Ken yo, kaku katariki – 120

28 – Student Battle, Finals 6


“Hey.”

Bailey raised one hand in the lobby of the Erbenu Multi-purpose Arena.
There were no traces of the wounds he had been covered in earlier. After the fight, magic tools erased them as if they were never there—with that said, the fatigue did not go away as easily.

On the other side, Roy Belms sat on a bench.
While he also had been healed, he was sitting there alone.

“Bailey.”

That was all he said. Bailey put some coins into a vending machine. And then he tossed a can towards Roy.
The can had a distinct blue label. A strange soft drink that had some passionate fans, but was mostly disliked by others.

“How nostalgic.”

“Aye…”

He sat down next to Roy and opened the can with a nod.

“We both did pretty good.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, I feel like a winner. Just by breathing you.”

Yes.
Their battle had ended with Bailey’s team winning.
However, the battle had left them so exhausted that they lost twice in a row after that. And some other school ended up winning.

“I see.”

Roy murmured as he put the can to the side.

“…You were strong. Really.”

He said.

“To be honest, I nearly broke. Several times. If it was one on one, there was no way that I would have been able to win. It’s ridiculous…how did you get so big…”

“But I still lost. That is all that matters.”

He said while looking at the floor. Bailey was silent as he stared at the ceiling.

Yes, that was reality.
They were competing with the power to kill. And the results were what mattered.
If it was a real fight, then the loser would be dead.

Before he knew it, Bailey had placed a hand on Roy’s head.
Roy shuddered but did not push it away.

(Now that I think about it…it used to be just like this…)

Unsure and awkward, yet always hiding it. That was Roy Belms.
And he had always patted him on the head when he realized it.

He had thought that everything changed.
They were too distant to ever be the same again.

But perhaps it was not the case.
He had only thought it was.

“Thanks, Roy.”

Bailey said. Though, it might sound like he was being sarcastic… But still…
He felt that he needed to convey something now.

…Thank you for waiting for me.

Roy raised his head.
What did he see in Bailey’s warm smile?
He just muttered, ‘Yeah.’

‘The General Division will begin shortly…’

They raised their heads towards the monitor in the lobby.

“By the way, what was that…earlier?”

“What?”

“You know. Something about withdrawing…”

Roy scowled.

“…In the Imperial University, the strongest person participates in the General Division. Though, it’s probably the same in the other schools as well.”

“Ah, in other words…”

Roy nodded.
In short, the student was even stronger than Roy Belms.
Bailey shuddered. He understood more than anyone how strong Roy was. This student must be very impressive.
However…

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Well…”

The person who was competing was the strongest spear-wielder at their school.
He knew how strong she was.

“Roy. Our instructor is a genius. You wouldn’t believe how good he is.”

He said half-jokingly.
He hated that word. But in this case, it didn’t matter. They were in completely different worlds.

“What?”

“And she’s one of the people who learned from him first. And was the most affected.”

And so Bailey looked at the monitor with a slightly exasperated expression.

◆ ◇ ◆

“Impo…ssible…”

One of the spectators said.
Someone from the Imperial University.
They could not believe what they were witnessing.

Rimro Vanheus had the nickname, ‘Tyrant.’
He wielded earth magic and twin blades. A genius who overwhelmed all with a storm of attacks.

Though, there had been concerns before the fight.
He was a known troublemaker, after all. But he was strong enough to make them want to turn a blind eye.

But now—he was on the ground, unable to do anything.

The battle had been over so quickly.
Stone spear shot out, breaking the floor. Rimro’s wave attacks. All were shattered by the girl’s spear.
His blades were knocked back, his feet swept out from under him. As he lay on the ground, she looked down at him.

“…Up for more?”

For some reason, she did not deal the finishing blow. Rimro bared his teeth.

“You…!! How dare…”

“I see.”

She whispered.

And then a red flame thrust into the sky.
The shock shook the entire arena. How much force had been in it?
The pillar of fire lasted only a second. And then Rimro’s magic tool was on red alert.

‘The fight is over!’

The buzzer went off, and after looking at Rimro, as if looking at trash, she walked away.

Yukito watched with a sigh.

“What were they talking about before the fight…?”

“Ah…well…”

—Something about becoming his if she lost, huh?

(Uh, he seemed sort of strong…maybe.)

After that summer duel, Aize was no longer on the same level as her fellow students.
Besides, she was also quite emotional, in spite of appearances.
And he had ignited fires of rage.

(I hope he isn’t completely broken from that.)

Yukito thought with a chuckle.

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