Chapter 262

The Academy Competition will consist of a total of 10 matches, with 5 vs. 5 games held by grade, from 2nd grade elementary school to 2nd grade high school.

Watching the high-level second-grade high school matches is exceedingly thrilling.

The fiery 17-year-olds are those who live and die by honor.

Fueled by an unwavering determination to defeat their opponents at all costs, they always create exhilarating matches.

That doesn’t mean the second-grade elementary school matches are unpopular.

Because…

Kwadang—

“Uaaaaaaaah!”

During a practice duel with Yuna, Ji Hye tripped over her own feet and fell, scraping her face against the floor, and finally burst into tears.

When matches end like this, one side will inevitably end up crying.

The humiliation, emptiness, and disgrace that accompany a defeat, along with a bit of physical pain, make it commonplace for 8-year-olds to wail loudly.

Even during practice, Ji Hye’s face was completely drenched in tears. So cute, it’s killing me.

“Uwaaaaaah! It hurts!”

“Are… are you alright?”

“Uwaah… Hic… Huh…”

Yuna hurriedly ran to Ji Hye and examined her face.

One side of her cheek was red and swollen.

[Cast: Organ Regeneration]

Yuna cast a spell she once learned from me.

A spell that aids in the regeneration of wounds, yet Ji Hye, receiving the treatment, complained of even greater pain.

“Seoyuna! How could you cast it that forcefully on her!”

“Isn’t this how it’s done? It’ll heal faster this way.”

“No, come here. You see the organ regeneration spell’s aura is red instead of green.”

Right now, Ji Hye must be feeling like someone is applying astringent to her wound.

[Cast: Cold Wind]

[Cast: Organ Regeneration]

I helped Ji Hye settle into a comfortable position and sat beside her, softly stroking her cheek.

Her face looked much better than before.

“Napa…”

Ji Hye sniffled while glaring at Yuna.

“Does it still hurt?”

“Seoyuna is mean…”

“Yuna wanted to heal Ji Hye quickly, so she went a bit overboard. Don’t hold it against her too much.”

“Okay…”

The daughter of a mage and currently in 2nd grade Class B, Ji Hye was a small child, just over 120 cm tall, but until last year, she was one of the top in her grade when it came to handling aura.

However, as the Class A children received specialized training and mastered techniques, her standing became precarious.

She must be getting anxious since she has to make it into the top 5.

As Yuna scratched her head and approached, she plopped down beside Ji Hye.

“I’m so sad that Name can’t participate. Name is super strong…”

“Well, we’ll have to look forward to next year.”

“Hehe…!”

“Why are you laughing?”

“If you don’t grow past 120 cm next year, that’ll be funny.”

“Hey.”

“You’re being harsh on Name, Tsk…! Cough cough!”

Ji Hye chuckled a bit but then fell into a fit of coughs.

Seems like these kids are lightening the mood.

“Ji Hye, let’s go buy ice cream from the stand. In the meantime, Yuna, you practice more duels with Sihu. You’re not too tired, right?”

“What? Aah, that’s tough… Then, could you bring back some marble ice cream for me?”

“And you, Sihu?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

“Anything? Then I’ll just get the cheapest one. Ji Hye, let’s go.”

“Uhtcha! Wait a minute, I’ll just grab my glasses.”

Ji Hye, bouncing on her bobbed hair, ran over.

Just a moment ago, I thought her stamina was completely depleted, but seeing her recharge so quickly, I realized kids really are kids.

Although it’s autumn, the daytime temperature showed no signs of dropping below 30 degrees.

With the white flower-patterned parasol I brought from home, I stuck closely to Ji Hye as we headed towards the stand.

“Who do you think will be picked for the competition among the second-graders?”

At Ji Hye’s question, I pondered for a moment.

“Well, I think Sihu and Yuna will definitely be chosen.”

As one can tell from their high mental age, they both have a naturally high mana sensitivity.

Ji Hye seemed to remember losing to Yuna in the previous duel and nodded in agreement.

“I really don’t know about the other three. But I think Ji Hye has a good chance too.”

Besides them, it really was hard to rank since it was pretty neck-and-neck until the match itself.

Iharu, Han Gyeol Kim, Ji Hye, Ko Kyung Won, Hong Jun, and so on.

“Ji Hye, do you have any worries these days? Have you made many friends?”

Since she was in the adjacent class, Ji Hye didn’t have many opportunities to hang out with our group outside of lunchtime.

Besides, she mentioned that throughout her first year, she didn’t talk to anyone except for Han Seori. With them being separated now, I was a little worried.

Her parents had also expressed similar concerns to me.

“I have to make it to Class A in the third grade… I don’t want to be away from you guys again in third grade.”

“I see.”

The current system at Seviron Academy is far too harsh.

I entered midway as a transfer student, and currently, Class A has 21 students.

As a result, whenever the grade changes, at least one person is destined to leave for another class.

The 20 kids in the class are making relentless efforts to hold their ground, while the other 60 are engaged in a competitive system to move up. It might be efficient, but if it had been decades ago, it would have easily been reported as a violation of human rights and covered in the news.

Sometimes I reflect on whether I am thinking too rigidly, but I cannot discard the thought that the children deserve better.

Currently, there’s a prevailing attitude in South Korea that it’s acceptable to sacrifice the majority for the sake of cultivating a few elite individuals.

The few elites that emerge from this system are then burdened with excessive responsibilities, expected to be “perfect” in every aspect, much like idols.

It’s not a very desirable society for either the few or the many.

Fortunately, since the Principal Gu On Yu took office seven years ago, the overall educational direction has become more friendly, but in return, the academy has suffered repeated defeats in the competitions, prompting much criticism from the foundation.

As those students advance to middle and high school, their struggles to adapt to the cutthroat competition have garnered unfriendly views from other principals.

“What do you think about Principal Gu? Do you think she’s a good person or a bad person?”

“She’s really nice, isn’t she?”

“Why’s that?”

“Sometimes she treats us to hamburgers or ice cream.”

“Oh… I see that’s why.”

After all, what do kids know about education?

Still, I felt respect for all the teachers who work quietly behind the scenes for the children.

“I still feel like there’s too little practice time. Moreover, we need to pick representatives as soon as possible so I can really start training them, but picking them three weeks before the match? Isn’t that ridiculous? Here, have some Melona.”

“Thank you, Name! I’ll enjoy it! But aren’t you getting anything for Sihu?”

“Oh right. I’ll just split my double ice cream with him.”

“Sihu, you poor thing… But I think Name can be a bit harsh on Sihu.”

“Did I? By the way, Ji Hye, do you have any thoughts about staying after school for more duels?”

Shaking her head vigorously—

She shook her head back and forth with great enthusiasm.

Maybe these kids just lack perseverance.

I’ve been trying to restrain myself consciously, but it seems my old mindset is surfacing more frequently these days.

“Wait, who’s that?”

Inside the gym, several men in black suits were gathered.

They certainly didn’t look like people affiliated with the academy.

Sihu and Yuna sat quietly in a corner, watching them.

“Who are those people?”

“I’m not quite sure. They just showed up while we were practicing.”

Among the men was a girl in a different outfit.

The white top of her uniform and the dark blue skirt, which was raised to her navel, stood out.

She tightly cinched a black belt around her waist to keep her bottom from falling.

When she turned her head our way, her high ponytail swayed behind her.

Surprisingly, her face looked quite young.

“Young, more than I expected?”

“Huh? Young? She looks way older than us.”

Ji Hye expressed doubt in response to my muttering.

Yeah, to you guys, she’s an older sister.

Since they’re entering the elementary grounds, they must have received official permission from the academy and the foundation.

Just as I was about to send a message to Principal Gu On Yu, the girl approached us first.

“Translation magic?”

Placing her hands on her knees, the girl bowed her head in greeting.

“Nice to meet you. I am Kamikita Emika, officially walking the path of a mage in the Katsuhata School. We have come to visit Seviron Academy to meet No Name.”

* * *

The Katsuhata School, which first adopted the first-circle unique magic “Adele,” achieved an undefeated victory in the Japanese Emperor’s Cup.

The principles of the magic were so innovative that many theoretical magicians had begun to develop similar magic.

This was due to the inherent problems that the unique magic of Adele presented.

“Adele is truly revolutionary magic. However, if it could be used alone…”

Why is it that a helper is absolutely necessary when amplifying and transferring power?

Is it something that cannot be resolved alone?

Although a solution emerged that could address the fundamental limitations of Japanese swordsmanship, it was a tragedy that it couldn’t be utilized in individual competitions like the National Exchange Tournament.

Amidst this, the rumor began to spread late online in Japan that the creator of the unique magic is an 8-year-old girl.

It all began with a variety show exported to Japan.

Most people believed that someone else surely created it to highlight the genius girl, but Emika didn’t think so.

“Well, then we can see for ourselves, can’t we?”

If No Name is indeed the original creator of the unique magic, she would surely be aware of the limitations of the magic.

Wouldn’t collaborating to brainstorm ideas allow for even greater development?

It’s a schedule that holds the future of Japan.

Thus, the journey to Korea proceeded smoothly.

At the news that the heir of Katsuhata would be visiting Korea, numerous local fans warmly greeted her at Incheon Airport.

Not a few media outlets had also speculated about her purpose for coming.

As they leisurely explored various tourist spots in Seoul to keep the public’s interest at bay, they finally arrived at their true destination.

Seviron Academy.

“Why is it that in Korea, they are entrusting their own talents to foreign institutions for cultivation?”

It’s a system that one couldn’t even imagine in Japan.

With such questions, Emika entered the academy gym.

It seemed a girl with dyed twin tails was relentlessly pressuring a boy.

However, the boy was no slouch either.

He successfully defended against attacks targeting vital points with magic and counterattacked with aura in the other instances.

It was talent that could rival that of the heirs of schools focused on “Kwon.”

Emika briefly marveled as she watched their duel.

“By the way, where is No Name?”

According to the principal’s guidance, she was supposed to meet her in the gym at this time every day after class.

The Katsuhata group decided to wait for a moment in this spot, and inadvertently, Sihu and Yuna also became aware of their presence.

Creeeak—

Eventually, the door opened, and a girl with two ice creams in hand entered the assembly hall.

Emika, who had been crouching, stood up and turned her head.

“How small…!”

Her twin tails were almost long enough to touch the floor.

Moreover, the uniquely styled scrunchies clearly caught attention.

No Name.

A girl with the unique name that translates to “Mumei.”

She exuded the aura of an anime recluse, causing Emika to feel a flutter of excitement.

However, no matter how young the other person was, courtesy must be maintained when meeting someone from another country.

Emika bowed her head and introduced herself.

But the response that followed was not what she had expected.

“So who are you?”

At Name’s question, Emika’s face fell.

“I’m from the Katsuhata School…”

“I heard that part just now.”

“I’m Kamikita Emika.”

“Yes, yes.”

“This year we won the Emperor’s Cup… Don’t you really know me?”

“Hmmm… I’m not quite sure…”

“Oh! The emperor, isn’t that the Emperor of Japan? Is that his belly I’m talking about?”

“Yuna, be quiet…”

The expressions of Emika and her companions became notably tense.

However, thanks to Sihu and Name managing Yuna’s mouth, it didn’t escalate further.

“We have come to discuss unique magic with you, No Name.”

“Oh, you should have said that earlier.”

Name snapped her fingers, indicating she understood.

Only then did Emika let out a sigh of relief.

“So you traveled a long way just to duel with me!”

“Yes?”

“Wow, a duel with Name?”

“Wow, amazing!”

“Huh? Is that what it means?”

Sihu raised a question belatedly.

Regardless, Name grabbed her wrist and led her to the center of the assembly hall.

She handed over protective gear and kindly set up an aura barrier herself.

“Wait, wait a minute!”

Being dragged by an eight-year-old now meant she was about to fight without any choice.

Where were the attendants?

Currently, there was a six-year age difference between Name and Emika.

Even in the famous Emperor’s Cup, the age gap had never been this extreme before.

Without a handicap, it’s utterly nonsensical to have a duel like this.

Emika’s attendants were cooling off in front of a large fan the academy kids brought, possibly due to the heat of wearing suits in the summer.

“Kamikita Emika.”

Name called out to her, standing opposite her.

“Oh yes, No Name.”

“I watched the National Exchange Tournament and was really impressed. You have quite a talent.”

“Oh… you saw that… thank you…”

Emika’s cheeks turned bright red.

The National Exchange Tournament was something Emika wished to keep hidden.

In all the competitions she had won in her life, how unfortunate that it had to be that video they watched…

“Wait a minute… you said you didn’t know me earlier?”

Emika’s eyes widened in surprise.

Saying she had watched the National Exchange Tournament was tantamount to recognizing her, wasn’t it?

“Oh! I think it’s just starting to come back to me… or maybe not… we’ll surely get to know each other better through fighting, right?”

Name smiled naturally.

“If you need a wooden sword later, just let me know, nameless swordsman. I can wait a moment.”