Chapter 42
Episode 55: Cole vs. Slaine
In the fourth match, my opponent was Snyder-senpai, the top-ranked fifth-year, equipped with a spear and shield.
I ascended to the arena, holding my fans in both hands, and the match began.
I figured that if I started casting a spell, he’d likely attack to stop me.
So, I pretended to chant, setting a trap.
「……、…」
「I won’t let you use magic!」
Just as predicted, Snyder-senpai lunged at me with his spear.
I infused my right fan with wind and my left fan with water, then swung them.
The wind and water combined, forming ice, which transformed into a 〚Freeze Bullet〛 that rushed toward him.
Because he was focused on preventing me from casting magic, his defense was lax, and he took the 〚Freeze Bullet〛 head-on.
「Gah… You can shoot a 〚Freeze Bullet〛 without magic…?」
「Senpai, you’re full of openings. 〚Spin Attack〛!」
I rotated and struck the off-balance Senpai squarely in the abdomen with my spinning blow.
「Ugh… I give… I surrender… 『Thud』.」
He muttered his surrender as he collapsed.
It seemed he had passed out.
I walked over to him and used 〚Heal〛 to treat his injuries.
The medical team then arrived, placed him on a stretcher, and carried him to the infirmary.
As I descended from the arena, Slaine-sama approached me, and we exchanged smiles and a high-five.
「That was an even bigger victory than I expected♪」
「He fell right into my trap, so it ended up being much easier than I thought♪ Slaine-sama, good luck in your semifinal match♪」
「I don’t want to lose to anyone except Selen.」
「I’m Ren, though?」
「When Selen isn’t around, let me call you Selen.」
「I’ll leave that to you, Slaine-sama♪」
After our conversation, I sat down, and the participants for the first semifinal match entered the arena—Slaine-sama and Cole-senpai.
Their battle began immediately.
Slaine-sama attacked first with 〚Shield Attack〛, but Cole-senpai easily blocked it with his shield. Cole-senpai attempted to retaliate with his sword, but Slaine-sama countered with his spear, leaving no opening for a counterattack.
Just when I thought it would be a pure contest of martial skill, a hidden mechanism in the center of Cole-senpai’s shield activated, and a sword shot out, stabbing Slaine-sama in the abdomen.
「Gwaaaaah…」
「Sorry, but I can’t afford to lose. Boy, just admit defeat.」
I rushed into the arena and called out to Slaine-sama.
「Slaine-sama, do you concede defeat?」
「Re…n… I surrender…」
「Cole-senpai… I won’t forgive this… remember that.」
「You better be ready yourself, kid.」
With those words, Cole-senpai left the arena.
Since I had a match coming up, I only sealed Slaine-sama’s wound and stopped the bleeding.
「Slaine-sama, I’ll end my match quickly and come to heal you, so please wait in the infirmary.」
「O…okay…」
I informed the medical team that I had stopped the bleeding and left Slaine-sama’s treatment in their hands.
He was then carried to the infirmary on a stretcher.
Since I didn’t want to waste time in my semifinal, I attacked as soon as the match started and swiftly ended it.
With Slaine-sama severely injured, I hurried to the infirmary to heal him.
–
Episode 56: Vow
I rushed to the infirmary.
「How is he?」
「The bleeding has stopped, so as long as he rests, he’ll recover in time.」
「Wait, as the medical team, aren’t you supposed to understand the condition of the injury? I told you I had only stopped the bleeding from the sword wound to the abdomen, right? Have you done nothing since bringing him to the infirmary?」
「That’s unfair… The bleeding has stopped! What more needs to be done?」
「There’s no way the internal injuries are healed! Don’t pretend to be the medical team if you’re not qualified! I’ll take care of the treatment, so please leave the room!」
I prompted the so-called medical team, who hadn’t done anything, to leave, then I began examining Slaine-sama’s condition.
As I was palpating the injured area, Selen-sama came into the infirmary.
「Ren… is Slaine going to be okay?」
「The medical team didn’t do anything… The damage to his organs is severe, and it’s gotten much worse… But I’ll definitely heal him, so don’t worry!」
「Ren… please, save him…」
I gently embraced the sobbing Selen-sama and softly whispered in her ear.
「Selen-sama, I swear by the name of 【Celestia】, I will save Slaine-sama.」
With those words, I unleashed the power of my left eye, the 〘Holy Eye〙, and began the healing process.
The power I used was called 〚Hope〛, which has the ability to grant my wishes.
However, to use the 〘Holy Eye〙, a price must be paid, although I still don’t know what that price is.
Mom had warned me not to use the 〘Holy Eye〙 until I understood the price, but I chose to use it now to save my friend.
I placed my hand over Slaine-sama’s wound and activated the power of the 〘Holy Eye〙.
「Celestia Z. Sylvania calls upon the power of 〚Hope〛 to heal the wounds of Slaine Kingston.」
As I spoke, a radiant light emerged from Slaine-sama’s wound.
The light gradually faded until it finally disappeared.
I was about to check Slaine-sama’s condition when he, who should have been pale and unconscious, opened his eyes.
「Selen? What happened? I…」
「You were injured and brought to the infirmary. I’ve healed your wound, so don’t worry!」
「Ah… Slaine! You’re awake… I was so worried…!」
Selen-sama burst into tears and embraced Slaine-sama as he regained consciousness.
Watching the two of them, I couldn’t help but feel immense relief and joy.
After a moment, Selen-sama turned to me to ask something.
「Ren… that thing you did just now?」
Selen-sama asked about the miraculous power I had used.
I simply shook my head in silence.
Selen-sama seemed to understand and nodded without saying anything further.
Selen-sama may have figured out who I really am… but I trust that she won’t tell anyone.
➖➖➖➖Selen’s Perspective➖➖➖➖
I watched as Ren treated Slaine.
『Celestia Z. Sylvania』— so that’s Ren’s real name.
Is she from Sylvania, the Holy City that was destroyed by the Kingdom of Leone?
As Ren finished speaking, her hand, which was pressed over Slaine’s wound, began to glow.
The light gradually dimmed and eventually disappeared.
Then, Slaine, who had lost all vitality, regained consciousness.
I had witnessed a miracle, but when I asked Ren about it, she simply shook her head in silence…
I understood what she meant and nodded in response.
–
Episode 57: The Victor, Selen
After finishing the treatment for Slaine-sama, I was about to return to the arena when Selen-sama called out to me.
「Ren, be careful in your fight with Cole-senpai…」
「Don’t worry, I won’t hold back, so there’s no problem. (laugh)」
「Um…」
「Let’s talk a lot when we get back to the dorms, okay?♪」
Saying that, I headed back to the arena.
With Slaine-sama’s forfeit, he lost the third-place match by default, leaving only the final match.
Cole-senpai and I stepped into the arena.
「Sorry… but I’m not allowed to lose.」
「I won’t lose to you, senpai. Be prepared, because I’m going to make you suffer more than what you did to Slaine-sama!」
Cole-senpai was armed with a sword and shield, while I stood ready with fans in both hands.
The battle began.
Senpai channeled magical energy into his sword, causing flames to erupt from it.
It looked like some kind of magic sword, but was that his trump card?
As he swung the sword at me, I countered by enveloping my left fan in water, extinguishing the flames.
He then pushed forward with his shield, but I covered my right fan in flames, raising the temperature even higher.
With the bluish-white flames from my fan, I sliced through his shield.
The slash continued to his chest, leaving a searing wound.
「Ugh… you cut through my shield…?」
I immediately followed up with a magical 〚Water Lance〛, piercing his right shoulder.
「Aaaaahhh…!」
「Hey, don’t give up just yet, okay?」
I infused my fans with magic, turning them into iron fans, and threw them at his knees, shattering them.
「Gwaaahhh…! What are you…?」
「I told you before, didn’t I? I’m just a first-year student, senpai. (laugh)」
「I’ve lost… I surrender…」
「Huh? But I was just starting to have fun hurting you.」
「I surrender… please… have mercy…」
「Fine, whatever. Good match.」
With Cole-senpai’s surrender, I became the first first-year student in the academy’s history to reach the first rank.
ーーー**Cole’s Perspective**ーーー
Did I lose? To a student…
I couldn’t afford to lose this time…
My beloved sister was being held hostage by Prince Zex.
They had threatened me with my life if I didn’t win…
Iris… I’m sorry…
Hate your weak brother.
I’ll follow after you and come to apologize soon…
※Cole would be publicly executed for the crime of attempted murder of the second prince, Slaine. His sister, Iris, was later found as a tragic corpse in the waterways.
the ending is violent