I took a break in the back waiting room after the second round wrapped up.
The students who had already finished their matches had joined the crowd, and the roar of the spectators echoed faintly through the stone walls.
"…Phew, I’m exhausted."
I rolled my shoulders to loosen them up.
To be honest, saying I was just "exhausted" didn’t even begin to cover it.
the leader of that commoner team had certainly been talented. Not just in terms of strategy, but the individual execution level of their magic was high. Their incantation speed and split-second judgment weren't bad either.
Of course, compared to me, it was like night and day—a snail racing a supercar.
"You're overexerting yourself..."
"I'm not. You can tell just by looking, right?"
Yuka stared at me intently, her eyes shimmering like liquid light.
Was she really that worried? It was true that things had gotten a bit dicey for a moment, but still.
It was just as I glanced away from Yuka that I heard it.
"—You seem awfully relaxed."
The voice was low and nasally.
When I turned around, a blond young man was standing there. He had striking, well-defined features, but his eyes were filled with blatant contempt.
"Cedric Eisenwald, of the Count House."
...Ugh, a real pain in the neck just showed up.
"Do you have business with me?"
"Business? That should be obvious."
His blue-gray eyes shifted toward Yuka.
"I simply came to see the fool who is squandering a Rare Attribute."
The air in the room seemed to plummet in temperature.
Yuka took a step closer, tucking herself behind me. Seeing that, Cedric gave a thin, mocking smile.
"The Light Attribute is a power that belongs only to the chosen. It has no place beside a weakling with such pathetic Magical Power."
"...Huh?"
Light Attribute... I remembered that being one of the Rare Attributes. I wasn't entirely sure what the connection to Yuka was yet, but...
"She should come to me. To someone who possesses a level of Magical Power equal to her own."
—Yeah, I didn't really follow his logic.
But one thing was clear: this guy was treating my Yuka like an object. And I had no intention of handing her over to anyone except a person who would truly make her happy.
"I refuse."
My answer was immediate. Naturally.
Cedric's eyebrows twitched.
"Luka, do you even have the right to refuse me?"
"Of course I do."
I took a step forward.
"Yuka is my..."
I trailed off for a heartbeat.
Should I say slave? Or would maid be better?
...If I want to assert my legal rights over her, "slave" is probably easier to understand in this world.
"Yuka is my slave."
Is this okay? Seriously, is this okay?
A dry laugh followed my declaration.
"How comical. To think that a member of a Ducal house would actually purchase a slave."
The tension in the air was palpable.
I was thinking the exact same thing, so please don't point it out.
Just then, the announcement boomed through the arena.
"Semi-final, Match One—Allen Glantz versus Luka—"
It looked like time was up. I wondered if the speaker system was an Artifact as well.
Cedric turned his back to me as he spoke.
"I will be waiting in the finals. There, I shall prove who is truly worthy of her."
He walked away without looking back.
Yuka gripped my sleeve.
"...Master Luka, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," I said, offering a small smile. "I just found another reason to blow him away."
The door to the arena swung open.
Alright, let's go, Elicia, Selena!
Let's take them all down!
The crowd roared.
Allen was waiting in the center of the field.
This was the Semi-final. Everyone left was the cream of the crop, meaning the real struggle began now.
The cheers reached a fever pitch.
Opposite us stood Allen and Caiel. Neither of them showed any openings; their expressions were dead serious.
"To think I'd run into you here, Luka."
Allen cracked his shoulders.
"Sorry, but I’m going to have to end your run right here."
Caiel leveled his wand with a short nod.
The referee’s hand swept down.
"—Begin!"
The opening move came fast.
"Here we go!"
Allen was the first to act.
"—Flare Shot!"
A beginner-level Fire Attribute spell. A ball of Flame streaked toward us in a straight line.
Simultaneously, Caiel finished his incantation.
"—Aqua Ball!"
A projectile of water followed immediately after. It was a classic, straightforward coordinated assault.
"Elicia!"
"On it."
Following her quiet reply, I heard her chant.
"—Ice Lance."
The launched ice spear collided with the fire and water, negating both. Without losing momentum, it continued straight for Allen and Caiel.
"—Crap!"
Allen reacted at the last second, barely blocking the ice spear.
But that moment of defense cost them.
"Freeze Patch."
In an instant, the floor beneath them turned to ice. Allen’s footing faltered as he tried to step forward.
"Wha—!"
He slipped.
In that opening...
"Now, Luka."
"Got it."
I thrust both hands forward.
"—Smoke."
A thick, gray smoke billowed out, covering the area. It was an amount that pushed right up against the limits of my Magical Power.
Both of them were instantly blinded. I could hear the crowd murmuring in confusion.
"Stay calm! Track their presence—"
That was Allen's voice.
But the floor was frozen and their vision was zero. While they were disoriented, we climbed onto an elevated ice platform Elicia had prepared.
Caiel’s voice sounded frantic.
"Dammit, where are they!?"
Right there.
I aimed for the faint silhouette within the smoke.
"Selena."
"Mm, leave it to me."
Her voice was cool and dignified.
"—Lightning Shot."
A beginner-level Lightning Attribute spell. Unlike "Spark," which was more of a close-range burst, this spell struck with pinpoint accuracy even at a distance.
A sharp bolt of lightning tore through the gray haze.
The frozen, wet floor acted as a perfect conductor. In this environment, there was nowhere to run.
In a single heartbeat, a pale blue flash streaked across the ground.
"Guh—!"
Allen collapsed to his knees as his protective pendant glowed, signaling a lethal hit.
"Ngh, ah...!"
Caiel went down right beside him.
When the smoke finally cleared, only one isolated teammate of theirs remained standing, looking dazed.
"...Eh, ah..."
The two main threats were paralyzed and unable to stand.
The referee’s voice boomed.
"...Winners, Luka Team!"
The stadium erupted.
See? If the combo lands, it’s devastating!
After the match, Allen gave a rueful laugh.
"...As expected, you got us good! That was a perfect setup!"
You, hurry up and get to the infirmary.
Caiel spoke up as well.
"Ice into smoke, then lightning..."
"It was a coordination beyond reproach."
Will you two just go get treated already?
...Actually, that ended incredibly quickly. I knew it would work, but all I really did was provide the smoke...
"W-Well, even with only beginner magic, there are ways to make it work, right?"
Suddenly, I felt a heavy gaze from the spectator seats.
When I looked up, I saw the blond sitting arrogantly, looking down with those cold eyes.
Cedric Eisenwald was watching us in silence.
Contempt was written all over his face.
"...Master Luka, next is the finals," Yuka whispered softly.
Yeah. He’s next.
That elitist noble with his "chosen one" nonsense.
The man who claimed Yuka was an object to be "selected."
...For now, I'm going to thrash him. I'm going to thrash that smug face of his until I’m finally satisfied.