Chapter 131
“You’re going to take me away, huh… that’s a bold statement coming from you.”
Of course, there’s not a chance in hell that would happen.
What Clemens left behind wasn’t just the dead wyvern and a few lines of dialogue.
Thanks to her explosive flames, the tree surrounding Diphelia’s flying object caught fire.
Diphelia controlled the trees, forcibly cutting and dropping the burning parts, while simultaneously letting the dead wyvern fall as well.
Seeing this, I couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “It’s a pity that the Saint just dumps the pitiful familiar after releasing danger into the outside. Such a shame.”
“That’s a cruel thing to say.”
Diphelia’s closed eyes turned with a bewildered expression, suggesting she found my words cheeky.
What she meant was that it wasn’t right to comment on the current act after she had already instructed a large-scale spell that could injure people from the start of the match.
It seemed she knew very well that if she hadn’t acted first, I’d already be suggesting that I throw away the flaming trunk.
It was indeed sorrowful that the wyvern burned, but the Academy would surely take care of the remains.
Even though I had exchanged quite a bit of conversation with the Saint lately, it looked like we had developed a decent understanding of each other’s tendencies.
I turned my head to look at Erica and Alicia.
They seemed a bit tired but were focused on maintaining speed without a single word.
Although they had paused for a moment due to Clemens’s blow, their speed was still overwhelming compared to any of the other contenders.
While the Saint displayed a variety of skills, the real protagonists of this match were these two women quietly straining themselves.
If the opportunity arises after this is all over, it wouldn’t be bad to prepare a nice gathering.
…If we can finish this match first.
“We’ll soon enter the debuff zone.”
I lifted my head straight and looked at the sky as I spoke.
We had passed the area with the statues and traps, so now it was the final dangerous zone.
That place, shrouded in a purple fog.
A space filled with restrictions on mana, visual obstructions, and breathing difficulties…
Various debuff spells, or rather, curse magic, were laid out in this area.
Moreover, that zone is quite long, making it a place where the ranking can turn upside down.
Before entering the debuff zone, I issued commands to everyone.
“Diphelia. From now on, focus on holy magic.”
“Got it. I’ll lower the external vigilance and prioritize holy magic.”
“Erica, Alicia. Slow down a bit. Any remaining mana will be reserved.”
“…Understood.”
“I shall obey, Young Master!”
The moment we step into that zone, the final third plan… no, calling it a plan is ridiculous. This isn’t a plan at all.
A plan… no, calling it that is ridiculous. This isn’t a plan or anything.
To borrow Kaiman’s words, it’s bravado.
And now, the groundwork for the real election.
Harvest⎯!
The group led by Clemens entered the debuff zone first. Their forms vanished into the fog, making it impossible to gauge the distance.
That’s quite an impressive curse magic.
At this size, it’s clear that multiple people worked on it, yet it was unified and well-made.
I admired the spell woven into that area quietly and continued speaking.
This would be the finale, the change variable.
“As soon as we exit the debuff area, we unleash all our mana for output.”
Still, it’s aerial combat; shouldn’t we get entangled properly?
With that said, our party also.
Entered the debuff zone.
*
In a place thickly veiled in fog.
The Golden Knight Arterion also successfully entered this area.
His teammates were gradually getting used to the environment and were moving at a decent speed.
During the brief pause after the clash between Clemens’s team and Diphelia’s team, Arterion managed to catch up to the lead.
If he handled this area well, it could turn into a chance for a reversal.
Just a moment ago, he had temporarily let Diphelia’s group go to check Clemens, but at that point, it would be the start of war again.
“……”
Arterion raised his sword, dispersing the red aura surrounding him.
The crimson glow that painted his sword faded away, replaced by a dazzling golden shine that resembled his hair.
A brilliant light that scatters the fog blocking his path.
It could be considered a counter to curses, a holy magic.
Having suffered various difficulties from curse magic in the class battle, Arterion realized his weakness and worked tirelessly to overcome it.
So that he would never be deceived by Vargan’s illusions again.
Instead, he aimed to make it a weapon to capture him.
Interestingly, though Arterion had little affinity for magic, he showed talent in holy magic.
In a short period, he achieved considerable success and even managed to incorporate it into his swordsmanship.
Having established the attribute of holy magic within regular aura allowed for diverse applications.
His weakness transformed into a strength.
What he aimed to overcome against Vargan ultimately became a significant advantage for him.
⎯Kreeeek!
‘So they really are showing up.’
Gargoyle statues flocked towards Arterion, drawn in by his light.
It seemed like a kind of penalty for those using holy magic, but even considering that, it was better to use holy magic.
With minimal movements, he swung his sword.
Golden afterimages followed his blade, slicing through the gargoyles.
In a single motion, the forms of over ten gargoyles shattered. His aura remained, mostly undiminished even in the air.
It erased the fog.
“Wow, Prince! There are still more behind…!”
Fallon, who was responsible for one of the motors, shouted with wide eyes, but before he could finish his sentence, Arterion sliced through the enemies.
Fallon let out a sigh of relief.
The reason he could chat so freely like this was that Arterion’s holy magic was protecting them from the debuffs.
In other words, it meant that in this area, having a high rank in holy magic was advantageous.
This was good news for Diphelia, who was already excelling in holy magic more than Arterion.
On the other hand, Clemens, despite her tremendous strength, had never been said to be outstanding in holy magic.
I haven’t heard any talk about magic being outstanding at all.
⎯Swoosh.
He continues to think as he slashes through the gargoyle.
Once I get out of here, I’ll have reached a point close to the final destination; this place is the turning point.
Clemens is sure to be somewhat delayed in this area.
Perhaps she has already been overturned by Diphelia.
But….
⎯Swoosh.
Arterion, watching the gargoyle plummet, which had simply become a fragment of stone.
Three days ago, having heard about the contents in advance, he knows that there is another ‘peculiar statue’ in this fog.
『Kea-aak⎯⎯⎯!』
The strange voice reverberates in the atmosphere.
The attacking gargoyles, startled like real creatures, turn their heads in shock. They seem to tremble with fear of some entity.
It must be the sound of the peculiar statue mentioned by the Academia.
This powerful means only appears in this debuff zone to torment the candidates.
A statue that is entirely different in skill and execution from just countless gargoyles.
It was closer to one of the Twelve Divine Beasts, the ‘Gryphon,’ than a mere statue.
The Gryphon’s statue, similar in features to a real Gryphon, mercilessly attacks those who invade its territory.
Of course, it may not possess the same power as the actual Divine Beast.
I’ve heard it can use magic and is prepared not to kill in one blow.
Facing the Gryphon statue in unstable air, especially in a debuff zone, will not be easy.
Arterion’s calm observation of the situation was for a good reason.
‘The Gryphon headed towards Diphelia.’
The current wailing must be occurring while they clash with Diphelia’s group.
The well-crafted Gryphon statue instantly identifies who the most threatening individual in the area is, targeting Diphelia, who excels in Holy Magic, a weakness of this zone.
Thus, the team most favored in this area is neither Diphelia nor Clemens.
It is Arterion.
This man becomes the key player.
They dashed forward without any hiccups.
The gargoyles attempted to block their path, but it was useless.
Like a devil burning under Holy Light.
They fell helplessly to the ground.
His aura became a shield and a torch, guiding them.
Finally, they arrived at the edge of the violet mist.
“…Was that not enough to block properly?”
Arterion changes the aura of his sword again.
The sunlight-like glow is hidden, and a magma-red blade emerges. Continuously pouring in mana, it vibrated like a heartbeat.
Feeling that tremor, Arterion calms his mind.
He closes his eyes and centers the chaotic energy flowing within him.
He is one with the sword.
Free as a deity, yet never losing his focus.
With the pressure, the surrounding noise tends to drown out, but to the focused Arterion, it was audible.
Moments later, the scene unfolding at this end.
The intense mana energy felt just near him.
At that moment, as a flying object attempts to push through the fog.
Arterion’s eyes snap open. He quickly pivots to the side.
With all the power he can muster, he swings the red aura.
Then.
Kwagagagagag⎯!
As if it was all staged.
The ancient tree of Diphelia, escaping the fog simultaneously, blocks Arterion’s strike.
Breaking through the thick fog.
Arterion, Diphelia, and Clemens reveal themselves in almost the same timing, lined up.
The saint’s tree, hit by Arterion’s sudden attack, begins to crumble under the force.
The tree couldn’t withstand that power and began to be brutally cleaved apart.
‘This is…’
It felt somewhat ‘excessive’ to be due to his strike.
As if it had been prepared in advance.
The body of Diphelia’s team’s flying object tilted and then—
It was launched.
The object flew explosively as if powered by two engines.
But the direction it was fired wasn’t heading straight for the nearby finish line.
Slightly twisted, it veered towards another’s straight path.
Given the speed, it was clear that Diphelia’s team would collide with Clemens’ team if it continued like this…
‘…Was that the plan?’
Arterion understood the meaning behind Vargan’s intended action.
That man had regarded this selection from the very beginning as merely one of the materials.
‘To lay the groundwork, he knows when to step back…?’
As everything rushed forward.
The arena roared with the excited voice of the announcer.
『Now that the finish line is right in front! Candidate Arterion lands a powerful blow on Candidate Diphelia! A collision between Candidate Diphelia and Candidate Clemens seems inevitable! What will the outcome be…?』
Diphelia’s team was set to collide with Clemens’ team.
The two colliding flying objects shook violently, but their balance was not broken. Their movement directions combined, and they surged forward together.
In the end, all three teams flew toward the finish line at remarkably similar speeds.
『⎯Goal! The winner has been announced! The glorious victor of this first selection round is…!』
With a razor-thin margin, the rankings for the medals were announced.
Cheers erupted.
*
Tap, tap⎯.
Right after the winner of the first selection was announced.
A man walked through the deserted hallway of the arena. Outside, the cheers still thundered, drowning out his muttering.
“Why, even though my mana reserves have reached a transcendental level… is something still afoot? It’s baffling…”
A man with a voice devoid of energy as if he hadn’t slept for several nights.
He was making his way back to the main building of Academia alone, having avoided joining others.
He had more on his plate than most.
“His words were right… he knows a lot of information… should I make contact properly? …Or should I observe the situation a bit more?”
His mutterings were so quiet that nothing else could be heard.
However, from here on out, in case anyone else might hear, the man changed his method of muttering.
“⎯⎯⎯⎯.”
Even though he was still mumbling as before, no one around could hear him.
The vibration of the air or the breath escaping from him.
It became a signal and flew off somewhere.
It would reach someone waiting for it, with a precise destination.
“……”
Then, the man halted his lips, sensing someone’s presence other than his own.
A woman with long hair approached from behind him, speaking in a calming tone.
“Professor.”
One of the titles used to call the professor at Academia.
The man slowly turned to look at her, seeming annoyed but resigned to it.
As expected, she was a student with calm golden hair.
“What is it, Francesca?”
Francesca looked at him.
He sported sleepy eyes and heavy dark circles.
Towards the male professor, who appeared far from enthusiastic, Francesca spoke with familiarity.
“I’d like to discuss something with Professor Lucien.”
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