I was investigating the interior of the Colosseum alone. I wore my Management Committee armband, so I shouldn't have looked out of place. Just to be safe, I had already informed Sera-senpai that I wanted to conduct a patrol.
My stated reason was maintaining public order, but upon hearing it, Sera-senpai had raised an eyebrow.
"Unsettling stares?"
"Yes. I thought it was a bit suspicious. I might be overthinking it, though."
"Hmm..."
"You don't believe me?"
"No, actually... all sorts of things happen at this tournament every year."
"Things? Such as?"
"If I recall, a few years ago, people were gambling on student victories. To manipulate the outcomes, they would injure the participants to force a win by default... things like that. Naturally, they were dealt with behind the scenes immediately, but this is a tournament that draws international attention. Well, the Magic Association has already dispatched personnel for that purpose, but I'll pass this up the chain just in case."
"Yes. Thank you."
"So, what are you going to do, Ray?"
"I think I'll patrol a bit longer."
"I don't mind, but run away if it gets dangerous, okay? Proper sorcerers specialized in combat have been dispatched, so leave the rough stuff to them. You're wearing the armband, so I'm sure they'll recognize you immediately."
"Understood. Thank you for the advice."
"Right. Well, stay safe."
I had reported to Sera-senpai like that, which brought me to the present. Of course, since she was passing the word up, there wasn't strictly anything left for me to do... but just in case, I wanted to do everything I possibly could.
Everyone’s feelings were poured into this tournament.
Rebecca-senpai, Albert, Ariane, and... Amelia too. Their enthusiasm for this competition was considerable. But that was only natural. Only thirty-two people had been selected from the world's top magic academy to compete. And they were doing so while drawing an immense amount of attention.
It was also a battle to prove one's own strength.
Perhaps some would find a new path within this struggle.
That was exactly why I would do everything in my power to ensure this tournament concluded safely. I wasn't particularly tired today. It was nearly 20:00 and the sun had completely set, but I still had plenty of energy to keep moving.
"...Time to head back," I muttered quietly to myself.
I was currently moving through a passage, heading from a warehouse on the first basement level toward the waiting rooms on the first floor of the Colosseum. The lights along the corridor faintly illuminated the darkness. Even with the lights, once it reached this hour, a slightly eerie atmosphere drifted through the air.
Today's matches had concluded without incident, and the Management Committee members were likely confirming tomorrow's schedule right now.
I was sure that Sera-senpai and the Club President were involved in those duties as committee members. With that in mind, I intended to give them a final greeting before returning to the dorms as usual—but in that instant, I sensed killing intent from behind.
"—!"
I dodged.
The attack was a flash from a dagger. However, a purple liquid was dripping from its tip. It was self-evident that the blade was poisoned.
The opponent was clad in what looked like a full-body black robe, their face almost completely hidden by a mask. Only the faint outline of their eyes was visible. Reddish-black patterns ran across the left and right sides of the pure white mask, giving it a strangely ghoulish appearance.
Furthermore, they held poison-coated daggers firmly in both hands. It was likely a paralytic type, but there was also the possibility it was lethal. I recognized that I needed to maintain a strict sense of distance.
Moreover, I had to consider the possibility of the liquid splashing onto me when the daggers were swung. I didn't think it was the type that caused death just by skin contact, but I raised my level of caution to the maximum.
"...You, strong?"
"..."
The voice was mechanical. No, it was likely a human voice, but they were probably using magic to intentionally distort it.
Based on the opponent's prowess, I gathered they were a seasoned expert. And since they were armed with poison, I would have no choice but to release my abilities.
With that, I ran my code all at once.
<<Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code>> <<Material Code = Decoding>> <<Material Code = Processing = Lock = Release>> <<Embodiment = Phenomenon>>
"—Chronos Lock, Limited Release."
In an instant, the area around me began to freeze... but the frost subsided immediately. In its place, a single Ice Sword was gripped in my right hand.
I didn't fully release the Chronos Lock. For now, to gauge the situation, I kept it to a Limited Release. As the name implied, this was a way to release only a portion of my abilities. Currently, I had partially released only 'Deceleration' and 'Lock' to manifest the sword.
I didn't know what might happen to my own body. Since not much time had passed since I last fully released it, I chose a Limited Release this time.
"..."
The opponent wasn't about to miss this opening. The enemy burst into a run, changing their direction from the floor to the wall. However, they didn't come back down to the ground. They closed in on me while remaining perpendicular to the wall.
Gravity control. Or perhaps they were shifting the coordinates of their relative position accordingly? They were skillful. Their code processing ability and magic capacity were decent... I supposed.
First, I analyzed the opponent's abilities. What they could do, and what they couldn't. Grasping that was of the utmost importance.
Then, kicking off the wall in a single motion, the intruder swung their dagger toward my throat. I ducked quickly, then delivered a flash toward their wide-open torso.
I swung the Ice Sword I held without mercy. Of course, since I couldn't exactly cut their torso in half, I kept the strike shallow... but there was no feedback at all.
"...You, strong. For now, disadvantageous..."
The intruder completely erased their presence and vanished into the darkness. They must have immediately understood that they were at a disadvantage in a fight against me. They were quick to withdraw, and while I wanted to praise their good judgment, in truth, it was a nuisance for me.
"...They got away."
Was it perhaps illusion magic? I also judged it impossible to pursue them from here and deactivated my abilities.
I had fought people of that ilk during the Far East Campaign; above all else, their survival capabilities were high. Their combat skills were first-rate, but they displayed staggering ability when they devoted themselves entirely to escaping.
They likely belonged to an assassination unit from somewhere... though I didn't recognize them.
As I was lost in thought, I sensed another presence from behind—but this was a familiar face.
"You are..."
"Ray, it looks like you had a scrap."
"Yes..."
Indeed. Standing there was the Club President.
But had he been watching?
Even in the middle of combat, I should have noticed if there was a gaze on me. Was it the Club President's magic? Regardless, his skill was something to be admired. Since I had just been in combat, my senses were quite sharp.
Despite that, I hadn't noticed him at all. Considering that he had been watching, the distance couldn't have been that great.
What should I do? Should I explain? But it would be difficult to deceive him. Besides, I had already used my Ice Sword. I realized that no matter what I said now, I couldn't talk my way out of it.
Well, as I was wondering how I should approach this... even further from behind, someone else arrived. It was none other than Master. Behind her, of course, was Carla-san, pushing her wheelchair.
"M-Master? And Carla-san too? What is the meaning of this..."
Two more familiar people emerged from the darkness. But why were the two of them coming from behind the Club President?
And so, I would come to learn exactly what was happening during this tournament.