Chapter 27
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 27
Two celebrities had graced Izelin Academy with their presence: Elena and Beatrice.
“E-… Lady Elena?”
“It’s Lady Elena!”
“Lady Beatrice is here, too!”
Their arrival sent a ripple of electric excitement through the students gathered on the field.
“Hello, everyone~”
Unlike Elena, who waved to the crowd with a radiant, practiced smile, Beatrice wore an expression of profound discomfort.
“Sigh... why am I wasting my precious weekend here?”
As Beatrice muttered under her breath, pressing a hand to her temple, Yulina—who stood faithfully by her side—offered a bit of comfort.
“Your Highness, it isn’t good for your health to stay cooped up in your room reading all the time. You need to get out like this occasionally.”
“…But I hardly think that necessitates a trip to some backwater academy like this. I wonder what got into her.”
Seeing Beatrice’s displeasure, Elena approached and playfully linked arms with her.
“Don’t be like that, Beatrice. Since we’re already here, let’s try to enjoy the festivities.”
Beatrice sighed as Elena began dragging her along.
“Haa… Elena, what on earth are you plotting?”
“Hmm, let’s just say I have a debt to repay Roen. Besides, isn’t this fun? I love this kind of atmosphere.”
Waaaaah—!
Cheers echoed, filling the field with a deafening roar.
Accompanied by the students’ thunderous welcome, Elena, Beatrice, and Yulina approached the tent where I was waiting.
As I rose from my seat, Elena greeted me first.
“Oh my. Hello, Roen. You’ve been well, I hope?”
“Elena, you actually came. Thank you.”
When I expressed my gratitude, Elena placed her hands on her hips and spoke with a confident smirk.
“Yes, and you’d better be extra grateful. I’ve repaid my previous debt in full—with interest. Even for me, this was honestly quite a burden.”
Elena was the official observer, here to guarantee the integrity of this Territory Match. She had a debt to repay me, so I had requested she settle it by presiding over this event.
Although she was here as a neutral mediator, today's event would undoubtedly carry a political weight for her as well. Under the circumstances, the fact that she came at my personal request was something to be truly thankful for.
‘On top of that, I asked her to bring Beatrice along if possible.’
I glanced at Beatrice, who was still scowling beside Elena. I turned my gaze toward her and offered my thanks as well.
“Thank you for coming, Beatrice.”
“…Your thanks are unnecessary. If the information you promised me turns out to be useless, I won’t let you off the hook, Roen.”
“Don’t worry about that. This won’t be a wasted trip. Since you’re here, feel free to relax and enjoy the show.”
Beatrice’s reason for traveling all this way wasn’t simply because Elena had asked. Even if it was a personal visit and not in an official capacity, her position as a Princess of Cassandra and the President of Eredor made attending such an event a complicated matter.
Therefore, I had tempted her by offering to share a specific piece of information I had acquired in the past. It concerned the Dark Mana Stone I had mentioned during our last meal.
I had also leaked word of this Territory Match to Yulina, Eredor’s Chief of Staff. Given her personal grudge against me, she likely wanted to witness my spectacular downfall firsthand. Yulina must have played a significant part in dragging Beatrice here as well.
‘The Student Council Presidents of two of the Four Great Academies have appeared.’
This meant that this Territory Match had truly become a battle with no room for retreat. Not that it wasn’t already.
“I certainly hope so,” Beatrice replied. She nodded, then turned to greet Chepesi, who was practically vibrating with nervous energy beside her.
“You must be the Princess of Jerome, Chepesi Jerome. I believe I’ve seen you a few times around the academies. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Beatrice extended her hand for a handshake, but Chepesi seemed in no state to accept a polite greeting. She glared at me, baring her teeth like a cornered animal.
“Hmph! To think you’d bring out Princess Beatrice as your champion! Just how deep do your connections run?!”
Having only heard that our mercenary was from Eredor, she seemed to think that Princess Beatrice herself was personally participating in the match.
At Chepesi’s overreaction, Beatrice tilted her head in confusion.
“I’m not exactly on Roen’s side. I’m just here as a spectator.”
“…Is—is that so? Well, that’s a relief. My apologies. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Chepesi cleared her throat with a forced cough, then took Beatrice’s hand and shook it. After the handshake, the two exchanged a few brief words.
“Chepesi, it’s almost time. Now that the observer has been confirmed, go and get ready.”
“I know that without you telling me! Let’s go, Crowlin.”
Chepesi left the tent, followed closely by Crowlin. After she departed with her royal guards, Elena cautiously leaned in to ask me a question.
“By the way, Roen, do you really have a chance of winning this Territory Match? You didn’t request any mercenaries from our side.”
“Don’t worry. Just relax and watch. Do you really think I would have made such a scene just to be humiliated in front of everyone?”
I shot a quick glance at Yulina, who pointedly avoided my gaze.
“Well… it seems someone came here hoping for exactly that.”
While I was chatting with Elena, Eleina approached and greeted them warmly.
“Thank you for coming, Lady Elena, Lady Beatrice.”
“I heard about the situation from Roen. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help,” Elena said.
“Not at all. Your presence alone is a massive help.”
Indeed, the mere appearance of Elena and Beatrice had drastically shifted the atmosphere of the venue. The change was palpable; the once-quiet Izelin tent was now buzzing with frantic murmurs. As rumors spread that the two celebrities had joined Izelin’s side, a spark of hope was finally ignited.
“I’m glad to hear that. I’ll be wishing for your victory.”
After Elena’s words of encouragement, Beatrice also spoke, though she looked like she was doing so out of obligation.
“…My position prevents me from openly cheering for you, but I look forward to a good match.”
Beatrice gave a safe, non-committal answer that couldn’t be used against her politically.
“Elena, it’s time.”
“Yes. Well then.”
Accompanied by a single guard, Elena headed for the platform overlooking the field.
Tap, tap—.
Elena tapped the magic tool enchanted with amplification magic, finishing her preliminary check. Soon, her pleasant, melodic voice echoed across the field.
“Ahem. I am Elena, Elena Sion Celestia. As the Student Council President of Seintea, I will be presiding over this Territory Match. I look forward to your cooperation.”
Waaaaah—!
Elena looked down at the students cheering in response to her words, then declared the start of the match.
“We will now begin the Territory Match between Izelin and Jerome. Will the first representative from each academy please step forward.”
Rustle—.
Elena unfolded a note she had just received and announced the first pair of contestants.
“Crowlin Harvel. And…”
Elena’s next words sent a shockwave through the crowd.
“Eleina Izelin.”
*
One week ago.
“I will take the vanguard position.”
Eleina had said this while we were selecting representatives and arranging the lineup for the Territory Match. Without even looking up from my notes, I readily agreed.
“Do it.”
While I was poring over the student rosters of both academies, Eleina had requested to be the vanguard, and I had accepted without hesitation. However, neither Philip nor Ciel approved of the decision.
“P-Princess, you can’t do that!”
“Lord Roen, please reconsider.”
As the two tried to stop her, Eleina spoke with a resolute expression.
“No. If I don’t step forward first, no one else will volunteer to be a representative. No one will be willing to fight with all their might. This isn’t mere stubbornness; it’s a strategic decision.”
“Princess, there’s no need for you to do this. The war hawks who support you—myself included—will gladly step forward as representatives and fight for the academy! If only to punish those traitors like Josephine!”
Following Philip, Ciel also voiced his opposition.
“What if you get hurt? And if by some chance you were to lose… the morale of the Izelin side would hit rock bottom.”
Their concerns were reasonable. But reasonable decisions alone wouldn’t win us this Territory Match. We had to use every means at our disposal.
Fortunately, Princess Eleina wasn’t just some bookworm who had only studied political science and theory; she was a mage, a combat-capable individual. She was a card we could definitely play in this match—and a powerful one at that.
“Don’t worry, Ciel. Fortunately, it seems Eleina has a good matchup against the enemy’s vanguard.”
Swish—.
I ran my finger down the student roster of Jerome Academy and stopped at a name.
Crowlin Harvel. The Head of Jerome’s Disciplinary Committee.
He was the most likely opponent for Eleina in the vanguard.
“Provided, of course, that we make a few adjustments.”
*
“Waaaaah!”
As Crowlin stepped onto the temporary dueling stage, a deafening roar erupted from the Jerome Academy side.
“Crowlin! Crowlin! Crowlin!”
The students chanted his name in unison.
Crowlin Harvel, the Head of Jerome Academy’s Disciplinary Committee. Ranked 34th in the Union Competitive Matches, he was, in name and in reality, the strongest fighter in Jerome. His broad shoulders, sharp, piercing eyes, and the long scar across his face marked him as a battle-hardened warrior.
Woooong—.
A faint, shimmering aura began to radiate around him. Seeing this, several students shouted in excitement.
“It’s Sir Crowlin’s Blessing!”
“His Blessing is active!”
A Blessing was an innate, unique quality an individual was born with—expressed in various legends as divine protection, a gift, or a rune. The characters in this world called it a Blessing, but in the game, it was implemented as a [Trait].
His Epic Trait, [Domination], was an absolute powerhouse of an ability that nullified all attacks below a certain damage threshold. Attacks from "small fry" couldn't even scratch him.
He stood confidently on the dueling stage and slammed his greatsword into the ground.
Thunk—.
The massive blade cracked the stage floor, embedding itself with ease. Crowlin then spoke to the silver-haired girl before him—Eleina, the princess of a minor nation.
“I have no desire to swing my sword at a woman who is not a warrior. I suggest you surrender.”
At Crowlin’s suggestion, Eleina shot back with a look of fierce determination.
“I stand here not as a woman, but as a Princess and a representative of my academy. Apologize for your rudeness.”
“…My apologies. But I will not retract my suggestion. You and your academy have no chance of winning anyway. Give up the Territory Match now and accept the merger. It will be better than having your academy shut down completely.”
“That… is something we will see.”
Eleina drew a wooden staff from her robes. It was a magic staff the size of a conductor’s baton, tipped with a glowing blue orb. It was the mage Eleina’s unique weapon: [Blue Tear].
Crowlin let out a soft sigh as he watched Eleina take a combat stance.
“…If that’s how you want it, then I will be your opponent.”
Fwip—.
Crowlin pulled his greatsword from the floor and faced Eleina.
“But now that it has come to this, I will not show mercy. As you know, this is a grave matter concerning not just our academies… but our nations.”
“That’s exactly what I was hoping for.”
As the two representatives took their stances, Elena positioned the Relief Knights near the dueling stage to prepare for any unforeseen accidents.
“Relief Knights, to your positions.”
They would intervene to prevent fatalities and provide emergency first aid or healing if necessary. A Relief Knight acting as the referee requested their student IDs.
“Please touch your student IDs together.”
The Union student ID. In the Union, duels between students officially began with the contact of these IDs. It was an artifact also used in competitive matches, serving as a sort of protective barrier. It was a minimal safety measure—not entirely perfect, but enough to prevent fatal injuries. As long as one wasn't killed in a single blow, the Relief Knights or Elena could provide healing. It was… arguably safe.
“If the protective barrier on the student ID is fully depleted, it will be considered a loss. Surrender or being knocked out of the ring also count as a loss. The Relief Knights may intervene during the battle if necessary. Now then.”
Piiiek—!
“Begin!”
As Elena raised her hand, a whistle blew, and the first match of the Territory Match officially began.