CH 308

The Unrestricted-Class Tournament was on a different level compared to the first-year tournament I had experienced.

Not only were a significant number of participants from the Royal Class or former Orbis Class seniors, but even those from general classes possessed skills that couldn't be disregarded.

First of all, all close combat participants who made it to the finals had awakened their Magic Body Strengthening.

Although there were numerous people who couldn't awaken their Magic Body Strengthening until they graduated, it meant there were still those who had succeeded.

It was a competition to determine the strongest person in the temple, so having Magic Body Strengthening was a basic requirement.

There may also be a case of organizing the match-ups to prevent those with skills close to the winning candidates from being eliminated in the preliminaries.

As I watched Group A's match, I caught sight of the mysterious female senior who had spoken to me earlier in front of the dormitory.

"Royal Class 6th year, Lydia Schmitt!"

She was also participating in the tournament.

It seemed she was one of the winning candidates mentioned before Olivia's name came up.

Was she conscious of her competition? With Olivia not participating, her victory would be nearly guaranteed, but Olivia's sudden participation made winning more challenging. Was it resentment?

Olivia should have been a 6th-year student, having taken a year off.

That meant Olivia and Lydia Schmitt had spent a long time together in the temple.

But Olivia's bizarre behavior only began recently. I couldn't imagine her having a bad relationship with anyone.

Royal Class 6th year, B-2 Lydia Schmitt.

Regardless of what she was thinking, what was important was her tremendous skill.

I had felt it when we shook hands, but seeing it with my own eyes was even more extraordinary.

"…Incredible."

"Indeed."

After watching Lydia Schmitt's main match, Ellen and I couldn't help but say that.

A paladin. She was a monster who could simultaneously use divine power and Magic Body Strengthening.

The competitors in the matches following her clean victory also had amazing skills, whether they won or lost.

Even though I won the first-year championship, it was clear that I couldn't hold a candle to them. It wasn't that I was overly proud of my victory, but seeing the seniors' skills made me realize how much further I had to go.

I wasn't sure about Ellen, but I still had a long way to go.

The audience was also excited, watching the students exchange fierce blows with their Magic Body Strengthening active.

Charlotte seemed uninterested in this sort of thing, but she was concentrating as she listened to Saviolin Turner's commentary beside her.

Listening to it from a distance was quite helpful.

She would predict who would win or say things like, "seeing their actions in this situation, it seems the outcome is already clear." Almost all of Saviolin Turner's words turned out to be correct.

Of course, there were also those who had no interest at all.

"Adelia, wake me up when Harriet's turn comes."

"Huh? Oh... Yeah."

Liana lay her head on Adelia's thigh, who was sitting beside her.

The order was me, Ellen, Liana, and Adelia. So, Liana lay her head on Adelia's lap while draping her legs over Ellen's.

Ellen seemed indifferent, but I couldn't stay calm.

"Do you want to cause a scene while wearing a skirt?"

"I'm wearing shorts underneath, so it doesn't matter."

Liana, still lying down, tried to reach for the hem of her skirt as if it didn't matter.

What on earth was she trying to do?

-Slap!

"Ouch!"

"…"

When Liana attempted to do so, the previously quiet Ellen slapped Liana's thigh with a smacking sound.

"Stay still."

"Uh, okay…"

Ellen stared at Liana, and Liana nodded her head with a flustered expression while lying down.

Ellen seemed to be worried Liana might cause trouble, so she firmly held Liana's skirt.

-Boom! Crash!

In the meantime, two magically empowered students were fiercely fighting each other.

It wasn't difficult to follow with my eyes, but the fight between these monsters seemed uncertain even if I were to stand there myself.

Now, Harriet has to face these opponents.

How are you going to handle them when even I feel uncertain?

Our dear, dense friend…

You can do this, right?

I feel so anxious that I'm losing my mind!

It's not because you lose that you'll be mentally exhausted, right?

-Tap tap tap tap

"Stop shaking your leg."

Ellen eventually had to say something to me.

I couldn't help but feel anxious.

-Sigh...

Somewhere, a sigh that was remarkably similar to mine could be heard.

I suddenly focused on the sound of the sigh, not for any particular reason.

It felt incredibly similar to my own and somewhat...

Familiar.

Honey, please stop.

Aren't you worried too?

Our child will manage just fine.

The Duke and Duchess of Saint-Owan sat side by side.

Considering it was the festival season, it wasn't unusual for the Duke and Duchess of Saint-Owan to visit the temple. Moreover, since Harriet was participating in the Unrestricted-Class Tournament, it was only natural for them to come and watch.

Our seats weren't very close, so it didn't seem like the Duke of Saint-Owan recognized me.

However, it looked like the Duke and I shared the same thoughts.

Given my state, it was only natural that people around me would find my behavior mentally exhausting.

But... should I go and greet them?

The last misunderstanding seemed to have been resolved.

It would be strange not to greet my friend's parents when I have clearly seen them, right?

But going out of my way to greet them also feels odd.

What should I do?

I'll think about it after this is over.

In any case, having a comrade who shares the same anxiety makes me feel somewhat better.

------

Unrestricted-Class Tournament Main Round, Group C, Third Match.

That was Harriet's first match.

-The only participant among the first years, and the only magic major in this tournament! Royal Class 1st year, student A-4, Harriet de Saint-Owan!

Harriet, not in her school uniform but a long-sleeved outfit that seemed easier to move in, stood still.

A first-year student, and a magic major.

Even those who didn't know her well already understood she was at a disadvantage.

Naturally, not only the Royal Class first years, but also Liana, who had been lying down, now sat up straight and watched the arena.

Her opponent was Elnore Class 4th year Aisa Shelkin.

Though not knowing who she was, like all Unrestricted-class tournament main round contestants, she could use Magic Body Strengthening.

She was introduced as a regular class student, but there was a good chance she had transferred from Orbis Class.

Her weapon was a sword.

As a magic major, Harriet had no weapon.

The Unrestricted-class tournament starts with a best-of-five from the round of 36.

Tension was visible on Harriet's face. It would be her first time fighting someone in front of so many people.

Would she fail to cast her spells?

With the announcer's brief introduction, the first set began.

What would Harriet show us? I enhanced my sight and hearing to better understand the situation.

Aisa Shelkin stared at Harriet silently.

“I don't know how a magic major, especially a first-year, made it to the main round…”

The 4th-year student spoke quietly, her sword aimed at Harriet.

“Your luck ends now, junior.”

Harriet offered no response.

The key to overpowering a magic major was a swift and decisive victory.

Not giving them a chance to attack. Aisa Shelkin's body emitted a faint blue glow.

Magic Body Strengthening.

-Thud!

At the same time, she made a split-second charge. Like the wind, Aisa Shelkin's figure closed in on Harriet.

In response to the charge, Harriet reached out her hand.

-Crash!

Aisa Shelkin's thrust was blocked by a blue barrier that spread from Harriet's hand.

It was presumed to be a protection-type spell. Perhaps she had pre-cast it.

But protective spells couldn't last forever.

Aisa Shelkin seemed to know this as she repeatedly hammered away at Harriet's barrier.

-Bang! Crash! Clang!

Heavy blows carrying the power of Magic Body Strengthening. Defense alone wouldn't be enough.

The blue light of the protection spell was already fading, seemingly reaching its limit.

All of us watched the scene in silence. Even Saviolin Turner appeared to be withholding judgment as he observed the situation.

-Crash!

The protection spell disappeared with Aisa Shelkin's strike, and seizing the opportunity, she lunged with her sword again.

Was the next protection spell not ready yet?

At that moment, when it seemed she would allow an attack.

-Whoosh!

Harriet's figure vanished.

"!"

In an instant, Aisa Shelkin lost sight of her target and swung her sword at empty air.

She couldn't see it, but the audience could.

On the opposite side of the arena, there stood Harriet de Saint-Owan.

Short-range spatial teleportation magic, Blink.

"Battlemages must master this magic first,"

No sooner had Saviolin Turner finished his brief comment than Aisa Shelkin's gaze shifted towards Harriet, who had put some distance between them.

However.

-Zap!

A blue flash from Harriet's right hand struck Aisa Shelkin's body.

-Argh!

Thanks to her Magic Body Strengthening defense or her sufficient anti-magic training, Aisa Shelkin winced but didn't fall.

Yet, she couldn't easily escape the shock from the lightning.

In that brief moment.

-Roar!

A crimson fireball blazed above Harriet's right shoulder. A Fireball was fired at Aisa Shelkin as soon as it was cast.

-Boom!

Even before the Fireball's explosion subsided, I witnessed an unbelievable sight.

As soon as the fireball hit, another fireball was already forming on Harriet's left side and was fired.

-Bang!

Another fireball was shot at Aisa Shelkin, who was once again engulfed in an explosion and roaring sound.

Strange.

Saviolin Turner was also narrowing his eyes at the spectacle.

"Her casting speed... It's very fast."

People were feeling Harriet's exceptionally fast magic casting speed.

As if not to give her opponent any chance to escape, Harriet hit Aisa Shelkin with three consecutive Fireballs.

Was it already her limit?

Upon the impact of the third fireball, Aisa Shelkin was recalled with the light of a Recall Artifact.

“The first set! Freshman Harriet de Saint-Owan wins!”

What in the world had just happened?

What on earth did she do, and how did she do it?

Harriet found me among the numerous spectators, looking straight at me.

As if she assumed I could hear her naturally. She said,

“How's that?”

I didn't know what she had done or how she had done it.

But I could tell that this abnormal talent was starting to cause some abnormal events.

“Woah!”

The audience, intoxicated by the destructive power and brilliance of the magic, roared with cheers.

I didn't know what she had done, but if she could do that much, it was clear that I was no match for Harriet now.

I smiled at Harriet.

A mouse had been worrying about the cat.

But it wasn't such a bad feeling.

“Didn't I tell you? She'd do well on her own.”

“Well, I knew this would happen, of course.”

“...”

During that time, the Grand Duke Saint-Owan had already changed his stance.