EP.162 Autumn, New Semester (5)
The morning in Apuria, just before the opening ceremony, is chaotic. The teaching assistants buzz around the academy, sticking things here and installing things there, busy preparing for something. However, they weren’t preparing for the opening ceremony. Since the ceremony was scheduled, preparations had been underway for quite some time.
They had also finished cleaning the classrooms before the new semester. All the supplies needed for classes were stocked with brand new items. They had already received the textbooks from the Magic Association in advance… and all the miscellaneous preparations were completed during the vacation period.
For the teaching assistants, the vacation was merely a period for getting things ready.
It wasn’t much different from the usual routine. They had a busy schedule just like any other time. So, with just a few days before the start of the new semester… normally, the teaching assistants should have been enjoying some leisure time.
But, as with everything in the world… tasks always come up suddenly.
“The Battle Magic Department’s Top Position Contest”
A task was dropped just before the new semester.
The battle for the top position, meaning a duel.
It may have been a bit slow this year, but last year was not like that at all. Several duels happened multiple times a month. Thus, the teaching assistants initially brushed off the announcement about the duel… but soon realized it late.
The scale was different.
It was an extraordinary case.
“This is the first duel of the year.”
“Well, that kid Belnoa is so outstanding that the other students didn’t even dare to challenge him. Just watching the mock battles showed their levels…”
“That said, Lac seemed to be able to put up a fight, didn’t he?”
“That’s true, but for now, Belnoa’s still dominant. That’s why it seems they want to settle it this time. I’m really looking forward to it.”
The professors took an interest.
They felt intrigued by the duel that was about to happen. Following the professors, it eventually reached the ears of the student council head.
“A duel taking place just before the start of a semester.”
Aaron, the student council head, rubbed his chin as he spoke.
“How exciting! Young people should be like this. I envy youth, indeed. They clash and compete to grow. A beautiful tale of youth.”
He nodded in agreement and smiled.
“The timing is just right. How about planning it like an event? It could serve as a motivation for students who got a bit lazy during the vacation… Not a bad idea at all.”
And then the announcement was made.
“Let’s plan something big. I expect great things from you.”
When he says so, there’s no choice but to do it.
The teaching assistants prepare the event while shedding tears of blood. In just a few days, the event takes on a plausible shape. On the morning of the duel, the teaching assistants see the outcome of their efforts.
They cleaned up the duel arena built for the occasion or tidied up the duel arena that has accumulated dust from a lack of battles during the past semester. They polished the chairs for the professors, including the headmaster, who would come to watch the duel.
A coliseum fashioned after the dueling arenas of ancient gladiators.
As they gazed at the place, now ready to welcome the audience… the teaching assistants smiled with emotion. And among the smiling faces, someone walked in.
“Oh.”
Now, there’s hardly anyone in Apuria who doesn’t know her name. Professor Rania van Trias, the instructor for the Mana Trading Studies, Basic. She looked around the duel arena and gasped in admiration.
“Good job.”
She tossed some words of casual praise to the teaching assistants before taking a seat among the audience.
“Hmph, hmmm.”
Humming a tune, she sat in her chair, swinging her legs back and forth… but she wasn’t just there for sightseeing. In this event, she was possibly the most crucial individual.
Belnoa and Lac had surpassed the level of typical students. Compared to most professors… while they might be lacking in theory, they certainly wouldn’t fall short in practice. Having two such individuals collide with all their might.
The fight escalates.
And when it escalates, accidents inevitably occur.
In a place of learning, blood should not be spilled… and irreversible injuries must not take place. Yet, to say they should simply hold back and duel would completely kill the excitement. A person is needed to supervise the duel at a suitable level.
That person is none other than Rania van Trias.
She had a history of mediating between the two during a previous placement exam. Her skills had already been proven. That’s why they entrusted this to her, but…
“Oooh.”
Watching her happily survey the duel arena might make anyone who didn’t worry start feeling concerned. The teaching assistants sighed, hoping nothing would go wrong.
Still, morning arrives.
The sun shines warmly, and audiences begin to gather in the arena one by one. Amid the excitement and enthusiasm of the students, the duel gets underway.
2.
“Today is the duel, right?”
“I heard they’re giving out pastries at the bakery. Let’s go and grab some.”
“Who do you think will win?”
“I heard the professors are betting on it secretly, but I wonder if we’ll get to play along.”
Students walk towards the duel arena, laughing and chatting. With the start of the semester just around the corner, even the students expect something exciting from this event.
“The duel arena looks… hmm.”
And among the crowd is a girl who just enrolled in Apuria. Chloe fumbles her map, given to her by a maid from the Central Academic Hall, and gives up, following the flow of students.
“I’ll probably find it if I just follow along!”
As she walks, students’ eyes are drawn to Chloe. They glance at her, whispering away.
– Is she that transfer student…?
– I heard she’s one of the disciples of the Master of the Black Tower?
– But isn’t Belnoa already around?
– She seems to be close to Belnoa, though.
A transfer student who joined midway through the semester.
And she’s a girl with connections to Belnoa. Many students have seen her interact comfortably with Belnoa. There are rumors it’s more than just friendship.
Belnoa is so rigid and cool… his emotional expression is sparse. Yet, in front of that girl, he reveals his emotions. He smiles, he laughs.
‘There’s something going on!’
The students, at the peak of their interest in love stories, half suspect that Belnoa and that girl share a special romantic relationship. It’s a funny thought that the rumor isn’t entirely wrong.
– …Belnoa could definitely do that.
– Yeah, she’s pretty.
– There’s something different about her…?
With the girl’s radiant appearance, Chloe had already become somewhat of a celebrity among the students. However, she herself remained unaware, trailing behind the students obliviously.
“Oh, this must be it.”
Muttering to herself, Chloe stepped into the coliseum. The round arena, with its tiered seating for the audience, came into view. She gasped in admiration at the packed stands filled with spectators.
‘Everyone came to see Belnoa, huh?’
Belnoa must be really popular.
With such silly thoughts in her mind, Chloe moved to find a seat. As she walked, a row with noticeably empty seats caught her eye.
In a place where the rest of the audience was bustling, that row stood out as if it had a gap. It wasn’t that there was an issue with the seating. If there was a problem, it was with the individual sitting in that spot.
Chew, chew.
At the center of that empty row.
A figure sat there. She was munching on a long snack while gazing down at the center of the duel arena. The wind blew, tousling her ashen hair.
“Professor Rania?”
“Yes?”
At the call, she turned her head as if responding.
Recognizing Chloe, she nodded.
“Hello, Chloe.”
Chloe tilted her head, questioning.
“Why are you sitting alone?”
“I’m not sure; I don’t come here very often. Is there something wrong with the seat?”
Chew, chew, she shrugged her shoulders while munching on the snack.
“Want to sit?”
Rania patted the seat next to her.
With no particular thoughts, Chloe nodded. She walked over and took a seat beside her.
– …Gasp!
– Someone stop her…!
– The transfer student must not know…!
And that moment.
The whispers around grew louder. Students sitting away from Professor Rania stared at Chloe with shocked expressions.
The reason why the seat next to Rania was empty was simple.
Of course, the students acknowledged that Rania was quite a beauty with a unique charm that was rarely seen. However, all that was under one precondition.
She only looks beautiful from a distance.
She is beautiful only from afar.
Up close, you might just see blood. During the past semester, the students felt that fact keenly. However, Chloe, not knowing any better, remained an innocent girl just having entered Apuria.
– ………
The students expressed their condolences for her ignorance.
In front of Professor Rania, no student had the courage to warn Chloe. They only whispered from a distance. Chloe tilted her head in response to the growing commotion around her.
Chew, chew.
No matter how much the noise grew around her, Rania continued to munch on her snack. Chloe shot furtive glances at the snacks she was eating. Now that she thought about it, didn’t they say something about pastries at the bakery?
‘I should have stopped by the bakery…’
As Chloe was regretting that thought.
Rania, noticing Chloe’s gaze, casually asked.
“Do you want some too?”
Chloe’s expression brightened.
She nodded and accepted the long snack. She realized anew, what a wonderful professor she had.
“Thank you!”
Chloe smiled brightly.
3.
[Belnoa, get ready.]
She let the voice echoing in the waiting room wash over her.
Belnoa looked at the dagger in his hand. It was a dagger woven from shadows. Its shape had hardly changed since the old days. Just like when he lived in the alleyways.
Why the dagger’s shape?
Because it was easy to hide. It was suited for ambushes since a dagger was a weapon that was good for concealment and surprise. A dagger isn’t the best weapon. However, by the time he realized that fact, the dagger was already too familiar to Belnoa.
Such is the nature of weapons.
The dagger in his hand reflected his life.
Belnoa raised his head and looked outside the waiting room. Light poured in. Beyond the glaring sunlight, the duel arena came into view.
“………”
There are many spectators.
So much that the gaze feels burdensome.
That, was unfamiliar to Belnoa.
He had always fought in the dark. He hid in the shadows to ambush. He used shabby tricks. Sometimes, he didn’t hesitate to use poison if necessary. Belnoa’s life has been like that.
For him, the current situation felt foreign.
So foreign that he couldn’t get used to it.
Belnoa didn’t like this kind of duel. It had no practical value. Fights happen unexpectedly, not in perfect situations. What meaning is there in a staged duel like this?
“…Haa.”
Belnoa sighed long.
He had tried to change his mindset, knowing that the opponent was the opponent… but it just wouldn’t set in. A lifetime of values can’t change overnight.
Just as Belnoa was about to relax and stand up.
Thud.
Someone walked out from the opposite waiting room.
Waaaaaah!
Cheers erupted. With every step he took, the spectators cheered. The surrounding buzzed with excitement. Amid the clamor, he stands in the center of the duel arena.
White hair.
Red eyes.
And, in both hands, he wields an axe.
He showed no change in expression, as if such a situation was familiar to him. He calmly took a breath and turned his head. He glanced in this direction.
Those red eyes stared at him.
He slowly lifted his axe, pointing it this way.
“Belnoa.”
Lac grinned, showing his teeth.
He flicked his axe lightly.
“Come on out.”
At that moment, Belnoa let out a small chuckle.
“Alright.”
Belnoa placed a hand on his knee and stood up. He walked out of the waiting room towards Lac. Cheers erupted once more. Among the shouts, Belnoa stood firmly in the duel arena.
“Confidence, huh?”
“It won’t change from last time.”
“I’m a bit different now, though.”
“That’s good.”
Lac lightly dusted off his arms.
“If nothing changed since the last time we fought, it would have ended too easily.”
“Such confidence.”
“I trained hard. Training always makes a warrior stronger.”
Standing across each other, both raise their weapons.
Lac lifts the axe, while Belnoa draws the shadow dagger.
Bwoooh!
And then, the horn sounds.
The signal for the match to begin.
Author’s Note
I’ve created an illustration to commemorate Pepero Day.
It’s a piece by artist Fnas.k.
I thought it would connect with the content of the novel, so I used it like this. A professor who, despite her appearance, is quite kind-hearted!
Isn’t Chloe bound to fall for it?
