Ch 203
Starbirth Festival. The grand final match.
The arena was filled with fervent cheers and shouts.
The two participants, each having reached the pinnacle of the Magic Department and the Swordsmanship Department, had put on a spectacular match worthy of the Starbirth Festival finals.
The stage after the match.
The host went up on stage and stood next to the winner.
“Today!!! Here, a new Divine Power has been born!!! This is the moment when a great journey begins, a journey that will one day earn the Name of the Star and leave its mark on history!!! Everyone!!! Please give even more enthusiastic cheers and applause!!! Landeia Ye Reloza!!!”
As the host announced and pointed, the audience sent even more fervent cheers, looking up to the winner.
That said, I suddenly feel a sense of incongruity.
“…”
Landeia Ye Reloza.
The expression of the woman who had won the Starbirth Festival was not quite right.
The condescending air, with her gaze looking down on others as if it were natural, was subtly subdued.
As if she couldn’t accept her own victory.
“What Divine Power could shine brighter than this?! What Divine Power could surpass this! Don’t hesitate to praise!!! She is undoubtedly the strongest and best among her generation’s Divine Powers!!!”
As if she couldn’t accept the praise of being the best Divine Power of her generation.
Of course.
The Starbirth Festival winner’s wavering appearance would only be viewed positively.
People saw the winner’s appearance and thought.
That she was feeling awkward right now.
That the winner, despite her appearance, possessed the virtue of modesty!
Thus, among the people who were even more enthusiastic about her aspect-
Landeia Ye Reloza murmured softly.
“Lisir…”
The winner’s face was further stained with a vivid allure.
At this moment.
What filled her mind was not the glory of victory, but the memory of that day-
Her own pathetic figure falling backward, unable to do anything in the face of The Man’s power.
Suddenly, the praise directed at the winner overlaps with that image.
The praise of being the strongest Divine Power of the current generation.
“-…!”
In the end, Landeia bowed her head.
“Landeia!!!”
The audience took it as being moved, and began to chant her name even more fervently.
Her face flushed red, she trembled her fists.
✦✦✦
Master Lisir’s guidance session, which came as usual today.
Charlotte, the student, asked a question.
“…-So, you withdrew from the competition?”
“Yes. In the first place, the reason I was able to participate in the competition was because of the justification of ferreting out the Demon Worshippers who had infiltrated the competition. With the spy found, my justification for participating in the competition disappears.”
“Hmm…”
Charlotte, listening to the story, had a complicated expression.
The thoughts of ‘What justification is needed for someone who completely fits the Starbirth Festival participation conditions?’ and ‘Yes, that’s right’ coexisted.
Lisir, who would be considered young even among the Starbirth Festival participants-
Why, when he says he’s participating in the Starbirth Festival, does the image of an adult causing havoc among young children come to mind?
Charlotte decided to change the subject because her head was getting complicated from thinking continuously.
“Okay, let’s say that’s true for Master Lisir. But Heynya━ why did you suddenly withdraw from the competition? You could have easily aimed for victory.”
Ha.
Heynya snorted, raising one corner of her mouth.
It was a somewhat nihilistic sneer.
“What’s the point of winning that?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The Starbirth Festival… a competition to determine the strongest Divine Power of the current generation, isn’t it?”
“Y-yes?”
“But━”
Heynya replaced the following words by looking at Lisir.
“Ah…”
Charlotte nodded, understanding.
For those who had seen ‘that’ and realized the truth, the current Starbirth Festival was no longer an honorable competition to determine the strongest Divine Power of the current generation.
“Hmm?”
At that moment.
Charlotte’s eyes turned to the upper left, as if she had remembered something.
“Come to think of it━ didn’t you say that Landeia-unni was also there?”
Heynya smiled mischievously, saying she had spoken well.
“That’s right. We saw the same thing in the same place, right? Even more, I heard that Lisir was so scared that he fell on his butt! But still━”
Do you know what I’m trying to say?
Heynya raised her eyebrows, and Charlotte’s expression stiffened awkwardly, having already heard the news of Landeia’s victory.
It happened at the same time.
Thump!
The door to the room opened. Very roughly.
And, with an even rougher gait, a woman entered the room.
“Heynya! Lisir!!!”
The red hair and eyes that intensely captivated the gaze of the other person were meaningless now.
The flushed complexion was distracting from that gaze.
“Oh, they say even a wild beast appears if you speak its name.”
Heynya looked at her with a face that seemed to be thrilled.
“I heard the news. I heard you won the Starbirth Festival? As expected, Miss Landeia.”
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Heynya applauded with great enthusiasm.
Applause so full of soul that it felt soulless!
“Ugh━”
Landeia barely maintained her expression, gritting her teeth.
“Congratulations on your victory, Miss Landeia.”
However, the moment Lisir offered his congratulations-
That effort turned to nothing in an instant.
“You!”
Landeia pointed at Lisir.
“Why, why didn’t you participate in the competition!?”
“Because I’d already achieved my objective.”
“W-what’s that! The purpose of participating in the competition is naturally to win, isn’t it!?”
“That’s why I didn’t participate~”
Heynya mumbled playfully, looking elsewhere.
Landeia’s face flushed even redder as she understood the meaning behind those words.
“A-are you saying that I━ clung to a meaningless victory, trying to preserve my pathetic pride?”
“Oh my. I didn’t say that much?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! You’re saying that with that expression-… More than anything, you! Heynya! I would have definitely beaten you!?”
“Ha! Don’t be arrogant.”
Heynya stood up and stood in front of Landeia.
She crossed her arms, leaned forward, and showed overflowing confidence.
“Because I sparred evenly with that man.”
Heynya proudly spoke with genuine, unfabricated sincerity.
When Lisir was still only at Rank 4.
The sparring match she had with him on equal footing remained the girl’s greatest achievement in life.
“W-what…? How could you━”
“Hee hee, I bought the commodity when its value was at its lowest, shall we say?”
-Khahaha! I fought Lisir when he was weak!
Lisir felt complicated emotions at the sight of Heynya proudly recounting that story.
Was this truly the embodiment of flexibility, the arrogant genius young lady who only cared about herself?
“Ugh…━”
Heynya’s life achievement（?） worked perfectly.
Landeia’s presence was clearly broken.
Of course.
Her pride wasn’t broken.
Landeia glared at Lisir with blazing eyes.
“You! This humiliation━ I will never forget it.”
Landeia slammed something down on the desk with those words.
A small glass bottle and a sword in an antique scabbard.
The Elixir and Legendary Sword, the grand prizes of the Starbirth Festival.
“Miss Landeia?”
Lisir tried to stop her as she was about to leave with those items.
He couldn’t understand her intention to leave with the Starbirth Festival grand prizes.
Regardless.
Bang!
Landeia left the room without looking back.
“…What was that?”
Lisir could only look back and forth between the closed door and the items on the desk.
Then Heynya said.
“Shall I interpret the meaning behind those items?”
“Oh, Heynya. Is that even possible?”
“Of course~ Now, look~?”
Heynya pointed to the Legendary Sword.
“I acknowledge my defeat.”
Then she pointed to the Elixir.
“You are the true winner of the competition.”
“I think there’s too much personal opinion in that. If the person involved hears…”
“Ehehe, how can someone who isn’t even here hear my story?”
“…”
Lisir looked at the door with a strange gaze.
His senses, honed to the level of a Master-
He had detected a presence pressing its ear against the door from beyond.
“…What? Landeia, is she still in front of the door?”
Thump! And then, thud-thud-thud.
The door shook, and urgent footsteps could be heard from beyond.
Heynya thought for a moment and pointed to the door.
“She’s too shy to say it, so she’s conveying her true feelings this way.”
It was an extension of the interpretation.
“Heynya. You have a subtly mischievous side.”
“Let me tell you clearly. Compared to what I suffered from that girl, this is nothing? Whatever, go check the spoils of war.”
“Spoils of war… Still, it’s the grand prize of the Starbirth Festival, shouldn’t we return it?”
“Oh! That’s a good idea! I’m going to make her writhe in shame by looking at those items!?”
“Oh my. Does it turn out like that?”
Lisir had no choice but to check the items on the desk.
“Oh.”
“…”
Heynya and Charlotte, who were also looking at the Elixir and sword.
A small gasp escaped the lips of the two.
They were women who, as noble ladies of great families, were accustomed to seeing all sorts of high-quality goods.
Even in their eyes, the Elixir and sword belonged to the category of treasure.
“I heard that the Starbirth Festival receives sponsorship from various families and magic towers━ it’s true, isn’t it? To offer such incredible treasures as prizes.”
Heynya and Charlotte felt a sense of excitement.
Lisir’s joyful expression in front of the treasure.
That sight felt precious for some reason, and it was because of the expectation that they would be able to see that precious sight.
“Oh…”
Lisir examined the Legendary Sword and said.
“Ooo…”
Then he examined the Elixir and said.
“I’m lucky.”
And he expressed his appreciation.
That was all.
“No━”
Charlotte muttered unconsciously.
“Master. Is that all?”
“Yes?”
“You got such treasures, aren’t you happy?”
“Of course I’m happy.”
“No…”
He did seem happy.
Only the extent of his joy was too modest compared to the value of the treasure.
“Where should I use this…”
That was what he said while looking at the sword that many swordsmen would covet.
Heynya and Charlotte had a headache and stopped thinking deeply.
✦✦✦
After parting with the three noble ladies, Lisir went to see the scholar Halona.
Klana’s Resurrection Ritual, which was slowly coming to a close.
It was to hear about its progress.
“I think I can give you good news within the next three days.”
“Three days… I understand. Ms. Halona. I thank you again for your help.”
“Don’t worry about it. If I can leave you in my debt to this extent, it’s a very profitable business for me.”
“Oh… What am I? Well, thank you for your words. By the way, Ms. Halona, you look a little tired, are you alright?”
“That’s just how I look, don’t worry about it. Separately, I am somewhat tired. I’ve been losing sleep lately checking the state of the ritual… the barrier.”
“Oh dear… If you don’t mind, would you like to have this?”
“What is it? Is it some kind of fatigue recovery medicine?”
“It’s a high-ranking Elixir.”
“…Look here, I told you it’s a very profitable business.”
“Yes?”
“Nothing. I can just have a cup of coffee, so put that away.”
Thus, after Lisir offered Halona a cup of coffee-
He prepared to head to his next destination.
Next destination.
It was the Grey Tower.
Lately, he’d been seeing Heynya so often that he’d been thinking about the tower more frequently.
‘Master Didoa… Master Melthas… Perin… I hope they’re all doing well?’
And now, he had a justification: requesting an appraisal of the Elixir.
Lisir headed to the Grey Tower with a light step.
✦✦✦
“Oh, Master Melthas?”
Upon arriving at the tower, Lisir immediately saw that welcome face.
However, there was an emotion that preceded the joy of a long-awaited reunion-
“And, Duke Pallag?”
An elder with braided hair, and an elder with a full beard.
Lisir felt more bewildered than happy at the unexpected combination.
And one more person.
A girl with grey hair was with the two elders.
“?”
The girl, with an inorganic impression like a doll, stared at Lisir.
“Oh?”
The girl’s eyes, scanning Lisir from head to toe, held a curious glint.
“What? What is this mysterious creature?”
“Oh, Lisir!”
Melthas, who had been talking to Pallag, belatedly spotted Lisir and beamed.
Then, speaking to the girl.
“Tower Master! This is the friend I told you about!”
“?”
Lisir wondered if he had misheard.
‘Tower Master?’
Could it be.
Was the creature that only existed in legends now before my eyes?
Lisir tried to gauge the girl’s existence with an excited heart.
At that moment.
He felt an immense energy, unlike anything he had ever experienced, blocking his path.
“…Oh.”
Lisir was momentarily overwhelmed and let out a gasp.
At that time.
The girl looked back and forth between Melthas and Lisir, then said.
“What, Melthas. Have you gone senile?”
“Yes?”
“That guy, Lisir, is Rank 5, right? This guy doesn’t look like a Rank 5 at all?”
“…Ah! Lisir, have you already reached Rank 6?”
“Ah! I’ve now surpassed the initial stage of Rank 7.”
“In the few months we haven’t seen each other!?”
“That’s how it is.”
“Heh heh. I see. Did you hear that? He’s Rank 7 now.”
“?”
The girl looked at Master Melthas as if he were a senile old man.
✦✦✦
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