<255 - This is my heart>
“Ishhtar. You have to drop that ball!”
“…It’s impossible.”
Despite the saintess’s urging, Ishhtar replied weakly.
“With all the remaining mana, I can block it. But after that, I won’t be able to do anything.”
“That’s…”
So, am I really supposed to watch helplessly as Oknodie’s dark ball evolves into the infinitely accelerating thunder ice ball?
“It won’t be like that. The ball’s attribute will change into the one it absorbed the most, so logically, it would become the infinitely accelerating ball.”
“Getting logical about it won’t benefit us! Regardless of what happens, Oknodie wins!”
Sure enough, I never anticipated that even after successfully countering Oknodie’s stage 4 ball, I would end up in this position.
Ishhtar was keenly aware of it.
From the entrance exam, he believed that those lacking wit or creativity, or who relied solely on brute strength, held an exaggerated view of power…
But experiencing it firsthand made me truly feel it.
The upper hand in strength was clearly on Ishhtar’s side.
Oknodie’s dark mana was indeed formidable, but this side bore the sacred mission of the Hero chosen by Sofemia of the Sun.
And yet, being pushed into a corner like this, nearly abandoning victory, can only be attributed to the difference in creativity.
‘It’s a complete defeat, truly.’
The students outside the court were buzzing.
“Oknodie won?”
“It’s a deadlock.”
“Look at the speed of that accelerating ball. There’s no afterimage!”
“No matter how much of a hero you are, you can’t block that ball right after using up your strength to eliminate more than half of the first years.”
“Even if the hero has the advantage, I wish Oknodie would win.”
“Right? It’s Oknodie who is securing the victory for the first years.”
“That hero just focused on her party’s grades in the midterms.”
“Oknodie also looks out for her people, but a lot more people benefit from it.”
“Rather, isn’t it better to follow Oknodie?”
Even the students who disliked and avoided Oknodie found themselves supporting her over Ishhtar.
Saintess Yui opened her eyes wide, ready to scold the students, but Ishhtar shook her head.
“Stop it. Let it be.”
“Ishhtar…”
“Even if I lose my reputation, I won the match.”
“Still… Huh? You won the match?”
“Creativity. The essence of this academy is that those with stronger thinking powers win. Now that I’ve realized the essence, my eyes are clearer. This situation is not disadvantageous for me at all.”
[Hero’s Realization - The probability of gaining insight when cornered increases by 5000%.]
No matter how focused Ishhtar was on brute strength, the power of realization inherent to a hero allowed her a degree of intelligence, contrary to her usual all-in approach to strength.
“When a stage 4 ball enters the infinite acceleration phase, that’s when defeat is decided. Trying to block it will only result in it absorbing all my mana. But there’s a weakness.”
“What weakness?”
“It’s slow.”
“Uh?”
“That ball is slow.”
“…Ah!”
Yui realized a moment too late.
Oknodie, with a face full of disappointment, spoke up.
“Aww, you caught me.”
“If we eliminate Oknodie before the infinite acceleration phase, it’s over.”
The warrior turned her sword point toward Oknodie instead of the slowly advancing stage 4 dark ball heading into the acceleration phase.
Only Ishhtar was exhausted to the bone.
In fact, it was Oknodie, who had used such power twice, that was even more drained!
“Okay. Time to end this.”
“…Who says so?”
Crackle.
Electricity rose from the ground and bound Ishhtar’s hands.
“!”
“With the hero’s resistance, you wouldn’t easily allow such an attack. Still… in this exhausted state, I think it would work.”
[Electric Trap]
[Shock]
With just a flick of her hand, a Wincutter could eliminate Oknodie, but it wasn’t allowed.
As Ishhtar stood frozen by Kasia’s ultimate counter, Yui aimed her staff at Kasia.
“HOLY ARROW…”
Kaang! Thud.
A pot flying from somewhere struck Yui’s head, producing a lively sound.
“If you thought only the hero’s party had competent members, you were mistaken.”
Ziang, whose neat hair was now a mess, was the one who threw the pot that Isabel dropped before getting eliminated.
“Don’t dent the pot!”
“Is it alright if Oknodie gets hurt?”
Isabel closed her mouth with a look of regret.
But due to the strained movement, blood oozed from a previously bandaged wound.
Tch.
What a remarkably strong woman.
Warrior Ishhtar.
Having faced her twice, I certainly didn’t want to face her a third time.
“Stepping outside means elimination, right?”
Ziang attempted to step outside on his own.
“Ah~Hahhahaha~~!”
Before the second-year top student, the drill-haired Mandela, spoke up as the fracas between the first years devolved into chaos.
“I’ve heard that there are so many talented students in Class 981, and it really shows. The Hero of Light and the Dark Princess of Shadows. Both sides showcased an incredibly high-level fight.”
“…Are you going to interfere, senior?”
“Not at all. I want to see all this overflowing talent fight each other and self-destruct before targeting our second years. For that, I’ll temporarily set aside my points.”
“…What does that mean?”
“Precisely. It’s a forfeit.”
Before the hero’s attack could target Oknodie, Mandela declared the forfeit.
The two pillars of Class 981’s first years, the hero and Oknodie.
Just before their battle would come to a conclusion.
To ensure their conflict continues indefinitely.
With a broad perspective, she willingly forfeited the position of the champion of the year to prevent first years from splitting into winners and losers.
“If Mandela has made that decision, we should follow.”
“If it’s Mandela’s choice, there are no objections.”
“The young lady of the Marquis is trustworthy.”
The remaining second years lined up behind Mandela, all stepping outside together.
Unlike the first years divided between the Border Region and the Empire, the entire year level showed absolute trust and followed Mandela.
“The year-level competition between the first and second years has ended in victory for the first years.”
It appeared as though they were graciously receiving a concession, but in reality, an unprecedented event unfolded: the first years defeating the second years.
[You have won your first victory in the year-level competition.]
[You made a significant contribution to the victory.]
[Your decisive contribution is acknowledged, earning you 10,000 points.]
[Mandela’s favorability has increased.]
[The favorability of most first years has increased.]
[The favorability of a minority of first years following Warrior Ishhtar has decreased.]
[Professors are watching you with interest.]
[Some professors want to recruit you as a teaching assistant.]
[Principal Omoshiroi thinks you are a fun kid.]
You’ve earned a reward greater than the rank rewards.
Relationships are overflowing with changes!
This is precisely why the year-level competition is the core event of the Great Sports Festival.
The timing couldn’t have been better.
If senior Mandela hadn’t subtly helped, I would have faced elimination completely.
And that would have hurt incredibly from the hero’s attack!
“Thank you for your help, senior Mandela!”
“Ohoh~ Haahhaha~~! If there’s gratitude to be given, direct it to your commendable junior. No need to introduce who I am, right?”
“Older Sister Arcadia?”
Countess Arcadia.
She, often seen suffering at the hands of unfair villains during the Great Sports Festival, appeared unexpectedly at just the right moment.
“Hehe. I have a friendship with Mandela, so I asked for a favor. It’s still far too little to repay all the help Di has given me.”
“No, really. It helped a lot. Thanks to you, all the first years earned free points!”
Once Arcadia’s contributions become known, those who spoke ill of her will disappear without a trace.
“No. Please don’t publicize my name. All I need is for Di to know my heart.”
“Why? Your situation is precarious.”
“Not at all. There’s senior Mandela, who fulfills even unreasonable requests from juniors like me, and there’s reliable Di, though we’re classmates.”
“Still.”
“If you are truly concerned, please publicize this event as Di’s achievement instead. If that hero starts to keep an eye on me, it will become a heavy burden for me, given my unstable backing.”
So that’s what the political reasoning was about.
After all, this hero type doesn’t hesitate and will strike first if she feels annoyed.
“Well then, this is my heart!”
Hugging the countess’s waist, Arcadia stroked her head.
Feeling those hands tidying her messy hair brought a smile to my face.
“Thank you, Di.”
“I should be the one thanking you. Why are you thanking me?”
“Just because. I’m thankful for everything. For all the things you did for me behind the scenes during this sports festival.”
Ah!
Was my concern discovered so I wouldn’t attract unnecessary worry?
I did sneak around to keep watch after all, startled by the ruckus created by those annoying mosquitoes.
“Even as who I am now, not just as the young lady of the Duke, I can still be of help to you. Just like today.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I just wanted you to acknowledge it.”
Seems like Arcadia felt a bit neglected when I chased after other events, realizing she wasn’t in the limelight.
“Well then, I’ll tell you a good thing, just for you.”
“What is it?”
“Rest well for an hour. As much as possible.”
“Hehe. Why?”
“Next, it’s the third year.”
Arcadia’s face turned pale at that.
If they defeated the second year, then it’s time for dodgeball against the third year.
Well, of course, they’d lose, but it would still be a valuable experience.
The first years still don’t truly understand how terrifying the third years are.
