049 Alteration

Michael Thomas of Duran Swordsmanship and Magic School.

The guy was arrogant as hell, but he had the strength to back it up. Not only could he use every basic spell, but he also had three attribute-specific magics at his disposal—though that was still fewer than me.

His swordsmanship, bolstered by a naturally gifted physique, was a nightmare to deal with. Even if you blocked his strikes, the sheer force behind them could cave in your defenses.

True to its name, Duran placed a heavy emphasis on the blade. Swordsmanship was prioritized over magic even during the entrance exams, and the curriculum was predictably skewed. When it was first founded, other countries had mocked it. They called it a regression—a foolish rejection of the modern world where magic reigned supreme.

Duran had silenced every one of them with results.

In a chaotic war where allies and enemies were jumbled together, magic could easily turn its fangs on your own side. Standing face-to-face with a single enemy was a luxury reserved for organized matches. On a real battlefield, where threats came from the front, back, left, and right, how were you supposed to safely unleash a massive spell?

Amidst those conditions, the Duran graduates made names for themselves as undefeated soldiers. And Michael was just one of the individuals belonging to their so-called "Golden Generation."

He, the vice-captain Lugi Strauss, Milika Empress, Logan, and Isaac all boasted roughly the same level of combat prowess. In the original story, they had won the tournament multiple times. I’d seen the CG of Michael hoisting the trophy more times than I could count.

If I were being honest, winning this specific match might not have had a huge impact on the overall plot.

But to hell with that.

I was going to smash that prideful look off his face and bring the trophy home to Noblesse Magic Academy. For a fan of the original game, there was no other option.

"Winner: Weiss Fancent! With this, Mason Royal Magic High School has been defeated! Noblesse Magic Academy advances to the finals!"

"I… lost…?"

I’d somehow finished off some guy named "Madis the Vicious" while I was lost in thought. Wait, did that guy actually do anything? I honestly couldn’t tell.

"What the hell is going on with Nobless Academy this year?!"

"Is that Weiss kid actually stronger than Eva Avery?"

"H-Hey! Take it easy, that’s going way too far!"

"Oh? Did I hear my name?"

"H-Hiee!?"

I looked up to the spectator stands. Eva caught my eye and gave me a wink. Man, I can’t afford to look like a loser in front of my senior.

When I returned to our team’s bench, everyone was psyching themselves up for the next round. Having watched Michael and the others fight, they’d finally realized that the upcoming opponents were in a different league entirely. They’d realized that those guys were the true Golden Generation.

"Weiss, you truly are the strongest," Cynthia said, her eyes shining.

"Who knows? Besides, there’s no point in taking down a bunch of small fries. Cynthia, your opponent is Milika. You have to win this."

"…Eh? I-I understand. But how did you know? The finals matchups are supposed to be random."

"…Just a hunch."

Cynthia was a fixed member of the match roster in the original game. I wasn't supposed to be here, but the core matchups didn't seem to be changing much.

I looked up again. Academy Director Gilles, Darius, Chloe, and Teacher Milk were all watching me. I didn't know if they were genuinely excited or just curious, but it was only natural for them to want their students to win.

There was a short interval before the final match. I didn't have a strategy to give them. My only plan was to crush the opposition—that was it. Looking at my teammates, every one of them had eyes burning with the desire to win the championship.

Well, I felt the same way.

"The stage is set! Nobless Sword and Magic Cup, Final Match, First Bout: Cynthia Violetta versus Milika Empress!"

As the referee’s shout echoed, the crowd erupted in a roar. It was the final battle, and the excitement was reaching a fever pitch. The rules were simple: a team battle where the side with the most individual wins took the glory.

Cynthia looked surprised, likely because my prediction about her opponent had been spot-on. However, she quickly refocused, her expression turning serious as she stared ahead.

We didn't exchange any more words. She was thinking for herself now. As my fiancée, she didn't want to fight a shameful battle. More than anything, she wanted to win—for me.

Ah, Cynthia. I believe in you. Go out there and crush them.

▽

Since I was a young child, I was taught to always be the best. I was told that because I was born into the venerable Violetta Family, I had to be a paragon of proper conduct.

That expectation was never a burden to me. I enjoyed aiming for the top, and I found it genuinely fun to keep my eyes fixed upward without falling into the trap of conceit.

When I first met Weiss at the ball, I had initially let my past memories of him get the better of me, and I accidentally used some rather foul language. However, I soon realized that he was actually just incredibly shy.

Through our dinner parties, we became engaged, and our bond grew closer. To my shock, I discovered that despite his extraordinary talent, he worked far harder than someone like me ever had. It was as if someone had slammed a goblin into my head; I was utterly speechless.

But as I underwent special training with Lilith-san, I began to grow.

After we enrolled in Noblesse Magic Academy, Weiss continued to grow at a pace that far exceeded my imagination. He never yielded the top spot among the underclassmen, not even once. Having a man like that as my fiancé was a source of immense pride.

But at the same time, I felt a growing sense of urgency. I didn't want to be the kind of woman who merely stood beside him like a trophy. I wanted to see the same scenery he saw, from the same height. I wanted to be his greatest confidant—a woman truly worthy of being his fiancée.

Lilith-san noticed my feelings and encouraged me. And there was someone else, too…

▼

"You’re certainly working hard, Lady Cynthia."

"Teacher Milk?! What are you doing here so late?"

"Is it so strange for me to worry about my favorite pupil?"

"Am I… really your favorite?"

"If I’ve taught you even once, that’s how I see you. Besides, I’ve noticed you’re trying your best to be a fiancée worthy of Weiss."

"You… noticed that?"

At the training grounds that day, Teacher Milk had seen right through me. She didn't judge me for it. However, I realized that I had been complacent, relying too much on the talent I was born with. I couldn't possibly compete with a boy like Allen, and I knew there were many people out there far stronger than me.

I worried that it might be too late for me to start putting in real effort.

"When people have talent, they become conceited. It’s unavoidable," Milk told me. "But you can decide your own future starting now. The same goes for Weiss. It’s never too late. Lady Cynthia, if you’ll have me, I’ll train with you as much as you like. Magic is powerful, but it’s a double-edged sword. If you run out of mana, you’re helpless. But swordsmanship is different. You can keep fighting until your heart breaks. However, Lady Cynthia… you are different."

"…Different?"

"Yes. If you wish for both, you can have both. Let me tell you a secret. Let’s go and surprise that Weiss of yours."

▼

"Cynthia, you’ve certainly changed since you started hanging around with that barbaric crowd. Just look at your arms—they’re covered in scars."

I had known Milika since we were children. We had been close once, but we had long since grown apart. It seemed she looked at the current me with nothing but disdain.

"These are proof that I am truly living. Don't you think they're much more beautiful than unblemished skin?"

"Haha! You really don't get it, do you? In swordsmanship, getting injured means you’ve failed. I suppose a mere ice mage like you wouldn't understand that."

Milika Empress took a stance. She possessed incredible speed and power. She hadn't been able to use such techniques when we were young, so she was likely amplifying her physical strength many times over with Power Up.

I had watched her previous matches, and she had been overwhelming in every single one. I’d heard that Duran Swordsmanship and Magic School specialized in combat against mages. There was no doubt she was my natural enemy.

However, that was only true…

…if I were the same person I was before.

"Now then, before the match begins, please take your dist—W-Wait! What is that?! Look at Lady Cynthia’s hand! What on earth is thiiiiiiis?!"

Magic is a world of imagery. My Ice Magic is constructed through the images I draw in my mind. My ability to visualize is my greatest strength, allowing me to use rare and complex spells.

But Teacher Milk told me to aim one level higher. And it was all for this exact moment.

Water overflowed from my palm, gradually coalescing into the shape of a blade. With a final infusion of mana, the weapon was encased in absolute zero.

The ice sword, Glacies.

It was a weapon that boasted devastating power even from a single strike. More importantly, its mana consumption was incredibly low.

I am the fiancée of Weiss Fancent, Cynthia Violetta.

And I am not a woman who will simply stand by his side.

▽

I was speechless.

The entire stadium was in shock, but my surprise was different. I knew the world of Noblesse Oblige. I knew the original story. I knew Cynthia.

But she—she wasn't supposed to be able to use magic like that.

In the original game—no, in the very code of the world—mages were strong at a distance but weak at close range. That was how the world was set.

This wasn't just a minor alteration to the plot. She had completely shattered the logic of the world.

…Ah, I see.

I could feel it just by looking at her back.

Cynthia, did you work this hard for me?

Even now, people sometimes whispered that she was just an ornament—a lucky girl who happened to be by my side. She had fought to resist that label. She had done this… for me.

God dammit, I’m so happy.

Cynthia, you’re the best heroine a guy could ask for.