Chapter 187: The Grand Festival (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 187: The Grand Festival (8)
I tossed my racket aside.
Standing tall, I slammed Zhonya’s Staff into the dirt.
The tip of the staff etched a sharp, crystalline ice pattern into the ground. The mark expanded rapidly, glowing with a frigid light until it was carved deep into the earth.
A freezing gale instantly swirled around me.
“…This is self-defense.”
Three pale-blue magic circles unfurled in the air. Simultaneously, I began calculating the complex formula for the 6-star ice spell, [Frost Wave].
This was my countermeasure against the Clover Paladin.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down my cheek.
I couldn't afford to get injured here. I needed to remain in peak condition for the Grand Festival to defeat Miya and the shadow demon; I needed that EXP.
“Student Isaac?!”
“Are you insane?! Stop this at once!”
“I told you to calm down!”
“If you don’t stand down this instant, we will use force!”
The faculty members scrambled, deploying their own magic circles or drawing weapons. However, they couldn't hide the tremor in their voices. They knew all too well that both Pierre and I were far more powerful than they were.
In this high-stakes confrontation, they were more of a nuisance than actual combatants.
I looked at Pierre, a faint, provocative smile playing on my lips.
“I told you to relax. What’s with the face? Don’t tell me I actually managed to get under your skin?”
“…”
Pierre didn't offer a word. I could practically feel the murderous intent radiating from him.
Of course, he wasn't acting purely on emotion. There was a cold, calculated logic behind his aggression.
The four Paladins suspected me of being the Nameless Hero. It was almost certainly Alice who had planted that seed of doubt. Normally, that suspicion would make them hesitate to provoke me.
But if I tried to suppress my power here, in front of the entire academy, I would inevitably be crushed by the Clover Paladin.
Comparing our raw mana capacities, the winner of a direct clash between Pierre and me was obvious. To stand a chance, I would be forced to reveal my "hidden power."
That was his gamble.
If I truly was the Nameless Hero and chose to hide my strength, I would end up severely injured. Even with high-tier healing magic, I’d be bedridden for the duration of the Grand Festival.
Being confined to a hospital bed meant constant surveillance, severely restricting my movements. Alice and the Paladins likely knew the shadow demon was expected to appear during the festival, and they knew the Nameless Hero would have to act.
Using the hospital’s eyes to track my every move would be a perfect way to expose my identity.
On the other hand, if I recovered at an impossible rate to regain my freedom, that would only deepen their suspicions.
And now, Pierre had found the perfect pretext to attack. He could claim his motives were personal, unrelated to his status as a Paladin—an excuse the academy would find plausible given the current tensions.
With rumors of an informant infiltrating the academy, such a distraction was convenient. In short, he was willing to sacrifice his own reputation to provide Alice with the information she needed.
Since a fight was inevitable, I tightened my grip on my magic.
“You’re Senior Isaac, right…? I’ll be gentle, so listen closely.”
Pierre extended his arms toward me.
“I’m going to try to kill you. Do your best to dodge.”
With those words, Pierre manifested a massive water-element magic circle on the ground. The blue light raced across the terrain, trapping me within its radius.
That bastard…
There was no mistaking that formation.
It was the 6-star water spell, [Flying Whale].
It was the same devastating magic Luce had used during the first-semester evaluations, leveling everything in its path. A colossal mass of water in the shape of a whale would erupt, containing a high-pressure current violent enough to grind buildings to dust.
If I were caught in a [Flying Whale] fueled by his mana and sheer rage, even I would have to prepare for death.
My only options were to flee the radius instantly or freeze the [Flying Whale] with a superior force before it could erupt. Neither was currently feasible. If I tried to run, he’d trigger the spell immediately. And I didn't have the raw power to freeze a current that turbulent.
“I’m warning you! Deactivate your magic circle immediately!”
“Pierre! Stop this!”
Several faculty members fired off [Ice Spear], [Rock Avalanche], and [Fireball], intentionally missing Pierre. They were warning shots—the best the administrative staff could manage.
Pierre ignored them entirely. They were nothing more than an annoyance. His lifeless eyes remained locked on me, his focus absolute.
I unleashed the magic circle for [Frost Wave].
My plan was to use [Frost Wave] to dampen the impact of [Flying Whale] while simultaneously erupting rock pillars from the ground to create an escape route. The pillars would be pulverized instantly, but if I summoned enough of them at once, I might just survive.
I had to try. The alternative was death.
I focused every ounce of my will.
As the blue magic circle beneath me pulsed with intense light, I prepared to trigger the ice.
At that moment—
A crisp, clear sound rang through the air.
An overwhelming pressure of mana descended from above.
Whooong!
“Ahh!”
The ground buckled instantly. I lost my footing and nearly toppled, only staying upright by leaning heavily on Zhonya’s Staff.
An unnaturally powerful gravitational force had slammed down between Pierre and me, physically preventing [Flying Whale] from manifesting.
Simultaneously, a thunderous roar shook the sky. I had been so focused on Pierre that I hadn't noticed the dark clouds swallowing the sun. It was a localized supercell, and purple lightning began to tear through the heavens.
Within the swirling storm, the silhouette of a giant black grouse appeared briefly before vanishing into the lightning.
Then came the wind—red, howling gusts that hit like a typhoon. Countless blades of wind, sharp as razors, sliced through the air.
Ching!
A kaleidoscope of starlight magic circles unfurled around Pierre, surrounding him from every angle. Trapped in the center of the glowing array, Pierre frowned and scanned the perimeter.
Three girls had closed in on him, their arms outstretched and their magic fully deployed.
“…”
Dorothy Heartnova, her light purple hair fluttering beneath her witch hat, hovered atop a platform of starlight magic. She remained silent, her expression unreadable.
“Who exactly are you planning to kill…?”
Luce Eltania stood shrouded in a cloak of purple lightning. Her eyes were dull, devoid of light, and her voice carried a chilling, murderous edge directed solely at Pierre.
“Kill who? What a load of nonsense.”
Kaya Astrea stood with her green pigtails whipping in the blood-red wind. She tilted her head, letting out a scornful, villainous laugh.
Following them, the heavy hitters arrived: the elite of the Imperial Knights and combat-specialist professors like Philip Meltron appeared all at once, surrounding Pierre. There were nearly a dozen of them.
They had all moved to intercept before the situation spiraled into a catastrophe.
I was stunned at first, then overcome with a sense of awe.
“My dear.”
I felt a soft, warm presence against my back.
A gentle voice tickled my ear. I reflexively turned to find a girl with shimmering golden hair.
Alice Carroll. She was standing right behind me, her hand resting lightly on my arm. She wore her usual, friendly smile.
“Why don’t you stop before you get yourself into even more trouble?”
“Senior Alice…?”
With this many powerhouses present, neither I nor Pierre stood a chance of making a move.
As I withdrew my magic, Alice whispered into my ear in a voice that felt like it could melt bone, “That’s right. Good boy.” Her soft hand slid smoothly down my arm.
“Hey, Friend.”
Hearing Dorothy’s voice, I turned toward her.
Though she was smiling, her tone was far heavier than usual. She wasn't looking at me; she was staring at Pierre. The brim of her witch’s hat cast a deep shadow over her eyes, and the air grew thick with the oppressive weight of her mana.
“Stop. If you lay a finger on that kid, I’m not sure what I’ll do to you.”
Pierre frowned and shifted his gaze toward me.
Or rather, he was looking past me, making eye contact with Alice, who was practically hugging me from behind. Alice was resting her chin on my shoulder. I couldn't see her face, but I doubted she was smiling at him.
Pierre let out a long, weary sigh. He closed his eyes and deactivated his magic circles.
Pierre possessed S-Grade mana. If he caused a genuine disaster, the academy would have no choice but to place him under high-security supervision. The moment he acted unpredictably, the institution had moved with overwhelming force.
Dorothy and Kaya had every right to be there, as they were officially part of the academy’s defense force. I wasn't sure about Luce’s excuse, though.
Regaining his composure, Pierre flashed his usual handsome smile and raised both hands in surrender.
“I’m sorry. I yield. I lost my head for a moment…”
[Wrathful Tail Strike!]
“Kugh!”
Bello, the small killer whale familiar, appeared out of nowhere and slammed its tail into the back of Pierre’s head.
Thwack!
There was a dull thud as Pierre’s head jerked forward from the impact.
That had to hurt.
[I don’t know who you are, but if you mess with Isaac, the valiant killer whale Bello won’t let you off easy!]
Bello’s voice rang out like a defiant young boy’s.
He’s surprisingly reliable.
With the skill of a seasoned actor, Pierre looked at Bello and chuckled softly. “Haha,” he managed, offering a kind smile. Now that his plan had failed, he knew better than to draw any more negative attention.
“Uh, oh, ugh…!”
Amy’s panicked voice suddenly boomed over the loudspeakers.
“Yes! The situation has been resolved!! Disqualified players Isaac and Pierre Flanche, please exit the arena quietly!!”
Even in the face of a near-riot, Amy refused to let her hosting duties slide, shouting her warnings with professional fervor.
Pierre was promptly handcuffed. They were special magic restraints designed to disrupt mana circulation—a direct result of his reckless behavior.
I, on the other hand, was left untouched. It was clear to everyone that I had only deployed my magic to defend myself from Pierre’s unprovoked assault.
Flanked by faculty members, we were escorted out of the racetrack.