The Prize and the Rivals
The cave was thick with dust. The stench of blood-tinged mud mixed in, making every breath feel like it was filling my lungs with sludge. We were all sprawled across the floor like discarded rags in front of the collapsed remains of that absurdly massive rock golem.
"We're alive……."
At Doosik-senpai's mutter, I found myself nodding along. Who could have seen this coming? I'd thought it was just a casual practice session to loosen up our bodies, but then a raid-boss-level monster suddenly appears.
"Haa……"
My whole body ached. While we were all lying there catching our breath, footsteps echoed from the distance.
Tap. Tap.
Even while walking across the muddy floor, the steps carried an aristocratic elegance that refused to lose dignity. It was Judith La Roche.
Wow. She was covered in dust and her hair was a mess, yet somehow even this chaos looked like a painting on her. No, honestly, it made her look even more striking. The type who becomes decadently beautiful when broken. A woman who shines all the more dangerously.
In other words……
'……What's this?'
The moment I saw that gorgeous appearance, the alarm in my head started blaring. There's something about this woman. Even standing still, she looks like she's scheming. Even breathing once seems calculated. That's what makes her terrifying. What exactly is she approaching with that friendly face for? Planning to hand me a poisoned apple?
But contrary to my expectations, when Judith reached me, she bowed her head with perfect decorum.
"Thanks to you, I survived. Ian Ash."
……Huh. That was an awfully clean thank-you. And on top of that, resting on Judith's pale hand was a single sphere glowing with a brilliant, ethereal light. My gaze was stolen by it, making it hard to think straight.
My…… my precious. My treasure. A mana orb worth ten million Krone in scholarship money.
Noticing where my eyes were fixed, Judith smiled brightly and held out her hand.
"This should rightfully be yours."
The mana orb was tossed lightly toward me. I narrowed my eyes.
"You're just giving it to me?"
"Huhu."
Judith opened her fan to cover her mouth and let out a small laugh.
"Nobles have their pride, after all."
"……Pride, you say?"
"You wouldn't have come all this way risking danger just to save me."
Correct.
"Obviously, you followed me here to find this mana orb, didn't you?"
This woman really reads people well. Normally this would be the part where someone goes, "Oh my, you came to save me? Don't tell me you're interested in me? You're the first!" But she's too quick to judge. Just like Judith said, part of it was to keep the main scenario from derailing, but more than anything, the mana orb mattered more. Since there's no misunderstanding, there's no need for excuses either. How convenient.
"But in the end, I survived because of your actions."
Judith continued smoothly.
"So this reward should go to you."
I didn't hesitate. I naturally took the mana orb from her hand.
"I agree."
"Ahahaha!"
Apparently that was hilarious. Judith burst into laughter. Her clear voice echoed through the cave—so bright it was hard to believe this was the same place the golem had just wrecked.
"You're really entertaining."
After wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Judith stared straight at me.
"Hmm. But I do have a request."
She took a step closer as she spoke. Of course. There had to be a catch.
"If your partner slot for the debutante ball is still open……"
Just then—
"Ian Ash!!"
A rough shout came from behind. Lena shot up and came running over.
"Uh, uh? Why—"
Thud!
Lena slammed me against the wall. Up close, her face was bright red. Even her neck looked like it was burning. Her green eyes blazed with some unidentifiable fighting spirit and determination.
……Wait. Why is she this serious?
"I was trying to hold back, but I can't anymore!"
"What—"
"How many people have asked you to the debutante ball, you playboy bastard!"
"No, I've never been asked……"
"Shut up! You're going to the debutante ball with me! Got it?!"
Still gripping my collar, she shook me. I stared at Lena in shock without meaning to. Lately she'd been acting more girlish, and now the backlash had her going straight past aggressive into straight-up bulldozing me into the wall.
The moment I opened my mouth to say something—
—BOOOOOOM!!
A tremendous explosion shook the cave. The pile of rocks blocking the entrance shattered, sending fragments flying in every direction. Thick dust billowed up. And from beyond it, someone staggered inside.
"The mana orb……! Where is the mana orb!!"
A ringing shout. It was Princess Eiphrid. Her golden hair was plastered with some unknown pinkish slime, and her once-pristine practice uniform was soaked in mud and bodily fluids like a pile of dirty laundry.
'……Ah.'
One look was enough. She'd taken a proper beating from the tentacle monster too. Must have charged straight through the swamp zone like an idiot.
The princess scanned the cave, panting. The moment her eyes landed on the mana orb in my hand—
"Ah……"
Her expression was something to behold. That must be what a face looks like when the world collapses.
"Aaaah……"
The next instant, the princess dropped to her knees with a thud.
"Nooooo!! I lost to my rival again!!"
……No. What kind of fight is she having all by herself, Your Highness?
◆ Imperial Academy Main Building. Highest-Level Professors' Conference Room.
The professors seated around the mahogany table all wore grim expressions. There was only one item on the agenda: the mana golem incident that occurred during the Introduction to Magic Theory practical.
"A thorough investigation is necessary."
One professor spoke with a serious face.
"That rock golem wasn't the kind of monster that should appear inside the Academy."
"Could it have been drawn here during Lena's mana outburst?"
"It was an earth-attribute golem. The connection is unlikely."
Another professor quickly added,
"The fact that an irregular monster outside the outer dungeon ecosystem appeared means we can't rule out the possibility of malicious intent."
The meeting proceeded steadily like that. But the moment they reached the most critical issue, everyone's voices grew strangely quiet.
"So…… about the ultimate responsibility……"
Eyes gradually turned toward the corner of the conference room. A silver-haired beauty sat there, reclining. The Empire's youngest Magic Tower Master. Everyone wanted to shout "This is your fault, take responsibility" in their heads, but couldn't bring themselves to say it out loud.
As the silence dragged on, the Magic Tower Master finally ran a hand through his silver hair with irritation and let out a short sigh.
"Understood."
His blue eyes cooled.
"I'll personally provide appropriate compensation to the students affected by this incident."
That was all. No excuses, no explanations, no detailed accounts. He rose from his seat as if there was nothing more worth saying. The conference room door opened immediately after.
Thud.
The heavy door closed. Only then did the professors who remained let out the frustration they'd been holding in.
"That arrogant man wouldn't actually give proper compensation, would he?"
"This concerns the Academy's honor. What if the parents—especially the high-ranking nobles—start making an issue of it……"
"Shouldn't someone keep an eye on him?"
At that moment, Duchess Valenti, who had been quietly observing, raised her hand with elegant poise.
"I'll speak with him."
A single short remark. Smiling, she stood up.
◆ In front of the elevator.
The Magic Tower Master stood pressing the descent button. Footsteps approached from behind.
Tap. Tap.
"You've caused quite the incident again, Tower Master."
A smooth voice with a hidden edge. The Magic Tower Master turned with cold eyes.
"Weren't you being too greedy trying to push Ian Ash?"
"……"
Seeing the Tower Master's expression, the corner of the Duchess's lips curled slightly.
"So, did the Ian student you had such high hopes for take first place?"
"……Yes."
The Duchess's eyes narrowed.
"Hmmm. I see."
She lightly waved her fan.
"Then how do you plan to handle the compensation? My delicate daughter, Elena Beatrice von Valenti, nearly got hurt because of this incident."
She pronounced her daughter's name one syllable at a time, as if deliberately shifting the blame. The Magic Tower Master's brow twitched faintly.
"Nearly got hurt?"
A chilly retort.
"Or did she actually get hurt?"
The Duchess blinked for a moment.
"As far as I know, Beatrice was rescued from the tentacle monster zone and never even entered the outer dungeon where the golem appeared."
A direct hit. The smile on the Duchess's lips paused for just a second. But she wasn't the type to flinch at this level of counterattack. She immediately opened her fan and smoothly changed the subject.
"My, you've grasped the truth in more detail than I expected."
"It happened in my class, so I'll take responsibility. That doesn't mean you get to interfere."
The Duchess let out a small laugh at the Magic Tower Master's increasingly casual tone. He really had a terrible personality. Even if someone told him he'd make enemies, he remained the same disciple. Of course, he was also the type to take full responsibility for the messes his pride created. The professors might not have worried, but the Tower Master would have handled everything perfectly on his own. But where's the fun in that? As long as they were competing over Ian Ash, the Duchess had no intention of going easy on the Magic Tower Master—even if he had once been her student.
"What kind of compensation are you considering for the students who directly fought the golem?"
"I've prepared several high-grade scrolls from the Tower."
The Magic Tower Master answered calmly.
"And for the student who played a decisive role in resolving this incident……"
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"I intend to visit their home personally and offer an apology."