Episode 67. A changing gaze
The premises of the Knights Faculty within the academy were more crowded than ever before.
Among them, the proportion of outsiders was not many because only invited people could enter, and most of them were students.
Today is finally the last day of the tournament. It was also a special day with only the finals remaining.
The winner of the tournament is given a one-year scholarship and a special prize by the academy, the organizer.
However, what the students were aiming for to win the tournament was only fame, not money.
In particular, it was a chance to make one’s name known as it was a tournament watched by famous celebrities on the continent.
Even the VIP seats, which were sparse at first, are full today.
Celebrities who could be recognized just by looking at their faces were gathered in one place.
“I just got a seat. How about that one?”
“We got it too!”
Lewis and his party also settled down early to watch the long-awaited finals.
There were so many people that it would not be an exaggeration to say that almost all of the students in the academy came, but the stadium was large enough to accommodate them all.
Thanks to this, it was seen that the students of Monas Academy gathered in one place only for applicants.
Louise, who had been a student of Monas until recently, looked in that direction feeling nostalgic and found an unexpected person.
‘Adrias Cromwell!’
Adrias Cromwell, the main character who caused a stir not long ago, wrapped his body in bandages, was sitting there pretending to know one of Monas’ students.
The match in the round of 32 that Adrias showed created a tremendous amount of rumors and fame.
In addition to the swordsmanship that was unbelievable that a wizard showed, the knight’s mana, which seemed to be used as a dual mana storage that was found only in a very small number of people.
That much was surprising, but he almost beat Diene Alven.
‘Can I beat Diane-senpai?’
Lewis felt skeptical about the question.
Diene’s prestige shown that day was the end of a battle that could be seen as a magician.
Of course, there are many wizards stronger than her, but at least among the students in the academy, or among those who have graduated so far, he assured that no one in the same age as Diene showed such strength.
‘but….’
Adrias almost defeated Diene like that.
Of course, those who did not see the game said what it meant to almost win, but those who watched the match that day were not so sure.
For some reason, Adrias, who appeared with wounds all over his body, would have changed the battle situation enough and won victory had it not been for that injury.
In any case, the match caused a stir on and off the field, and the rest of the match was obscured.
‘It had to be. With such an overwhelming difference in performance, the other matches were like child’s play.’
The only exception was another finalist’s match against Diene.
Aside from Adrias, the participants who created another surprise.
Lewis saw a woman waiting inside the arena in the distance.
A student from the Faculty of Engineering who single-handedly captured Todlon, Dazam, and Aaron, the leading candidates for the championship.
‘Vivian Velocan.’
There were rumors that he was quite strong, but I heard that he was not up to the championship candidate.
However, he was a senior who brought exceptional victories in this tournament and eventually reached the finals.
However, Lewis’ attention eventually reached Adrias, who was having a conversation with a student of Monas.
No matter how great Vivian played, it was nothing compared to him.
‘I want to see a fight.’
It was Lewis who burned intense fighting spirit.
* * *
“Is that Adrias Cromwell?”
A man with a slightly languid impression rested his chin on his face and said.
The man with golden all-white hair and a sparkling golden beard was Duke Minus Morhaime, one of the pillars of the empire and also called the golden Minus.
The Duke of Morhaime has been known as a magical family for generations, but the current owner, Minus, was unusually skilled with fists.
Wearing a white suit and wearing numerous golden rings on his fingers, he looked more like a young boss of an organization than the head of a ducal family.
“okay. that’s the guy By the way, I didn’t know that you, who didn’t even come to the last nongong pedestal, would visit an event like this.”
When Bahat, who was sitting next to him, spoke, Minus shrugged.
It looked as if he had run out of boredom.
“The old man’s daughter is in the finals, so of course I have to come to congratulate her. why. Shall we just go?”
To the words of Minus, who answered in a flirtatious way, Bahat responded by clicking his tongue.
His appearance and behavior still haven’t improved, it’s the same as the last time we saw him a year ago.
“The malbon bird is still the same. Are you still less beaten?”
“Yes yes. I was wrong. It seems like the game is starting now, but I just watch the game.”
As Minus said, the match was about to begin.
When Bahat eventually turned his head, Sinclair Cloche, who had been watching them with a smile, laughed heartily.
He, along with Minus, had only come to see the finals.
“ha ha ha! It’s funny how the two react the same each time. Were they married in a previous life? Hahahaha!”
“Look, please. I don’t like to hear such disgusting noises.”
“quiet! The game is about to start soon, isn’t it?”
Bahat’s shouting finally ended the chatter between Sinclair and Minus.
Soon after, the moderator started and introduced each participant.
Coincidentally, as Diane was being introduced, Minus asked.
“But, sir. Are you really saying that sullen-looking fellow almost beat your daughter?”
“I am curious too. I heard that he turned the arena floor upside down with his sword, is that true?”
At the questions coming from both sides, Bahat finally couldn’t stand it and shouted.
“I don’t know, you guys! If you are curious, find out for yourself and watch the game quietly now! How dare we pay attention to someone when our Diane is in the competition!”
* * *
Diene had been in the game without any tension, but this time he couldn’t hide his trembling heart.
‘There’s nothing to be nervous about.’
If we react calmly like we did in the previous games, we will be able to win this time too.
Of course, the opponent this time, Vivian Velokan, was so powerful that she couldn’t let her guard down… ….
‘Compared to then… ….’
Diene thought that there would be no opponent worse than him since he had already gone through the match against Adrias.
Diene, who was organizing her thoughts for a while, suddenly raised her head and looked at the other side.
Then I saw Vivian Belokan, turned to the crowd, staring at someone.
When we looked to see if anyone was paying attention to the stadium, we could see Adrias Cromwell, who had not been seen for a while, sitting in the stands with bandages all over his body.
Diene unknowingly felt relieved at the sight of him looking more normal than she thought.
Then, he shook his head with a gesture that gave him goosebumps.
‘Why am I worried about Adrias!’
However, seeing him once again strengthened his desire to win.
Although her father said that her lack of physical care was also a skill, it was a difficult story for her to understand 100%.
So it was hard to shake the thought that I had come up instead of him, so I was even more thirsty for victory.
Now that he has surpassed Adrias, the only way to repay him is to win.
However, Diene was not alone in such thoughts.
Vivian made her decision as she sat in the stands and looked at Adrias, who met her eyes.
I will definitely beat Diene.
He said he would bring back victory on his behalf.
‘I don’t want to disappoint you.’
I wanted to show him a great side by winning the championship.
If it was my original self, I would have participated in the game without any enthusiasm and then roughly withdrew in the middle.
But this year was different.
He wanted to bring joy to Adrias by publicizing his true talent awakened through him.
Vivian was already thinking about how she felt about winning, saying that if it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t have been able to reach this point.
‘Adrias. lean on I will definitely give you the championship trophy.’
As I was engrossed in my own imagination and kept my mouth shut, I heard the voice of the moderator, whom I had become accustomed to hearing often.
“You have waited so long! Finally, the finals of the 58th Spring Tournament of Laudelen Academy will begin!”
The eyes of the two women in the finals shone.
* * *
It’s been a few hours since I passed out in the middle of a match with Diene and woke up.
I received treatment thinking that I was fortunate that I did not pass out for several days like the last time.
Although there were no serious injuries compared to the number of wounds, he was hospitalized for several days and rested.
I needed some time to think, and I needed a break because I had been running too fast.
‘It was a godsend to make a regeneration potion and a recovery potion first.’
In fact, right after the battle with Hosan, I fainted and woke up, but I didn’t know how faint I was, so I hurriedly returned to the academy.
Of course, he did not forget to take Hosan’s corpse and swords.
On the way back, he showered his whole body with potion and inhaled enough to think he was addicted to the potion.
‘It would have been nice if the performance was a little better.’
I feel it more these days, but this place is not a game, and once you die, it really is the end.
He felt the need to make better potions by accelerating his research on potions.
This work is like making extra lives, so I thought of making a potion with the ingredients I got from the meeting, putting aside everything else.
The blue cananjula flowers and yovine root I brought from the meeting were ingredients for an elixir that was said to cure all injuries and diseases. Of course, the story about the effect was exaggerated, but it was clear that it was a great potion.
As far as I checked, there was no recipe for Elixir in this world.
‘I can’t come out. It’s hard to think of making something with these two materials in the first place, since blue cananjula flowers and yobin roots aren’t common.’
Unfortunately, she fell out of the tournament, but she was satisfied with Diene’s growth during the match.
Her growth was at an unprecedented speed that I had never experienced before in a game, so I felt proud.
After finishing the game like that, I rested for a few days and was hospitalized in a treatment center, and I was discharged today, when the finals were held.
No matter how much rest I need, I can’t stand the final.
‘The future has changed.’
When I thought of the two finalists, I was puzzled by the changed future.
Diene, you’re going to advance to the finals from the beginning, but that opponent is Vivian.
I guess it was because of me.
When I arrived at the arena and took my seat, I felt a lot of attention going to me.
However, no one spoke to him, just looking at him, perhaps because he was wrapped in bandages all over his body.
“older brother!”
Students who looked a bit young, probably from Monas, were sitting in the seat next to me, and Benjamin was among them.
He approached me with a worried expression.
“I heard the news. Are you feeling better?”
“uh. I’m fine.”
“Fortunately, the. really.”
As I was listening to Benjamin’s muttering, I just remembered the presents I should give him.
It’s a bit difficult to hand it over here, but I’ll have to make an appointment next time.
Then I could feel Vivian’s gaze looking up at me from the arena.
She looked at me, her eyes burning with fighting spirit, and she clenched her fists.
‘Vivien and Diene both became unexpectedly strong.’
I don’t know how this will come back in the future.
Even if it was a changed future, I just did my best to live.
The game had just begun.
