Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: Match Point (3)
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“Alright. I'll give you one last chance to challenge me. Defeat Sabina and Closer first. I defeated Boyle, so you can't have any complaints, right? If you can beat those two, then I'll face you.”
Closer and Sabina were ecstatic. The stage was set for Dante. Of course, that didn't mean they had any intention of losing to Shirone.
“No. There's no need for that.”
Shirone rejected Dante's proposal.
“Hey, get a grip. You're the challenger here. To face me, you at least have to…”
“Just come at me, all three of you at once. I want to get this over with quickly so I don't have to think about it anymore.”
“You crazy…!”
Dante and his group's eyes widened. They had never been insulted like this, not even at the Royal Magic Academy.
Nade, watching the situation unfold, could only shake his head.
“He's got a killer tongue, that's for sure. I'm never getting into an argument with Shirone.”
“He has an exceptional talent for pissing people off. He just doesn't do it because he doesn't want to.”
Having said that, Iruki voluntarily walked into the hostile scene. He had been holding back because Shirone hadn’t acted, but he didn’t have the bad taste to enjoy being ignored.
“Yo, Shirone. If something this fun is going down, count me in.”
Dante glared fiercely at Iruki, who had inserted himself like an uninvited guest. It was clearly a ploy to turn this into a group battle because he thought Shirone couldn't handle it alone.
“Iruki, this is no place for you. I can see right through your little scheme.”
“What are you talking about? This kind of thing is my specialty. I'll take you all on at once too. If I calculate one second per person… it'll take exactly one second.”
Closer scoffed.
“You idiot, one second per person would be three seconds…”
Then he realized the true meaning of the words and scowled.
“These guys are for real! Are you crazy? Who do you think you are, acting so arrogant?!”
“If you're so confident, come at us one by one. The bottom line is, you just have to win the fight. All this talk about who defeats who… why make it so complicated? Right, Dante?”
“You're misunderstanding something. I'm not telling him to fight his way up to tire him out. I'm saying if he wants to challenge me, he needs to prove he's qualified.”
“He's more than qualified. If you defeat Shirone, there won't be anyone left to challenge you.”
Iruki pointed to the students who were watching the situation unfold.
“Get it? There's no need to overthink it. If you defeat us, you're the best. You'll have control of the advanced class. And that must be the special mission you received from someone.”
His words hit the mark. Having been at the Royal Magic Academy, Iruki would know Olivia's strategy.
Even if he didn't, he must have intuited that she was involved in the reason they were acting so violently.
With their cards on the table, Dante didn't hide it any longer.
“Fine. Let's make it a team battle. We can't disrupt class, so we'll hold an unofficial match on the weekend. One person fights each week, and the first team to get two wins takes it all. If your team loses twice first, it's my victory without me even having to fight Shirone. Do you accept?”
“Fine. If you want to keep up the formalities to the end, so be it. I'm going to win anyway. And it means you won't have a chance to avoid your match with Shirone.”
“Hmph, you talk a big game. In that case, add one more person to your side. I don't care who. Call Boyle, for all I care.”
“That wouldn't be any fun. We have our own crew, you know.”
Iruki turned his head. Nade pointed at himself with a baffled expression.
Helping Shirone wasn't the problem, but he never imagined he'd be dragged into a battle. Still, if he refused now, it would break Shirone's momentum, so he had no choice but to go.
As Nade walked over, Dante tilted his head.
“Nade? Are you sure about this?”
From what he had observed so far, Nade's grades weren't that great, and he hadn't shown any particular strengths during practical evaluations.
But Iruki had used the word 'crew.' Since they had a special mission to crush Shirone, a situation where they could trample everyone associated with him was actually better.
Upon arriving at the battlefield, Nade whispered to Iruki.
“Hey, what are you thinking? What if I lose?”
“Just fill the spot. I'll take care of everything.”
While the two were whispering, Dante went to the instructors. They had heard the entire conversation from start to finish, so there was no need for a separate explanation.
“We want to settle this. I request that Training Ground 2000 be opened on the weekend.”
Shina spoke as their representative.
“It's not for us to decide, but we will review it. Go back and wait.”
The students stopped practicing and waited nervously. Shirone throwing down the gauntlet was an event for the ages, but if the school's approval didn't come through, the duel would come to nothing.
Once all the instructors for the 2000s division had gathered, Shina spoke.
“So it's come to this. I guess you could say it was bound to happen eventually, couldn't you?”
Thadd shook his head.
“I am against it. We cannot let another student pass judgment on a student's wrongdoing. I will call for a disciplinary committee and publicize the fact that they harmed Pandora.”
Etella, who had been lost in thought with her chin in her hand, spoke.
“Hmm, I agree with Mr. Thadd to a certain extent. But the word 'judgment' seems a bit extreme. Couldn't we interpret this as a form of self-regulation among the students?”
“I'm not ignorant of the importance of autonomy. But this is a duel. There's something wrong with students settling things by fighting each other with magic.”
“Even so, Boyle and Dante have already had their match. And many students are dueling right now. I see opening Training Ground 2000 on the weekend as no different from a supplementary class.”
Shina thought Thadd's opinion was correct. But she also understood Etella's desire to entrust this to Shirone. She knew it—Thadd's argument would never fly with the school.
“Since opinions are divided, we have no choice but to bring a practical issue into this. If we refuse, Dante will make a proposal to Headmistress Olivia. What decision do you think she will make?”
A low groan escaped Thadd's throat. Olivia would definitely approve it. He didn't know why, but he suspected this had been her goal from the beginning. Moreover, Alpheas had told them to follow her words unconditionally. What on earth was his master thinking, letting Olivia into the school?
“We are the teachers. Are you suggesting we trust Shirone in this situation? Why on earth?”
“Because Headmistress Olivia trusts Dante. And Headmaster Alpheas trusts Shirone. Looking back now, this doesn't seem to be just a matter between students.”
Etella said.
“I want to trust him too. Just as I am both a teacher and a monk, Shirone, though a student, possesses the spirit of a monk who pursues good. Perhaps that's why Headmaster Alpheas entrusted full authority to Headmistress Olivia, because he knew this?”
Thadd was lost in thought. Thinking about it now, it was certainly strange. No matter how great his master was, it was impossible that he could have invited Jerome Olivia, the kingdom's greatest teacher.
There was definitely more to this story.
‘How can you cause more trouble than your own disciple, Master?’
Thadd sighed and walked over to the students. Then he announced the preliminary results regarding Dante's request.
“As a result of an emergency meeting, the opening of Training Ground 2000 and the unofficial interpersonal combat training have been approved.”
The students cheered so loudly it seemed the place would collapse. Thanks to them, Thadd's words about needing approval from higher-ups were completely drowned out.
Not that he needed to say them anyway.
“Awesome! This is huge!”
“They're finally fighting! Shirone and Dante! Dante and Shirone! Whoaaaaa!”
The students jumped around, unable to contain their excitement.
Amidst the cacophony of shouts, Iruki tapped people on the shoulder one by one and pointed to himself.
“Hey, it's not just Shirone fighting, I'm fighting too.”
“Whoaaaaa! Iruki! Did you hear? Shirone and Dante are going to fight!”
“…”
News of the duel spread throughout the school through word of mouth.
An underground research society had already started distributing flyers with information on the two to encourage betting.
The teachers' lounge was also in an uproar. The entire faculty had gathered to discuss how to handle the incident.
“I'll say it again, this is dangerous. Allowing students to resolve personal feelings with physical conflict goes against our policy.”
Olivia didn't even snort at Thadd's words.
“They aren't fighting, they're determining who is the best. In any case, they are all children who will be in the graduating class next year or the year after. You can see it as an intensification of competition.”
“But Headmistress! If things like this continue, the school's reputation…!”
Olivia raised a hand as if to say ‘enough.’
“The showdown between Shirone and Dante will be an event the entire kingdom pays attention to. I myself will propose it to the Teachers' Council and have a special correspondent dispatched.”
The meeting room fell silent. She, an inspector from the Teachers' Council, would call a special correspondent herself. If that happened, Alpheas Magic Academy would receive public attention. Furthermore, if they were featured in academic journals with the kingdom's star, Dante, at the forefront, it would be an unparalleled benefit for the school.
Sweet fantasies floated hazily in the teachers' minds. Alpheas Magic Academy, the number one prestigious school in the kingdom. And there, guiding the students, the best teacher so-and-so (me).
Thadd, on the other hand, was displeased. He was always in favor of raising the school's reputation, but he didn't like it being used as a tool to silence the teachers.
“Headmistress Olivia, I would like to say something.”
“Thadd, you may proceed as planned.”
“Yes, proceed as planned… Huh?”
Thadd, his face flushed, turned his head.
Alpheas was standing at the back door. Given the gravity of the matter, even Olivia hadn't ordered him out this time.
“As expected, Mr. Alpheas, you have great foresight. It would be foolish to let an event that offers such a huge merit to the school go to waste.”
“Is there any doubt? Thanks to this, I'll become famous in my old age. Hahahaha!”
“When the match is over, articles about Dante's victory will be widely published. That boy, Shirone, will be deeply hurt, yet you seem so excited all by yourself. It makes me feel a bit sorry for him.”
“Kekeke! Both children attend Alpheas Magic Academy, so they're as good as Alpheas's disciples. However, I too am of the opinion that the best must be determined.”
Olivia's eyes narrowed. The way he countered every word without yielding was infuriating.
For once, Alpheas's gaze was also fierce. Two teachers who had dedicated their lives to education had found disciples who would be the culmination of their careers; it was a clash of decades of educational philosophy.
An hour later, the proposal for the unofficial match was approved through formal procedures.
6. Magical Clash (1)
The students eagerly awaited the coming weekend.
It was the first time in nearly a decade that an event had generated this much buzz at Alpheas Magic Academy.
Rumors circulated that on the day of Shirone and Dante's duel, the Teachers' Council would even dispatch a special correspondent.
The male students joked about pulling some outrageous prank to make their existence known to the world, while the female students worried about what to wear.
Iruki and Nade headed to the research society. On their short walk, they heard countless stories, impossible to distinguish between true and false, but not a single one was about them.
“I didn't expect much from the start, but now that it's come to this, it's kind of a letdown. Are we just the sidekicks?”
“Still, they said a recorder is coming. Hey… I guess it would be best if I go first, right?”
Nade had been worried ever since the match was approved.
Since Closer had it in for Iruki, his opponent would likely be Victor Sabina.
A fearsome woman who accelerated with Haste and scattered Wind Cutters in all directions.
Excluding the graduating class, she was skilled enough to be in the nation's top 20. Regardless of matchups, it was bound to be a tough fight.