After defeating the strongest contenders from various schools and advancing to the finals, ten students were matched in a tournament. By a twist of fate, two [Unique Ether] users faced each other in the very first round. These two were the most likely candidates for the championship, making the situation even more ironic.
One of them was Eir of the [Crimson Trajectory], who hadn’t fought a single match in the Combat Festival, yet everyone predicted her victory.
But Eir chose to forfeit the fight.
“Huff… I’m done with this.” “…What?” “Two years ago, I fought until I could taste blood in my mouth. And even though I got beaten up by Narsen after that… it was a great fight.” “That’s…” “This year, I’ve come this far without fighting even once… It just doesn’t feel right.”
Eir stared blankly at the audience. Tens of thousands of students had gathered at the largest school to watch the Combat Festival, all of them looking at her with wide, astonished eyes.
“…” Most of the faces were unfamiliar. The faces she always imagined were no longer there.
It was only natural.
“…” During the past two years when she had been stagnant, everyone she used to fight with had changed.
The only ones who hadn’t changed were the junior students of the simple-minded <Scarlet Academy>… and herself, who still believed those she fought with were still around.
“…” What she wanted was to be the ‘strongest in the academy city.’ But the ‘academy city Eir knew’ had disappeared two years ago.
‘It’s too late to remain a challenger.’
To those gathered here, she was already the ‘strongest in the academy city.’ She could no longer be remembered as a challenger.
Having run away without ever truly challenging herself, she had become the strongest just by being the last one standing.
She didn’t want to become the strongest in this way.
“...” She should have given her juniors the opportunity to fight.
“Everyone else knew. I was the only one who didn’t.” “…?” “Sorry for wasting your time. You give it your best shot.” “W-Wait…!”
Albit reached out desperately, but Eir, holding her sword that resembled the spine of an animal, walked away without hesitation.
As she left, memories from two years ago suddenly resurfaced—of the [Pink Spiral] walking out of the arena, alone and dejected.
‘Is this how you felt, Spiral?’
The audience, watching this unfold in real-time, fell into a cold silence. It was so quiet that the sound of someone dropping a snack bag echoed throughout the arena.
Thud—
“She’s… giving up?” “The [Crimson Trajectory]…?” “That battle-crazy maniac?” “No way…”
The first to snap out of it was Herr, the commentator. His long elven ears twitched as he adjusted his glasses with trembling hands.
[Ah, um…! W-We have a forfeit!! The first match of the finals ends with Eir from <Scarlet Academy> forfeiting! The winner is Albit from <Central Prism Academy>!]
He tried to deliver the result with a lively tone, but no one reacted. All eyes were on Eir’s retreating figure.
As everyone remained silent, a student murmured under their breath.
“Isn’t this some kind of favor? Maybe she’s afraid the person she’s favoring might lose immediately…?”
The words were spoken in passing, but everyone heard them. And slowly, the gaze of the entire audience began to change, filled with subtle suspicion.
“…No way.” “Could it be…” “Maybe…”
Just as everyone’s perspective was starting to shift towards doubt, two figures suddenly appeared on the battlefield, accompanied by a rainbow-colored spiral.
“Mmm~☆ My girl isn’t weak enough to need any favors—☆ If you leave like this, it’ll just look like a half-baked show—☆” “Are you planning to run away like this?”
Eir looked up at the faces of the two who had arrived.
“Spiral, Thunder Spear.”
They were friends.
The two of us made a grand entrance on [Bifrost], but my Sweet Honey did all the cool talking. Honestly, it was reassuring.
So I just stood by with a significant look on my face.
Even just standing there, Pingchang was more than enough.
‘Because… I’m pretty…!’
Hmph. Tsk, Pfft.
Hilde continued speaking seriously.
“If you run away like this, you’ll be disqualified as a warrior.” “I’ve already forfeited, so what are you talking about?” “A warrior who runs from a fight they must not avoid is severely punished. That has always been my way. You’re trying to run away now.” “Hah, well… I never liked <Aesir Girls’ High School>. But I did appreciate your brutally fair way of doing things.”
Eir looked at Hilde with a bitter expression.
“I should’ve acknowledged sooner that I was a challenger. I should have challenged you both.” “…Why don’t you challenge us now? If you win the Combat Festival, you’ll be the president of the <Unified Student Council>. You could summon me to <Scarlet Academy> and order a sparring match. You could hold the Combat Festival a hundred times. The opportunity still lies before you.” “…” But Eir’s expression didn’t change.
“…I see. Then I guess I’ll just tell the kids to go prune the World Tree together.”
“That’s fine. You can even set the World Tree on fire if you like, or command the disbandment of <Aesir Girls’ High School>. I’ll take responsibility for anything you inherit from me. If the term exceeds my graduation, I won’t leave the academy city.”
Eir’s eyes widened in surprise at Hilde’s level of determination.
Even Albit, listening from a distance, was shocked. The audience, too, was so stunned they looked pale.
In that heavy silence, Hilde continued speaking.
“I have witnessed the unbreakable malice between <Aesir Girls’ High School> and <Public Bana Boarding School>, and the many conflicts within the academy city… I will change what I have seen.”
“…!” “…!”
At those words, the beastfolk girls who had surrendered without a fight earlier were visibly startled.
Even the dark elf students, who had been hiding and watching the match from a corner, raised their heads.
Hilde spoke clearly so that everyone in the arena could hear. Her voice was amplified by devices installed throughout the stadium.
“I will not run away using the excuse that things have been this way for a thousand years, nor will I avoid responsibility by claiming I’m about to graduate. Even if I have to delay my graduation and live like a vagabond, I will correct everything I can before I leave.”
Her voice overwhelmed everyone.
“<Aesir Girls’ High School> no longer holds a monopoly on power. Anyone can participate in the Combat Festival. So, I’ll leave the opportunity to control <Academy City Yord> to them.”
Though she had lost her fated weapon and seemed to have mellowed compared to a few months ago, the [Thunder Spear of Clarity] was still the apex of the academy city.
“Even if it’s <Public Bana Boarding School> or <Svart Industrial High School>, it doesn’t matter. Even if it’s a school not part of the union, it doesn’t matter. As long as they can prove their strength, anyone can challenge.”
Everyone in the academy city saw the responsibility borne by their pinnacle.
“The leader of the <Unified Student Council> will now accept challenges from all students. This is the duty of those who take responsibility, and it is our sacred ritual, having witnessed wrongdoing.”
Hilde pointed at Eir as she spoke.
“I am still here. I will do what needs to be done and accept challenges. You should fight where you belong.”
“…Damn. That’s really impressive. This is what the strongest in the academy city should be like.”
But isn’t the strongest one here me?
Still, being the considerate Pingchang I was, I didn’t interrupt the flow of conversation between these resolute girls.
For the first time in this tournament, Eir, who had always worn a bored expression, smiled with her shark-like teeth, just as she did back in her first year.
However, that smile soon turned bitter.
“I heard you broke your weapon?”
For the first time, Hilde flinched at those words. Her eyes narrowed, and she pursed her lips, trying to maintain her composure.
“…” I recognized that expression.
‘It’s the same face she made when her stomach growled during cuddling time…’
It’s something that can happen to anyone, but… when something struck Hilde’s pride, she would briefly make that expression.
“…I’ll do my best.” “…” Eir’s expression became more subtle. Hilde’s earlobes turned red. It seemed like the audience was beginning to regain their sense of reality.
‘After making such a grand speech and then having this atmosphere…’
At this rate, Hilde would probably be kicking her blankets in embarrassment for the next ten years. So, I decided to take action.
Alright. Big—Pingchang event time. Better treat me well after this, darling.
I tapped Hilde on the shoulder and spoke.
“President—☆ Unauthorized departure during a battle should be punished, right? Doesn’t <Aesir Girls’ High School> deal with that with corporal punishment~☆” “…?” “Senior—?!”
Eir tilted her head in confusion, while Albit looked shocked.
“That red-haired girl! I mean—☆ She tried to leave in the middle of a grand fight with all these girls gathered here, so that’s desertion, right? We need to convene the corporal punishment committee… Hmmm—☆” “…?” “Oh no! But the only ones who can punish a [Unique Ether] user are other [Unique Ether] users, right? And since that red-haired girl is her school’s representative, it should be someone of equal rank!”
I winked at Hilde. And she quickly understood what I was getting at.
“…Yes. Punishment is necessary.” “Spiral, what are you talking about?” “Lara, convene the punishment committee.” “Yes—☆” “Senior…?”
Anna of the [Verdant Great Bow] slapped her forehead and sighed as a rainbow-colored spiral began to envelop her body.
“Oh dear… Clara, what is this…?”
Beside her, the head of the Theology Department, Nella, and the sword spirit Verdandi chuckled.
“Hehe, see you later.” “Got it—☆”
“Uh, um… Librarian, w-why is your body glowing with a rainbow light…?” “D-Damn that hooligan. W-Well, I had some questions to ask anyway, so I’ll be right back. Damn it, this is just…”
“Ho~ Hohohoho—!!! The heavenly light bestowed by the guardian now envelops me! I can faintly feel the power of the six sovereigns—! This must be fate—! Ho~ Hohoho!!! You there, black knight—! Be grateful that I’ve been summoned elsewhere!” “Hiss… Get out quickly.”
The brilliant rainbow light faded away.
In the wide arena, the five-colored warriors had gathered.
Waaaaah—!!! The audience erupted in cheers.
The legendary strongest students. The golden generation that represented the most glorious era of the academy city had all gathered.
Though they had once scattered, At this moment, they answered the call of the rainbow light and assembled.
“Y-You all…”
Eir shuddered as she watched them.
Anna was the first to express her displeasure.
“Clara, next time you summon us, give me a heads-up…!” “Haha—☆ Sorry, sorry☆” “Y-You hooligan, didn’t you eat my snacks again?” “…” “D-Damn it. You really are from that lousy school—!” “Oh~ Hohohoho!!! Audience! Rejoice! Applaud! Look up in awe!! For I have descended upon this place—!”
Anna chuckled and said.
“So? What’s the reason for calling us here?” “Punishment committee~☆” “P-Punishment…? What kind of hooliganism did you commit this time?” “It wasn’t me~☆” “Oh~ Hohohoho!! …Clara, if it’s something cruel, I’d rather leave. I don’t like punishing the weak.” “It’s not someone weak~☆”
Hilde looked at the group and spoke.
“There is a comrade here who tried to run away from their fight.” “…” “They feared becoming the strongest in the academy city without us.”
Each of the five-colored warriors reacted in their own way.
“Hahaha, what’s that? Is it Eir?” “Y-You’ve become so timid. Want to join the research team instead?” “Oh~ Hohoho! Of course! That’s how it always is with fools other than myself!”
Hilde pointed at Eir with her fist.
“That’s why… we, the so-called five colors of the academy city, will punish her.”
“…!”
Eir could only tremble.
Sss— Hilde shouted with all her might.
“From now on!! What begins here!! Is your punishment—!! [Crimson Trajectory] is guilty of desertion in battle and will receive corporal punishment from this convened committee!!” “Ha.” “Unless you defeat all of us, you will remain a loser forever.” “Heh.” “…You may resist.” “Heh heh heh…!”
All the excuses were just a pretense.
This was simply a performance to soothe Eir’s emptiness.
It was a way to bring back the academy city of two years ago that had been frozen in time for her.
Finally… To give you one last chance to become the strongest.
“Here we go!!”
With Hilde, now without her fated weapon, leading the charge, the five-colored warriors grinned and prepared to match her rhythm with their fists.
“Huff… Huff… This sweaty fighting isn’t my specialty, so I’ll just use my summons…”
Freya sighed and summoned a giant purple cat before stepping back.
I pointed at Eir and said.
“After setting up this whole thing, if you don’t win here, you’ll be seriously embarrassed—☆ Everyone will say you’re a coward who ran away from our junior~☆”
With slightly teary eyes, Eir shouted.
“…Come at me!”
She defeated the Thunder Spear with her bare hands. She defeated the Mist with her bare hands. She defeated the Great Bow with her bare hands. She defeated the Cat with her bare hands.
She defeated all the five-colored warriors.
Though each of them had gracefully retreated during the unfamiliar bare-handed fighting, in the end, only Eir, who was accustomed to it, remained standing.
“Huff…! Huff…!”
And then…
Eir, staggering and clutching her sword, desperately approached Albit. Albit, in turn, prepared to face her seriously.
“Come on…! I’m the strongest in the academy city—!!” “Yes! Here I come, Senior!!”
Whooosh—!!
The explosion of flames filled the arena.
Waaaaaah—!!! In the end, after exhausting herself in a fistfight with the five-colored warriors, Eir was defeated by Albit. But she passed out with a relieved smile on her face.
And so, after countless battles, The winner of the Combat Festival was decided.
[The winner of the Combat Festival is—!! Albit from <Central Prism Academy>—!! Albit has won the tournament!!!]
Waaaaaah—!!!