Chapter 141: Defying Prophecy [1]
Early in the morning, Gerhard savored his morning coffee while picking up a newspaper.
[Daily Academy 10/6]
[Upset in the Magic Tournament. First-year second-rank defeats second-year second-rank...! Ariadne Florian’s storm overshadows Carlo Deneb’s lightning.]
[Gismond Ert, who caused upsets in the Jousting Competition, subdued by Luina Berchef in the round of 32.]
[Another upset, Aint Armian settles into the top 16.]
[The Jousting Competition and Magic Tournament have reached the round of 16. Who will be the final 32?]
The paper continued with articles about competition results, other top 16 contenders, and festival events.
"...What?"
Those weren’t particularly important parts.
Who defeated whom, who won against whom.
There were quite a few differences from the prophecy book, but he had anticipated that things would continue to go awry because of one variable.
Even without the prophecy book, he had a good grasp of the major talents, so while it wasn’t perfect according to the prophecy, he had made a decent amount of money.
The problem was something else.
"Ariadne beat Carlo...?"
Some things had changed from the prophecy book’s content and some hadn’t, but Ariadne and Carlo facing each other was among the latter.
The two were meant to meet in the Magic Tournament, and Carlo would defeat Ariadne.
It was natural.
In the original history, Carlo was still the top student in the second year.
That wasn’t due to any technique or luck but pure skill, and no matter how outstanding Aint’s companion Ariadne’s talent was, it wasn’t something she could surpass in one stride.
It was still the same now.
Even if Carlo had been pushed to second place because of Gerhard, his skills hadn’t gone anywhere.
But why.
Why had the result changed?
"..."
Gerhard’s mind went blank at the completely unexpected result.
The money he had bet on Carlo, using employees and even people around him, had vanished.
==
The Jousting Competition had already progressed to the round of 16.
Gerhard examined the bracket.
[Jousting Competition Round of 16 Bracket
»Balrosi Viston (1st year top rank) VS Bella Hoenne (2nd year 19th rank)
»Veriana Kalproten (1st year 3rd rank) VS Barog Hermim (3rd year top rank)
»Alkan Domirn (3rd year second rank) VS Rob Kaellin (4th year top rank)
»Gillet Fiens (3rd year 5th rank) VS Luina Berchef (2nd year top rank)
»Aint Armian (1st year second rank) VS Almon Donertz (2nd year sec....]
Due to the variable called Gismond Ert, the round of 16 bracket was very different from what Gerhard knew.
"It’s a mess."
Unlike the Magic Tournament, which was proceeding smoothly except for Ariadne, the Jousting Competition was truly a mess.
Bella Hoenne, who should have been eliminated in the round of 32, had secured an incredible draw luck and settled into the top 16, and Aint and Luina, who should have faced each other in the semifinals, were set to meet in the quarterfinals.
"...I have a rough idea about the other matches, but..."
He had no idea about Aint and Luina.
But Gerhard didn’t think too long about it. After all, the two would meet in the quarterfinals, and that was something to think about tomorrow.
For now, betting on the round of 16 was the priority.
"Hyde."
"Are you doing it again?"
"Of course."
Having finished his betting, Gerhard handed his slip to Hyde.
"Do you ask that knowing how much money we lost because of Gismond and Ariadne? We need to earn more, more money."
"...Understood."
Now all the employees and all of Gerhard’s connections would place the same bets.
And in an hour, the competition would begin.
While Gerhard was continuing his betting on the Magic Tournament, in the Jousting Competition’s waiting room, there was someone trembling with a pale complexion.
"...Still, they’re just a first-year, so I should have a chance, right? They might be the top-ranked, but they’re still a first-year. The Viston family, but still a first-year."
"Bella."
"Just looking at the time spent learning at the academy, there’s a one-year difference, so the possibility..."
"Bella."
Luina grabbed Bella Hoenne’s shoulders. The slight trembling stopped.
"Just give your best in the fight. With no regrets. That’s all."
"...That sounds like you’re saying I have no chance of winning."
"I didn’t say that."
"Then can I win?"
"...Do your best, Bella."
"Some friend you are..."
Luina averted her gaze. Bella let out a deep sigh. But thanks to that, her tension eased a bit.
Yes, come to think of it, her advancement to the top 16 was already a stroke of heavenly luck. Even if she were eliminated here, it would be significant progress compared to last year.
But it wasn’t just luck either.
Fighting the sea serpents and being Luina’s sparring partner had improved her skills tremendously.
Without luck, she couldn’t have reached the top 16, but without skill, that would also have been the case.
"I am your senior, after all. I’ll show you the dignity of a senior."
"Bella Hoenne!"
"Coming!"
After an hour of mental conditioning, Bella put on her helmet and went out proudly.
And exactly 20 minutes later.
"I’m so embarrassed I could die...! What is that monster...! Is that really a first-year?"
Bella returned as a defeated soldier, with dents all over her armor.
She had barely endured the three jousting exchanges, but in the subsequent sword duel, she was overwhelmingly pushed back.
She could only hold on, and after being constantly on the defensive, she finally lost her sword.
The fact that she lasted 20 minutes was thanks to her duels with Luina.
"Good job."
"Good job...? I thought I could at least endure, but the difference in level was just too severe..."
Bella crouched in a corner of the waiting room, lamenting her situation.
And exactly 15 minutes later. One more defeated contestant with the same appearance entered.
"...The wall of the third-year top student is high indeed."
It was Veriana Kalproten, who had faced the third-year top-ranked student, Barog Hermim.
Veriana had lost overwhelmingly.
She barely managed not to lose in the jousting, but that was it. Once they moved to swordsmanship, she was instantly pushed back.
Veriana let out a deep sigh, not having thought the difference would be this significant, even with a third-year.
"How was it?"
"Don’t ask, it’s making me angry."
"I’ll avenge you."
"If you actually avenge me, that’ll make me even angrier."
Veriana gritted her teeth at Aint’s innocent words.
Normally, she should have countered that it wasn’t possible, but she thought perhaps Aint could do it.
After all, wasn’t he the one who had faced a demon and ultimately defeated it?
Veriana, who had fainted while facing that same demon.
’The gap isn’t narrowing; it’s widening more and more. Damn it...!’
What kind of ridiculous talent allows such insane growth? Are all Armians like this?
’...Is there no way?’
She didn’t want to be left behind like this. When Aint stood tall in front of everyone, she wanted to follow at least one step behind.
’Senior Gerhard might have a way.’
She felt he could achieve anything, find a solution for anything. She wasn’t sure when she had started trusting Gerhard to this extent.
"I’m in the second year, but I’m nervous."
"Just shut up."
Even as Aint and Veriana chatted, the competition continued.