Book 1 Chapter 554
Before the match begins.
Warden, who had assigned Illiana the taunting mission, said.
“The opposing team’s main attackers will undoubtedly be Chelsea Lewalin, Chen Sia, and Eiran Ersar. I’m sure of it.”
He looked at Chelsea, Chen Sia, and Eiran.
“It won’t be easy to reclaim the ball from those three.”
If it were about speed, perhaps.
In terms of evasive maneuvers, Chelsea was superior to Duran.
Furthermore, if Celia and Duran knocked out enemies with overwhelming strength, Chen Sia was the type to defeat enemies with flexible movements.
Eiran, in a word, was a guardian of allies.
Therefore, once the ball goes over, it's hard to take it back.
“We’ll have to focus on blocking their offense in the beginning. But if you see an opening…”
“We can pass the ball to Celia and aim for the first point.”
Haul nodded and said.
As everyone agreed, Warden shook his head.
“No, our first objective is to eliminate Cal Thomas.”
Everyone looked at Warden with surprised eyes at his words.
“Why are you all making those expressions?”
“No, it’s surprising. You said eliminating Cal is a priority over scoring the first point.”
Jureden said in a bewildered voice.
In Vastera, assuming equal strength, the longer the game dragged on, the more advantageous it was for the defending team rather than the attacking team.
In Vastera, defense includes the ability to possess the ball, and the ball is the only means of attack.
Having the ball for a long time means more attacks.
Like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, the longer time passes, the more advantageous it becomes for the defending team.
“We won’t have that many attacks. Isn’t using one of those attack opportunities to take down Cal a waste?”
In response to Jureden’s words, the other students, except for Warden, nodded in agreement.
“In Vastera, when an extreme attacking team meets an extreme defending team, the defending team has the advantage. That’s why most students believe Professor Ripen included Cal Thomas in the defending team to balance it out. You all think so too.”
Warden glanced towards Cal Thomas.
“But Duran Moira, Abad Lewalin. Didn’t you two consider Cal Thomas the most troublesome opponent just a moment ago?”
“That’s…”
“Celia Jerdiger. You are also wary of Cal Thomas, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“But you only perceive him as an annoying presence, not a particularly threatening one.”
“Well… he’s Cal, right? The weakest in the second year.”
Turka shrugged.
“I’m not underestimating Cal. It’s true that Cal has survived this far due to his skill. And his strategies are excellent. But this isn’t exactly a real match, is it? I think eliminating Cal by discarding an opportunity where we can gain the advantage is a waste?”
“That’s the most bothersome aspect of Cal Thomas. The fact that he doesn’t make observers perceive him as a threatening presence. Even Cal Thomas himself.”
Warden smirked.
“But remember this. He is always… no, in a way, he has overcome more trials than us to be in this position. And each time, the party members who were with him always drew out power beyond their limits. You all were there, so you know well.”
At Warden’s words, Celia, Abad, and Duran’s faces hardened.
“It was clearly us who surpassed our limits. But can you guarantee that you would have surpassed your limits if Cal Thomas hadn't been there at the time?”
“That’s…”
Celia trailed off.
Seeing Celia like that, Warden said,
“That’s the scary thing about him. He helps his teammates bring out their maximum potential. The longer he stays on the battlefield, the more he will find our weaknesses and strengthen the opposing team. I believe eliminating him at the start is the key to this match.”
Warden’s gaze turned to Cal.
“Whether to target him from the beginning or not, the decision is up to you.”
***
Fzzt-!
An aura of lightning swirled.
Nela blocked the ball flying towards their goal.
“Aaaaaaah! Nela, get away!”
“That’s too reckless!”
Male students screamed from outside the stadium.
They worried naturally as Nela, considered one of the most beautiful girls in the second year, confronted Duran, who boasted the strongest offense in the Knight Department.
CRASH! BOOM! CRACKLE!
As Nela caught the ball, she was pushed back!
Seeing Nela like that, Chelsea urgently used magic.
WHOOOOSH!
The wind that blew embraced Nela’s back.
Nela, who had barely stopped, took a light breath and smiled faintly at Chelsea.
“Thanks, Chelsea.”
Nela, smiling faintly, bounced the ball and walked towards the opponent’s goal.
Seeing Nela like that, the male students gaped.
“Are, are you okay?”
“How?”
As the male students were surprised.
“It seems you were simply thinking of Nela Kahn as a healer.”
Professor Ripen, who was scoring, said indifferently.
“Of course, she was born with the excellent characteristic of a healing aura, but Nela Kahn is undoubtedly one of the top students in the Knight Department. Although she uses defensive swordsmanship because she is not aggressive herself, her toughness is second to none among the students in the Knight Department.”
“Nela is tough?”
“She’s a delicate beautiful girl?”
As the male students mumbled blankly, Ripen clicked his tongue.
Nela specialized in stopping the offense rather than defeating enemies at the front line.
The root of this was her healing ability.
She was the best shield, fighting enemies while healing herself, buying time for the mages in the back to cast powerful spells.
‘It’s good that she maximizes her abilities, but I should advise her to be a little more careful with her body.’
Her characteristic smile, despite being in pain, was probably to ease her teammates’ worries.
At that moment, Haul tried to steal the ball from Nela using his aura.
However, Tayed quickly blocked Haul’s attack using his summoned creature.
“As long as I’m here, not a finger can touch Nela.”
As Tayed said with a smirk, Illiana jeered.
“Ooh~ Tayed, don’t show off!”
“Nela, pass to Eiran.”
As the ball went to Eiran, Illiana quickly ran away.
The current score was 2:2.
Although it seemed like a close match, the defending team was gradually being pushed back due to a lack of players.
‘It’s a shame Cal Thomas was eliminated from the start.’
Ripen didn’t put Cal Thomas in the defending team as a handicap.
He had clearly judged Cal as a formidable player and placed him in the defending team.
‘However, him underestimating himself was his downfall.’
While he clicked his tongue, the tide turned in favor of the attacking team.
Ultimately, the match ended with a final score of 3:2, with the attacking team winning.
***
Cal opened his eyes.
“Huh?”
Cal, who got up from his seat, scratched his head.
“I was beaten. We lost, right?”
“You know well.”
“Ugh.”
At the voice coming from beside him, Cal flinched.
There was Eliza, crossing her legs and filing her nails.
“Eliza? Why are you here?”
“I was the one who brought you to the infirmary.”
“You? Not Chloe or Chelsea?”
Cal asked in disbelief. Eliza raised her eyebrows.
“Why do you react as if it’s natural for other dormitory leaders to take care of you?”
“No, well, you’d say, ‘Hmph, why should I bother with someone like Cal Thomas? I’d rather file my nails,’ and ignore me… Oof!”
“You’re asking for it, Cal Thomas.”
“P-please forgive me…!”
Cal, who was comically imitating Eliza and had his neck wrapped by a whip, spoke with difficulty.
Eliza, releasing her grip, snorted.
“If there’s a leader from the same dormitory on the same team, I thought I should take care of you. Moreover…”
“Moreover?”
“I vaguely thought Warden Tayden might target you first. And letting you be ignored was clearly my mistake.”
Eliza bit her lip tightly.
“So Warden’s plan was to target me first. But why?”
“… Are you asking because you don’t know that now?”
Eliza looked at Cal with an exasperated expression.
Seeing Eliza like that, Cal scratched his head.
“Summoners should choose summon beasts with stronger characteristics, even if they are of the same rank. That’s why I think they have a better eye for people than knights or mages.”
“Well, summoners do have that aspect.”
As Cal nodded, Eliza said.
“I never thought I’d say this to you, Cal Thomas. You are a much more amazing person than you think.”
Eliza glared at Cal annoyedly, as if she had to explain even this.
“I am helping you a lot. So I don’t want you to treat me like cheap trash. Because it makes me feel cheap, too, to be helped by you.”
At her words, Cal looked at Eliza with a moved expression.
“Wh-what is it?”
Eliza, flustered by Cal’s constant gaze, blushed.
Cal clasped Eliza’s hands with both of his.
“Wh-what is it?”
Eliza became more flustered and her face reddened.
“Eliza, you know you’re being helped by me?”
“……”
“I never thought you’d know.”
“What do you think of me?”
“But you… you’d be thinking, ‘Hmph. A commoner. It’s natural for you to help me. Be honored….’”
Fwiiirrr! Crack! Crack! Crack!
“Aaaah! It’s a joke! A joke!”
Eliza, her face chilling, whipped Cal furiously.
Just then.
Creak-!
“Cal! Are you alright… Oh my?”
Creak! Illiana, who burst into the infirmary door with gusto, widened her eyes upon discovering the scene inside.
“Having a good time, I see. Sorry to interrupt.”
And she closed the door.
“Don’t go in. They’re playing with whips inside.”
Illiana’s playful voice was heard from outside.
“Cal Thomas.”
“Yeah.”
“Can I eliminate you?”
“Of course.”
Eliza, with a chilling smile, went out of the room.
Illiana’s desperate screams echoed throughout the infirmary.
“Sigh. I can’t even rest in peace.”
Cal, sighing deeply and resting his chin on his hand, looked out the window.
‘Don’t treat me like cheap trash…’
***
“The weather is nice today, so I’m in a good mood.”
Elena said, taking a sip of her fruit juice through the straw stuck in it, while sitting on a cafe terrace.
Leo sipped his coffee in front of her and said.
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“It’s been a while since I played hooky.”
Elena’s smile was beautiful.
As the most beautiful woman in Lumern, just smiling made everyone in the shop lose their minds.
Leo chuckled at the sight.
“You’re so calm.”
“Do I seem that way?”
“Yes. You said it was a date, but it’s just sitting here and looking at the street. Isn’t it boring?”
Leo and Elena, who had left Lumern, had been sitting at this cafe for several hours.
They just watched the scenery outside the window, eating snacks and barely talking.
“I like it. Spending time doing nothing.”
Leo looked out the window.
As someone who always lived a busy life, spending time leisurely like this was quite relaxing.
“Hmm?”
Elena, who was resting her chin and looking at Leo, said.
“Leo-kun.”
“Yes.”
“Will you stay over at my house tonight?”