You Already Forfeited Against Me Once.
You Already Forfeited Against Me Once.
Early morning.
Yushia had finished her personal training early. The moment she returned to her quarters, she deployed anti-eavesdropping magic, ensuring she was not under anyone's surveillance.
Today was the day Yushia would conduct her first 'activity review' since enrolling at Märchen Academy.
"Hoooh...."
She put on the earplugs imbued with the principles of mana. Although plain in appearance, they were a wondrous artifact that transmitted voices back and forth between the parties.
A moment later, the connection tone beeped three times, and Yushia slowly parted her lips.
"It is a pleasure."
─We are honored to hear the Third Princess's voice.
Yushia was immensely satisfied with their disciplined, determined voices. They instilled confidence.
'The Plains.'
An organization Yushia had personally cultivated by recruiting elite members of the Imperial Household. There was no need to debate the excellence of each member's abilities; every single one had been handpicked by Yushia herself.
The Plains consisted of 15 members in total.
Yushia had divided them into three fields of five members each.
The 'Ears,' who would gather public intelligence.
The 'Eyes,' who would focus solely on detecting Maines.
The 'Hands,' who would carry out Yushia's will.
The Third Princess finally spoke.
"First, I will hear the report of the 'Eyes.'"
"It is progressing smoothly. All of the glow-in-the-dark items Your Highness personally distributed have been enchanted to detect Maines—"
Yushia listened intently to the continuing reports of the Eyes and Ears, nodding with a careful gaze. Fortunately, everything was proceeding quite smoothly.
The last remaining group was the 'Hands'.
Their loyalty was second to none. The moment she recognized an action as a 'task,' they were always prepared to carry it out willingly.
"Investigate this person's past actions in detail. Also, provide a concurrent escort."
She examined the file in her hand.
For Yushia, it was obvious who 'this person' was.
******
Plan Yudit
* Born into the Yudit family.
* Abandoned the sword and chose the path of a mage.
* Siblings with the Knight of Embers.
******
Plan. Naturally, it was him.
"Additionally... investigate the Knight of Embers, Scarlett, as well."
"It will be done, Your Highness."
With that reply, the communication ended. There was no one in The Plains who would question or doubt the Third Princess's orders.
Yushia bore a faint smile on her face.
"Sir Plan."
She lifted the completed doll with her tiny hand.
"I hope you find happiness."
◈
Inside a room of the Magic Tower.
Specifically, inside the World Within the Painting. The office.
I was engrossed in observing the artifacts I had collected.
Self-improvement and research into Ancient Rune Language. These were two things I never neglected, and I conveniently had a few hours to spare before the final check.
First to examine was the miraculous sword blade obtained through the auction: Surt. I still had no intention of wielding a sword, but I was fairly interested in the elemental power it contained.
I carefully examined the blade for an hour.
At last.
....
When I extracted and contained the elemental power it possessed, I could not help but be impressed.
"Satisfactory."
The elemental currents inside the flask shimmered in rainbow hues. The colors were proof of their own purity.
I immediately overlaid it onto the watch.
The watch I had gotten from the auction house—the one the artisan handcrafted, the one with the elegant design, the one many nobles coveted.
It would be quite useful if handed to one of the representatives. At this point, it was safe to say the value of over 30,000 gold coins had been well recovered.
"Master."
Maeve, who had been sitting on the floor beside me polishing the auction items, spoke up.
"How should we dispose of this sword blade? Surt."
"Discard it."
Surt, having lost its elemental power, was nothing but an empty shell. In other words, there was no further use for it.
But Maeve shook her head.
"How about selling it again?"
"Who would buy an empty shell?"
"You never know."
"Discard it. Maeve."
....
Yet Maeve, unable to let go of her attachment, kept smacking her lips in regret and talking back.
"Then give it to me. I'll deal with it myself."
"I don't care, but I will give you one warning."
I grabbed Maeve's chin with telekinesis. She let out a small gasp and flinched.
"If you plan to resell it, you must never deceive the buyer into thinking it is intact. I will not tolerate falsehood."
"...I wouldn't do such a thing."
"I'll be watching."
Finally, when the permission was granted, Maeve began polishing Surt's blade as well.
"What about the Ancient Rune research I ordered?"
"Ah. I did it."
Maeve handed over a bundle of papers.
These were the materials documenting her research into the Ancient Runes discovered in this world, based on the theories I had personally written.
"...She worked quite hard."
Surprisingly, I could feel the traces of her sincere effort. She had done at least twice the amount of work I had expected.
"Yes. The power contained within the runes is one thing, but when I bound them together, I discovered they took the shape of a map. Of course, deciphering it will take time—"
The power of the Ancient Runes alone was satisfying, but a map as well. My heart began to beat faster—a thing quite unbefitting my composure.
My interest was greatly piqued. Whatever I could imagine, something greater would surely be sleeping at the map's destination.
"Do it by the end of the day."
"Huh?"
"The deciphering. Do it by the end of the day."
"What...."
Our eyes met in midair. Her crimson eyes could not meet mine for more than three seconds.
"...Do you have any more work for me?"
"Just do the work you have already been given properly."
"Yes."
I repeatedly examined the research results. It was similar to the emotions I had felt in my distant childhood, the excitement of discovering something new.
I would utilize these to elevate my own magic level and then precisely refine the representatives based on it.
"Hm."
However, I needed to maintain my dignity. Getting excited over a few rune spells was childish. Let's prepare for the observation training instead.
Of course, the preparations were thorough, so there was nothing to worry about.
Just then.
Maeve extended an additional sheet of research.
"But Master, I just can't understand this part. Please lend me your excellent wisdom."
After examining the content of the research paper I received, I inadvertently bore a faint smile.
'She's still trying to test me.'
The power of the Ancient Rune inscribed on the paper was of the Explosion type, designed to detonate after a short delay.
I stealthily glanced at Maeve's face.
She was smiling somewhat proudly, as if she thought her assassination plan was perfect.
"Indeed, Ancient Rune Language is impressive."
Even when applied at the mere level of Maeve, it allowed her to create such an explosive paper and attempt an assassination.
Maeve's lips quivered with excitement.
"I know, right? It's really difficult and profound. So, Master, please look at it more closely, for a long, long time, and teach me."
I easily restructured the entire formula.
"Teaching, is it? Not difficult."
What Maeve had originally intended—an 'Explosion' with enough power to obliterate this entire office—I completely changed to the property of 'Spiciness.'
"This should be easy to understand."
"Wow. You found the answer already?"
Maeve shaped her lips into a sly smirk and even clapped her hands together.
"As expected of Master. You're amazing. You do everything by yourself."
I manifested the spell into the form of a candy and flicked it cleanly into Maeve's mouth.
"Hup?"
Maeve's eyes widened abruptly, as if she hadn't expected this at all.
She chewed, rolling the candy around in her mouth a few times. And then, the next moment.
....
Her face turned bright red.
"Huk, eugh, gek, ugeuek...."
Tears and snot started gushing out.
◈
The final check for the Subjugation Festival main event.
I arrived at the basement of the Magic Tower exactly on the hour. Today's training, which was originally supposed to be held inside the Illusion World, had its location changed due to the observation.
"...It's spacious."
A size surpassing my expectations, with stands reminiscent of an arena. It was an excellent arena without a doubt.
When I opened the door and stepped inside, Becky, Trixie... everyone except Louis was there.
"Ah, Plan!"
Becky acknowledged me.
"We will now begin the final check."
"Huh? Where's Louis?"
"He asked for permission beforehand. He will arrive soon."
I immediately got to the point. I examined each representative as I continued speaking.
"Considering the event is the Subjugation Festival, today's check will also be in the form of combat."
Combat.
Whether one liked it or not, it was a fated element that a mage could never avoid. Becky gulped nervously.
"And one more thing."
My eyes turned to the spectator stands. The representatives' gazes naturally followed, and in the next moment.
"Huh...?"
"Professors?"
Invisible question marks appeared above their heads. I understood the feeling. There were well over eight professors in attendance.
"The final check will be conducted under observation."
Ignoring their confusion, I calmly continued my explanation.
"Today focuses not on victory or defeat, but on 'hiding one's magic power' well. You should know the reason. If you fail to properly hide your magic power, a one-on-one fight will quickly escalate into a free-for-all."
....
"For the combat target, anyone except the observers can be chosen. Also, the professors will take measures to prevent fatal injuries, so do not hesitate to attack your opponent."
Lastly, I fixed my gaze on Trixie.
"First is Trixie."
"Mm."
"Choose your opponent."
"Hm."
Trixie nodded without difficulty.
Her gaze was unwavering. She seemed to have already decided whom she would fight. However, Trixie did not direct her gaze toward Becky or Louis.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes.
The silence grew long, and the observers' eyes watching Trixie became slightly suspicious.
In the midst of the quiet, she finally asked.
"You said I could choose anyone, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. Then."
Trixie nodded. A moment later, she took about three steps and stood close beside me.
Her lake-blue eyes stared up at me intently. Her gaze was full of wordless will.
"You."
The expressions of the representatives beside me went blank. I looked at the observers, and they too were somewhat bewildered by Trixie's choice.
I quietly shook my head.
"That is a poor choice, Trixie."
Because to aid the observers' monitoring and understanding, it was better for those with similar skill levels to face each other.
But Trixie did not back down.
"No, I'll attach a condition. To make it a good choice."
As she said this, she glanced sideways at Becky. The person in question, Becky, discreetly avoided her gaze.
Eventually, Trixie's gaze returned to me.
"If I win, you must answer one thing—whatever it is. Instead, if I lose, I'll do whatever you command."
"There's no chance you'll win."
"No?"
She sharply cut me off.
And on her lips, a faint smile appeared.
"What do you mean, no chance."
The end of the curiosity she herself had harbored.
Trixie was determined to see it today, no matter what.
"You already forfeited against me once."