LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 63
Honor, scholarships, and the recommendation of an academy professor and attention.
Students at the Caldera Imperial Academy have the opportunity to grasp all of these things at once, but only once a year.
What is about to unfold here at the Bruytni Practice Field is precisely that.
“Oh… It’s larger than I expected.”
Sub-priest Sofia exclaimed in admiration as she scanned the arena. It was no wonder, as the Bruytni Branch School’s practice field boasted a size that could comfortably accommodate all the students from the Academy Main Campus.
In the center of the stadium-like arena was a compacted dirt area, which seemed to be where the duels would take place.
The audience seats were already bustling with staff from the academy, and there were also students in slightly different uniforms. They were likely students from the Bruytni Branch School who had come to watch the duels.
“When will the duels start?”
“They will start soon.”
I glanced at my wristwatch.
It was currently one in the afternoon. In thirty minutes, the Grade-by-Grade Duel would officially commence. It seemed wise to take a break of about an hour right after lunch before jumping straight into the duel.
The lunch was quite decent, too; unlike the usual self-service, the kitchen staff at the Bruytni Branch was serving fixed portions. Thanks to this, the students neither overindulged nor skipped lunch entirely.
The academy was doing its utmost to ensure that students could participate in the duel in perfect condition. The noticeably cooler atmosphere at the Bruytni Branch was likely something that Chancellor Damian had aimed for.
It was evident how much importance Chancellor Damian and the other Caldera Imperial Academy staff placed on this annual event.
After taking a moment to admire the duel venue, Sofia and I turned to head to the waiting room.
With the infirmary right next to the waiting room, it seemed that this was likely where I would be watching the duel from.
The members of the Occult Research Club, including Chloe, had vanished into the training area, claiming they wanted to hone their skills one last time before the duel.
Since the start of the duel was drawing near, they might be somewhere inside this massive arena by now.
As Sofia and I approached the waiting room, the audience seats began to fill with students, all showing anxious expressions and fidgeting nervously.
“Don’t be nervous. Okay? You’ve practiced hard.”
“Ugh… I feel like I’m going to throw up…”
“I wonder who my opponent will be?”
“I hope it’s not Laura von Adelheit.”
Laura von Adelheit. It felt strange to see her name repeatedly mentioned. In my memory, Laura was just a small child who had tearfully claimed to see ghosts.
“That Adelheit student is definitely strong. Some of the first-year class A students are quite wary of her,”
“…because she has Adelheit blood.”
Right. She is the current head of the Adelheit Ducal House, an unparalleled magician who achieved the rank of Archmage at the age of forty, Maximilian von Adelheit. Considering that the Adelheit Ducal House has long been regarded as the cornerstone of imperial magic, it wouldn’t be surprising for a genius like Laura to exist.
Maximilian von Adelheit. Yes, if she inherited that blood… then…
…damn it.
“Uh, Head Priest?”
Suddenly, I snapped back to reality at the sound of Sofia calling me. I stared blankly at her, standing next to me.
She looked at me with an expression of concern. I tried to signal that I was okay and continued moving my feet.
“Are you alright? You suddenly stopped and looked strange…”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“Are you really okay? Even your palm…”
“Sofia.”
Though she was clearly worried for me, her persistent concern began to grate on my nerves. I nearly let a nervous demeanor slip, but I managed to hold it back.
“I am fine. Let’s head to the infirmary.”
“…Yes.”
Sofia still wore a somewhat uneasy expression, but I averted my gaze from her and walked towards the infirmary.
For some reason, my palm felt a bit warm.
* * * * *
Sofia made a worried expression. It was understandable.
“…Maximilian von Adelheit.”
Just moments before, Head Priest Antorelli had been walking normally when he suddenly stopped and began mumbling. Sofia reached out to grab Antorelli’s hand, only to withdraw when she felt the clammy and terrifying warmth.
“Blood…?”
Antorelli’s fist was tightly clenched. At the tip of his fist, drops of blood were forming. Sofia stared blankly at the blood on her fingers.
He was currently clenching his fist so tightly that his nails were digging into his palm. Sofia urgently checked Antorelli’s complexion.
And then, she was struck with shock.
“……”
His face was distorted like that of a monstrous being. Having only known him for his calm and expressionless demeanor, she could only stare blankly at his face filled with rage.
He was mumbling something incomprehensible. Sofia’s lips trembled in response.
“H-Head Priest?”
Overcome with shock and confusion, Sofia had been unable to say anything, but she finally managed to call out to him with trembling lips.
Antorelli’s eyes turned towards Sofia. When faced with those eyes filled with rage, Sofia involuntarily flinched, but she soon found herself staring at his face as it swiftly reverted to its usual expression.
“Are you alright? You suddenly stopped and looked strange…”
Sofia nervously glanced at Antorelli, trying to gauge his mood.
Antorelli hesitated for a moment as if searching for words, before replying in an even tone as always.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“Are you really okay? Even your palm…”
“Sofia.”
This time, his voice was slightly different. Underneath it lay a hint of annoyance.
“I’m fine. Let’s head to the infirmary.”
“…Yes.”
As I watched Antorelli’s back as he walked ahead, Sofia followed him reluctantly.
She worriedly glanced at the bright red blood still glistening on his hand.
* * * * *
– In a moment, the Grade-by-Grade Duel will begin. All students participating in the duel are requested to take their seats.
A relaxed yet powerful voice echoed throughout the vast stadium-like arena. I turned to where the familiar voice was coming from.
The source of the sound was the observation area where Chancellor Damian, along with several senior professors, were gathered. I spotted Chancellor Damian holding a microphone.
“It looks like Chancellor Damian is the host this time.”
Professor Esther, who had come up next to me, whispered. I nodded in response to her.
“Seems like it.”
“Professor Lucio doesn’t seem nervous at all. I think I should learn a bit from that side of him.”
“I’m nervous too.”
After I said this, Sofia, who was standing to my left, looked at me with a doubtful expression.
“Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
Indeed. As a human, I would get nervous in tense situations.
However, after experiencing war and seeing all sorts of horrors, I had become desensitized to situations like this.
Sofia and Esther looked at me skeptically, so I lightly ignored them and turned my gaze back to the center of the arena.
Above the center of the duel arena, a translucent glass structure was floating, seemingly intended to broadcast the duel in real-time. It was likely that an explanation of the duel would also be provided from there.
– In a moment, the Grade-by-Grade Duel will begin. Students and academy staff, please take your seats.
I could see students filling the audience seats and some professors arranging themselves one by one.
However, unfortunately, the three of us would not be able to enjoy the duel from the audience seats.
Sofia and I had been instructed to remain on standby in the infirmary, while Professor Esther stayed here to manage the students in the waiting area in anticipation of any mental trauma caused by magic.
“Still, I think this place offers a better view. Don’t you think?”
I nodded towards Professor Esther. This place was definitely closer to the duel arena than the audience seats.
While we were talking, the crowd that had been bustling around the arena had all taken their seats. The noisy venue became quiet as an extra.
Following that, the lights illuminating the arena began to gradually dim. We quietly observed the darkening arena.
Then, at that moment.
– Bang!
A sudden beam of intense light shone down in the center of the darkened arena.
Beneath the light stood a glass surface engraved with an intricate magic circuit. The sparkling blue magical power began to fill the engraved magic circuit, and soon Chancellor Damian’s face was displayed prominently.
“What kind of principle is that?”
“Oh, it’s close to a prism made by refining mana crystals. To explain it in detail…”
“…Never mind. That’s okay.”
Since Professor Esther began explaining it with a strange enthusiasm, I simply decided to name it a monitor.
The large monitor displaying Chancellor Damian began with a brief cough to adjust the volume, before he smiled warmly and waved his hand.
– Dear proud students of the Caldera Imperial Academy. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
“It’s about to start….”
Professor Esther murmured, swallowing her saliva with a tense expression. We weren’t the only ones focused on the monitor.
A heavy silence enveloped the entire arena. It felt like a dense, dark cloud filled with tension.
– Today is the occasion for you to showcase your polished skills and prowess, so I hope you will present the results without regret.
Chancellor Damian’s opening address was quite short. It seemed he wanted to start the duel as quickly as possible, as continuing into the late night would pose difficulties.
– Without further ado, let me explain the key rules of this year’s Grade-by-Grade Duel.
One: As proud members of the Caldera Imperial Academy, we pledge to engage in the duels honorably and passionately.
Two: The faculty of the Caldera Imperial Academy also promises to provide fair evaluations, thanks to the enthusiasm of the students.
Three: The duels that will unfold over the next four days will be evaluated by Chancellor Damian and the professors of the respective subjects.
Four: The manner of the duel, time constraints, and win/lose conditions will differ by day, and this will be announced before each duel begins. However, if it is determined that the duel cannot continue or that the win/loss cannot be decided beyond the time limit, the professors will judge the outcome.
Five: There will be no duels between seniors and juniors; each grade will conduct their duels separately.
Six: A magic barrier will be deployed to prevent critical injuries to students, so all attacks will be permitted unless they are one-hit kill level.
Seven: To foster a healthy duel culture, it is prohibited to openly criticize or insult your opponent after the duel ends. However, a certain degree of psychological warfare is allowed during the duel.
– That’s all.
The students began to whisper among themselves. Just as the noise started to intensify, a man next to Chancellor Damian took the microphone.
– Ha ha! Hello! I am Professor Andres, the head of the second-year department and the host of this duel!
Professor Andres, a striking man with a tuft of hair sticking out from his balding head, was the one. I hadn’t expected him to be the senior professor of the second year.
– Ahem. Now, let me explain the format of today’s duel!
This was the most crucial part. As Professor Andres cheerfully raised his voice, the arena, which was about to become noisy, fell silent once again.
– The format of today’s duel will be capture the flag!
As soon as Professor Andres’ voice echoed through the arena, the internal atmosphere began to shake wildly.
And then, something incredible happened.
In the subtle space between the center of the arena and the audience seats, a dirt floor identical to that of a stadium began to rise. We stared at the scene in disbelief.
After the tremors settled, what appeared before our eyes was.
“Wow….”
“Oh, my….”
Above the arena, now several times larger than before, a complex maze of dirt walls rose.
The maze was constantly shifting and changing its structure, and one could easily surmise how much effort had gone into making it move.
As awe rippled through the crowd, Professor Andres continued speaking.
– The method of capture the flag is simple! Each grade will be randomly dropped into this massive maze, and you will need to find the 64 flags hidden throughout the maze and escape to the center! Of course, remember that once you go into the maze, you can’t see the outside!
Excluding the 80 students from the non-combat department, each grade has 320 students. All these students would be entering that gigantic maze at once.
– So, let’s begin with the first round of capture the flag… shall we start with the cute first-year students? First-year students, please stand up!
A death match where only a maximum of 64 out of 320 first-year students can survive.
Thus began the Grade-by-Grade Duel.