Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: 10. I Came, I Saw, I Won (4)
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# 88
#6 Their Circumstances: Some Student's Circumstances.
"Something feels off..."
A student from Mercaria muttered to himself as he navigated the dark cave.
The match he'd entered was the labyrinth breakthrough—a staple event in the long history of the Imperial Tournament.
The rules were simple.
Enter the labyrinth via spatial magic, and the first to escape wins.
They even showed a map of the labyrinth beforehand, so pinpointing major landmarks let you roughly track your position.
"If I just avoid students from the other academies..."
But there were four hundred entrants.
Even in a massive labyrinth like this, with a hundred from each academy, avoiding fights wasn't easy.
"Let's see..."
This was one of the few events where combat-weak Mercaria had an edge.
The legend of a Mercaria student memorizing the entire map with monster-like memory and breezing through was still talked about.
That's why this student was motivated, pushing forward for his academy's victory.
"Let's see... where was this statue on the map... Hup!"
Clack... clack...
As he eyed the statue—a key landmark for orientation—sounds of shoes echoed from afar.
"Damn, nowhere to hide..."
The only cover was the statue.
But these uniquely shaped statues were crucial for navigation.
Certain his opponent would come check it too, the student agonized.
'What do I do? Beg for mercy? But this might be broadcast on video magic tools...'
Even a great power like the Empire couldn't cover everyone with recording devices.
With countless events unfolding across the capital, the odds of being filmed were miraculous.
'Famous student council officers and some notables from other academies are competing, so the chance they're filming me is low...'
Still, he feared that unlucky probability.
No, if it was that famous opponent, they might have cameras trailing them.
'Alright, even if I lose, I'll go down stylishly... stylishly.'
He ducked behind the fairly large statue and drew a small dagger.
Wait for the opponent to inspect the statue, spot him, then strike.
No worry of death anyway.
This event had a history of assassinations of rival heirs, rules against killing often broken.
It'd been discontinued a few times.
But now, with magic tools auto-teleporting anyone injured, it was safe.
Aim for the body—not the neck—to disqualify without breaking rules.
'Please, just don't spot me... keep going...'
But he knew he was weak.
Knew this ambush would be easily blocked.
Even the physically frailest Marsis students outdid Mercaria in physical prowess!
Clack... clack...
The slower-than-expected footsteps neared.
He bit his lip, staring toward the sound.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm~"
A Yuglasia student in uniform strolled leisurely ahead, humming a tune.
Totally out of place in this labyrinth—like a casual walk.
So alien to him that, risking detection, he kept watching.
And spotted something odd.
"The walls are moving!"
His whisper carried pure shock.
The labyrinth breakthrough's history held wild wins beyond Mercaria's memorization feat: an Arsia swordsman slashing walls with sword aura, or a mage flying overhead.
Thus, its terrain and rules had been tweaked the most.
Even the faintly glowing ceiling—damage it, and you'd auto-DQ like an injury.
"Moving walls? Possible? Summon mimicking a wall? Or an earth spirit touching the walls?"
Lost in wild guesses, the Yuglasia student passed right by—ignoring the statue entirely.
"What the...?"
Bewildered as she strolled past the event's key element, he noticed new walls blocking his view—ones not there before.
Tap. Tap.
"What kind of walls are these?"
From afar, unnoticeable; up close, clearly different from the labyrinth's.
The maze walls were earthy-brown, smooth, etched with magic circles.
These? Plain dirt.
His memory confirmed: they shouldn't exist here.
Tap... tap.
Gazing at the walls, lost in thought—
"Bweep?"
Ten minutes later, something burst from the mud wall, knocking him out—eliminated.
#7 Their Circumstances: Lisenn de Roa's Circumstances.
"Alright, everyone—stick to the plan!"
Professor Niserwin, whom no one wanted to see (the Silver Devil didn't count as human), arrived at dawn.
His malicious talents had wrecked other academies before—we'd all felt it firsthand—so he was reliable firepower.
As expected, he brought a bizarre strategy, and we were executing it.
The plan: disguise 90 of our 100 as spirit summoners.
My role? Intercept any other academy students approaching the operatives.
"Gahk?"
"Lisenn de Roa? Was this guy always this strong?"
"Ugh... evade! It's the Trickster! Stall him—gather more students for a group push!"
Using Loki's Shoes for speed, I cleared foes, occasionally directing operatives on rally points.
"Alright, forty down."
"Gurk!"
Teams had weaker individuals, but still—I'd grown stronger.
Forty from other academies downed without a single clean hit on me? Top contender material.
-So, happy now? Finally reaping the rewards of those night self-study skips?
-No, I just don't wanna do it and wanna skip night self-study instead.
But in that time, I'd lost so much.
Time, freedom—countless things tied to them!
"Uwaaaah!"
"Wait—another power surge from over there!"
"The Trickster knows no limits!"
I dropped cringey lines as Arsia students fell, finishing them cleanly per Professor Niserwin's instructions before moving on.
Great part of this event: once down, keep wailing until injury teleport—confirmation kill.
I'd mastered taking hits—knew exactly how hard to drop someone—so one-shots mostly.
-So, happy?
-I hate it!
Snapped at Loki's prodding, but he just cackled.
Damn, he'd shut up if he took a beating from that Silver Devil.
Look at Athena.
Syncs perfectly with Lady Aris from constant sparring.
Other first-year god-tier summoners mastered their deities too.
Bonded through shared pain...
"Oh, Vice President!"
Mid-plotting how to let Loki taste the Devil's pummeling, a call from afar.
"Ah, second-year? No other academy run-ins?"
"One Marsis kid tried magic—I sent him packing."
Sweat beaded her smiling face.
This plan drained operatives' mana—yet she downed a Marsis?
"Using a spirit, and fought back?"
"Yeah, guy's junk took one kick—foamed at the mouth, teleported."
Huh?
"Junk?"
"Yeah. The chili pepper."
"Ah, uh, right?"
Cute face saying "chili pepper" for that guy-thing.
And "sent packing in one go."
"Lady Stermir, may this foe's lineage find better fortune..."
"Vice President?"
As a fellow male, I offered condolences—prayers for reincarnation.
"Anyway, suddenly going low blows? Risky move..."
"But Professor Niserwin taught it..."
"He did?"
Niserwin truly was a demon.
Teaching that to a fellow man... Wait!
"Not just you, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. All the girls competing..."
"Head that way!"
Pointed the rally, activated Loki's Shoes—gone.
Yuglasia had roughly equal boys/girls this round.
Say fifty girls; half followed Niserwin's tip? Twenty-five demons-in-training.
Thus—
"Arrrghhhh!"
"You demoness!"
"There!"
Male screams echoed afar—I rocketed there at max speed.
"Tch... too late."
One Mercaria boy foaming in uniform.
Our girl glaring venomously at another Mercaria boy clutching his... jewels, trembling in terror.
"Lisenn senior?"
"Plan's on: I'll handle these. You head that way."
"Yes, senior!"
Once she vanished with her leisurely wall-walking, I bowed slightly to the Mercaria student.
"Sorry, got here too late..."
"Ugh... you... even for victory, this is unforgivable!"
No words for his resentment-filled glare.
"To prevent more victims... quick dispatch."
Saved one man, lost another—I pushed full throttle to save the Empire's future.
To the plan's end.
#8 Their Circumstances: Some Marsis Student's Circumstances.
"Perfect—foundation for our win laid!"
"Maintain distance!"
"One down? Heal 'em right up!"
"All per plan!"
My words spurred seniors to direct juniors.
Grouped, Marsis was strongest—no contest.
Primary goal: mass gathering.
Twenty converged via spells.
Bit low, but solid in this maze.
"Move out!"
Defensive types front/rear, healers center, firepower mages interspersed.
Plus me—a magic engineer hopeful, melee-capable even vs. Arsia!
Victory assured...
"Huh? Huh? Huh?!"
"Wait—what's that?!"
Then a massive tidal wave from afar swept it all away.
#9 Their Circumstances: Some Organization's Circumstances.
Ever since, labyrinth breakthrough hosted countless assassinations in Imperial Tournament history!
Though safeguards made it near-impossible now, for us anti-Empire assassins raised to kill the Emperor!
"Gwaaaah!"
The giant wave hit—everything washed away.