ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT ③

“I give up!”

As soon as the match started, I loudly declared my defeat.
However, the referee didn’t budge.
The audience then breaks out in laughter.

As expected, escaping won’t be that easy.

“Ha ha ha! Was that your plan? As expected, fallen aristocrats can’t even cook up a half-decent strategy.”
(I still have to try it out even if it doesn’t work)

Lain told me.
If I gave up, that would be the end of it.

I drew my sword and took position.
The audience started booing again, making me feel heavy.

“Seriously, fallen aristocrats are stubborn to a fault. It would be better if you just accepted your death.”
“…I don’t intend to give up, until the very end.”
“…Hmph. Very well, but how will you survive with that dull blade?”

Dale points his right hand at me.

“Magic is my specialty, after all.”
“!?”

That’s right.
This tournament permitted the use of magic.
I still hadn’t learnt offensive magic yet.
I always used a sword so I never took the time to do so.

“You seem dumbfounded. I’ll bury you with the same magic you could never learn. [Fireball]!”
(Crap! I forgot that Lain told me to take evasive action to not get targeted by someone who could use magic!)

Even thought it was already late, I ran with all my might to avoid the [Fireball].

“Eh?”

The [Fireball] flew straight ahead and disappeared after hitting the wall of the arena.

“Whoa! Here comes Dale-sama’s [Fireball]! Amazing! He has already learnt offensive magic! The rodent is trying its best to run away!”
“”””””””””WAAAAAAAAAA!””””””””””

I could hear the audience’s loud cheers, but what caught my eye was something else.

(Eh? Why didn’t that [Fireball] bend?)

While I was training with Sui, her [Water Spheres] used to chase me around.
She would aim at my armor in order to minimize the damage, but I would still receive a huge shock.

In contrast, Dale’s magic kept going straight and disappeared after leaving a faint scorch mark.

(Could it be…)

I had heard it from Lain before.
Magic needs to have various settings added to it.
Most of those settings had to do with a release system, which is why magic with release systems are of a higher difficulty.

But there was also a way out.
Magic could activate even without applying those systems.
In that case, the spell would simply activate from one’s right hand into a straight line.
And if it hit something first, the magic formula would get undone and the magic would end.

At that time, I was told not to use such magic because it was useless.
If I did that, I would get used to it and end up relying on magic which had no use even in crucial moments.

(Could it be that?)
“Damn it! Scramble around will you? [Fireball] [Fireball]!”

Dale released multiple [Fireballs].
But they all flew straight in a straight line.
In fact, they didn’t even seem that strong.

(If that’s the case, I might just able to manage somehow)

I stopped running and came to a halt.

“Haa, haa. So you finally gave up.”
“…”

Dale was exhausted despite not having fired even ten shots yet.
He’s probably running low on magic.
Sui could shoot hundreds and still act like it’s nothing.
It could probably be that Dale isn’t really that strong.

“I’ll turn you to ash! [Fireball] [Fireball] [Fireball]!”

Dale released 3 [Fireballs].
I start dashing towards him.

I dodge the first one to the right.

After that, Dale’s shocked expression came into view.

I dodge the second one to the left.

Dale’s face twitches.

“HAA!”

I slash the third [Fireball] using my sword, as if I was scooping it up.
As expected, the [Fireball] easily dispelled once it hit my sword.
It was magic that would disappear as soon as it touched something.

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“HAAAAAA!”

Five steps until Dale.

I still didn’t know what tricks he might have up his sleeve.
I run towards Dale while keeping my sword raised.

“U-UWAAAAA!”

As I was three steps away from him, Dale raised a loud voice and ran away.
Just like that, he stepped off from the stage and disappeared into the entrance of the arena.

“…”

I stopped where Dale was standing.
What should I do now?

I take a look at the referee.

“Hi! Th-the winner, Aria!”
“Eh?”

Did he just say I’m the winner?

“…I won?”

Realization washed over me as soon as I said it out loud.

“…I did it, I did it!”

I won.
I won against aristocracy.

“Huh? How did she win?”
“Eh?”

I raised my head at the audience’s voice.
At that moment, everyone in the stands was looking down at me with cold eyes.

(Why are you all looking at me like that? I won, right?)

“Boring, why did you have to win.”
“Give me back my savings!”
“Fallen aristocrats should quietly get mocked by us aristocrats-samas!”

Not one of them celebrated my victory.

I thought everyone would accept me if I won, if I showed results.
But reality wasn’t that kind.
I had no allies.

It felt like my heart was freezing over.

“Seriously. I wish you’d just died.”

As soon as I heard someone mutter that, my vision went pitch black.

***

“…Ruko.”

I called my exclusive maid, Ruko, as I watched my half-sister leave the venue with faltering steps.

“Yes, Rigul-sama.”

Upon hearing my call, Ruko, who was waiting on me, drew closer.
This is a seating area with narrowly separated seats, reserved for aristocrats, but there was no need to raise our voices to talk.

“Does the magic tool used by that failure belong to our house?”
“…A magic tool capable of slicing magic is not on our house’s magic-tool list, but despite that thing’s existence, it’s still a part of Flemia house. Whatever belongs to it also belongs to Flemia house, does it not?”
“You’re right.”

I couldn’t believe my ears when father told me that that failure step-sister of mine was taking part in the tournament.
It seems that father wanted to dispose of her without letting other aristocrats witness her, which is why he had the match shifted from tomorrow evening to the first round today.

I came all the way here just to witness her death, but it seems like she found herself some sort of a magic tool.

“A magic tool on a failure is a waste. It should be returned by the end of this day. Go and retrieve it.”
“…It might resist. What shall I do in that case?”

It would certainly be troublesome if she resisted.

“She’s like a commoner. Just let the sewer monster handle it like usual.”

That monster doesn’t melt precious things like magic tools or jewels.
Perhaps, in the era of the ancient magician civilization, there was something that accidentally dropped such things for which it was created.
It won’t leave a corpse either, so it’s perfect for disposing her.

“Understood. I shall make preparations.”

Ruko leaves the venue after saying so.

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