A week had passed since I met Chiaki, the "girl", but I still couldn't stop the questions in my head. "But whatever it is, let it pass, and next time I see you I can ask," I thought. Bringing the head back to reality, today was probably the hottest day of the year, so hot that for a fire magic user like me to just go from the dorm to school, my face would be soaked with sweat. foul. Not to mention today is the last day in the chain of "judgments" of 5 of us by escaping out at night and until the new morning. Today's "punishment" is to clean the training area.
-He ... where are everyone? - I was bewildered after opening the door of the building but not seeing the others
Not being here means they are in class and that means I have to run a long time to go to class in this hot weather. Running up there, I just want to take off my clothes to cool.
-K ... Kaito ...- I gasped as I tried to ask Kaito
Kaito suddenly raised his hand to signal to me to stop speaking and he started to smile.
-I know what you're going to say and right! Today we are exempt.
-Why?
- Then you will know, hehe.
Kaito said to himself, he seemed to be thinking something funny because his eyes were as bright as a child who received a birthday present. Just wondering what happened to him, Gaido-sensei stepped in, holding an envelope with a deep red seal with blood like a flower on it.
-Look...
-That's ... the royal seal?
Everyone in the class also started to talk about the seal. But I was surprised when I overheard someone say that it was a royal seal.
-Quiet! You all know what this envelope is about, right? If so, then we have to avoid long lines. In short, the chosen one (this year's chosen) tournament will include all first year students.
"The chosen one", I have heard about Kaito from this tournament. This is a tournament held every 3 years to choose the winner and will be specially become a royal knight immediately after graduation. Of course, being a royal knight meant that he would make the best blacksmith in the kingdom to make necessary items such as armor, weapons, shields and other things that he wanted to create. OK. Formally, the tournament will be the 1vs1 battle between students of 4 schools in 4 regions of East, West, South and North of the Kingdom. Firstly, each school needs to choose the best 4 students before going to Ionia to fight other students. Regarding the content of the selection competition, each time my school has a different method, no one can guess what it will be like to prepare at all, all students will be like the blinds before the selection.
-Because there are more freshmen this year as well as for some other reason, the first round of selection will take place this afternoon.
-HUH!!?
The words "HAPPY" also started coming from the other classes, that's right, the selection process usually takes place only after a week's notice so this is unprecedented before. While all the other students were making a fuss, Kaito seemed to be smiling leisurely, he must have known from his father beforehand. While the whole class was still buzzing about the announcement, I saw Gaido-sensei signal me to follow. He led me to the end of the corridor, and after a while of looking around, he started to speak too.
-Now then ... I have advice for you.
-Yes?
-Don't use lighting magic system in the selection including the later matches.
Hearing Gaido talk about it, I was surprised and wondered how many people knew about this. But then I just swallowed my saliva and calmed myself with the thought of "even Miyuki knows, let alone Gaido-sensei". Anyway, I have no intention of letting others know about my magic of the magic system, but I still ask Gaido-sensei the reason.
-Why?
-Because if you only need to believe that a child brings 2 magic systems to the black magicians' ears, he will surely be targeted by them.
-So ..... don't worry, I won't attend the tournament. Also .... can you tell me more about the black magician?
-When we get to this point, we don't need to hide anything, it will help to prevent this, though.
Gaido-sensei then explained it clearly to them. "Dark magician," as the name suggests, is a bunch of people who specialize in black magic. They worship the demon king as if it were a god who saved the world, and they were the ones who created mutant monsters or demons. But only this time their activity is gradually settling down even in one kingdom or another, the reason is unknown. However, there are rumors that they are planning something horrible. But one thing is for sure, they are very strong, Chiaki's incident is a testament to their terrifying power. That afternoon, Mr. Gaido announced the list of my class's registrars.
-That means we don't have to lengthy with this list. In short, all the males in this class are registered.
The "whole" momentarily I did not understand what Gaido meant. But as soon as I turned to look at Kaito, who was giving me a thumbs up, I realized that he knew that I wouldn't register, so he secretly put my name on the list without saying a word.
-This name ....
After a while, all of the participants in the selection were gathered at the training compound. The number of people estimated was about 100 people, almost filled the whole house. The open space is now always like a "sauna" when there are only people around. After a while of waiting, two people came in, they were Mr. Leo and ... a royal knight? Curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes. That man was full of armor, his left hip had a single-handed sword close to the ground. In the right hand, hold the helmet with a feather of Furi bird (the red bird usually only appears around the mountains). When he stepped on the stone platform for himself to use erection, everyone was silent.
-Hello to the future knights of the kingdom.- That person patted our right chest with his left hand and gave us a little bowing - we came here today to conduct the first phase of the Academy's selection. North Surima. As you know, the black magicians are a bunch of bad guys so strong, even though what they're doing is quiet, they're definitely not the type that will prefer peace like this. So they're definitely plotting something, so that's why from this year, the selection contest will have first year students and ..... kind of weak people thoroughly and quickly. Best!
After saying that, Mr. Leo and the knight performed a spell at the same time, seemingly creating a barrier.
-Huh ...
-It's heavy ...
-What ...
The sounds of trying to utter the words of those around me made me bewildered. Everyone is fainting, there are those who try so hard, only for a while also collapsed and fainted. But there are still people who try to survive. And just a moment, the number of students awake in this place only a mere 16 people. But that wasn't the only thing that surprised me, but also the fact that I didn't feel any "weight" from the barrier like everyone else.
-The headmistress ... is that kid?
-Yes.
Suddenly I could feel the knight once Leo was looking at me.
-Let's see ... 1,2,3 ... 16 people can hold on. That's a nice number. Then the easier it is to divide.
We were then randomly assigned into 4 teams of 4 to advance to the 2nd stage of the selection. My group is composed of me, Kaito, Rin, and Haya from class 3-A, who owns fire magic. Since phase 2 will take another week, we are allowed to practice freely during that time. And somehow, Mr. Haya became our reluctant "coach". Then in the afternoon the next day, the four of us gathered in an open area in the forest outside near the walls of the kingdom.
-The last time we didn't introduce it clearly. Pleased to meet you, you are Tatsuya Haya.
Black hair, brown eyes, tall physique and a warm voice make people think of someone who is closer to the kingdom's medical corps than a student who is trying to become a knight. After that, the 3 of us briefly introduced ourselves.
-OK! To be most effective, I want us to fight 3 vs 1.
- Huh!? - Kaito and I were bewildered, only Rin was still calmly lifting the glasses.
"Do you despise us?" Rin asked, his sharp eyes making the atmosphere heavy
-Is not! Actually, I think that is the best way for us to understand each other's abilities.
-Hum?
-OK! So let's fight! "Kaito clapped his hands together, he seemed very interested in this
I originally thought this was a match without any balance and full of disadvantages for Haya. The moment Haya flicked his coin and hit the ground to signal the start of the match, Kaito rushed forward, but at the same time Rin grabbed her spear with a wave of energy, so it accidentally hit Kaito. and broke a piece of his shirt, thankfully he stopped.
-Hey! Are you trying to kill me !?
-Who told you to rush like an idiot.
-That .....
While arguing, Haya took the opportunity to punch Kaito in the face but he stopped. Even so, the force of the punch was so strong that it pushed him back quite a long distance. Before the three of us could recover, Haya immediately turned to charge Rin. I was about to use my lightning magic to rush to help Rin, but I managed to hold back and decided to throw my sword there. {Keng} The sound of metal clashing, my blade struck Haya's short sword. Rin also took that opportunity and stabbed the spear forward. The sharp spear blade just grazed Haya's shoulder because he was leaning to evade. Immediately after, Haya kicked Rin's wrist hard, causing him to let go of the lance and then took the chance to take it. Taking a disadvantage of losing a weapon, Rin took a stance and stepped back. Despite this, Haya took the lance and was about to stab him, Rin figured this situation so she prepared a spell to blind him and counterattack. But that intention was unsuccessful, as the distance between the two of them was only 3 steps away, Haya-sensei closed his eyes so he was not affected by Rin's spell. It seemed that Haya was going to attack with the lance so Rin was leaning to be able to dodge, but not at that moment, Haya planted the lance on the ground, his right hand clung tightly to the lance and then jumped to turn Rin on. He flew out and hit the nearby tree. Then, Haya threw a spear and made it over Rin's coat and attached him to the tree.
- Done, one!
Although terrified, Kaito and I tried to regain our composure and rushed in 2 directions. As I approached, Kaito launched a sharp cliff from the ground, causing Haya to jump to avoid it, and on that occasion, I used a burst of magic towards Haya.
-That's a good match, but .... it's still very young!
A short sword flew towards me, causing me to back away and knock it back. At that moment, a smoke spread from Haya's side, while I was wondering if I should rush in or not, [Hurried} Haya was behind me, raising the short sword to the back of my neck.
-When....
-I told you, young people are very young, lack of combat experience is their deadly weakness. And he won.
When the smoke in front of me disappeared, I saw that Kaito was lying on the ground, his shirt was attached to two short swords and his face was pale with fear. The training ended in the frustration of all 3 because of failure even when given up.
-That's right, Mr. Haya.- I ran to ask Mr. Haya on the way back
-Hum?
- How did you create smoke? Can you teach me?
-Well ...- Mr. Haya pulled out a water bottle from his pocket- with this.
-He?
-You use fire to evaporate the water and create smoke.
-But even if the water evaporates, how can we smoke such thick smoke?
-That's ... secret.
-Huh?
Haya then patted my shoulder.
-And then one day you'll find a way, goodbye now.