Volume 1 Chapter 14 Resolution Of The Academy Tournament
Today was boring again.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, Ran gazed up through the cracked window of their old dorm room and sighed softly. No classes on weekends meant total free time — but it felt empty.
"I can't go outside to walk Mobu... it's so dull," Ran muttered, turning away from the window.
"Don't worry, Ran. I'll make some good tea for you. I still have some leftover from Ms. Lina," I said, moving toward the small table.
"Wow, Mobu, you're so kind..." Ran smiled warmly.
We lived together in the southeast room on the third floor. Because the sunlight reached this room better, it was less damaged than the others.
The rainy season in this world lasted a long time. Back in my previous life, I lived in a run-down apartment, so the old dorm's state didn't bother me much. But the constant rain made everything leak worse, and honestly, it made me feel down.
Even Z's classroom was damp more than usual. Despite careful repairs, part of the floor had collapsed again, causing a bit of a fuss. This time, Ran and I fixed it ourselves, so we got some repair money for it.
With that money, I bought some cute underwear for Ran. Since Hector is a boarding school, we don't need many casual clothes. Sure, some kids dress fashionably on days off, but Ran and I preferred just lounging in uniforms or tracksuits. Taking care of the horses usually happened on those days too, so dressing up just got messy.
"That smells nice. Musk tea, right?" a voice asked as the door creaked open.
Margrethe, the noble girl, stepped inside wearing her usual fancy red and black clothes — very goth-loli style. Maybe she's the real origin of that fashion.
I wondered why she came. I'd only teased her a little on entrance exam day and hadn't seen her much since, just in the hallways now and then.
"It's almost gone now, but it's a gift," I told her, holding up the empty cup.
"Oh, I see..." Her eyes softened.
"I'll bring some tea next time. I have extra."
"Wow, that's great," Ran said, beaming happily.
"That's nice, Mobu," Margrethe added quietly.
"Thanks, Margrethe," I replied with a small nod, curious about her visit.
"It's nothing special. My father's overprotective. Even when I tell him I'm fine, he keeps sending me things. My dorm room is getting cramped." She sighed quietly. Nobles have their own troubles.
By the way, our dorms are split into rooms for four, two, or just one person. Only nobles or rich merchants' kids get single rooms.
"Stop standing there and come sit. Have some tea," I said, gesturing toward the chairs.
Looks like she didn't come to cause trouble. That relaxed me. Maybe she had something to talk about. I was free anyway, so it was better than being bored.
"Thanks." She stepped inside but seemed unsure.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Um... where should I sit?" she mumbled, glancing around.
Since it's a room for just the two of us, we only had two chairs — and they didn't match. I'd found them somewhere in the old dorm and just picked the best ones.
"Sit here," I said, pointing.
"But... that's the bed," she said, fidgeting.
"Mo, that's where Mobu sleeps, right?" Ran teased with a grin.
"What, you think it's not proper for a lady to sit on the bed?" I asked, smirking.
"N-no, I didn't mean that..." Margrethe stammered.
"Just come here," I said, gently grabbing her waist and helping her onto the bed. Surprisingly, she didn't resist. The bed was old and shabby, but the sheets were clean. She sat quietly, looking down, her hands resting on her knees, seeming a little lost.
"Here, MarMar," Ran said, placing the tea cup on the table in front of me.
"Ah, thanks." Margrethe took a sip. "...It's delicious."
"Ms. Lina gave it to me."
"Mobu's really good at making tea, right? MarMar."
"Yeah, better than my butler's," Margrethe added with a laugh.
"By the way, what's going on?" I asked.
A noble wouldn't just drop by this shabby room for no reason. No one wanted to come here. Except for Ran and me, Margrethe was the first person to enter this room.
"Well..." She paused, then took another sip. After a moment, she looked at me sharply.
"Why didn't you two enter the tournament?"
"Ah, so that's why," I said, understanding.
That's a relief. I thought she might've come to cause some trouble.
The tournament was like the final exam at the end of the first semester. All students fought one-on-one mock battles to rank Ran.
"On the day of the tournament, we both got stomachaches," Ran said, looking away.
"That's a lie," I teased.
"It's true," she insisted, pouting.
Well, it was kind of a lie.
Since this was a mock battle tournament, it was obvious the main character, HeroBlaze, wanted to show off. If we ever met again...
Because it was a mock battle, we'd fight on the usual Battlefield. That meant bug techniques could be used. So, whether it was Blaze or anyone else, they could be instantly defeated.
But one-on-one battles meant preparation was a pain. Healing Magic was essential, but Ran—who normally supports me with magic—wasn't here. So, I'd have to borrow a staff that could cast basic Healing Magic without eating up MP beforehand.
It was ridiculous to go through all that just to join.
I never planned to be an adventurer. The reason I entered the academy was to figure out how to live happily with Ran in this world. I just needed time and to gather basic info.
So, I didn't care if my grades were bad. As long as I wasn't kicked out, I just needed to get by. If that meant skipping the end-of-term exams, so be it.
Besides, Blaze didn't matter for my future anymore. Let him climb up the ranks alone. I honestly didn't care about some guy who wasn't important to me.
"Tell me the truth," Margrethe said, narrowing her eyes.
"Tournaments and all that are just a hassle," I confessed, sighing.
It was getting tiring to lie, so I spoke honestly. It wasn't a big deal, right? Margrethe wouldn't snitch on me.
"You're different. Everyone else is desperate to get good grades," she said with a small smile.
I let out a breath of relief.
"Since we're in different classes, I thought I might finally meet Mobu at the all-student tournament..." she added, sounding a little disappointed.
"I'm weak. Before I even run into Margrethe, I'll probably be eliminated anyway," I mumbled.
"I wonder about that..." She stared intently into my eyes.
"The odds for the tournament betting had both Ran and Mobu pretty high," she said.
"Is that so?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't you remember the entrance exam? Mobu, you easily knocked out Blaze, who had the highest score in Hector's history, with just your bare hands. You even shattered Blaze's special sword," Margrethe explained.
Ah, that. Now that I thought about it, there was a lot of betting hype back then. Maybe the academy was so isolated that everyone was bored, which made gambling popular.
"I'm not really interested in rumors..." I shrugged.
That was true. Everyone in Z Class either lost in the first match or won by default but got knocked out in the second. So nobody talked about it much. If they did, it was mostly about "how to lose without getting hurt" or something lame.
"So, what were the odds?" I asked, curious.
I didn't care about the tournament, so I hadn't even asked before.
"The top odds were on Blaze," Margrethe said.
That made sense. Protagonist bias as usual.
"What about you, Margrethe?"
She glanced at me, a little shy.
"I think I was around fifth place," she said quietly.
That was impressive. In a mock battle where opponents were visible from the start and attacked simultaneously, magic users who could do indirect attacks had an advantage. But in the pseudo-battlefield, terrain effects reduced their power a lot. So usually, frontline types had the edge. Margrethe must really stand out within SSSDragon.
"How was the actual main event?"
"I made it to the quarter-finals but lost," she admitted.
"I see," I said.
"Yeah... Mobu, you didn't participate or even watch my match, so I kind of lost motivation," she confessed, sighing.
"I'm sorry about that. So, Blaze must have won, right?"
"Yeah. It was overwhelming."
"I figured as much."
Ifrit's Sword was gone now. Blaze probably used a cheap sword from the store. Truly a protagonist.
"If Blaze's that strong, he must be really popular," I said, cradling me teacup.
"Yeah... I guess," Margrethe said, looking a bit hesitant, as if she wasn't sure what to say next.
Notes:
• Ran - Female. An orphan and a close friend of Mobu. She has long, dark hair and a gentle appearance. Ran is kind and trusting, often relying on Mobu for guidance. She survives the demon attack by hiding in the secret base with Mobu.
• Ms. Lina - Female. The kind-looking elder sister at the academy's reception desk. She has a relaxed demeanor and a gentle smile. She oversees the entrance exams and allows Blaze's impromptu battle with Mobu and Ran, noting their shared hometown. She flips through documents casually, suggesting she is organized yet laid-back.
• Hector - A prestigious academy located in the kingdom, known for training adventurers. It is primarily for the children of nobles and wealthy merchants, with a few spots reserved for those with true ability. The entrance exam is practical rather than theoretical.
• Margrethe - Female. A new student and sub-heroine character in the game. She is a Mage class with low physical strength. Her appearance is not described in detail, but she is noted to have a pleasant scent. She initially comes off as hostile but warms up to the protagonist, Blaze, over time. She is proud and insists on being addressed with honorifics, reflecting her noble upbringing. She has a strong dislike for men, considering them weak and arrogant. Her relationship with Mobu starts on a tense note, but she eventually shows a more vulnerable side, acknowledging her need to improve her physical strength.
• Blaze - Male. The protagonist of the game, born into the wealthy Rosinore family. He has blond hair and a heroic appearance. Blaze is kind and lacks arrogance despite his status. He is destined to become a hero and defeat the Demon King. His relationship with Mobu and Ran is complex, as they are not part of the main story.
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