Belica's Duel (3)
The call of the next match was accompanied by another student's scream.
—Uwaaak!
The owner of that scream traced a beautiful parabolic arc through the air before crashing into the bench I'd just been sitting on. What followed was the announcement of that student's ring-out loss, and then the victor's name.
—Arena 2, Ronari Sharino wins!
Thanks to that, all the eyes gathered on us swept over to that side. Mine did too.
And naturally, there stood Ronari on Arena 2. With a confident smile, she brushed back her cream-colored hair and turned her back to the arena. The neatly scattered strands floating in the air gleamed brilliantly, as if gilded, even under the pale artificial lights.
For a split second, our eyes met, but she quickly looked away. And yet, for some reason, she seemed to be walking toward us.
Gideon, spotting the approaching Ronari, nudged me with his elbow.
"Hey, looks like we've got a VIP."
"I see her."
Gideon was the first to speak to Ronari.
"What brings you here? Does the esteemed class topper have an interest in this kind of spectacle?"
"What, can't I watch my classmates' matches?" Ronari shot back in a prim tone, and Gideon shrugged.
"Yeah, right."
"But... that kid who just flew over here, they looked okay?"
Ronari tossed out the question vaguely, though I could feel her eyes flicking toward me. I answered.
"Yeah. They dusted themselves off and walked away on their own."
"Oh... good, then."
With that, Ronari took another step closer to me. Dragging her shoes as she stealthily closed the distance, she murmured softly from about half a step away.
"...So, what's the deal with Bel and Adelia? Yesterday they even publicly declared war. They don't seem on bad enough terms to actually duel."
I glanced up at the arena where Belica and Adelia were and replied.
"Then you saw it right. They're not enemies or anything."
"So what are they?"
"Friends. Pretty old ones, too."
"Friends? Then why fight?"
"Because they're friends."
"...?"
Ronari tilted her head, clearly unsatisfied with my explanation. Fair enough. But for stuff like this, seeing it firsthand beats hearing it secondhand.
"Listen."
I nodded toward the arena. Right on cue, Adelia's voice rang out.
"Miss Belica. You remember my conditions, yes? If I win here, you must join our club. And also..."
Adelia tilted her head to herself, then muttered under her breath.
"...What was it again?"
Amusingly enough, it was Belica who bailed her out. In a deflated tone, Belica answered Adelia's soliloquy.
"...Make time for me on new student welcome night?"
"Ah, yes. On that day, you must accompany me without fail. At the very least, until the ball starts after the welcome event."
"Shouldn't have reminded her..."
Belica scratched her head and grumbled. Then she said,
"Look, Adelia...? I appreciate you liking me and all... but I don't think I'm that great a person to warrant all your attention. Maybe rethink this..."
"No. Miss Belica, you are wonderful. In the past, and even now. And the reason I've stepped forward like this isn't just my own will."
"Huh...? What're you talking about all of a sudden?"
"I, Adelia Spencer, am an ally of our house, and I received a direct request from your house, the Simoni family."
"What request?"
"To guide Miss Belica onto the proper path, no matter what."
Belica scratched her head.
"I don't think I'm such a delinquent that I need your guidance..."
"Regrettably, you're heading down that path right now. Because of that guy over there, the outcast from a fallen house!"
With that, Adelia pointed our way—more precisely, at me.
I casually stepped behind Gideon, pretending it wasn't me. But since this guy was shorter than me, her gaze zeroed in anyway.
Gideon looked up at me.
"What're you doing?"
"Beats me."
...Maybe I shouldn't have come.
Adelia continued.
"It's a waste of your noble status and innate talent to hang around a guy like that. Even now, in line with our house's resolve, you must cut ties with him!"
Belica turned to the officiating instructor.
"Um... can we just start already...?"
—Well, you two seemed like you had a lot to say... Both of you, to your positions.
The instructor stepped forward with those words. Even then, Adelia declared,
"The victory in this match will be mine. No matter what it takes, by any means necessary."
"...Sigh. It'd be great if you put that passion somewhere else."
At that moment, Belica's eyes changed.
"I was hoping to throw the match if I could, but that guy Adelia hates so much made me a promise. If I win this, he'll grant me one wish. Anything."
Not quite how it went, but whatever.
"I don't know what your family wants from me, but I have no intention of doing what they say. So here's the thing—I'm gonna use that wish to wreck your plans completely. For example... if I wished for that from him..."
Belica leaned in and whispered something to Adelia in a voice too low for those below the arena to hear.
Adelia's face flushed red with genuine fury as she pounded her cane on the ground.
"N-No...! I absolutely, absolutely cannot allow that!"
"Heh. Then stop me. With that cane of yours."
Belica flicked the tip of her sword against Adelia's cane.
Then the instructor's voice rang out.
—Ready.
Adelia, true to form as a mage, retreated several steps from the starting line. Belica just stood there.
—3...
—2, 1...
—Begin!
At the opening signal, Adelia slammed her cane into the ground.
—Crack!
From that point, frost spread out, forming a barrier patterned like snowflakes. Ice crystal arrows rose from the barrier and rained down on Belica.
Belica didn't even try to dodge. Her sword dance, swift as the wind, shattered the arrows into ice shards in an instant.
Adelia's onslaught continued without pause, but even under the downpour of ice arrows, Belica looked utterly relaxed. She took a wide step, swinging her sword like it was a game, evading and deflecting every one.
"Wow..."
Ronari's admiration came from beside me. It was plenty worthy of awe. The technique was impressive, but Belica's effortless flow in brushing aside the assault was overwhelming in itself. The ice crystals scattering off her blade felt like magic she'd conjured. Amid the blizzard, her pale hair whipping as she danced—it was so beautiful, everyone seemed captivated, drawn into the scene.
Maybe after the match, Belica would ask me, How was I? Like a snow fairy, right?
And I'd reply, Nah. What snow fairy? Summer suits you better.
Then, Belica—who'd been purely on defense—shifted her aura. Seizing a momentary lapse in Adelia's focus amid her barrage, Belica dropped low and changed course in a flash. In that instant, her expression was more her than ever—blazing like the midday sun scorching across the arena's edge.
Her leap that followed was blinding. Not in beauty, but in sheer speed you couldn't cover your eyes fast enough. Covering nearly seven steps in a heartbeat, Belica's sword slashed past Adelia.
—...Whoa!
The stunned crowd's cheers were followed by a vivid red splatter over the white frost. A streak of blood from Adelia's wound marked the arena's center.
"Urk..."
Adelia fired a probing attack to force Belica back while clutching her slashed arm with her free hand.
Not many probably caught that strike clean. But even those who didn't would have instinctively realized: that blow could have slit Adelia's throat. And it hadn't—purely by Belica's will.
Belica, her sword spotless despite the cut, toyed with it leisurely and said,
"Adel~ Get it now? How about just surrendering?"
"..."
Adelia looked frustrated. She hadn't been careless. She'd come fully prepared, thoroughly gauging Belica's strength. But Belica had simply been faster than her maximum estimate.
Gideon spoke up beside me.
"It's over. The gap's too wide."
I didn't think it was that straightforward, though... And right then, someone agreed.
"No, it's just starting."
It was Ronari. Gideon glanced at her.
"You saw it. Belica went easy there too. Adelia can't keep up with her speed."
I said,
"She doesn't have to."
"Huh?"
I jerked my chin toward the arena, urging them to keep watching.
Adelia slammed her cane down again. A dome of ice wall enveloped her. She released her wound, extending her bloodied hand forward. Blades of frost rose from the ground, slashing where Belica had stood.
Belica, dodging the ice blades, said,
"Man~ You're relentless~"
Adelia's counterattack continued for a while after. Her ice wall kept Belica from closing in easily like before. Meanwhile, the scale of her attacks grew larger. Snow from her spells even spilled beyond the arena.
Would Belica get pushed out of the ring by Adelia's assault, or would Adelia's mana run dry first? It looked like it was turning into a war of attrition.
But cold calculations like that didn't suit Belica. Her aura shifted again. At the same moment, Adelia unleashed what seemed like an arena-wide attack.
—Boom!
A thunderous crash rocked the arena as ice crystals exploded, kicking up a snow mist. As it cleared, a tense standoff emerged. The two were in close quarters, trading blows. Belica's side sword pierced Adelia's shoulder, but even as it did, Adelia tried to cast with her remaining hand.
But—
—Shrieeek!
A stiletto from Belica pierced Adelia's palm. With her hand and shoulder run through, Adelia collapsed to the ground.
"Kuh...!"
Belica's shadow fell over her.
"Sorry, Adel. You were serious, so I had to go all out too."
Anyone could see the match was decided. But the officiator hadn't declared a winner yet.
Then, blood from Adelia reached Belica's feet.
"..."
A strange premonition washed over me.