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Eve of the Festival – Part 04

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Translator: Kell | Editor: Ryunakama

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A stone-walled arena about the height of an adult’s shoulders lay in the middle of the square. When we came down from the castle, it was plain and hardly noticeable, but while we were away visiting the hot springs and stalls, it was decorated with brightly-colored cloth, flowers, and even large jewels. It looked dazzling now.

In the arena, two soldiers were unleashing their Magic one after another, as if responding to the cheers of the crowd. The two sides had their own color, one red and the other blue.

The red guy cast Steim. Using Steim as well to cancel it out, the blue side then created a gust of wind and sent his opponent tumbling. He followed it up with a dazzling light to keep his opponent in check.

It looked like they were fighting while protecting the flags behind them.

“Captain,” Zero said. “What kind of a competition is this? It seems to me like they are trying not to hit their opponent.”

“It’s a mock battle. If you hit the caster with Magic, you’re out. If you injure someone with a bouncing rock or cause collateral damage with Magic, you’re also out. You can’t hurt the spectators either. Basically, they need to destroy the three flags on the opponent’s side while making sure no one is hurt.”

As Zero requested, we were standing in the best spot—the special seats open only to staff. We were very close to the wall, and we could see every corner of the arena.

There were two red flags and one blue flag standing. If the one from the blue side had his last flag destroyed, he would immediately lose.

Then out of nowhere, the last flag of the blue camp was struck by Steim. The spectators cheered and booed. Blue cloths were thrown all over, blanketing the whole area in blue.

If I had to guess, the cloths were probably used for betting. The bettor would convert their winning cloth to coin. Those with the losing cloth tossed theirs like garbage.

“That sounds interesting,” Zero said. “I wish to try it.”

“Are you serious?!” I exclaimed. “You can’t join them!”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re gonna destroy them! A grownup can’t just participate in a kids’ game.”

“A kids’ game? Now I can’t let that slide, Whitey.”

I heard hooves clopping on the ground, and the familiar, arrogant voice of a woman.

“Our Magic Corps is composed of Mages who train every single day. In terms of pure power, they would not win, but this is a competition of skill, not power. It’s not about destroying everything with powerful Magic.”

Her words were clearly a challenge to Zero. She seemed to be a little salty of the witch for blowing everything up with her Magic earlier at noon.

Zero took the opportunity and accepted the challenge. “Are you saying that I am a fool who only uses force, Princess? I did not hurt a single person when I cast Kudra earlier today.”

“I am not saying that at all. But this is a small, densely populated underground city. The environment is a little bit different from above ground. Surely even you cannot be certain of your victory?”

I could almost see sparks flying between the two ladies.

“This doesn’t sound good,” I said.

Raul smiled next to me. “Her Highness looks like she’s having fun,” he remarked.

Soon after, Zero and the princess were given gold and silver armbands. The arena’s decor were also changed from red and blue to gold and silver, and the spectators were clutching yellow and white cloths—to represent gold and silver, most likely. The whole place was abuzz.

“I hear Princess Amnil is gonna fight.”

“She’s up against that mysterious pretty lady.”

“I heard she’s the one who created Magic.”

Zero and the princess stood back to back in the middle of the arena. The witch whirled her head around and waved at me.

“Well, aren’t you calm?” I said.

“You two sure are close,” Raul said. “That’s nice.”

“Huh?”

“I heard that Beastfallen are shunned on the mainland. So I’m glad you’re not lonely.”

“What are you, my mother?”

“Do I look like her?”

“Of course not!”

“Figures.” Raul laughed. His gaze darted at the knife in my hand. “That knife is a memento of a close friend, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I ask what kind of person he was? I’ve never been deeply involved with anyone but the princess since I was born.”

“You want me to tell you how my friend died because of me?”

“Uh, sorry if I offended you.

“It’s fine.”

As I lifted the knife right in front of my eyes, I heard Theo’s voice echo in my head.

“What are you looking at, Gramps? The match is about to start!”

I gave a start and looked at the arena. A huge bell was sounded, signaling the start of the match. Zero and the princess, facing each other at a distance of ten paces, unleashed their Magic at the same time.

The princess immediately took the initiative. Without giving Zero time to raise her arms, she cast Steim, piercing one of the flags easily.

Blinking, Zero turned around. “Not bad,” she muttered.

The princess fired another Steim. An arrow of light slipped past Zero and went straight for the second flag.

Zero finally made her move. She turned around and thrust her arm towards her flag, then raised it up towards the ceiling with great intensity.

“Chapter of Capture, Page Three: Etrach. Grant me power, for I am Zero!”

The ground rose up around Zero’s flag until it was completely covered by a wall of rock. It all happened in an instant. The rock wall deflected the princess’s Steim. The arena went silent.

“What…?” The princess’s mouth hung open. “Whaaaaat?! Wh-What was that Magic just now?! Tha wasn’t in the Grimoire of Zero!”

“Oh, were you not aware?” Zero said. “The Grimoire of Zero consists of four chapters. The only chapters that have been handed down to this kingdom are Hunting and Harvest, but there are also chapters on Capture and Protection. The one I just cast is from the Chapter of Capture. What do you think? Your Steim cannot possibly destroy it.” Zero flashed a smug grin. Hers was the face of a witch tormenting the weak.

“Aaah! I wanna learn that too!”

What an optimistic princess.

Zero pointed her index finger at the princess, then flicked it. There was a cracking sound, followed by the flag behind the princess flying away. The audience stirred. Zero’s expression became more and more evil-looking.

“And this is how you cast a spell without chanting,” Zero said. “Well? Do you still think you can defeat me?”

“I see…” the princess muttered. Raising her arm, she snapped her finger just like Zero did.

Part of the rock wall that surrounded the flag behind Zero burst open. Another one of her flag went down.

Eyes wide open, Zero glanced behind her and then the princess.

“Chantless spellcasting, huh?” the princess said. “I never thought you could cast Magic without the incantation. Thank you for teaching me.”

It sounded like she quite literally just learned it. She learned what Zero did after seeing it just once.

“She’s a natural,” I said.

“She is,” Raul replied. “She even surprised the sorcerer who taught us Magic.”

“Come on.” The princess smiled triumphantly. Her gaudy monocle gleamed, pressuring the Murky Darkness Witch. “Now it’s two versus one. I’m ending this now!”

“Do not get carried away, little girl.”

The princess unleashed a blade of wind. It was a spell I had never seen before. Since the princess cast it, it probably belonged to either the Chapter of Hunting or Harvest.

Zero nullified it using the same spell, and followed up with her next Magic spell.

“Oh no, you don’t!” The princess, out of nowhere, tackled Zero.

Zero fell on her backside, shocked. “What are you doing?” she said, rubbing her bottom.

“Is that allowed?” I asked.

“The rule states that if you harm someone using Magic, you are disqualified, so physical contact is valid. A caster tends to focus on casting Magic. They become vulnerable to physical attacks.”

It reminded me of something that Zero said before. When performing Sorcery, witches were vulnerable, so they would let their servants guard the lair. While Magic was more easy-to-use, its fundamental flaws still remained.

“They look like they’re having fun,” I said.

“Right?”

Zero and the princess were slugging it out. The dignity of a Murky Darkness Witch and pride of a noble princess were nowhere to be found.

But still, this was a battle between Mages. Even when they were grappling with each other, they fired spells at each other, sometimes exchanging blows. Then finally Zero cast three Steim towards the ceiling.

I followed the arrows with my eyes.

“You messed up,” the princess said. “Where are you even aiming?”

“Your flag, of course,” Zero said.

“What?!”

“Turn!”

The arrows of light that had been heading straight for the ceiling quickly changed direction and rained down on the princess’s flags. With the last flag destroyed, the match was over.

Zero won. A loud cheer rose from the crowd.

The princess slumped down on the ground. “I had no idea Steim can change directions…” She burst into laughter.

“Hey, Raul,” I said. “I think the frustration from losing just broke your princess.”

“No, she’s not frustrated. She’s having fun.”

“That was fascinating!” the princess said. “I never had so much fun before.”

Raul was right. Even though the princess lost, none of the spectators tossed their white cloths, waving them instead as they cheered.

“That’s our princess! That was a hell of a match! ”

“Her opponent is the one who invented Magic, right? They were almost evenly matched!”

“No doubt. The princess will definitely make the Holy Dragon Festival a success!”

“I wish I could use Magic too, so I could fight the dragon with the princess. Why don’t I have the gift for it?”

The sight of so much white and yellow cloths being waved around looked spectacular. Who emerged victorious didn’t matter.

“Excuse me, but look over there.” Raul raised his hand and pointed towards Zero’s flag.

The witch’s flag had fallen.

“Impossible!” Zero exlaimed. “How?! Did the princess cast a spell without me noticing?!””

“I-I didn’t do anything!”

I climbed over the wall and rushed towards Zero’s flag. A close examination suggested it fell on its own rather than toppled down with Magic.

“Oh, it must have happened when you used Etrach,” I told Zero.

“Y-Yes. I used the topsoil to create a wall to block the princess’s Steim.”

“Your spell caused the ground to loosen. The pole couldn’t stand steady, so it fell on its own. Or shockwaves from the princess’s spells could’ve caused it to topple as well.”

“Are you saying it was my fault?”

“Yes.”

Zero sank down on the spot. The witch and the princess looked at each other, and they burst into laughter.

After a while, the princess stood up wearing a bright smile. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you something important,” she said. Tidying her messy hair with her fingers, she looked at Zero with a stern expression. “The sorcerer wants to see you. It’s already late, so we’re leaving tomorrow. I have a room prepared for you. Please have a good night’s rest.”

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