Chapter 146
School Competition (4)
Back on Earth, the most anticipated episodes of any academy genre were always the ‘festival events.’
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Unfortunately, Stella did not have a proper festival episode.
There were no school cafe operations derived from Japan or sudden maid outfit parties that caused character breakdowns.
For someone like me who was introduced to the academy genre through Aether World Online, this was rather fortunate.
I was too busy grinding experience points and farming items to enter high-level PVP zones to care about some freezing school festival.
Of course, it wasn’t that there were no festivals at all.
The school competition could be considered a substitute for a festival event.
The main storyline focused on PVP, but for players who weren’t interested in that, there was a big festival happening in the background. You could go on a date with your favorite male lead or gain experience points through other sub-events.
I loved PVP fanatically, so naturally, I participated in the main event.
I don’t remember exactly when I got so hooked on PVP, but fighting against actual living characters rather than AI-controlled monsters was more thrilling and realistic.
‘This is really something.’
The school competition was held on a scale incomparable to any college festival on Earth.
It was said that this was the first time in 12 years that the school competition was being held at Stella, according to the setting.
Perhaps that’s why it felt even more grand.
The airship and drones flying above to protect the ground reminded everyone of Stella’s prestige.
The various firework patterns exploding in the sky and the massive crystal flying object shining golden symbolized Stella’s wealth, while the tamed wyverns flying above showcased Stella’s technological prowess.
Taming twenty wyverns, which were notoriously difficult to tame, was something regular magic couldn’t accomplish.
The tamers must have practiced wyvern riding for this day, and the flight show performed by twenty riders was dizzyingly spectacular.
And then… the grand ‘entrance ceremony.’
The transparent grand bridge that descended only on special days, ‘The Great Path,’ was so delicate and beautiful, as if made of glass, that it left the spectators in awe.
Representatives from each school walked on it, showing off their prestige.
Kaikaren Private Magic School, known for admitting only wealthy students, showcased their affluence by having all their students and staff wear coats coated in ‘Blue Stone.’
The students to watch from that school were the twin siblings ‘Paharen’ and ‘Paaharen.’ They specialized in water magic and had a small mishap in the Magic Survival event where they were caught teaming up by the protagonist.
The elves from Starflower Tree Magic School entered, showing off their beautiful appearances. They didn’t need any special gestures; just their dazzling beauty drew the loudest cheers.
The student to watch from there would be ‘Zeliel.’ She was notorious for her schemes, and who knows what she might do.
Zeliel was at the front, smiling confidently and waving. With her blessed high elf beauty, many male students were shouting at her.
‘Is that high elf Oranha?’
I had hardly encountered him in the game, but his name was clearly displayed on my Bulbul Glasses, so it wasn’t hard to recognize him.
In the original game, he severely tormented Flowerseorin. There was a storyline where the player revealed his identity and saved him, so that’s a relief, but I remember him as a very cunning character.
And then…
A mysterious black carriage followed Oranha.
This was something that didn’t exist in the original game, so I was a bit puzzled.
Even when I searched with my glasses, it only showed [Lv.9 Anti-Magic Automatic Carriage], and I couldn’t see who was inside.
Unless I had a magic vision function in my glasses, it was impossible to look inside, so I couldn’t figure out the identity of the carriage.
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‘A level 9 anti-magic shield, huh.’
To have a level 9 class anti-magic shield, how dangerous (or valuable) must the person (or object) inside be to warrant such protection?
The black automatic carriage crossed the path quickly, almost as if in a hurry, and disappeared, followed by the procession of another school.
The dwarves from Geumhakgwang Academy entered in a special carriage, showcasing their technological prowess and astonishing everyone. Watching the elite students from numerous prestigious schools enter one by one was truly impressive.
Each school displayed its unique characteristics during the entrance ceremony, and the scene was so meticulously crafted with CG that it received high praise from players back in my gaming days.
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…Though I don’t remember it well because I usually skipped it.
But what does it matter?
I get to witness such a scene in reality now, not just in CG.
‘There are quite a few famous people…’
Aether World Online was known as the ‘Holy Land of Fandom,’ with many people deeply enamored with characters from its world.
It was possible because each character had their intricate story and past, and sometimes even minor characters gained explosive popularity, overshadowing the main cast.
And all of them were my rivals.
If Flame or Ma Yuseong were here, I’d feel reassured, but with such a thin lineup of Stella participants, winning first place seemed unlikely.
Well, what can I do?
I just have to work hard…
* * *
The sequence of the school competition started with the ‘1v1 Duel,’ followed by ‘League of Spirit,’ the most popular sport in the magic world.
The highly anticipated ‘Magic Survival,’ in which I was participating, was scheduled last.
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All participants had to choose one of the three, so during other matches, they could rest.
Each match had its main characters. Notable participants in the 1v1 Duel were Hae Wonryang and Jeremie.
There were also some sub-main characters from other schools who would later become available for player routes, but I didn’t need to worry about them.
-Wowwww!!
When Hae Wonryang strategically mixed three elements of magic to completely outmaneuver a third-year senior from another school, thunderous cheers erupted.
The senior he defeated was a genius capable of using 5-class magic to some extent, and he was even a potential sub-main character for Flame, but Hae Wonryang easily took him down.
The talent to crush the difference in class with experience and strategy.
That was Hae Wonryang’s true value.
Jeremie was an all-rounder character. Strategy, command, destructive power, defense; he lacked in none of these areas, making ‘Character Jeremie’ extremely popular among players.
Until ‘Character Ma Yuseong’ became available for play, he reigned as the ultimate overpowered character.
Clang…!
Golden light bursts from the sky, and golden spears fell or golden walls were created. The ground shook, and golden hands emerged, grabbing and flinging ankles. He freely controlled the highest tier of earth magic, ‘Golden Magic.’
From the Scalven royal family, none could wield golden magic so freely, even with an artistic touch.
Though my explanation is brief, honestly, Jeremie is a tougher opponent than Ma Yuseong.
‘Golden Wall’ automatically rose to defend against attacks, and ‘Golden Spear’ automatically targeted enemies, making it hellish for opponents.
I’m really lucky not to be in the 1v1.
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Next up was League of Spirit.
I was really looking forward to this sport, so I had prepared popcorn, chicken, and cola. It would have been perfect with beer, but being a minor, that was just unfortunate.
Just as I was about to open the popcorn with high expectations, someone sat next to me.
I didn’t pay much attention, but I could smell a faint floral scent from the person’s swaying hair.
[‘Trait ‘Memories to the Flowers’ activates.]
[You have smelled the fragrance of ‘Searose.’]
[You will long for the west wind.]
…What is this?
Then I remembered some traits I gained after contracting with Leafanel. If I smell a flower, I get the trait associated with its flower language.
Really useless…
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Anyway, curious about who carried flowers on their body, I turned my head.
“Hello?”
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It was Zeliel, the daughter of the Starcloud Trading Company, sitting next to me.
“…Oh, hello.”
There were plenty of empty seats around, so it wasn’t just a coincidence. I knew she had some intention, but honestly, with my dull brain, I couldn’t figure out Zeliel’s schemes, making me a bit uncomfortable.
“Stella students are really amazing. I didn’t expect two first-year freshmen to be tied for first place.”
The 1v1 duel was not a knockout tournament but a point system where participants played many matches to earn points, so ties for first place occasionally happened.
“Yes, indeed.”
I responded absentmindedly, chewing on popcorn, but Zeliel continued the conversation.
“So now, I think I understand why you ‘infiltrated’ Stella.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Oh, that word might have been uncomfortable for you. I’ll correct it. I think I understand why you ‘enrolled’ in Stella. Hehe.”
Though she laughed playfully, knowing she was an emotionless sociopath made it seem purely artificial.
What was her intention in saying that?
Zeliel doesn’t make mistakes in her words.
When conversing with someone, she chooses the most appropriate option from countless choices, like a player in a dating simulation game.
Infiltration…
Did she misunderstand something about me?
There was no reason for that.
Though I did make some notable moves, I never did anything to suggest infiltration.
In reality, I simply enrolled normally.
So.
I said nothing.
Thanks to Red Spring March’s blessing, my poker face was perfect. Saying anything rashly would give her evidence. Sometimes silence is the best policy.
“Oh, right. I saw you were participating in ‘Magic Survival’ with me? Hehe, I’m really looking forward to it. Getting to experience the rumored Blink Mage Baek Yu-seol’s skills firsthand.”
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“…Yes.”
“But… will you be alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Elf King is personally attending this event.”
“…The Elf King?”
I couldn’t help but be surprised.
Flowerseorin wasn’t supposed to appear in this episode.
In any ‘choice branch,’ Flowerseorin never attended the school competition event.
‘Did something else get messed up?’
What went wrong this time?
I couldn’t even grasp it.
“Hehe. I knew you’d be surprised.”
Seeing my surprise, Zeliel seemed to think of something else, approaching me with a subtle smile.
A close distance where our breaths mixed. She placed a hand on my chest and whispered.
“Did you really think you could hide your true identity forever?”
“What…?”
Could she have discovered my true identity?
…That I’m a possessor?
‘No way.’
With Red Spring March’s blessing and all, I couldn’t maintain my poker face anymore.
Unable to hide my shocked expression, I tried to pull my head back, but she followed and grabbed the pendant hanging around my neck.
“Do you think you can continue attending Stella proudly if your true identity is exposed?”
There’s no way.
A possessor’s existence must never be revealed.
“Do you think… you’ll still be able to live normally then?”
…Thinking of the countless forces targeting my knowledge still sends chills down my spine.
“But it’s okay. I can keep your secret. Instead, you… will become my slave. Serving me forever.”
“That’s…”
Before I could refuse, Zeliel smiled slyly and brought her face closer.
“Why? Are you going to refuse? Do you think the world will just leave you alone?”
After saying that, she forcefully pulled the pendant around my neck.
“Isn’t that right, ‘Spirit Killer’ and ‘Dark Mage’ Baek Yu-seol?”
“…Gasp!”
As Zeliel proudly revealed my identity, I gasped…
Wait, what did she just say?
The moment I thought I heard something strange, the pendant burst into a brilliant light.
Flash!
Immediately after.
“…Huh?”
“…Uh?”
Zeliel and I both made dumbfounded sounds.
“Th-This, what…?”
Zeliel placed the pendant, now glowing brilliantly white, in her palm, her eyes wide, repeatedly opening and closing her mouth.
There was… a dazzlingly radiant, pure white ‘Orb of Souls.’
“…There seems to have been some mistake…”
Zeliel, sweating coldly, tried to slip her hand away, but I swiftly grabbed it and said.
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“Hey. What did you just say?”
Dark Mage?
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Spirit Killer?
“Do you really want to piss me off?”
Despite my harsh words, Zeliel couldn’t respond and kept looking away. Seeing the sociopath’s poker face crumble was somewhat satisfying, but…
“What are you going to do about what you just pulled off on me?”
Shouldn’t I demand compensation for defamation and mental distress?
End of Chapter