Victory's Respite
The day after the tournament ended.
In front of a massive pond on the outskirts of Arcana Academy, Zien had spread out a mat and was lounging comfortably. The cool breeze mingled perfectly with the warm sunlight.
'Rest after hardship is the best...'
Zien could relax like this thanks to Selphis's consideration. It was one of his festival promises.
Zien hadn't known, but Selphis had apparently declared that if Arcana won the tournament, he'd hold a school-wide holiday the very next day.
'When did he make that promise...'
Selphis really is consistent.
He was more generous to students who delivered results than anyone else. And since Zien had handed him the championship, Selphis had grinned ear to ear and said,
And so, a holiday for students and faculty alike.
The festival was postponed without hesitation, kicking off immediately.
But the festival was just the beginning of Selphis's rewards.
Selphis had restricted access for reporters and guild scouts just for Zien. For someone who prioritized the school's honor and promotion above all, this was unprecedented.
On top of that, Selphis hadn't forgotten material benefits.
500 SP Points and a plaque.
Selphis had made a circle with his fingers, laughed "het het," and left.
'He's so consistent.'
Thanks to that consideration, Zien was finally getting some proper rest.
About an hour later, a familiar voice rang out.
"Found him! He's here! Right here!"
Chris came bustling over noisily.
"Hm, this is pretty nice."
Isabel, eyes glued to her pudding.
"Come on, Party Leader! Why's the festival star moping out here like this?"
Amy, who had suddenly switched to polite speech.
Seeing his party members, Zien couldn't help but smile faintly.
"How'd you know I was here?"
Still lying down, Zien asked. Chris plopped down beside him.
"Figured you'd be somewhere quiet. First-years, second-years—everyone's losing their minds looking for you."
"That's the power of broadcasting for you!"
Amy jumped in proudly out of nowhere.
"Heh heh, school's not the only hot topic. Check this out!"
Amy pulled out a large smartphone from her pocket. She'd opened the biggest community site for Sabers.
"It's all still Battle Survival talk. Mostly Arcana stuff..."
"Huh? Amy's drinking broadcast?"
As Amy continued, Chris tapped one post.
The mood turned awkward in an instant.
Chris glanced sideways nervously, and Amy narrowed her eyes.
"...What're you looking at? My streams are always like this."
"Fine, I'll look at something else—calm down. 'Arcana Glutton Compilation'? What's this now."
This post was far from their feats too. Isabel licking chocolate, munching cookies, rolling candy in her mouth...
Before Isabel could see, Chris quietly hit back. The others were all like that.
"Sword God Smile Compilation. Chris Height Difference Compilation..."
Chris handed the phone back to Amy with a complicated look.
"...That's enough of this topic."
Amy, much calmer now, pocketed it quietly.
A brief silence.
Then Amy perked up as if remembering something.
"Oh! Exam season's coming up—got your partner yet?"
Arcana had way more exams than other academies. Acting, Stigmata studies, gates, party battles... And at semester's end, that ranking takeover event—exam or not?
"Heh heh, lock it in now, and you'll coast through finals stress-free!"
Amy subtly pitching herself.
Zien gazed at the pond, mentally listing his schedule.
'Exam season already.'
Classes aside, exams were mandatory to graduate and go pro.
'Gonna get busy again.'
Exams. Gates. Field trips.
His party had a mountain of tasks before semester's end.
"We'll decide partners later. Since we're all here, how about dividing the prize money first?"
The Battle Survival winnings had hit their accounts that morning: a whopping 500 million coins. Comparable to an active Saber’s annual salary.
"Three of us, so evenly split—one-third each?"
As Zien pulled out his phone,
Isabel scooped some pudding and said,
"I'm good. You two split it."
"Alright, 250 million each then?"
Zien replied matter-of-factly. But Chris and Amy went pale.
"Two... two hundred fifty million...?"
"Whoa! Why?! Why not take it?! If you don't need it, give it to me!"
In a world where gates had toppled absolute monarchies, the Blitz family—owners of the Mage Tower—were the new kings of capital.
To Isabel, the prize was pocket change.
"Well... you're the party leader, Zien. Handle it."
Isabel, indifferent to money.
"Two... two hundred fifty million! I'm getting 250 million?"
Chris had short-circuited.
"How loaded is she exactly...?"
Even Amy, from a prestigious family, was speechless at Isabel's sense of money.
"Money talk ends here!"
Squatting, Amy fiddled with her band-style pocket. Particles of light gathered, and a table laden with food appeared on the grass.
"Ahem, figured you all skipped meals, so I brought some. Here, take this."
"Why polite to them but casual with me?"
Chris took the utensils with a sullen look. Amy shook her head.
"Dunno. Feels physiologically wrong to polite-talk you."
"Still, how'd all this food fit in one pocket?"
Chris marveled while sorting food. Amy beamed proudly again.
"Pretty sweet, right? Holds just about anything! It's a high-end model—over 5,000 capacity. If you're buying, put me as referrer..."
"No thanks!"
"Aww, come on—with 250 mil incoming, grab one!"
Ignoring Amy, Chris turned to Zien.
"Zien! You saw me take on three-to-one in that building, right? Man, if only they'd had more mana—I'd have crushed 'em!"
"Yeah, Chris. Your skills have grown a ton. Just needs a little polishing."
Zien patted his back in praise. Chris gulped.
"What're you saying?"
"After exams, round two of special training for you guys. We've got a new schedule."
Instead of pale Chris, Isabel—picking dessert—turned.
"New schedule?"
"Heh heh, I heard too! Virtual gate raid! Right? With you leading, Party Leader, it'll be a breeze~ Ratings will explode!"
Amy laughed wahaha at the killer content. Chris dropped his sandwich.
"Gah, what?! For real!? When? No, wait—what rank?!"
"Locked in at 5th rank."
A 5th rank gate—even elites among actives hesitated.
Amy stammered at the bombshell.
"N-not 4th rank?"
"D-did I hear wrong? 5th rank?"
Even unflappable Isabel's cookie-holding hand trembled.
Just one digit apart, but 4th and 5th rank were worlds different.
Up to 4th, simple quests like monster slays cleared gates. 5th rank had full "incidents"—stories.
Strength was baseline; you needed cultural savvy and acting chops too.
"5th rank?! Even virtual, that's insane. How do we clear it? Reject now, Zien!"
Chris's panic was justified.
But Zien—in his past life—had seen the end of an 8th rank gate. A virtual 5th didn't faze him.
"Don't worry. We're not raiding alone."
Isabel snapped her fingers, realizing.
"Got it. Faculty escort?"
"Oh yeah! You're smart. For 5th rank, Professor Karsen?"
Chris sighed in relief, but it wasn't faculty.
"That'd defeat the purpose. The team joining us in the gate..."
Zien paused, smiling faintly at his party.
"Is Lucia's party."
Zien hadn't imagined it either until Selphis told him. Chris shook his head, deflated.
"I'm too numb to be surprised anymore."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A bench along the walkway.
Aria, who'd wandered everywhere burning energy, slumped on the bench, stretching with a groan.
"Ahh, can't walk anymore."
Rita strode past. Her model-walk click-clack made Aria snicker.
"Hey~ Having fun?"
Aria tossed a casual flirt. Rita replied reluctantly.
"...What're you doing here? Looking like a corpse."
"We're exam buddies—drop the formalities. Casual call, casual vibe~"
Rita sensed something off in Aria's good mood.
"Something good happen?"
"Good? Nah, nothing big. You didn't see the exam roster~?"
"Who checks rosters during festival...?"
Rita narrowed her eyes, pulled out her phone. Then—thud.
"Huh? It's out?"
Perplexed Rita suddenly chilled.
'No way that's why she's grinning...'
Rita scrolled frantically till her name.
Lonely Rabbit Team
Rita [Rank 29 / 162]
'Opponent team...'
Clever Cat Team
Zien [Rank 9 / 162]
Aria [Rank 27 / 162]
"Aaagh! Again?! Opponents again!? Why're they always teamed up? Why do I keep facing this guy!?"
"Heh~ That's how draws go, right? No point questioning it—yahahat!"
The polar opposite of their first exam pairing. Aria grinned victoriously at Rita.