Book 1 Chapter 573

573.

The sudden start of the opening match, which no one had expected.

But the 400 bewildered first-year students simultaneously ran towards the weapons of each class scattered across the entire Erek training ground.

"Move!"

"Quickly form ranks!"

Their state of panic was only momentary.

Though still immature first-year students, they had experienced all sorts of hardships at the Hero Academy.

Moreover, these were 100 students selected from among those first-years.

Even with the sudden unexpected situation, the first-years responded in an instant.

It was then.

Thump-!

"Attack Seirun!"

Several Azonia students charged at the Seirun students, performing Aura Steps.

Seirun was an academy where, for a long time, only elves capable of using Star Magic were admitted as an entrance requirement.

Literally, a school whose main focus was magic.

Thanks to that, it was famous for producing the most powerful mages, but conversely, that also meant its knight and summoner classes were weak.

As such, they inevitably exposed weaknesses in close combat.

Just then, an elf who pulled a spear stuck in the ground swung it towards the charging beast-folk.

Whoosh-!

Pow-pow-pow-pow-pow-!

The spear moved rapidly, deflecting the beast-folk students.

"Gah?!"

"What?!"

Surprised by the unexpected counterattack, the beast-folk students recoiled in confusion.

An-R, a female Seirun student, who landed lightly on the ground from mid-air, glared at the Azonia students.

"You seem to think that because our school is famous for Star Magic, our knight class is weak."

Thud-!

"As long as I'm here, you'd best not think about getting past the rear guard."

An-R, who had stamped the ground with her spear shaft, raised her eyes.

"Hmph, there's quite a spirited one in Seirun!"

Just then, a large tiger beast-folk stepped forward.

"What's your name!"

"An-R Vizann."

"I'll remember it! You too, the man who will defeat you! You'd better remember the name, Carlos… "

"An-R! Move!"

Then, a female Seirun student shouted from behind.

At that command, An-R jumped high.

Yoinia Tella, who was behind An-R, her eyes flashing, unleashed her magic.

"Ah C Ray!"

Kigigigiging!

Ah C Ray, the easiest and most versatile magic to learn in Star Magic.

Yoinia's Ah C Ray, who contended with Lia, the top student, for pure mana volume among Seirun's first-years, was definitely powerful.

Countless particles of light engulfed the beast-folk students pursuing the Seirun students.

"Kyaaaah!"

Carlos, who had boldly declared a frontal battle with An-R, fell.

Carlos, judged to be incapacitated, was warped directly out of the arena.

"Ugh!"

"What?"

Other Azonia students, who had been targeting Seirun students but were stopped by Yoinia's magic, all turned their attention to An-R and Yoinia.

"Ugh! Annoying! Target that one first!"

The beast-folk students aimed at Yoinia.

At that moment, An-R quickly blocked the beast-folk students targeting Yoinia.

But in an instant, the targets became too numerous for An-R to handle.

Seeing this, An-R quickly picked up Yoinia onto her shoulder and began performing Aura Steps at tremendous speed.

Yoinia cast a reinforcement spell on An-R.

Clutching An-R tightly, Yoinia aimed her staff at the beast-folk students and began unleashing a barrage of magic.

***

-Ah! Seirun students! Their teamwork is excellent! Especially An-R and Yoinia! The two of them are performing guerrilla tactics, buying time for Seirun, which is relatively vulnerable to close-range attacks, to form ranks!

Runba, a 4th-year student from Lumern, who had somehow made his way to the commentary booth, shouted in an excited voice.

-The opening match has just begun, but the Seirun students! They are showing great activity! In this chaotic battle, not a single dropout has occurred yet!

Even in the midst of the chaos, Seirun was quickly coordinating with each other and overcoming the crisis.

-Professor Sedgen! How do you view this situation?!

-Elegant! Very elegant! Especially Seirun's coordination is very impressive! And quite surprising!

-What's surprising?

-Isn't it surprising that Seirun's first-years are demonstrating such excellent teamwork?!

-It certainly is! Until the beginning of the semester, there were many rumors that Seirun's first-years couldn't harmonize with each other due to extreme competition!

-Right! I won't name anyone, but we even had a student from our school, who was sent as an exchange student, study with the first-years! They reportedly showed a vivid picture of a broken family!

-Oh! Broken family! That's a good expression! Hahaha!

Sedgen and Runba chattered excitedly.

Disparaging both schools in the Luse War was a kind of tradition.

As such, the two merely did their commentary as they always had.

But sadly, this was not the Luse War.

Beep!

Static was heard from the microphone.

-Professor Ain? Professor Ren? Are you trying to drag me down again?! What did I do wrong?! Don't come near me! Ugh? Ugh! Did Harlind order you again?! Why do you only listen to his commands… Let go! Let go! You Harlind dogs! Let goooo! Mmph mph mph!

-Professor Harlind! Please give me one more chance! If not me, who else could possibly comment…

-Drag him out. Professor Yura.

-Aack!

Sedgen's scream and Runba's pleading voice.

And after hearing Harlind's voice, which sent shivers down the spine of the listeners, the commotion ceased.

The audience saw Professor Sedgen and Runba being dragged out of the commentary booth.

A moment later, Elena appeared on the broadcast screen, sitting in the commentary booth.

-This is Lumern reporting. There was a brief broadcast error. From now on, the commentary will be handled by Professor Harlind Edmon, Lumern's top professor, and me, Elena Zerion, Lumern's vice student council president. Please kindly overlook the recent broadcast error.

Elena, who spoke playfully in a sweet voice with her hands clasped, then playfully stuck out her tongue, eliciting gasps of admiration from here and there.

A moment later, the screen switched back to the game.

"Annoying. Why do I have to clean up this mess?"

Elena grumbled, frowning.

"Focus on the commentary."

"Yes."

Elena replied coolly and reactivated the microphone's amplification magic.

"They're bringing shame to the school."

When Illiana murmured softly, Karl said,

"You're probably going to bring enough shame to the school yourself this time, so don't be too hard on them."

"What does that mean?"

As Illiana narrowed her eyes, Chelsea said,

"He's not wrong."

"Shia! The kids from other dorms are making fun of me!"

Illiana complained, clinging to Chen Shia.

"Both of you are too much. If you state the facts so bluntly, Miss Illiana will get hurt."

"You're the cruelest!"

Illiana shrieked.

"By the way, why is Seirun's teamwork so good? Weren't they on bad terms?"

Chloe asked Eiran.

Eiran nodded at her words.

"Yes, it's true that the first-years were at odds with each other."

At the beginning of the semester.

Thanks to the thorough stratification of the first-years, Seirun's first-years, who perceived their classmates as targets to step on to climb higher, were wary of each other and thoroughly at odds.

However, after the arrival of Seirun, the Comet Mage, that tendency changed.

"After the first-years who received Sir Leo's teachings achieved astonishing results in the first semester's mid-term exams, other students did a lot of self-reflection. Especially Yoinia, who is active with An-R, preached the importance of cooperation."

Yoinia, who led the top elite team in the advanced class, thoroughly lost to An-R in the lower class and pulled herself together.

"Yoinia. Come to think of it, she's currently the second-ranked first-year in Seirun, isn't she?"

"Yes, especially with An-R, they're famous as a fantastic duo."

"Knight and mage, it's a combination that can create the best synergy when they work together."

Karl nodded.

"By the way, Eiran. Why are you only telling us that information now?"

Illiana narrowed her eyes.

"Huh? Well, you didn't ask…"

"Aha! You're from Lumern, aren't you?"

"I, I'm an exchange student, though? I have to go back to Seirun now…"

"What? You're going to betray us!"

"Tha, that's not what I mean…"

"Are you saying our past friendship was all meaningless? To betray us! How could you! Traitor!"

"Such a!"

As Illiana pointed and shouted, tears welled up in Eiran's large eyes.

Seeing Eiran like that, Illiana subtly approached and put her arm around her shoulder.

"Hehe, there's a simple way to prove our friendship."

"Wha, what is it?"

"Tell me the weaknesses of Seirun's second-years. Hehehe. If you just tell me that, our friendship will continue…"

"Eiran! How long are you going to stay here?"

Just then, Seirun's second-years appeared.

"Eiran! I missed you! When are you coming back anyway?"

"H-huh! But why are you crying?"

"Did the Lumern kids bother you?!"

The Seirun second-years fussed over Eiran, who had tears welling up in her eyes.

Then they glared fiercely at the Lumern students.

"Bothering our Eiran?!"

"I didn't think that of them!"

"N-no, everyone, it's a misunderstanding. The Lumern students took good care of me."

Eiran tried to calm her friends, flustered.

"But why are you crying?"

When Aris, a Seirun second-year, asked with a puzzled face, Eiran explained the situation.

"Miss Illiana said if I wanted to prove our friendship, I should tell her all your weaknesses…"

At those words, the atmosphere grew even more hostile.

"I didn't think that of them! Lumern is despicable!"

"Illiana Raden! Prepare yourself!"

"Let's go! Eiran! Those guys are just trying to use your innocence!"

"Hurry and take off that uniform too!"

The Seirun students indignantly took Eiran and left for the Seirun side.

The Lumern second-years all looked at Illiana.

"That's a fine thing to do. Bringing shame to the school."

"Because of you, we've become despicable too!"

"It-it was a joke! It was a joke!"

As Chelsea and Karl spoke with disdain, Illiana made a tearful face and protested.

"What are you going to do now? Seirun's kids will probably target you specifically?"

"Guys? You'll protect me, right? We're friends."

Illiana smiled as cutely as possible.

Looking at Illiana, Karl said,

"You caused the problem. You clean it up."

"I knew you'd say that! You rascal! Chelsea? If Seirun's kids target me, you'll help me, right? Huh? Sister Chelsea?"

"Why would I?"

"Nella? Taid?"

"I'm a healer, so I'll heal you."

"I'll be in the rear, how can I save you, who's on the front lines?"

"Chloeeee!"

"I'm in the rear too."

As Chloe sighed softly, Illiana clung to Chen Shia.

"Shia! The kids are being mean and won't help me! You'll help me, right? Huh?"

At that question, Chen Shia gave a gentle smile, then shook off Illiana's hand and said,

"Who are you?"

"You meanies!"

***

"Stop there! Luke Elda!"

Kwagagagagang!

"Hieeeek?!"

Luke screamed in terror as an explosion erupted beside him.

"What did I do wrong?!"

"You! You were Senior Plov's mentee, weren't you?!"

"Y-yes, and?"

"That's your sin!"

"Th-that's a ridiculous excuse! Hieek!"

"Don't run! Fight back!"

Luke put more strength into his legs as he saw Lia, her eyes blazing, relentlessly chasing him.

It was then.

Kwang-!

"Luke Elda! Fight me!"

Medvedev blocked Luke's path.

"Why you too?"

"As a beast-folk, it's only natural to have a boiling competitive spirit against the strong! Come at me!"

"Luke Elda is my prey, so you stay out of it!"

"Hmph! The one who catches the prey first owns it!"

"If that's the case…"

Lia grinned-

Goooooo-!

"Both of you die!"

"It's just a match, why 'die'!"

"Senior Plov told us to kill each other!"

"That's because it's survival! He just said it that way…!"

As an unusual magical power surged from Lia's body, Luke, who had been protesting in fear, stiffened his expression.

Medvedev's eyes shone at the change in Luke's aura.

'His aura has changed!'

Medvedev, whose lips curled up, clashed his fists together.

'First, Lia Tingel's attack…!'

The moment Medvedev was about to brace for Lia's attack.

Skk-!

A sharp sword energy targeted Lia.

Lia flinched, then sent her magic towards where the sword energy had come from.

Kwagagagagagang-!

With a massive explosion, Lia landed on the ground.

Thump-!

Aina landed in front of Lia.

"Aina Beidna! Are you trying to interfere?!"

As Lia shouted sharply, Aina pointed her sword.

"Your opponent is me."

***

The first-years, who had been startled by the sudden start of the survival game, regained their composure.

They formed their respective formations on the vast Erek training ground and began eliminating opponents.

Leo chuckled, watching them.

"Well then, shall we truly begin?"

Kugugugugugung-!

The ground began to vibrate.

The first-years, who had been wary of each other, showed expressions of alarm.

'Being wary of the enemy in front of you is simple. But on the battlefield, the enemy targeting you isn't just the one in front of you.'