Chapter 246
Chapter 246
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: Magic Clash (6)
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Dante was bewildered. He hadn't expected a particularly friendly attitude, but he did anticipate some kind of special reaction, good or bad, to a greeting from the nation's top student. But Amy simply offered the same ordinary pleasantries she would to any other junior.
“Is that all? Frankly, I was hoping for at least a compliment. After all, I'll be the one winning anyway.”
Angered by his words, Seriel grabbed Amy and Shirone by the wrists and forced their hands together.
“Don't be ridiculous! What more do you want after she's been civil to the person fighting her boyfriend? Amy is on Shirone's side, no matter what, so get over it!”
This was the first Dante had heard of it. Come to think of it, he'd never asked who Shirone's girlfriend was. He just didn't seem like the type to be involved with girls.
“Is that true, Senior Amy?”
“Yes. It's true.”
Amy's confirmation made Dante's face sour.
“Student Shirone! Student Dante! Over here! We need to get your interviews, so come quickly!”
A staff member from the Teachers' Association called them over. They were scheduled for interviews before the match.
Shirone said as he followed the staff member.
“I'll be back. Let's meet up after. Don't leave without me.”
Dante walked silently behind Shirone. Frankly, he felt like he'd been sucker-punched and wasn't in the mood for taunts. How could someone like Amy be dating a country bumpkin like Shirone?
*Hmph, even so, she'll be mine in the end. I'll crush him in this match.*
He wasn't a womanizer like Closer, but having a beautiful and intelligent woman by his side made a man stand out.
In that sense, Amy was a woman who belonged by his side.
She wasn't in the same league as some hick from the countryside.
Dante couldn't hide his curiosity and observed Shirone.
He had gathered a lot of information, but everyone he asked said Shirone was the best.
What struck him most was that they didn't seem hurt in their pride or displeased when they said it.
*How can a soft-looking guy like him be the best? Is he still hiding something?*
Canis had said nothing good would come from messing with Shirone. Iruki had said only Shirone could control him.
Amy, the academy's top prodigy, was Shirone's girlfriend.
Even in the presence of someone named Dante, Mark and Maria never lost their look of respect for Shirone.
At that moment… his heart began to pound. It was a type of tension he had never experienced before.
He didn't understand anything. The more information he gathered, the fuzzier the image of this person named Shirone became.
Just who was Shirone?
With a troubled mind, Dante arrived at the back of the training ground. The teacher interviews weren't over yet; a woman named Killine was asking questions next to Thadd while a camera operator recorded them.
With every question, Thadd's face grew more and more like a blank sheet of paper. Dante thought that at this rate, his skin might turn transparent, revealing his bones.
“I think the odds for Dante and Shirone are 50-50. But if there are variables, I'd say it's more like 60-40.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Killine turned away as if there was nothing more to see. Not only was the content worthless, but filming a nervous person's face was pointless.
Besides, 50-50?
In her mind, it was 10 for Dante and 0 for Shirone. Of course, the article would probably say 90-10.
Killine approached Etella, who was waiting for her turn. She, too, showed signs of awkwardness, as if this was her first time in such a situation.
“Ahaha! That's right. Shirone is a very good kid. Ah, Dante is a fine student too. I hope everyone can come together and get along, ahahaha!”
“...Yes. Understood. Thank you for your kind words.”
As Killine cut the interview short, Etella let out a sigh of relief. Thadd, realizing he had bombed, approached Etella and pretended to cry.
Their interviews would never see the light of day.
Killine was starting to get annoyed. She had come fully prepared, expecting great things from one of the five great academies, but every teacher she met lacked any sense of media savvy.
She decided to pin her hopes on the last one, Shina, and if that didn't work, she'd have to scrap the teacher interviews altogether.
“Hello, Teacher Shina. I'm Killine from the Teachers' Association.”
“Yes, Shina Olifer.”
Shina nodded toward the recording device with her usual cold expression.
Killine's eyes lit up as if she had finally found someone good.
*Oho, good looks, good expression. I can get something out of this one.*
Shina answered the questions without hesitation. She was simply conveying her own thoughts, so there was no reason to be nervous.
“I see. Thank you for your insightful words. I have just one last question. You're serving as the referee today. Between Dante and Shirone, who do you think will be the victor?”
Asking a teacher to predict their student's victory or defeat was cruel, but thinking up such questions was Killine's job.
The crueler it was, the more entertaining it was for the audience. Students across the kingdom bought academic journals to read articles like this.
Shina paused to think for a moment, then answered with composure.
“Personally, I believe Dante has the advantage. About 70-30? But regardless of who wins, it doesn't determine the level of a mage. To confine magic to combat is an anachronistic and barbaric way of thinking.”
“Ah... I see. Thank you for the interview today.”
Shina gave a slight bow and moved out of the recording device's focus. Her exit was so polished that it made Thadd want to cry even more. Etella, on the other hand, was full of admiration.
“Wow, that was amazing. I was so nervous I could barely say anything.”
“Tch, she's from the Olifer school. How would she understand the desperation of a nameless teacher like me?”
“Hehe, that's not true. You did well too, Teacher Thadd.”
Etella patted his back. But having watched her interview, Thadd found no comfort in her words.
Killine finally walked over to the stars of the day.
The priority was Dante first, Shirone second.
Considering the time left until the match, the person who finished their interview first would have more time to compose themselves.
“Dante, you can do well today, right? I'll write a fantastic article for you, so make it spectacular.”
“Haha! Don't worry. When have I ever not been spectacular?”
“How do you always say the right thing? Alright, let's start the interview.”
Killine's smile vanished, and she began asking serious questions. Dante, too, answered skillfully, adding his signature wit. He even seemed to know the angles that made him look best on camera.
“Yes, it is in accordance with the will of my master, Olivia. Spreading the advanced magic of the capital to the local communities is a good way to narrow the skill gap between magic academies.”
“Oh my, but isn't that a disadvantage for you, Dante?”
“Haha! Not at all. When the overall level rises, it just fires me up even more. And this will be my last semester before I enter the graduating class. It's time to become a pro.”
“Spoken like the kingdom's top prospect. For the last question, you've overwhelmed countless opponents with a massive gap in skill. What about today's match? Can we expect something great?”
“First of all, Shirone is an Unlocker. And he is exceptionally talented. It will probably be a good fight. But as always, the winner will be me. Today, I will show you the essence of Information Magic.”
“Thank you for the interview. I'll be looking forward to a great result. Now, let's continue with Student Shirone. Shirone, could you come over here?”
“Ah, yes!”
Shirone, who had been off guard thinking he would have time to prepare after Dante finished, quickly snapped to his senses. Standing in front of the recording device, he deeply empathized with how his teachers must have felt.
Dante's interview, in particular, had been so disingenuous, even including praise for his opponent. He couldn't figure out whether he should say what Killine wanted to hear or speak his honest feelings.
“Uh... that is to say. Yes. I enrolled in the magic academy this year.”
“So the rumors were true! There was a reason Dante acknowledged you as an opponent. In that case, what do you think of Dante? Do you feel lucky to have the chance to face the kingdom's top student?”
Most of the questions coming from Killine's mouth were related to Dante. But Shirone didn't have time to feel dissatisfied. Just thinking of what to say under her pressing gaze was overwhelming.
“Ah, yes. I don't particularly like fighting, but it's a good thing to have an opportunity like this.”
Killine sighed inwardly.
*Why did he use the word 'good' twice? It makes him sound clumsy. This kid is a lost cause as far as stardom goes.*
No one had ever beaten Dante, but quite a few students had made a name for themselves by piggybacking on his star power.
But Shirone was, through and through, a boy from the countryside.
He had decent looks, so he might be popular if he were styled, but with this awkward demeanor, he couldn't appeal to the girls of Bashka.
Dante, who had been listening to Shirone's interview, turned away as if there was nothing more to see.
Meanwhile, Killine asked her final question.
“I have to ask for your thoughts as well, Shirone. Many experts are predicting your defeat. What do you think about that?”
“Uh… I cannot acknowledge Dante.”
The emotion vanished from Killine's smiling face, leaving only its shape. Dante also stopped in his tracks and looked back.
“I don't think Dante understands what's truly important. It doesn't matter how famous he is in the capital or who he beat to get here. A mage isn't just a magician who lights fires and freezes water. The spirit that pursues intellect—that is magic. No matter how incredible the spells he casts, if a mage's spirit is fundamentally flawed, I don't believe I can lose to him. No, I will never lose to a mage like that.”
Even the seasoned Killine missed her cue by about half a second at Shirone's bombshell declaration.
Her words followed belatedly.
“W-Wow! The challenger's fighting spirit is incredible! I wish you the best of luck as well, Shirone. This has been Killine, special correspondent for the Teachers' Association.”
Dante fixed his gaze on the retreating Shirone. A spirit of steel hidden behind his awkwardness. A flexibility that seemed to waver but never lost its shape.
*I see. So that's who you are.*
For the first time, Dante truly began to see Shirone.
The spectator seats were full.
The front row was occupied by teachers, with only two seats in the center left empty. He knew who would sit there without even looking.
“Hahaha, as expected, Headmistress Olivia has impressive skills.”
The teachers stood up at the appearance of Alpheas and Olivia.
The students behind them also stood up without knowing why, and the skyline of the crowd rippled like a wave.
Alpheas, seated in his designated spot, looked left and right, then, as if struck by a good idea, grabbed the armrests of his chair and pulled it forward.
“These old eyes are getting dim. I need a closer look.”
At this absurd act, which effectively turned the entire first row into the second, Olivia approached with a flushed face.
“What do you think you're doing? How embarrassing, in front of everyone.”
“Keke, don't be like that, come on up. The view is great.”
“Am I crazy? To act just like someone like you?”
“Then don't mind me and go back.”
As Alpheas acted like a loafer, Olivia huffed. Then she turned away coldly, only to drag her own chair over and sit down next to Alpheas.
If she just left him, an article might come out saying Mirch Alpheas had gone senile.
Alpheas lifted one leg, rested it on his other knee, and waited for the match in a crooked posture. Olivia scowled, finding fault with everything about him.
“Sit up straight. You're a headmaster. Do you think this is some underground fighting ring?”
“Keke, it's just that my blood is boiling for the first time in a while.”
“What good is your blood boiling at your age? Men, I swear. Our picture is going to be in the academic journal. Get up, now. Sit properly.”
In response, Alpheas leaned back even further, resting an arm on the armrest and cupping his chin. *He never listened to me, not even when he was my student,* Olivia thought, glaring at him coldly. Alpheas's eyes, on the other hand, seemed to be burning with fire. Lost for a moment in old memories at the sight, she pouted her lips.
“You're not actually looking forward to this, are you? It's a match Dante can't possibly lose.”
“You never know, do you? And I'm not sitting here to cheer for anyone in particular. If Shirone loses, I'd consider that a good outcome in its own way.”
“What kind of senile nonsense is that?”