Chapter 75
The aftermath of the Martial Festival announcement was bigger than I'd expected.
For starters, the fact that they could show off their worth in front of a huge crowd lit a fire under most of the students' motivation. Those selected for the public duels threw themselves into training during every spare moment, desperate to leave a strong impression. I'd been treating this whole event like just another festival, but apparently, for the average student, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If the Martial Festival had been hosted by another academy, they'd have only sent a handful of select representatives. But since Amor Academy was the host this time, there were way more spots available. No one was dumb enough to pass up a golden chance to build a reputation and pave the way to their dream career, so after classes ended, pretty much everyone dove headfirst into personal training.
The professors were swamped too, rushing to adjust their schedules around the sudden event timeline. Rather than cracking down, they actually encouraged this self-directed grind.
"And yet you look pretty chill about it all?"
"Chill? ..."
Right now, I was in Lady Celine's private training room, critiquing the magic spell she was demonstrating for me. They'd dragged me here because I seemed like the idlest guy around, but it was true enough that I didn't have a good comeback. So, I'd agreed to lend a hand.
"I just had to dodge a ton of requests to help with duel practice. You have no idea how exhausting that was."
"If you weren't doing anything, why not just help your classmates? Everyone's probably dying for a chance to spar with an Aura Lord like you."
"If I do it for one, they'll all come swarming. No thanks."
To them, sparring with a guy like me—an Aura Lord—was an incredible opportunity and an honor. But if I started helping one by one, it'd never end. I hated that kind of hassle with a passion.
"Who knows? Maybe one of them has talent on your level and becomes an Aura Lord themselves. Could lighten your load, right?"
"...Huh?"
Whoa. Lady Celine's unexpected suggestion actually piqued my interest. If I could train someone up to Aura Lord level, it really might ease some of the pressure on me.
"That was a joke... You didn't take it seriously, did you...?"
"You never know. There might actually be a kid with that kind of potential."
Setting aside Polo—who had Helios blood, so he had a shot anyway—I figured I should keep a close eye during the Martial Festival for anyone showing real Aura Lord qualities.
"Enough pointless daydreaming. Critique my magic already. What do you think? Pretty good, right?"
Lady Celine dismissed my grand vision for a brighter future as mere fantasy and casually showed off the spell she was refining.
Shwaak!
Shwapapak!!
"Ice magic, huh. Casting speed's fast, and the freeze temp feels way lower than standard. Right?"
"Spot on! I've been working hard!"
She puffed out her chest proudly, and the gap from her usual demeanor nearly made me crack up. I barely held it in.
"Hmm... Solid progress, but honestly, your magical talent's already a proven fact. Instead of just ramping up raw power, why not highlight your mana control? Show off something more refined."
"Erm... Like what?"
"Well... For example..."
I grabbed a small wooden practice sword from the corner of the training room and set up a log we used for practice.
Shak!
Shashak!
Serak!
I sliced away at the log's surface with precise cuts, turning it into a detailed sculpture.
"...A dragon."
"Yeah. You don't need to go this intricate, but if you're using ice magic, showing off mana control like this would leave a bigger impression, don't you think?"
Everyone already knew Lady Celine's talent from her magic noble lineage. But unveiling an artistic ice sculpture would dazzle the crowd's eyes and showcase her precise mana manipulation—perfect for winning hearts.
"Blasting foes with firepower ends fights too quick. A bit of showmanship like this isn't a bad idea."
"Maybe... The incantation might be tricky, but I'll give it a shot."
She seemed to buy my reasoning and studied the dragon-shaped wooden statue I'd carved.
"Speaking of, you carved that really well. Making a wooden figurine like this in such a short time? Insane..."
"Nah, I just roughed out the surface to look decent. Compared to a real artisan's work, it's nothing special."
She lavished praise on it like it was some masterpiece, but it really wasn't that big a deal.
"Oh yeah, I hear you've been hanging around the student council room a lot lately?"
"Ah, yeah. Nothing much on my plate, so I figured I'd volunteer since they looked swamped."
"Hmmm..."
A sound that felt oddly uncomfortable. Was she sulking because I hadn't been hanging out with her enough?
"Don't worry. I'll swing by like this sometimes to give you magic advice."
"You really... Sigh, never mind."
She let out a deep sigh at my response, her face a mix of frustration and relief.
"My expectations were the problem. Fine, come visit me too. I need your Aura Lord insight until the duels."
"Got it."
I wondered if an Aura user like me was really necessary for a mage's practice, but I kept my mouth shut to avoid a lecture.
Inside the church headquarters.
After the recent major incident, a purge had shaken up the ranks. Now, they were deep in discussions on how to win back the Saintess's favor.
"Cardinal Bailey. How can we bring Saintess Hertia back to the church...? She's our symbol—she stormed out, and we need her back ASAP."
"I'd love to, but... she was deeply hurt by our mistakes. You think she'll listen if we beg now?"
The Saintess brought immense benefits just by existing. With believers across the continent worshiping the goddess, she united them all and massively boosted the church's influence. Her kind, gentle nature had her constantly doing charity and public service, making her a household name. Her running away was a massive headache for the church.
"Um..."
Then, one figure raised a hand.
"Yes? What is it, Bishop Wellia?"
"Well... I was in charge of communicating with our academy informants until recently. So I got updates on Saintess Hertia's academy life."
Bishop Wellia had been gathering intel from informants right up until Hertia booted them all out upon leaving. He believed one piece of info could solve their current crisis.
"What info?"
"It's... maybe a bit presumptuous, but..."
"Speak freely. With the church's reputation tanking, what could be off-limits?"
Cardinal Bailey was desperate enough to dance in his underwear if it meant regaining the Saintess. He urged the bishop on.
"How about... we pair Saintess Hertia with Mars Noctus?"
"Hm?"
His bombshell caught Cardinal Bailey—and everyone else—off guard. Eyes wide like startled rabbits, they all turned to him.
"I mean, wasn't it Mars Noctus who saved her during that incident?"
"True. He's famous as the continent's youngest Aura Lord."
Aura Lords always became hot topics. Mars, who'd only stuck around his territory and the academy, might not realize it, but his name carried serious weight.
"Our last intel said he's the only man exempt from her androphobia. We don't know their current relationship, but informants reported it was surprisingly good."
"But... maybe that's just because he saved her? It's a stretch to play matchmaker on that alone."
"They also said Saintess Hertia's gaze toward Mars Noctus wasn't ordinary. She might not realize her feelings due to limited male interactions, but it wasn't negative."
"Hmm..."
"Mars has no scandals, proven skills, and decent looks too. She might feel conflicted at first, but linking her with her white-knight savior could be good for her."
"Interfering that deeply in her love life feels..."
"And she needs a partner eventually. Imagine our church's status if the youngest Aura Lord became hers? Win-win-win for us, her, and Mars."
"That... makes sense!"
Even a church preaching selfless love and charity needed funds. With the Saintess and an Aura Lord boosting their fame together, recruits and donors would flock in.
Once the cardinals and bishops reached that conclusion, they shifted the meeting to plotting how to hook them up at the Martial Festival.