Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Match Point
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“Grr, I thought it was over, but they snuck a point past us!”
Sandra twisted her body every which way, perfectly venting her frustration. Her words and face said one thing, but her expression screamed she was thrilled to keep playing.
“I was aiming for both sides…… but my aim was a tad off. Sorry.”
Gertrude bowed her head, but Maya waved it off lightly.
“Whatever. It’s just one point.”
“Just one point or not, their rotation’s back to normal now.”
And what bugged her even more was Weiber starting to act as setter. She couldn’t even imagine what kind of chaos that would unleash.
“On top of that, our rotation’s got Senior Lowinbelt stuck as hard receiver.”
Maya adjusted her glasses leisurely, like it was no big deal, and jerked her chin toward the other side of the net.
“Their team’s core is Young Master Ludwig. But come on, you can tell just by looking. They’re done for.”
That…… was true enough.
Magic volleyball demanded stamina, mental fortitude, and mana. You could grit your teeth through the first two, but mana? No way.
To recover mana quickly, you needed meditation or a full night’s sleep.
‘That’s why normal teams don’t bring so many subs for nothing.’
Sure, they used them at key moments, but the main goal was giving starters time to recharge their mana.
Just as planned, Griffin Valor’s key players had rotated in and out during those back-and-forth points from 1 to 3, recharging their stamina one by one.
“That’s the problem, then.”
Valensidis’s eyebrow twitched faintly after hearing the same rundown from Christa.
“They’ve got zero subs.”
“Yeah. The other five are tired too, sure, but that guy—the setter—handles the ball more than anyone.”
And then he’d gone and spammed impossible double-casts on top of it…… Elin was starting to worry about her nephew’s body.
‘I knew it from that last spike. The kid’s at his limit. He can’t keep going.’
But as if to shatter everyone’s complacency and concern in one go, Rain Ludwig tossed the ball up and leaped once more.
“What the……?!”
The moment his palm slammed into it, a deafening crack echoed as the ball rocketed down like a bullet.
‘How is he still serving like that……!’
Gertrude, finally adapting to that demonic speed, flung herself and barely bumped it up.
But her math had a glitch—the ball spewed savage sparks and floated lazily over the net.
The crowd, holding their breath, erupted almost in unison.
“Chance ball───!”
Lilian floated it underhand to the setter’s spot. And standing there again was…… Weiber.
“Quick attack, left!”
Sandra yelled urgently, but Logan was already airborne…….
Logan’s powerhouse spike sailed over Griffin Valor’s unfinished block and nailed the end line dead-on.
“……In!”
No sooner had the linesmen called it than cheers rocked the arena again.
“19 to 24! They’re closing in!”
“The flow’s totally shifted since Weiber took over as setter?”
But those with real Magic Volleyball experience felt their suspicions mounting.
What the hell?
How was he still slamming serves that hard? On what power?
‘Even roughly estimating, he’s burned through 50,000 mana by now……!’
‘Among the first-years, only Lilian Carline has over 50k mana……?’
‘But how the hell……?’
It was weird. Totally weird.
His mana couldn’t possibly be that high anymore—hadn’t he been clutching his right side in pain? That was a classic mana depletion symptom…… No potion, so what gives?
‘…….’
Only one spectator knew why Rain Ludwig could keep going…… Kasena Page.
‘Don’t lose to those clowns, Rain.’
The answer lay in the jet-black holy stone, Black Yanglin, chained around his neck alongside Kasena’s.
Pulsing in sync with his heart, Black Yanglin flooded his body with waves of power, flushing out depleted mana while circulating fresh reserves.
The recovery wasn’t massive, but with Weiber handling sets and those brief pauses between points, it was more than enough.
‘You think I’d drop from this……?’
He cracked a wry smile. Casting magic at his limits without collapsing? He’d gotten used to it back in his Lin days.
“Used to it” wasn’t quite right—he’d had no choice. Compared to then, this was a cakewalk.
He spun the ball on his palm, tossed it up, leaped again, and smashed it with everything he had.
* * *
Doran Slade, chief of the Special Affairs Division, was back on his old campus after ages, whispers clinging to him like shadows.
“Griffin Valor’s dissolution match still going?”
“They’re going at it hard, no joke.”
“Whoa, I skipped it thinking it’d be a blowout…….”
Griffin Valor’s dissolution match?
What was that about?
Magic volleyball dissolution matches were nominal at best—almost never actually played.
Especially for one of the Big Four teams. Griffin Valor? The royal club where lords of famed magic houses passed through—who’d dare challenge them without fearing divine wrath?
“That goody-two-shoes heir’s crushing it so hard Griffin Valor’s struggling?”
“For real?”
“Let’s go watch!”
Goody-two-shoes heir…… Rain Ludwig?
‘That makes even less sense. If Rain Ludwig’s killing it, why’s Griffin Valor struggling? He’s not even on their roster?’
Curious as hell, Doran trailed the surging crowd to Gymnasium 1. Even before entering, ferocious cheers shook the building.
“Woooah!”
“Three straight service aces?!”
“Insane!”
Through the sea of heads, Doran glimpsed something utterly unbelievable.
‘This matchup……?’
Rain Ludwig leading the Eight Great Academies’ first-year golden generation against Griffin Valor?
“Cover!”
“Last one! Pass it quick!”
“Chance ball!”
For a split second, he thought it was some punishment game, but the six’s camaraderie didn’t scream forced.
‘Wonder what’s really going on…….’
The gym was packed to the gills—except one spot.
Where Kasena Page stood.
Overwhelmed by her innate aura, nobles and commoners alike steered clear, leaving a two-meter radius empty.
‘Heh, rumors were true.’
Actually, no need to verify rumors—seeing Senior Madelia, smile-less since her daughter’s disability, beaming like that said it all.
And she’d inherited that superior beauty, violet hair aside—a stunning girl, no doubt.
“Lady Kasena Page, who’re you rooting for?”
Kasena, fists clenched at her chest, focused on the match, startled half a beat late and whipped around.
“Wh-what?! Wait, a professor?!”
“No need to be so wary. Name’s Doran Slade—Senior Madelia’s favorite junior.”
Unlike Rain, she seemed trusting; mentioning her mom dropped her guard instantly.
“If it’s not too rude, mind explaining why Lady Rain’s pulling this hilarious stunt?”
But the moment he asked, her eyes boiled from wariness to resentment—Doran knew he’d goofed.
“It’s no stunt! What do you know?”
A heavy thud rang out right then.
Boom!
Logan’s spike off Weiber’s toss pierced Yors Bautel’s block and rocketed to the second-tier railing.
“Let’s goooo!”
“Logan, nice kill!”
“Nice toss, Weiber★”
Cheers exploded from the stands.
“They held serve!”
“23 to 24! One point apart!”
“So…… one more and it’s deuce?!”
Kasena’s face lit up noticeably.
‘One-track mind, pure as they come…… No wonder Senior dotes. She’s always loved kids like that since her youth.’
Like disciple Carolline…… As Doran mused, Kasena whirled on him, buzzing with excitement.
“Rain’s doing this to save the school!”
“Save the school?”
He nearly laughed but seized the opening.
Playing curious, Kasena spilled the whole backstory in detail.
How Rain Ludwig had clapped back at the executive committee’s rudeness……
“So Rain’s gonna win! No way he loses!”
She shrugged proudly, like she’d done it herself—weird, but whatever.
‘Still…… learned some good intel thanks to this.’
Maya, Lowinbelt, Yors—Special Affairs recruits, but time to rescind.
The division mixed mages from all walks, even disguising as commoners sometimes. Prissy types like them? Pure liability.
Doran shot a wry glance at old junior Elin.
‘Elin, you’ve got your hands full with that troublemaker nephew.’
Yeah, troublemaker.
Rain Ludwig…… Tempting talent, but the more I see, the scarier his true nature gets.
“Lady Kasena, truth is, I’m here on Special Affairs business.”
“Special Affairs business? What’s that?!”
“It ties to Lady Rain’s safety, so I’d appreciate an honest answer. During finals week, was she absent for an extended period?”
Mentioning Rain’s safety sobered Kasena; she rubbed her chin, straining to recall.
Doran watched, eyes slanting slyly, serpentine cunning gleaming.
Suspect everything visible—that’s Special Affairs’ investigative creed. Even if it’s a revered senior’s kin.
“Oh, yeah!”
Cold flashed in Doran’s eyes as he swallowed dryly.
Kasena wore her heart on her sleeve—no liar.
Every nerve tensed for her next words…… This could make Rain Ludwig an arrest suspect.
“Finals first day!”
Huh?
First day of finals?
“She didn’t show for her usual mansion pickup, so I went looking. Turns out she was student council officer, armband and all, doing some usher duty!”
Doran’s eyes narrowed. The soldiers had said second day of finals.
Relief? Or regret at a missed catch…… A strange emptiness washed over him, tension easing lazily.
By the time he confirmed, his face bore its trademark affable smile.
“But why! Is Rain in danger? What?!”
“Just messing with you. Your reaction’s too cute—couldn’t resist. You really like Lady Rain, huh.”
“Wh-what?!”
Kasena flushed beet-red, about to snap, but the stands’ explosive roar drowned her.
“It-it-it’s tied──!”
* * *
“Hey hey hey!!! Tying it up at match point against a ragtag team? This ain’t even funny!”
With the score tied, Griffin Valor advisor Elin Ludwig had no choice but to call timeout. As the starters hit the bench, Lowinbelt snapped.
“How do you give up even one point! Let me in! It’s not our first time seeing that powerhouse serve—what’s the problem?!”
Maya Snark bit her lip.
“Speed’s not the issue.”
“Exactly. The problem’s the inverse functions and crap math spells on top of that speed…….”
Gertrude backed Maya’s excuse with a sigh.
Having pierced Magic Volleyball’s essence, Rain cast only those time-sink equations—easy or hard didn’t matter.
Cannon speed, cannon power, cannon math—Griffin Valor pros were helpless.
“No real counter, then.”
Elin, silently absorbing it all, sharpened her gaze.
“Body block from the next receive on.”
The room went wide-eyed. Gertrude stammered.
“Y-you’re joking? Body blocking?”
“Does this look like joke time? Do it or sub out.”
“But we’re nobles. In front of all these commoners, how can we lose face like…….”
Body blocking meant exactly that—block with your body.
Not fancy jargon; just ribbing for noobs too green for Magic Volleyball who took spikes to chest or face instead of arms.
Ridiculous, sure, but effective. Unlike arms, chest sends it straight forward, not sideways.
Quick team react, and you save it. The embarrassment was the catch.
“Embarrassed? Hilarious! Losing to that team and dissolving Griffin Valor—first time ever—isn’t? That’s worth dying for.”
“…….”
“Anyone who hates it, strip that uniform and quit now. Won’t stop you.”
Elin wasn’t wrong, but they hesitated.
Nobles upheld dignity always, right? Crumble like that under all these eyes?
But pragmatic No.2 Maya Snark bowed first.
“I’ll do it.”
Goal was drawing out Valensidis.
Getting stonewalled by Rain Ludwig before the main event? Actual joke material.
Body block shame fades fast; top-grad cert lasts forever—or till world’s end.
“……Me too.”
“……Me as well.”
With Maya leading, the rest followed.
Sandra, the ace, skipped receives mostly and was frontline anyway—no need to ask.
Most grumbled but assented, faces dark. Elin sighed low.
“Just give up one point, Lowinbelt subs in, done. What’s so hard, idiots?”
“…….”
“Anyway, do it. Slackers get it later.”
Head ref Owen’s whistle ended timeout; teams returned. Serve still Rain Ludwig’s.
“Young master, nice serve!”
His hands and feet shook like they’d shatter.
Breath long gone.
No energy left to move, let alone jump—yet his body moved anyway.
-For once, step out into the world, Lin.
Because of Dean Atlante’s voice, ringing distantly like a bell in his mind.
-The world holds countless things books never mention. Beautiful, scary, fun, sad……
Serve step one.
Toss the ball lightly skyward.
-Not just things. People too—strong, weak, fun, pitiful, all sorts.
Three approach steps.
Then max leap.
-See them with your eyes, hear with ears, touch with hands. You’ll awaken bit by bit without knowing.
Peak jump.
Smack that tossed ball with all you’ve got.
-What magic is. How to wield your innate power.
Eardrum-shattering boom. Ball tears air, boosted by physical and intellectual force.
Monstrous speed.
Unreal trajectory.
Grazing Maya Snark’s fingertips by a hair as she dove full-tilt, it slammed the end line corner, resounding fiercely.
“Crazy, how many service aces against Griffin Valor now?”
“Goody-two-shoes team’s at match point!”
Landing from the jump serve, his body wobbled, one knee buckling. Logan caught him just in time.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just botched the landing a bit…….”
“That was a fantasy course anyway!”
“Right★? Maya Snark couldn’t even touch it.”
Logan and Nora’s hype, Cade and Lilian’s thumbs-up—his own unknowing smile formed.
-Mages learn truth from the world. Not holing up with books.
Dean Atlante’s words when he’d said he wanted to follow Rista.
Pure curiosity—not teasing—had made him ask.
-But you don’t know truth either, lady.
-Oh, come on! If I did, would I babysit this crumbling tower? I’d lounge in a grand one!
He’d braced for the usual head-knock.
But no.
Atlante gently stroked his head, smiling softly.
-So someday, teach me, Lin. You’ll reach it for sure.
Sorry, lady, I still know zilch about truth.
But this path’s right, yeah?
Following your path’ll get me there someday?
“Thanks for putting up with my crap for ten days. Ending it next serve.”
Weiber took the new ball from Prof. Owen, passed it with a don’t-jinx-it smirk.
“No baseless bravado—keep it chill like always. If not, my setup’ll finish it.”
You little……?
Weiber’s “encouragement” drew short laughs from the team. Final set whistle blew.
‘Just one point now……!’
‘This one and……!’
‘Beating Griffin Valor……!’
All held breath—Rain stamped and soared again. Doran’s brow twitched.
‘Approach looks short?’
Pushing his limit-body too far……
As Doran predicted, short approach meant half power/speed over the net.
But the math spell was tougher than ever—no easy receive.
“───?!”
Yet shattering Rain’s hopes, Gertrude dove face-first into its path—jaws dropped.
“With her face……?!”
“Facial block……?!”
“Lady Fenton……?!”
Math unsolved backlash sparked wildly, but it bounced straight ahead.
“Save it, save!”
“Yors, last!”
“Got it!”
Griffin Valor chained Gertrude’s desperation over the net. Tsk, Weiber clicked his tongue.
‘Down to every trick to win, huh.’
No matter. Chance ball—attack still ours.
“Chance ball★”
Nora underhanded the drained ball softly to center.
“Mine!”
Logan leaped full-force; Weiber seemed headed there—but chose right-side Lilian.
‘Perfect……!’
‘No, but……!’
Towering block ahead: Yors Bautel. Lilian’s spike hit his left hand, deflating.
“Attack’s theirs!”
“Regroup!”
As stands howled, Griffin Valor reformed attack instantly. Maya’s toss rose to Sandra Kepel.
‘Straight quick to the ace……?!’
Logan leaped to intercept…… but Sandra’s spike laughed at single blocks.
When inverse g(x) of f(x)=√(2x+3b) exists, graph of y=g(x) tangents y=3x-a. Value of a?
Lose math calc duel, lose block duel.
Sparks burst from Logan-blocked ball, shoving his hand and flying far.
Lowinbelt, loosening up tensely, pumped a fist.
“Nice kill────?!”
Then gasped, mouth clamping.
Harimun mute Cade dove for the out-of-bounds landing spot.
Collision scattered bench chairs; Cade lofted it high.
“Nora, cover───!”
Rain saved it somehow; Nora took Rain’s toss and hammered over.
“Cade, you good?”
[Yeah....]
As Weiber helped Rain up, Griffin Valor reformed perfect attack.
“Chance ball!”
Yors to Maya; seemed quick to Sandra again—but
“Not there!”
Lilian’s yell came too late.
Toss went backline.
To Gertrude Fenton, arms flung back like wings, full leap. Maya smirked triumphantly.
‘Yeah, after ace quick-burned you, had to check her.’
Sandra always leaped full regardless—bait to score with Gertrude.
“Single block───!”
Weiber/Logan on Sandra left Lilian solo on Gertrude. Normally, easy breach.
Miracle? Desperate will?
Lilian roared, hands out—Gertrude’s spike stuck, drained of power/spin, floating slow over challengers’ court.
Nora set in receive stance as stands chanted.
“““───Chance ball!”””
Doran’s ever-smiling eyes half-opened in shock.
‘What’s really happening…….’
Kasena’s tale made it sound like Eight Academies kids humoring Rain…… Dead wrong.
No way they’d unite like that just for dissolution.
Doran, overseeing Special Affairs where academy heirs/nobles mixed endlessly, knew best.
‘Answer’s with you, as expected.’
All eyes locked on Rain Ludwig as Nora set. Crowd, Griffin Valor, teammates.
No helping it.
Rain charging front, yelling.
“Weiber, mine!”
Mine……?
Weiber, mid-setup, blanked at Rain—then got it, stepping aside.
‘Setter position……?’
‘Switch……?’
Griffin Valor frontliners, reading setter for block, flinched.
‘Weiber prepping spike……!’
Tiny twist in orderly attack flow births massive crack.
‘Rain’s setups ain’t tough if prepped…….’
Elin’s eyes widened. But sudden, unplanned?
‘Not just that……!’
Prof. Owen’s eyes bulged like never before.
‘All five jumping to cover Rain’s weakness……!’
Rain’s setups? Insane toss speed was the weapon—who gets it? Unknown till airborne.
Inexperience let Griffin Valor read/react.
But all five spikers leaping together…… Game changer.
“What the……!”
Yors cursed short, stuck to ace Logan. Maya center, Sandra right.
Best and worst call.
Rain’s toss: diagonal back—Weiber, who’d just swapped spots.
“Zero block!”
Near-complete exponential math rode the ball──
Weiber slammed home the solution with milk strength──
Mocking Yors/Maya, piercing empty gap──
“────?!”
“────?!”
“────?!”
──slashed Griffin Valor 2nd-year’s shoulder, sparking fierce lightning, flying farther.
Far.
Too far for any hand.
‘One Magic Volleyball play reveals tons of talent.’
Time crawled slow as the ball bounced court—Doran’s eyes gleamed.
‘Instant calc, judgment, physique—battle mage must-haves…….’
Beyond basics, rare gems showed leadership: uniting hopeless underdogs to victory. Leader stock.
‘Magic Volleyball chases wins. Magic world microcosm.’
Sure, stacked teams usually won.
‘But leading to victory when all say impossible? Not quite.’
Not impossible—but not anyone.
Only those with true skill/admiration from all. Miracles.
Like Rista, era’s light in dark history…… Doran’s lips curved genuine smile, ages later.
‘If retiring tomorrow, handing Special Affairs…… Rain Ludwig, you’re the one.’
Thud, thud…… Deadly silence swallowed breaths/sounds. Then it pierced sharp.
Tweet──!
The whistle ending what seemed endless fight.