘Then… maybe I should let her win?’
Just as that thought crossed her mind, Senia quickly shook her head.
‘No!’
Throwing the match would be an insult to Charlotte.
Charlotte had already acknowledged that she was harbouring an unfair grudge, yet she still held herself with confidence.
If someone like that were given a pity victory, she would no doubt be furious.
‘The proper way to respect her is to fight her seriously.’
Resolving herself, Senia moved to her position.
She took a deep breath as she faced Charlotte, who was already looking at her with a determined expression.
‘For Eriol, who has taught me so much… I’ll give it my all!’
With that determination, Senia clenched her fist.
“It looks like both contestants are ready.”
From a distance, Professor Horizon’s voice rang out.
“Then… begin!”
Immediately, Senia raised her hand.
Using the techniques she had learned from Eriol, she gathered energy from the surrounding fire element and threw it like a ball.
This time, she focused entirely on speed, casting a spell much faster than before.
“Hmph, too hasty!”
Charlotte’s mocking voice rang out.
Even as she spoke, she was already casting her own spell.
A spear of ice shot forward at high speed, rapidly closing the distance.
It pierced through the fireball, aiming straight for Senia.
But—
“……!”
Senia had already moved.
As the ice spear shattered the fireball, the surrounding flames scattered, creating a brief smokescreen.
Using that moment, Senia slipped into Charlotte’s blind spot.
“What?!”
Charlotte tried to turn her body in surprise, but it was already too late.
As a member of the Artian swordsmanship family, Senia had undergone rigorous physical training since childhood.
Charlotte might have exceptional talent as a mage, but when it came to close-quarters combat, Senia had the overwhelming advantage.
Dodging the ice spear and slipping into her opponent’s side was effortless when she gave it her all.
“……!”
Senia’s outstretched hand reached for Charlotte’s neck.
She felt the resistance of a barrier, but she grabbed hold without hesitation.
“Ah!”
Kwaang!
Charlotte was slammed into the ground.
Perhaps due to the barrier’s protection, the sound of impact was different from what one would expect when an ordinary person was thrown down.
“Hoo….”
Senia steadied her breath and stood up.
Charlotte had already lost consciousness.
She wouldn’t die, and there would be no lasting aftereffects, but… she was completely incapacitated.
“Wow…!”
At that moment, a cheer erupted.
When she turned her head, she saw the top-class students in the audience roaring with excitement.
“You did it!”
“That was amazing!”
Not only Cain, Charis, and Milia, whom she usually spent time with, but also other students were cheering.
It was the first time she had experienced something like this, and Senia felt on the verge of tears.
“Th-Thank you!”
When she bowed her head, the cheers grew even louder.
Overcome with emotion, Senia started to run toward Eriol.
The reason she was able to deceive Charlotte with that burst of flames was all thanks to his help.
‘Eriol, I did it!’
She wanted to share this moment with him.
Just as she was about to rush over—
“Senia Artian, disqualified.”
Professor Horizon’s cold voice rang out.
“What were you thinking, finishing the match with martial arts instead of magic? Did you forget that this is a magic academy?”
“Ah…!”
Now that she thought about it… he was right.
“If you had won using magic-enhanced physical abilities, that would be one thing, but this is a disqualification. Your loss is confirmed.”
“Aah…!”
Senia felt her face burn red.
She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
This outcome was bewildering even for the professors.
“Well, that’s something you don’t see every day…”
Inies, the instructor for the advanced class, muttered in disbelief.
“Klein, was this your strategy?”
“As if…”
Klein let out a deep sigh, holding his head.
It was good that two top-class students had advanced, but having one lose by disqualification in the first round was a disaster.
“Tsk, if only Cain Trigger had been the one to advance, this wouldn’t have happened…”
Cain was as skilled in martial arts as Senia.
But unlike Senia, he was shrewd and wouldn’t have made such a blunder.
“Or even if Monarch Orson had advanced… or Charis and Milia, for that matter…”
“Stop talking to yourself.”
Inies scolded Klein, who was groaning in frustration.
“The other professors seem to have a rather positive view of it.”
“Huh?”
Following Inies’s gesture, Klein saw the panel of judges chattering excitedly.
“Did you see that movement? As expected of the Artian family!”
“We need to recruit her into our department! If we combine her exceptional martial arts with our magic, the synergy will be incredible!”
“She should join Necromancy and dance among the undead in the darkness.”
“Silence! How dare you try to drag such a young talent into the darkness? She should shine in the Holy Department!”
All of them were talking about Senia, despite her disqualification.
“Officially, Charlotte won, but in reality, Senia was the victor. If this had been a real battle, Charlotte would be dead.”
“But she didn’t win with magic…”
“Does it matter how she won? The first deception she used was still magic.”
“Hmm…”
“Honestly, more than her martial arts, I’m impressed by her ability to formulate and execute such an effective strategy on the spot.”
Klein was at a loss for words.
He had never considered it from that perspective.
“But…”
Inies frowned slightly.
“Even though Charlotte won, it looks like she won’t be making it to the finals.”
“What?”
“She can’t even get up.”
Peering over, he saw Charlotte being carried away on a stretcher.
“Oh, in that case…”
“Yes.”
Inies turned toward the waiting area.
“The winner will be decided in that match.”
“I didn’t expect this to happen.”
“Agreed.”
“But for me, this works out perfectly.”
Helios smiled as he spoke to me.
“Even if I beat you, I wouldn’t have been motivated to fight Charlotte or Senia afterward.”
“So you’re already certain you’ll defeat me?”
“I don’t intend to lose.”
“Well, that makes two of us.”
“What?”
As Helios looked at me in confusion, I spoke calmly.
“I have no intention of losing either.”
“…”
Helios stared at me.
“So you’re not just a meek bookworm after all.”
“A bookworm? What do you even know about me to say that?”
If he had called me a bibliophile, that would have been one thing…
“Alright, Eriol Valencia.”
Helios’s eyes burned with determination.
“Then prove it. Prove that you’re not just some bookworm basking in Professor Kaisel’s prestige, but a true mage worthy of standing here.”
“From the very start.”
With my back to Helios, I walked toward the center of the arena.
“I never once relied on my uncle’s prestige.”
The match to determine the Rookie Tournament’s champion was about to begin.
Wtf. All of the professors act like children and not likeable at all the uncle included.
And what’s with stuck up attitude both Charlotte and Helios.