The Fourth Martial Arts Field was packed with a large audience.
But unlike when it comes to strength tests, they're all college officials.
Not a single guest.
We were in the front row.
Except for Ruby and Gawayne, there are three Class S in Combat and Phil, as well as five associates, Rachel.
"I can't believe we've been hitting classmates since World War 1..."
"It's a league game. I can't help but hit it one day."
To Azerea's whining, Elvis returned it.
The game between Ruby and Gawain is about to begin.
We were summoned by Rachel to watch it as part of the class.
"... Still, isn't there a lot of audience for the freshman game?
I look around and say.
The game should be concurrent in other venues.
They should be playing first and second level games too......
"It's the first game between S-classes in years, so it's a lot of attention in response to no."
Raquel said pale.
"Besides... this is the first game of the year where freshmen come out"
... Why does that raise your profile?
I questioned it, but Rachel didn't open her mouth any further.
"- Come on! The first round of the third level league, the next is the featured one! I haven't had a Combat S class placed in years! A showdown between the super rookies who belong there! The venue is packed with audiences from all over the college in an attempt to see this first battle at a glance!!
Tense voices descended from the sky.
Unlike the strength test, which had a bit of a tough vibe because some guests were there, there seems to be a reality to the rank battle.
"I will send you the facts from Emily O'Hara, Class B, Unit 37! And what a way to explain it! Be the College Director of our school and the most powerful spiritualist on the job! We are calling for the Tula Cleese Eternal Spirit King, who also serves in the 102nd Battle Department S-Class!!
'Uh, I had a head... Excuse me, will you keep your voice down for a second? "
"Oh? How are you?
"No, I drank a little too much yesterday. Well, I think I was running my cousin's mouth... '
Hangover. It's evening.
Besides, he's forgotten beautifully that he was talking about a no-locket extension toward Rachel.
'I ask the Spirit King. How do you feel about Ruby Bergson III and Gawayne McDonnell III, who are going to fight?
'I don't know. In the meantime, Bergson is more disrespectful. Super disrespectful. You look just like your master.'
"When I say master, do you mean Josea Bergson Eight Steps"
Some people call it "Bergson the Piece of Scraps." Anyway, he hates nobles, and he's probably a man who doesn't know anything about the art of passover... his prowess as a spiritualist isn't real. Otherwise you can't go up to eight steps. And of course, the eyes that see talent are slipping out '
"So Ruby Bergson Grade 3 is the original stone of the diamond recognized by its slipping aesthetic eye!
'Bye.' Cause he likes it better than three meals to make a slum guy look nasty. '
You have such a good personality, Ruby's master......
"So, what about the opposing Gawayne McDonnell, level three?
"Be polite, but you have a hard head. The opposite is true of Bergson, but what looks like a master is not true. '
"" Iron General, "Denholm Bastade. Nine steps, right! As it stands, it is one of only four nine-stage holders!
The best title in the world of spiritualists is "The Spirit King," which the College Director has been monopolizing for thirty years, but "Nine Steps" is the next thing to win.
It cannot be obtained in a normal ranking battle and is given only to those who have shown some merit against the kingdom.
He's got a stiff head. I was a teacher just when Non was in the process of reforming this college, but how many times did he answer me? Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it... oh, no, no, no. '
"Um... I'd like you to refrain from making any remarks that would turn the aristocratic society against the enemy..."
"Hake then hake. All the jizzies that look great now, because I've known them since I was a Hannatale kid! Just a little old story and I'll shut the fuck up soon! Hihihihihi!!
Wow... if that guy grips me weak, I'll be screwed for the rest of my life... let's be careful...
'Well! Let's move on before our school has any more eyes on the aristocratic world!! This is the entrance of the opponent!!
A door opens at both ends of the circular martial arts field and two people enter.
Ruby was the usual disintegrated uniform, but Gawayne wore armor and had a shield and sword.
"Wow. Jeez. Katsu."
Phil looked at Gawayne's outfit and said.
If you just look at the gear, the lightly dressed ruby looks more disadvantageous.
But the battle of spiritualists cannot be determined by equipment alone.
'Come on! Both names will face each other in place! Both, you have the same equipment as when you test your strength.'
'I guess it's the usual gear. Having your own methods of warfare at that age isn't that big of a deal.'
But the voice of the Dean of the College continued.
'Fulfill it, how much can you do with that (...)?
The time for the start of the match is approaching.
A sense of urgency persisted at the fighting ground where the two were facing each other.
"Match - here we go!!
Shortly after the fact tells that.
Ruby disappears.
"Again!"
Same as when I tested my strengths.
I'm not supposed to be keeping my eyes open, but I lost him...!
"Bergson Grade 3 has disappeared! Spirit King, what the hell is this!?
"It's some kind of spiritual art. If you get out of the arena, you're disqualified, so I think you're just invisible. '
Gawayne moved while the Dean of the College made such appropriate comments.
He dropped the shield in his left hand on the floor.
Moments.
The shield liquefied.
A shield that has become like silver jelly expands into a fighting field.
"This ha-ha!? The shield dropped by McDonnell Grade 3 dissolves and spreads like water!? What the hell is going on?!
"Hmm. I see. Did you see the shield as unnecessary? I think he's gonna throw it away and use it against his enemies."
"Are you an enemy?
'Take a look. - It's already caught on'
The Dean of the College was right.
Liquefied and spread silver with a little footprint.
"Ahhh! I see! Now even if you disappear, your footprints will remain!
"For what it's worth, McDonnell's man is going to reveal his spiritual skills."
"Iron Shield - i.e. the phenomenon of the liquefaction of metals! Is this the [inflexible (fuzzy) pillar stone] of the Spirit (Verito) who conducts the metal?!?
"Eighty-nine out of ten. Right. If not, it's a big ruse."
Ruby's footprint tries to escape the spreading jelly-shaped metal.
Gawayne struck a further chase there.
I even liquefied the armor around me.
Metal, which is many times more than a shield, is added further to cover the fighting ground.
Ruby had no escape.
"Come on! Bergson, level three, we're out of escape! What are we gonna do?
'Naturally, let's attack. Instead of finding his opponent's place, McDonnell lost a lot of defense'
'Sure! McDonnell Lv3 has almost let go of all that heavy equipment and is now only a uniform and sword!
The live narrative shouldn't have been heard by the opponents, but it did, and the Dean of the College was right.
Ruby's footprint rapidly approaches Gawain.
- Fast.
It's like a rat running around.
With Gawain's giant and that massive sword, I can't capture this speed, not very much......!!
Ruby, who became transparent, took Gawain's back.
Probably has a dagger in his hand that he also used when he tested his strength.
For her, Gawayne's back in front of her must be the right prey......!
I saw the back of Gawayne's uniform ripped.
A dagger stabbed him.
... but.
"Oops!? McDonnell Level 3, alive and well! I tried to capture the Bergson III behind me, but Bergson III, barely flaunted this!!
"Duh, why!? I just stabbed you, didn't I?
Azelea screams upset.
I said as I pondered.
"... it was the position of the heart that stabbed him. If he's really stabbed, Gawayne's an element out in one blow."
"Well, then why..."
"So you didn't stab me.... I've been stopped."
"What...?
Azelea blinked.
Face that you don't know what you're talking about.
"Ji-kun, with Do-yuko? You mean you're wearing something under your uniform?
"No, it doesn't look that way. But I think he's got another piece of armor under his uniform."
"Another piece of armor...?
With Phil and Azerea tilting their necks, it was the only face Elvis knew.
"You noticed during the strength test, Jack."
"Oh. I mean, I noticed, I feel caught."
"Hey, hey! What do you mean! Just the two of us figured it out. Don't get windy!
I can't help explaining because Azerea was about to burst out.
"Did you know that Gawayne was taking all of his opponent's attacks straight from the front when he tested his prowess?
"Yeah. I could see the shields and armor fixing right up. Now I think that was due to a metallic spiritual technique."
"Yes. Shields and armor will be fixed soon. But that doesn't explain that endurance. Because armor and helmets protect your body, but they can't block you until impact."
…… Well, yeah. No matter how sturdy your helmet is, if you get punched multiple times with a heavy sword, you're gonna die. "
"That means. Gawayne is wearing more armor for shock absorption - you have to think about it."
So you were talking about not looking like you were wearing armor?
Elvis came pinching his mouth because Azerea still looked uncomfortable.
"It's a simple erasure. From the phenomenon, Gawayne, you were wearing double armor. But there's nothing like armor anywhere.
- If so, there's only one thing I can think of. He's not wearing armor. His body itself is armor. "
"The body itself, armor...?
I ask Elvis.
"Did you see that, Elvis?"
"Your eyes are better. - When the back of the uniform was torn, I saw a reddish scale"
"Scale!?
"Mr. Fish?
Azelea and Phil reacted both ways.
Well, Mr. Fish isn't far away without hitting it.
It was Azelea who understood clearly.
"Scaled human...... Mr. Gawayne was a Dragon Nation!?
Dragon Nation.
Descendants of men once united with dragons.
The biggest feature is that there are scales all over the body.
"Oh - that would also be the blood muscle of a bronze dragon. Copper dragons, as the name suggests, have copper scales, don't they?
"Right. Copper - I mean metal."
Azelea turned out to be a ha-ha-ha noticed face.
"I'm turning my scales - copper scales - into armor with [inflexible pillar stones] manipulating metal...?
"I don't know if I'm just moving the scales position, or if I'm increasing the amount.
- Anyway, Gawayne is wrapped in armor where he looks seemingly defenseless. There's no such thing as a gap in his armor. "
"What...!? Oh, no..."
In the fighting arena, the same development continued for some time.
Ruby, who disappeared, moves quietly and is bounced when attacked.
Ruby can barely escape as Gawayne tries to catch her.
But it was obvious to everyone's eyes.
Which one of you wins this game?
Which, there is no winning eye?
"... it's not just compatible!!
Azelea stood up suddenly.
"I just happened to have a bad combination...... I was just unlucky......! From the start, you can beat Ruby...!!
"Azelea"
Calling Azelea in a pale voice was Raquel, who had watched the game in silence until now.
"Dr. Rakel...?
"Are you going to say the same thing, even when you're a pro and out on the field?
"What...?
Rachel spins words carefully, word for word, so that they are firmly conveyed to the other person's mind.
"Because it's not compatible. Because the combination is bad. Because I'm unlucky. If you're the wingman fighting a bad opponent at work, is that what you say and they kill you adulterers?
For example - when you encounter [the hand of the raw fish] enough to wipe out all your flames "
"Oh, that's..."
During the strength test, Azerea prevailed over water use, which should not be compatible.
But that's just because her spiritual output happened to outweigh her opponent by a great deal.
'- Well, freshmen watching this game. It's time for you to think, "You're just so unlucky to be incompatible with this," etc.
Through the broadcast, the Dean of the Academy said in a laugh-inclusive voice.
'Be glad. Oh (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no (...) no matter what, freshman's chances of winning the first match are usually as full as 10%!!
"Didn't you explain this year, Dean? Every year, you're being mean. '
"Sometimes you have to learn with your own hands. Because this guy always keeps his pride more or less. Hihihi! '
Some of the audience was bluffing.
Probably the freshmen in the battle department.
"Freshmen! That's what you think about hitting people who don't fit in so far. Bye, sweet. It's such a sweet idea.
The same thing happens, even if not as much as the incompatibility of spiritual arts.
Oodles will be poked at their weaknesses, they won't like it, and they will fail miserably with nothing possible!
Because! From the moment you enroll, students who belong to the same rank observe Odora!
We analyze, analyze, and work out tactics for your spiritual tricks!
Behold! The audience gathered in this arena!
Most people don't know. I'm here today to watch this game, most of which are not Intelligence students!!
"What...!?
I looked around as Azelea panicked.
Of course, it can't be discernible to that extent.
But I don't know who the intelligence department is.
| You can't possibly know who's scouting other students "..." that way either.
"If you know him and know yourself, you will not be in danger of a hundred wars. In the words of an old sage.
Under each of your masters, you've spent your time "knowing yourself". Of course, in normal classes, Nora College also helps the Nora College to know and hone its own power.
But in this rank battle, let them remember to "know the enemy". Non and the others will do nothing. Otomura herself figured out how to do it.
Many of the students in the College's Combat Department, although unofficially, are partisan with students in the Intelligence and Support Departments to fight for rank.
That's not the kind of behavior you've probably imagined as your life in this college to be "stronger".
I dare you.
It's natural to be strong! That's a natural status in this college!!
The voice of the dean of the college echoed in the venue.
"Oodles have to learn how to show their strength. You have to learn how not to let them demonstrate their strength.
Everything is to win. To make more money than one win and to increase your chances of winning even a minute.
And even for a second, to save your life. "
Don't choose the means, he said.
That's what the Dean says.
"Explore enemy information, work out countermeasures, and come to the game fully prepared.
If the enemy tries to take action, knit that action further.
Change as you go around. Don't stop. Keep moving.
Those who can do that cannot fight a year in this college.
So, freshmen, you're going to suffer a tragic loss to seniors who have fought in this college for over a year. '
It seemed to come to my attention.
The Dean of the Academy is engraving a delightful grin on his young face.
"Let's just say we had a get-together in class the other day. That's a lot to talk about. Some have formed friendships.
Then they're all enemies today.
Thoughtful - Explore your bellies
In a venue surrounded by unusual air, Ruby suffered a disastrous defeat against Gawayne.
He kept moving and caught him starting to bat, he was assembled on the floor, and he was stabbed in the throat.
The factors that divided the wins and losses are obvious.
Gawayne had analyzed Ruby's methods of warfare and had measures in place.
And Ruby, he neglected it.
This is the rank battle of the College of Spiritual Arts, its essence.
Instead of competing for the advantages and disadvantages of spiritual arts.
How to find out, analyze, and counteract them...
i.e..
Until it's intense, it's an intelligence war.
◆◆◆―――――――◆◆◆―――――――◆◆◆
Ruby sat back and nodded as she picked him up to the modem.
"Ruby......"
"... bad"
As Azelea approaches and tries to talk, bossy, the usual noise is a lie, and Ruby squeaks.
"Hey, why don't you leave me alone..."
More than that, Azelea couldn't say anything either.
Gatan, there's a noise.
It was the sound of Gawayne standing up in the same room.
He is silent and tries to leave the modem room.
"Mr. Gawayne!
When Azerea called it off, only once, Gawayne stopped.
He looks sideways at Ruby, who remains nagging.
But...
All this time, I have nothing to say.
Remaining silent, I left the room.
We'll leave Ruby alone, too, and leave the room.
A while later, Elvis said.
"Well, I'm around here, too"
"Oh."
When I answered lightly, Elvis left alone.
Now all that's left is me, Phil and Rachel, and Azerea.
"... me too..."
When I tested my strength, it was a small voice like a lie that stood out more than anyone else and was more confident than anyone else.
"Me too... today, around here"
"Oh. See you tomorrow."
"... you won't stop"
I had a little grudge. My eyes shot me.
"You... you knew, didn't you? From the beginning… in the rank battle, what to do."
"... sort of"
"That get-together... me... it was so, so much fun, huh? I can't believe your friends of the same generation have never been here before...
And yet... you... no, Mr. Elvis, Mr. Gawayne... you already saw me and Ruby as enemies then, didn't you?
You were expecting me to give you some important information?
"... I will not deny it"
When I said that, Azelea leaned down.
"A man... such a pale sleepover..."
"Men and women, it doesn't matter.
It's just... I came to this college to be a pro. As a spiritual magician, I'm here to raise my name.
Even you, Azerea. We should all have the same purpose. "
"You're absolutely right. But...!
With her face up, Azelea looked aside.
"... sorry. I can't help it if I say this."
"Azelea... we don't hate you or Ruby"
"I know. I know..."
Well, then.
Azerea walked away by herself, not turning her face this way.
You read some air, and Phil never spoke ill of her either.
"... it's a cruel system for kids."
Rachel says it's pompous.
... for sure.
Every year, we can talk about a large number of school leavers.
All year round, at four or six o'clock, I have to explore my belly with my fellow desk lined up.
But here's what I think.
Exploring, transforming and deceiving each other's bellies and getting along as friends are never, ever going to go hand in hand...
"Go, Phil"
"Yeah."
Looking at me and Phil walking out, Rachel asked casually.
"Speaking of which, how long have you guys been working together?
Ho (...) and (...) n (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d (...) d
Me and Phil laughed mischievously.
"Come on?"
"Since when?