Chapter 160
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160
As we made our way toward the beach to catch the beach volleyball tournament, the eyes of every student we passed were glued to us.
“Look, it’s Roen.”
“He’s with Lady Elena.”
It was only natural. I was the center of every rumor circulating the academy, and I had finally emerged after days of staying out of the spotlight.
They whispered among themselves, stealing frequent glances at Elena and me.
“See? I told you. Roen defeated Lady Elena and won. On top of that, they led the defense against the fishmen together.”
“For real?”
“Yeah! I even heard Roen dove straight into the middle of the enemy swarm to save a maid.”
“Stop lying. Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“It’s true! There were over a thousand people there who saw it!”
“I still don’t buy it. I’ll believe it when I see it with my own eyes.”
I let the murmurs wash over me, a small chuckle escaping my lips.
Well, I can’t exactly blame them for being skeptical.
My victory against Elena’s team was an objective fact recorded within the Cube. Most people could eventually wrap their heads around that.
But what followed was a different story entirely.
An abrupt assault by fishmen straight out of legend? Roen successfully commanding the entire defense? And then, the crowning achievement: leaping from the fortress walls with nothing but his bare body to rescue a maid named Ciel?
Even if every single witness swore it was the truth, it was a lot to swallow at face value. This wasn't the modern world where video evidence was a click away. Without proof, it sounded like a tall tale.
It was a strange comparison, but what if a rumor spread that Garfield had defeated Beatrice and then fended off an entire army of fishmen?
Even I wouldn’t believe that.
Not a chance.
Walking beside me, Elena must have caught the students’ chatter. She gave my side a playful nudge with her elbow.
“Everyone’s talking about you, Roen. I’m almost jealous. Aren’t you becoming quite the celebrity?”
“Celebrity? It’s just gossip. It’ll die down soon enough.”
“Don’t be so modest. It’s good for your approval rating, isn’t it? I’d say this is a golden opportunity.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
At the very least, this incident would certainly have a positive impact on my reputation and standing.
“Woooah!”
As we continued, enduring the piercing gazes of the crowd, a roar of cheers erupted from the distance. We had arrived at the court where the beach volleyball tournament was in full swing.
The seaside court was already packed with spectators.
Peeeeek—!
A sharp whistle blew, followed by a fresh wave of applause. Unlike the more formal matches, this tournament featured mixed-gender teams. It was clearly an event designed for pure entertainment.
“We won’t see much from down here. Let’s go up.”
We navigated through the crowd and headed for the VIP section, which was situated on an elevated platform for a better view. When we reached our seats, I realized we were just in time for Freya and Kiriel’s match.
Taking in the sight of the two of them in their swimsuits, the massive crowd suddenly made sense.
“No wonder there are so many people.”
The academy’s top celebrities—people you could barely make eye contact with on a normal day—were playing volleyball in stunning swimwear. There was no way the reaction would be anything less than explosive.
“Right? The energy is incredible. Between the match itself and their outfits... I suppose it’s because they’re at that age?”
“And aren’t you the same age?” I asked Elena. She was speaking as if she belonged to a completely different generation.
She replied with a serene, saintly smile. “I am a candidate for the position of Saintess, remember? I am not easily swayed by worldly sights.”
“…”
She only ever brought up being a Saintess candidate at times like this.
I shrugged and settled into my VIP seat to watch the game. If not now, when else am I going to see this?
I had seen most of the limited-edition skins in Myrillin Saga after unlocking them, but seeing them in a game was a far cry from seeing them in the flesh. What’s good is good, after all.
As I watched the match in silence, Elena narrowed her eyes at me. “Roen, you have a very strange look in your eyes.”
Ciel echoed the sentiment, shooting me a suspicious glance from the side.
“…”
Drawing upon the power of my Shamelessness Trait, I replied without a flicker of emotion.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Don’t jump to conclusions. I’m simply focusing on the match.”
I was watching with a heart as pure as driven snow. I had no ulterior motives whatsoever.
“Are you looking at Miss Freya?”
“I told you, I’m watching the game.”
Of course, it wasn’t as if I hadn’t noticed Freya in her swimsuit. She was wearing a blue-toned piece that offered a modest amount of coverage. With a light cardigan and a chiffon skirt, her figure wasn't overly emphasized, yet she remained naturally slender and stylish.
The outfit wasn't too conservative, nor was it too revealing. It was perfectly Freya, and she looked great in it.
Beside her, Theon was providing support, his impressive upper-body muscles on full display. It was a 2v2 match, after all. Theon looked like he had picked up a tan, his coppery skin glistening with a healthy, athletic sheen. He was the very definition of a physical specimen.
I had built up a decent amount of muscle myself through training, but I was no match for him.
…I’m glad I stuck with the aloha shirt.
It felt a bit like I was being compared, but it was absurd to measure my body—honed over a few months—against his, which had been forged by a lifetime of elite swordsmanship.
On the opposing side, Kiriel wore a green, frilly swimsuit that complemented her hair. The elegant leaf pattern was eye-catching, suggesting she had put a lot of thought into the choice. Or, more likely, she had agonized over it until her aides finally made the decision for her.
Beside her was Silphiette, the girl who had taken the entrance exam with me.
Regardless of the fashion, the match itself was the real draw. Even though it was an exhibition, the level of play was staggering—on par with, if not exceeding, the Olympics. Freya and Theon were superhumans who had transcended human limits, and their opponents were elves, who weren't even human to begin with.
Thwack—!
Whoosh—!
The ball blurred back and forth as the players threw themselves into a fierce rally. The score was currently tied at 14:14. I didn't know the specific rules they were using, but it seemed they were in a deuce. One team needed two consecutive points to clinch the win.
Just as the tension reached its peak…
“Huh? Look, it’s Roen!”
“Lady Elena is with him!”
A spectator spotted us in the VIP seats and shouted. Suddenly, the focus of the crowd shifted, and a wave of murmurs rippled through the stands.
“Where? Where is he?”
It was the arrival of the man of the hour. The story of the battle against the fishmen had spread through the entire hotel like wildfire, so the reaction was inevitable.
As the atmosphere shifted, Kiriel and Freya, right in the middle of their play, also looked toward us.
“Oh.”
Kiriel, who still seemed a bit awkward around me, flinched slightly. Freya, on the other hand, visibly tensed the moment she saw me.
“…”
Seeing them lose their composure just by looking at me made me feel like I was ruining the game for everyone. As the gazes converged on us, Elena nudged me again.
“Give them a wave. Toward the team you’re rooting for.”
“No thanks. I don’t want to draw any more attention than I already have.”
This wasn't an official event like the sports festival, after all.
Tweet—!
The brief commotion settled, and the set resumed with the blast of the whistle.
Thump—.
The ball bounced back and forth, but for some reason, one player’s movements had slowed significantly. It was Freya. Tense and unable to regain her focus, she began making one unforced error after another.
And then, the climax.
Thwack—!
“Ugh!”
She had been playing flawlessly just moments ago, but now she simply stood there blankly and took a spiked ball directly to the face, collapsing to the sand. A bright red mark, perfectly matching the pattern of the ball, was left on her cheek.
What happened to her all of a sudden?
Thanks to Freya’s sudden and disastrous performance, the exhibition match ended in a victory for Kiriel’s team.
*
Following the volleyball tournament, various other exhibition events continued throughout the afternoon. They were designed to soothe the weary minds and bodies of the students, who were exhausted from the Faction War and the unexpected battle.
It was a true resort vacation atmosphere, featuring swimming competitions, sandcastle building, and watermelon splitting. By the time the scheduled events concluded, the sun was beginning its slow descent, painting the horizon in a breathtaking sunset.
The sky and sea were stained with deep, reddish hues. The palm trees along the shore cast long, shifting shadows as the light faded. Even for someone like me, who wasn't particularly sentimental, it was a romantic scene.
In the center of it all, a massive campfire blazed on the beach.
A grand barbecue feast had been prepared for dinner. A whole roast pig was skewered over the flames, smelling absolutely divine. It wasn't just any pig, either—it was top-tier pork from hogs raised on acorns.
The pleasant crackling of the fire and the rich, smoky aroma of the meat filled the air. To further appease the students, various alcoholic beverages that had been restricted on the airship were provided in abundance.
We each grabbed plates of meat and vegetables and took our seats at the dining area by the shore. The sound of traditional southern folk music drifted through the air, rounding out the perfect atmosphere.
Amidst this festive mood, familiar faces gathered around a long wooden table. Beatrice, whom I hadn't seen all day, was there, along with the student council presidents of the Four Great Academies and their secretaries, like Theon and Yulina.
The core members of my own team—Hildegard, Chepesi, and Bell—were present as well. Even Garfield, who had been making himself scarce lately, had joined the table.
Everyone was deep in conversation, pairing the melt-in-your-mouth barbecue with cold beer. They talked about the Faction War, the battle with the fishmen, and everything in between. The sound of the waves, the clatter of cutlery, the folk melodies, and the hum of laughter all blended into a lively, pleasant symphony.
This is peaceful.
I leaned back, enjoying the atmosphere and the cool sea breeze on my skin.
As the mood reached its peak, Elena raised her glass of juice. “Since we’re all gathered here, why don’t we have a toast?”
“Who’s going to lead it?”
At Kiriel’s question, Elena looked directly at me. “Roen, of course. It’s thanks to him that we’re all here to enjoy this.”
The students who had fought alongside me on the jungle island, including Ciel, nodded in immediate agreement.
“Hmm. Fair enough. Roen, the floor is yours.”
Kiriel and the others who had been on different islands seemed to have heard enough of the story by now that they didn't object.
“Hah.”
They had set the stage so perfectly; it would have been rude to refuse. I sighed, stood up, and raised my glass. I looked around at the familiar faces seated at the table and began to speak.
“You’ve all been through a lot. To those who fought by my side, and to those who waited and worried for us here—thank you. I’m just glad everyone is safe.”
It was a genuine relief that everyone had made it through the chaos. If I really thought about it, I was the one who had suffered the most, but I suppose that was just the lot of a player.
I was also grateful to those who had been stranded at the hotel, isolated by the sea fog, waiting for news. The Chairman had told me that while we were lost on the jungle island, everyone back here had been praying for our safe return. I didn't know if that was the literal truth or just a nice sentiment, but they were good people, so I chose to believe it.
I continued, “Summer vacation is just around the corner. After this camp, we’ll return to the Union, and you’ll all head back to your respective homes. I hope you all stay safe and healthy during the break, so we can all see each other again next term.”
“Isn’t this getting a bit long for a toast?”
At Elena’s playful jab, I chuckled and wrapped it up.
“Alright, then. To everyone’s safe return.”
“To our return!”
Clink—!
The clear, crisp sound of mugs striking one another echoed across the beach.
And so, the final night of the summer training camp deepened into a memory.