Chapter 1: Inter-Class Match
Under the dim, pre-dawn sky, I assume a stance with my wooden sword after finishing our early morning run. Clarice stands across from me, her shoulders heaving for breath as she grips a wooden sword of her own.
Ellie sits on the grass with her knees pulled to her chest, watching over us, while Karen and Misha, having failed to complete the run, lie nearby gasping for air.
"Here I come!"
With that shout, Clarice pushes off the ground. Her blue eyes scan for an opening in my defense as the wooden sword extended from her slender, delicate hands swings down with precision.
I meet the whistle of slicing air by parrying with my own wooden sword. The clatter of wood against wood echoes repeatedly, sending sharp vibrations numbing through my palms with every blow.
After nearly ten minutes of relentless swordplay, Clarice's wooden blade slices through thin air, and she loses her balance, tumbling onto the soft grass.
"Haa... haa... I can't... I can't even grip my sword anymore..."
Going straight into a mock battle right after a marathon takes a toll. I should let her rest for a bit.
"Alright, Ellie, you're next."
Ellie, dressed in pants, stands up as I call her name.
Female students at Lister National academy are normally only permitted to wear skirts.
Because of that, I had Ellie wear shorts under her skirt at first, but I still worried. After I somehow managed to plead her case to Duchess Regan, Ellie was granted permission to wear pants, provided it was outside class hours on campus, and strictly during training in secluded areas.
Equipping ourselves with gloves and shin guards, we begin light sparring.
Gradually closing the distance, I gaze into Ellie's eyes to read her movements. There isn't a shred of hostility in her gaze—only deep respect, trust, and affection.
The moment that thought crosses my mind, Ellie suddenly bursts into motion.
Without making a sound, she closes in as fast as the wind, snapping a sharp jab straight at me.
I sway back to evade her jab, but the full extension of her strike still grazes my cheek.
Since it's only light sparring, she holds back her full weight, but in actual combat, a blow like that would have done serious damage.
I launch a counterattack of my own, only for her to parry it effortlessly. Meanwhile, Ellie's fists lightly tap against my chin time after time.
Despite my high Agility stat, none of my attacks land, and I continue to take hits from Ellie. The reason comes down to sheer skill in hand-to-hand combat.
Every punch Ellie throws is completely telegraph-less. Normally, a punch starts with a shift in the shoulder followed by the extension of the arm, but Ellie's strikes have zero wind-up—her fist simply appears in front of my face out of nowhere.
Her kicks are on another level entirely. When I attempt to check what looks like a low kick, her foot is already resting on my shoulder. When I raise both arms expecting a high kick, she's instead softly brushing against my midsection.
However, that only lasts for a few minutes.
The poker face Ellie has maintained up to now suddenly clouds over.
"...No more... Exhausted..."
She collapses, diving onto the grass right next to Clarice.
Starting today, Clarice and Ellie weren't just running to finish the distance; they were doing interval training like me. Constantly switching between sprinting and jogging puts a massive strain on the body.
"Just how much... stamina do you have...? No one in their right mind... would ever believe... you're supposed to be a mage."
Karen grumbles, completely spent from the run.
"Karen, you can't compare yourself to Mars. He's in a league of his own. Let me tell you, we should just focus on what we can do!"
Misha, slowly catching her breath, looks at me in exasperation.
Once Clarice and the others catch their breath, we call it a morning, and I head up to my room on the top floor of the dormitory, a space I've finally settled into.
Back when I shared a room with Gon and Carl, space was tight, leaving no room for workout equipment, but this place is unnecessarily spacious.
After pushing my body to the absolute limit on my homemade bench press setup, I refresh myself with a hot bath and head down to the dorm cafeteria.
"Good morning, Gon, Carl! You two are up early today."
In the dining hall on the fifth floor, it isn't just Gon and Carl—a whole crowd of E-Class students has gathered around the tables.
"Hell yeah! We got our Class Match against D-Class today! We're all huddling up to map out our strategy!"
A pumped-up Gon answers while stuffing his face with food, as the rest of the E-Class students voice their enthusiasm for today's match.
Class Matches are periodic mock battles divided into Representative Battles and Party Battles, with class reassignments decided based on performance.
With our own Class Match against A-Class coming up in five days, this is hardly someone else's business to us either.
I can't afford to lose if I want to stay by Clarice and Ellie's side. That's why I've been putting even more fire into our morning training than usual.
Once we finish breakfast, I head to the academy building together with Gon and the guys.
Clarice and the others are already inside the classroom. The moment I take my seat, Clarice sits down on my right, while Ellie takes the desk to my left.
Before long, Baron and Dominic arrive, and finally our homeroom teacher, Lorenz, enters the room to begin homeroom.
"Now then, the Class Matches are about to begin, but the real main event for you comes right after. I have high expectations for all of you in the Freshmen Tournament starting next month."
Lorenz clearly doesn't doubt for a second that we'll sweep our Class Match.
While I appreciate his confidence in us, carelessness is a fatal trap.
This is the first time I've heard of the Freshmen Tournament, but as the name suggests, it must be a competition between first-year students.
Either way, our job remains the same: train. Just as I prepare myself for another grueling session under Instructor Cyrus, an incredible statement drops from Lorenz's mouth.
"Also, Instructor Cyrus won't be coming to academy starting today."
"""What――――!?"""
All of us shout in surprise together. Lorenz tries to gloss over it and keep talking, but there is no way we can let that slide.
"Why won't Instructor Cyrus be coming to academy?"
When I speak up on behalf of the class, Lorenz resigns himself to the fact that he's going to have to explain.
"And here I thought he held out longer than usual this year..."
Longer? What does that mean? As I wait for Lorenz to elaborate...
"You all know Instructor Cyrus is a hot-blooded guy, right? And you know how deeply he cares for his students. But to put it bluntly, his teaching methods are downright brutal. A group of students who didn't take too kindly to that banded together to demand his dismissal."
It's true that Cyrus's training regime could only be described as Spartan. I've seen him treat female students with the exact same harshness.
Anyone who fails to see the intent behind his actions might easily harbor a grudge against him.
"...So what kind of disciplinary action was taken against Instructor Cyrus?"
"He's suspended until next year. It happens every year, so don't sweat it too much. Cyrus asked me to pass along a message to Mars, Baron, and Dominic: he was glad to train you brats, so don't you dare slack off."
Every year...? Come to think of it, he might have been serving one of those suspensions back when I first ran into him at that slave auction.
"Then who will be instructing us in martial arts in his place?"
Dominic poses the question to Lorenz with a thoughtful frown.
There was a sense of security in knowing that as long as we followed Cyrus's lead, we were on the right track. Dominic probably feels the exact same way.
Ignoring our lingering unease, Lorenz proceeds in a matter-of-fact tone.
"You don't need to worry about that. For the time being leading up to the Freshmen Tournament, we've brought in a temporary instructor. I'm confident you'll find his credentials more than acceptable."
Judging by his tone, he sounds thoroughly confident.
I doubt there could possibly be a better teacher than Cyrus... or so I think as we make our way to the gymnasium for martial arts class, but that mindset is shattered the moment we arrive.
"Yo, everyone! I'll be overseeing your martial arts classes starting today, so I look forward to working with you."
A handsome red-haired young man with dignified eyes calls out to us. His posture is resolute and commanding, clad in a white vestment adorned with crimson embroidery.
That's right—standing before us was Ike.
The unexpected appearance of such a figure causes the look in Baron's and Dominic's eyes to change completely. Even to them, getting personal instruction from Lister National academy's greatest legend leaves zero room for complaint.
"As I'm sure most of you already know, this is Ike from the fourth-year S-Class. Starting today, you will receive instruction from Ike. Alright Ike, he's all yours."
Lorenz formally introduces Ike before stepping back.
"I'm Ike, your temporary instructor. The S-Class will begin training today for the Freshmen Tournament. However, since some of you might be unfamiliar with it, let me explain: the Freshmen Tournament is an inter-academy battle where our academy's pride is put on the line."
I see. So it's an inter-academy competition.
"The Freshmen Tournament is split into the Vanguard Division and the Rearguard Division. Because of that, for the next month, you'll be separated into front-line and rear-line groups for training. Tell me what each of you excels at, starting with Mars."
Starting with me, Ike goes around the room asking each student in turn. Once he finishes listening to Minerva at the end, Ike speaks up again.
"Alright, let's split you up right away. Mars, Clarice, Ellie, Baron, and Dominic will form the Vanguard Division. Karen, Misha, Johann, Josef, and Minerva will make up the Rearguard Division. Keep in mind that injuries or other circumstances might force roster changes, so be prepared for anything."
Clarice in the Vanguard? Since she only mentioned being skilled with a bow, I assumed she would be in the Rearguard, while Misha, who stated she excelled with spears, wind magic, and water magic, would take the Vanguard. This caught me off guard.
Or maybe Ike was just being a good big brother, making sure Clarice and I could stay together.
With the division set, the practical instruction begins immediately.
The lesson takes the form of mock combat, with constant feedback given on everyone's individual weaknesses.
"Baron! You're relying way too much on brute force with your swings! Dominic! What on earth is with that dramatic posture after every strike?!"
Ike's voice burns with passion as he barks corrections at the pair.
Beside Baron and Dominic, Clarice and Ellie are engaged in a sparring match of their own. Clarice grips a wooden sword, while Ellie holds a pair of wooden daggers.
In close-quarters combat, Ellie holds the clear upper hand, her wooden daggers repeatedly tapping Clarice's cheek.
Yet Clarice refuses to yield. Knowing this, Ellie refrains from pulling her punches, and the one-sided duel rages on until the lunch break.
"Mars, how did my spar with Ellie look to you?"
"When facing someone as nimble as Ellie, the key is to stay calm and look for an opening. If it were just raw speed, using a physique advantage to overwhelm her might work, but that won't work against Ellie's martial art. Whatever you do, don't stop moving your feet. The moment you let her dictate the pace, loss is inevitable."
"Stay calm, huh...? When someone is moving that fast right in front of my face, I can't help but get flustered... Ellie, I'll be relying on you again this afternoon."
Well, if anyone had feints mixed into that kind of speed, they'd be completely flustered too.
"How did things go for Karen and the others? I noticed you guys disappeared halfway through."
I had been so focused on watching Clarice and Ellie that they were already gone by the time I looked around.
"Yes, we relocated to a range suitable for Fire Magic training. Since Josef and I are Fire Magic users, practicing in that arena was out of the question. Training is progressing flawlessly. Aside from Wind Magic, Edine is serving as a temporary instructor for Earth Magic, and our Water Magic instructor is vastly superior to ordinary mages, so we are well taken care of."
Not only can they blast magic to their heart's content, but the instructional staff is exceptional. It's an environment truly fitting for Lister National academy, renowned as the greatest academy on the continent.
――――Five days later
"All of you, line up over there!"
Both our S-Class and the A-Class are gathered in the arena where our Rank Evaluation Matches previously took place.
The two classes are lined up facing each other directly. What comes next is, naturally, the Class Match.
The A-Class students are overflowing with motivation. After all, earning a promotion to S-Class is practically a ticket to a guaranteed, glorious future.
Though honestly, simply gaining admission to Lister National academy already makes you a winner in life.
"We will begin with the Representative Battle! A-Class representative Panema, step forward!"
Panema, stepping out as her name is called by Lorenz, is a girl.
"Alright! From the S-Class, Minerva! Step forward!"
The Representative Battle pits the top-performing student from the lower class against the lowest-ranked student of the upper class.
Incidentally, official numerical ranks are assigned exclusively within the S-Class; general classes do not receive individual rank placements.
Because of this, students in general classes hone their skills day in and day out, desperate to raise their standing in the eyes of the academy.
Minerva and Panema face each other. The instant their gazes meet, Lorenz's thunderous "Begin!" echoes across the arena.
The match ends in an overwhelming victory for Minerva. Both fighters are all-rounders who shift from range magic into close quarters, but by that point, Panema's HP is already depleted.
Their wooden swords clash two or three times, but Panema is utterly outmatched in strength each time. With her sword knocked from her grip, she admits defeat.
Because representatives from outside the S-Class are usually chosen based on overall general scores, an outcome like this was easy to foresee.
After all, true Rank Evaluation Matches are reserved solely for the S-Class.
If other classes held individual rank matches as well, the academy wouldn't have anywhere near enough instructors to supervise them or medical staff to tend to the injured.
"Next up is the Party Battle! A-Class team of five, step forward! Then select five members from S-Class, excluding Minerva!"
In Party Battles, the lower-ranked class gets the right to challenge five chosen members from the higher-ranked class.
Apparently, instructors hold veto power if a selection is blatantly skewed, but we have no intention of hiding behind rules like that.
The five selected turn out to be me, Clarice, Ellie, Dominic, and Misha.
Avoiding Karen and Baron makes sense, but leaving Johann and Josef off the target list is a bit surprising.
"Maybe the A-Class squad is prioritizing scouting over immediate promotion. They already know what Karen and I are capable of, and since Johann and Josef were originally in A-Class, their hands are already open books. They're probably focusing entirely on intel gathering for the next Class Match."
Baron makes a solid point. If that's their strategy, this lineup makes complete sense.
In that case, we only have one goal.
Make them swear never to challenge our squad ever again.
"Guys, do you mind if I make a selfish request? Just for the first minute—let Ellie and me handle the fight alone."
"If that is what you wish, Mars, I have no objection. Besides, if I agree, I imagine Clarice and the others will follow suit."
Dominic thoughtfully speaks up to back me. He really is a good guy at heart... so long as he isn't trying to pursue Clarice.
After obtaining consent from Clarice and the group, I explain the plan to Ellie and signal Lorenz that we're ready to proceed.
The A-Class squad already seems to have their strategy set, standing ready with their weapons drawn.
They run a balanced formation: three front-liners and two back-liners.
Confirming both sides are set, Lorenz bellows the signal to start.
"Begin!"
The instant the signal echoes, Ellie and I charge full speed straight toward the three front-liners of A-Class.
The back-line mages of A-Class attempt to chant spells while watching our movements, but our blinding speed beats them to the punch.
In the blink of an eye, we slip directly into the gaps of their front line, successfully pinning down the sightlines of their mages. Now they can't recklessly discharge spells without risking friendly fire.
From here on out, our only job is total disruption.
Ellie weaves rapidly around one of their front-liners, drawing all of his attention to her.
Capitalizing on her distraction, I slip behind another front-liner. They frantically try to track our movements, but their coordination begins to crumble.
Sensing the decisive moment, Ellie shifts into an even higher gear.
Confused by Ellie's phantom-like speed, they are forced to split their attention in opposite directions, shattering their teamwork. Clumsily swinging their wooden swords in the tight space, their own weapons clash against one another.
At that exact moment, I feint an assault toward their back line. Startled, the two mages attempt to intercept me with spells, but that plays right into my trap.
I stop dead in my tracks and pivot on a dime.
The spell unleashed toward me hurtles straight toward one of their own front-liners instead.
"Ellie!"
Responding instantly to my shout, Ellie snatches the front-liner by the scruff of his neck and hurls him out of harm's way, right as...
Lorenz signals the end of the Party Battle.
"Great job, Ellie."
When I offer a fist bump, Ellie responds, her fingers naturally lacing with mine.
"...Mm... Mars... teaming up... easy..."
While the two of us haven't shed a single drop of sweat, the A-Class team stands completely stunned.
As the two of us stroll back toward Clarice and the rest of our party who watched from the sidelines...
"That was amazing, Mars and Ellierin! To completely shut them out without even landing a single strike!"
"Though I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. I could never pull off teamwork as seamless as that."
Even as she says that, Clarice pulls Ellie into a warm hug to share the victory.
"You truly are beyond common logic. Next time... well... would you mind sparring in swordsmanship with me as well?"
As Dominic bashfully offers a fist bump, I only have one answer for him.
"Yeah! Let's train hard together and get even stronger!"
As I bump fists with Dominic, the entire A-Class squad approaches us.
"You guys are unreal. We wanted to gauge your true strength so we could root for you in the Freshmen Tournament, but we couldn't even force out a glimpse of your real power. It's a complete defeat for us. Give it your all out there!"
The guy who led the Party Battle speaks up, extending his fist toward me.
I see, so that was their angle. They just wanted to verify our abilities with their own eyes.
"Thanks. If that's all you wanted, it's an easy request to fulfill. Clarice."
I pick up a pebble lying nearby and call Clarice's name; catching my drift instantly, she readies her Magic Arrow.
"Here goes!"
Clarice looses a high-speed arrow that accurately strikes the pebble I hurl into the air, shattering it to dust.
No matter how many pebbles I throw, her breathtaking marksmanship snipes every single target perfectly, mesmerizing not just the A-Class students, but all of us including myself.
"How was that? Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
When Clarice calls out to the mesmerized A-Class students, guys and girls alike nod their heads vigorously up and down like headbangers at a heavy metal concert.
"Then I'll go next!"
Misha tries to put on a performance of her own following Clarice, but of all things, she relies on her runaway wind magic. She's gained decent control over it lately, but today seems to be an off day, sending her crashing headfirst into a nearby hedge.
"Well, days like this happen, but be sure to root for us anyway!"
As Misha returns with twigs stuck in her hair like improvised accessories, a warm smile spreads across everyone's face.
"Yeah, we'll be cheering loud for you, so go out there and make us proud as our representatives!"
This time, it isn't just me—every student in both S-Class and A-Class exchanges fist bumps, bringing the Class Match to a heartwarming end.
――――The next day
With the first-year Class Matches concluded yesterday, the entire incoming freshman class is gathered in the main hall today. The main agenda for this assembly is the formal reveal of the S-Class roster, their official rank placements, and their assigned roles for the Freshmen Tournament.
Seated on chairs atop the elevated dais in the hall are exclusively the students of the S-Class.
The general class students sit directly on the floor below.
"I will now announce the competitors representing us in the Freshmen Tournament! Give a thunderous round of applause for those fighting on behalf of Lister National academy! First up, Rank 10! Rearguard Division: Minerva Zebius!"
A tense Minerva stands up and executes a graceful curtsy, drawing applause from the general student body.
"Rank 9! Rearguard Division: Josef Vali!"
While Josef's complexion has improved compared to before, he still looks somewhat frail and sickly.
I've spoken to him a few times, but he suffers from extreme stage fright and seems deeply uncomfortable with social interaction.
Pushing a conversation onto him feels like it might make him uncomfortable, so I've been waiting for him to approach me first, though the odds of that seem slim.
"Rank 8! Rearguard Division: Johann Biel!"
In stark contrast to Josef, this man always wears a gentle expression that puts everyone around him at ease.
Truth be told, when I secretly practiced Johann's original spell, Kamaitachi, I picked it up effortlessly, though I keep that little secret to myself.
I once asked if I could perform Appraisal on him, but he politely turned me down. Well, we are rivals, after all.
"Rank 7! Rearguard Division: Misha Febrant!"
As the ever-energetic Misha leaps to her feet, a massive roar of applause erupts from the boys and girls alike.
Misha waves back triumphantly, but when her antics go on too long, Lorenz reprimands her, prompting her to return to her seat with an adorable smile.
"Rank 6! Vanguard Division: Dominic Augus!"
The man once hailed as the official Sword Saint carries a burning fire in his eyes, determined to reclaim his former glory.
"Rank 5! Vanguard Division: Baron Reinhardt!"
Disbelieving murmurs echo through the audience that Baron, the Hero of the North, ranks only fifth. High-pitched squeals of support erupt from the girls who comprise his fan club.
"Rank 4! Rearguard Division: Karen Lionel!"
The moment Karen rises to her feet, nearly every student in the room lowers their head in deference.
It is a powerful reminder of the immense weight and influence carried by the ducal house of Fressbald.
"Rank 3! Vanguard Division: Ellie Leo!"
Upon hearing her name, Ellie pops up instantly, performs a lightning-fast bow, and drops right back into her chair.
Executing the sequence of standing, bowing, and sitting down at blinding speed, the audience is left dumbfounded, unable to squeeze out a single sound.
"Rank 2! Vanguard Division: Clarice Lampard!"
As Clarice stands up, the exact scene I anticipated unfolds.
A chorus of guys bellows out Clarice's name at the top of their lungs.
No matter how many times Lorenz shouts for silence, his voice is completely drowned out, and it takes several minutes for the commotion to subside.
"Rank 1! Vanguard Division: Mars Bryant!"
When my name is called, I spring to my feet briskly, hoping to get it over with as quickly as Ellie did.
Instead, a wall of high-pitched squeals from female students comes crashing over me.
Huh? Me? Did they call the wrong name? But no, the girls are desperately shouting my name. Well... it doesn't feel terrible. In fact, I'm actually pretty thrilled. But as I stand there savoring my sudden wave of popularity, icy gazes drill into my back from Clarice and Ellie... I'm sorry.
"The ones placing their hopes on you aren't just the first-years in this hall. Lister National academy—no, the entire Lister Federation is cheering you on! Give it everything you've got so you have no regrets! Dismissed!"
As Lorenz finishes his speech, the first-year class showers us with thunderous applause as we exit the hall.
Given the sheer level of intensity, this tournament is clearly far more than a simple inter-academy competition. And after receiving this much support, failure is not an option.
With a new goal forged in my chest, I vow to push myself to the limit――――
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