A Star That Shines Even in Daylight
The underground passage created by Pride and the dream world unfolded by Sloth. A massive bombardment, on a scale that made the terror incident in Vivaldi Territory seem insignificant, was unfolding in the western district of Mendelssohn Grand Territory. Yet none of the citizens living in the territory had the slightest inkling that it was happening.
It was just another peaceful day like any other. If that was the case in the western sector, it was even more so in the eastern sector, which was the farthest from the west.
“......”
Yura Aquiz, representing Sirionella Private Academy and competing in the Academy Tournament as Chris's teammate—Chris who, along with Aaron Dice, was putting on the most spectacular performance—was sitting on a street bench, staring vacantly at the night sky.
The time was 3:28 AM. Normally, it was when she should be asleep. Especially as a participant in the Academy Tournament, it was a time when she absolutely needed to have her eyes closed in bed to adjust her condition for the match that would take place in a few hours.
“Haa.”
Yura herself was well aware of that fact. But no matter how hard she tried to sleep, she just couldn't. The events of yesterday had come as that much of a shock to her.
“This is fucking bullshit. Seriously.”
She chugged down the sports drink she'd bought from a 24-hour convenience store found while wandering outside the dorms and let out a deep sigh. A low curse escaped her lips.
“Do I really have to give up now?”
Yura Aquiz. Although she bore the surname Aquiz, she was by no means a member of the Aquiz family. She was the illegitimate child of the Aquiz family. A child born from Viscount Aquiz's one-night fling with a maid. While her name had been formally added to the family register, the Aquiz family had never accepted her as one of their own.
An irresponsible act of sowing his seed without taking any responsibility whatsoever. Unfortunately, even in the current Elemental Kingdom where the Majoan had elevated the human rights of commoners, such occurrences were relatively common.
None of it was her fault in the slightest. It was all Viscount Aquiz's wrongdoing. Nevertheless, having been shunned by her family since childhood, she had clung to Viscount Aquiz, desperately wishing to be accepted as a family member.
“......”
If she showed her usefulness, her father would accept her. Holding onto that belief, she had studied magic in secret, avoiding the eyes of Viscount Aquiz's wife, and submitted an application to Sirionella Private Academy without the family's knowledge. Then, upon receiving the acceptance notice, she had fled to the dormitory.
With the single determination to produce results at this academy and earn her father's recognition.
Based on that resolve, she had worked desperately hard within the academy in a way that brought no shame. She hadn't missed out on a full scholarship to cover the expensive tuition that came with being a private academy student, and she maintained an average of three hours of sleep, devoting herself to studying even during the hours others slept, to the point of nearly collapsing.
And in the end, she had achieved meaningful results. By participating in the Academy Tournament as Sirionella Private Academy's representative.
But this is as far as it goes.
She had reached the limit of what a hard worker could achieve. And she had realized it. The fact that no amount of hard work could ever surpass true genius.
Even in this tournament, there were countless people far greater than her, and in the end, she had failed to prove her existence in any way within the competition. She had participated in the Academy Tournament, but no one remembered her name. An extra meant to highlight the brilliance of the geniuses. Making her father notice her in such a state seemed like an incredibly distant prospect.
Chris.
If she had even half of that guy's talent, would the outcome have been different? Why did the world pour so much talent onto someone like him?
The frustration and lament that had been eating away at her heart soon transformed into jealousy and resentment toward Chris and the world itself.
“What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
At that moment, someone approached her as she sat alone on the bench. A disproportionately large shadow walking under the streetlight. In his hand was a thick hot bar. Had he come out because he was feeling peckish and wanted a late-night snack?
Watching Professor Repli approach with his protruding belly jiggling, Yura Aquiz shot up from her seat.
“......”
Her face filled with dismay as she looked at Professor Repli. No matter how you looked at it, a tournament participant not sleeping and wandering the streets outside the dorm at dawn was problematic behavior in many ways. It was an action that left her with nothing to say no matter what punishment the supervising professor might impose.
Yura looked at him with a tense expression, but he simply sat down beside her, silently munching on his hot bar.
“Sit down.”
It would have been better if he had gotten angry or openly reprimanded her. On the contrary, that calm demeanor made her even more anxious.
Professor Repli.
The theory of incantations professor at Sirionella Private Academy. A 5-star commoner mage who had barely managed to get hired as a professor based on ability alone, regardless of his educational capabilities. He had no ability, no backing, and as could be seen from his current appearance, no self-management skills either. The only achievement one could point to was that he had brought Chris to Sirionella Private Academy instead of losing him to Benedict Academy.
But the board of directors was unlikely to recognize an achievement that had nothing to do with his abilities as a professor. She had heard that within the Sirionella Private Academy board, there were discussions about revoking his professorship.
They said that's why Chris is participating in this tournament.
He had agreed to participate in this tournament on the condition that Professor Repli would serve as the supervising professor. If, with Professor Repli as supervisor, the unprecedented event of Sirionella Private Academy defeating Benedict Academy and winning the championship occurred, all of it would be credited to him.
If that happened, talks of his dismissal due to lack of ability would completely disappear. At least for the next few years.
That was why Chris was throwing himself so desperately into this tournament. She didn't know what had happened in the past, but to Chris, Professor Repli was like a benefactor.
She really disliked Chris, who believed only in his own talent and showed complete indifference to those around him. But Yura didn't particularly dislike the professor sitting beside her, the one who was criticized by the world for his lack of ability.
Somehow, she felt a sense of kinship, as if he was similar to her.
“......”
At Professor Repli's words, Yura hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside him.
After glancing at Yura, who was cautiously observing his reaction, he devoured the remaining hot bar in one bite. His jaw wobbled vigorously from the chewing motion as he tried to eat it as quickly as possible. Then, after swallowing all the food in his mouth, he looked up at the night sky that Yura had been gazing at earlier and opened his mouth.
“It's tough, isn't it?”
Your heart feels unnecessarily impatient. The situation doesn't flow the way you want. Everyone around you seems to be moving ahead while you feel like you're falling behind alone. And around someone like that, there isn't even a single person to cheer you on. The loneliness of being abandoned by friends and family, as if left alone in the world.
“Your head just gets more complicated. Sleep won't come. So you came out for a walk to clear your mind a bit?”
Yura's eyes widened at Professor Repli's words, spoken as if he already knew everything.
“I was like that once, too.”
Abandoned by his parents and raised in an orphanage under difficult circumstances, he had desperately worked hard and risen to the position of magic academy professor that he had dreamed of. He had been hired at a later age than most of his peers, but he had been happy enough with just that. However, that happiness had been shattered all too easily not long after his appointment, compared to how hard it had been to obtain.
“It's truly a sad thing to have no one on your side in this world.”
“......”
“That's why I wanted to stand on the side of such students, at least.”
Even though his own position was precarious. Even though, shamefully as a professor, he had ended up in a situation where he was relying on a student's help to keep his position. Still, that heart of his hadn't changed even now.
“Smile. Not because there's something happy to smile about. Smile to overcome the hardship in your heart.”
Just like Professor Repli did. And just like Yura Aquiz had always done. If you keep bursting into laughter while deceiving even your own emotions with a false expression, the day will surely come when that emotion truly changes.
“You're not alone. At least until you graduate, I am here. Well, from your perspective, I might be an utterly unreliable professor. If you can't trust me, try visiting the church near your house. It's funny for a mage to believe in God, but at least that's how I overcame it.”
Why was it? The gloomy feelings that had filled her heart until a moment ago melted away at the comfort Professor Repli offered. Tears welled up in her eyes.
As if being considerate of her, Professor Repli, who didn't give her even a single glance, stood up from the bench and shouted with overflowing confidence.
“......Thank you.”
She finally understood why Chris, who ignored everyone else, treated Professor Repli with such respect. For the first time, Yura realized that this man was a true academy professor.
Only then did Professor Repli turn his gaze toward her. He offered a kind smile and held something out.
It was a smooth, jewel-like black stone.
As she accepted it with a puzzled look, Professor Repli puffed out his chest with pride.
“Like I said earlier, when your heart is heavy, it's good to have someone meaningful to move forward for. From now on, think of that person as me. Whenever hard times come, remember today.”
Who would have thought a pretty stone he picked up on the way would prove so useful? Could this be fate?
“So you're giving me trash you found on the ground?”
“Trash?! It's a totem! A totem that instills courage and luck in its owner!”
At Yura's sharp glare, Professor Repli waved his hands frantically in defense. His generous layers of flesh jiggled with the wild motion. The dynamic absurdity of it made a laugh burst from Yura's lips.
“Ahaha, well, since it's a gift, I'll make good use of it.”
The smile that had vanished from Yura's face returned, deeper than before. She slipped the stone Professor Repli had given her into her pocket and faced him with the smile he had spoken of.
Yeah, it's too early to give up yet.
The Academy Tournament wasn't over. There was still a chance. It might be too much to stand out, but she could help Chris contribute to Sirionella Private Academy's victory. That way, even if she couldn't build personal fame, she would at least claim the title of Academy Tournament champion.
This is absolutely not for Professor Repli.
She would do her best for the professor who had comforted her. She didn't carry the same sense of duty that Chris did. Everything was for her own sake. She would set her jealousy aside for now and use Chris to reap every possible benefit.
“Well then, I'll be on my way. You should get a little more fresh air and then try to sleep, even if it's just a bit.”
She watched his plump backside waddle away as he turned and waved his hand in what he clearly thought was a stylish manner.
Under the night sky where the moon shone brightly, the motivation that had been flickering out inside Yura Aquiz blazed back to life, burning hotter than ever.