Chapter 198
Chapter Title: The Lu-Se Games Begin
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197
The Lu-Se Games, an inter-school competition where the honor and pride of Lumerne and Seirun were on the line.
It was an event that drew the attention of countless people every year, not just because of school pride, but as a clash between representatives of different races.
Even the other hero academies, Azonia and Demian, watched the Lu-Se Games with keen interest.
Though they didn't share the same rivalry as Lumerne and Seirun, as educational institutions fostering hero candidates, a sense of competition was inevitable.
As a school event watched by the world, its scale was immense.
And for the Lu-Se Games, whether held at Lumerne or Seirun, many external guests were invited.
From powerful figures who could sway the world to heroes of great renown.
The distinguished guests who had received invitations began to arrive at Seirun, one by one.
In addition, large crowds gathered from all over the world to watch the Lu-Se Games.
It was, in every sense, a grand festival.
In the very heart of the elven domain.
Countless races from across the globe gathered in Seirun, a place that boasted a biting, frigid cold.
On the first day, signaling the opening of the Lu-Se Games.
The Lumerne first-years, assembled on the grand training grounds, had to face the crowd that filled the spectator stands.
"I-I'm nervous."
"Whoa... I heard about this, but this is no joke."
The first-years wore tense expressions, realizing that tens of thousands of spectators were focused on them.
It was then.
[Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Seirun! My name is Idin Claypo! I am a student of Seirun and will be your host for this year's Lu-Se Games!]
Idin, who had also hosted the welcome party two days ago, shouted into a microphone enchanted with amplification magic.
[And also hosting is Miss Cheira Sikun from Lumerne!]
[It's a pleasure to be here, everyone!]
Cheira and Idin, seated at the host's table, introduced themselves.
[Today's first event is none other than the first-years' obstacle race! Ah, just like first-years, isn't it such a charming and fresh event?]
Cheira said with a bright smile.
Laughter erupted here and there from the crowd.
Though they were hailed as the world's greatest talents and called hero candidates, the students of the hero academies looked like nothing more than teenagers.
They didn't yet possess the experience or dignity of the upperclassmen, so Cheira's description of them as "charming and fresh" resonated with an unexplainable sense of agreement.
Added to that, the term "obstacle race" also elicited a strange sort of amusement.
An obstacle race was a familiar event, often held at ordinary school sports days, not just at prestigious places like a hero academy.
[Of course, this is no ordinary obstacle race! Each school has three 'runners' in the race! These runners must cross the finish line for their passage to be counted as points! The remaining students are tasked with attacking the opposing runners to eliminate them or protecting their own! But of course, it wouldn't be fun if that were all, would it? Students who are not runners can eliminate each other to earn points. If they acquire points and safely cross the finish line, that also counts toward the score!]
Idin explained the rules of the obstacle race.
In short, the side with more runners crossing the finish line would win.
Conversely, if one's own runners were eliminated early, it was possible to quickly wipe out the opposing runners. It was also possible to turn the tables by taking down all the non-runner students to rack up points.
"Hoh. This sounds interesting."
"So they're meant to fight? This really isn't an ordinary obstacle race."
Gasps of awe erupted from the stands.
Meanwhile, students from Lumerne's Commerce Club were selling food in the spectator seats.
The Lumerne Commerce Club was famous for never missing a place where money was involved.
Of course, they were also the club viewed with the most disdain at Seirun.
The president of the Lumerne Commerce Club, June Naia, was running a 'betting pool' as always when she slyly asked the elven spectators.
"My good elven sir. Do you not partake in 'betting'?"
"Do you really think we would engage in something so vulgar?"
When the student in a Lumerne uniform approached and asked about the betting, the elven man frowned and looked at June.
As if agreeing with the elf's words, his companions snorted as they looked at June.
June smiled sweetly at the elf.
"I see. So you elves aren't confident that Seirun will win. Understood."
"Wait. Why does not participating in such a vulgar pastime mean we lack confidence in Seirun's victory?"
As the elven man asked with a stern face, June, who was about to leave, shrugged her shoulders.
"You need confidence that you'll win to place a bet. The humans have all bet on the Lumerne students to win. Because they are confident that Lumerne will be victorious."
"Ugh!"
Provoked by June's calm words, the elven man's face hardened. He took out a money pouch from his pocket and said.
"I'll bet on Seirun winning."
"You don't have to push yourself."
"This is not pushing myself! Seirun has always been victorious in the Lu-Se Games! It's only natural that we should win a bet like this as well!"
The indignant elven man and his companions bet all the money they had on Seirun winning.
As they left the area, a club member asked.
"President. Weren't there a lot of humans who bet on Seirun to win, too?"
It was true that because Lumerne's current first-year generation was so formidable, most humans had bet on Lumerne.
But there were always gamblers with the heart of a beast, aiming for the underdog.
"Yes. But if I said that, those people wouldn't have bet, now would they?"
June said nonchalantly with a grin.
"Hehe. I love the Lu-Se Games! It's the perfect opportunity to make a killing!"
"But last year, when you did this, you saw what happened when the former president, Tet-sunbae, got caught by Professor Halind."
"..."
At her junior's words, June's face stiffened.
Then, she spoke in a solemn voice.
"It's fine. We didn't get caught the year before last. High risk! High return! The heart of a beast is a merchant's virtue!"
*'If you make something like that a virtue, you don't have the heart of a beast, you're just a beast,'* the junior thought, sighing deeply to himself.
Meanwhile, the families and acquaintances of the students who had come to the stadium were talking directly with the students to cheer them on.
"I'm so proud of you."
"To participate in the Lu-Se Games... you're the pride of our family!"
Voices filled with emotion could be heard from all around.
Just then, a figure who drew everyone's attention appeared.
A tall man, likely 180cm, with broad shoulders.
A solid upper body.
He was a man with a sharp aura, enough to be mistaken for a veteran warrior.
But the man with sky-blue hair and eyes was dressed not as a knight, but as a mage.
He was followed by what appeared to be attendants.
Everyone held their breath at the sight of him.
They had no choice.
The hegemon of the western continent.
The head of the Llewellyn family, one of the two pillars of the Rodren Empire.
Cheid Llewellyn.
At the appearance of the Archmage whose name was recorded in the Hero Record, the people wore tense expressions.
"Abad, Chelsea."
"Father?"
"Dad! You said you couldn't make it!"
The Llewellyn siblings looked at their father with surprised expressions.
Celia and Chloe, who had been talking with them, were also surprised.
*'So this is Cheid Llewellyn. The hero who holds half of Rodren?'*
Leo's eyes glinted as he looked at Cheid Llewellyn.
*'He's strong.'*
He was an incredibly skilled mage, at least in the top three among the mages Leo had seen in this life.
*'A Battle Mage?'*
Leo muttered to himself, sensing Cheid's sharply honed presence.
It seemed Chelsea's aspiration to become a Battle Mage was not without her father's influence.
Cheid, who had been smiling and talking with his son and daughter, looked at the three who had taken a step back.
"Celia. I've been hearing a lot about your exploits lately. Seld was proud, saying you are showing outstanding performance, following in Lis's footsteps. That's amazing."
"Thank you for your praise."
Celia bowed her head respectfully.
Cheid smiled warmly at Celia and patted her shoulder, then turned to Chloe.
"You must be Chloe Müller."
"It is an honor to meet the Master of the West Wind."
Chloe greeted him politely.
Master of the West Wind.
It was a name given to him by the people, signifying his dominion over the winds of the western continent.
Cheid was indeed a mage with immense magical power and skill, capable of manipulating the very atmosphere of the surrounding area.
He was, in every sense, an Archmage who could shake the heavens and the earth.
"There's no need for such a formal greeting. I've heard a lot about you."
Cheid smiled gently at Chloe.
"I would like you to visit the Llewellyn estate sometime. Having the brilliant mages of the Magic Tower interact with the mages of our family would be a great fortune for us as well."
"It would be my honor to accept your invitation! I will gladly visit."
Seeing Chloe's bright smile, Cheid nodded and finally looked at Leo.
"You must be Leo Flove."
"Hello."
"I've heard a lot about you from Chelsea. It seems my daughter is always in your debt."
"Thanks to Chelsea, I'm enjoying my school life as well."
At Leo's words, Chelsea grinned shyly.
"Right. Is your mother well?"
"She's so hale and hearty, it's a problem."
"Haha. It seems her personality hasn't changed."
Cheid, who seemed to be acquainted with Reina, burst into laughter and shook his head.
"I would like you to visit Llewellyn sometime as well."
Cheid said as he patted Chelsea's head with his large hand.
"It seems my daughter would also like you to visit."
"Yeah, that's right. Leo. Let's hang out at my house during the break."
"Khk?"
For a moment, Cheid's eyes widened.
It was the first time Cheid had ever seen his daughter act so friendly with a boy her age.
Even the mighty head of the Llewellyn family, a hero recorded in the Hero Record, couldn't help but lose his composure for a moment.
"Haha... Yes, I do hope you will. I am curious to see what kind of mage you are."
Leo nodded at Cheid, who was forcing a smile while trying to maintain his composure.
"Yes. I'll visit during the winter break."
"Should I come around then, too?"
"That sounds good."
Seeing Leo and Chloe talking so familiarly, Cheid regained a bit of his composure.
"I look forward to your performance in the Lu-Se Games."
Watching Cheid leave with a smile, Chelsea wore an excited expression.
"Dad came to watch, so I have to do my best! Let's do our best!"
Watching the cheerfully smiling Chelsea, Abad smiled and nodded.
Leo let out a small chuckle at the sight.
"I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry, I won't let those Seirun kids lay a single finger on you."
Celia said with a grin.
Leo was one of the runners for this obstacle race.
***
[Alright! The start is just moments away! All first-year students, please take your places at the starting line!]
Cheira, the host, shouted in a cheerful voice.
The students lined up at the starting line accordingly.
Lumerne's three runners were the three fastest students.
Duran, who wielded the aura of lightning and was considered to have the fastest legs in the entire grade.
Eliza, who could freely command a swift flying familiar and whose pure speed was hard to compare with Duran's.
And Leo, who was slower than the two but was definitively the third fastest among the first-years.
It was, in every sense, a perfect lineup.
The gazes of the Seirun first-years were fixed on the three, who wore headbands indicating they were runners.
"By the way, only one of Seirun's grade representatives is a runner."
Celia narrowed her eyes.
Seirun's grade representatives were the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-ranked students.
Among them, only the second-ranked Eiran was a runner.
The other two were not.
"The 1st and 3rd must not be suited for a speed race."
Abad said calmly.
"That's strange. I didn't think Eiran-unni's element was specialized for speed either."
Chelsea tilted her head in confusion.
"There must be a reason."
Abad was smiling faintly when.
[It seems everyone is ready! Now, on your marks!]
Cheira, the commentator, raised a signal flare near the starting line.
Seeing it, the first-years lowered their stances.
[Start!]
*Bang-!*
The moment the signal flare went off.
*Fwoooosh-!*
"Leo! You made fun of me! You're dead!"
*Kra-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!*
Along with a furious shout, a massive explosion swept through the area.
"Eek?"
"Wh-what's going on?! An indiscriminate attack on friend and foe alike?!"
The Lumerne students wore expressions of shock at the sudden attack.
*Fwoosh-!*
But Leo, emerging through the flames, landed calmly on the ground and started running at the head of the pack.
"Stop right there!"
Lunia, her red eyes flashing, fired her next spell at Leo's back.
In that instant-!
*Fwoosh! Ruumble-!*
Flames shot out from the side, blocking Lunia's spell.
Lunia flinched to a halt.
"Nice try, aiming for a runner right off the bat."
Celia, wreathed in an aura of fire, smiled sweetly as she blocked Lunia's path.
"I've been wanting to fight you, Lunia El Lundua."
"Celia Jerdinger?"
"As a fellow user of phoenix flames, let's see..."
"Hey! Leo! Don't run away! Sorry! I really want to fight you too, but taking that guy down is my priority right now... We'll fight later!"
Lunia apologized as she brushed past Celia, then chased after Leo with a terrifying expression.
*Whoosh-!*
Celia was left standing alone with a blank expression.
The wind blew, scattering her black hair.
"C-Celia?"
Chloe called to her with an awkward look on her face.
"It's Celia Jerdinger and Chloe Müller!"
"They're not runners, but they're still threats!"
"Everyone, form up!"
Just then, the Seirun first-years surrounded Celia.
Even if they weren't runners, dangerous individuals needed to be eliminated quickly.
"Hehehe."
Celia, her head bowed low, laughed eerily.
*Flash-!*
Celia's red eyes glinted.
"Hic?"
The Seirun students' faces filled with fear.
They knew those eyes.
They were very familiar eyes.
That was because they bore a striking resemblance to the eyes of Lunia, who had tormented them for so long.
"R-Run!"
"Get away!"
The Seirun students, instinctively sensing danger, scattered in all directions.
*Kra-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!*
And Celia's fiery aura laid waste to the surroundings.
A vein popped on Celia's forehead as she glared at Lunia's retreating back with a murderous smile.
Celia elegantly swept her hair back and took a deep breath.
*'Calm down. As a daughter of the Jerdinger family, I cannot show such a disgraceful display of excitement in front of everyone...'*
*Taking that guy down is my priority right now. Taking that guy down is my priority right now. Taking that guy down is my priority right now.*
The corner of Celia's eye twitched.
Lunia's words kept echoing in her head.
*'Calm down, calm down. Celia Jerdinger. You can't get excited. Calm down... calm...'*
"...The hell I will! You ignore me? Lunia El Lundua! I'm going to crush you!"
Ultimately unable to contain her excitement, Celia began to furiously chase after Lunia.
Watching her, Chloe let out a small sigh.
"So much for having a strategy."