Hey, Plan! You Didn't Forfeit, Did You...?
Hey, Plan! You Didn't Forfeit, Did You...?
"...."
Knight of Embers. The next head of the Yudit family.
Scarlett Yudit.
Her lips slowly parted. Even then, her eyes never left the scoreboard.
1st Place: 1001 points.
2nd Place: 972 points.
3rd Place: 904 points.
Scarlett had been staring at those staggering numbers, and now her gaze slid, ever so slowly, toward one person.
Plan Yudit.
The representative of the Magic Department who had scored 1001 points.
Even now, with the Phantom Blessing still in effect, he stood firmly on the ground. As if nothing had happened at all.
This vantage point commanded an excellent view of the field. The space, packed with knights including Scarlett herself, was steeped in suffocating silence.
No one dared open their mouth.
The questions surrounding Plan, the cause that had driven the situation this far, Ela's illegal Suicide Return that had humiliated the knights...
None of that mattered right now. They could dig into every last detail later and it would still be fine.
The only thing that mattered at this moment was the simple fact that Plan had trampled every last squad from the Knight Department and taken first place.
'In the entire history of the academy... this has never happened.'
The Knight Department and the Magic Department had always kept each other in check.
Personal feelings aside, even looking strictly at scores, the Knight Department had always held the upper hand in the 2-Discipline Subjugation Festival.
It had 'always' been that way, exactly as the word implied.
As far as she knew, the Magic Department had never once scored an overwhelming victory.
And to top it off, the arena audience was composed entirely of Knight Department cadets.
In a match where an upset was never supposed to happen, everyone's expectations had been overturned, and an upset had occurred.
Scarlett rose from her seat. She focused her eyes and looked squarely at Plan's figure.
Composed. Utterly composed.
The situation itself was one thing, but that attitude of Plan's was what decisively drove Scarlett's insides mad with fury.
The joy of victory, the relief that the preliminary round was over, the shock of achieving a miracle, the pride in a great accomplishment... none of those emotions existed in Plan at all.
His face simply said: he had done what needed to be done.
Plan was the one who, despite being born with Yudit blood, had irresponsibly cast aside the sword.
That disgrace to the family — how in the world had he done this.
Her head was burning. It was so hot it felt like her brain would boil, and Scarlett covered her face with one hand.
Considering her dignity, she must never show herself shaken before others. She knew that, and yet she could not control this passion that was tearing her insides apart.
One of the regular knights approached Scarlett.
"Lady Knight..."
"That's enough."
Scarlett stopped him in his tracks.
"...No closer than that."
Even the act of breathing felt foreign to her right now.
The gazes that fell upon Scarlett, the atmosphere of the arena — everything she had taken for granted had changed.
'Why.'
In all the years she had lived, she had never once felt out of place on any ground she trod.
Overwhelming presence.
She was a knight who dominated the very space around her. When she appeared, the faces of other knights would fill with anticipation and confidence by that fact alone.
'Why...'
So why wasn't that the case now?
She already knew the answer. The figure currently held in Scarlett's eyes — another descendant of Yudit blood.
'Plan Yudit.'
Because at this very moment, he was the one dominating this space.
Scarlett had poured her entire life into 'overwhelming presence.' She had swung her sword so that the mere fact of her existence would send shivers through every knight.
But.
Plan, with a single preliminary round, had planted unease and worry in the minds of all the knights.
'...We'll talk at the mansion.'
Like a quiet flame, rage swept through Scarlett's entire body. Her crimson eyes began to blaze.
"Hah..."
At the same time, she felt a faint dizziness and drew a sharp breath.
Many journalists were watching Scarlett at that moment. Among them, one in particular from the Magic Department — Sepia — was practically sparkling with interest.
What came next was obvious.
Every single reaction Scarlett had shown would soon be reported in the newspaper.
Just thinking about it made her head spin already...
◈
[Predictions]. The signboard of a shop that read just that.
"Uh, ah...?"
A question spilled out of someone's lips.
"Huh...?"
Soon it spread like an epidemic. One by one, the patrons each let out a bewildered murmur.
At some point, all sound died down.
Everyone, holding their very breath, focused every ounce of their attention on the Record Scroll clutched in their own hands.
[Preliminary Subjugation Festival Record]
▶ Ela violated regulations and has been Suicide Returned.
▶ The Illusion Tree has been subjugated.
▶ The Magic Department wins.
▶ With 1001 points, advancing to the main tournament in 1st place.
The moment that text was written, not a single sound existed inside the shop.
The Magic Department's victory was naturally a joyous event.
But because it was something no one had ever even imagined, they were simply dumbfounded. It was far too sudden a miracle, and they could not comprehend the reality laid before their eyes.
"Did we... did we really win?"
Someone murmured.
"I guess so."
"Advancing to the main tournament in first place...?"
Silence, close to a void, descended once more.
The one who shattered that silence was the pure-white girl, Yushia. She let out a cheer and grabbed hold of the finance officer.
"Wow! We won! We won! Look at this! Lord Plan has done it again~!"
"...Yes, yes."
The finance officer responded awkwardly. Even he, who prided himself on being fairly composed, was struggling to accept the situation.
"They say joy shared is joy doubled. Quickly now, be doubly joyful!"
"Fi-first, let's calm down a bit..."
"I was worried I couldn't give him my congratulations in person, but thankfully he performed splendidly!"
The finance officer thought about stopping Yushia, but at some point he gave up. Instead, a faint smile crept onto his own face.
Yushia.
She had been bedridden for nearly ten years after suffering a severe illness from a Maine's attack.
It would not have been strange at all for her to wither away day by day, lamenting that fact — but seeing her so bright, there was simply no way he could stop her.
And at the same time, the reactions of the others finally began to erupt as well.
"Waaaaaah! We won!"
"This is insane! Absolutely insane! And in first place, no less!"
"I blew my whole month's allowance..."
"Then why are you smiling like that?"
"Because the Magic Department won, you idiot!"
"I'm dizzy... my head is spinning..."
The entire shop began to shake. The imperial finance officer watched the scene with astonished eyes.
At this moment, nothing else mattered to these people. Liberated from all constraints, they were purely, collectively, rejoicing.
Plan.
His interest in Plan naturally soared.
What kind of person was he, to have given so many magic students such tremendous passion?
A figure of this caliber was certainly worthy of having his name discussed within the Imperial Household. Especially since he was connected to the third princess, Yushia.
◈
"...."
The Märchen Academy Infirmary. A three-patient room.
After waking from the Phantom Blessing and regaining consciousness, silence flowed between the three representatives.
Events more fantastical than any illusion had become reality and were waiting for the three of them.
'...Did we really win.'
'Are we really going to the main tournament?'
Even though they were the representatives themselves, they didn't know anything for certain. The moment of victory, they had immediately tasted the Phantom Blessing and fallen asleep.
But soon, they were able to clearly confirm the result. A Record Scroll unfurled in the air.
[Preliminary Subjugation Festival Record]
▶ The Magic Department wins.
▶ With 1001 points, advancing to the main tournament in 1st place.
"Huhk!"
Becky jolted in shock and leapt from her bed. Trixie frowned at the noisy motion.
"We're, we're going to the main tournament? No, I don't even need to ask. We're, we're, we're going? We really are?"
Trixie considered stepping in to say something, but then she vaguely understood Becky's feelings.
A commoner, and with average grades besides.
The disdain and discrimination she suffered because of her status. Becky had always endured such things as if they were only natural.
And when she was selected as a representative, she was insulted daily on the Agora Board.
What must her heart have felt, and how enormous must the pressure have been? Trixie could not even begin to fathom it.
...How joyous she must be. She decided to leave her be.
Becky kept bouncing around the room.
"They're saying first place! First place!"
Louis quietly opened the Agora Board.
The free forum had already become a battlefield, and the reactions there were not much different from Becky's.
[Isn't first place in the subjugation prelims a complete first?]
[Wow.... Does this mean we can look forward to the main tournament?]
[The reps seriously worked so hard. What do we do ㅠ]
[I'm so frustrated I couldn't watch it live. For real.]
Reading the reactions, Louis unconsciously wore a smile.
Trixie was staring blankly at that Louis, then she tilted her head as if she had just remembered something.
Her gaze turned toward the bouncing Becky.
"Becky."
"Awesome...! Y-yeah?"
"Keep your promise."
"What promise? Oh."
It was only after asking again that she remembered the content of the promise, and Becky's face turned pale in an instant.
Trixie continued.
"The Agora Board. You said you'd talk if we passed the prelims in first place."
"Oh..."
Becky's gaze subtly shifted diagonally downward.
A while ago, while talking with Trixie, she had accidentally let slip information about Plan.
...To smooth it over, she had set the absurd condition of passing the prelims in first place, and that condition had actually come true.
"I'll talk, I'm talking, but..."
"Talk."
"But wait, Plan! Where is Plan right now?"
Becky hurriedly changed the subject. And the effect was superb.
In an instant, everyone's thoughts snapped to Plan.
Now that they thought about it.
In truth, compared to what Plan had accomplished, what the three of them in the infirmary had done was nothing. They had merely walked in the direction Plan had illuminated for them.
And yet the hero of the victory, Plan, was nowhere to be seen.
Louis scratched his cheek.
"Ahaha.... Did we perhaps lose over a hundred points for penalties? So he went to forfeit, or something..."
Becky let out a small gasp.
"Louis. Even for Plan, that's a bit..."
Becky, who had been speaking, suddenly closed her mouth.
In that brief moment, she had over a hundred thoughts in her head, and the more she thought, the more Plan really did seem like the kind of person who would do exactly that.
Becky's mouth fell wide open.
"...No, no, no way. Is this for real?"
"It's possible. We made quite a few mistakes, didn't we?"
"...."
The three of them wore stiff expressions.
Becky started to panic.
"Guys, guys. This is no time to be sitting around. Let's hurry and find Plan first."
"Yeah. We should."
"...So annoying."
The other two also began to hurriedly get ready. They were still in patient gowns, but this was not the time to be picky about attire.
Knock knock—
But at that moment, someone knocked on the door.
"Plan?"
"Plan!"
"Plan."
All three shouted at once. That was the only name occupying their minds right now.
Becky dashed over and yanked the door open.
"Hey, Plan! You didn't just quit, did y..."
And then she froze without realizing it.
"...you?"
The next moment, a tidal wave crashed toward Becky.
"The Magic Department has won! A word on your thoughts, please!"
"What were you doing during the three days you were missing?"
"How exactly did Plan handle the Fire Wolf?"
"Where is Student Plan right now!"
The reporters stormed in like a typhoon.
The infirmary, which was supposed to be a place of rest, erupted into chaos in an instant. Reporters surged in like a tidal wave, shouting questions at the top of their lungs.
"...."
Becky and Louis could not manage any reaction at all.
Plan.
They just recalled that name in their heads. What in the world were they supposed to do in a situation like this.
...Because they had never learned that yet.
"Haa..."
That was the moment. Trixie, who had steadied her still-aching body and stood up, moved her steps through the clamorous waves.
"Where in the hell did you learn your professional ethics, crawling into a sickroom and waving your pens around in front of patients?"
When she snapped at them in a sharp voice, every single reporter fell silent at once.
The eviction order, steeped in the dignity of the Fritz, was utterly cold. Entirely at odds with the fact that the Fritz was a house that wielded flame.
"If you understood, get lost."
Trixie let out a long sigh, pressed her forehead, closed the door, and turned back around.
When she suddenly lifted her head, Trixie's face burned under the stares directed at her.
"...What. Why."
The sparkling gazes of the two rookies, who had likely never experienced something like this easily, were fixed on her.