After finishing the practical session of basic studies, I had lunch with Frank and Cedric at the dormitory, but the topic of conversation was all about the Magic Tournament.
The cafeteria was busy with a lot of other students, and yet again, the topic on everyone’s lips was the Magic Tournament. It seemed like everyone was a mix of excited and nervous.
After finishing lunch and talking a bit with the two of them, I decided to head home.
When I was lounging around in my room, I started to hear noises coming from the neighboring room.
I got up from my bed and went to the adjacent room.
“Toko, can I come in for a moment?”
As I said this, I opened the door and there she was, lying on her bed in her uniform.
“Did my dear big brother delete the concept of knocking from his memory?”
“You don’t knock either. Anyway, is it okay if I come in?”
“What is it?”
Entering the room, I sat leaning against the bed, looking up at Toko.
“So, what are you planning to do about the Magic Tournament?”
“I don’t have any reason not to participate, so I’m entering.”
“Well, our family doesn’t really have any secret spells to hide either.”
“Who are you teaming up with? Have you decided?”
“I just agreed to team up with Yuika a little while ago.”
Yuika, huh…
Another reckless pair, it seems.
“You decided pretty fast.”
“It seems Irmera teamed up with Noel, so there wasn’t anyone else I knew left. I don’t want to team up with strangers.”
“I see. So that’s why you made the decision so quickly?”
“It seems you’ll likely win three matches, don’t you think?”
“Could be. Anyway, whoever comes, I’ll crush them. I just hope the president doesn’t show up.”
“Sharl isn’t participating, right?”
“The president isn’t under any mandatory rule, are they? The rules have changed, haven’t they?”
…Huh?
What exactly is going on with all that?
“Maybe I should check it out later…”
“What about you, Big Brother?”
“It doesn’t really matter to me. I’m thinking of leaving it up to the teacher.”
“I’m not really interested anyway.”
“What about Frank and Cedric?”
“They’re likely just going to team up with each other.”
“Sounds reasonable. Brother, you’re getting neglected.”
“Watch your words. I wasn’t originally planning to fight in a team anyway.”
“You’re a solitary wizard then – I guess I’m kind of like that too.”
And so is Yuika. Therefore, Toko and Yuika might be a good team after all. They won’t coordinate their moves, but they’re both individually strong, so they can handle themselves freely.
“Since I don’t know the spells of the other students, it’s probably best to leave it to the teacher.”
“True. Still, Big Brother, you should probably go back to your room and prepare yourself to deal with a crying president on your phone.”
“Forget that, I’m not a child.”
“Perhaps? Anyway, just be ready.”
“Hmph…”
After being told that by Toko, I stood up and headed back to my own room. Once there, I lay down on my bed and, just as Toko suggested, started aimlessly browsing random websites on my smartphone.
As I was aimlessly scrolling through the net, my phone screen changed to an incoming call, displaying Sharl’s name.
“Guess she really did call…”
I sat up and pressed the answer button.
“Tsukasa…are you doing well…?”
What a gloomy tone…
“What’s up? Your energy seems really low.”
“Did you hear about the changes in the Magic Tournament?”
“Yeah, they seem pretty significant.”
“What do you think the biggest change is?”
“…Everyone has to participate?”
“You’re absolutely right… The judges have been replaced with teachers now… which means I’ll be forced to enter too…”
So it was true, just like Toko said…
“Come down with a cold on the day.”
“Even if you try to run away, people will just think you’re avoiding it. It’s a disgrace among disgraces.”
I’d probably think the same thing about her trying to escape as well.
“What are you going to do?”
“There’s nothing I can do. You’ll get to see me get beaten up by your little sister.”
“No, the match-ups are random and consist of three pairs. The odds of you facing Toko are actually incredibly low.”
Hard to calculate, but it’s really unlikely, I think.
“I think La Folle’s behind the changes in the tournament rules.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
“Why do you think that?”
“It’s all about revenge against Toko. They’re forcing me to join and are setting me up to get beaten by her. That’s why this ‘random’ pairing is definitely rigged.”
Sounds like pure paranoia to me.
“Not sure I believe that. If they wanted to do that, they’d simply challenge Toko to a duel instead.”
“…Young Lady, I think even La Folle doesn’t have that much time, don’t you think?”
So Chloe was there as well…
“I think you’re right, Chloe. And anyway, what do you mean by ‘just a mouthy woman’? You don’t say much either, Sharl.”
“Did Toko decide who she’ll team up with yet?”
“She said she’s teaming up with Yuika.”
“Deadly intentions… Two girls who fight over the first and second place with high lethal abilities.”
Well, I’m not denying that. And earlier, Toko did say she didn’t want to face you, Sharl.
“Yuika will make do in her own way. She only excels in close combat after all.”
There’s supposedly something called ‘finger bullets’ or some such, but…
“There’s another reason I suspect La Folle… didn’t Toko, quite literally, steal my wings?”
Ah… The flying magic…
Timing couldn’t be worse. I’m starting to think she really did do it on purpose.
“No, I don’t think Toko had any such intention. She’s an idiot. Just yesterday, she was flying around the living room and hit her head.”
“Not just memorized it… I spent half a year on it…”
This isn’t good…
Sharl is way too down and extremely negative.
“Anyway, it’s not like losing is a big deal this time, right? It’s not just you – it’s teamwork. Besides, you’re still a student, after all, it’s just practice.”
“Young Lady, Tsukasa is completely correct. Even if you are the next head of the Iver house, being undefeated is simply impossible. There will be times where you lose. Moreover, you’re still students. It’s just practice, after all.”
Chloe’s words are spot on.
If someone who’s undefeated during student years says this, it may sound a bit obnoxious, but…
“Still… please pick up my bones.”
There’s nothing I can do about this…
If Sharl and Toko end up facing each other, I might just make Toko catch a cold. She’d probably do it for 10,000 yen.
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