"Adrius Cromwell, are you in?"
"Yes."
The morning after the entrance ceremony, someone knocked on my door, even before the morning breeze had settled.
I had just returned from my morning workout and finished taking a shower.
I roughly dried myself off and opened the door to find a combat magic instructor from the Magic Department standing there.
"What can I do for you?"
"I've come to provide information about the Spring Tournament. It seems that you don't have a magic tablet, so I had to come and find you."
Finally, it has arrived.
I received the information booklet from the instructor and listened to the explanation.
"You probably have a general idea, but let me explain again. Since you have progressed to your fourth year, you don't have the right to refuse participation in the tournament. As you know, the results and details of the matches are included in your combat magic grades. The opponents will be determined by a draw. There is no distinction between the Knight Department and the Magic Department, and the selection will be random. You can draw your opponent right here."
The instructor handed me a small sphere.
I vaguely remembered using it before, so I held the sphere and infused it with mana.
Number 8.
The number that came out was much earlier than I expected.
The number of participants in this annual tournament is approximately 3,000.
It was a festival-like event where about 2,000 students from the Knight Department and 1,000 students from the Magic Department would compete against each other.
'It's better this way. It's better to finish quickly and rest than to wait in the waiting area.'
The instructor checked the number I drew and wrote my name and number on the tablet he was holding.
"Adrius, participant number 8, confirmed. Your opponent is Aslan, a second-year student from the Knight Department. Do you have any intention to withdraw?"
"No."
"Understood. Adrius, please come to the waiting area at the Knight Department's main stadium by 8 a.m. next Monday. The tournament will last for two weeks, and in the first week, there will be two matches per day. If you win, you will have two matches each on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and then proceed to the finals. The round of 32 will begin on Monday of the second week."
"Got it. Thank you."
"Good luck."
After the instructor left, I returned to my room and finished drying my hair.
In the memories of Adrius, I recalled participating in the tournament as a young second-year student.
'Eliminated in the first round of the preliminaries.'
A bitter smile escaped my lips.
The tournament was not open to freshmen who had just entered the academy this year. Participation was allowed starting from the second year. From the fourth year onwards, it became mandatory.
'Of course, you can choose to withdraw.'
However, withdrawing from the tournament starting from the fourth year would result in severe disadvantages, to the point of inevitable failure. So even those who disliked fighting had no choice but to do their best to pass the first round.
With the entire academy participating, the atmosphere was akin to a year-end festival. Notably, prominent figures from various countries came to watch the tournament, and scouters from various organizations also attended in large numbers. It was an event that could provide opportunities.
Through this event, even newly enrolled freshmen were motivated to train. The sight of powerful upperclassmen alone served as ample motivation for training.
'I'll just do it moderately. Graduate safely.'
It had been a while since I had opened up my talents and characteristics.
-Trait: Vessel (Unique), Evolution (Unique), Enlightenment (Epic), Original Sin (??)
-Ability: Dark Magic Commander Series (Talented), Elemental Magic Water Series (Talented), Potion Manufacturing Buff Series (Talented), Physical Exercise (Prodigy), Combat (Prodigy), Mana (Talented)
Compared to the beginning, there had been significant growth.
In the game, I had never acquired more than one unique trait, but now I had two. There were also traits of an unfamiliar grade.
'What is this question mark?'
Ignoring the Original Sin for now, just having the Vessel and Evolution traits alone seemed powerful enough to slap most playable characters a couple of times.
And just as important as the traits, talents that were almost on par with them had also been added.
'Physical exercise was learned from Nickel, Basic Swordsmanship, and Combat was obtained by breaking the boundary of Sloth. The Mana talent was unexpectedly acquired through evolution...'
Initially, I thought I was the only trash character, but now I realized that there were few characters superior to me.
As I felt that this was the result of my efforts over time, it left a deep impression.
'This should be enough to not be easily defeated.'
However, the problem was that my opponents were too strong.
Of course, there was no rush at the moment, so I needed to act with some grandeur and give myself some room to maneuver.
'But do I really need to hold back?'
Suddenly, the thought occurred to me. Was there a need to hide my abilities?
I had already gained attention at the gathering where even the so-called enemies took notice. And that damn Emperor was undoubtedly paying attention to me because of the Original Sin my father had hidden.
The Zepar Sect might not be as intimidating as the other two, but they already harbored enough resentment. In this situation, it seemed pointless to conceal my abilities.
It might even be better to become famous to the point where they wouldn't dare to touch me recklessly.
'This isn't a bad idea, right?'
There was no better timing than the tournament to make a flashy debut.
Adrias Cromwell, who had previously died without achieving much in the game, was now on the brink of making a comeback.
.
.
.
.
The weekend passed, and it was the day of the tournament qualifiers.
As soon as I finished my preparations after waking up, I arrived at the waiting room of the main arena.
The room was buzzing with students stretching and getting ready.
'My opponent is Aslan, a second-year student from the Knight Department. I feel like I've heard of him before.'
With so many students around, I didn't know many individuals apart from the important figures or those involved in notable events.
That meant there was a 99% chance that my opponent in the first round would be some insignificant guy.
Since it was still the qualifiers, I didn't bother drawing my sword and planned to rely on magic to win the match.
In the past, it would have been risky, but now I was confident. I had various talents, especially in mana and combat.
"Participants numbered 1 to 20, please come out!"
The assistant from the Knight Department, in charge of the proceedings, entered the waiting room and called out the competitors.
Following his lead, we stepped outside, and I noticed the empty seats in the stands.
'But there are still a few.'
In one section of the seemingly empty stands, there were students who appeared to be freshmen sitting there.
As they had just recently enrolled, most of the freshmen seemed more interested in enjoying the romantic academy life rather than focusing on training. Among them, there didn't seem to be any playable characters.
'Oh, wait. There is one.'
Lucia Everlast and Vivianne were seen sitting together with popcorn.
Is Lucia not participating? Considering she's still in her third year and her personality, it wouldn't be surprising.
'I thought Vivianne would participate....'
When Lucia saw me, she waved her hand.
"Hey! Senpai! Adrias! Over here!"
She really has no manners. Now she's even calling me by my name.
I gave her a smile and waved back.
Beside her, Vivianne lightly waved her hand.
At that moment, the professor from the Knight Department who was in the center of the arena shouted,
"Now, please line up on the field according to your numbers."
The main arena lived up to its name with its large size, divided into ten makeshift arenas.
And for each arena, two assistants were positioned as a precaution.
'Tolman is here too.'
Professor Tolman Venuel, the professor of Combat Magic, stood silently in the arena.
I knew he had been punished before, but it seemed he was released a little early.
Still, it's good to see him again.
Coincidentally, my assigned arena was near where Tolman was standing.
"I assume you all know the rules, but let me explain again. Killing your opponent will result in immediate expulsion, as well as attacking a defenseless opponent. Attacking a surrendering opponent is a disqualification. In cases of significant injuries that prevent further participation, the severity of the offense will be determined by the judgment of the assistants and professors."
Before me stood a Knight Department student.
He had become a second-year student, and he seemed more full of fighting spirit and passion than experience.
"Two rounds a day, and it's not just today."
I felt the need to manage my stamina.
"Leaving the field is also a disqualification. Even if you have no intention to surrender, the assistants and professors have the discretion to stop the match and determine the winner. Now, when the whistle blows, the match will begin."
The tense atmosphere swept through the arena.
Although it wasn't a fight to the death, the serious atmosphere felt a bit comical, and I unintentionally chuckled.
"Are you laughing?"
The opponent, Aslan, frowned and spoke.
"Sorry. I had a funny thought, that's why. But still, isn't it too much to use informal speech with a senior?"
"I don't see someone weaker than me as a senior."
"Oh, really? Then I'll let you use honorifics now."
As our conversation echoed through the silence, the assistant raised his hand.
"No chatting allowed."
"Yes, I apologize."
As I smiled awkwardly and bowed my head, Aslan kept glaring at me.
"How long are you going to keep laughing?"
But wait, has that been his way of speaking all along...?
Ding!
The whistle blew.
I tried to end the match quickly to manage my stamina, but it seemed impossible.
"You need some education. This won't work."
If that was a strategic provocation, I would say it was successful.
"Hyaaaah!"
As expected, the opponent rushed toward me with an excited but stiff movement.
No matter how talented he is, he's just a second-year student at the academy.
He still has a long way to go to become experienced.
"Grease."
Using the most basic Grease, the opponent noticed my magic and tried to dodge by moving left and right.
I predicted his movement and prepared the magic in advance.
"Earth Shield."
Phwoosh!
As the opponent dodged to the side, the Earth Shield emerged from the ground.
But then, a scene unfolded as if he had thrown his own body onto the rising Earth Shield.
"Argh! What a trick...!"
Frustrated and angered after taking a hit, Aslan straightened his body and looked up, only to find me standing right in front of him.
"Hello?"
Thwack!
I extended my fists, landing consecutive punches.
Unleashing a flurry of punches toward the disoriented opponent.
.
.
.
.
Tolman Venual, who had been observing the overall match, widened his eyes at the sudden outbreak of violence.
Even though such a brutal beating was taking place, the assistant acting as the referee didn't intervene, and Tolman noticed something peculiar.
'A robe?'
At first, he thought he had seen it wrong, but then he noticed that the student delivering the blows was wearing a wizard's robe.
And the student being beaten happened to be a knight school student.
'What's going on here?'
Something, something was happening in the arena.