CH 279

Cliffman seemed to have exhausted his social energy and mental strength for the day, for he did not return.

No, it would be more accurate to say that he could not return. Harriet was glaring at me.

"What on earth are you up to?"

"I mean exactly what I said."

"Now you're even causing trouble for others?"

"Why is it trouble for him to be Mr. Temple?"

"If you force someone to do something they would never do on their own, isn't that causing trouble?"

"I did it with purely good intentions."

In truth, my intentions were far from good...

Perhaps I should have tried to dissuade Cliffman instead. While his talent for combat was impressive, if things went wrong, he could miss out on honing his skills and be left with permanent scars.

He was a good kid, even with his bouts of queasiness. I didn't want to abandon him.

While I didn't agree with Harriet's words, I had to wonder if suggesting Cliffman participate in the Mr. Temple contest was a disaster in and of itself.

"Really, he does such random things and catches us off guard, doesn't he, Ellen?"

-Nod

I had to admit that my sudden proposal to Cliffman was extremely out of the blue. No, it was something I would never have done under normal circumstances. The real problem was the trickster who created unexpected events at unexpected times, leaving us no choice but to act.

"...I think I know why you did it."

Ellen looked at me and casually spat the words out.

How could you possibly know why I did this?

"You're just trying to see that senior, aren't you? The one you're supposed to visit as a friend."

What? This was a ridiculous misunderstanding!

"No, what kind of absurd nonsense is that?"

"You're using that as an excuse to go see the Miss Temple contest. It doesn't have to be that particular senior."

"…Wow."

At Ellen's words, Harriet's eyes widened as if she hadn't considered that possibility.

If anyone could convey "you're trash" just through their gaze, it would be Harriet.

No, guys… You're not entirely wrong, but that's not the whole story.

There's a reason... There really is…

"No, damn it! That's not the reason, but why shouldn't I go? What could possibly go wrong if I'm there?"

"There's no reason you shouldn't."

"…Exactly."

Why, then, was she glaring at me as if she wanted to devour me?!

In the end, I became the strange guy who sent his friend to the Mr. Temple contest and used that as an excuse to watch the Miss Temple contest – an utterly preposterous act.

I could have just gone to watch it without any bizarre excuses!

One way or another, my studies had taken a back seat.

Harriet seemed deep in thought before she looked at me and asked, "By the way, is that senior also participating in the tournament?"

"How should I know?"

"You usually tell me everything, even the things you don't need to."

True enough. But I didn't know if she was participating in the tournament or not.

Come to think of it, she had provoked Ellen by claiming she could beat everyone. Perhaps she intended to join the tournament.

"…"

Ellen remained silent, offering no additional information.

"Could it be that you're planning to participate?"

"Why?"

Upon hearing my question, Ellen gazed at me quietly.

"Do you think I would lose?"

"No, I didn't say anything."

All I asked was if she was going to participate, and she responded with such a statement. What's up with that?

But then again, based on what I saw in the classroom today, what I heard, and the fact that Olivia was a fifth-year student...

It might be a bit challenging for Ellen at the moment...

Repeatedly, children would notice that I'm not very good at managing my facial expressions.

It seemed Ellen had read something from my expression.

"Forget it. I'm not particularly interested in the tournament anyway."

That's what Ellen said. However, her mood didn't seem to improve.

"...Let's call it a day."

Perhaps feeling upset, Ellen sat down for a moment and then decided to leave, saying she was tired. I absentmindedly stared at the door of the study room that Ellen closed quietly behind her.

"You upset her with your weird remarks!"

"Why are you blaming me?!"

Suddenly, Harriet brought up the tournament and made the situation awkward. Of course, it wasn't entirely Harriet's fault.

"Really... do you think Ellen would lose?"

"I don't know."

"...I can't imagine it."

Harriet seemed unable to envision Ellen losing.

Anyway, Ellen claimed she had no interest in the tournament, and it seemed true.

It was strange.

Considering Ellen's pride, one would expect her to want to face Olivia Lanze in the tournament.

I never thought she would be disinterested, regardless of winning or losing.

And then...

"You know."

"What?"

"What about me?"

Harriet suddenly said something unexpected.

"What are you talking about?"

"Would I lose to that senior as well?"

I was taken aback by the unforeseen question.

"You? What are you even saying?"

"…Why, can't I participate in the tournament?"

"The tournament is mainly for close combat majors, right? You're a magic major."

"There's no rule that says I can't participate. I know that too."

That's true, undoubtedly.

But the reason why magic majors don't typically participate in the tournament is that it's nearly impossible for them to defeat close combat specialists.

How would you deal with a close combat major who jumps right in front of you while you're casting an offensive spell?

It's not an ambush, but a face-to-face fight in a limited battlefield.

It's more than just a disadvantage.

I would have thought Ellen would be the one to participate if someone were to.

"You never know until you try."

I didn't understand why Harriet was behaving like this.

However, after the incident at Aaron Mede's mansion, it seemed that Harriet had changed somehow as well.

Ellen was willing to face an opponent for whom the outcome was hard to predict.

"...Just don't push yourself too hard."

"Okay."

Harriet looked at me and smiled.

"You'll cheer for me, right?"

"...People are naturally inclined to root for the underdog."

"So what?"

I sighed as I watched Harriet cock her head.

"Of course, I'll cheer for you."

I'll support you, even though it's obvious you'll lose.

"Ugh, seriously annoying!"

Harriet pouted in response to my words.

Anyway.

Harriet had decided to participate in the Unrestricted Class Tournament, even though she was not a first-year student.

In truth, I planned to support Harriet.

At the very least, simply advancing without encountering Olivia Lanze would be a tremendous achievement.

Harriet went somewhere, claiming to submit her application for the Unrestricted Class Tournament. No matter how much of a genius she is, I can't understand how she plans to break through and rise against numerous close combat majors, even seniors, in the unfavorable circumstances of a tournament.

She must have her own thoughts about it.

I didn't have much enthusiasm for studying for exams as I had to study reluctantly due to other students.

I left the study room and practiced my sword alone in the training ground.

Magic Body Strengthening.

"Hmm..."

Although it wasn't like a real battle situation, I got the hang of it to some extent.

I managed to move something that couldn't move, awakening a completely new sensation.

With the results of the lessons I had unknowingly received and my self-suggestion rank increased to A, I became stronger.

It wouldn't work for the Unrestricted Class, but winning the first-year championship should be possible.

Especially since Ellen, the most powerful championship candidate, wouldn't participate.

"Shatter."

Another power, the incantation.

I murmured quietly towards the scarecrow, but nothing happened.

"..."

...Irritating.

Self-suggestion was mostly done through thoughts.

But incantations had to be spoken out loud.

So, I had to shout out what I wanted with intention.

Actually, standing in front of the scarecrow, shouting to shatter, and nothing happening.

It's hundreds of times more embarrassing than self-suggestion.

This is a humiliation play!

I became the person with the most powerful supernatural ability in the world, but why does performance and embarrassment go hand in hand?

In a real battle situation, if I try to use an incantation, I have to shout something, and if nothing happens, it would be incredibly embarrassing!

Why do all my abilities feel like this...

Moreover, the F-rank incantation seemed to have even less effect than the F-rank self-suggestion.

In the end.

It seems that I'm still a typical protagonist in a comic with supernatural abilities... The kind that only works when it's sincere... That sort of thing.

Of course, a supernatural ability that responds well during training but doesn't work in real situations would be even more useless.

I know this side is much better.

It's hard...

"Uh, sh-shatter... please?"

Somehow, as my spirit faltered, my voice grew quieter.

But practicing incantations loudly and confidently in the training ground, and if someone came in, I'd want to strangle myself.

For several hours alone, I practiced Magic Body Strengthening, incantations, self-suggestion, and swordsmanship until the sun set.

-Thump

How much time had passed?

"..."

"Uh... Are you here?"

Ellen appeared in the training ground, wearing casual clothes. Was she still angry because of my subtle reaction earlier? Ellen took a practice sword from the rack and approached me.

"Let's do it."

"Uh, yes. Alright."

As if nothing had happened, Ellen pointed her sword at me.

I hadn't said anything, and we hadn't fought.

Like any other day, Ellen and I practiced our swordsmanship.

-Clang!

-Clang!

-Clank!

"Ugh!"

"Read the trajectory better."

"I'm trying...!"

"You're not doing it at all."

-Clatter!

Though my skills had improved significantly, I was still no match for Ellen.

In the end, this was more important to me than anything else.

Cliffman still seemed to be deliberating and wasn't at the training hall today.

-Smack!

As soon as Ellen deflected my sword, she swiftly brought her elbow toward my chin.

Had she struck me properly, it might have broken my neck, but she stopped just in time.

As always, it was my defeat.

A defeat I had grown accustomed to experiencing.

"..."

"..."

Our eyes met for a moment. Sweat had trickled down Ellen's face, causing her hair to stick to her forehead.

I had always lost to her, and that had become my daily life.

But now, even after hours of sparring, Ellen was sweating.

I couldn't remember when it started, but at some point, I realized:

I had become much stronger. While I couldn't tire Ellen out, I was no longer an opponent she could easily dominate as before.

Ellen remained still in her stance, looking at me.

Ellen was shorter than me, so naturally, she looked up at me slightly.

"Do you think... I'll lose?"

Ellen asked without a subject.

Had she been thinking about that all along?

"How would I know?"

"You're lying."

Ellen looked at me.

"You think I'll lose."

"..."

I had subconsciously thought that Olivia would be stronger than Ellen.

"I know it too. I'll lose. I just... I had a feeling. It's not a big deal. I know."

Neither of us had shown our true skills to each other. But it seemed that from the moment Olivia Lanze had grabbed her wrist, Ellen had already realized everything.

Was it the feeling that she couldn't compete with this person?

"I'm... sorry."

"..."

Ellen looked at me quietly. She hung her practice sword on the rack and dusted off her hands.

"Don't apologize."

"..."

"It makes me feel worse."

Ellen sat on the windowsill of the training hall, gazing absentmindedly outside.

Now, it was winter.

Ellen took off her casual training suit jacket.

Her black short-sleeved shirt was quite damp with sweat. Ellen draped the jacket over her shoulders and looked at me.

"I don't really want to fight her and win."

"Is that so?"

Ellen looked out at the temple, where winter was approaching.

Sitting on the windowsill, she swung her feet and looked at me.

"I'm going to enter Miss Temple."

"Uh?"

"I want to defeat her there."

Ellen had chosen a completely different battlefield.

"I don't want to become Miss Temple. I might lose that too. She's famous and... pretty. But that's okay."

"..."

"I just need one vote."

Ellen said that, looking at me.

Just one vote was needed.

Ellen didn't explicitly say whose vote she needed.

She was just looking at me.

I couldn't bring myself to look Ellen in the eye.

Ellen spoke those words, stepped down from the windowsill, and walked toward me.

She gently touched the tips of my fingers, then let go.

Her expression seemed calm, but I could clearly feel her hand trembling slightly as it touched mine.

She couldn't look me in the eye either.

"I'll be going."

Harriet participated in the Unrestricted Class Tournament, and Ellen entered Miss Temple. Both were completely unexpected.