The Representative Selection Brackets
The brackets for each nation's representative selection tournament had been released. The students, eager to prove their skills and participate in the exchange event, threw themselves into the preliminaries with fire in their eyes. Only the most capable were selected from those preliminaries, so the brackets weren't overly complicated.
The format for the confirmed tournament was straightforward: pairs formed teams of two, with winning teams advancing upward and losers eliminated.
The students of Solemnute Adem were tense. To qualify for the exchange event, they needed to place in the top four, but the competing teams were terrifyingly strong.
Ludenberg and Ashytara. Dalia and Seia. Eden and Mion. And not just them—second- and third-years as well. The brackets had formed in a way that left most first-years unable to even compete.
Even though this year's first-years had achieved remarkable feats, the upperclassmen had already weathered every hardship Solemnute Adem could throw at them. In truth, the exchange event was largely a stage for the second- and third-years.
Of course, outliers like Ludenberg's and Eden's teams were different, but most first-years despaired at the sight of the brackets.
"Whoa, did I even sign up for this...?"
The words slipped from Evelyn's lips as she stared at the brackets.
"Nah. You never know until you try."
Granias shot back calmly.
"You think?"
"Honestly, this is way better than facing Ludenberg right off the bat, right?"
"True. Better to get thrashed by the upperclassmen than him..."
"And there's more good news. Dalia and Seia aren't in our bracket. We've got the best draw possible. Don't give up—let's do this."
"Yeah."
Evelyn steeled her resolve. Her sister Carmen had shone in the exchange event during her school days. If Carmen could do it, so could she.
Ludenberg noticed the shift in the air around him. Glancing around, sure enough, the students were burning with determination. It wasn't just about the finals affecting their evaluations.
Yeah. If anything, it was raw competitiveness and fighting spirit radiating from their eyes.
And he knew better than anyone why.
'To prove themselves at an exchange event where all nations gather. Same for me.'
Just becoming a national representative through the selection tournament would be a great honor. But to showcase their skills to representatives from other countries on top of that? It would feel like true validation for all their efforts.
'Even with upperclassmen, I don't feel like we'll lose. Still... no room for complacency. There might be unexpectedly strong opponents. We have to give it everything.'
He examined his own bracket. It was filled with unfamiliar names. Not surprising—he had little interest in upperclassmen, knowing only Dalia and Seia.
The few first-year names he recognized weren't here either; only a handful of first-years had entered, and none he knew were in his bracket.
"Lud. What're you doing?"
"Checking our bracket. Thought I might spot someone I know... luckily, or not, no one."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
"Ah..."
"Not sure who'll make it to the exchange event, but we'll definitely get there."
"Duh? You're beyond student level already."
"Even so, no slacking, Tara. Unexpected things always happen."
"Fair enough..."
"Speaking of, Eden and Mion are in it too. Expected, but... we'll meet them later."
Ludenberg's gaze drifted to a corner of the brackets. Not his pair, but he acknowledged their skill despite the annoyance they caused.
"Good thing. We can settle old scores again."
"We've paid them back plenty already... but yeah, not enough."
Resentment wasn't something to forget easily. Ludenberg swallowed the rest.
"Anyway, let's train. No room for carelessness."
"Yeah!"
Ashytara beamed and looped her arm around his. Realizing he saw her as more than a friend, she'd decided boldness was best—and it worked perfectly. Ludenberg stared at her clinging arm, flustered.
"T-Tara."
"What?"
"Nothing..."
Her innocent smile, devoid of ulterior motives, left him shaking his head. He couldn't respond. Telling her to let go felt like it would crush her.
"Let's go. With the brackets out, more training time sounds good."
"...Sure."
As she stuck to him more lately, Ludenberg felt conflicted. It was nice, but he didn't know why.
'Definite. She's aware of me. Not just my imagination...!'
Ashytara simply savored his reaction. Almost there, she murmured inwardly.
Eve was also eyeing the brackets. Since each nation held its own, Abaran's was packed with familiar names.
'Boring. Same old faces... I'll breeze to the exchange event anyway.'
She wouldn't cheat in front of foreigners—that could stir trouble. Even she knew better.
'Can't risk noise from spectators. Abaran must remain proud and mighty.'
Crush with pure skill, dominate even the exchange event. That was her goal. She trusted her abilities—not just saint laws, but martial prowess too.
Saints needed self-defense, drilled into her by nagging elders.
'Who knew their lectures would pay off here.'
Above all, her talent overflowed. Arcada's blessing, perhaps. She could win without saint laws against most students.
'Perfect. No issues. My guard knight partner's solid—we'll conquer the exchange event.'
"Meia."
"Yes, Saintess."
"All set?"
"No problems. We'll clear the selection easily."
Her sharp-featured guard knight replied confidently.
"Not just selection. We need to dominate the exchange event too."
"Understood."
Meia matched Eve's age, fitting the 17-20 rule perfectly.
Eve scanned all brackets for exchange event threats.
'Ludenberg and Princess Ashytara... Dalia? Captain Blaine called her strong. Watch her closely. And...'
Her eyes caught a name, and her face paled. She turned away abruptly.
Meia blinked curiously. "Saintess? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Let's go, Meia. Lots to prepare."
"Yes!"
Meia followed, puzzled but composed.
Where Eve had looked: Nadan Tes.
The bald man who'd tormented her recently.
'That damn bald guy. No way I'm crossing him. How can anyone lecture on theology for three hours straight? And so in-depth... No, stop. Doesn't matter. He's just a jerk who wasted my time. Yeah. No need for proxies. I'll act directly.'
Eve rationalized, pondering how to win Ludenberg's favor. But with his clear intent to avoid her, it wouldn't be smooth.
The representative selection tournament began in earnest. First match: Dalia and Seia.
Dalia's fame from last year's exchange event drew eyes from other nations, even during their own selections.
The listed students watched tensely.
Boom!
Petite Dalia's raw strength, bolstered by Terra's saint law. Her axe-spear shattered the ground, relentlessly pressuring her foe.
Each step cratered the earth—unfathomable power from such a small frame.
Her opponent shivered at her feral grin. Was the axe-spear's edge glinting sharper? No illusion.
Crack!
His sword shattered under her blow.
'Crazy...!'
Demoralized, he dropped the hilt.
Seia's opponent fared worse. Endless arrows from nowhere, Seia invisible. He knew she was a Lanur priestess but couldn't respond—her presence elusive, multiplied chaotically.
Then Dalia's axe-spear thrust in.
No time for defenses. The result was inevitable, but their growth stunned onlookers.
The referee declared victory swiftly. The first match ended anticlimactically, etching their strength in spectators' minds.
Nearby, Ludenberg and Ashytara rose. Their turn for the second match.