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Chapter 310

The finals of the Magic Tournament seemed like an intense battle to many spectators.

However, only a select few powerful viewers, commentator Merle seated in the commentary booth, and the players themselves truly understood the nature of the contest. Haruto, the general of Ziel Magic Academy, wielding the magic sword Balhouse and the spiritual sword Kirishana, was likely the one who felt most powerless on this Magic Tournament stage.

Last year, he faced a similarly hopeless battle against Dran from Galois Magic Academy, and now he faced Lenia, a possessor of a different yet equally daunting strength.

Lenia, confronting Haruto with his two swords held like a bird spreading its wings, glared at him from within a semi-transparent Thought Dragon, a creature formed by her immense will. Her demeanor was the epitome of haughtiness and disrespect.

As the most powerful wielder of thought magic on Earth, Lenia could effortlessly use unlimited telekinesis to disintegrate a human body with just a glance. However, she refrained from using this power as it was a formal match and murder was strictly prohibited.

Haruto, who could feel he would have instantly lost if Lenia wished, was deeply ashamed of his relief at not having to confront her in real combat.

「Lenia, feeling the eyes of many spectators and her respected soul father Dran, laughed loudly. Last year, her schoolmate Yuki, who also used thought magic, was so thoroughly challenged by Lenia during a match that he fainted as soon as it ended. Lenia’s current demeanor held a similar unsettling quality.」

「Dust accumulated makes a mountain. I will start by making my mark, Haruto asserted.」

「Haha, that’s a more spirited response than simply giving up. Struggle as much as you can on this grand stage. There, there, there, haha!」

Lenia’s lips curled into a wicked smile, a blend of malice and delight no carnivore would show. Haruto and the swords he wielded, both infused with will, felt a chill as if their souls were gripped by a cold hand. Kirishana once speculated that Lenia might be the reincarnation of a great demon, and now Haruto recalled that conversation.

As Lenia laughed, Thought Dragon’s right arm swung, launching a visually distinct thought projectile for the audience’s benefit. Haruto, agile as a butterfly in the spring breeze, dodged the dark thoughts and closed the distance between him and Lenia.

「Ryu-Ryu Houjin Tidal Blade!」

Haruto’s magic sword, imbued with water attributes, allowed him to move fluidly across the stage. Unable to avoid all thought projectiles, Haruto’s swords, Balhouse and Kirishana, sliced through them, leaving a trail of dissipating black mist.

His efforts reminded the onlookers of a valiant hero challenging a formidable demon king. For his fellow students from Ziel Magic Academy, it was a sight of agony.

Closing the gap with the force of a wave, Haruto gathered his fighting spirit and magical power into his feet and explosively propelled himself towards the Thought Dragon. With all his might, he struck at its abdomen with his two swords.

「Mountain-Cutting Blade Igarimagari!」

His magic sword, designed for extended slashing, created a blade of silver magical power longer than those of Balhouse and Kirishana, attempting to slice into the Thought Dragon. The magical blade collided with the dragon’s armored surface, engaging in a back-and-forth battle with Lenia’s destructive intent, repeatedly cutting and being repelled.

The clashing magic and thoughts created a spectacle of black and white sparks, illuminating the stage and further exciting the audience. However, Haruto and his swords, embedded in the Thought Dragon, were painfully aware that this struggle was a performance of Lenia’s absolute ease and confidence.

「Are you holding back?」

Haruto could only grit his teeth in frustration at the overwhelming difference in power, unable to express anger at being outmatched.

「Understand that the Magic Tournament is about understanding or disregarding various circumstances. I’ve come to grasp a bit of political subtlety. I fight you as practice to stir the audience. You may have grievances, but mere determination won’t sway me. Unless you demonstrate power capable of overturning my will, all your efforts and words are futile.」

Lenia’s words and attitude showed an utter disregard for the opinions of those weaker than herself. Her immense power and her adoration for Dran were starkly evident.

「Last year and this year, Galois town is truly a magical land!」

Realizing further slashing was futile, Haruto extinguished the magic blade of Igarimagari. Refilling the retracted blade with renewed fighting spirit and magic power, he thrust the glowing sword like a meteor through the night sky.

「Comet Thrust Meteor Tail!」

The collision, like a hammer striking a massive metal block, occurred between the Thought Dragon’s body and the swords’ tips. Haruto strained every ounce of his being, fighting spirit, and magic power to pierce the surface or at least leave a mark.

Inside the Thought Dragon, Lenia felt neither pain nor hardship but showed a hint of admiration for Haruto’s spirited battle, reminiscent of his fight with Dran last year.

「Good, it’s commendable to show such spirit even when facing defeat. You are a strong warrior in your own right, even if you fall short of Dran and me. Just be careful who you compare yourself to!」

Lenia’s intent that the game was over transmitted through the Thought Dragon and the blade, forcefully and unilaterally disrupting Haruto’s consciousness. This psychic force disrupted his fighting spirit and magic power generation, causing dizziness. From above Haruto’s head, Thought Dragon’s right arm swung down decisively.

「I’m glad we won the championship, but above all, I was relieved that everyone finished the Magic Festival without any injuries.」

Well, the Magic Festival isn’t everything in a student’s life, so it’s alright to indulge in the sweet victory for a while, but make sure you don’t forget your main duty as a student.

Diadora’s words had a teacher-like tone, perhaps influenced by her brief tenure teaching at the Galoa Magic Academy for a few months.

Fatima leisurely raised her hand and responded with a cheerful smile to Diadora’s words.

「Haai, since the Magic Festival took priority, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with the studies I’ve neglected, ne~」

Manos and Reneea managed to balance both their training for the Magic Festival and their academic studies, but Nelneshia, Aznar, and Kushli had focused more on their training, resulting in some difficulties in their studies.

Aware of this, Aznar and Kushli exchanged looks and laughed ruefully. Nelneshia, on the other hand, did not change her expression and continued to chew her food with a level of refinement.

After swallowing the food and drink in her mouth, Reneea, who had been meticulously cared for by Irina, then offered her own perspective on Fatima’s statement.

Reneea being looked after by Irina was seen as normal by the people of Galoa Magic Academy, suggesting they continue to live this way even after Dran and his friends graduated.

「When it comes to studies, that’s a personal responsibility. One should deal with their own mistakes. Fatima, don’t be too lenient with Nelneshia.」

「Ahahaha, I’ll try to be strict~」

「I might not trust your words alone, but I know you don’t confuse being kind with being lenient. Just make sure you really act in Nelneshia’s best interests. Well, it’s not really my place to say.」

Nelneshia showed a slight change in expression, almost imperceptible to anyone not familiar with her, but she seemed to understand that Reneea’s point was valid and did not protest. She wasn’t so shameless.

「And then, to Dran, Selina, and Diadora, despite your busy schedules preparing for the battle against the northern demons, you took the trouble to support us, your juniors. I am deeply grateful. Fortunately, we were able to dedicate our victory in the Magic Festival to you, which was a great relief for me.」

「Yes, the outcome was splendid. As your predecessors, we’re proud. But, I was worried that you might be furiously upset over the defeats leading up to the finals. Seeing your current demeanor and atmosphere, it seems my concerns were unnecessary.」

In response to Dran’s comment, Reneea smiled slightly, acknowledging her past self. She had grown significantly, mentally, beyond what even Dran might have imagined.

「Of course, the ideal is to win all the matches for a victory, but that doesn’t diminish the value of this win, which included defeats. If it were intentional underperformance and defeat, this Reneea would have done something even the demons of hell would pale at. But everyone gave their best at the time, and even if we feel regret over our lack of strength, we should stand proud.」

「Hmm」, Dran expressed honest admiration. Selina and Diadora nodded, like mothers realizing their children’s achievements.

Considering they were discussing Reneea, who would eventually become their daughter-in-law, the situation, although internal, wasn’t odd, but to an outsider, it might have seemed strange.

Nelneshia, Aznar, Kushli, and the others seemed to agree with Reneea’s view, feeling no inferiority for having given their all.

Praises for them were loudly voiced from beyond the surrounding nobles. The sound was familiar to Dran and Reneea.

「That’s exactly right! From Phenia’s perspective, it was clear that even in the lost matches, they were earnest. True effort and full strength are different, but no one can dispute their sincere engagement in the Magic Festival. Mmm-hmm!」

Phenia, like a living flame with her vibrant energy and a dress adorned with red bird feathers, had fewer chances to meet Dran, Selina, and others since returning to her family home, but her unchanged robustness and elegance brought smiles to their faces.

「Ohohoho, to meet all of you at such a joyous occasion this autumn, I, Phenia, am most delighted!」

Naturally, the nobles parted, creating a path for Phenia who joined the circle of the Galoa Magic Academy with a beaming smile. A prominent participant in the previous year’s Magic Festival and a daughter of the renowned Phoenix family, no one hindered her.

Dran felt a slight regret that with Phenia’s arrival, if only Christina were there, last year’s Magic Festival participants would have been complete.

「Haha, it’s supposed to be a celebration of Reneea and the others’ victory, but it’s turning into a reunion for us.」

Dran’s smile contained a hint of loneliness, which Phenia, Reneea, and Nelneshia wholeheartedly shared. Still, Dran had no regrets, having witnessed the juniors’ success before heading to a new battlefield.

And so, Dran, Diadora, Selina, and the others awaited their next battlefield.