The award ceremony wasn’t much to speak of.
The eight of us who advanced to the main competition gathered at the battle site, and the host hyped things up as we received our awards.
It felt more like a closing ceremony.
There wasn’t even a prize, but the magic tournament ended safely.
“Krazeeee!”
“Ugh…”
As soon as I returned to my family, I was hugged tightly by my older brother, who had been walking beside me.
I was too exhausted to dodge, so I just let it happen.
He hadn’t shown any signs of this before, so my brother must have been holding it in.
“Father, Mother! Kraze won the tournament!”
Still holding my head, my brother excitedly announced it to our parents.
Even though he lost in the semifinals, he was genuinely happy for my victory, as if it were his own.
He’s too good-natured.
If only he weren’t such a weirdo, I would respect him even more.
“No, really… It’s amazing! Both Kraze and Rowan! When I entered the magic tournament, I lost in the first round.”
“You did great!”
My mother hugged both my brother and me together.
It was a little suffocating, but I didn’t resist so as not to spoil the mood.
I know how to read the room.
“Oh.”
In that moment, I remembered something.
“Since I won, I can live my life as I like now, right?”
It was the promise I made with my parents five years ago.
They agreed that if I won the magic tournament, I could do as I pleased.
“Of course. We won’t go back on our promise. Live your life however you want, Kraze.”
My father nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“…To be honest, I’m still worried. But I don’t want to stand in the way of the path you’ve chosen. So…”
My mother murmured with her face buried in my neck.
Then, she pulled away and looked me in the eyes.
“Do as you wish.”
In her eyes, I could see a little anxiety, but mostly love.
I couldn’t help but think how fortunate I was to have this family.
“Thank you.”
Even though I have memories of my past life, in this life, I’m just a child of a noble family.
There’s no way I could live independently, and I’m still under my parents’ protection.
That’s why I imposed the condition of winning the tournament.
I couldn’t have done this if I weren’t blessed with such wonderful parents.
“Um, brother? Could you let go now? It’s kind of stifling.”
“A little longer.”
“Ugh…”
Still, I never quite understood my brother.
On the third and final day of the Arcana Eclipse – a time of mystery and miracles.
Perhaps because it was the last day, the air carried a faint sense of sadness.
The setting sun added to that melancholy.
I leaped across the rooftops of the royal capital and climbed up to the top of a tall building.
There was already someone there.
It was Arcelia, the genius noble lady I defeated in the finals of the magic tournament.
Her golden hair fluttered like silk, and her face, bathed in the sunset, was undeniably beautiful.
If a hundred people saw her like this, all one hundred would agree she was a peerless beauty.
Well, since I know her true nature, there’s no chance of me falling for her.
“So, what do you want with me?”
I was here because Arcelia had summoned me.
I had considered ignoring her, but the thought of what might happen afterward made me decide to play along.
“Oh my, you actually came. I thought you might ignore me.”
“I have no idea what you’d do if I did.”
“You seem to have quite the prejudice against me. I’m not that terrifying, you know.”
“Which mouth is saying that?”
Exchanging light banter as a greeting, I sat down next to Arcelia.
From this spot, you could see a wide view of the royal capital.
The sprawling streets… the walls separating the city… the contrast of light and shadow from the setting sun… the people coming and going.
This was my first time experiencing the Arcana Eclipse, a time of mystery and miracles, but it turned out to be better than I expected.
“So, what do you need me for?” I asked, glancing at Arcelia.
“Before that, may I ask you something?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“What are you planning to do from now on?”
Still facing forward, Arcelia asked the question with a solemn air, enhanced by the scenery around us.
“From now on… like, with my life?”
“Yes. You’re the second son, so you don’t have to inherit the marquisate. What are your plans?”
“Ah, I see.”
Indeed, as the second son of a marquis family, I wasn’t obligated to take over the household.
Which meant I’d eventually have to find my own way.
The typical path would be to attend the academy, graduate, and join the national mage corps.
But I can’t use magic, so neither the academy nor the mage corps are options for me.
In a way, I have freedom, but that also means my future is uncertain.
Still, I had already made up my mind to some extent.
“When everyone else is entering the academy at fourteen, I’ll leave home and become an adventurer.”
Perhaps it’s fate, but I naturally gravitated toward the idea of becoming an adventurer, just like in my previous life.
For nobles, being an adventurer is seen as a lowly occupation.
In fact, it’s questionable whether it can even be called a “profession.”
But for me, adventuring felt like the only path forward.
Swinging a sword—it’s the only way I know how to live.
“An adventurer, after all.”
“You figured as much?”
“Of course. What else could it be?”
It was clear that adventuring was the only path for me.
Especially for someone who knows my personality.
“That’s why I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Huh?”
“Attend the academy.”
“What?”
What the hell is this girl talking about?
The academy is primarily a place where noble sons and daughters are taught academics, military strategy, and, most importantly, magic.
Given that magic plays such a central role, there’s no point in me, who can’t use magic, attending the academy.
“No way I’m going. Besides, I doubt they’d even let me in.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get in.”
“How?”
“I’m a genius. The academy wants me to attend for their own prestige. So, I’ll simply tell them I won’t enroll unless you do.”
“That’s blackmail.”
“It’s a favor.”
With a perfectly calm face, Arcelia spouted something outrageous.
But thinking about it… that might actually work.
She’s probably more valuable to the academy than I realize.
“Even if it’s possible, I’m not going. I absolutely refuse.”
“Oh? Have you forgotten?”
“Huh?”
Arcelia turned to face me, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
“I have the right to give you orders, remember?”
“Gah…”
I’d completely forgotten.
The words I’d recklessly thrown out in desperation were now coming back to haunt me.
I knew at the time that nothing good would come from it…
“And what if I still refuse?”
“I’ll dedicate my life to making yours a living hell.”
“That’s terrifying…”
Knowing Arcelia, this wasn’t just an empty threat. She would absolutely follow through.
We haven’t known each other long, but I can tell she’s not the type to joke about something like this.
“So, I’ll have to stay at the academy until I’m seventeen… three whole years…”
What a waste of time.
And I’ll definitely be bored out of my mind.
“Don’t worry. I think the academy is tedious too. That’s why I plan to graduate in a year.”
“…Is that even possible?”
“Who do you think I am?”
“No, I wasn’t talking about you… I meant me.”
“You can do it too.”
I couldn’t help but stare at Arcelia’s face after she said that.
I know nothing about the academy, but… could I really graduate in a year?
“To graduate, you need credits. You can earn them through academic exams, practical magic tests, and… combat trials. While the academic and magic tests have a limit on how many credits you can earn at once, combat trials are different.”
Arcelia paused before continuing.
“The combat trials are held in dungeons. The credits you earn depend on how deep you go, how many monsters you defeat, and their rank.”
“So, you can earn as many credits as you want?”
“Exactly. If you pass the first-year combat trials with full marks, you can graduate.”
What a careless system… or rather, it seems that martial strength is still highly valued.
“Has anyone ever graduated solely through combat trials?”
“No one.”
“I figured.”
It made sense that this system had never changed. While theoretically possible, it must be practically impossible to pull off.
“You think you can do it, don’t you?”
I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Of course. It’s not just possible—it’ll be easy.”
“That’s some serious confidence.”
Arcelia is arrogant and self-assured, but she never overestimates herself.
Which means she genuinely believes we can graduate in a year.
“Fine… I’ll go along with you for a year. But why are you so eager for me to attend the academy?”
It’s not like my enrollment would benefit Arcelia in any way.
At most, she’d enjoy watching me struggle.
“That’s a secret.”
“Seriously? Now I’m curious.”
“You want to know a maiden’s secret? You have interesting tastes.”
“A maiden…?”
“Do you have any complaints?”
“No, none at all…”
“That’s what I thought.”
Close call.
I almost got choked again.
Better not say anything unnecessary.
“Oh, fireworks.”
Fireworks burst in the dark sky.
The Arcana Eclipse would soon come to an end.
“So, the next time we meet will be at the academy?”
“Yes.”
Fireworks painting the sky, a beautiful girl sitting beside me.
It’s definitely going to be a hassle, but… I had a feeling we were strangely in sync.
…Looks like this is going to be a long relationship.
