The Magics Chevalier, Day Four.
The first round would finally wrap up today. Both the Main Tournament and the Newcomers' Tournament had proceeded without any major upsets; the favorites were advancing exactly as predicted.
Rebecca-senpai had secured her first-round victory in the Main Tournament on the second day with ease. Albert followed suit yesterday, winning his opening match in the Newcomers' Tournament. While his magical aptitude was a factor, his physical conditioning had clearly been his greatest asset. His swordsmanship, enhanced by his use of Inside Code, had been exceptional.
As the favorites continued to advance, the level of anticipation for today's opening match was remarkably high. It was the final bout of the first round for the Newcomers' Tournament. That alone would have drawn a crowd, but there was another reason for the buzz.
Ariane Algren was stepping onto the stage.
As the frontrunner to win the Newcomers' Tournament and the eldest daughter of House Algren—one of the Three Great Noble Families—she was naturally the center of attention.
Facing her was a female student from Mercrose Magic Academy named Elma Kallus. Having already memorized the data on every student in the tournament, I was well aware of her capabilities.
Mercrose students tended to be magic-types. While they carried swords, they were primarily for self-defense; magic was their main instrument of war. Contestant Kallus was no exception to that rule.
"Ariane Algren, huh... Ray, you're friends with her, right?" Evi asked.
"Yeah. We're friends. I've seen her fight before, too."
"So, who do you think's going to win?"
"I won't know for sure until it starts, but... right now, I can't even imagine Ariane losing."
Evi and I were sitting in the back row, waiting for the match to begin. On days when the Amelia Cheer Squad was active, the Club President secured prime seats for us, but on days when Amelia wasn't competing, we had to find our own.
Finding ourselves at the very back was unavoidable, and while I would have preferred the front row to burn her movements into my memory, there was nothing to be done about it.
By the way, Elisa and Clarice were currently working as vendors at our stall. I planned to swap with them later so they could take a break. I felt guilty about forcing two such delicate girls to do all the heavy lifting, after all.
Once this match ended, I intended to put in a full shift myself.
"Oh... here she comes."
"Yeah. Now then, let's see how Ariane's first match plays out."
As the two contestants entered the arena, the stadium speakers crackled to life with the play-by-play and color commentary.
"Both contestants have entered the arena! This match marks the final bout of the first round for the Newcomers' Tournament! We have first-year Elma Kallus of Mercrose Magic Academy versus first-year Ariane Algren of Diom Magic Academy! Now, the moment is finally here! Ariane Algren, the eldest daughter of House Algren, one of the Three Great Noble Families. Expectations are sky-high for the top seed, but... Professor Garnet, what is your take on this?"
"Hmm... let's see."
As usual, Natalia Ashley-senpai was handling the play-by-play, but the commentator changed daily. Today, instead of Carol, it was Abby's turn. Things were always lively when Carol was on the mic, but her antics clearly made the broadcast difficult to manage.
Abby, however, was a refined adult who possessed both etiquette and discretion. She wouldn't act like that pink airhead.
"Contestant Kallus is a magic-type—a typical model for Mercrose Magic Academy," Abby analyzed. "However, that is no reason to underestimate her. There have been tournaments where a magic-type has completely shut out their opponent without letting them get close even once. On the other hand, Contestant Algren is a balance-type, though she leans more toward being a sword technique-type. She excels at close-quarters combat. The outcome will likely depend on whether they can force the other into their preferred range... or keep them out of it. It should be an interesting match."
"Thank you for that wonderful analysis! My, the Academy Principal is as wise as she is wonderful! It certainly makes my job as the announcer much easier!"
Once the introductions were finished, Carol, acting as the referee, addressed the two girls. She was likely giving the usual rules explanation. I suspected some in the crowd wondered if Carol actually possessed the skill to be a referee.
But while Carol was undeniably a pink airhead, her practical combat techniques were extraordinary. Though she held the title of a researcher, the truth was that she was an exceptionally talented sorcerer. If she weren't, she never would have been named one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers in the first place.
It was just one of those unfortunate truths of the world—magical talent and personality aren't always proportional.
"Now then, let the match... start! ☆"
As Carol's voice echoed through the venue, the fight began.
"A-a-and we're off! Contestant Kallus isn't drawing her sword! Far from it—she's attempting to invoke magic without moving a single step from her starting position!"
"She is likely... laying down Delay Magic," Abby noted. "No, wait. This is... the high-tier Extensive Chain Magic, Crimson Nova. To utilize a spell of such high difficulty right at the start..."
"What? Extensive Chain Magic!?"
"Yes. However, I don't understand it. Contestant Algren isn't moving at all."
"You're right! Why is Contestant Algren standing still? At this rate, the Extensive Chain Magic will be fully activated!"
I agreed with the commentary. If I were the one fighting Elma Kallus, knowing she was a magic-type, I would have closed the distance immediately. If you can force a magic-type into cross-range, victory is practically guaranteed.
Yet Ariane simply watched, a fearless smile on her face.
It was as if she were waiting for her opponent to finish constructing the spell. While Extensive Chain Magic is powerful, its long activation time is a major weakness. Normally, a fighter would never let it reach completion... but what was Ariane thinking?
"Hey, Ray. Why isn't she moving?" Evi whispered.
"I'm not sure. I can't quite read her intent, but based on her expression, she's confident. She must have a way to deal with it."
"What kind of magic is that, anyway?"
"Crimson Nova sets up a massive number of explosive zones on the ground. It's similar to Delay Magic, but because of its sheer scale, it's classified as Extensive Chain Magic."
"So, basically, it's like a giant minefield?"
"That's exactly what it is."
"Wait... isn't that incredibly dangerous?"
"It is. To be honest, once it's activated, it's a nightmare to deal with."
Even I didn't fully understand her strategy. If her only goal was a quick win, she should have moved earlier.
Then, the setup for the Extensive Chain Magic was complete. Elma Kallus began firing off spells toward Ariane using Quick Magic, but...
"W-what is this?! Contestant Algren has charged in! It's a frontal assault! She's using Physical Reinforcement with Inside Code! She's rushing forward with incredible momentum!"
"I see... so that's her game..."
I finally realized why Ariane was fighting this way. And I knew then that she would surely become Amelia's greatest rival.
"Whoa... is she going to be okay?" Evi gasped.
"Just watch."
Ariane charged straight into the Crimson Nova. To an outside observer, she likely looked like a fool rushing headlong into a minefield.
Then, the detonations began. Unlike material magic, phenomenon magic requires significant skill to control, and the power behind these blasts was undeniable. I had to respect Elma's ability to handle Extensive Chain Magic to this degree.
The power was such that a direct hit wouldn't just scatter a contestant's rose—it would likely knock them unconscious.
Explosions erupted in rapid succession, looking like fiery red roses blooming across the arena floor.
From our vantage point, the spectacle was breathtaking. The continuous blasts sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the air, obscuring the stage. Ariane was no longer visible, but there was no way she would let it end here.
Besides... the match was already over.
"Incredible! A relentless series of explosions! Is this even too much for the great Contestant Algren to handle?!"
"No," I whispered. "It's decided."
"What do you mean?"
"Look."
"Ah! W-w-what?! Contestant Algren is still standing! There isn't a single scratch on her! She's already within five meters! She's entered cross-range!!"
Ariane closed the remaining distance in a blur. Maintaining a low posture, she swung her sword in a sharp upward arc. In that instant, Elma's rose was sliced cleanly in two, its petals scattering as it fell to the ground.
The match was over.
"I-it's over!! Unbelievable! Contestant Algren tore through that sea of explosions with ease and ended it with a single strike! The match is over! The winner is Ariane Algren!!"
The stadium erupted. The resulting roar from the crowd was the loudest the arena had heard so far.
Ariane responded to the standing ovation by calmly raising her right hand. She carried herself with the calm grace of a champion.
What was even more remarkable was that she wasn't just uninjured—there wasn't even a scorch mark on her clothes.
"U-uwaa... are you serious?" Evi stammered. "The guts to charge through that is one thing, but to come out without a scratch..."
"She likely coated her body in a layer of Prima Materia," I explained. "She used it as a defensive shield to break through before ending it with a single strike. Still... that level of skill and the mental fortitude to execute it is magnificent."
"Can Amelia win against that...?"
"She can. I believe in her."
This was Ariane's response to Amelia's earlier performance. A formal declaration of war.
She was demonstrating that whether it was Extensive Chain Magic or anything else, she had the power to crush it head-on. She was making a statement.
It was a battle that perfectly reflected her personality—the quintessential Ariane Algren way of fighting.
With this, the first round of the Newcomers' Tournament drew to a close. However, we would soon find our attention stolen by the emergence of a dark horse in the Main Tournament shortly after.