Chapter 41

Episode 52: Academy Ranking Battle

Once the rankings within each grade were determined, the battle to decide the overall academy ranking began.
The tournament was set up so that the top four fifth-year students would be seeded, starting from the quarterfinals.

The rest would be filled in, starting with the first-place fourth-year down to the fourth-place first-year, meaning the first-years that lost in their first match.
My opponent was the fourth-ranked fourth-year student (sweat).

「If you win, Ren, it’ll be a historic achievement for the academy♪」

「There’s no way I can beat the fifth-years, right?」

「Didn’t you have an easy time against the fourth-year students?」

「Cole-senpai was really strong, though.」

While having that conversation, we arrived at the arena and checked the tournament bracket.

The matchups were:
Cole-senpai vs. Stratos,
Severus-senpai vs. Selen-sama,
Gale-senpai vs. Slaine-sama,
And my opponent was someone named Julia-senpai.

「We will now commence the Academy Ranking Battle. Starting this year, martial arts and magic have been combined. The champion will be recognized as the strongest, so do your best to claim the glory!」

After the headmaster’s address, the ranking battle began.

「For the first match, Cole from the fourth year and Stratos from the first year, come to the arena!」

Stratos, equipped with a spear and shield, faced off against Cole-senpai, who wielded a sword and shield.

The match began.

Cole-senpai launched a magical attack, 〚Stone Rain〛. Stratos used his shield like an umbrella to block the 〚Stone Rain〛, but Cole-senpai followed up with a sword technique, 〚Slash〛.
Stratos barely managed to block it with his spear, but the impact knocked him off balance, and the 〚Stone Rain〛 rained down on him.

「Guh…」

「I can’t lose to a brat from a lower grade, except maybe that girl over there.」

With those words, Cole-senpai stopped his sword right in front of Stratos’ face, prompting Stratos to surrender.

「Senpai… you’re way too strong (laugh).」

「That girl’s even stronger than me (laugh).」

「Next, the second match. Severus from the fourth year and Selen from the first year, come to the arena!」

Severus-senpai, wielding a staff, faced off against Selen-sama, who wielded a fan.

The battle began.

Both began chanting spells, but Severus-senpai finished first, casting 〚Wind Bullet〛.
He chose speed over power, which was the right move.

The 〚Wind Bullet〛 hit Selen-sama’s leg, causing her to lose focus and stop chanting…

「Kyaa! It hurts…」

「Now then, I was instructed by Prince Zex to give you a little punishment. Prepare to feel some pain. 〚Water Ball〛!」

The 〚Water Ball〛 hit Selen-sama square in the chest…

『Splat!』

Episode 53: No Holding Back

After finishing healing Selen-sama, I returned to the arena to find that the third match had already ended with Slaine-sama’s victory…
Gale-senpai was left in a state where his original face was unrecognizable.

It seems Slaine-sama was really angry too (sweat).

「Ren, be careful. Julia is a member of the Mage Corps and my brother’s fiancée. She might try to seriously injure you under the guise of an accident.」

「Don’t worry. I don’t hold back against enemies!」

「The fourth match: Fourth-year Julia and First-year Selen, come to the arena!」

Julia-senpai, wielding a fan like mine, and I stepped into the arena, and the battle began.

「You will pay for the sin of deceiving Lord Zex with pain, so prepare yourself.」

「Since you’re fighting me, you’d better be prepared too, senpai (cold smile).」

「Don’t underestimate the power of an active mage, you first-year brat!」

「I’ve already beaten an active mage before, haven’t I? You fourth-year old lady (laugh).」

Julia-senpai wrapped flames around her fan and attacked.
I countered by wrapping water around my fan, neutralizing the attack. She immediately chanted a spell and unleashed 〚Flame Blade〛, but I stopped it by coating my fan in ice.

「Is this all you’ve got? 〚Water Bullet〛!」

My 〚Water Bullet〛 hit Julia-senpai square in the solar plexus, causing her to double over.
I followed up by kicking her in the chin and firing another 〚Water Bullet〛 into her solar plexus.

「Gah… Ugh… I give…」

She was vomiting and trying to say something, but I ignored her and shot a 〚Water Ball〛 into her stomach, causing her to collapse backward.

「Gah…」

Her face was covered in vomit, and she passed out.
With her knocked out, I was declared the victor.

From the arena, I flashed a smile towards Severus-senpai.

As I descended from the arena, I saw that Selen-sama had returned, so I immediately rushed over.

「Selen-sama, is your body okay?」

「For someone who just finished a fight like that… yet you still say those words (laugh). I’m fine.」

「If that guy advances, I’ll beat him to a pulp♪」

「That guy won’t win against the fifth-years (laugh).」

The matches continued, and once the quarter finalists were decided, the day’s tournament concluded.

Slaine-sama and I from the first year achieved a remarkable feat by advancing to the next round♪

『Gacha…〘Creation Magic〙 SS Rank』

※An ability to construct magical theories and create new magic.

Episode 54: Slaine’s Growth

The next morning, I woke up in Selen-sama’s bed.
Since I was the first to wake, I started poking her soft cheeks, making them go 『puni puni』. That’s when her eyes shot open with a quick 『pop!』 and now she was awake.

I greeted her with a smile.

「Good morning♪ Did I wake you up?」

「Yes, well, you were touching my cheeks… Remember this, okay? I’ll get you back next time.」

「Got it! Let’s get changed and go eat breakfast♪」

After finishing our meal in the dining hall, we headed to the arena.
The quarterfinals begin today, and this is where the fifth-years who were seeded will finally participate.

My opponent is the top-ranked fifth-year, Snyder-senpai, while Slaine-sama will face the third-ranked Sheldon-senpai.

「Ren, I’m cheering for you, so make sure you keep advancing and win the championship, alright?」

「I’ll do my best to meet your expectations♪」

I made my way into the arena, while Selen-sama headed to the spectator stands.

Slaine-sama’s match was the second one, and mine was the fourth, so Slaine-sama sat next to me, waiting for his turn.
In the first match, Cole-senpai won against a fifth-year student and secured his spot in the semifinals.

After descending from the arena, he came over to talk to me.

「Kid, I’ll get my revenge on you in the finals!」

「You can say that after you make it to the finals.」

「Cole-senpai, I’m going to beat you, so there won’t be any revenge.」

「You should talk after you make it to the semifinals yourself!」

With that conversation over, the second match began.

Slaine-sama and Sheldon-senpai both wielded spears and shields.
As soon as the match started, a fierce battle unfolded.

Neither had the time to chant any spells, relying solely on their martial prowess.
It was an intense clash, and it was hard to tell who would come out on top.

The balance was finally broken when Slaine-sama used a basic spell, 〚Water〛, creating water beneath Sheldon-senpai’s feet, causing him to lose his footing.
Taking advantage of that opening, Slaine-sama struck Sheldon-senpai’s shield with 〚Shield Attack〛, knocking it upward.

With his opponent left defenseless, Slaine-sama brought his spear to a halt just inches from Sheldon-senpai’s chest.
Defeated, Sheldon-senpai, visibly frustrated, conceded the match.

「I give up… To think you’d use basic magic like that…」

「Thanks to what I’ve learned, I now understand there are many ways to fight. Thank you very much.」

With that victory, Slaine-sama advanced to face Cole-senpai in the semifinals.
In the third match, a fifth-year finally broke the losing streak by defeating Severus-senpai.

It’s a pity I didn’t get to beat Severus-senpai to a pulp myself (laugh).

And now, the fourth match is about to begin.
It’s my turn next♪

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