Chapter 117
Prince Sperion, Princess Frau, the country’s nobles, and the various headmasters of the Magic Academies were not the only ones spectating the Tournament from above. Unknown to the contestants, the great gods had descended to watch the Tournament as it proceeded.
Christina from Galois Magic Academy, known for her capabilities and beauty, demonstrated her true might and left the audience bustling in a state of burgeoning excitement.
If Christina were not the daughter of one of the most prominent nobles in the country, Marquis Almadia, numerous Royal Wizard Guards, nobles, and wealthy merchants would have invited her to be their mistress once the tournament ended. Alternatively, countless matchmaking proposals would be offered to the marquis’s family by those seeking her beauty.
However, it was widely known that Christina’s stepmother thought little of Christina, and Christina had a poor relationship with the marquis’s family. Hence, the number of foolhardy suitors who actually stepped forward with marriage proposals was rather few. Moreover, Christina’s heart was already devoted to a single person. There was no way she would look toward any other individual.
After Christina and her opponent, Ashas of Tardat Magic Academy, returned to the holding area beside the stage, the names of the contestants for the next battle appeared on the crystal board in the front.
The contestant from Galois Magic Academy was Phenia.
The contestant from Tardat Magic Academy was Elmer.
As soon as Phenia’s name appeared on the crystal board, a delightful smile spread on her face and she flicked open her beloved fan with an impressive sound.
With the exception of Nelneshia, everyone else’s order of competition had been decided by drawing lots. Phenia had almost stomped her feet in anger at losing the chance to start first. Hence, she was filled with delight the moment her turn came around.
「Oh ho ho ho ho, it’s finally my turn. Ladies and gentlemen, keep your eyes open for the one you’ve been waiting for! The star of the day! Phenia! Me!」
With a resonant voice, Phenia’s true feelings overflowed from her lips without the slightest tinge of humility. Her declaration was certainly boisterous, but the rather vulgar provocation was mellowed out by her natural grace.
「Following Miss Christina’s white star, I’ll clinch the next one in a second. Everyone, please just give me a moment.」
Although Phenia’s statements sounded rather conceited, she certainly had the capabilities to match such arrogance. Even if she were enrolled in a different Magic Academy, she would no doubt be selected as a representative to participate in the Magic Tournament. That was just how formidable she was.
Worry tinged Christina’s face slightly at her classmate’s haughty behavior.
「There isn’t much to be worried about when it comes to you, Phenia, but I really hope you hold back on your complacency. It’s said that one’s greatest enemy is oneself. This really seems to apply to you.」
Phenia was a fearsome magic fire user. Due to her specialty in fire magic, she was a rather easy opponent to strategize against with prior knowledge about her fighting style.
「I understand. However, for a member of the Phoenix family to be trembling in anxiety during such a grand moment would be a disgrace to our ancestors. They’ll be laughing at me in ridicule. I’ll be on my guard as I create the perfect moment to grasp glory in my very own hands. Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho.」
As usual, Phenia left no room for anyone else to interrupt her speech. Christina could only smile bitterly as she exchanged a look with Dran. As for Nelneshia and Lenia, neither of them had even planned to say anything to Phenia.
Nelneshia simply trusted Phenia and did not worry about Phenia. On the other hand, Lenia was preoccupied with the dilemma of whether to call Keios, who had descended into the skies above her, her uncle.
The commentator of the tournament, Court Jester Hamel, announced the names of Phenia and her opponent Elmer using a magical staff that was infused with sound amplification magic. Her voice reached every corner of the arena as she instructed the two contestants to step onto the stage.
Merle browsed the data on Phenia and Elmer that had been prepared in advance. Then, she tried her best to deliver a commentary on both individuals without tripping up.
「With that, can the contestants from Galois Magic Academy and Tardat Magic Academy please take their places on the stage? Before the heat of the previous battle cools, let’s dive right into the next battle.」
Similar to the first battle, Phenia and Elmer bowed to the stands and then proceeded to face each other from a distance on the stage.
Phenia was in her school uniform as she held her beloved fan in one hand. As for her opponent, Elmer was also in her school uniform with an additional black robe weaved out of golden silkworm threads. This very robe served to boost her magic and provide a defensive barrier.
There was a chance that a variety of armors would be summoned the moment the battle started, just like what Ashas had done. However, from an onlooker’s perspective, both parties would be in equal danger if a true competition of magic skills were to unfold.
「Our commentator, Ark Witch Merle, can you give us a brief explanation of both contestants?」
As Merle glanced at the documents in her hands from time to time, a serious expression appeared on her face as she strove to fulfill her task.
「Got you. Let me start with Phenia. Phenia is a member of the Phoenix family, a prominent household in the kingdom. I’m certain many have heard about them. The Phoenix family once had a magic user who had the immortal phoenix as their familiar. As a result, the spiritual genes of the phoenix are embedded within their souls and physiques to offer them a unique disposition. It is certainly rare for the attributes of a familiar to be inherited by its master. However, this particular case has led the Phoenix family to be born with a remarkably high aptitude and tolerance for fire magic, making them a powerful household. In addition, Phenia has an unusual ability to turn magic directly into flames. This constitution might be easily misunderstood due to her birth, but it has nothing to do with the genes of a phoenix. As a fire magic user, she is one of the top three in the kingdom. With more experience in the future, she certainly has the potential to represent the kingdom as a magic user.」
「Phenia has already demonstrated that dazzling and mighty fire magic in the past two years at the tournament. However, we can feel her burning enthusiasm even from the commentator seats since it will be her final Magic Tournament. I’m curious about one thing though. Since fire magic users are rather famous, won’t it be easy for opponents to come up with a counterstrategy in advance during the Magic Tournament?」
「That’s right. During last year’s Magic Tournament, these counterstrategies against fire magic users were one of the reasons for Phenia’s struggle. However, she should have come prepared to fend off such counterstrategies against her fire magic. I’m really eager to find out what she has prepared.」
On the stage, a wide grin spread on Phenia’s face as she grew pleased at being discussed. If she were a canine beast-man, her tail would have been wagging delightedly. On the other hand, Phenia’s opponent, Elmer, was a girl of average build. Her long black hair reached down to her waist, and her red-rimmed glasses framed a face shining with wit and composure.
「The competing contestant, Elmer from Tardat Magic Academy, is a magic user who summons magic through a special volume detailing magic, the Magic Book. There is a special characteristic to Magic Book users. With the Magic Book, they can save a lot of time when conjuring magic through the Magic Book and summon magic at top speed.」
「I see. In that case, what are their weaknesses? After all, there are pros and cons to every type of magic, aren’t they?」
「Exactly. Phenia is weak against water users due to her special fire attributes. Similarly, though this is more than just a comment on Elmer, there are disadvantages to being Magic Book users.」
Wow, she’s being really blunt again. Merle-chan must really be unaware of this tendency of hers, Hamel lamented silently to herself. Despite having such a kind and harmless face, the Ark Witch had a bad habit of uttering hurtful remarks without much thought.
「By relying on a Magic Book, the magic one is capable of is limited to whatever is written in the Magic Book. Moreover, for most Magic Books, once a spell is used, the corresponding page is exhausted. They aren’t favorable for long and consecutive battles. If one’s opponent knows the exact Magic Book one is using, it is easy to find out which spells will be used and come up with a counterstrategy. That’s quite a troubling problem.」
「I see. It’s easy for one’s tactics to be figured out if the Magic Book is a widely available one, and it’s difficult to obtain rare Magic Books. It sure is a blessing and a curse.」
「That’s what magic is. With that, let the next battle begin!」
A complacent smile surfaced on Phenia’s face as this big moment of hers began. Across from her, Elmer’s lavender eyes glistened quietly behind her glasses as she kept a composed expression. This contrasting pair kept the spectators on the edge of their seats as they anticipated a much different battle from the one before.
This eagerness seemed to urge Merle as she hurriedly announced the start of the second battle.
「Here we go! Magic Tournament, Match One, Battle Two, start!」
The moment Merle gave the signal, flames of gold and red engulfed Phenia’s entire body along with blistering heat. On the other end, dozens of books and slabs of stones flew out from Elmer’s long robes that reached the ground. They surrounded her, protecting her like a knight as they hovered in midair.
Elmer did not hold a staff, and her hands were hidden under her robes.
「Miss Elmer, is your dear prodigy feeling crushed?」
Phenia popped the question out of the blue as flames licked her entire body. Heat that would easily burn human bones into ashes spiraled around Phenia. Presently, she was an image of dignity and elegance, the living embodiment of golden flames.
The radiance of these flames shone upon Elmer, though she merely pushed up her glasses and answered in a calm voice befitting of her appearance.
「It’s nothing more than slight displeasure, though it’s strange to say that I’m feeling worried about the Galois student who was the cause of this.」
「Tee hee. That’s true. Though, there’s someone on my end who is feeling displeased at losing the chance to fight Eksu. We both have rather troublesome kids with us.」
「Yes, that’s certainly true. I do relate with you a little.」
「Wonderful, though our personal feelings shouldn’t interfere with our battle.」
「Agreed.」
The two had chatted amicably, so much so that a number of spectators were starting to wonder about their languid behavior. However, this harmonious atmosphere was shattered instantly after the signal to start was given, and both girls unleashed their formidable magic powers for the battle.
This Magic Tournament was not just a place for students of the Magic Academies to demonstrate their power or compete with their skills. Rather, the students of the Magic Academies were often part of long lineages of magic users and families who birthed magic users generation after generation. These magic users, who were often one in a million, were either born into nobility or affiliated with nobles and wealthy merchants. Hence, they occupied high-standing positions in society. An easy example would be Nelneshia and Phenia from Galois Magic Academy. These two girls were both daughters of nobles.
Such a battle between eminent folks in society, consisting of relatives or even the royal family, made it more than a simple competition of skills. If one were to defeat one’s opponent without giving them a chance to shine, the consequences would be more than humiliating the opponent and their school. Rather, it would be hard to avoid insulting their entire family.
Hence, even if one could crush an opponent with a single kick, there was a need to let one’s opponent have a moment of glory in the fight. This tacit agreement lurked under the surface of the Magic Tournament. However, there was no binding need to keep with this obligation at all costs.
The decision to adhere to this obligation depended on the status differences of both families, the power dynamics of both Magic Academies, the consideration of the spectators’ reactions, as well as whether one had the guts to simply ignore all these. If one were too conscious of this tacit understanding, there was a chance that one would fail to perform to one’s full potential and risk losing a battle that one could have won.
Thus, this tournament was also a test of the contestants’ judgment and decision-making abilities as they offered each other a chance to shine through such a tacit understanding.
Since many of the Magic Tournament’s contestants were children of nobles and the world they would enter would require good management of ties with others, it was necessary to assess that they had the necessary skills for their future.
Phenia and Elmer chatted for a short while after the starting signal, though theor true intention was to wrangle for the right to deliver the first blow. Moreover, both parties had assessed each other’s capabilities with Phenia’s summoning of her flames and Elmer’s impressive display of books during their conversation. Only then did they get poised once again for the real battle.
This ability to read between the lines and uncover the other party’s true intentions was crucial to those of noble birth, though hard for Dran, Lenia, and Christina to ever achieve. A truly saddening situation.
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