Book 4 Chapter 23

Chapter 97

"You mean a Delaiten cadet who passed through this gate during the final exams?"

The South Gate of Goldenrose.

To the question from Doran Slade, head of the Special Affairs Department, the gatekeeper scratched his chin, looking troubled.

"I don't know, sir. Even if I saw them, I couldn't identify anyone. During the final exam period, there are just too many people…"

Originally, the principle was to confirm identities thoroughly before allowing entry, but during the final exam period, there was neither the manpower nor the time, so it was customary to simply confirm and allow access.

"You must have seen them. Please try to recall again."

Doran gently urged.

Since the Special Affairs Department's subordinates died near the Red Mountain Range, the gate the culprit would have used to leave the city was either the East Gate or the South Gate.

"Or what about these people?"

Doran presented portraits of the deceased Special Affairs Department subordinates. The gatekeeper examined the portraits closely, but again shook his head.

"No, I haven't seen them."

So that's it.

It was common for Special Affairs Department mages to use illusionary perception-blocking magic during operations.

Because of that magic, ordinary people who had clearly seen them couldn't recall their faces or external features.

"But Captain, wasn't there one unsettling fellow back then?"

"What? Who?"

"That tall guy, I mean. His face seemed familiar from somewhere, and his eyes were absolutely chilling."

"Ah, that guy, you mean."

Just as Doran thought the gatekeeper was rambling about something unknown, the gatekeeper snapped his fingers and his eyes lit up the next moment.

"Come to think of it, I remember someone from Delaiten cadet leaving with him… Who was it again?"

"Was that so? I don't remember that."

For a moment, Doran's eyes widened slightly, and a formidable amount of magical power swirled and flowed from them.

"They must have used perception-blocking magic. It's natural you can't remember."

"Is that so? But that's strange. I think one more person followed after the cadet who left with him."

Not one, but two?

What is it? An enemy? An ally? It was a string of confusion, but asking the gatekeeper more wouldn't yield an answer.

"Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for the good information."

With this, a situation that had been mere conjecture became reality.

There is a follower or collaborator of Turayna within Delaiten. One, or perhaps two. And they must have collaborated to kill Runen and Tirintide…

So, how do we uncover their identities?

"What will you do now, Captain?"

Three Special Affairs Department mages who had been waiting nearby gathered around. Having just lost a comrade, their eyes were all sharp, as if thirsting for blood.

"How about we just storm the school, grab them one by one, and interrogate them?"

"That's dismissed. Powerful dark mages use space-time travel magic, so they'd escape quickly."

Doran placed an old fedora on his head and shook it resolutely.

"In times like these, striking a surprising blow with a straightforward approach isn't bad. You all, cast detection magic nearby and wait."

"And you, Captain?"

"I'll go to the school alone. When you stir up a beehive, you have to go alone so the bees don't suspect you."

* * *

"So if the first serve turn passes like this, does it become a very bad situation?"

To Valensidis's question, Felix Drake let out a quiet sigh.

"Magic volleyball is originally a sport where points are constantly exchanged, so it's not strictly like that, but…"

If Rein Ludwig is truly a beginner of ten days and can serve like that, he must have poured his heart into serve practice during that period, so he would have wanted to score more… That's one thing, but there's a separate, real problem.

"I can't say the situation is good right now."

The person bouncing the ball off the floor at the end line of the Griffinballer court, that is, Sandra Kepel.

"Sandra seems to be playing very dangerously, doesn't she?"

It was Krista Warden who answered that question.

"A wing spiker who can overpower the opponent's block or receive with sheer force is called the team's ace."

"And that's Sandra?"

"Yes. Not to mention the power of her spikes, her spike serves, which are an application of that, are also incredibly powerful."

As soon as the whistle blew, Sandra tossed the ball up and took light steps.

One step, two steps.

And the moment she was seen lowering her body to push off the ground, Rein was already moving.

Bang, with a tearing sound as if the air exploded, the ball that had been far away instantly filled his vision and rushed towards him.

"…!"

He intended to receive it definitively.

In fact, he had perfectly solved the mathematical formula that flashed through his mind, ordered by Sandra Kepel.

But the ball's power was much more intense than expected.

The heavy pressure with enough spin to whip up wind collided with his arm, but his arm couldn't withstand the force, and the next moment the ball bounced sideways.

"…!"

As Rein blankly turned to look at the ball rolling on the floor, Sandra let out a powerful shout.

"Whoosh───!"

That guy, was he too engrossed in calculating the mathematical formula? Valensidis furrowed his brows.

Unlike Gertrude earlier, the ball didn't emit electricity, meaning the mathematical calculation was perfect, so is his receive still lacking?

But to say that, his reaction speed just now… seemed to be only a hair's breadth away.

"Nice serve!!"

The right to attack mercilessly returned to Griffinballer. And again, Sandra's serve continued.

The power to create wind pressure and the accuracy to sharply pierce the corner were still there.

But this time it was in the opposite direction from before. Not towards Rein, but towards Nora Redon, who was crouching like a cat with shining eyes.

'Did she get arrogant for a moment, Sandra Kepel?'

Professor Owen smiled knowingly.

Or was it a directional control mistake?

She couldn't possibly not know that Nora Redon is our Lionheart's hard receiver.

"…!"

As she received the ball with both arms, Nora simultaneously rolled her body backward.

Bang…!

With a bursting sound that silenced the commotion of the crowd, the ball that had surged in with terrifying power flew over the court with a gentle spin.

"Oh, she raised it!!!"

"That cleanly──?!"

It was a well-known fact that Nora had enormous talent for receiving, so the Griffinballer players weren't surprised.

What surprised them was something else.

It was Wibert.

Wasn't Wibert moving away from the setter's position, the center of the court? Instead, Rein Ludwig, who had run straight in, entered a set-up motion.

"Wibert isn't the setter…!?"

There was no time for confusion. If so, they just needed to read Rein Ludwig's set-up motion and block it.

'He's in a set-up motion, but the spikers haven't jumped yet.'

Maya Snark quickly read the play and looked for an opponent to block.

'No quick attack. Then───?!'

Just as she was about to decide, Rein tossed the ball with both hands respectfully gathered above his head.

Fast and sharp.

The toss flew rapidly to the left at a sharp angle, to the extent that one might question if it could truly be called a setter's toss.

"───?!"

Just as masters can gauge an opponent's potential from a single move, there were plays in magic volleyball that instantly revealed an opponent's caliber.

Rein's toss just now was such a play.

Logan's jumping position, the time it took to reach his maximum leap, and the angle of his arm for spiking.

It was a toss as if everything had been precisely calculated with a ruler.

"Urrriiiyaaahp────!"

And Logan's unrestrained spike, launched just now, amplified yet another question.

How could it be so fast?

It looked like he only saw the block?

Spikers generally hesitate momentarily before spiking because they need to order a mathematical formula just before the spike.

'But that spike just now… it looked like he didn't order a mathematical formula, like in normal volleyball.'

But then again, if that were the case, the fact that the ball bounced back, spitting out a fierce electric current when a Griffinballer second-year in the right back received it, couldn't be explained.

"Nice toss, young master!"

"Nice spike, Logan! Nora, nice receive too."

"Hehe★"

Rein suddenly turned to Wibert, who was staring blankly at the noble scion and the disciples of the academy mingling so intimately, and raised his index finger.

"Straighten your shoulders, man!"

"?"

"It's just one point. The three of us made up for it."

Then he giggled as if pleased.

That smile…

For some reason, it was so dazzling that he simply stared blankly for a moment.

"Aaaagh, my serve turn!"

Just then, Sandra Kepel grabbed her head with both hands, making a tearful face, and Gertrude opened her small, beady eyes, as if unable to understand.

"So why aim for Mellev's Nora? That wasn't a mistake, was it?"

"I wanted to overpower the opponent's hard receiver with force and get a cheer or two…"

"…"

As the Griffinballer players sighed one after another, the game restarted with Caden's serve.

But again, Griffinballer conceded another point to the challenger team, who made a quick attack at a timing where it should have been impossible.

"So that's what it was, double casting," Elin Ludwig, sitting on the Griffinballer bench, muttered in disbelief.

At her muttering, the players turned to look at their coach, then shivered as they felt a dizzying chill.

Elin's eyes were burning crimson, with a silver star of death rotating in their center. It was the Ludwig family's bloodline limit, Bell Cidius.

"What do you mean by double casting…?"

"Ugh, ugh, ugh, you pathetic lot! You should understand something like this immediately! What can a setter do for a spiker?"

"Calculate coordinate equations to precisely deliver a toss… or perform the mathematical formula instead, you mean?"

"Yes, that! My pathetic nephew is doing both simultaneously right now!"

"Haha, what are you talking about…!?" The Griffinballer players exchanged hollow laughs, as if asking what ridiculous wordplay she was engaging in, but Elin was too deep in confusion to even react.

'What's even more unbelievable is that this isn't all of it.'

Maya Snark or Wibert probably knew it at a glance… that Rein's coordinate equation calculation wasn't an inequality.

"Not an inequality?"

Lowinbelt, who heard Maya's explanation, raised an eyebrow slightly.

"What do you mean? Don't setters all calculate coordinates with inequalities when doing quick attacks?"

"Yes, generally, that's true. But it's not that you *must* use an inequality; it's that you *have no choice but* to use one."

In the limited time available to read the opponent's moves and select a spiker, finding perfectly coordinated coordinates is virtually impossible.

That's why they've been roughly matching the ball's direction and range to their desired outcome using inequalities, which are employed in area-of-effect magic.

"But Rein Ludwig's coordinate equation is probably an identity equation… That's why the ball flies straight to the spiker's course in one go."

Then third-year Yors Bautel shook his head, puzzled.

"But that's a problem in itself. If the ball is too fast, the spiker can't choose a spike course or order a mathematical formula."

"I said it's an identity equation, didn't I? The ball's kinetic energy abruptly stops at the ordered coordinates. It loses power and slows down."

"What do you me—?"

Gertrude, who understood what Maya was trying to say at once, nodded with a sigh.

"So, to put it simply, the young master can use quick attacks even in situations that aren't quick attacks?"

As if she couldn't believe her own explanation, Maya pressed her temples to soothe a headache and replied.

"So, when defending, don't hastily conclude that there's no quick attack. No one knows what will happen."

Soon after, with the sound of the whistle, the match resumed with Caden's serve.

Caden hadn't received professional training in magic volleyball since enrollment, so he couldn't do a jump serve. Of course, most first-years were like that.

"Haha, this much is nothing…!"

Lowinbelt easily sent the ball up to the setter. Maya Snark, who had taken her position in the center, glanced at Rein.

'I admit his talent is unrivaled.'

But this time, she would definitely show him.

That magic volleyball isn't something you can do with talent alone.

"…!"

Rein watched the bustling Griffinballer court, moving his eyes cautiously.

Gertrude jumped first.

A quick attack?

But he didn't feel the aura of magical killing intent from her movements… If so.

'He reacted to this…?'

At that moment, Rein and Maya simultaneously had to be surprised by each other.

Maya was surprised that Rein had instantly read this play and focused on Yors.

It wouldn't be surprising if she knew Rein's years of engaging in magical combat as Lynn…

'Individual tempo delay…?'

In Rein's case, he was surprised to see Yors, whom he expected to jump immediately, jump half a beat later.

'I naturally thought it was a quick attack tempo…!'

As the block he had jumped to perform began to helplessly free-fall, Yors's large hand fiercely struck the ball.

"Tsk…!"

Lillian, who missed the receive, clicked her tongue. No matter how she tried to shake it off, it immediately followed.

No need to be discouraged here, Professor Owen thought, stroking his chin. Volleyball is originally a sport where points are constantly exchanged…

"But this next server is a damn troublesome person again."

The person receiving a new ball from the referee and heading towards the end line was… Maya Snark.

"Everyone's buzzing. That guy must also serve as powerfully as Sandra, huh?"

At that moment, Maya took a deep breath, exhaled, tossed the ball lightly, and jumped.

It was a relaxed yet slow movement, something different from a jump spike from the very start.

But for the opponent, it required all nerves to be sharply focused, closely watching the ball's trajectory.

'Will it extend further here?'

No, this is definitely out.

Caden, who seemed about to receive the ball, pulled his hand away to avoid contact at the very moment the ball's trajectory suddenly curved.

And Caden and the spectators stared blankly at the magic ball, which accurately struck the service line and bounced, bounce, bounce.

"No-touch, Ace───!"

No sooner said than Lowinbelt shouted, making several times more fuss than usual, as if to return Logan's initial teasing.

"It's so slow, why can't he receive it?"

Vice President Felix explained to Valensidis's question.

"That's a jump floater serve."

"Jump floater?"

"It's a serve that sends the ball with almost no spin. Since there's no spin, no one knows how the ball will curve, so it's very difficult to receive properly."

Was it a serve that instantly shifted the momentum to Griffinballer? Caden immediately took out his notebook and fountain pen and expressed his feelings to his teammates. [Sorry.. ㅠ…]

Rein immediately shook his head, clapped his hands together, and encouraged the team.

"That was a good serve just now. We'll just catch it next time."

Lowinbelt, who was watching him, narrowed his eyes. For a first-year, his mental fortitude is quite bothersome… Hmm.

"Here it comes."

Maya exhaled briefly and jumped again.

Her target was the two wings in the back row.

Lillian and Caden, who could be called the holes in that team… Thinking so, she killed the ball's momentum and lightly pushed it forward.

'The serve toss seemed a bit low?'

Rein's keen eye was accurate.

Perhaps due to the serve toss being slightly lower than before, Maya's serve hit the top edge of the net… and with a light impact, it barely cleared the net and fell onto the court.

It could have been a lucky ball, but Rein, who had read the situation from Maya's movements, moved at that moment.

"No…?!"

He extended his leg, moving his body to the ball's landing spot, but without losing balance.

And then, he gathered both hands neatly and lifted the falling ball upwards.

Those with some knowledge of magic volleyball could only watch that series of movements blankly, mouths agape.

"It's an overhand receive, but why does it look exactly like a set-up motion…?!"

"It is a set-up! That ghostly quick attack toss came out again…!"

"Logan jumped right away…!"

The moment Yors Bautel immediately jumped to block against Logan, who was roaring like a beast.

"…!"

"…!"

Both Logan and Yors's eyes widened.

The ball, which clearly seemed to be going to Logan, passed straight through Logan's spiking course and went to the right.

Directly to Wibert's location.

Everyone's eyes widened once again.

Only Gertrude Fenton put up a block against Wibert, who jumped despite being surprised by the toss.

'Just one block… I'll definitely succeed!'

Wibert slammed the spike straight ahead, where Gertrude's hands couldn't reach… but at that moment, Gertrude smiled knowingly.

"You fell for it…!"

She hadn't intentionally gone for a blocking victory. If she just narrowed the course, hard receiver Lowinbelt would receive it right behind her.

"Well done, Gertrude!"

As Lowinbelt easily received the spike, a fierce rally continued once more, but ultimately, Griffinballer succeeded in scoring with Sandra's spike.

"So it turns out this way after all…"

"Griffinballer, too strong…"

"Even with Felix and Krista out, they're still this good…"

Honestly, the challenger team fought hard enough that one might think they deserved some points, but Griffinballer was truly an impregnable fortress.

"Woohoo───!"

Watching Sandra jump around as if thrilled to madness, Owen turned to Lionheart's captain.

"Damn Bradley."

"Yes, Professor?"

"How many times have you monkeys won a set against Griffinballer recently?"

Bradley seemed to ponder for a moment before responding in a gloomy voice.

"Before the first-year trio adapted to the team, I don't think we won even one set. After that, we won at roughly a 4:1 ratio, though."

Yes, that's it. The problem the challenger team has right now lies precisely there…

Around that time, Elin, who had reached a similar conclusion as Owen, called a timeout and gathered the players.

"It's not just Rivendell and Harimoon's kids who are weak points. That slacker is also quite a nuisance."

"Are you referring to Wibert?"

"Yes. He doesn't seem to have much motivation, and from what I can tell, he just came to fill up the numbers."

Lillian and Caden try hard but their skills don't show, because their opponent is Griffinballer. But that guy, annoyingly, was the opposite.

He has the skill but doesn't try hard.

If Lionheart's key players, Logan-Nora-Wibert, had meshed well with Rein, they would have been quite formidable, but right now, that is…

"And my pathetic nephew is so clever he does all sorts of weird things, but don't get flustered by each one; just play as usual."

Maya Snark, wiping sweat with a towel and drinking water, raised a counterargument.

"But as you just saw with that C-quick toss, the game isn't playing out as usual."

"His skill is definitely top-notch. But my nephew also has one fatal flaw. You and Yors should know it well, right?"

Aha, Yors, recalling Rein getting caught in the individual tempo delay just now, said,

"He lacks experience."

"Exactly, he has no experience in magic volleyball. He seems to be playing like a god, but it's all just overwhelming with sheer skill; if you watch from outside the court, it's merely an application of textbook plays."

The starting players, reviewing Rein's plays in their minds, one by one, exclaimed "Aha!" and their eyes lit up.

"Indeed…"

"Perhaps for a spiker, but if a setter who has to command the entire offense plays like that, it's nothing special."

The moment Rein runs out of cards to show, their offense will become monotonous and formal.

"Be mindful of that, and if you persistently target just those three, it'll end on its own. Don't drag it out unnecessarily; just crush them. Like usual."

Lowinbelt scratched his head, sounding somewhat regretful.

If it were up to him, he'd want to play with them and toy with them until they were on the verge of tears, but right now, they also had a long way to go.

After all, their original target to bring down wasn't Rein Ludwig, but Valensidis.

And if they toyed with Rein, he had no idea how angry this tiger would get, and above all, Rein was the legitimate successor of the Ludwig family anyway, so there was no need to make a complete enemy of him.

"Understood, Professor."

"Then first, go and finish the first set properly. Make sure they don't even have the strength to challenge in the second set."

This was the utmost courtesy Elin could show her nephew.

If Griffinballer defeated him with full force, no one would be able to mock the child. Rather, his name and the family's prestige would be further elevated.

To have fought so well for the student council against such a Griffinballer…

'You're already a hero with just this, Rein. It's enough now.'

If she, in an effort to protect her nephew, were to let the royal club of long history be defeated by a hastily assembled team, that would truly be a dishonor to the family.

And furthermore, it would become an obstacle in Rein's future.

This was the best. This was the best she could do for her beloved nephew.

'Now, let's end it all.'