Chapter 110
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Friendly Mock Battle
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(However, 4th-year students are excluded from selection.)
*Accordingly, twelve players from each academy will participate in the friendly mock battle.
The method of selecting participants for the mock battle, as well as details about the mock battle itself, will follow Eloden Academy's procedures exactly.
Meanwhile, Ullan tilted his head.
"But why are the 4th-years excluded?"
"Probably because most academies don't have them around?"
"Don't have them at the academy?"
"4th-years are mostly out of the academy doing graduation projects or fieldwork and such."
Noa answered the additional question.
She then added a bit more explanation.
"And this is just my guess, but Eloden Academy is a 3-year program, so they probably limited participation to up to 3rd-years with that in mind."
It was certainly a reasonable explanation.
Ullan nodded silently.
It meant he understood. At that moment, Dilia raised a question this time.
"But how did they decide on the representatives?"
The process for selecting students to participate in the mock battle would follow Eloden Academy's method, so that made sense.
On the other hand, nothing was written about how each academy's representative was chosen, leaving Dilia puzzled.
But the curiosity didn't last long.
"It's written about that here."
"Looks like they held a simple selection match targeting 2nd- and 3rd-years before the exchange event started. And the results are..."
Another announcement posted on the back of the bulletin board.
It detailed the process by which each academy's representative was selected, along with information on the representatives themselves.
【Arsen Academy】
『Representative: Iris Senior』
【Eloden Academy】
『Representative: Teron Schlagen』
Ullan knew who Teron Schlagen was.
He was the leader of Eloden's student delegation and served as student council president there.
Arsen Academy's side was different, though.
"Who's Iris Senior?"
Ullan looked at Ivela and Dilia.
If anyone would know internal academy info, it would be these two.
"Hmm, not sure."
"First time, hearing, that name."
Not this time, though.
The two girls wore puzzled expressions. It was clear they didn't know.
Noa was different.
Her eyes gleamed silently as she fixed her gaze on the list of representatives in the announcement.
'Iris Senior.'
The youngest daughter of the renowned Senior count family, famous for their spearmanship, and one of the named characters. A key trait was that she would become student council president next year.
She didn't stand out immediately, but far in the future, she would become the sixth master of the Ruben Empire.
'Not a hero, but I remember she made significant contributions fighting the Abyss.'
She even dealt considerable damage to one of the Abyss lords. Of course, Iris herself perished in battle as a result.
As she recalled this information...
"Ah, there's the participant list below!"
Ivela's voice snapped her out of it.
The list of players participating in the mock battle.
In other words, the people chosen by Iris Senior. At those words, everyone's eyes turned to the announcement without hesitation.
The first name that caught the eye was Dilia's.
No one was particularly surprised. Dilia herself took it as a given.
'Well, Dilia's a given.'
Ullan often forgot since they were always together, but Dilia was the most famous 1st-year around.
Plus, with Himmel Deorg—once seen as equally promising—dropping out, her position had only solidified.
'So the other three...'
Who got picked?
Ullan was obviously in, of course.
With that certainty, Noa looked at the list.
And her eyes widened hugely.
A moment later, a dazed voice escaped her.
"......Huh?"
She truly couldn't make sense of it.
Ivela had been growing insanely fast lately, so her selection made sense, but Noa herself had no real reason to be picked.
And one more thing.
The moment she confirmed her name on the list, Noa realized what the stares from some students meant.
"......"
Eyes filled with jealousy, doubt, and envy.
Glares reproaching her like, Why you, when there are so many other skilled people?
The instant she noticed, Noa instinctively shrank her shoulders. The negative, malicious gazes crushed her momentum.
Meanwhile.
Ullan furrowed his brow.
"This is a hassle."
He had no intention of participating in the mock battle.
He didn't see any real gain from it. Better to spend the time training his stamina instead.
At that moment.
Dilia spoke up.
"Still, I'm, happy."
"Hm? Why?"
"Because I'll be doing it together, with Ullan."
"Right. We couldn't join the mock battle we wanted because of the disqualification. Who'd have thought we'd get this chance?"
Ivela chimed in as well.
At that, Ullan recalled the promise they'd all made during the last selection match.
To all go to the mock battle together.
But because he'd turned Himmel into a bloody pulp, it hadn't happened.
"So......"
"You'll participate too, right, Ullan?"
Pleas filled their eyes.
Ullan's deliberation didn't last long.
"Got it. Let's go together."
It was a chance to keep the promise he'd broken last time. For Ullan, who valued promises, it was a shot at making amends.
"Heehee, great!"
"Can't wait for the mock battle."
Dilia and Ivela.
Smiles bloomed on their faces.
But it wasn't just joy at being with Ullan. Their eyes locked on the prize as proof.
【Overnight Pass】
Their eyes sharpened fiercely.
Like beasts eyeing prey.
'Overnight pass!'
'No matter what it takes...'
They would get it.
It was a chance to spend time alone with Ullan.
As flames rose in their eyes.
Unlike Ullan's group, some stared at the announcement with stiff expressions. Ian and Laurea from Eloden's student delegation.
Their eyes fixed on the participant list.
Especially Ullan's name. Suddenly, Ian wore an awkward smile.
"Um, Senpai."
"......What?"
"Feels like I gained precognition."
"Coincidence. Same here."
With Laurea's reply.
They both sighed in unison.
"The result's already clear."
"This mock battle's doomed."
With Ullan participating, the outcome was set in stone.
Suppressing their urge to forfeit, they sighed once more.
Friday night faded away like that.
2.
Two days later.
Sunday evening, just before the mock battle.
The participants, including Ullan, left the dorms. It was due to a sudden summons from Arsen's representative, Iris Senior.
"Why the sudden call?"
Ivela tilted her head.
Noa offered her thoughts.
"Maybe info to pass on about tomorrow's mock battle?"
"I think, the same, as Noa."
"Ugh, still feels off..."
There had been plenty of time to call them before.
Friday when the notice went up, or even yesterday. So why call them the day before the mock battle?
As they wore uneasy looks.
The four arrived at the promised spot: the cafe inside the student center. A luxurious place divided into private booths like the student dining hall's special rooms.
Guided by the server, they reached a large room. Ivela knocked tensely.
"Excuse me."
With a polite knock, she cracked the door.
The room's interior came into view.
A massive room that could fit dozens.
Bigger even than the special room. As they each let out brief exclamations of awe.
"Come on in."
An unfamiliar voice came from the window side.
A girl with long, flowing purple hair. Wearing a hat symbolizing mid-level mage status, she smiled brightly at them.
"You must be the 1st-years participating in the mock battle?"
"Yes, I'm Ivela Elead."
Led by Ivela's introduction.
The others followed suit.
"N-Noa Darshen!"
"Dilia Arpen."
"Ullan."
Introductions growing shorter toward the end.
The woman didn't mind.
In fact, at Ullan's intro, her eyes widened as if recalling something.
"Ah! You're the terrorist from the entrance ceremony?"
"Terrorist?"
"Yeah, you're pretty famous among us."
She nodded.
Then smiled brightly as she replied.
"Quite a few 3rd-years got injured. I wasn't there, so I didn't know the details, but I heard about it from Iris later."
Hearing that, Ullan realized she wasn't Iris.
"And you are......"
"Sorry, my intro's late."
The girl smiled awkwardly, aware of her rudeness.
A moment later, she grabbed her skirt hem and bowed politely. Then, with a bright smile, she introduced herself.
"I'm Camilla Tanesia. 3rd-year in the magic department, participating in the mock battle. Call me Camilla casually."
She mainly handled fire and wind attributes.
Both at mid-level mage realm, putting her in the upper ranks among 3rd-years.
"Sorry about this, though."
"Huh?"
"Making you come all the way here."
Camilla bowed again.
As if she felt guilty.
"Upperclassmen can't enter 1st-year areas by principle. Getting caught means penalty points."
That was why no 2nd-years or above were seen in 1st-year zones. Iris's contact had come through the dorm supervisor too.
As the explanation wrapped up.
Their ordered drinks arrived.
The moment the server left, Ullan downed the beverage in one go.
Crunch crunch! Chomp!
After chewing and swallowing the hard ice.
He got straight to the point.
"Where's the one who called us?"
"Ah, sorry. She was here until just now but went to the bathroom. She'll be back soon."
Camilla smiled awkwardly.
The moment she finished.
Creak!
The firmly shut door suddenly opened.
The one who entered was a girl with sky-blue hair tied up, her face expressionless.
"......"
The very person who had summoned Ullan's group here, and Arsen's representative for the mock battle.
Iris Senior.