Book 4 Chapter 21

Episode 95

“You, you said you were dumped by Hubert?”

At lunchtime, Logan, who met again as promised, stammered, looking bewildered. Lillian Carlein was also with them, as promised.

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s not a problem, it’s normal! Hubert, that guy’s personality is so cowardly and nasty… maybe it’s better that he’s out.”

However, Lillian calmly offered a different opinion than the agitated Logan.

“Still, Hubert is an essential pick. He’s the starting setter at Lionheart, isn’t he?”

Even Logan had to admit that.

Hubert’s position was setter.

Needless to say, he was good at volleyball, and his ability to read the game was outstanding, making him a starter despite being a first-year.

“I also learned at the academy since I was little, but that’s all. Hubert, who has received professional training and gained practical experience since coming to school, is definitely a necessary asset.”

“But if he won’t do it, there’s nothing we can…”

Logan had a habit of his voice trembling when he faced Lillian. Rain chuckled and pushed his back towards the gym.

“We’ll have to find another person somehow. For now, let’s go to the gym. The others are supposed to be coming too.”

Then he turned to Lillian and bowed.

“And Lillian, thank you for helping. You saved me.”

Lillian then shrugged, a faint smile visible only to herself, as if to say it was nothing.

“I have to do at least this much. I owe you a debt.”

“A debt? What debt?”

“There is one. Don’t be petty and pry, man.”

He wondered what kind of debt it was, but there was no time to ask further. Three others were waiting at the gym door.

As usual, Nora smiled brightly and waved, and Caden was just quiet, but… oh, there was another person next to him.

Hubert of the Rohinum Academy. He had an even more sour expression than usual.

“What, Hubert! Did you come to help?”

When Rain greeted him warmly, Hubert snorted, turning his head coldly as if showing off, and replied.

“Help? What do you mean, I just came to watch.”

“Watch what?”

“They say you’re trying so hard, I just came to see if that’s true or a lie. That’s all.”

In fact, Hubert himself couldn’t understand why he was there. The story goes back to the break time of the second period.

– Why would you help that kind of guy? I can’t understand it, Caden. You disliked nobles too, didn’t you?

At Hubert’s outburst, Caden briefly stroked his chin, then jotted down a strange phrase in his notebook.

[Rain Ludwig is a bit different.]

– Different? What about him?

[I don’t feel the common disdain that nobles show when dealing with us. LOL.]

That’s ridiculous.

What about that guy…

He was about to retort sharply but suddenly snapped his mouth shut as a memory flashed through his mind.

‘Now that I think about it, was there ever a time he disrespected me?’

He had gotten angry once, but that was a normal emotion between ordinary students.

Rather, it could be called sincerity, shown because he considered the other person as an equal.

If it had been a typical noble in that situation, they would have demanded he kneel for being rude.

[And the fact that the noble master quit the student council for the common people, even if the true motive is unknown, is true, so I’m helping him.]

I’m here to confirm that true motive… and to ascertain the truth of what Hubert said and what Rain said.

That’s all, I didn’t come to help. Besides, even if I did help, isn’t the opponent Griffinvalor?

‘But how do they plan to win with such an impromptu team?’

Lillian and Caden might have learned the basics of magic volleyball at the academy, but since they hadn’t participated in club activities after coming to school, they weren’t immediate assets.

To make matters worse, the noble master had apparently just started magic volleyball.

If this wasn’t a joke but serious, what did they have faith in…? He sighed, and suddenly Nora approached him, smiling brightly.

“Then, Hubert, the first-year super setter of Lionheart, can give us some team consulting now, can’t you? ★”

“What? Don’t make me laugh. Why would I?”

If it had just been Nora’s request, he could have easily refused… but for some reason, Lillian even chimed in.

“Hmm, I agree. Hubert, your goal is to see the noble master’s sincerity, isn’t it?”

“……?”

“In that case, wouldn’t it be right to let him do his best, win or lose, and then see the results?”

Then Logan nodded, his sternocleidomastoid muscle twitching, and even Caden, who could be considered an ally, said this:

[Can’t refute it, seriously.]

No, these guys, all of them…

Eventually, pressured by the atmosphere, Hubert observed the four players’ skills in a 2-on-2 practice match. Hubert, who had watched the game carefully with Rain, finally gave his evaluation.

“This isn’t bad.”

Logan and Nora, being from Lionheart, knew each other’s skills, but Lillian and Caden also had unexpected abilities.

“Even so, it’s just not bad. With this lineup, you can’t beat Griffinvalor even if you die and come back to life.”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t have a setter.”

A setter?

At that, the junior disciples of the eight great academies, who had gathered at some point, tilted their heads one after another.

“Weren’t you going to do that?”

“Yeah, right ♣”

“Hmm, I also naturally thought Hubert would be the setter.”

[Seriously…….]

Hubert was so dumbfounded that he let out a loud shout bordering on exasperation, rather than an empty laugh.

“Me? Never! I can concede everything else, but not this. I only set the ball for a magician I acknowledge.”

“There it is again, Hubert’s nasty personality ★”

“Shut up! Even if I could somehow compromise and set the ball for these idiots, you are not one of them. So there’s no way I’m setting. I’m not even going all out in the first place.”

Hubert turned to Rain with a provocative gaze, drawing a firm line. It was a moment of tension, but Rain surprisingly let it go smoothly.

“A setter is that, right? The one who lifts the ball for the spikers. Isn’t it not that difficult?”

“You are so ignorant it makes me sigh. A setter is not such a simple position.”

As Rain tilted his head at Hubert’s irritation, Logan stepped in to explain.

“If the hard-receiver is the axis of defense, the setter can be called the core of the offense, sir.”

[A setter is someone who helps the spiker shake off the opponent’s blocking.]

“The dictionary simply calls it a position that sets the ball, but more broadly, it can be seen as the command center that directs all attacks on the court ♬”

Lillian also lightly nodded, sharing her knowledge.

“It’s even said that magic volleyball is a setter’s game.”

When did these people become so close to the noble master? Hubert took over, feeling a hint of doubt.

“In the first place, we call them spikers as a group, but each has a different personality and play style. It’s the setter who coordinates all of that.”

“Oh.”

“And Maya Snark of Griffinvalor is a setter who shows overwhelming talent nationwide. The match itself is simply not established.”

“…….”

“Now do you understand who you’ve picked a fight with?”

After his explanation, he scoffed even more sarcastically than usual, but Rain stroked his chin as if lost in deep thought, staring into space.

“So the setter is that important of a position. And Griffinvalor is incredibly strong right now thanks to Maya Snark, I suppose.”

“…….”

“It must be difficult, considering its importance, right?”

Logan, who was bouncing a magic ball off the wall, nodded.

“It goes without saying that both the ability to read the game and physical ability are required, but setters are a difficult position for magical reasons too.”

“Magical reasons?”

“Because a capable setter can mentally calculate mathematical equations on behalf of the spiker.”

“Mentally calculate mathematical equations instead?”

As I understood it, there were two cases where mathematical equations needed to be calculated.

1. When receiving or blocking an opponent’s serve or spike, one must calculate the mathematical equation ordered by the opponent.

2. When serving or spiking a ball set up by the team, that is, when attacking, one orders a mathematical equation onto the ball.

But mentally calculating instead, was that even a possibility?

“A spiker originally has to instantly order the mathematical equation to be used for the attack just before hitting the spike, but a setter can calculate about 90% of it in their setup motion and then send it ♬”

“……!”

“Then the spiker only needs to lightly order the final 10%. If they have more time, they also get more room to avoid blocking ♬”

Just then, Lillian, who had been listening to the explanation as intently as Rain, posed a question.

“But as far as I know, didn’t a setter have to calculate a coordinate equation when tossing the ball to a spiker?”

“That’s why setters are divided into two types.”

The type that sends accurate tosses using coordinate equations, and the type that builds mathematical equations instead, even if their tosses are a bit imprecise.

“Truly capable setters mix and match those two types well according to the situation ★”

Lillian, who clearly understood what Nora and Logan were trying to say, hummed and nodded.

“In short, it’s an undeniable reality that a team with a strong setter dominates the game. If we can’t bridge the skill gap between setters, there’s no chance of winning.”

Now the problem is who among the four of us will be the setter… Caden and I have limited practical experience, so we’re out. That leaves Nora or Logan.

However, judging from the recent game, Logan was a wing spiker strong in spikes due to his massive physique, and Nora’s role was to solidify defense with solid receives using her flexible body.

This is a dilemma, should we find other teammates? It was then.

“That sounds interesting?”

An unexpected voice was heard.

Of course, it was Rain Ludwig who said it.

“Setter, I’ll do it.”

A chilling silence instantly swept through the hall, as if cold water had been poured. It was immediately followed by an explosive clamor.

“Your Highness, have you been listening to us at all?!”

“You said you never played magic volleyball as a child! Do you not intend to win?”

[Seriously…….]

“Ahahaha, I agree ★”

Rain, who had suddenly become the center of the commotion, raised both hands to calm his teammates.

“I started this, I can’t push something important onto you guys.”

“Even so…”

“And our team has the best first-year setter. I think I can learn everything from him in ten days.”

Rain pointed at Hubert with his chin, and attention instantly shifted to him. Before Hubert could react in surprise, Rain grinned and extended his hand.

“Hubert, you said you couldn’t play as a setter, but you can teach me, right? We’re teammates now.”

* * *

“So, how are the preparations going?”

Cassena Page asked.

Rain had been busy with volleyball practice from dawn until late at night, so it felt like a very long time since they had sat across from each other in the classroom.

Cassena was also just as busy with her duties as an organizing committee member. With one student council executive missing, she was even busier.

“Well…”

Rain held up both his arms, full of scratches, as if evidence.

“It feels like I’ve worked hard, but I don’t know if it’s going well.”

Cassena, who watched his injuries with a worried gaze for a moment, cleared her throat, feigning dignity.

Then, she cautiously glanced at the other students, especially toward Hubert, before leaning close to Rain’s ear and whispering softly.

“This is a secret, okay?”

“?”

“This is an absolute, absolute, absolute secret?! Don’t tell anyone!”

What is it? Why would she shout so loudly that everyone could hear… it’s not just a level to burst eardrums, but my head is ringing.

“My mom’s away for a bit, so I’m the acting president during that time.”

“Acting president? Where did she go?”

“Shhh! I don’t know. Something big came up, so she took all the administrators and still hasn’t returned.”

Administrators? His eyes narrowed slightly.

Is it something related to the city rather than the university… Perhaps they found the bodies of Ribadin and the special task force.

It might lead to troublesome things, he thought, but Cassena smiled sweetly, as if to say not to worry.

“So don’t worry too much! If Rain loses and loses the right to participate in the festival, I’ll just reject the result! With the president’s authority! Because I’m the acting president!”

Then she gave a thumbs-up as if to say ‘trust me’ and stood up, leaning on her crutches. It was time for the executive committee meeting.

These days, Cassena could walk with just one crutch. Was it because she was diligently rehabilitating and drinking Chaihark’s magic-protein that her recovery was fast?

Watching her walk away, a short laugh escaped him in disbelief.

‘She’s such an honest person, she must have meant it seriously.’

If I really did lose, she would be the type of person to arbitrarily reject the result. Without even considering the repercussions.

‘To prevent that from happening, I have no choice but to win the match a week from now.’

And so, after a week, the day of reckoning finally arrived.

* * *

Since it was Griffinvalor’s club closure match, the game was held at Griffinvalor’s First Gymnasium, as per tradition.

Those who had never seen Griffinvalor’s gymnasium before couldn’t help but gape the moment they stepped inside… and for good reason.

“Wow, it’s huge…!”

“It’s gleaming everywhere…!”

“All the magic facilities are state-of-the-art…!”

As it was a place where the heirs of the Five Great Noble Families and the Ten Great Clans spent their youth, sponsorship activities by alumni were active, and its facilities were indeed unrivaled.

Moreover, even though spectators began to flock in one by one as evening approached, the noble students’ training was orderly, without the slightest hint of disarray.

Students practicing spikes, students practicing serves, students practicing tosses…

“Tighten your stomach! Was that even a spike? Again!”

Griffinvalor moved in perfect unison under the guidance of the second-year tiger professor, Elin Ludwig. Their disciplined and precise training impressed the spectators.

“C-Can the noble master win?”

“I know. Griffinvalor’s power is immense this year…”

“Idiot! That’s why we came to cheer him on! What if we get intimidated first?”

At that, Lowinbelt Canwer, who had been eavesdropping on the spectators’ conversation, grinned amusingly.

“Our young master Ludwig has become a hero to the commoners, hasn’t he?”

To that taunt, Yors, a third-year student with a considerably large build and a gentle impression, replied.

“We expected this situation. Only the one being revered has changed.”

Yors Boutell.

He was also a member of the Ten Great Clans.

Maya Snark, who was sitting on the bench putting on knee pads, clicked her tongue irritably.

“The situation won’t change just because the lower class talks. We just need to trample on their proud noses as they are.”

It was then that the cheers turned towards the entrance. The challengers, who had lost their fear, appeared.

They naturally expected only irresponsible cheering, but hushed exclamations flowed from all sides.

That grated on Maya’s ears.

“W-What is that…!!!”

“Those six are one team…?!”

“The first-year golden generation all in one place…?!”

Even Maya, who identified their true nature, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in momentary bewilderment, as it was a combination no one had expected.

Hubert of the Rohinum Academy.

Lillian of the Rivendell Academy.

Logan of the Chaihark Academy.

Nora of the Melev Academy.

Caden of the Harimun Academy.

A sight where the top-tier junior disciples of the eight great academies, all first-years, were gathered… But the identity of the one walking in the very center of the formation, leading them, was even more shocking.

“How did the noble master assemble that squad…?!”

Rain Ludwig, as the heir of a prestigious family, wasn’t he supposed to be the one standing at the opposite end, not consolidating the disciples of the academies?

“Sigh…”

Elin Ludwig, looking at her nephew and sighing as if she couldn’t stop him, soon blew her whistle and lined up the players.

The eleven players selected for Griffinvalor’s starting lineup were an elite roster, making defeat seem impossible.

Bradley, the captain of Lionheart, who knew this better than anyone, let out a short sigh.

“Maya Snark at setter, Yors Boutell at middle blocker, and Sandra Kepel and Gertrude Fenton as wing spikers… These are players who would be aces on any team.”

Even excluding those three, this year’s Griffinvalor consisted only of formidable players. Krista Warden’s absence, using student council duties as an excuse, was perhaps the only stroke of luck…

Meanwhile, the team facing such a Griffinvalor was utterly modest.

There was no need to discuss Hubert, Logan, and Nora’s excellent skills, but volleyball is a sport played by six people, not three.

‘Caden was in the music club, Lillian didn’t participate in any club activities… and the noble master only just learned it ten days ago.’

And in contrast to Griffinvalor, which lined up a total of eleven players including hard-receivers and substitutes, the challenger team had only six.

“Even a novice in magic volleyball would clearly see who is at a disadvantage.”

At that moment, Krista Warden, startled by a voice in her ear, spun around.

“P-President…?!”

It was President Valencidis.

Not only Valencidis but also Vice President Felix Drake was with him, and as soon as they met, he asked a peculiar question.

“So, who did you come to cheer for?”

“Pardon?”

“You seemed angry at that sly guy last time. I’m curious what you’re doing, even hiding in a corner like this.”

“H-Hiding? It’s not like that!”

“So you were angry?”

At that question, Krista could only bite her lip miserably.

“…I wasn’t angry.”

It was unclear whether she was angry or not in the first place. Perhaps Krista was angry at herself then.

Why couldn’t she step forward like Rain Ludwig at that moment? As a student council executive, at the moment the student council and its president were disrespected.

Rain, without an ounce of hesitation, threw away his student council badge. He sacrificed his personal honor for the student council. But she…

“…….”

Valencidis quietly watched Krista, then smiled gently. This one, too, is a noble worth watching.

“Both teams, bow!”

Professor Ibon ordered both teams to salute around that time. He was the advisory professor of the magic volleyball club, Snakemast, from the Third Gymnasium.

It was a natural progression that he, not Elin representing the nobles or Owen representing the academies, was chosen as the head referee for fair judgment.

Handshakes, devoid of any sincere goodwill and merely superficial, were exchanged. Only the handshake between the captains was different.

“Rain, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep! Let’s have fun together today!”

According to Griffinvalor’s tradition where the highest-ranking person becomes captain, Sandra Kepel, a second-year but a descendant of one of the Five Great Noble Families, was the captain.

“If you get my hopes up like this and then disappoint me, I might be more upset than you think!”

“If you faint in surprise, that’s not my problem.”

“Ahahaha! Rain is always so fun! Oh, by the way, you know it’s a foul to use Bell Sides, right?”

“Yes, I know. That I shouldn’t use the Demon Eye.”

“Oh, you’re so clever! I always like how clever our Rain is!”

While Sandra laughed and playfully patted Rain’s back, Professor Ibon flipped a coin.

Tails.

The challenger team gets the first serve.

Up to this point, it was a common development that could be seen anywhere, but the next moment, a hushed silence fell over the hall.

“The first serve is… the noble master?!”

Rain, who received the ball from Professor Ibon, immediately activated the ball’s magic.

Vwooom…!

The magic ball, immediately emitting a blue force field, bounced elastically off the floor and was caught in Rain’s grasp.

“That guy, the first serve…”

Krista also stroked her chin, appearing perplexed by that point, and Valencidis slightly raised an eyebrow.

“Is that not a typical choice?”

“The first serve is important because it can immediately seize the momentum of the set.”

“Meaning it’s also used to gain the initiative.”

“Yes. Generally, novices aren’t used.”

There was one possibility that could be considered.

Perhaps to prevent the flow from being taken by the opponent if Rain’s serve turn came at an important juncture later, was he taking his turn now?

But as if to scoff at such calculations, Rain stepped back five paces from the end line.

“Crazy, could that be…?!

“Is he going to do a jump serve?!”

Professor Owen, who had taken a seat among the spectators with the Lionheart players, also couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

‘A jump serve is truly the realm of the skilled. It’s not at the level of basic skills like receiving or spiking, is it?’

In magic volleyball, there’s a saying:

Receive 3 months, Spike 6 months, Jump Serve 12 months.

This has a dual meaning: it implies that these stages are learned last, and also that they take that much time to master.

‘Are you saying you can do that, Rain Ludwig, when you’ve just taken your first steps?’

The Griffinvalor players currently on the court also knew better than anyone the difficulty of a jump serve.

That’s why the three players in the back subtly took a step forward each and reformed their positions.

It was a definite judgment born from long experience; there was no way a ten-day novice would do a jump spike serve or a jump floater serve.

Hubert, who was interlocking his fingers behind his head in preparation for a serve error, also nodded at Griffinvalor’s choice.

‘Of course, they would judge it that way. Because that’s normal.’

I once thought so too.

Until I personally taught that monster.

“Your Highness, nice serve!”

With Logan’s cheer as a signal, Rain lifted the ball he had placed in his palm high into the sky and stepped forward.

One step, two steps.

On the third step, he powerfully pushed off the ground, launching his body high into the air. That series of motions… was incredibly smooth.

‘A perfect run-up…?!’

The instant she saw it, a chill ran down Maya Snark’s spine, who was standing in the front.

“Retreat, one step back again──!”

Everything was over before Maya’s urgent shout ended.

The magic ball, scattering blue afterimages, streaked across the air and slammed into the corner of the court line as if crushed, painfully emitting electricity, and then, the next moment, bounced powerfully, soaring up to the mezzanine railing.

Gertrude Fenton, staring blankly at the corner where the magic ball had struck, had beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead.

‘No, it’s not even a joke…’

In the overwhelming silence, as if God had momentarily snatched away all sound from the world.

“…Court in!”

The moment the two line judges, who determined in and out at the end line of the court, shouted that.

“Noooo-touch, Aaaaace───!”

Logan, excitedly clenching his fists, broke the silence with his cheer, and simultaneously, shouts filled the gymnasium, shaking it.

‘Is it talent?’

Owen, who knew better than anyone that Rain Ludwig was a novice, could only let out an empty laugh, wondering what on earth had happened.

‘Is it talent? Is this what they call overwhelming, no, violent talent?’

However, Elin Ludwig, who had somewhat anticipated a similar situation, formed a smile intertwined with complex emotions at the corner of her mouth, which quickly faded.

“Lowin.”

At Elin’s call, the boy sitting idly on the bench stood up as if he had been waiting, lightly doing some原地跳 to warm up.

Lowinbelt Canwer.

He was small in stature but was a legitimate third-year student, and his gym uniform was a bit peculiar. It was indeed Griffinvalor’s gym uniform, but the color scheme was inverted.

If a typical Griffinvalor gym uniform had white as the base color with brown and gold as auxiliary colors, his was the exact opposite.

This was not a special case, but rather a symbol that the wearer, Lowinbelt, was the team’s hard-receiver.

“That serve just now, you can definitely handle it, right?”

At Elin’s question, Lowinbelt glanced at Rain Ludwig and smiled smugly.

“If I face it two or three times, I can easily lift it even while picking my nose, you know.”