The Tomb (4)

The moment the children's trial began in the Tomb of Books and Swords.

Libiel, seated in the viewing stands, muttered softly.

"What a fool, Kirian."

Of course, it was her way of expressing worry.

The boy standing there all alone looked so small and fragile.

In the pitch-black depths of that tomb, he seemed like he might vanish in a puff of smoke at any moment—an unsettling thought.

Can he really make it through this trial?

"Find the 'most powerful thing' in this tomb and bring it back..."

As the tomb's spirits issued the first task, the children scattered in all directions.

Each had to come up with their own answer.

Most of them are probably going for the preserved weapons on the shelves?

Libiel's own idea wasn't much different.

This Tomb of Books and Swords held as many diverse weapons as it did ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magic tomes.

For the first test, there didn't seem to be much need for direct competition.

But Kirian's choice was different.

He stood still, eyes closed, gathering blue mana between his fingers.

No way?

He plans to submit his mana as the answer?

It was a choice with pros and cons.

For one, he wouldn't waste mana breaking the preservation spells on the shelves.

And since the one-eyed merchant had vouched for his extraordinary talent, Kirian could likely score high with his mana alone.

But there was a problem.

Mana can be stolen from others, right?

In other words, if other kids tried the same thing—condensing mana as their submission—it could get dangerous for him.

Libiel watched anxiously.

And sure enough, a few children mimicked Kirian's approach.

"Kirian..."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The girl bit her parched lips.

Soon, the children were snatching mana from one another in a fierce competition.

The guardians in the waiting area erupted in commotion at the sight.

"Damn it! Lances! Don't back down!"

"Give it your all, Ben!"

"G-Get back, Maria!"

They swung their fists and shouted as if they were in an arena.

Fortunately, Kirian emerged victorious.

He turned the tables, absorbing the attacking children's mana and merging it with his own before submitting.

"Ha... He's totally insane..."

Libiel sighed in relief, hand on her chest.

In any case, Kirian had crushed all competitors, amassing an enormous mana orb. As the first to submit for the initial test, he even earned bonus points.

Good. No chance of failing now. He might even make the rankings?

Truth be told, only the tomb spirits handled scoring, so it was anyone's guess.

Libiel tried to settle back for a moment of peace.

But the next instant, her eyes flew wide.

"That damn brat! Because of you!"

A gleaming blade flashed.

Mihaden, drained from losing his mana, charged at Kirian with a small knife.

A suffocating dread whitened Libiel's mind.

But in that flash, a shadow shot up like lightning.

"Young master!"

It was the nanny, Jenice.

She, who had been sitting quietly in the guardians' area, bolted forward at incredible speed.

She's fast?

From the Rnab family maid lineage, apparently.

Had she learned their secret arts?

But the next moment, Jenice hesitated.

Her feet skidded to a halt just before leaping into the tomb.

"Huh...?"

Libiel grasped the situation a beat later and flinched.

Down below, Kirian moved his hands with a blank expression.

Incredibly, he handled Mihaden with total ease.

"Die!"

"You first."

Kirian simply twisted his upper body to deflect the clumsy thrust.

Then he grabbed Mihaden's arm and wrenched it in one fluid motion.

The dagger clattered to the floor as the elbow joint twisted with a sickening crack!

"Aaaagh!"

"Shut up."

Mihaden screamed and collapsed, pinned helplessly under Kirian's small frame, writhing in agony.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Low gasps rose from the viewing stands.

Libiel turned to see the academy deans gaping in shock.

"Did everyone see that?"

"Yes. A flawless deflection, no wasted motion. He couldn't have trained in swordsmanship..."

"What a world! How does Demiph's son pull off moves like that?"

It was a counter so smooth it bordered on awe-inspiring.

The deans recognizing its value was only natural.

With bold ingenuity and a single counter, Kirian had begun proving his worth.

Whoa, the Extremeism dean will definitely try to snag him now.

That's when Jenice's shout exploded from the waiting area.

"I object! Our young master was just attacked out of nowhere, nearly killed! Clear violation of the fine print rules!"

* * *

I smiled faintly at my nanny's voice.

According to the fine print of the Tomb of Books and Swords, "Actions endangering other participants outside of trial-related conduct are strictly prohibited."

Mihaden's stunt was an undeniable rules violation.

[Jenice jumped in at the perfect moment. I almost rushed down myself, but she held back at the last second.]

Hierniorn flapped its wings atop a bookshelf.

'Did she? Good thing.'

It wasn't time yet.

Wasting a guardian's power on a squabble with a kid was pointless.

But I had to call it out.

Attacking another participant unrelated to the trial was strictly forbidden.

"A precise observation..."

As Mihaden writhed under me, the tomb spirits shimmered closer.

"Mihaden Kirchheis... You threatened another participant's safety outside of trial conduct... This warrants the highest level of discipline..."

A chilly silence fell.

The spirits exchanged glances before delivering their verdict—

"We hereby order your immediate expulsion..."

"...What?"

"Object if you must... Though everything seems clear..."

"N-No."

There was no excuse to make.

Mihaden's face stiffened, and his body floated up lightly.

The tomb's eerie mana swirled, ready to eject him.

"N-No! Please...!"

Mihaden wailed.

Floating midair, he flailed desperately.

"Grandfather! Give me one more chance! Please! I beg you!"

His desperate cries echoed through the tomb, but no response came.

Rohbark stared down without a flicker.

[As if pleas would sway the Iron-Blooded Warlock? Just causing needless fuss.]

Hierniorn clucked its beak watching.

The family head couldn't interfere in the tomb's trial procedures.

Only the spirits and involved parties handled judgments and enforcement.

'Mihaden can't even plead his case, so I'm the only one who can step in now.'

Only me...?

A good idea struck.

A way to exploit the fine print again.

"Hold on."

"...?"

As I raised my hand and spoke, eyes focused once more.

Honestly, Mihaden's expulsion meant little to me.

But if I could snag extra points, that was the obvious choice.

"As the rule's aggrieved party, I oppose Mihaden's expulsion."

Just voicing opposition was enough.

The spirits tilted their heads.

"You oppose...?"

"Yes. I wasn't hurt a bit. In fact, I like this dagger. Let me keep it, penalize him with deduction points, and call it even."

I held up Mihaden's dagger as evidence.

It was light and well-balanced.

The spirits exchanged looks, then murmured.

They seemed to grasp my intent fully.

Of course—the trial-conducting ghosts knew the fine print inside out.

[You aimed for that rule, didn't you?]

'Yeah. Grab every point I can.'

[Heh. Thorough one, aren't you?]

Hierniorn chuckled.

My claim was accepted.

The lead spirit gestured at Mihaden.

"Very well... Mihaden receives 10 penalty points, ending his discipline... Return to the trial..."

Mihaden thudded to the floor.

He clutched his injured arm, groaning as he rose, utterly bewildered.

I pocketed the dagger and jerked my chin.

"What're you waiting for? Go find your answer."

"You... what the hell...?"

"None of your business."

"..."

Mihaden vanished, clutching his arm in confusion.

He wouldn't get a great answer in that state, but it beat a humiliating first-round boot.

Soon, all children submitted.

"With the first trial complete, we announce the scores..."

[Even those who challenged you, lost their mana, and collapsed managed something. Still, elimination looks likely.]

Meanwhile, I'd submitted mana—and gotten it back intact.

Fundamentally different from the weapons and tomes pulled from shelves.

The spirits rated the first trial highly.

The viewing stands buzzed.

"What the hell? 114 points?"

"Full score's 100, right?"

"Must be a glitch..."

My overwhelming 114 points had clinched first place.

The gap would only widen in the next rounds.

'Want to surpass me? You'll have to risk more and tackle trials aggressively.'

And I planned to exploit that fully.

Then Rohbark rose.

"As family head, I request disclosure of the first-place score details."

He wanted to know how I'd exceeded 100.

Hierniorn snickered.

[Even he's curious how you scored that. Heh!]

I watched quietly.

Rohbark's presence silenced the vast tomb; only the pale spirits reacted.

"A valid request..."

"We accept the family head's demand..."

"Disclosing first-place Kirian Kirchheis's score breakdown..."

The scoreboard updated.

My path to 114 points was revealed.

Solo mana would've netted under 60.

But kids like Mihaden feeding me theirs pushed me near 90, plus bonuses over 100.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

All eyes locked on the last item.

"Good will and cooperation."

"Explicit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the fine print..."

"We know, of course."

In the Kirchheis family, blood feuds were daily life.

But here, in the Tomb of Books and Swords, 'good will and cooperation' earned points.

Fear that unchecked malice among children threatened the family's survival.

I'd known this criterion, opposed Mihaden's boot, and exceeded full marks.

"I see. Understood."

"..."

Rohbark nodded, resuming his seat.

The arena fell into a different silence.

Now everyone knew I'd caught the family head's eye.

Next came the first-trial eliminations.

"Ben Kirchheis, Lances Deblanc, Maria Kirchheis..."

"Failed to meet minimum score..."

"Eliminated..."

All who'd dueled me for mana.

Exhausted, they couldn't recover and drank the cup of failure.

Hierniorn clacked karmic justice, but I felt nothing.

Who survived or fell meant little to me.

But a burning gaze prickled.

"...?"

Mihaden.

The kid who'd barely scraped by stared me down.

His eyes subtly changed.

Why's he staring?

Then the other failures were ejected.

The second trial was announced.

"We issue the second trial..."

"Go to your assigned points and return with the 'Token of Return'..."

"Time limit: 3 hours..."

"Stealing others' tokens is permitted..."