Chapter 102
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 102
I crushed the crystal in my hand, scattering the powder just as Freya and Ciel were about to overtake us.
Whoosh—!
No matter how fast they were, dodging particles scattered in an instant was an impossible feat.
“……!”
Freya and Ciel immediately covered their mouths and noses with their sleeves to avoid inhaling the dust, but this wasn't the kind of substance that required inhalation to take effect.
“Ugh.”
Struck head-on by the particles, their legs buckled as their momentum vanished.
Watching them stumble, Elena asked worriedly, “You didn't spray them with something dangerous, did you?”
“I'm not that bad of a person.”
I explained as I blew the remaining yellow crystal dust off my glove. The crystal I had just crushed was a [Lesser Paralysis] crystal. Anyone touched by its particles is momentarily afflicted with the [Paralysis] status effect.
Of course, it doesn't completely freeze the body; its potency varies greatly depending on the target's resistance. For someone with the superior physical abilities of Freya or Ciel, it would do little more than slow their movements for a few seconds. It was essentially a physical version of Slow Magic.
But in a race like this, a few seconds is all it takes.
At my explanation, Elena scratched her cheek. “That seems a little cheap. A paralysis crystal?”
“Cheap? What’s cheap is two physical powerhouses sprinting full-tilt against a feeble mage like me.”
“……Now that you mention it, you have a point.”
“The finish line is right ahead.”
And so, while Freya and Ciel were still staggering, Elena and I crossed the finish line with ease. At that exact moment, the announcer's voice boomed across the field.
“Miss Elena of Seintea and Student Council President Roen have crossed the finish line! They take first place!”
“Waaaah!”
The Seintea faction let out a roar loud enough to shake the stadium. The announcer continued.
“Alright! Students of the Seintea faction, please follow the staff's instructions and exit the grand field! Enjoy your meal!”
The Seintea students, who now earned the right to eat first, let out an even louder cheer. They would not only get the best seats in the dining hall but also be the first to hit the popular restaurants and trendy cafes to snag limited-edition items.
“Ooooh!”
Amidst the fervent cheers, Elena smiled brightly and waved to the students. Then she whispered to me, “Roen, you should wave too.”
“……”
After a moment's hesitation, I followed her lead and waved toward the stands. Even though the cheers weren't entirely for me, it didn't feel half bad.
*
After the three-legged race and the subsequent lunch break, a massive event for all students participating in the sports festival began at 3 PM.
It was the “Treasure Hunt Event,” featuring extravagant prizes personally prepared by Ishtal's Student Council President, Freya.
Tap, tap—.
The announcer's voice echoed from loudspeakers all across Ishtal.
“Attention, everyone! The treasure hunt event you've all been waiting for will begin at 3 PM sharp!”
Students strolling down the restaurant street or chatting in cafes paused to listen.
“The vouchers for the treasure hunt prizes are imbued with a special magic, allowing you to estimate their general location by sensing mana. The notes could be anywhere—in the parks, classrooms, shopping districts, or the forest—so search thoroughly! As you all know, the S-grade prize is a date ticket with the President! Happy hunting!”
“Ooooh!”
A thunderous cheer echoed through the streets. Aiming for the special prize—a weekend date with Freya—countless male students set off to scour every inch of the Union. Crowds of students scattered to every corner of the academy like an ebbing tide.
“Are you going to participate in the treasure hunt too, Roen?”
After finishing lunch with Elena, I nodded.
“I was planning on patrolling the academy to help my digestion anyway. I might as well wander around for the treasure hunt while I'm at it.”
There were several reasons I decided to participate.
First, it was simply for the fun of it. Finding hidden treasure and winning prizes is entertaining. Even if I didn't care about the date ticket, the hunt itself was a good distraction.
Second, it was perfect for mana detection training. The notes were imbued with mana, making this a prime opportunity to sharpen my ability to sense and track mana signatures across various environments. Mana detection is a versatile, fundamental skill for any mage. As a modern man, it was still a bit unfamiliar to me, so I needed the practice.
Third, of course, was to recover the Dark Mana Stones scattered around the academy. Most areas were fine, but I didn't quite trust the Spiritology Academy where Kiriel was president. I planned to use this chance to investigate that area more thoroughly. Normally, wandering around another academy's territory would draw suspicious looks, but during a treasure hunt, I could roam freely.
And the final reason.
To prepare for the half-demon's attack.
The Chairman had told me not to worry, but I couldn't leave everything to him. I had to do what I could. It was better for me to act as bait and lure them out than to sit around waiting. If I moved to a secluded area away from the crowds, the other students would be safer.
Whether she read my mind or not, Elena casually remarked, “It's not because of that date ticket with Miss Freya, is it?”
I feigned disinterest. “I can meet Freya anytime under the pretext of a meeting. I don't need a ticket for that.”
“Hmm, I see. But you still don't want to give someone else the chance, do you?” Elena’s golden eyes gleamed as she narrowed them slightly.
“……”
Her gaze seemed to pierce right through me, but I used the power of my trait to maintain a smooth composure.
“I simply have no desire to see every piece of riffraff in the academy swarming Freya.”
“It's okay to be honest. You two were engaged, after all.”
“The engagement was a political arrangement between families. What do children know of such things?”
“……Well, good luck anyway. Oh, and the information-sharing agreement we discussed will be delivered to the Student Council Office soon.”
“It seems your country has given its approval.”
Elena nodded slowly.
The agreement to exchange information on magical beasts between Celestia and the Devalis family had started with the matter of the Blood Demon's weakness. Due to my intervention, I had ended up making the agreement personally, rather than through the Devalis family.
“Yes, but there was quite a bit of opposition within the kingdom. I don't know if I should say this, but your reputation isn't exactly the best, is it?”
“No need to sugarcoat it. It's terrible.”
My notoriety had lessened slightly of late, but that change was confined to the Union. News of my recent actions had barely reached the rest of the continent or high society. Even if it had, a reputation as an utter scoundrel, solidified over many years, wasn't going to change overnight.
Making a contract with a dangerous individual like me was a huge gamble for Celestia. It might have been safer to form an official agreement with the Devalis family, even if it meant a slightly subservient position, but they had chosen to bet on me for now.
Elena added, “Professor Andrea helped pull some strings. I also put in a good word.”
“You thought I was worth the effort?”
“It's a gamble. But I believe the odds are in my favor.”
Elena smiled at me. She called it a gamble, but I could hear the conviction in her voice. She was likely the one who had truly convinced Professor Andrea. I couldn't let down those who had placed their trust in me.
I returned her smile and said calmly, “Good. You won't regret making a deal with me.”
*
The treasure hunt was the main event of the sports festival. Its scale and the lineup of prizes were extraordinary.
Freya had put so much effort into it because she wanted an event that every student could enjoy, not just the elite athletes. Of course, to make that vision a reality, Freya had paid a steep price.
“Ishtal 7th District, dormitory area, clear. Total prize notes found: thirteen. Three B-grade, ten C-grade. No further mana readings.”
“No S-grade note found.”
“Moving to the next location!”
“Next location! We're heading to the old dining street!”
“Mana detection team, take the lead!”
Students were working in systematic teams, checking for mana signatures with military precision. It looked like a fleet of deep-sea fishing vessels systematically sweeping the ocean with a dragnet.
Watching the students move so methodically from her office window, Freya's shoulders slumped.
“This wasn't what I had in mind……”
She had envisioned a sense of adventure—students exploring the academy's hidden corners, the joy of finding a note in an unexpected place, the simple satisfaction of winning small prizes. She wanted them to enjoy themselves at their own pace.
Instead, they were forming organized squads and stripping the prizes bare. While cooperation was encouraged, this level of cold efficiency was something Freya hadn't anticipated.
“Well, what does it matter? Not everyone is like that. There are plenty of people enjoying it exactly as you intended, President.”
“If that's the case, I'm relieved.”
A total of 777 prize notes were hidden throughout the Union. About 700 low-tier C-grade vouchers—for things like raffle tickets, gift certificates, and souvenirs—were placed randomly. Their mana signatures were left strong, making them easy to track.
However, for B-grade notes and above, the mana signatures were partially masked, making them difficult to track without getting close. They were also carefully hidden in spots hard to see with the naked eye—under drawers, behind garden stones, or inside bird nests.
Accordingly, the value of the prizes was higher: academic incentives, paid leave vouchers, and high-end stationery sets. The seven A-grade notes even included low-grade artifacts.
None of this came from Ishtal's official budget. It was all paid for by Freya, who had completely emptied her personal funds. Because of that, her savings at the Steel Bank were depleted, and she was currently short on cash.
“……”
Freya glanced at her empty, frog-shaped coin purse for a moment before nodding. The frog's belly might be empty, but if it made everyone happy, it was worth it.
Finally, there was the one and only S-grade prize… a weekend date ticket with herself.
It was a prize she never wanted to include, but she couldn't ignore her aides' insistence that it was necessary for the event's success. Unable to withstand the pressure, she had added it, but she’d hidden it somewhere she prayed it would never be found. She had almost entirely erased its mana signature; she was confident it would remain hidden.
Of course, the location wasn't just chosen for its difficulty. It was also a silent answer to the incident in the grand auditorium—a nod to Roen for helping her. If he understood her underlying intention, there was a chance he might find it.
Thinking of Roen brought back the memory of being hit by that strange powder during the three-legged race, and her face began to heat up.
“……”
She had thought first place was guaranteed, only for him to use such a dirty trick.
As Freya was lost in thought, someone approached. Recognizing the familiar mana signature and gait, Freya turned.
“Senior Jeremy.”
Jeremy smiled as he scanned the list of prizes. “The prizes are quite provocative. No wonder the male students are so enthusiastic. Perhaps I should try looking for one myself?”
“Even you, Senior……”
“A joke, Lady Freya. By the way, do you happen to know where Roen has gone?”
“I believe he is also participating in the treasure hunt.”
“I see.” Jeremy stroked his chin, looking thoughtful.
“Why are you looking for Roen?”
At Freya's question, Jeremy's eyes glinted with a cold light.
“I have an urgent matter to discuss with him. You see… the Dark Mana Stone I was keeping has gone missing.”