Chapter 37

Seta Malkiri.

He was an aggressive boy who, maybe not in magic but in a physical fight, had not lost to anyone.

As that boy who boasted a taller and bigger frame and better physique than most adults flew and fell unconscious by a single 'flick'…

"W-woah…"

Altein Stadium.

This place was filled with two distinct and opposite reactions.

The first was,

"S-so cool! What type of magic is that?"

"Is that important right now? That was so one-sided!"

"WAAAAAAAH! Ruin! Ruin! Ruin! Ruin!"

The spectators who couldn't have expected the flaming fists cheered with excitement.

The other reaction was,

"…Did you just see that?"

"Is that magic? I don't think so."

"No. That was definitely magic."

A group of magicians that were 'shocked' to say the least.

Of course, the magicians associated with the Ignit Magic Academy weren't shocked in the slightest.

"As expected! I knew Ruin would win."

"In a sense… it was pitiful. To get hit by Ruin, the Skull Cracker's flick… Tsk, tsk…"

"That guy… His brain's definitely shaking right now."

A melee magic that was based on my unfair strength.

An indiscriminate magic attack that didn't care about things like casting time.

His peers had already experienced Ruin's special magic first-hand before.

Of course, even though they had seen Ruin's magic multiple times like this.

Some parts were still hard to get used to.

"…Did he get even stronger than before?"

"I think so. He flew backwards more than when Michael was flung."

"He really is a monster."

That was Ruin's incredible speed of growth.

It was enough to tell with the naked eye, not needing to measure the specifics, so they could only be surprised.

However, the time to enjoy this feeling of victory didn't last long.

"Yo, Acadumm- No. You academy kids. Let me ask you something."

"What is it?"

"That guy. Your rep. Just what did he do right now?"

"Ah… that?"

Just 1 match.

Just 1 event.

Through just this, he had grabbed the attention of all the students of the 31 other magic schools.

That's why they were all swarming the academy students to dig up anything they could find about Ruin.

Well, of course,

"Huhu. Did you think I'd just tell you?"

"…Don't be like that. Can't you just tell us? My rep requested me to find out no matter—"

"You guys. It's too hot. Go away. Shoo! Shoo!"

"..."

It wasn't as if his academy peers knew anything.

However, they straightened their backs, lifted their heads up high, and put on airs.

They were rather enjoying the attention that Ruin had brought them.

This reaction wasn't just among the students.

"..."

In the hosting room flying in the air above the Altein Stadium.

In here was the Fire King Teron and Tirion Ignit, the director of the Ignit Magic Academy.

They were looking at all the events going on through the lone magical crystal ball.

As soon as the match with Ruin had ended, a quiet stillness permeated between them.

And the one who first broke this silence was the Fire King Teron.

"…Tirion. Do you have nothing to say to me?"

"I do not."

"Then I'll speak first. It seems I need an explanation for what I just saw right then."

"It's as you saw. It was magic. He held onto Fireballs in both hands and destroyed the guardian, and afterwards, he flicked Seta Malkiri on—"

"Do you think I'm asking you because I don't know what happened?"

"..."

The Fire King Teron.

His face was completely different to before when he was just joking around with Tirion.

The heat emanating from his gaze was different.

His face, as the only archmage to exceed the limits of humans.

It was an expression worthy of the one who sat on the Throne of Teron.

'Tsk. He's going off again.'

Because of this two-faced nature, Tiriron Ignit had frequently said this about Fire King Teron.

'A two-headed snake.'

Sometimes, he felt like a close friend.

But sometimes, he became the stone-hearted Fire King which made some question if he was even the same person.

Despite him knowing Teron since the early teens…

Even he didn't know which side of Teron was the true 'Teron'.

When Teron showed this side of him, Tirion had no choice either.

He had to set aside his private closeness and treat him in a more public manner.

"Tirion Ignit. As a judge of the Grand Festival, I will need you to tell me all about Ruin Ardell, the representative of the Ignit Magic Academy."

"…Sure."

Tirion Ignit.

After hesitating for a second on how to respond, he decided to just tell him everything as it was.

"A student who acts like a student, who, even though everyone expected him to give up, persevered till the end. And,"

He spoke while looking Teron straight in his eyes.

"A magician who acts like a magician, able to magically turn his weakness into his strength."

"..."

Tirion's way of talking which skirted around the main points was enough to start to enrage the Fire King Teron,

And Teron's brows started to aggressively twitch.

"...Is that all?"

To this question, Tirion Ignit could only reply with a big sigh.

"This is all I know about Ruin."

It was the truth.

Tirion wasn't interested at all in what type of magic Ruin used.

Millie's Covenant.

Each magician had the right to keep their own secrets, and this must be honoured.

Especially if that considered authority over their own students.

"…What if I tried to directly call up Ruin Ardell and ask him myself?"

"If you were to forcefully get an answer from him, I'd have to stop you."

"..."

Even if that opponent was the Fire King Teron.

Even though he said this, Teron was definitely not someone you should have as your enemy.

Tirion Ignit tried to give his politest smile.

"Magicians have the right to keep their secrets."

"…I know very well about Millie's Covenant, so you don't have to explain it."

"That's a relief."

Teron retracted his gaze from Tirion.

He wasn't wrong.

That blasted covenant.

Even if one was under the restriction of not lying, magicians could withhold the truth.

That was why Teron took a different approach.

"However, there shouldn't be any problem with sharing a few words with him."

"..."

He couldn't force Ruin to answer,

But he could extract it naturally through conversation.

Fire King Teron.

A magician on the boundary between human and demigod.

The man closer to the limit of magic than any other magician in the world.

If magic had an end, it had to be him who reached it.

However,

'Ruin Ardell.'

A type of magic he hadn't even heard of had appeared.

Not as a judge, but as a magician, he felt a burning curiosity towards Ruin.

And this curiosity of this supreme being must be satisfied.

"Ok! Let's drink!"

"Cheers!"

The first night of the Opening Ceremony of the Grand Festival.

The night atmosphere of the Altein Commercial District boasted a livelier appearance than its day counterpart.

There was no end to spectators that had come out to enjoy the food and drinks of the shops that had no intention of turning off their lights.

We blended into the sea of people.

"Oh! This is delicious!"

And enjoyed the taste of victory, mixed with Altein's specialty drink of tropical coconut vanilla juice.

Gulp.

Ahh.

Sweet.

Then, Jason frowned as if he didn't enjoy the cocovanilla.

"Do we really have to drink fruit juice on such a joyous day?"

"What's wrong with fruit juice? This cocovanilla's sweet and sour taste is the specialty of Altein that you can't taste anywhere else…"

"Ruin, you can go ahead and enjoy that sweet and sour drink."

"..."

Jason pointed to the sign on the store with a frustrated expression.

"Damn it! Are we kids?!"

"..."

Hmm.

I had no response to that.

Jason stood up abruptly, having had enough of this juice.

"This won't do. I can't be sitting here drinking this children's drink on such a joyous day."

"Then what are you gonna do?"

"Follow me. I'll take you to a really good place."

"Good place?"

"The true taste of life. Shouldn't it be bitterness rather than sweetness?"

"..."

What's this?

I had a bad feeling.

As expected, the place Jason led me to was the most secluded place in the commercial district, but also the one with the most flamboyant sign.

It was,

A bar.

"A bar? Wait, we're still students..."

"Yo! We're a group of 31!"

In the moment of my hesitation, Jason walked in naturally into the bar.

"Oh! Nice! Are we going into a pub now?"

"I've really wanted to come here at least once."

"..."

And my peers followed behind Jason with smiles on their faces.

As I was standing outside deciding on what I should do to remedy this situation as the 'school representative'…

Jason grabbed my arm.

"What's wrong with a glass of beer?"

"But—"

"We aren't the only ones here. Look over there. The other school kids are here too."

It was the truth.

Already inside the bar, multiple students awkwardly dressed as 'adult tourists' were already gathered together and drinking.

How had they not been caught yet?

As I pondered on this question, Jason tugged my arm again.

"Don't worry. They already know and are just letting them be. Isn't this a festival? We're the main characters of this festival. That's why we need to enjoy ourselves. Don't worry too much and come in!"

"W-wait…"

As I was dragged into the bar by Jason, the damp yet warm air hit my face.

But instead of the soggy and damp interior I had expected, the inside of the bar was pretty clean, and the customers were all enjoying their drinks while smiling.

"For everyone to come to the bar together…"

This…

Is this ok?

"Ok! Since Ruin's here too, let's properly start the party!"

"Oh yeah!"

"..."

My peers who had gone in before me had already settled themselves in a group seat.

They sat me on the seat of honour, Jason naturally shifting the mood in our favour.

"5 kegs of Altein barley beer… 31 glasses with ice… And… Dragon Kiss. You have it, right?"

And started to order like a veteran alcoholic.

Just how many have you been to?

"Dragon Kiss? Keke. Of course we have it. It's not really a drink that youngsters like you look for… Seems you know how to drink properly."

"Hehe. Of course. Please give us one bottle of Dragon Kiss too."

"Noted."

Dragon Kiss?

What was that?

This question was soon answered.

Jason lifted the 'Dragon Kiss' that the owner got for him with pride.

"Damon's Dragon Kiss. Hehe. This right here is my territory's specialty."

"...Ah."

So it was like that.

Jason was the eldest son of the Damon territory.

The Damon Territory boasted the best quality alcohol production in all of the Radian Kingdom. and the specialty from this place was the 'Dragon Kiss'.

This meant that Jason came all the way to a faraway foreign country and ordered his territory's alcohol.

"Damon's Dragon Kiss! Just one sip, and you feel as if you just kissed a dragon… This drink is that incredible!"

"Woaaaah!"

Jason smiled while enjoying himself and opened the lid of the drink.

"A kiss with a dragon!"

"Kiss! Kiss!"

"..."

My male peers became excited while looking at the alcohol, and even though they hadn't a single drop of alcohol, some started to act drunk.

It was enough to force a sigh out of me.

I confessed honestly to Jason.

"Jason, I'll be honest. This is my first time with alcohol."

In the last 6 years in the academy after my 10 years of life in my territory, I had no chance to drink alcohol.

But Jason, suddenly acting like an adult, commented with a wise-looking expression,

"Don't worry. Drinking should be learnt from someone who loves to drink. I'll teach you the proper way to drink. Here. Follow me. First shot is one shot!"

"First shot is one shot!"

"..."

My peers started to chant, 'First shot is one shot' with excited expressions.

It was a weird feeling.

Like I had stumbled into a religious meeting.

Yeah…

"…Can't really do much."

Since everyone was enjoying themselves like this, I didn't want to exclude myself.

What could I do besides closing my eyes and enjoying the moment?

I received the shot glass that Jason gave me and sniffed it.

Sniff sniff.

Woah…

What was this?

Even though I only smelt it, a warm breath climbed out of me.

Then, Jason lifted me up and exclaimed,

"Right! Before we properly start partying! Today! The one who gave us a huge gift called victory in both the group and individual competition! We'll cheer for our representative, Ruin!"

Jason inspired a round of applause, and with the clapping, a huge cheer burst out.

"YEAAAAAAAH!"

"Ruin! Ruin! Ruin!"

I stood from my seat while basking in the chants of my excited team members.

Then,

"You there, wait."

"..."

Someone walked up in front of our table.

You… What are you doing?

——