"Well, to sum it up, Girai was desperate to stop Arichi from scoring any fame from the Rising Dragon Cup, and the incident was a manifestation of his desperation. He had later planned to throw the pot into Arichi's side to put blame on her. To be honest, if Yuglia decides to be absent from tomorrow's match, the Empire's guaranteed to win the competition when compared to other contestants. From this perspective, Arichi had quite a fine motive to try it, and he had wanted to pass the blame using that fact." And with that, Imperial Princess Katalina ended her explanation. Still brimming with undisguised rage, Mujikka lashed out with her rebuttal. "...Sure, let's take this as truth, however this has nothing to do with Yuglia. The only fact remaining is that my student, who had been formally invited to stay in your governed guest house, has been made to bear unjust injury by your people. I do not need to explain the weight this situation carries, do I? A wrong step, and my student could have ended up dead. You may have arrested the culprit, but if you're expecting any 'ohh, that's great. Let's get along now' or something, then you're sorely mistaken." Mujikka was blunt in her criticism, while also questioning her reason to visit. "......I know this, of course, Mujikka. This incident is entirely due to our lapse. And if you're to demand disqualification of the Empire from the tournament over it, no one shall object to it. However, I doubt your students would be glad to have the victory handed over by default. ...So... and if you don't mind, how about substituting Martin-kun with Allen Rovenne? Well, the physical attacks are a no go, but he can still use his famous wind magic." If a look was enough to kill, then Katalina might have already died a thousand times by the intense glare Mujikka gave her. "So, that's your ploy... All this drama is to bring out Allen Rovenne-kun." "...Ploy? I fear I don't quite get it." "...You don't expect me to believe in your cheap story, do you? Your explanation is quite clearly riddled with holes in an obvious attempt to stand Prince Girai as the culprit. It's laughable at how you ended up with such unsightly failure despite moving Empire's army. However, this is all for naught, Katalina. You have crossed the line you shouldn't have." "......Goodness, you may not be implying I am the culprit, perhaps? Do you even have any evidence to back that claim?" Katalina cocked her head, as if confused by sudden accusation. The two imperial knights behind reached out their hand for the sword hilt. Newest update provıded by 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍 "...Not only was my student attacked, the true culprit also hasn't been brought into public. I will not be sending my important students under unclear situations. This is all." Mujikka remained firm on her spot, slamming the tip of her wand at the floor. A dense mist of mana exuded from her as she glared at Katalina and the two guards.. As their gazes locked, Mujikka unleashed her fighting spirit, dying even in the corridor under her pressure. Facing Mujikka's indomitable intent, a giggle escaped from Katalina as she dropped her meek attitude, instead a ruptured smile now stuck to her. "Hehe. I had chalked you as some soft-hearted young lady, but that's a wonderful expression you have there. Ah, it brings chills to me. Indeed, you're the daughter of Yuglia's royal family, of course." Katalina stretched her hand, and gently stroked Mujikka's chin as if she was petting a cat. Mujikka patted the hand away, though Katalina seemed unoffended by it, and made a follow up to their earlier conversation. "Well then, what will you do? Is it the suspension of Rising Dragon Cup that you seek? But do also remember, you will also burn away one of the few diplomatic channels that's been going around for so many years, allowing you to meet up with other diplomats even during wartime. For a governance who emphasise the importance of dialogues, would they allow this? Let's look at our current situation. You only have one injured person, however we have accepted our responsibility, and under the basis of eyewitnesses and evidence collected, arrested our prince as well ten other names, which is followed by an apology. Despite that, if you insist on bringing out the real culprit, and denounce the Empire's authority, our Esteemed Father would see it as a message to trigger the war. And you haven't forgotten that your sagacious king, as well as the «Yuglia’s Shield» Head of Dosperior family is also present here, do you? Well, the assassination would certainly put a stain on our credibility, but will it be of importance as long as we win the war? Everyone knows, the only truth that matters is whatever the victor perpetuates. It's the losers that find their place as coward in the history textbooks. And once Yuglia has lost its pen and shield, how many allies would step up in your support? Oh well, this would only be known as the trigger to a war spanning the whole continent—A World War. So, what will you choose, Mujikka? Are you determined enough?" Still beholding the ruptured expression, Katalina enchantingly glanced at Mujikka, urging her for an answer. "It doesn't matter. My answer—" "......You can't do this, Coach. Please return to your seat." "......Stop, Allen. ...Well, I tried." Mujikka still stood by her conviction, and about to turn her down when some panicked~ voices emerged from the depth of the room. Frankly speaking, I was incredibly disgusted by the egotistical tone of Katalina-san. I felt I understood why they say the phrase 'trying to be brazen at the victim, despite the obvious fault lying in them.' They kept throwing words like war like it was some butt end of the joke, their needle of conversation clocking back ‘let’s have war.’ This wasn't a simulation game for god's sake. Seriously, every second guy had been such a prick, hampering my enjoyment of the tournament. "......You can't do this, Coach. Please return to your seat." My annoyance should be evident on my face, as I had just stood up, taking a deep breath, when Purim-senpai held me by my shoulder. "......Stop, Allen. ...Well, I tried." Dol, too, mimicked Purim-senpai, straining his voice as if to imply the effort he was taking to stop me. But he hadn't even budged from his position. He probably knew anything he did would only be a wasted effort. I also didn't disappoint him, and interjected between the two from my seat. "......No one would object if I substitute Martin-senpai. Am I correct in presuming this?" The princess erupted into an amusing chuckle, as if she was watching her prey stumbling into her trap. "Oh my, you're quite fearless to break into a conversation regardless of severity, eh. Your fame is indeed not without any cause. But as for your question, while there hadn't been much precedent for a substitute, I take it upon myself to persuade other leaders. Then again, the substitute is one grade short, and many are obviously interested in your research, so I think this is almost a done case." "Stay on your seat, Allen Rovenne-kun. You shouldn't jump on cheap provocation. Moreso when all this ploy is to bring you out. Leave this discussion to adult, and—" Mujikka-sensei commanded in a cold voice, however I objected. "I think we have a misunderstanding. It's not my intention to lead the situation. How you would be settling the dispute is all yours to take care of, the adults can talk this out." After clarifying myself, I shifted my gaze to Martin-senpai. He had been quietly watching the whole procedure. "...What do you think, Martin-senpai?" Senpai wore a perplexed expression. Obviously, when he was kept out of the discussion, he hadn't expected himself to be called out. "Me...? I don't quite get it." "I am frustrated. It was supposed to be your chance to showcase your skills. Hence, I want your opinion. Do you want to see the continuation of the Rising Dragon Cup?" What irked me the most was how Martin-senpai was just another trivial piece in their plan, meant to sideline into who-cares-about-one-injured inside that woman's mind, disrespecting the hard work Senpai had poured in his own research. I have seen him. I had watched him pulling himself up in an exhausting training session. Despite the uninterested appearance he was trying to feign, I knew he must be mortified from inside. Martin-senpai's finger reflexively grabbed the blanket's hem on his legs. Then, when he noticed my unperturbed gaze completely trained on him, he sighed as if giving up. "I... honestly, I do want to see everyone's effort coming to fruition..." "Then that shall be the case." I brought my sincerest expression, and answered so, before turning toward that woman. "What I had said a while ago. How you would like to settle this incident is not in my interest. But, inform my words to everyone involved—"If you're not out here to enjoy the tournament, then turn on your heel right away, take a shit and crash into your bread. We will be taking anyone who's interested enough. Come one, come hundred, or in alliance, I don't care. Bring it on.» ...Is that much clear?" Princess Katalina burst into laughter when I made my statement, mixed with slight threat. "Fufu! ...I heard you. I promise that everyone responsible shall hear your words. Still, I can't say I am not nervous, since telling the Emperor to take a shit and sleep is definitely a vulgar speech deserving of capital punishment." "C-capital punishment? W-wait a minute, I just meant that as a metap—" "Ah, I wonder if he would cut me down out of anger, and declare a war. It's quite a possible scenario to be true." Clearly delighted at the turn of the situation, Katalina turned on her heels with a broad smile and shut the door with precise action, ignoring Allen's attempt to stop her. "S-She's just joking, right?" Just to be assured, I turned to my classmates and inquired about the authenticity of her words. But it was a pin drop silence. Unable to withstand the deafening silence, I assertively patted Dol on his shoulder, and nodded. "............Haaa. I heave the rest to you, O' Ironclad Vice-President." "...But I tried to stop you..." The stage for day 2 of the Rising Dragon Cup was the vast field laying at the outskirts of Olympus. Unlike Knights, Mage's forte lies in their ranged attack. So keeping them limited in an arena size stage, like Rising Star Cup, could barely showcase mage’s true potential. To paraphrase, a mage's value couldn't be defined under one rule. While the first day trial was also important to test their casting speed and might, often the increased firepower came at the cost of intense mana cost, and that could lead to slowing down one team. It was a commonplace experience during practice. It was like outdoor orientation, which tested mage's endurance to chart through the battlefield, their covertness, practical application of magic, and most importantly their coordination with surroundings. A mage incapable of such adaptation was a mage useless, regardless of their talent. The field meant to act as a playground for the tournament was roughly divided into three zones. The first area was a place crowded with wooden houses, a marketplace, a church, a water well and abundant commodities like water flasks, mana stone, etc. It was dubbed Village Zone. The second zone was dominant with lush, thick greenery mixed, while also riddled with poor scaffolding—due to rocky trails, or marshes—a Jungle Zone. The final area was a camping ground mimicking battlefield. It was located at the dead centre of the jungle, covered and locked by mashed wire on the door. The spot was littered with sturdy buildings, toppled mana vehicles among other hiding places. The scene of desolation and destruction was a perfect image of war. Among many other thing, one of the rules disallows use of any high-quality wands—though these products were absurdly expensive to begin with. A wand was mage's best friend, and a perfect wand not only allowed one to increase the might of spell, but also minimizing the mana cost used. It was to prevent the tournament from becoming 'pay to win' matches, to ensure fairness, and moreover to prevent any accident which may occur due to sudden gain in power they’d no experience with. There was no limit to the armament, but participants must keep the pendant—a mana tool that absorbs the magic and weaken its might—out of their armor. The pendant would break when receiving a certain amount of damage, signifying said participant's retreat. Of course, there was no set durability beyond standard, and participants with huge mana capacity would find themselves at advantage with it. As the pendant would be hard to destroy the more mana they invested in mana guard. The match forbade any sort of pure physical altercation, and the winner was decided by the last team standing, or by the sum of total points which participants could gain by eliminating other contenders within time limit. A murmur spread among the audience when they confirmed the information on the Yuglia Team displayed. Mana Capacity - 18, 946 Attribute - Lightning Individual Rank - 2nd Mana Capacity - 3,807 Attribute - Fire, Water, Earth, Light Individual Rank - 4th Allen Rovenne (Substitute) Mana Capacity - 4,100 Individual Rank - Nil "Allen Rovenne is in the team...? What happened to 2nd year Martin Gabanantis who had won through individual rounds yesterday?" "So he's Allen Rovenne...... wait a minute, he can't command any attribute? What is he even going to do then..." "More than that, what's with that mask? It gives me goosebumps..." An announcement soon followed up, informing of Martin's retirement due to various reasons, and under the special measures, Allen would be replacing him. The sudden news further fuels the discussion among everyone. The ambush incident had been kept hidden from the general audience as of now. "......At student's discretion, the Rising Dragon Cup would continue as usual. For kingdom and Empire, it is an ideal compromise, but you shouldn't forget this also means the risk you bear." Mujikka-sensei still seemed reluctant about the whole ordeal, and called us out in concern. "It would be fine, teacher. Look, even the Emperor has come to watch the match. He must be looking forward to it too." When Allen glanced in the direction of the VIP stand, Emperor, too, had been glancing in their direction, his elbow resting on the armrest as he leisurely sipped on wine. He appeared quite in delighted mood, if his expression were anything to goes by. "...Everyone, please do not attempt anything rash. If there's any suspicious activity, leave it to me. I will intervene regardless of the situation. You hear me, Allen Rovenne-kun?!" Mujikka emphasises the last of her warning toward Allen, who had already begun stretching, the nihility mask covering his face. "Loud and clear, teach. You should also throw any worry and just enjoy our match, maybe even have hotdog and beer alongside as snacks." Then, putting aside Mujikka who glanced at the sky with a vacant expression, Allen turned to Dol. "How are you feeling, Dol?" "What about motivation?" Dol's expression was thick with a layer of exhaustion, nevertheless he kept a focused look as he cracked his neck. "Let's do our best for Martin-kun's share too, Coach." "Alright. We're going to make them cry!"