Alright. I'll Take Responsibility.
Alright. I'll Take Responsibility.
"Chancellor? What in the world..."
Brody was the one who spoke, but every professor in the room wore the same expression.
A face that said: what, exactly, are you talking about?
Conet, however, remained composed.
"Professor Brody. What is the broader public sentiment at the moment?"
"Yes, Chancellor. I have it ready."
Brody began spreading articles through the air.
[ Ivan's Flawless Narrative... 'A Foregone Victory' ]
[ As Expected of Ivan... Perfect Scores, Zero Deductions ]
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.
.
"The overwhelming majority are convinced Ivan will win, and Merhen Daily is churning out articles in exactly that vein."
Conet nodded, unhurried.
"Then, this time, I will ask only about sentiment within the Magic Department. Professor Audrey."
"It is unexpectedly tight. The impact of that wall poster from before was so significant that quite a few students are raising their voices, saying we should fight with everything we have."
After Audrey answered, Violet gathered her courage.
"Many students were moved by the message not to fear change. And, as you have seen, Plan's abilities are more than competent—"
"But you must remember, Chancellor, that this is student opinion. Those youngsters, ruled by emotion—how much do they truly understand?"
Brody cut in, slicing through Violet's words.
As their gazes crossed sharply in the empty air, Conet spoke once more.
"How long until the Chejeon matches. You all know the answer."
"Two days. Barely two days remain."
Conet nodded slowly at Brody's reply.
"Yes. Plenty of time to raise the stakes."
"Excuse me... Chancellor?"
"I will speak with Merhen Daily and have them run articles from the Magic Department's perspective. That the student Plan has become our representative, that we are confident of victory... we will publish all of it."
The professors' faces, which had gradually been relaxing, went pale again. A professor who had been in the corner the whole time broke in.
"You intend to publish content asserting the Magic Department's victory? Such provocation is unacceptable."
"It is precisely because it is provocative that it will draw more attention, don't you think?"
The corner of Conet's lip curled subtly.
"Gripes or cheers—all that controversy is attention. And if our representative student demonstrates his skill in that kind of environment... how entertaining that would be."
"Chancellor. Absolutely not!"
Brody shouted.
"Provocation carries consequences. From the Knight Department's perspective, the combat event? It is just one match they would otherwise breeze past. But if a provocative article goes out, they will grit their teeth and fight to win!"
The other nearby professors nodded.
"And what of the students who wanted change? If the match is lost, they will simply think, 'Of course. We cannot do it,' and sink even deeper into despair. Should we not avoid that?"
Professor Kellin, who oversaw Malleability, threw in his support.
"If the stakes grow, the burden on the student will be immense. Winning is already uncertain even at double his outstanding ability—how much of his skill will show under that sort of crushing weight?"
"Oh my. Was that only visible to my eyes?"
Conet cast his gaze toward a visual display. That alone played back several segments of the footage.
Plan dismantling a mana bullet at his fingertips. And the scene of him replying boldly to Elysis.
Once those replayed, the weight in the meeting room grew heavier still.
"I have confirmed, in this student, the talent of a true mage."
Silence flowed for a time. Brody was the first to break it.
"...Claiming he can beat Ivan because he deconstructed a single mana bullet is an absurd leap."
"Look here, Professor Brody. The Chancellor only said he confirmed talent. Which, in fact, is remarkable. What first-year could possibly do that?"
This time, Violet nipped at Brody's heels.
Brody shot her a look of pure displeasure.
"Fine, say we raised the stakes because we thought highly of that talent. If we lose, Professor Violet, are you going to take responsibility?"
Responsibility.
At that word, the professors' eyes began turning toward Violet, one by one.
When every gaze had fixed on a single person, Violet steeled herself.
"...Very well. I started this to begin with. I will take responsibility."
Violet drew a single paper envelope from within her robes.
She did not need to explain. The other professors knew all too well what it was.
"A resignation letter?"
Brody murmured, eyes narrowing. Violet nodded quietly.
"Yes. If this causes harm to the Magic Department, I will shoulder all of it."
Perhaps it was already too late.
The ambitions she had failed to pursue while colluding with the world's trends, the atonement toward a student she had doubted, the first step toward becoming a true mage...
She wanted to attempt this, in her own way.
"Wow. Touching. Really moving."
Brody let out a hollow laugh.
"Touching, yes, but Professor Violet. Are you not just a little too oblivious to your place?"
"...What do you mean?"
"How is one person taking the blame going to patch over all the damage to the Magic Department? That is pure self-importance, you know."
But then.
"In that case, let us do this."
Conet spoke. A distinctly chilled voice, drawing every eye.
"Conet Avery. I, as Head of the Magic Department, will personally shoulder the blame."
"...!"
The entire conference room rippled in silence.
Shock gripped everyone, but Conet's face held not a trace of jest.
"This meeting is adjourned. Return to your duties with that understanding."
◈
With only a single day left before the Chejeon, I spent the entire day in the training hall.
Today, too, I finished the training volume I had set for myself.
I swept back my wet hair. The mirror showed me already drenched in sweat.
Cleaning up, however, required nothing more than a snap of my fingers.
Click.
At the snap, the moisture coating my skin coalesced into a single mass and shot straight into the trash bin—a simultaneous application of elemental reaction and flame motion.
Perhaps because I push myself to the limit in every session, the effects are quite clear now.
The muscle definition across my body has begun to show a visible difference, even to my own eyes. My total mana has acquired a fair degree of practical strength as well.
Hera is gradually being tamed, too. Once I start incorporating artifacts, significant achievements should follow soon.
Wrapping up training, I picked up a few issues of Merhen Daily.
[ Chejeon: Facing It Head-On, No Avoidance ]
*Interview with Magic Department Chancellor Conet
*Conet revealed in a meeting that the department "will not lose against the Knight Department"...
[ Magic Department First-Year Combat Representative: Plan ]
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.
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"Even a grub has the knack to roll, as they say."
I quietly muttered as I folded the paper.
It has only been a day since articles like these began flooding out, but the reaction within the Magic Department is scorching.
Just looking at the Trivia boards, which have become a full-blown debate forum, tells the story.
[ We declare war and our representative is a commoner student... is there a greater disgrace than this? ]
[ The Knight Department has been mocking us all day ]
[ Still better to try something than nothing ]
[ Was the student's opinion even reflected in this? Feels like they are trying to screw the student over on purpose ]
I had heard the Magic Department used to go dead quiet every time the Chejeon approached.
Now, far more people are taking an interest, with some students even spending entire days heatedly discussing it.
The fear of damage spreading across the whole Magic Department, the courage to try anyway, the hope for a miracle...
This chaos, where all of it churns together, is an unparalleled good omen to me.
"...It is going to get busy."
Resolving doubt yields conviction—that is the proposition, and this time I will prove it.
Once the match ends, everyone will be convinced.
With that thought, the moment I stepped out of the training hall—
"Ah. Found you at last."
A confident, cheerful voice sounded from behind.
Someone immediately blocked my path. It was the Mystic Gorge squad leader, Elysis.
"You know me, right?"
Instead of answering, I looked at her blankly.
I do. I remember nearly anyone I have seen once.
"What is your business."
"Got something to give you."
She handed me a business card.
Coated in a jewel-like blue, the card was clearly anything but ordinary.
[ Elysis, Squad Leader of 'Mystic Gorge' ]
Elysis put on a self-assured expression and spoke.
"I would like to meet privately sometime. That alright?"
I looked into Elysis's eyes. Her violet irises were unusually calm and enigmatic.
"I refuse."
"It would not be entirely private, you know? A little talk about Mystic Gorge too... hm?"
I had investigated Mystic Gorge separately and recognized that they are a fairly prominent organization in this world.
But.
The part where Elysis arbitrarily deactivated the safety device on the day of the evaluation—that bothers me.
"Why not listen first before rejecting? Other kids dream about this sort of thing every day."
Elysis wrinkled her face.
This woman would try to test me every time her curiosity was piqued.
I have no intention of becoming a passive plaything. Proof only has meaning when I pursue what I want.
Above all...
'I will build it myself.'
Joining the top-ranked guild holds no interest for me. Building one of my own and growing it—that would be a different story.
Elysis opened her mouth again.
"Plan. You probably realize this yourself, but... your talent is fairly exceptional."
Her expression turned slightly serious as she continued.
"So here is a question: how many times do you think I have watched kids called geniuses slowly slide into ruin?"
"How many times have you seen it."
Though I doubt it is more than I have.
To someone else, this might be an incomparably glorious moment, but to me, it is just an impertinent situation.
"Countless times. Just take it now. Kids like you need a proper mentor."
"I do not need one."
I held the card back out to her. Elysis's eyes narrowed.
"Ha... is that so? Tomorrow's match—I will be watching very, very closely."
Elysis, looking slightly angry, took her card back.
"If you lose... you will regret it. Right now is the moment your value is at its absolute highest."
"Hardly."
I began walking past Elysis.
Whether she was flustered or offended, I did not care.
Without realizing it, a laugh slipped between my lips.
"...Right now is the cheapest I will ever be."