Afterwards
The sports festival unfolded amid tremendous cheers and scorching heat. The very first event was the one I was participating in: the One Kilometer Flag Snatch Relay. I changed into my gym uniform and headed to the blue team's booth on the athletic field where the runners were gathering.
Passing the porters carrying boxes brimming with water on their shoulders, I reached the waiting area.
“Oh? Adrian?”
A familiar face was organizing water inside the booth. She approached me with a delighted smile.
“You're on the blue team too, huh. Nice to see you, Adrian.”
“Relbrian, it's been a while.”
“A while? Didn't we just see each other yesterday?”
The half-elf with a green ponytail and a sword at her waist flashed a grin. Well, yeah—we always crossed paths in Swordsmanship Theory without needing to chat about it. Come to think of it, her usually straight hair was tied back in a ponytail. Short gym shorts, a deep blue sleeveless shirt, and her sky-blue top tied around her waist. It exposed her long ears, which she normally kept hidden.
Oh. This was Relbrian's sports festival exclusive outfit. One perk of the festival period was that every character's illustration switched to a sports festival concept.
“Doesn't suit me, does it?”
“Haha, thanks. Oh, right—Adrian.”
Relbrian told me to hang on a sec, ducked back into the booth, and returned with a dazed-looking girl in tow. Light sky-blue hair, petite build. A headband adorned with white flowers. Her eyes sparkled with pristine white ice crystals. The oversized gym top draped over her hands, showing only her fingertips. Her shorts reached her knees, and one long sock had slipped down.
“She wanted to meet you, so I figured I'd introduce her. She's your partner for the next event, Two-Man Three-Legged Race, too. Go on, say hi. Sufle.”
The girl beside Relbrian gave a light noble curtsy.
“Hello. I'm Sufle, first-year in the magic department.”
“Adrian, second-year magic department. No need for formalities—I'm a commoner.”
Sufle. I knew her. More famous by her moniker Ice Witch than her name. Didn't expect to run into her here, though. The mini-dungeon I'd cleared with Millije was originally meant for her. Now that I thought about it, there was a message after clearing it saying Sufle had taken an interest in me...
“I see. So, Sufle—what brings you to me?”
“Business... yes. Senpai, what's your relationship... with first-year Millije Heilo?”
Her speech was always like that. Weird? What can you do? Her personality revolved solely around her own interests—nothing else mattered to her.
“Just close senior-junior colleagues, nothing more.”
“...Millije Heilo hasn't used any magic since the monster incident. Then one day, she suddenly showed insane magic prowess. And she's always... smiling happily.”
“...Get to the point.”
“I have... similar symptoms.”
She fidgeted with her fingers and bowed her head. In other words, fix me too.
From what I knew, her lore had her unable to access her “true potential.” Even so, she was strong enough to claim top spot among first-year mages. And right now, she was not just useful—she was practically essential. She'd be a goldmine in the party.
But I've already got Reina for that slot.
...I'd already committed to my current lineup. So...
A flat refusal would sour things with her.
Was there a way to gently turn her down while nudging her to solve her own issue—and ideally, make her an ally long-term? Hmm. A perfect idea hit me quick.
“Then just ask her yourself.”
“...Huh?”
“Millije Heilo overcame it on her own power. Don't come to me—go straight to her with your questions.”
“...Ah. Ask her... directly.”
Sufle nodded as realization dawned.
“Not close?”
“Yeah, no shared classes. No chance... to talk.”
“Then become friends.”
“Friends...?”
Sufle tilted her head, then nodded.
“Thanks for the advice. I'll try... befriending Millije. Relbrian sis, let's warm up now.”
“Sure. I'll head out too. Great seeing you, Adrian. I'll be cheering for the One Kilometer Flag Snatch Relay.”
“Best of luck to you both.”
They waved and headed to the far side of the booth. I ventured deeper in.
At the center, a white-haired girl with her hair tied in a blue ribbon glared murderously at her whiteboard.
“Senpai.”
“Ah.”
Lumen turned.
“You're here. I heard you're running in the One Kilometer Flag Snatch Relay. You sure about that?”
“No worries. I'll bring home the win without tarnishing your honor. By the way, are you plotting the Two-Man Three-Legged Race order?”
“Yeah, but I can't figure the optimal lineup for victory. Everyone's solid talent.”
What, that's what had her face like that?
“Senpai.”
“Yes?”
“Think of this as a war.”
“A war?”
“The white team is the 'enemy,' led by Prince Lutelus. It's about which general to put at the vanguard.”
“...Hmm.”
She peered at the board, then...
“Whoa, Adrian. You're right—it's clicking now.”
“Whenever something's tricky, frame it as battle. A path will always appear in your mind. Follow it, and victory's assured.”
“Haha... Thanks, Adrian.”
“Oh, and one more tip. For the Two-Man Three-Legged Race, lead with Relbrian and Sufle.”
“Oho, great minds. I just thought the same.”
“Really?”
Well. Blue team's already won then.
“That'll land a solid hit on Prince Lutelus.”
“Your race matters too, of course. I'll be watching.”
Well. Time to focus anyway.
The moment of truth had arrived. The field brimmed with feverish energy. Stands packed with spectators, all united in cheers. At the starting line stood ten students, me included.
Five from white team, five from blue. I stretched my shoulders casually when a magic hologram bloomed from the airship overhead. A blue screen framed the announcer gripping a mic.
The stadium erupted in earth-shaking roars.
Pretty much those rules. As the opening event, everyone at the festival tuned in, fueling the hype.
That's when it hit.
“What? Adrian?”
“Why's he here? A runner? No way.”
“He's weak anyway. Ignore him.”
I could hear every word, idiots. Plus, no grade restrictions meant, naturally...
“Hello, Senior Adrian!”
“...”
“Looking forward to the One Kilometer Flag Snatch Relay today! Teach me a thing or two!”
A first-year newbie, black hair, greatsword half his height strapped to his back. White headband across his forehead caught my eye.
I see. So here, I'd clash with the original protagonist and come out on top.
How perfect. I tightened the blue ribbon on my arm and muttered.
“This is gonna be fun.”
Meanwhile, amid the rowdy stadium buzzing as the One Kilometer Flag Snatch Relay kicked off, the golden throne atop the trackside stage drew every eye. The slicked-back man seated there with his knights and riders naturally fixed a cold gaze on the blue team's booth.
Lijelilias.
She was blue team. So Lutelus naturally backed white.
Let's watch.
She wasn't the weak little sister who couldn't sleep without her bear anymore.
Lutelus shifted his gaze to the field. Few stood out. The Repelheit eldest maybe, familiarity aside. Nah—just the incompetent fool stripped of succession by his own blood for his villainy.
The starting blast shook the earth, cheers piercing his ears.
Hah.
Lutelus tsked inwardly. Salenium alum like him, but the festival held no nostalgia. Even from his throne, countless had tried approaching. One retainer said, Use this to build connections—they'll pay off later. Pfft. Connections were just a few sweet words from his mouth. He should've been chasing merits to close the gap on the third princess who'd surged ahead—not watching this farce.
Are you tripping me up again?
When she'd enrolled incognito as first-year prodigy, knight department's sword, freshman rep Lijelilias—or Lumen Ribens—her shadow had eclipsed him: fourth-year magic rank 12, Fifth Prince Lutelus. Even in the palace, her rep talk drowned his ranking.
...He wouldn't be in this hellhole without her issue drawing him.
Then.
“What? What?!”
The absentminded imperial prince gaped at the field in shock.
The flustered announcer, the cheering crowds—all silenced.
“Hah...”
“What the...”
Knights and riders forgot their charge in stunned awe. The sight was that jaw-dropping.
One Kilometer Flag Snatch Relay. Ten vied for the flag, right? On the red track, one surged ahead. No—flew.
Wind magic propelled him skyward from the ground, then chained bursts rode air currents in a glide. Unthinkable for normals. He soared above the runners.
Lutelus gawked, mouth agape.
Cheating? No—as a Salenium grad, he knew: this was the festival. All-out youth battle royale.
Wasn't that Repelheit guy magically inept, not even grasping low-tier spells? Masterful wind magic enabled flight, instantly gapping the pack by over half, flag in easy reach.
The black-haired greatsword boy charged late and fierce, but too little, too late to flip the script.
In the end.
Deafening cheers. With the announcer's call, the flag-holder raised it skyward. Undeniable hero of perfect victory.
Wasn't he magicless, feeble, drowning in inferiority? Rumors of change? People don't flip that fast.
But they were true.
Gazing down, Lutelus doubted his eyes.
“...?”
The flag—victory's proof—he handed it without hesitation to blue's rep: his damn sister.
Incomprehensible.
“...No way.”
Lutelus realized. Lijelilias was building her academy faction.
“Hahaha... HAHAHAHA! This'll be fun! Getting interesting!”
Laughing wildly, he slicked back his hair, smile vanishing.
Lijelilias, you'd get nothing from him.
“Adrian, Repelheit wastrel. Commoner now—toss him wealth for life, capital mansion, earldom, and he'll flip.”
Unlike her vague future promises, he'd offer solid rewards.
Chin propped, brimming with certainty, he declared.
“Time for tea.”
He'd never refuse.
“Even if he wants to—after hearing my 'words,' refusal's impossible.”
So thought Lutelus.