Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Friendly Mock Battle
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(3)
5.
"Hello, everyone!"
A cheerful voice echoed through the arena.
The girl in her late teens seated at the commentary booth waved happily toward the spectator stands.
"I'm Edelrin Lüodfeld, a third-year in the Magic Department at Arsen Academy, and I'll be commentating today's friendly mock battle. Nice to meet you!"
"And I'm Liv Merheil, a second-year in the Knight Department at Eloden Academy, handling commentary alongside her."
It was Monday morning.
The day of the friendly mock battle between Arsen Academy and Eloden Academy. Each school had selected one commentator to cover the matches.
The two sitting right here.
Edelrin and Liv.
Behind the commentary booth were seats for students and professors. In front loomed a massive screen.
A device broadcasting the mock battle footage.
As all eyes turned to the screen, Edelrin spoke up again.
"I've heard this mock battle differs a bit from Arsen's format. For the benefit of our Arsen students, could you explain?"
"Of course."
With a polite reply.
Liv's explanation began.
"Eloden's mock battles revolve around stealing the opponent's flag. Alternatively, neutralizing all enemy forces counts as victory too."
"So there are two win conditions!"
"Exactly."
Liv nodded.
Edelrin followed up.
"Are there any must-follow rules or conditions for this match?"
"Yes. To prevent serious injuries, all participants must wear protective gear and use only wooden weapons."
After stating the obvious first.
She added details on the rules.
"Next, I'll explain Eloden's unique rule."
"A special rule?"
"Yes, regarding the bases."
Liv pointed to each camp's base.
Small cabins at the north and south ends. Those were each side's heart, where the flags were kept.
"First, exactly two people must defend each base at all times. No more, no less."
"What if the numbers change?"
"If it drops to one or rises above three, you get a ten-minute grace period."
If not restored, it's forfeit by disqualification. At the somewhat strict rule, Edelrin gave an awkward smile.
"What if both leave the base...?"
"Immediate disqualification."
A firm, uncompromising answer.
Truly stringent rules.
"Second, the base flag can't be moved arbitrarily. You can reposition it inside the base freely, but taking it outside means disqualification."
This rule made sense.
If flags could be relocated at will, it'd turn into hide-and-seek.
"Finally, third: base defenders can rotate every ten minutes after combat starts. You're not required to, of course."
Liv finished and fell silent.
As she caught her breath, Edelrin beamed and shifted topics.
"Thank you for the kind explanation. Now, how about how to tell win from loss?"
With a bright smile.
Edelrin's question continued.
"Arsen gives mana orbs to fighters; breaking one counts as death. What about Eloden?"
"Similar. The difference? You can win without breaking orbs."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
"I'll show you."
Liv pulled out a small orb.
She held it up to the recording device so the audience could see.
"This is the orb used in the mock battle."
Placing it on her palm, a bluish light enveloped her. It meant successful activation.
"If attacked while holding it, the orb's mana depletes automatically."
"Oh, can I test it?"
"Test? What do you m—"
"Hya!"
Before Liv could finish.
Edelrin suddenly struck her shoulder.
Pretty hard, too.
As Liv's face twisted in surprise at the ambush, Edelrin's eyes widened in wonder.
"Whoa, it really works! The mana's down."
"...Yes. So if finding the orb's hard, repeated attacks can drain it for victory."
Liv answered with a sour expression.
Edelrin pressed on.
"So, without breaking the orb, how many hits to fully drain an opponent's?"
"Depends on attack strength."
"Like my hit just now?"
"At least twenty."
"Got it. What if it's stronger...?"
Edelrin clenched her fist.
Liv raised her guard.
Sudden defense. Noticing belatedly, Edelrin tilted her head.
"Huh? What's that for?"
"Just in case."
"Aw, I won't hit you. Do I look like someone who'd smack you twenty times?"
"..."
No reply came.
Edelrin cleared her throat awkwardly to lighten the mood. Just then, a group appeared in the arena.
"Oh, something new in the arena mid-chat! What's that?"
"Mana soldiers."
"Huh? What's that?"
"Think of them as five summons per student. Use freely for ambushes or base defense."
The mock battle stage was vast.
End to end: five kilometers.
Just twenty-four students would feel wasteful.
Thus, Eloden added mana soldiers for realism.
"Whoa, that's fresh. So sixty per side?"
"No, fifty per camp."
"But that math...?"
"Base defenders don't get any, per rules."
Ah, right.
Edelrin nodded.
Then.
Both sides' fighters appeared.
The commentators introduced them enthusiastically.
"Eloden's captain: Teron Schlagen. Third-year Knight Department, advanced knight realm, and Eloden student council president."
"Arsen's captain: Iris Senior! Advanced knight realm, just like Eloden's!"
After intros.
Liv asked curiously.
"Arsen's not using their president?"
"Nope! Arsen held qualifiers. Iris won out."
True, no rule said presidents must lead. Liv nodded understandingly.
During further intros, gasps rose from the stands. A newly arrived girl.
"That's..."
A beauty with teal bobbed hair.
Her mere steps exuded elegance. Spectators—and even Edelrin—were captivated.
Facing this.
Liv beamed proudly.
"Eloden General Department second-year, Laurea Ro Sharfel. And the Holy Kingdom's next saintess—a most noble figure."
"For real? What a heavyweight!"
A saintess's status rivaled royalty. Edelrin's admiration was genuine.
But briefly.
She grinned and continued.
Arsen had a comparably big name among fighters.
"But Arsen has a match too. The genius mage dubbed the Duchy’s prodigy, first-year Dilia Arpen!"
Rare trait holder like a saintess, prodigy in magic.
A fitting rival to Laurea. Liv nodded in agreement.
Soon, most intros done. Eloden's last fighter entered.
A young man with navy hair.
Liv frowned.
Displeased. But briefly; she did her duty.
"Eloden Knight Department first-year: Ian Marcus. Famous expert knight."
"Ah! The rumored Eloden expert cadet! Arsen's top threat this match."
Edelrin played knowing.
Pouting her lips.
"Eighteen and already expert? Isn't the power gap too big?"
"Maybe. But Arsen has someone similar, right?"
"Hehe, yep."
Edelrin grinned.
As if awaiting mention.
She pointed to Arsen's last entrant—a muscular youth baring his torso—and shouted.
"Arsen's top freshman and entrance ceremony terrorist! The unprecedented newbie in the spotlight: Ullan Bator!"
The booming intro barely ended.
Liv looked baffled.
"...Terrorist?"
"Yes! I was hospitalized three days myself."
"Hospitalized? What happened...?"
"Ahaha, long story."
Edelrin scratched her cheek laughing.
Avoiding details. Liv dropped it.
Intros over, fighters headed to camps.
Soon formations set. Edelrin murmured surprised.
"Huh? Unexpected."
"How so?"
"Base defenses. Both sides' top powers—Ullan and Ian—are stationed there."
Arsen and Eloden bases.
Flag sites: vital hearts.
But no need to park elites there.
Frontline collapse faster and better.
To Edelrin, pure waste. Liv differed.
"Surprising, but not shocking."
"Why?"
"As I said: rotations every ten minutes."
Meaning neither stuck forever. Edelrin got it.
"So both holding aces till battle heats up!"
"Something like that."
Liv smiled slyly.
Meaningful somehow.
Like scheming. Edelrin missed it.
One reason.
Bang! Boom!
Red fireworks lit the sky.
Battle start signal.
6.
As full combat began.
Unlike fierce frontlines, one spot stayed serene.
"Boring."
Arsen base.
Ullan, guarding it, yawned bored.
Fair enough. Unlike battlefield, deadly dull.
"At least..."
Battle viewable here too.
Precisely: footage of captain Iris Senior and vice-captain Camilla Tanesia.
Still, grateful.
Without, he'd sleep from tedium.
Gazing silently.
Suddenly, eyes to opposite.
"You don't need to watch?"
"..."
A burly youth there.
Man with dark brown hair tied back ignored him.
Cliff Anton.
Arsen student council president, mid-tier mage of wind, earth, darkness.
Defense magic master too.
Why at base.
"Problem is..."
No chats since stationing.
Not even eye contact.
Overt snub.
Ullan quit talking.
Ignoring back, eyes to battle feed.
"Assault split in two."
Arsen attackers: six.
Team 1: Iris, Ivela Elead, one hunter.
Team 2: warrior, mage, hunter combo.
Soon, fight erupted.
Iris charged Eloden mana soldiers spear-first. Ullan gauged her instantly.
"Advanced knight."
Like Himmel Deorg before. Watching spearwork quietly, a gap—she unleashed fierce slashes.
Slashslashslashslash!
Targeting vitals.
Ivela Elead's assault.
Mid-tier knight, matching Iris fiercely.
Result.
[Rondina Crepito: Eliminated]
[Eloden Remaining Forces: 11]
First casualty.
Meanwhile, Iris wiped Rondina's mana soldiers. Eloden attackers retreated without hesitation.
"Don't let them escape—pursue!"
Ivela moved first.
Not sated by first kill, she kicked off, stabbing retreating foes' gaps ruthlessly.
"Go ahead! I'll handle here."
A boy stayed voluntarily.
Shield forward, fierce traded blows with Ivela. But Iris joined; he fell.
[Wirbo Betiman: Eliminated]
[Eloden Remaining Forces: 10]
Attackers down two swiftly.
Solid momentum.
Ivela smiled faintly at Iris. Orders came.
"Pushing deeper's risky. Watch and move."
Rash advance risks counter from retreaters and defenders.
Iris planned cautious probe. Reunite with Team 2 if needed.
But then.
Arsen casualty.
[Mond Parcheka: Eliminated]
[Arsen Remaining Forces: 11]
Mid-tier fire/water mage. Third-year council member. Iris sighed.
But anomalies continued.
[Yuria Petoron: Eliminated]
[Mifi Amarino: Eliminated]
[Arsen Remaining Forces: 9]
Iris and Ivela's eyes widened.
Justifiably.
All three: Team 2 attackers. Team 2 wiped out.
"How...?"
Shaken eyes.
Team 2 no pushovers.
Mid-tier knights/mages each. Council members: synced well.
Yet total wipe so fast?
Who?
As puzzled eyes swirled, Ullan watching twitched brow.
"That's..."
Crimson eyes gleamed.
Spotting something special.
And then.
"...!"
Ivela in footage changed expression too.
Spotted something, like Ullan. Urgently, she spun opposite.
"Senior!"
Ivela lunged arrow-like.
Straight sword at Iris.
Startled, Iris didn't block. No killing intent.
Best choice.
Flash from bushes.
Slash aimed at Iris's nape—parried by Ivela.
Clangclangclang!
Barely dodging ambush, Iris retreated, spotted attacker, eyes bulged.
"Y-You...!"
"Heh, unexpected."
Familiar voice with shocked cry. Protective gear, wooden shield, practice sword: navy-haired youth.
Grinning at Ivela.
"Didn't think you'd spot the ambush."
Eloden's ace.
Holy knight Ian Marcus.
Unthought foe. Iris yelled, stunned.
"How are you here?!"
"Rotated. Stuck at base, ants in pants."
Ian cheekily.
Not her question.
"Not that—!"
"Haha, I know. How so fast, right?"
Eloden base to here: three km.
Fast run: ten minutes.
Ian: post-rotation seconds.
Impossible physics.
Ian explained.
"Simple. Thanks to senior."
"Senior...?"
"Me."
"L-Laurea?!"
Ivela cried shocked.
Next saintess: Laurea.
Ullan narrowed eyes at her image. Explained Ian's speed.
'Bridge of Light.'
Laurea's unique prayer.
Teleport via sunlight, starlight, moonlight.
Nigh-instant travel.
"Ah. Plains choice for this."
Gorges shadowy.
Hard for light bridge. Plains opposite: sunny fields bar central woods.
"Initial base placement too..."
To strike flanks thus.
No frontline Ian: no aggressive Iris.
Iris, Ivela shocked. Realized Ian's ploy.
No fault theirs.
Unknown spell: inevitable.
Silence fell.
Iris, Ivela whispered lips moving.
Like exchanging murmurs.
Curious content, too quiet.
After decent time.
Iris backed off suddenly; Ivela and another faced Ian.
"Ready?"
Smirking slyly.
Ian tilted shield-forward.
Playfully swung practice sword, grinned.
"Then, if you please."
Eyes battle-hungry.
Ivela gripped sword firm.
Past-life comrades.
Sword Princess vs. holy knight. Ullan itched unwittingly. Battle-lust smile crept.
Whoosh!
Ivela's practice sword cleaved air.
War opened.