36

Barrett liked Arc.

She joined the magic tournament to win even a scrap of his approval.

She "happened" to show up at the training grounds after hearing Arc was there.

But Arc slammed her with harsh reality.

"Can't do anything without a bow, huh?"

For generations, the Fromarrow family lived for archery.

They were all obsessed with the bow—her father, mother, grandfather, grandmother.

They were poor, but they would never sell the bow.

They protected it like their lives depended on it.

It was like giving it up meant losing everything.

Growing up in that environment, Barrett believed in the bow absolutely.

But in a modern world driven by magic, archery is outdated.

A first-rate archer can lose to a third-rate mage.

Barrett had figured that out, deep down.

Even so, she still thought the bow was all she had.

It was her only source of confidence. Her only support.

Even if it was fragile, she clung to it.

"You're stuck in your old glory, so you'll stay washed-up forever, huh..."

Arc's words hit home.

"Accept that you're weak, pathetic, and have nothing."

She was terrified to face that truth.

She worried she'd really have nothing if she acknowledged it.

Then Arc said, "Pick up a magic gun."

Barrett hated magic guns. Bows lost their place because of them.

But she knew she couldn't move on unless she let go of the bow.

She realized she needed to change.

So she decided to throw away the relic bow, her parents' teachings, and her pointless pride.

"To change, I don't need this anymore!"

She broke the precious bow she'd protected all her life.

It was her way of cutting ties with the past.

That same day, she bought a magic gun.

She didn't have money, so she used almost all she had for living expenses to get one.

If she placed high in the magic tournament, she'd win prize money.

That cash would help her get by for a while.

By the way, her family barely supports her, so she works part-time and uses scholarships.

If she loses fast in the tournament, she'll be in real trouble.

But by cornering herself, she hardened her resolve.

From that moment on, she practiced using the magic gun like her life depended on it, all the way to the day of the tournament.

They say her training was intense to the point of being scary.

Normally, a few days of magic-gun practice wouldn't make you good.

But Barrett was born with a gift.

She was already an amazing shot with a bow, so aiming came naturally.

And a magic gun is way easier to handle than a bow.

So for her, mastering it wasn't a problem.

Finally, the magic tournament started.

There's a preliminary round and then the main event.

The prelims use a survival format.

Dozens of students fight in a magically expanded space, and the last sixteen advance.

Barrett fought her way through and made it to the main event.

She was the biggest surprise.

Nobody expected her to win.

Sure, luck was on her side.

She didn't face any super-strong opponents.

No one targeted her because nobody saw her as a threat.

The field was full of hiding spots, which helped her and her magic gun.

Even so, luck alone won't carry you all the way.

Making it through proved her skill.

That gave her confidence.

She kept her momentum in the main event, too.

She won her first match, then her second.

She always had talent, but it never showed.

Once she picked up the magic gun, it finally came out.

Thanks to Arc's offhand comment, Barrett woke up to her true potential.

◇　◇　◇

The tournament was underway.

In the prelims, it was a survival match.

On that huge stage, I blasted my magic everywhere.

Everyone ganged up on me.

That made it easier, actually.

I froze them all at once!

Fwahahaha!

That's the power of a count, you nobodies!

No way a bunch of minor characters can beat me!

Of course, I passed to the main event.

My first and second matches in the main event were easy, too.

Not challenging at all, but what can I say? I'm invincible.

At this rate, the championship's as good as mine.

Like I'd ever lose.

Cheers and applause fill the arena.

This sense of superiority is the best!

But the fights are too easy. I'm getting bored.

I want an opponent with more bite.

My next opponent is that poor baron, right?

Apparently he's using a magic gun now.

So he tossed his bow, did he?

Well, it doesn't matter. Bow or gun, I'll crush him either way.

I'll show everyone a count's true power!