Chapter 287: Academy Clash (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 287: Academy Clash (1)
It was a bright, sunny day.
In Aldreque, a massive partitioned area enclosed by high walls stretched across the landscape. Filled with various structures and terrain, this was the grand arena built specifically for the Academy Clash.
Rows of spectator seats lined the surrounding walls, packed to capacity with onlookers. The crowds were divided into sections according to their respective academies, each cheering for their own.
In a separate, elevated pavilion, the most influential figures of the empire were seated. At the center, occupying the most prestigious throne, sat Emperor Carlos.
“Let me take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to all of our esteemed guests!”
A voice boomed from the sky.
A man stood aboard a magnificent floating apparatus, hovering calmly above the arena. He was the host of the Academy Clash. His lively voice echoed throughout the stadium, amplified by magic.
Thanks to vision-enhancing spells cast upon the walls, the spectators could see the host’s every expression in vivid detail.
“Today’s Academy Clash! The top five prestigious academies of the Zelver Empire will compete here! Now, let me explain the rules!”
Beside the host, a mana-projected map of the arena materialized in the air.
At the edges of the battlefield stood five buildings, evenly spaced. These structures, each boasting a unique architectural style, served as the bases for the five participating academies.
“As you can see, an academy’s base is positioned at each end of the battlefield! Each base is entrusted with a large gemstone called the ‘Heartstone.’”
A glowing marker appeared over each of the five bases.
“The tournament ends when a total of four Heartstones are broken! Only the academy that successfully defends its Heartstone will be declared the winner! In other words, the Heartstone is the very heart of your academy!”
In short, the goal was simple: protect your own Heartstone while destroying those of the opposing academies.
“However, placing protection magic directly on the Heartstone or tampering with it in any way will lead to immediate disqualification. This is to ensure fairness, so please keep this in mind!”
The host continued his explanation.
“Furthermore, among the participants of each academy, one must act as a ‘Guardian.’ This individual must stay close to the Heartstone at all times. Whether moving, sleeping, or in the heat of battle, they must never leave its side!”
The term for the protector was the ‘Guardian.’
“Guardians were selected at our discretion, based on the criteria of ‘the individual deemed the strongest.’ Additionally, every participant must wear this pendant in a clearly visible location.”
The host pointed to a pendant pinned to the left side of his chest.
“In this tournament, it is called the ‘Qualification Stone.’ If this stone is broken or falls off, the participant is immediately disqualified! Our top-tier healing wizards and priests are on standby at all times! We promise swift medical attention and eagerly anticipate your magnificent battles!”
The host suddenly exclaimed, “Oops!” as if recalling a forgotten detail, recapturing the audience's wandering attention.
“That being said, don’t focus only on your enemies! Various traps have been set across the battlefield, so watch your step! Of course, where there are traps, there are also helpful items, so be sure to hunt for them!”
The host then pointed to a lake at the very center of the arena. Twelve bridges spanned the water, all converging on a small island in the middle. On that landmass stood an unusual, ornate structure.
“And now, for the special victory condition! At the center of the battlefield lies a vault. To open it, you will need a total of three keys. Clues are hidden throughout the arena to help you find them—think of it as a high-stakes treasure hunt! If an academy manages to open the vault, they will claim instant victory!”
The spectators stirred, whispering in excitement. A special victory condition was a first in the history of the Academy Clash.
“The time limit is midnight the day after tomorrow! If no conclusion is reached by then, the side with the greatest number of surviving students will secure the win! Also, if a student meets the disqualification conditions, they are eliminated instantly; any actions taken after the moment of disqualification will be rendered invalid. Please, don’t cause any trouble!”
The host extended his right arm forward.
“The winning academy and its participants will be granted luxurious gifts from the Elfieto Imperial Family! Everyone, please look forward to the intense clash of these outstanding talents!”
As the host’s explanation concluded, the scene shifted to the Märchen Academy base.
“Let’s do this! Let’s gooo!!”
“Eek! Y-you scared me!”
“This is a gathering of big shots, Amy! You need to bring your A-game!”
Ian’s goal was to join the knights, which meant he was desperate to catch the eyes of the influential figures in the audience with his swordsmanship.
I sat on a bench by the window, glancing around. Most of the team gave Ian a brief look before returning to their own mental preparations.
Mateo Jordana took deep breaths to steady his nerves. Tristan Humphrey sat with his eyes closed, meditating to warm up his mana circuits. Abel Carnedas practiced his swings while Roanna Shelton watched him intently. Lizetta Lionheart was busy doing push-ups, and Keridna Whiteclark was quietly nibbling on sweet snacks.
The atmosphere remained heavy and focused. Each student had their Qualification Stone attached to a visible part of their body. Since we had been briefed on the rules in advance, no one had really been listening to the host.
The opening ceremony is over, and the rules are set… It’s about to begin.
I looked out the window.
The luxurious facilities, the enormous arena, and the wide-scale vision magic deployed for the masses—the sheer amount of money poured into the Academy Clash, an event lasting only a day or two, was staggering. Witnessing it firsthand left me speechless.
Then again, it made sense. The empire’s elite spared no expense for this stage, as the stands were filled with the most powerful figures of the Zelver Empire looking to scout the next generation of talent.
“Isn’t it unfair?”
A female student with a cascading blue bob approached me. She clutched a navy-blue pillow to her petite frame, her expression perpetually sleepy. It was Ciel Carnedas.
She sat down next to me.
“What is?” I asked.
“I heard the organizers interfered in the selection of participants and chose the one they deemed the strongest as the Guardian.”
The Qualification Stone on my chest bore a golden hue, unlike the silver ones worn by the others. It was the mark of a Guardian. Once the clash began, I would be tethered to the Heartstone as Märchen Academy’s final line of defense.
“So what?”
“The rules just feel… weird.” Ciel turned her head toward the host’s floating apparatus. “The Guardian restrictions, the special victory conditions… These rules seem tailored specifically with you in mind.”
“Is that so?”
Sharp as always.
Ciel was right. These rules were subtly different from the 「Act 11, Academy Clash」 I remembered from Magic Knight of Märchen. In the original game, there was no ‘Guardian’ role, nor were there special victory conditions.
The organizers had clearly designed this setup to nerf me or force my hand.
The intent is so obvious it’s not even surprising.
I had expected as much from the start.
“But don’t you usually find things like this annoying? Why did you join?” Ciel asked.
“If the Ice Sovereign is on our side, we can take it easy. I have no intention of passing up such a great opportunity.” Ciel let out a long yawn. “Please make the sacrifice so I can slack off.”
“Is there nothing you won’t say…?”
Her head was clearly filled with nothing but thoughts of napping and walking away with the winner’s prize.
Suddenly, a student with the spindly build of a praying mantis, Jack Schneider, spoke up in a high-pitched voice.
“Hehe… Oh, come on, isn’t the surefire way to win obvious?”
He raised his voice intentionally, making sure we all heard him.
“Why don’t we all just stay here and guard the Heartstone, then head out later? That way, we can safely conserve our strength while the other academies exhaust themselves. When the time comes, we just crush the survivors…”
“You’re an ignorant fool. Is your intelligence no greater than that of a common insect?”
“What?”
Tristan, who had been meditating, narrowed his eyes and glared at Jack.
“Do you think the organizers wouldn’t have anticipated such a pathetic scheme?”
“What…?”
“It seems you’ve already forgotten the mention of ‘helpful items.’”
I was likely the only one who knew exactly what those items were, thanks to my knowledge of the game. However, even without that, it was easy to deduce that securing them would provide a massive advantage.
“A passive strategy in this tournament is designed to put you at an inevitable disadvantage,” Tristan added.
He was right. The items found on the battlefield had effects that directly manipulated the game’s rules. Even I wasn’t confident in winning against an enemy team that had secured a significant item advantage. Sitting and waiting was a recipe for disaster.
“Annoying bastard…” Jack muttered a curse under his breath, but he didn't dare confront Tristan openly. The gap in their skill was far too wide.
Screeeech.
The door to the central room swung open, and Professor Fernando Frost stepped out.
“The Academy Clash starts in ten minutes. Everyone, get ready.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly. A heavy shroud of seriousness fell over the students.
I stood up from the bench.
*
“For the sake of caution, I will say this one more time.”
At the Bethel Academy base, the supervisor gathered his students for a final briefing.
“The most dangerous opponent in this Academy Clash is undoubtedly the Ice Sovereign of Märchen Academy. He is the student with silver-blue hair and red eyes. He has almost certainly been assigned the role of Guardian.”
The supervisor’s expression was grim. “Do not even think of fighting the Ice Sovereign head-on. Remember, your only goal is to break their Heartstone. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!” the students shouted in unison.
Similar scenes were playing out across the other bases. Every team was refining their tactics and boosting morale, and they all shared one common conclusion:
The person to fear most in this game was the Ice Sovereign of Märchen Academy.
While many had only heard rumors of the Elemental King—and rumors tended to be exaggerated—it was clear that he was the greatest threat on the board.
Meanwhile, in the spectator stands where the Märchen Academy faculty and students were gathered, Snow White looked pensive.
“Is something troubling you, Princess?” Merlin Astrea, the escort knight sitting beside her, asked.
“I was just curious. What… could these traps be?”
She was thinking of the host’s warning.
“It’s likely something that could put Senior Isaac in danger too, right?”
“Most likely. This is a game governed by set rules, and the organizers must have accounted for Sir Isaac to maintain balance. For example, if there is a platform that triggers disqualification upon contact, even Sir Isaac would be vulnerable. However, Princess White, Sir Isaac will surely prevail. Worrying about him is a waste of time.”
“Y-yes, you’re right… Of course, Senior Isaac will do well.”
“Yes. It’s just that…”
“Just?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Though she had no proof, Merlin suspected this Academy Clash would unfold in a very specific, unusual way.
“Look! The fuse for the starting flame has been lit!”
At the host’s shout, every spectator turned toward the same spot. A spark traveled rapidly along a fuse, reaching its destination: a magnificent ceremonial cauldron.
Bang!
Whoosh!
With a thunderous explosion, flames erupted from the cauldron with violent momentum.
“Now! Let the Academy Clash begin!!”
The roar of the crowd was deafening. A massive, transparent soundproof barrier shimmered into existence over the arena, preventing the participants from hearing the host’s play-by-play commentary.
As soon as the signal was given, squads of students dashed out from the five bases. These were the advance units. In less than twenty minutes, the vanguards of two different academies crossed paths.
“Oh! Students from two academies have already made contact!” the host shouted.
The arena was vast, comparable to a small city, yet the two squads ran toward each other as if they had coordinated their movements. Their paths overlapped perfectly.
The spectators leaned forward, expecting a skirmish, but the situation took an unexpected turn.
“…So, it really is going to be like that,” Merlin muttered, frowning.
“What is happening?! Is this a probing maneuver? They’re moving past each other without a fight!” the host relayed, sounding baffled.
The advance squads of the two academies simply nodded to one another. They maintained a respectful distance and continued in the same direction, their lack of hostility suggesting a pre-arranged understanding.
White’s voice trembled. “Merlin, those people…”
Märchen Academy was the undisputed powerhouse of the tournament. They possessed the terrifying force of the Ice Sovereign, and the power gap between them and the other schools was a chasm.
However, only one academy could claim victory. In such a scenario, what was the most logical choice for the other four?
“It is said that fish that fight each other in a pond will join forces the moment a catfish is introduced.”
To eliminate the common, most dangerous enemy first.
“I believe… a similar situation is unfolding here.”
Merlin’s suspicion turned into certainty.
This Academy Clash had just transformed into the ‘Ice Sovereign Subjugation.’