“……Huff. Huff.”
“What is wrong, Jaes? Ian is acting strange.”
“He is nervous. Take a deep breath and calm down, Ian.”
“……H-hah. A-aren’t either of you nervous? Somehow, the day of the Trelas tournament is actually here!”
“Why are you acting surprised? We already knew this day was coming, didn’t we?”
“B-but! Now that the day has actually arrived, I’m so nervous that I feel as though I might die!”
“Haah. Ian, calm down. How are you supposed to move properly during the actual match in that state? You worked incredibly hard over the past month. You are not the same person you were back then. Trust yourself and have confidence.”
“Y-yes, I know. But I’m frightened when I imagine everyone staring at us and wondering how mere first-years could be so fearless as to participate…….”
“There is no need to overthink it. Just do what you practiced and what you are capable of doing. Miya and I will handle the rest. Isn’t that right, Miya?”
“Of course. Just leave it to me~”
“And if that still is not enough, there is nothing we can do about it. As you said, Ian, that would simply mean our abilities have not progressed any further yet. However, you must have entered this academy because you have a dream of your own. Just think of today as the first opportunity you have been given to pursue it. Then you can turn that nervousness into excitement.”
“Th-that is easy for you to say. Y-you two really are incredible. Even at a time like this, you remain so calm instead of trembling like me. Compared to you, I…….”
“Enough, enough. That is enough of your usual self-criticism. If you cannot trust yourself, then trust us, your teammates. I was the one who persuaded you to participate in the first place.”
“Oh. That sounded rather impressive—almost like something a Team Captain would say.”
“Be quiet, Miya. You should be taking this more seriously.”
“Hmph. You are always like that only with me.”
It had been exactly one month since Miya joined the team and they registered for the Trelas tournament.
“Then let us get going.”
“Hehe. My heart is racing. This is exciting.”
CLENCH.
“I-I will do my best too!”
A black-haired boy whose hair had grown slightly longer, a freckled girl who had matured somewhat in appearance, and a green-haired boy with a habit of adjusting his glasses headed toward the academy together.
They seemed both close and not close at all, each saying only whatever they wished.
* * *
“Well. You arrived early, Raiden.”
“……The same could be said of you, Sharan.”
At the same time that Jaes and his companions set off ambitiously for the academy,
Raiden had already arrived at the arena that had been specially prepared for the tournament and was completing the final inspection.
When he spotted Sharan arriving as well, he frowned in annoyance.
“I did not expect you to come so early. You are not usually the diligent sort, Sharan. I suppose even you are somewhat looking forward to the Trelas Magic Tournament?”
“Of course. Even if it is only temporary, I am teaching the children here now. Besides, when one thinks of the crown jewel of the academy, it has to be Trelas, does it not?”
“How strange. If I remember correctly, it was only a few years ago that you complained that supervising Trelas was boring, abandoned your duties, and ran away.”
“Hmm-hmm. Why are you bringing up such ancient history? That was then, and this is now.”
“……I always think this, but I would like to look inside that capricious mind of yours at least once.”
“What are you talking about? By mage standards, I am quite respectable.”
“Please study the meaning of ‘respectable’ again before returning.”
“I do not want to hear that from the person who ranks first in strangeness~”
“Nonsense. Where could you possibly find a mage more normal and outstanding than me?”
“Shall we ask the others in the Mage Tower which of us is stranger?”
“I fail to see the point in asking strange people who are strange. We would only receive a strange result.”
“……Hmm. You have a point.”
“Enough of this pointless banter. Sharan, what are you truly doing here?”
When Raiden stared at her suspiciously, Sharan adopted a brazen attitude, as though she had no idea what he meant.
“Hmm-hmm. I merely came to help a colleague who has been struggling all by himself.”
“I am certainly grateful that you volunteered to fill Grayker’s vacant position, but you never would have done so if there were nothing here that interested you. Do you like that boy Jaes so much?”
“Hmm. Why do you think that?”
“You deliberately changed assignments so that you could take charge of his class. You also watched him with interest while he was briefly working at the Mage Tower.”
“Well. You are half right and half wrong. Jaes is indeed an unusually entertaining child, the likes of whom I have not seen in some time. However, I truly came here to help you.”
“Help me with what?”
“You know why Duke Ailin has been absent for so long, do you not?”
Raiden’s eyes twitched faintly at her words.
Duke Ailin was a man who freely wandered wherever he pleased, despite how unsuited such behavior was to his position as a duke. It was not particularly rare for him to remain away for an extended period.
However, for him to announce a prolonged absence during the Trelas tournament was certainly unusual.
Raiden, of course, knew the reason.
“‘The Radiance of the Last Breath.’ You are saying this is because of them?”
“Yes. They were once an insignificant force, but I heard their numbers have recently increased at an alarming rate. They have grown so concerning that His Majesty summoned Duke Ailin to ask for his opinion.”
‘The Radiance of the Last Breath.’
To put it somewhat bluntly, it was a collective name for the anti-magic forces.
Magic has been used in everyday life for a long time.
However, it had only developed enough to be used in combat and warfare within the past century.
One of the figures who had proven such a thing possible and elevated magic to its current prominence was the man they served, Duke Ailin de Reinhardt.
Rapid progress, however, was inevitably accompanied by equally significant repercussions.
The development of magic had naturally given rise to forces that rejected it.
That in itself was a perfectly natural phenomenon during a period of change and had not caused any serious problems until now. People ultimately sought more convenient and efficient methods, and the age inevitably flowed in that direction.
No matter how much a minority despised and opposed the development of magic, magic had already become the leading force of the age. The opinions of a powerless minority were naturally disregarded during such a process.
The problem arose when they acquired ‘power.’
“To be honest, I do not understand. Those who reject magic may have acquired enough ‘power’ to concern His Majesty? If that power is related to magic, would that not mean they are denying themselves?”
“Who knows? Perhaps that power is not magic. Even if it is, people blinded by their convictions tend to develop a narrow view of the world, do they not? They may believe the magic they use to prevent the spread of magic is a Necessary Evil.”
“……Tsk. Regardless, what does that have to do with your claim that you came here to help me?”
“Do not pretend you cannot see it. If those people truly exist and wish to create a world in which magic can no longer advance, even if they have to use force, what place do you think they would despise the most?”
“……You believe they may target this place— Ielhas Magic Academy?”
Sharan grinned and casually shrugged.
“It is only a possibility. I doubt they would have the nerve to target a place managed by Duke Ailin himself. However, that also means successfully attacking it would grant their cause tremendous symbolic significance. There have been disturbing rumors recently, and Duke Ailin mentioned the possibility before leaving. I merely decided to help while I was already here.”
“…….”
“What is wrong? Were the things I just told you that shocking?”
“Yes. However, I am not shocked because of the Radiance of the Last Breath. I am shocked that Duke Ailin said such things to you rather than me.”
“Hmm-hmm. That is exactly the sort of answer I would expect from the model student Raiden. Still, you should not misunderstand. You may serve as Duke Ailin’s foremost disciple, but that does not mean he favors only you. He occasionally holds private conversations with me too~”
“Urgh…… Why would he tell someone like Sharan something he never told me……?”
“In any case, that is why I came here personally to help you while you struggle alone. You would probably manage perfectly well without me, as usual, but I decided to be generous. You had already noticed the situation to some extent, had you not? You keep criticizing me, but it seems you assigned Jaes a task as well.”
“…….”
“If those people truly have lost their minds and intend to target this place, they will likely do so during the Trelas tournament, when everyone is distracted and security is at its weakest. Duke Ailin is also absent. Of course, even I doubt such a thing will truly happen. However, even if it does, the two of us should be more than capable of handling it~”
“Hmph. I do not need your help, Sharan. I am more than capable of handling it alone.”
“Hehe. There is that confidence of yours again. Fine. If you are going to make such a fuss even when I offer to help, I will simply relax and enjoy the Trelas tournament~ I will cheer for Jaes’s team.”
“Hmm. Now that you mention it, that boy is participating as well, despite being only a first-year. It is likely because of the task I assigned him. He possesses considerable talent, but passing the preliminary round will be difficult. The upperclassmen will not look kindly upon a team of first-years that has broken with tradition by participating.”
“Yes. I wanted to ask you about that. Why are the preliminary matches being conducted in that format this year? Even talented students could be eliminated during the preliminaries if the other teams cooperate against them.”
The preliminary round of the Trelas tournament was beginning that day.
Rather than a head-to-head match between two teams, it would be conducted as a survival match between three teams. Only the team that protected its Crystal Orb for the longest time would advance.
“There was no other choice. An unusually large number of teams entered this year. Considering the time constraints, this was the only way to select the teams that would advance to the main tournament. Besides, truly capable competitors should be able to defeat all of their opponents even if they cooperate against them. Anyone incapable of overcoming something so minor would be eliminated shortly after reaching the main tournament anyway.”
“Hehe. That is exactly the sort of thing only you would say, Raiden. Well, it does not matter to me. As long as the matches are entertaining to watch, I am satisfied. This format should be enjoyable in its own way.”
“Then leave. I am already busy completing the final inspection.”
“Are you certain you do not need my help?”
“You would be helping me by disappearing from here.”
“SNORT. Fine. Then I really am leaving~ Work hard and make this year’s Trelas tournament entertaining for me~”
Although they had been discussing a serious matter only moments before, there was no tension or unease on either Raiden’s or Sharan’s face.
It was merely a discussion of what might happen in the unlikely event of an attack.
Even if the Radiance of the Last Breath failed to recognize its place and dared to target the academy, there was no cause for concern.
Regardless of how many enemies appeared, Raiden and Sharan possessed the confidence to crush them with ease.
They were, after all, Foremost Mages of the Mage Tower.
Approximately three hours later,
“J-Jaes, what do we do?! I’m too nervous!”
“Calm down, Ian. As long as we follow the plan, there will be no problem.”
“B-but! Why does it have to be a three-way battle?! You saw the expressions on the upperclassmen’s faces when we met them before the match! They will definitely cooperate and eliminate us first!”
“They probably will. It has made the obstacle more difficult than expected, but if we want to be acknowledged despite being first-years, should we not be capable of overcoming at least this much? Miya, are you ready?”
“Of course!”
“Good. Then let us go.”
“H-hieek!!”
Along with the rules of the three-way battle, which had only been revealed immediately before the match, the preliminary round of the Trelas Magic Tournament in which Jaes’s team was participating began.
At the same time,
“We have received the signal from inside. It appears to have begun.”
“Good. We are going in. Do not forget that remaining undiscovered until the appointed time is our highest priority.”
“Yes, sir.”
“……This will serve as the opening shot that teaches those lost in sweet illusions just how dangerous magic truly is.”
While everyone’s attention was focused on Trelas, a group of suspicious figures began quietly infiltrating Ielhas Magic Academy.
Although the markings were located in different places on each person, every one of them bore an emblem resembling a blazing sun somewhere upon their body or clothing.