196th Episode. Festival Day 2 (1)

Magical Banquet Day 2 Evening.

Even as the sun dipped below the horizon, the heat showed no signs of letting up.

Though it couldn’t be called a heatwave, the summer warmth was relentless.

And with the crowd packed in, the temperature inevitably surged.

People wandering the festival streets were dressed as minimally as possible, but ironically, they were the ones intensifying the heat.

On a hill halfway up Purgatory Volcano, a massive arena had been erected.

The Tactical Banquet, the main event of the Magical Banquet, was taking place there.

The excitement of the spectators for the largest event that had begun was palpable.

Most had come specifically to witness it, and even if they couldn’t find a seat, they could watch on the surveillance screens provided by Aligieri.

While saying the atmosphere was hot is typically a metaphor, it was truly sweltering.

However, inside the arena, a chill swept through, cool enough to freeze the heat out.

Crackle-

During a duel between participants, frost began to form.

As it was a match between famous talents, ice magic could freely be exchanged.

Representatives from various magic schools, the Swordsmanship Society training martial artists, renowned mercenary guilds, and several other organizations were participating.

However, strangely enough, attacks of different elements did not erupt.

Whoosh!-

Crackle!-

Though there were participants with their own unique styles, their attacks were being blocked by the blizzard.

“Magic… it’s gone!”

“The ground is frozen, I can’t move… Ugh!”

Fire magic was summoned, but it extinguished like a candle in the cold wind.

Attempting to raise the earth magic and hurl the ground like a rocky project, it failed as the earth froze solid.

Whoosh!-

The blizzard was raging wildly.

The icy winds that engulfed even the magic swallowed everyone seated outside the arena, affecting them to some degree.

More than just refreshing, it was a cold wave that completely suppressed the summer heat.

-Achoo! What on earth is this sudden calamity!

-Why is it so cold! If I had known, I would have worn longer clothes!

-Who on earth is creating such magic…

Most spectators were on the verge of catching colds, but nearby mages quickly cast cold-resistance spells.

Thanks to that, the mages received words of gratitude from the audience.

Yet, it was unexpected. Never would anyone have thought such a powerful frost was coming from someone in Aligieri.

“Look over there! Someone is inside!”

At one spectator’s shout, people turned their attention.

In the midst of that immense cold, a girl stood there, still as can be.

While other participants were frozen and unable to move, the girl began to walk quite normally.

Her blue hair fluttered in the fierce winds, but aside from that, she showed no physical impact.

It appeared as if she had summoned the blizzard herself, and in the end, when she gestured to extend her hand, the blizzard settled.

As the girl’s true face was revealed, the audience gasped in surprise.

-That’s the Chain Silver Family’s princess!

-That girl?

-She’s still so young, yet this strong?

-Truly, it’s Aligieri.

The audience shows interest as she seemed quite immature compared to her demonstrated power.

Of course, the entry requirement for the Tactical Banquet was to be under 20 years of age.

Among them, the goal was to select overwhelming talents, which was a point of interest for the spectators.

Especially since it was hosted by Aligieri, expectations were high for the students from the Academy.

And there was a sense of satisfaction that was not at all bad.

Jenny Chain Silver. She was considered a winning candidate among the participants from Aligieri.

Crash!-

At that moment, a gigantic hammer fell in the center of the arena.

The hammer trembled the ground as it was swung at Jenny, but she narrowly dodged it with agile movements.

“Impressive. It’s not just a pretty shell wrapped in rumors.”

A man holding the hammer spoke up.

With his shirt removed, he revealed a muscular upper body.

On his solid chest lay scars as if he’d been clawed by a bear.

Towering in stature, he looked like a veteran who had faced many trials.

“The chill just now was excellent. However, unfortunately, our Swordsmanship Society’s base is located in the Crevasse Snowfield. That kind of cold is nothing to us.”

Crevasse Snowfield. Jenny grasped what he meant immediately.

She herself had been to that snowfield on missions.

So it made sense he would be resistant to the cold.

“Don’t mistake me for the frozen fools from earlier. My name is Telain Volkanos! I won’t show mercy even if my opponent is a young girl!”

Telain, with the hammer slung over his shoulder, stood proudly in front of Jenny.

It was meant to instill intimidation, but it had the opposite effect.

At being called a young girl, Jenny bit her lip, and burgeoning emotions bubbled up… before she suddenly smiled brightly and said,

“Then should I call you Uncle Telain?”

Jenny, unphased by the imposing figure of the fierce giant Telain.

Though he wanted to praise her for that courage… he quickly realized that tone was mocking him.

“I’m still 19!”

Telain, veins popping in anger, brought the hammer crashing down.

Triggered by his complex, his full power manifested in rage.

Boom!-

Once more, an enormous impact split the ground, and debris flew into the air like boulders.

The audience gasped in shock as the arena’s floor cracked. However, the more astonishing fact was… Jenny blocked that lethal blow with her sword.

“Impossible!”

“Ugh!”

The blue sword in her hand supported the massive hammer.

It was not a matter of dodging, but a pure defense, leaving Telain astonished.

However, it wasn’t easy to hold back, and Jenny was letting out strained noises.

Yet it wasn’t a level of pressure she couldn’t stand.

“Compared to Radon’s crow’s flap…”

“What…?”

“It’s nothing!”

Jenny’s sword gleamed with blue light, and the hammer started to be lifted upwards.

And the aura released from the sword sent the hammer flying backward.

Caught off guard by the sudden surge of power, Telain was pushed back, attempting to regain his footing but…

`It’s too late!`

Before he could correctly manage the hammer, Jenny was already preparing her technique.

She positioned the blue sword at her hip. In that moment, cold air began being sucked into the center of the sword.

It looked like it would burst out just like a Mage Cannon any second.

This was no ordinary technique. Realizing this instantaneously, Telain barely managed to gather his aura to brace.

He was focusing all his strength on defense at that moment.

[Chain Silver Style – Frost of Frigid War]

Bang!-

With the sound of an explosion, Jenny’s body dashed forward like an arrow. A tremendous gust followed her single step.

Exploding off the ground, Jenny instantly closed the distance to Telain.

Telain couldn’t even see the speed with his eyes, and Jenny unsheathed the sword tied to her waist.

Crackle!-

In one clean cut, Telain was frozen solid. And the ground she traversed had turned into slick ice.

No matter how long one lived in the Crevasse Snowfield, resisting strength more powerful than oneself was impossible.

In the end, frozen like a statue, Telain collapsed.

The only participant standing in the arena was Jenny.

[Class A Winner – Jenny Chain Silver]

The results echoed in voices and through the massive screen.

At the same time, cheers erupted from the spectators.

Over ten participants battled in a free-for-all to be the last one standing.

It was a pretty straightforward rule. Even so, the arena floor had turned to chaos from the fierce struggle.

A whirlwind of tactics clashed between various magic schools and martial organizations.

From that chaos emerged Aligieri’s 2nd-year Class A. Jenny Chain Silver.

“…”

Surrounding her were sounds of congratulations.

But Jenny couldn’t blend into that atmosphere, wearing a rather dull expression. It was not the face of a winner celebrating.

The one thing that brought a smile to her face was that figure seated in the crowd.

It was Radon Crawler, giving her a thumbs up.

-Good job.

His lips moved from afar. Understanding that, Jenny finally managed to smile.

At that moment.

“Sister!”

Someone emerged next to Radon, shouting out.

It was her only little sister, Ray Chain Silver.

While she felt relieved to see her, for some reason, Jenny wore a bittersweet smile.

Her sister had showcased such a magnificent performance, yet here she was looking like this.

“Why does your face look like that, Sis?”

Ray, watching from a distance, wondered about Jenny’s expression.

“Did that person cause trouble for you again?”

“Tsk. Why do you always suspect me?”

Jenny retorted, clicking her tongue at Ray, who stared suspiciously.

In response, Ray’s expression hardened as she glared like a tiger.

“Don’t play dumb! I heard you shared a room with another girl! It’s totally understandable that you’d be looking like this if you were cheating on your sister!”

“Then what about you, always sticking close to that guy without any hesitation?”

“What did you say!”

“Oh, don’t bite me!”

Ray, furious and gnashing her teeth at Jenny.

From her actions, she looked just like an angry kitten, but her biting strength was that of a tiger.

“How dare you betray my sister! You’ll pay for this!”

“Just stay still!”

Should I really say Ray was just like Jenny?

She was so strong it nearly made Jenny scream. It felt like being caught in the jaws of a tiger.

[20% more to synchronization…]

The power willed to her by Lyman still had 80% to adjust to her body.

Yet, she believed it would all be completed by the day of the Magical Banquet’s confrontation.

“You will pay for betraying our sister’s heart! I will teach you with my own teeth!”

“Please!!”

Until then, there lay a significant flaw in having to deal with this stubborn little brat.

For being a scion of a swordsmanship house, she certainly seemed to handle her teeth better.

*

“That was a truly splendid match. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s Class B matches.”

At the very top of the arena sat a viewing area only for high-ranking nobles.

Unlike elsewhere, it was a lavish and clean room, adorned to look entirely gilded.

“To achieve such at such a young age. Truly a beautiful daughter, Sir Gerard.”

Baros Volkanos, the leader of the Swordsmanship Society, said with a smile.

Though he was shorter than most, he wasn’t an ordinary figure for having become their leader.

Other heads from different organizations turned their gaze to Gerard.

“Thank you.”

He offered a brief response, but that was all.

Strangely, Gerard wore a face lost in thought.

Even after a 30-year reunion with a dearly respected elder brother, he could hardly hold his head up due to the shocking truth he had received.

`Was it really my brother who…`

Could it truly be that it was his brother that led to Leira’s death?

If that rampaging Lycanthrope back then was his brother’s pet, it could very well be the case.

A mere lycan couldn’t possibly kill Leira.

However, Gerard recalled having received strange reports from the patrol unit back then.

-I witnessed someone presumed to be part of Papias’ secret brigade fighting with… a mysterious man.

They said that mysterious man killed the brigade and disappeared without a trace.

Moreover, it was reported that a wolf followed alongside that man.

‘That was certainly my brother!’

He didn’t know why he had appeared in Silver Town back then, but one thing was certain: he killed that brigade to help him.

Yet, something must have gone wrong, leading to the wolf going on a rampage.

Thus, they had conducted an investigation centered around Papias to catch the culprit.

In fact, the Emperor, who once reigned, bore ill feelings toward Leira.

`Even if I concede a hundred times that my brother was responsible… there’s no way he would do it on purpose!`

It was this hope that had helped Gerard maintain his sanity until now.

And the words left by his brother on the rooftop resurfaced in his mind.

-Things will turn from a festival into war going forth.

“You look rather unwell, Sir Gerard.”

The one who spoke was Kaiden Jodiatz, the principal of Aligieri.

Just as he was about to answer that it was nothing.

[Seems like you’re seeing something like Heidern’s expression. There must be something going on?]

Kaiden’s telepathic magic reached out, being sensitive to mention the name of someone who had been dismissed at one point.

Kaiden remembered the sorrowful look on Heidern’s face.

Gerard’s face mirrored that sentiment, hence the subtle inquiry.

[I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.]

Yet, this matter was his own to handle. He didn’t want to involve anyone else in it.

[If you need help, feel free to tell me anytime. I’ll be waiting.]

Perhaps still lingering with thoughts of Heidern’s matters, Kaiden always intended to lend a helping hand.

It was comforting that at least one person was concerned for him.

That moment made Gerard’s mood lighten just the slightest.

“Just as Baros said, truly radiant.”

Then a voice spoke up from somewhere, it was none other than the Crown Prince.

Caris Fried Divine. He was seated in the most ostentatious spot, staring intently at Jenny on the surveillance screen.

Realizing the peculiar look emanating from Caris, a chill ran down Gerard’s spine.

“I had once stepped on the land of Silver Town, eager to meet Lady Jenny. Even now, it was a good city. Not inferior to the imperial capital.”

“I’m truly honored.”

Gerard quietly expressed his gratitude, but Caris’ strange expression remained unchanged.

“But, in fact, I was unable to meet Lady Jenny. Back then, I was told she was afflicted by an unknown disease… but now it seems she’s in good health.”

Then a telepathic signal came through again.

This time, it was from the Crown Prince.

[Of course, it must have been the cost of turning summer into winter, right? Sir Gerard.]

Gerard’s eyes widened at the inquiry in his head.

Crown Prince Caris was looking this way, his mouth curling into a smirk.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.

 

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