The Marioles family, where Esca belonged, was a noble family located in the eastern region of the Empire. They were a small and insignificant minor noble family with only a few small villages as their holdings.
The reason the eldest daughter was admitted to Elphon Academy was that she had a slight talent for magic.
She arrived at Elphon with the expectations of her family, her vassals, and her family’s future on her shoulders.
However, her excitement about the new environment and people lasted only a few weeks. Reality was daunting.
Among the talented individuals overflowing in the academy, she quickly realized that her own talent was truly insignificant.
‘If I try hard enough, I’ll make it somehow,’ she told herself, ‘And even if I’m a little behind everyone else, all I have to do is graduate from Elphon—‘
Once she graduated from Elphon, you can become a mage in the Imperial Palace, even if it’s a lowly position.
If that happened, not only would her future be secured, but the revival of her family would no longer be a dream.
Esca was aware that her family had taken on a significant burden for her admission.
She had to produce results to repay those debts. She couldn’t afford to disappoint their expectations.
The day arrived for her to take her first important exam after admission.
She knew she was lacking compared to others. So she sacrificed sleep and did her best to prepare, but unfortunately, luck was not on her side.
The practical exams were naturally below average, and perhaps due to excessive nervousness, she even made a mistake in checking the answers for the theory exam, which she had some confidence in. She was likely to fail.
If she failed only two more subjects, expulsion would be inevitable.
If she botched the final test, it would be a foregone conclusion.
So when she heard it was a team exam at first, she felt relieved in her heart.
For someone lacking in skills like her, a team exam was much more advantageous than going alone. Moreover, she ended up being in the same team as Kaen.
She felt a bit disgusted with herself, but she thought that if she stuck with Kaen, she might be able to avoid the worst. However...
“What did you just do, Esca?”
Esca withdrew her outstretched hand in surprise.
Kaen was staring down at her. With eyes that had grown round.
Ran and Vaion both stopped what they were doing and stared in astonishment in this direction.
“Oh, no. This is...”
What should she say?
That it was a momentary impulsive action? It would only sound like an excuse. That it wasn’t his intention?
Time was running out, and she was getting anxious when she remembered what the professor said earlier.
“...”
She realized what the point of this exam was, so she gritted her teeth and stood up.
“Kaen, I clearly told you.”
“...?”
“This is a test. It’s not about having fun!”
Her usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found as she shouted loudly, and Kaen stared at her dumbfoundedly.
“Well, of course, you probably don’t care. You’re excellent! You probably got above-average grades on other tests too! But I’m not like that. I don’t know how many subjects I might fail. If I fail this one as well, I might really get expelled. And yet, you...”
Esca laughed self-deprecatingly before finishing her sentence. Tears streamed down her eyes.
“I’m sorry. That was really pathetic.”
“...”
“Since I’m so desperate, I should have separated from you from the beginning and just get another student’s bracelet by myself. I have no skills nor confidence and yet I’m still acting like this...”
Thud.
Esca took off her bracelet with her other hand.
Kaen, who was standing still in a daze, belatedly reached out to the empty space without a chance to stop her.
- Team 1, Esca Marioles eliminated. Cease all actions and wait in place.
“I’m sorry, Kaen.”
“Hey, Esca...”
“You said I was the first friend you made when you came down from the mountain, and I’m so sorry I screwed that up.”
Soon, an assistant professor appeared at the entrance.
The assistant professor walked up to Esca and looked at the professor, sensing something was wrong.
“Um, Professor Gaon?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just take her.”
Professor Gaon, who had been chuckling to herself on one side, waved her hand.
Until the assistant professor took Esca and exited the entrance together, no one said a word.
***
I watched as the two disappeared through the entrance.
I never expected something like this to happen.
I’d noticed how unstable Esca had been since the first day of exams, but this was--
'What a disaster.'
It was a complete mess.
Kaen, whether shocked or frozen, remained motionless.
Vaion didn’t say a word either, and the professor just stood there watching us.
The atmosphere was stifling, and I was waiting for Kaen to speak first, but then the amplifying magic sounded again.
- Team 2 has successfully obtained Professor Rokel’s bracelet. Proceed to the western corridor.
...Professor Rokel’s bracelet? Who succeeded?
Naturally, Rigon and Lea flashed through his mind. If there were any students who could do it, it would only be them.
Anyway, if the opposing team had already obtained the professor’s bracelet, all our efforts so far had become meaningless.
“Too bad. It looks like they succeeded first.”
Professor Gaon cleared her throat and spoke up.
She, too, seemed to be quite perplexed by that announcement. Her casual remark earlier had really divided the team.
I looked at Kaen. Finally, I noticed her raising her head, which had been lowered.
Then, the first words she uttered were incomprehensible.
“Ran, Vaion. Let’s hurry.”
“What? What for?”
“We’re running out of time. We need to obtain Professor Gaon’s bracelet quickly.”
What was she talking about in the midst of all this?
Neither I nor Vaion could understand, so we looked at each other. Then--
“This is the only way Esca can avoid failing.”
I was so surprised by her subsequent words that I lost my ability to speak for a moment.
Indeed, it had been said that acquiring the professor’s bracelet would ensure good grades for the entire team.
That way, even those who failed could avoid a failing grade. But that’s not the issue here.
“...Are we going to continue? For Esca’s sake?”
Vaion questioned Kaen’s attitude, clearly not understanding.
Esca had tried to take Kaen’s bracelet. It was like being betrayed by their closest friend.
I thought it would be a big shock for her, but what exactly was she thinking?
“Yeah. I was too carefree. I didn’t pay attention to my friend and acted recklessly.”
I asked her.
“In any case, it’s true that Esca tried to take your bracelet. Aren’t you angry about that?”
“I’m not particularly angry. I just feel a little disappointed.”
“......”
“Why are you all staring at me like that, Ran? Am I weird?”
For a moment, Kaen and I locked eyes.
In that moment, a thought occurred to me once again.
Perhaps she was the successor of the Holy Sword, not only because of her exceptional talent in swordsmanship and magic.
“You’re not weird.”
I retorted, and then shifted my gaze to Professor Gaon.
“But we don’t have much time, Kaen. The opposing team has already obtained Professor Gaon’s bracelet.”
If the opponent moved towards the western passage, the exam would be over.
Only the team that first passed the passage with the Professor’s bracelet would get a grade advantage.
“But we won’t know until we try. We will definitely succeed.”
Even so, Kaen still seemed determined not to give up.
Kaen stepped forward. It seemed like she had no intention of stubbornly relying solely on magic anymore.
Watching her, Vaion tossed her his sword.
“You use it, Kaen.”
“What about you?”
“I’m fine with my bare hands.”
Vaion also stood beside Kaen, facing Professor Gaon.
Professor Gaon wore a smile on her face, as if finding the situation amusing.
“So, you’re going to continue? Even if you manage to obtain my bracelet, you’ll still be slower than the other team.”
Kaen gripped the sword, extending it in front of her, and lowered her posture.
“Because of you, our friendship was almost ruined. I can’t just let you win, can I?”
“I’m sorry, but even so, I can’t let things go your way easily. It’s an exam, after all.”
Kajak!
Kaen jumped in. It was an explosive burst of speed, drawing on her full mana.
Professor Gaon evaded, and Kaen relentlessly pursued. Their swords clashed rapidly, and the two circled around the narrow circle’s edge.
Professor laughed with a mixture of surprise.
“What’s a student like you doing in the Department of Magic? Were you throwing behind this kind of skill for magic?”
Similarly taken aback, Vaion, who had been observing the situation, also entered the circle immediately.
Since he didn’t have a sword, Vaion boldly swung his bare hands toward the professor.
I realized that it wasn’t a haphazard attack, but a strategy.
From the professor’s perspective, it would be difficult to swing a sword and sever the student’s arm. In fact, it seemed more challenging to confront her barehanded than with a sword.
“A bear-like guy fighting like a fox!”
Of course, the professor still didn’t seem willing to give up the bracelet easily.
Vaion, struck by the sharp edge, was knocked back and tumbled to the ground. Kaen took advantage of that opening and aimed for the professor’s flank, but failed spectacularly.
Kaen was exerting all her remaining mana and moving to her limits. Vaion was doing the same.
Meanwhile, I watched the scene intently, pondering.
Although Kaen was desperate, to be honest, Esca’s situation wasn’t that important to me.
There was no reason for me to unnecessarily interfere and secure victory against the professor. But...
Thunk!
In the midst of my distraction, the outcome was instantaneous.
Kaen, who had lost her sword and was forcefully thrown back, lay sprawled on the ground.
Professor Gaon, who had stopped moving abruptly, looked down at her own arm. Her sleeve was slightly cut.
For a moment, the professor was at a loss for words, and then he let out a stunned sigh.
Struggling for breath, Kaen lifted her head and barely managed to speak.
“Bracelet... please.”
“What was that swordsmanship just now? Where did you learn it?”
“It’s from an older sister I know. Give me the bracelet quickly.”
Could it be that the sister she’s talking about was the hero?
Professor Gaon, who placed her sword in the scabbard, untied the bracelet on her wrist and tossed it to Kaen.
“Unbelievable. Why did someone like you enter the Department of Magic?”
Kaen seemed oblivious to the professor’s words as she focused on grabbing the bracelet.
Professor Gaon chuckled and turned in the direction of the entrance.
“You’re Kaen, right? We’ll meet again someday.”
With that, the professor muttered and disappeared out the common entrance.
Kaen, struggling to stand with the bracelet in hand, collapsed onto the ground as if her legs gave out.
I laughed at the sight, for some reason.
In a way, it wasn’t unpleasant to see someone so desperate for the sake of someone else.
Vaion had already fallen and lay motionless in another corner.
I approached Kaen.
“Hey, Ran...”
“Kaen, take a rest. Leave the rest to me.”
I reached out and grabbed the bracelet she was clutching, helping her to her feet.
“It may be late, but if it isn’t, I’ll do something about it.”
***
- Team 1 has succeeded in obtaining Professor Gaon’s bracelet. Go to the west passage.
After finishing their rest, Rigon and Lea, moving along the west passage, heard a loud magical announcement in their ears.
“Did the team over there succeed, too? Could it be Kaen and the others?”
Rigon smirked.
Lea handed the bracelet she was holding to Rigon.
“You take it. I’ll stay here and block the opponents coming this way.”
“Do we really need to do that? We’ll be much faster.”
“Don’t argue, and just do as I say. It’s a reasonable judgment. I won’t let my guard down.”
Rigon, who was faster on his feet, carried the bracelet while Lea obstructed the opponents. Of course, it was the best decision they could make.
“What if you get eliminated…?”
“That’s why I’m telling you to take responsibility and make it to the finish line for sure. Now, hurry.”
Rigon didn’t like it, but he decided to do as she said. She was going to be stubborn about it, anyway.
“Fine. Then I’ll go ahead.”
As Rigon left, Lea stood alone and stared across the path they had come from.
Before long, the sound of someone running towards her echoed through.
Narrowing her eyes, she looked at the approaching figure. And soon, she could tell who it was.
“...Ran?”
They must be the ones who obtained Professor Gaon’s bracelet, just as Rigon had said.
Was Professor Gaon’s side easier than Professor Rokel’s? Or was it Vaion’s achievement?
Lea wondered how they’d managed to do it when they’d struggled so much themselves, but she quickly dismissed the thought and reached out her hand.
If it was just one insignificant person, there wouldn’t be a problem. She had enough energy left to deal with them.
Even after seeing her, Ran didn’t stop and continued to run towards her.
Lea chuckled and attempted to unleash a shockwave spell. But before she could, the opponent cast a spell first.
Flash!
She protected her eyes with magic against the bright flash that illuminated the passage.
There had been times like this before. Didn’t you still realize that this kind of trickery was pointless?
She thought as she tried to sense Ran’s movement.
“......!”
Suddenly, Lea was startled as someone passed right by her side, almost losing her balance.
As the flash subsided and her vision returned, Ran had already passed her by and was running.
Lea couldn’t understand what had just happened.
“How...?”
It was a distance of more than thirty steps before the flash exploded.
That far distance narrowed in an instant without sensing any signs and passed by her?
She belatedly regained her senses and tried to cast a spell, but he was already far away.
She stared blankly at his retreating figure, her expression haunted.
***
As Rigon ran toward the destination at the end of the west passage, he felt someone following him from behind.
'What’s this? Did they pass through Lea?'
Rigon increased his speed and ran.
It was an unexpected turn of events, but he was ahead of them anyway, so all he had to do was get there first.
Soon, the exit came into Rigon’s view. There was a line drawn with magic to mark the endpoint.
The distance between him and the pursuer was still far.
It was the moment when he was about to rush and cross the finish line...
“......?!”
Suddenly, at the far end of the finish line, as if rising from the empty space, a person appeared, surprising Rigon and causing him to stop in his tracks.
On closer inspection, it was someone he knew. Rigon murmured unconsciously.
“...Ran?”
With a vague smile, Ran raised the professor’s bracelet in his hand.
“Sorry, Rigon. We won.”
