Chapter 66

The second day at Bruytni Branch School. The morning has arrived.

After finishing a light breakfast with Professor Esther, whom I met in the dining hall, we headed toward the practice field, each guiding our assigned students.

“It was delicious this morning…”

“Indeed. The seafood was incredibly fresh.”

Chloe and Elin licked their lips with satisfied expressions. As they said, the meals at Bruytni Branch School were just as remarkable as those at the main academy.

After all, port cities are known for their delicious seafood. I thought to myself as I glanced at my wristwatch.

“Eight-thirty…”

The current time was eight-thirty. I had heard that the duel on the second day would start exactly at nine o’clock in the morning, so we would arrive at the practice field in time.

“How will today’s duel be conducted?”

Suddenly, Professor Esther, who was walking beside me, leaned in and asked. I glanced at her face and replied.

“Probably, they’ll try to reduce the numbers further.”

“Hmm… even more than this?”

“Yes.”

Professor Esther had a perplexed expression on her face, but I understood.

The top professors, including Chancellor Damian, would likely aim to further reduce the 64 students who survived the flag capture on the first day. They might cut it down to 32 students.

Even if the matches were conducted in tournament style, each year would need to have 63 matches. Including up to the third year, that would amount to a total of 189 matches.

The semi-finals and finals would take place on the last day, and even assuming that each match has a time limit of ten minutes, it would still consume too much time.

“That’s why the number of students must decrease further. Only then can the outcomes be determined.”

“Now that you mention it…”

Professor Esther’s expression was complicated after hearing my explanation. After a brief moment of biting her lips in thought, she posed a question.

“So, will there be another flag capture?”

“That might be possible. But…”

The Chancellor Damian I had seen was not the type of boring person who repeats the same duel format. He would likely want to compete in a different way.

I glanced back at the students from the Department of Magical Theory Research following Professor Esther. My gaze naturally fell on Laura, who was walking at the front.

“….”

Laura von Adelheit. No matter what trials and hardships may come her way, no matter how unfavorable the duel format is, she would certainly endure it.

After all, she is an Adelheit. An exceptional magician who has inherited the blood of Adelheit.

“…perhaps, it may be conducted in a very straightforward manner.”

As I concluded my statement aimed at Professor Esther, I raised my head to look up at the large practice field.

Including today, there were only three days left for the grade-by-grade duel.

How would Chancellor Damian choose the students?

With that curiosity, we entered the practice field.

* * * * *

The practice field had returned to the appearance I first saw.

The maze made of dirt walls had vanished, and the center of the practice field had returned to a flat dirt floor. The spectators’ seats were already filled with students who arrived at the practice field, and some staff members from the branch school were seated as well.

I looked at my watch. The current time was nine o’clock in the morning.

“It’s about to start.”

No sooner had Professor Esther finished her sentence than the lights in the practice field gradually dimmed.

Naturally, the sounds from the spectators’ seats began to fade away, and everyone’s gaze turned toward the monitor hanging in the center of the practice field.

Soon, Chancellor Damian’s face began to appear on the large monitor.

– Proud students of the Caldera Imperial Academy. Good morning.

Chancellor Damian’s gentle voice resonated through the practice field. The students who had been chatting until the end closed their mouths, and silence fell over the entire practice field.

– Let’s skip the trivial talk and say just one thing.

All the students’ attention was focused on Chancellor Damian’s lips. This included not only the surviving students from yesterday’s flag capture but also those who had been eliminated.

– A top-tier, the pinnacle above that. Leap toward that opportunity.

The Caldera Imperial Academy is one of the empire’s top-tier academies. Naturally, the students here analyze their defeats and plan for the future, aiming to leap forward during the next opportunity.

Even the students from the lowest-performing class are expected to analyze and understand the duels of other students, using them as a stepping stone for their own growth.

An unusual heat wrapped around the practice field. Each student’s gaze glimmered uniquely.

In such a stifling atmosphere, Chancellor Damian’s words continued.

– Now, let’s invite today’s host. Professor Andres, a second-year summoning magic faculty professor and senior professor.

The screen momentarily turned black before a familiar face appeared.

– Hello, everyone! It’s a truly great morning to start the duels! Isn’t that right?!

Professor Andres, with his shiny bald head, exclaimed. His cheerful greeting began to relax the tense expressions of the students.

Although he had shown a bright demeanor during our first meeting, he appeared even more cheerful recently. Perhaps it was due to the strand of hair growing at the crown of his head.

With a bright expression, Professor Andres continued.

– Without further ado, let’s get right to the point!

In an instant, the practice field began to shake. It was the same tremor as yesterday.

The area between the spectators’ seats and the practice field rose, and the narrow practice field expanded to become as wide as it did yesterday. However, it was smaller than the practice field during the flag capture.

Sofia Sub-priest, who was standing next to me and scanning the practice field, muttered.

“I feel this every time I see it, but magic is truly amazing… isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

Our gazes turned to the monitor. What would be the format of today’s duel?

– The grade-by-grade duel of the Caldera Imperial Academy! The format for the second day’s duel is a game of protecting the king!

Protecting the king.

Eight teams, evenly distributed based on skill with eight members each, would see a total of 64 students being thrown into the practice field at once.

Team members must protect the randomly selected king from their own team while also attacking the opposing team’s king.

Cooperation with team members, the sense of camaraderie that comes from needing to protect someone, and the quick-wittedness and skills required to outmaneuver opponents in a chaotic melee involving 64 students.

– The top four teams that survive until the end of this duel will advance to the next duel!

The students nodded with nervous expressions. It was simple yet the most challenging duel.

Students would be evenly distributed based on skill, and thus each of the eight teams would be balanced.

That meant that even students from the lower ranks could seize the opportunity for a turnaround in this match.

– Today’s match! Just like yesterday, it will begin with first-year students!

With Professor Andres’s shout, a roar erupted like thunder.

Thus began the second day of the duel.

* * * * *

“Protecting the king…”

Chloe tightly grasped her trembling hands. The tremors connecting to her magic wand subsided a bit.

Entering through the entrance of the practice field, she found seven students already gathered there, except for Chloe.

“Hello!”

A lively female student greeted her. Chloe nodded and took the offered hand.

“Are you a student from Class A?”

“Yes. I’m Chloe from first-year Class A.”

“Oh wow…! There are three Class A students…!”

This time, a male student expressed his admiration. They were all familiar faces whom Chloe had seen a few times at the academy.

Chloe looked around, hoping to find Elin’s face just in case.

‘She’s not here…’

Sadly, Elin was not present. That meant Elin would also be on the opposing team. Chloe clenched her lips tightly.

“Hi.”

At that moment, a sleepy-looking female student offered a brief greeting. Chloe reciprocated with a nod, glancing at her face.

“Are you from Class A…?”

“Right. I’m Owen from the first-year Class A combat department.”

Owen was having a conversation with Chloe with his eyes half-open, but despite his small frame, a massive sword hung on his back.

“A, a giant sword?”

“Yep. Why?”

“Uhm, never mind. Let’s do our best!”

“Sure.”

Behind Owen, a tall male student leaned forward. He was also someone Chloe had encountered a few times in Class A.

“Hey! I’m Hubert from the combat department in Class A! As you can see, dual-wielding is my specialty! Nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you!”

As Owen and Hubert took the lead in greeting, soon the other students also offered warm greetings to Chloe. While she accepted their greetings, she was puzzled as to why they were being so friendly.

Was it simply because she was from Class A? If that’s the case, she shouldn’t disappoint their expectations.

Chloe resolved herself and clenched her fists firmly as she declared.

“Let’s do our best!”

“Of course!”

“Yeah. Let’s do well.”

“But who is the king?”

Chloe’s question drew everyone’s attention. She responded with a slightly anxious expression.

“W-who is the king…?”

“You.”

“…What?”

As Chloe asked back with a bewildered expression, Owen, still looking sleepy, pointed above her head and said.

“That thing on your head, isn’t it a crown?”

“…Huh?”

Chloe touched the top of her head. She could definitely feel something cool and solid…

“Uh, uhh…?”

It was a completely unexpected situation. The most important role within the team had fallen on Chloe.

In that case, the reason why the students were being so friendly earlier was…

“Me, being the king…?”

As Chloe struggled to accept the reality, the heavy door blocking the students’ view slowly began to open.

“Ugh…! I don’t even know…!”

The role of the king had already been decided. Fidgeting and panicking wouldn’t change anything. Chloe thought to herself and steadied her heart.

Right now, let’s just use what she is most confident in. Chloe resolved herself.

Soon, murky dust began to swirl beyond the completely opened door. Chloe and her team members slowly stepped toward the practice field.

– All first-year students have entered the practice field! Who among them will survive?!!

As the door began to close behind them, Chloe looked around with a firmer gaze.

A frightening atmosphere engulfed the practice field. Chloe swallowed hard unconsciously and clenched her fists tightly.

– You… have undoubtedly realized something, haven’t you?

‘Flame magic…’

She quickly moved her wand and began to form a magic circle. Then she thought.

Now is the time to meet everyone’s expectations.