Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 48 You must keep doing so as well.

“Not a big deal, huh.”

Right before the match.

After standing and waiting for ten whole minutes, all Scarlet had to say was one single sentence.

Standing respectfully with her hands behind her back, Yvonne gazed at Scarlet.

Today, there was quite a commotion in the Knight Department of Merhen Academy. The reason was obvious: the Knight of Flickering Flame had personally arrived.

The meeting between Yvonne and Scarlet was enough to set the hearts of the first-year knight cadets aflutter.

“Just go out there, crush the opponent, and it’s over.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

“Do it like you usually do.”

“I will!”

With the spirited Yvonne in front of her, Scarlet turned her gaze back to the newspaper she was holding.

[ Flan, pushing forward with the Sports Competition in line with the Dean’s opinion ]

…Is someone like you really the representative?

She found it doubtful.

Even though it’s just as the first-year representative, it means that she surpassed all the others with magic.

In fact, the reason she visited the Academy today was because of this.

Many people thought, ‘Scarlet visited to encourage Yvonne,’ but… the real reason was her doubts about Flan.

“Is it bothering you?”

Yvonne cautiously opened her mouth.

Scarlet’s eyes, burning like flickering flames, silently turned towards Yvonne.

“I heard it from the others. It’s very unusual for the Magic Department to even publish an article in the newspaper…”

“Bothering, huh.”

It would be a lie to say it doesn’t.

She was unsettled, but didn’t even know why she was unsettled. Scarlet briefly retraced her thoughts.

She couldn’t just rashly suspect a contract with a demon. The Magic Department isn’t completely stupid. Disliking something and not acknowledging it are different matters.

However, if it’s not a contract, there’s only one way to explain Flan’s growth.

‘Effort.’

Effort at a level that devours one’s soul is the only explanation. For someone born with the bloodline of a knight, it’s obvious that she has no magical talent.

—The deadline is until the midterm evaluation.

Scarlet remembered the agreement she had made with Flan.

The confidence, determination, and conviction she showed when making that promise…

“No.”

She then shook her head.

Scarlet prided herself on the accuracy of her eyes. The sharply honed eyes of a knight would only show her the truth.

Thud, a newspaper was thrown at Yvonne’s feet.

“You just do your best. I’ll be watching.”

Whether that meant she would watch over Yvonne, even she didn’t know.

◈

The Sports Competition had officially begun.

In fact, the formal name of the Sports Competition was “Merhen Sword and Magic Festival (劍魔太祭),” and not just the name, but also the method was unique.

It wasn’t a simple festival where all events are held within a set period; instead, every moment at Merhen Academy was part of the festival.

The cause of this was the “One Event per Month System,” where only one event was held each month.

However, today’s event, “Combat,” held special significance.

It was the first event of the year, in other words, the opening match of the Sword and Magic Festival.

“…Everyone is quite lucky.”

Today’s match would be observed by various scouts and even royal officials, so they were indeed lucky.

[ Yvonne’s Perfect Narrative… ‘Undefeated’ ]

I glanced at the article about my opponent as well. Undefeated, huh, I’m a bit curious about what kind of person she is.

After finishing my training and parting ways with Yusia, I headed to the participant waiting room.

Perhaps because it was the day of the match, the scenery was quite different from usual.

If I had to compare, there were many more people.

The sight of knight cadets and magician cadets mingling together was something you could only see on the day of the match.

“Hey, isn’t that Yvonne? No, wait! I want to go say hi to Yvonne!”

“That’s not Yvonne. Why do you keep thinking every blond-haired person is Yvonne?”

The atmosphere among the knight cadets was warm and pleasant, like they were out for a flower viewing.

“Should I buy a drink or not?”

“Don’t. If the match ends before you even take a sip, you’ll feel really bitter.”

On the other hand, the magician cadets were full of worry. Whether they were cheering or not, they all looked tense.

As I walked indifferently through the mix of arrogance and concern, someone called out to me.

“Flan!”

The moment I entered the waiting room corridor, someone stuck close to me. It was Sephia.

“Isn’t the interview supposed to be after the match?”

“If it were an interview, that would be the case. But today, I’m visiting for personal reasons.”

“What is it?”

Sephia suddenly held out her hand to me.

“I’m cheering for you, Flan. And… what was it again? Merhen Ranking, Kaplan?”

“I’ll do well without any cheering.”

I walked past her.

Sephia let out a small exclamation and quickly caught up to me again.

“Please make sure you do. This is confidential, but…”

Sephia pulled out a paper envelope and waved it.

“There’s a professor who bet their resignation on your victory. They’re really important to me, so you absolutely have to win. Oh, and…”

Sephia slyly stepped back.

“I should go now. It seems like someone more desperate than me is here.”

I wasn’t interested in who it was, but someone quickly blocked my path.

A strong scent of roses hit my nose. It was Becky.

Speaking at twice her usual speed, she began to pour out words.

“Ah, hello. They say chocolate is good when you’re nervous. I made this myself… no, that’s not important. Just take this.”

“Alright.”

I took it.

Refusing something like this from a girl usually results in more trouble later.

“Flan. This is just for cheering you on, okay?”

“I need a detailed explanation.”

“Oh, really! You saved me in the Magic Labyrinth, remember? I haven’t forgotten that.”

Becky twisted her hair around her finger.

“So… I’ll repay you for that later, but this is just for cheering you on. I’m not an ungrateful person.”

I stared at the considerable amount of chocolate for a moment, then quietly called her name.

“Becky.”

“Yes?”

“…Did you have time to make chocolate?”

“Huh? Time~?”

Becky couldn’t meet my eyes, her face turning red.

“Well, just normally? All day? No, maybe it was shorter? Anyway, this is basic!”

“All day, huh… I see.”

I left Becky behind.

How could she have spent all day making chocolate? I pondered that for a moment.

‘I guess I’ll have to increase her assignment load.’

◈

[ Magic Department Waiting Room ]

I opened the door with telekinesis.

The chatter of the female students instantly died down, and the space suddenly became quiet.

Exactly six pairs of eyes were fixed on me… before they started talking among themselves.

‘Sword and Magic Festival One-Day Staff’

That’s what was written on the name tags around their necks.

Normally, they would be tasked with caring for me before the match, but I didn’t need such assistance, and they didn’t seem to have any intention of offering it either.

I quietly closed my eyes and began to empty my mind.

“You’ve become the representative after all? Just like you wanted.”

Suddenly, someone spoke to me. Her face was familiar—it was Hailey.

I suppressed the rising annoyance and gave a slight nod.

“Can you beat Yvonne? If you can’t handle it, you should’ve just stayed still. Why bother taking the representative position?”

I didn’t bother responding.

“By the way, what’s your relationship with Trixie? Did you give something to the Fritz family?”

But since she kept talking endlessly without a response, I reluctantly spoke up.

“Hailey.”

At the same time, I recalled the words Hailey had muttered to me when I first took over this body.

“You said you wanted to date a man you respect magically… I’m sure you said that.”

Hailey scoffed.

“You remember well. Why? Did that hurt you especially?”

“Aren’t you going to change that conviction of yours?”

“…?”

Hailey tilted her head slightly, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“What the hell are you saying? Do you want me to change my mind and look at you more? Is that some pathetic confession?”

“You stand at a crossroads, and I’m just trying to give you some advice.”

I continued speaking calmly.

“I have no interest in you. Not even a little.”

“…”

Hailey’s face twisted into a frown. I didn’t avoid her gaze; I just looked down at her.

“You must continue to feel the same way.”

“Hey. I have no idea what kind of nonsense you’re spouting.”

Her voice, cutting off my words, was laced with venom.

“I’m going to keep liking Louis, okay? You think he’s some pathetic guy like you?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I started walking toward the arena.

One step. Then another.

“…”

Finally, an intriguing sight came into view.

Naturally, I took it in,

and then I smiled, though I didn’t know why.

──The enormous stadium bathed in radiant sunlight, filled with spectators.

Eyes full of doubt, and beyond that, eyes full of hostility.

The murmurings too complex to understand, the fuss made by unfamiliar faces.

All of this was gathered in the first event of the Sword and Magic Festival: Combat.

For me, Kaplan…

All of these things… were just a beautiful melody.

I stood at the center of that melody. I wasn’t alone.

“Ah, I’ve been waiting.”

A lively voice.

A gaze filled with trust. A female knight’s attitude, full of enthusiasm without malice.

“Many cadets are looking forward to this. I am one of them.”

She planted her sword vertically into the ground and extended her right hand towards me.

“Let’s do our best.”