Seasickness and Declarations of War
Unlike Chris, who had dominated the ball-throwing event and laid waste to the arena, Shubi—who had entered the boat racing competition—let out a long, weary sigh with a gloomy expression. His face drained of energy, he struggled to lift his head and look straight ahead. What met his eyes was an endless expanse of open sea. The deck beneath his feet swayed endlessly with the rolling waves, and the wooden planks, soaked with moisture that seeped through his soles, rocked up and down in a steady rhythm. His stomach followed that same rhythm, churning and twisting as if determined to turn his insides inside out.
"Ugh."
Was this really a virtual world? He never imagined they would replicate seasickness too. If it was virtual, they could have at least made it less realistic. The violent nausea that threatened to expel the contents of his stomach made Shubi's face grow paler by the second.
"Ahahaha! Your face looks hilarious!"
A girl pointed at his pale complexion and burst into laughter, her voice teasing. She had light sky-blue hair cut in a short bob, and her face was full of mischief. Yura Aquiz of Sirionella Private Academy. At her words, Chris's brows furrowed sharply as he shot her a fierce glare.
"Seasickness in a virtual world? I've never seen anyone like that before!"
"Shut up. You haven't been in a virtual world before either, just like me!"
The virtual world was an astonishing product of magic engineering, but few had actually experienced it. It was only used occasionally in large-scale events like the Academy Tournament. Unlike Shubi, who had tried it during yesterday's maze escape match, this morning marked Yura's first time entering one.
'And she's mocking me when she has even less experience than I do...!'
The fact that she was teasing him about not getting seasick made his blood boil. Even as his stomach churned, his teeth ground together in frustration.
'Somewhere in this world, there must be a fated partner who shares this exact sensation with me!'
Two people who both got seasick in a virtual world. If Yura knew what he was thinking, she would probably burst out laughing even louder.
"Um..."
At that moment, Toko—who was also on their team and participating in the boat race—held something out toward Shubi.
"What's this?"
It was a water bottle filled with transparent liquid. When Shubi asked with a puzzled look, Toko answered hesitantly.
"Seasickness medicine. I heard we can use potions we make ourselves anytime during the tournament..."
Toko broke eye contact, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead. Her face made it obvious she was hiding something. But Shubi, hearing the word "seasickness medicine," paid no attention to her suspicious expression and quickly snatched the bottle from her hand.
"Thanks! I knew I could count on you!"
Without a shred of doubt, he brought it straight to his lips. His throat bobbed as he gulped it down. The colorless, odorless, tasteless liquid slid down his esophagus, and a refreshing sensation quickly eased the churning in his stomach.
"It really works well. Must be because you made it yourself."
The nausea had clearly improved compared to before. He could feel the potion's effects spreading through his stomach the moment he drank it.
"Y-yeah, that's good."
Toko's face grew heavier with guilt at his refreshed tone, as if he had been saved. After all, what she had given him wasn't a potion at all—it was just plain water with no effect whatsoever.
The virtual world they stood in was a composite spell combining mental magic and spatial magic. Since it was called "virtual," this world wasn't reality. If someone felt seasick, it had to be due to the mental magic. Toko's hypothesis was that the brain was being tricked by the overwhelming realism, falling into a hallucinatory state. That was why she had chosen the placebo effect as her solution—solving the problem through belief alone, without any actual medicinal effect.
And it had worked far better than she expected.
'I absolutely cannot tell him it was just water.'
If Shubi realized what he had drunk was water instead of a potion, the seasickness might return. Both the cause of his seasickness and its cure were, in a way, similar to hypnotic suggestion. In other words, the outcome depended entirely on what Shubi believed.
"Thanks!"
"Yeah, no problem."
"By the way, when did you learn potion-making?"
"H-huh? Oh, um, I didn't learn it properly or anything..."
"Ah, you just tried making it for fun? You were worried someone might get seasick during today's match, right?"
"R-right?"
"Anyway, thanks again! Toko! Thanks to you, I can actually compete now!"
Just moments ago, the nausea had been so bad he had no idea how he would participate. Now he felt like he could show his real skills.
"Yeah!"
Toko let out an awkward laugh as she watched Shubi excitedly wave both hands in gratitude. Leaving her behind, Shubi clenched his fists with renewed determination.
"I can't help Chris, but I definitely can't get in his way either."
He hadn't watched the match, but Chris was no doubt putting on an impressive performance. He had just confirmed with his own eyes that Aaron Dice, Chris's only rival in this Academy Tournament, was also participating in the boat race.
'Aaron Dice is here, so I probably can't aim for first place like Chris...'
Second place, or at least third—maybe that was realistic. At Shubi's optimistic assessment, Toko smiled encouragingly, but—
"You really do like that guy Chris, don't you?"
Yura, who had been cheerfully laughing until just a moment ago, suddenly wiped the smile from her face at Shubi's words. Her expression had turned noticeably colder, as if something had offended her.
"Like him? I prefer girls over guys, you know?"
Shubi frowned at Yura's remark, clearly displeased.
"That's not what I meant."
Yura shot back with an exasperated look. Had his seasickness lowered his comprehension? She stared at him with a pitiful expression before abruptly turning her head.
"I hate that guy."
What were people saying about Sirionella Private Academy these days? That it was Chris's one-man team. Standing beside someone so overwhelmingly talented naturally made everyone else look like mere sidekicks—that was simply how the world worked. And Yura didn't like that fact one bit.
"Just watch. I won't keep being overshadowed by him."
The illegitimate daughter of the Aquiz viscount family. The persistent label that had followed her since childhood. The contempt and mockery from those around her, and even more painful—the indifference and disdain from the father who had taken her into the family. Recalling those bitter memories, she clenched her fists where no one could see.
Yes, the scouts' evaluations in this Academy Tournament didn't matter to her. What mattered was earning her father's recognition. Becoming a true member of the Aquiz family. For that, she couldn't afford to remain in Chris's shadow.
"Yeah. I also think Chris is a bit... not that I hate him, but his eyes are kinda scary..."
"Right, right. Those snake eyes. Just looking at them puts me in a bad mood. See, Toko? You've got good instincts!"
"Huh? No, I didn't say it was that bad...!"
"I know exactly how you feel. Ahahaha!"
And so the two girls launched into gossip about Chris. Shubi watched them blankly before quietly shaking his head.
'That's the result of everything you've built up, Chris.'
The ace of the team, yet the one everyone complained about. A textbook example of just how disastrous Chris's interpersonal relationships were.
＊ ＊ ＊
"We meet again, juniors."
With a friendly greeting, a wooden boat slowly approached. Standing on it was a boy with vivid red hair blazing under the scorching sun. Perhaps he was pleased at the chance to face Togun and Arina again after the headband-stealing event. He waved at the children with a relaxed smile. Behind him stood Baraki Nepiri and Amy Pewter. So these three were participating in this match.
"Ah, yes!"
Aaron's smile deepened as he found the wary looks from his juniors endearing, even though they would soon be opponents.
"You did well this morning."
Alongside the Sirionella Private Academy team, Benedict Academy's B team was currently competing for the championship. Though they were precious juniors, it was only natural to want to widen the gap if possible. That was why he had tried to crush them in the morning match, but they had stubbornly survived and achieved good results.
"But it won't go the same way this time."
Though he had spoken formally when they first met about a month ago, as their familiarity grew, Aaron Dice now addressed them casually while issuing his warning. At the end of his gaze, Arina flinched and looked around.
"What are you doing? Say something back."
Marily, meeting Arina's eyes, elbowed her in the side. Wasn't it usually her role to respond to provocations like this? Arina looked even more flustered for a moment before squeezing her eyes shut and shouting at Aaron, who was still smiling at them.
"This time, you won't be able to end it with 'you did well'!"
"You did well this morning." On the surface, it sounded like praise. Aaron had even meant it that way. But it carried the nuance of complimenting a subordinate's efforts. It was somewhat inappropriate to say to a rival—especially one competing for the same tournament victory. Arina had pointed that out. I—we—are not your juniors in this tournament. We are competitors.
"We'll beat you seniors in this match!"
Aaron looked surprised for a moment before letting out a small chuckle.
"We won't lose either."
Saying things like "I'm looking forward to it" or "do your best" would have been disrespectful to Arina, who had expressed her resolve. Viewing them as rivals rather than juniors, Aaron drifted away.
"Well done!"
Marily roughly hugged Arina, whose legs were still trembling.
"Wah!"
The boat rocked violently from the sudden motion. Barely keeping her balance on the swaying vessel, Arina stared at Marily in shock.
"That was a great declaration! You were so nervous earlier, but you said it perfectly!"
"Yeah, thanks to you, my motivation's up too."
Togun nodded in agreement after Marily. At their words, Arina blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment.
"Still, they treated us like juniors so we had it relatively easy. Now that advantage is gone."
"S-sorry..."
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I was actually annoyed about that part too."
Marily waved her hand dismissively at Arina's apology. Then, with a mischievous grin, she crouched low.
"Since we've declared war like this, we have to show our seniors exactly what we're made of."
That they were no easy opponents. That they could defeat those ridiculously talented seniors—that was the proof.
"For that, your role is the most important. You can do it, right?"
Following Marily's words, Arina's gaze naturally turned to Togun.
"Of course. Leave it to me."
Togun raised his muscular arm—impressive for a twelve-year-old—in a show of confidence under their gazes. In his hand was not the sword Professor Karlsen had given him, but the long oar that controlled the boat's propulsion, gleaming as he held it aloft.