Chapter 104: Chapter 104

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The First Match

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On the way to the International Individual Tournament Finals, Seron's sudden actions had left me dazed the whole time.

I already knew Seron liked Bikamon.

But I hadn't expected to be on the receiving end of such a display of affection.

No matter how hard I tried to forget, I kept remembering Seron's soft lips on my cheek.

'Is this... okay?'

My mind became unnecessarily complicated.

Lost in these thoughts, I made my way to the finals venue.

It was still early morning, so there was no one around.

Soon, this path would likely be bustling with people.

The morning autumn breeze felt quite pleasant.

Click-clack.

Just then, I saw someone with a strangely familiar appearance walking towards me.

My gaze naturally followed them.

Soon, my eyes slowly widened.

Inside the robe, revealed by the morning sunlight.

I could see dark chestnut hair, artificially altered with some tool.

But the face peeking out from inside the robe was unmistakably familiar.

"...Nikita?"

I called out that name.

It had been a very long time since I'd last uttered it.

Before I knew it, she was running towards me.

My arms instinctively reached out.

Thump.

She rushed into my embrace.

She was still small and light.

Why was Nikita here?

I didn't know.

Because I thought I'd never see her again for the rest of my life.

Nikita had tried to assassinate Iris.

Given that, she couldn't show herself publicly anymore.

So I thought I wouldn't be able to see her, but I never expected her to reappear before me.

"...Junior."

Her voice trembled.

It was a voice that had held back so much until now.

"I missed you."

The moment I heard those words, I realized something too.

"Me too."

A smile had unknowingly formed on my lips.

Perhaps this was a smile I only showed to Nikita.

"I missed you too."

Someone who pressed forward resolutely, unfazed by any situation.

Watching her, I found a great deal of comfort.

However, Nikita could never escape her fated death.

Because in the scenario, she was a character who was destined to die.

I hated that.

That's why I struggled and fought against it.

Because I wanted to see her live on even after the scenario.

And now, that Nikita was standing before me.

That fact made me happier than I had ever been before.

So, yes, I had missed Nikita.

Nikita's eyes widened, then she lowered them slightly, showing hesitation.

Then she kept glancing up at me.

What was this... cuteness?

Nikita looked at me with a face that seemed to have a lot to say.

But then she bit her lip, as if to say, 'Not yet.'

"Actually, I shouldn't be here like this, but it was too hard to resist."

Nikita spoke carefully, the tips of her ears flushed red.

"B-Because... I really, really missed you."

It seemed she was embarrassed, perhaps because she wasn't used to speaking like this.

The image of the Calamity Dragon Maiden was no longer visible in her.

That fact brought me a sense of relief.

"Junior—no, Bikamon, I really need to tell you this."

At that moment, she gripped my lapel tightly.

"You must not use the Shroud Bandage anymore. You'll lose all three of your emotions."

I could see the burning urgency in Nikita's eyes.

Her tightly bitten, trembling lips showed how much she had worried.

To think she knew that much.

It must be information from the First Prince's side.

"...So you knew."

She caught the meaning behind my wry smile.

And she must have also realized that I couldn't remove the Shroud Bandage.

"It's okay."

Nikita's eyes shone with determination.

"The emotions you've lost, I'll help you get them all back."

Just then, footsteps sounded from behind us.

It was around the time people would start appearing.

Nikita took a step back from me.

I felt a pang of regret as her warmth dissipated, but it was okay.

Just seeing that Nikita was safe and well was enough.

"Nikita, is magic fun?"

Hearing my question, Nikita slowly smiled.

"Yes, it's more fun than anything I've ever done before."

That radiant smile alone was reward enough for my efforts.

"So, Bikamon, just wait for me."

With that, Nikita turned around.

"Because I'll be back next year."

Next year.

In what way would she return, I wondered?

I didn't quite know.

But I hoped she would continue to live doing what she wanted.

Having lived a life bound without freedom, I didn't want to restrict her liberty.

"I'll look forward to it."

Doing everything she wanted.

That was the freedom I had given Nikita.

Nikita gazed at my face for a long time, as if committing it to memory, then shook her head.

It was as if she had something to say but was holding back.

"See you next year."

With that, Nikita quickly departed.

Her movements were as swift as ever.

I looked forward to next year.

For next year's sake, I would have to progress through the scenario even better.

'I've received strength.'

And it was a very reassuring kind of strength.

***

In front of the finals entrance.

"Senior, is something wrong?"

Hearing a familiar voice, I looked up.

There stood Aisha, her face etched with concern.

Aisha, the Iron Swordswoman.

The grateful girl who always trained with me, and fitting for the top student of first-year martial arts, she had passed the individual exhibition match.

After encountering Nikita on the way out of the dorms.

I met up with Aisha and we headed to the finals venue together.

Incidentally, Seron hadn't shown her face since then.

"No, sorry, it's nothing."

The finals would begin soon.

I couldn't afford to be spacing out like this, so I pulled myself together.

"Oh, Senior Hanon!"

"Oh, Senior Hanon, you passed too!"

Soon, two more familiar faces appeared.

Poara Silin, a first-year Spirit Lord Contractor from the student council.

And Midra Penin, the first-year martial arts second-best, also from the student council.

It seemed the first-years who passed the finals had come together.

"As for the first-year magic students..."

"Hehe, none of them passed."

Midra let out a gloomy laugh.

Magic and martial arts departments had long been famous rivals.

So his face clearly showed he was pleased that the first-year magic students had dropped out.

'Well, this year's first-year magic students don't have anyone outstanding compared to the martial arts students.'

Of course, that story would change once next year's first-years enrolled.

Because next year's first-year magic students would be overwhelmingly superior to the martial arts students.

'As for the current second-years, there's no need to even mention it.'

Just then, familiar faces were walking towards the finals entrance.

One was a woman with jet-black hair, exuding a decadent beauty.

The Third Princess, Iris Haisirion.

The other was a languid woman with unusual hair the color of the Milky Way.

Sharin Sazaris, daughter of the Blue Magic Tower Lord.

Different groups were gathered around each of them.

As always, Iris's teammates were gathered around her.

Among them, my eyes met with Dorara, the magic department's second-best, and I recoiled.

Conversely, when I turned my head towards Sharin, I saw her usual companions gathered around her.

The so-called 'Standard Protagonist Team.'

Lucas wasn't actually there, but other respectable members were.

Among them, I saw Isabel.

The moment my eyes met Isabel's.

Swish.

Isabel suddenly averted her gaze.

I tilted my head, looking puzzled.

What was that? Did she come to hate me without my knowing?

Given how much Isabel had been following me around recently.

Being avoided like this felt a bit disorienting.

It felt like I was back to the time when Isabel hated me.

'Though, technically, that's how it was originally.'

I had a strangely uneasy feeling.

"Hanon."

"Heeey."

Meanwhile, Iris and Sharin stopped in front of me.

Iris, smiling, greeted me as if it were a familiar routine.

Sharin, as always, had a languid expression.

But for some reason, her eyes held a hint of discomfort today.

More importantly, I didn't know why both of them stopped right in front of me.

This martial arts arena's finals had spectators, not just competitors.

Perhaps that's why those who recognized Iris and Sharin looked at us with curiosity.

Because both Sharin's and Iris's gazes were directed solely at me.

The public's scrutinizing gazes felt sharp.

Don't try to pry.

"Well, well, popular guy."

I punished Card, who had appeared beside me and was whistling, with a fist.

"Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Third Princess."

"G-Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Third Princess!"

Meanwhile, the first-years respectfully greeted Iris.

Unlike the second-years, the first-years didn't often encounter Iris.

So Iris waved her hand at them.

"For now, we are all academy students, so don't be overly formal."

"Understood."

The spirited Aisha was the first to heed Iris's words.

Aisha was always dependable.

"Hanon, I'm going to keep advancing."

Meanwhile, Ban, the lazy genius, spoke to me.

I smiled in response to Ban's words.

So this was an extension of our last mock battle.

"Damn it, all those first-year magic students got eliminated. Those shameful bastards."

Dorara then muttered, full of displeasure.

"Dorara, they tried their best. It's simply a pity."

"Pity, my ass."

When Joachim, Iris's team's battle priest, chided him, Dorara snorted.

I watched them idly, then gave a slight smile.

"Yeah, especially since someone like you made it."

"What, you—!"

As Dorara lunged forward, Hania blocked his path.

"Dorara, don't stir up trouble unnecessarily before the finals."

"Hmph."

When Hania glared at him, Dorara lowered the hand he had moved to his staff.

What a shame.

I could have made it into a Round of 64 match.

"And Hanon, don't provoke anyone before the match either. There are no 'lovers' during a match."

She was sharp as a knife.

Hania looked at me with a somewhat blunt expression.

It seemed I'd have to talk about our contract relationship soon.

I was debating when to do it.

"Poara Silin!"

At that moment, a voice rang out from Isabel's team's side.

When I turned my gaze there, a woman with chestnut hair was pointing a finger at Poara.

Beakiring Monem, who had contracted with a top-tier spirit.

Before Poara, who had contracted with a Spirit Lord, appeared, she was the pinnacle of the Specialization Department's Spiritology.

"Y-Yes?"

Poara, being pointed at, looked flustered.

Then Beakiring fiercely distorted her eyes.

"If you run away from Ring again this time, I won't let you off easy."

Beakiring glared at Poara with a venomous expression.

The relatively timid Poara instinctively recoiled.

"Answer me!"

"Y-Yes, ma'am!"

Well, she's definitely marked.

Beakiring's unique characteristic was [Tenacity].

It seemed Poara had become Beakiring's target this time.

'Originally, if one took the spirit route, Lucas would be the target.'

It struck me again that while the main outline of the scenario remained the same.

Many of the details were changing.

And it was my role to lead those changes.

My eyes fell upon the people gathered here.

These were the ones who would continue to play major roles in the main story.

I earnestly hoped that the scenario could be concluded without any major hitches.

"Is this all for Jerion Academy members?"

"I don't see any third-years."

As they said, unfortunately, all the third-years had been eliminated.

With Nikita gone, the third-years were the weakest generation, lacking any outstanding individuals.

They hadn't survived the intense preliminaries.

Therefore, those present here were essentially Jerion Academy's representatives.

"There's one more."

I walked towards the fellow trying to sneak away into the bushes.

Then I abruptly shoved my hand into the bushes and snatched him out.

"Eek!"

With a strange yelp, a short girl was dragged out of the bushes.

Her identity was Seron Pharmia.

The very person who had secretly kissed my cheek this morning and run away.

"Where are you trying to sneak off to by yourself?"

"W-whoa, Prince Sweet Potato, let, let go!"

"No way. After doing something like that, do you think I'd let you go?"

"Precisely *because* I did something like that, you should let me go!"

Even after doing it herself, Seron's face was beet red, still embarrassed.

Anyway, looking at her, I wondered what all my worrying had been for.

At that moment, I turned my head, feeling an intensely sharp gaze.

But the moment I turned, the gaze vanished as if washed away.

Where my gaze landed, Isabel and Sharin were standing.

When Sharin's eyes met mine, she audaciously snorted, as if to say she hadn't been looking at me.

Isabel still had her head turned away.

What was that?

It felt like my skull was being pierced just now.

I rubbed the back of my head and even spoke to Seron.

"Jerion Academy members should stick together, shouldn't they?

That way, to the spectators, Jerion Academy will look like a good academy where no one is ostracized."

I wanted Seron to become friends with the others.

"Why don't you try to get a little closer to the other kids while you're at it?"

"No thanks. I only need you."

Seron pouted and turned her head away.

Why was she acting so cute when she was being annoying?

'Oh, crap, what the hell did I just think?'

Oh, for heaven's sake!

To think I actually found Seron acting cute, even if it was just for a moment.

My brain was definitely malfunctioning.

"Grantony, open my brain and check it right now!"

"Heheheh, really?"

Grantony's eyes gleamed as if he truly intended to probe my brain.

"It's a joke."

"What a shame."

The sight of that sent shivers down my spine.

"Hanon Airey."

At that moment, a voice I had heard that morning rang out.

A woman appeared, her blue hair fluttering.

It was Eve, the Unwavering Azure Flame.

"Be prepared for today's match."

Eve didn't say much to me.

Just a single declaration to be prepared.

Leaving that declaration behind, Eve confidently walked away.

It meant she had nothing more to say.

Her confident stride was quite powerful.

I could strongly feel her resolve to put me in my place.

'Actually, I thought she would have tried to erase the Ancient Dragon's Remnant long ago.'

Yesterday, she was incredibly quiet, without any such attempts.

'Well, after I fainted, I was with Iris.'

Eve wouldn't have had a chance to attack.

It would be nice if I could prevent her from having a chance this time too, but unfortunately, that seems impossible.

'Is she implying that it's possible in the finals anyway?'

Eve would definitely try to erase the Ancient Dragon's Remnant within me.

With Eve's Unwavering Azure Flame, it was entirely possible without drawing the attention of the spectators.

On the other hand, I couldn't use the Ancient Dragon's Remnant because I mustn't let the spectators discover it.

Eve was clearly aiming for this point.

However, Eve didn't know one thing.

To have a match with Eve, one prerequisite was needed.

The prerequisite that I had to win all my matches and advance.

I let out a hollow laugh, looking at the honey-blonde haired girl before me.

"Isabel."

The first match of the finals, Round of 64.

My opponent was the main heroine of the 'Flame Butterfly' arc.

Isabel Luna.