The waiting room.
Albert sat there, calming his heart.
All alone, illuminated by the glare of artificial lights, he sat motionless in his chair. He had repeated this ritual before every match lately. No, it wasn't just for this Magics Chevalier. He had been doing this since the school preliminaries.
Looking back, he realized he had never faced himself so honestly until now.
Until recently, he had simply followed the dictates of his lineage. His talent was recognized by those around him, and he was praised for it by family and friends alike.
In that environment, he had come to a conclusion.
In the world of sorcerers, talent and lineage were everything.
He had understood that since he was a child.
That was why it was only natural for him to enroll in the Arnold Magic Academy, the pinnacle of the world’s magic academies, and it was only natural for him to demonstrate his talent there... or so he had thought.
But then he had learned. No, he had been forced to learn. He learned that there were realms in this world that lineage and talent alone could not account for.
Ray White.
The first Ordinary to ever enroll in Arnold Magic Academy. Naturally, Albert had looked down on him. He saw him as a misplaced student with no lineage who had only gotten in by some fluke.
However, Ray was the current Ice Sword Sorcerer.
At the same age as Albert, he had reached the rank of the Seven Grand Sorcerers—a position Albert believed he could never attain even if he spent his entire life trying. Upon learning that fact... Albert’s heart had nearly broken.
──What was my... what was my talent even for...?
Even as he began to ask that question... he chose to stand up, despite his hesitation.
He understood his own position now. He had been a mere fool, arrogant in his talent and drowning in his lineage.
Because he understood that, Albert decided to move forward.
From that point on, he cut ties with his former friends and faced himself in solitude.
Though it was only for a short period, he had moved forward with the intention of starting over from zero. Along the way, Evi and Ray had lent him their strength.
Even though he had done such terrible things in the past, the two of them had willingly cooperated with him.
Albert could not help but think about how much greater they were as human beings compared to himself.
After many twists and turns, he had finally reached the semi-finals of the Magics Chevalier.
If he were his former self, he likely would have suffered defeat already.
If he were the Albert who believed the world was decided entirely by talent, he never would have put in such unrefined, gritty effort.
"……Albert, are you in there?"
"Yeah. Ray, is it...? That means..."
"Yes. It's time."
"I see."
Ray, acting as a member of the Management Committee, had come to fetch him. Albert stood up from his chair, checked the sword at his waist once more, and carefully inspected the rose fixed to his chest.
"I wish you luck."
"Yeah. Well then, I'm off."
No further words were needed.
With that, Albert stepped out, enveloped in the dazzling light of the arena.
◇
"Phew..."
He exhaled.
The Magics Chevalier had already reached the semi-finals. Only four students remained, and in the previous match, Amelia had naturally advanced to the finals.
On this side... Albert was well aware of the consensus that Ariane Algren would be the one to advance.
He knew he fell short in lineage, ability, and effort—in everything.
He understood all too well that while he was being arrogant about his talent and neglecting his training, Ariane had been constantly piling up effort.
But the option to give up before the fight even began did not exist for him.
Albert stood tall and resolute, facing Ariane Algren.
He thought that, at the very least, he would not let his heart be defeated.
"Albert. I must say, I never expected you to make it this far."
"Ariane... You're right. If I were the man I was before, reaching this point would have been impossible."
"Did something happen? You seem... quite different."
Albert and Ariane had met many times at aristocratic parties and had spoken frequently enough. However, Ariane had been fed up with his ideology that leaned too heavily on bloodline supremacy.
Yet, look at him now.
His face was sharp and intrepid, as if a possessing spirit had been cast out.
And with a serious gaze, he stared straight through Ariane.
"I met Ray... I met Ray White, and I learned just how wide this world truly is."
"I see. Him again. I truly wonder who he is..."
Ariane’s words were almost a monologue.
An existence who mentored Amelia, a member of the Three Great Noble Families, and even changed Albert, a high-ranking noble. She could not possibly believe he was just a sorcerer from an Ordinary background...
But right now, she had to focus.
With that thought, Ariane softly touched the sword at her waist.
Ariane was also here with her own convictions. That was why she could not afford to lose.
"Are you both ready?"
Abby made the announcement.
When both nodded in silence... the match began.
"Then, begin the match!!"
They dashed.
They moved almost simultaneously. But the one who was slightly faster was... Ariane, as expected. Both of them channeled their Inside Code and immediately engaged in a battle at cross-range.
Both understood.
They were both sword technique-types. And among those, both excelled most at cross-range. That was why this would be a clash of raw power against raw power.
The sounds of clashing steel rang out.
"……Guh!!"
It was Albert who let out a cry.
In the midst of their swordplay, Ariane used Chain Magic to link ice-aspected Quick Magic and Delay Magic. This caused a single attack to manifest as if it were multiple overlapping strikes.
Within that, she swung her sword. It was as if there were no difference between the moments she was using magic and the moments she was not.
──Damn it! She's a monster after all!!
Though he grumbled inwardly, Albert handled the situation calmly. He took hits to his body, but he mitigated the damage by thickly coating vital areas with Prima Materia.
In terms of pure physical performance, Albert was superior. That was why he had to leverage that advantage. Fortunately, the combat was taking place at cross-range.
In a contest of endurance, Albert believed he would absolutely not lose.
In terms of his true sorcerous specialty, he was originally better at Extensive Magic and other large-scale spells. But in this battle, there was no time to use such things.
He had no choice but to fight using basic Inside Code and Outside Code, combined with the three types: Quick Magic, Delay Magic, and Chain Magic.
These two systems and three types were the basics of cross-range combat. However, Albert had not been able to master them to that level. Nothing changes drastically in such a short period of time.
He had known since before the match that he was at an overwhelming disadvantage against an opponent like Ariane, who had been humble and diligently honing her skills since childhood.
"Haa... haa... haa... haa..."
He was already covered in wounds.
Ariane didn't have a single scratch. In contrast, Albert’s entire body was riddled with injuries. Wiping away the blood flowing from his face, he took up his stance once more.
He was inferior in skill—both in magic and in swordsmanship.
The only reason he was still standing here was his sheer persistence and a will that refused to accept defeat.
On the other hand, Ariane gave her sword a sharp flick, spraying his blood off the blade onto the ground. She reset her sword into a high-guard stance and spoke dispassionately.
"Will you not admit defeat? Any more than this... would be dangerous."
"Haa... haa... yeah... I know. If it were the old me, I would have given up long ago... But... my heart won't admit defeat. This is a battle of will. I will absolutely not fall... and I won't let my rose scatter, either. Come on, let's see... who lasts longer."
Breathing heavily, Albert gave a wry smile.
He couldn't use his specialized magic properly, and he was being completely shut out in swordsmanship.
Among the spectators, some thought Albert looked pathetic. Shouldn't a noble know when to withdraw? Was he really going to expose even more disgrace at this Magics Chevalier?
However, in the world shared by these two, such boorish thoughts did not exist.
The voices of the crowd and the voices of the commentators had already faded away.
What they saw was each other's proud forms.
The outcome was already decided. In a few minutes, the referee would stop the match for Albert. The blood still flowing and his joints, which were freezing up, told the story clearly.
Moreover, he likely had almost no sensation left.
Despite that, his eyes were burning. They were ablaze.
Seeing that, Ariane also understood.
He would never give up through conventional offense and defense.
As he said, this was a battle of will. And neither of their hearts would break. In that case... Ariane decided she would deliver the final blow.
"I see. Albert... you truly have grown. I respect you from the bottom of my heart... But, you cannot reach me. I shall show you that."
In an instant, Ariane discarded her sword.
Of course, Albert was not so foolish as to stand there dazed by such an absurd action. The moment he saw it, he dashed across the ground at his highest speed yet.
He had already lost almost all sense of pain and touch.
What was moving him now... was the will to not lose.
The future was already decided. But if there was even the slightest possibility... he wanted to move toward it.
"Uooooooooooooooooh!!"
He roared.
──Steel yourself!! I haven't, I haven't lost yet!! Even if I lose pain, even if I lose sensation, my body still moves!!
In that moment, a story he had once heard from Ray suddenly... came to mind.
──I also had a time when I had no choice but to keep moving forward, even while wandering through doubt, conflict, and impatience. I won't say I understand all of Albert's feelings right now. But there are places you can only reach by swallowing those feelings and moving forward nonetheless.
Recalling those words, Albert fell into thought.
──Is there a place that I can reach as well? No, there surely must be.
That is why I am moving forward at this very moment, and why I will continue to do so.
That's why... I'll, I'll!!
With that, Albert's sword strike descended upon Ariane from a high guard. Having already discarded her sword, she had no means of defense. She was no longer at a stage where she could dodge.
A certain hit.
But he felt the definite presence of magic activating right before his eyes.
<<Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code>>
<<Material Code = Decoding>>
<<Material Code = Processing>>
<<Embodiment = Inside Code>>
"—Ogrification."
Ariane whispered softly.
And in an instant... Albert's sword was caught.
"Na... ah..."
He could only produce a voiceless cry.
Yes... Ariane had caught the sword between her palms.
A barehanded blade catch.
At this, the audience erupted in a fever pitch. The commentator’s voice also heated up even further. It was such a transcendent technique. Or perhaps it was sheer guts.
"Prepare yourself, Albert. Otherwise... you will die."
Red-black code ran across her limbs in multiple overlapping layers. Using her arms, which were glowing with an almost abnormal, searing light, she snapped the sword Albert held with her bare hands and, without mercy, drove her fist into his solar plexus.
"Guuuuuuuu... AAAAAAAAA...!!!!"
Groaning, Albert was sent tumbling away. But he hadn't given up. His reflexive defense had made it in time. He could still, he could still fight.
But ruthlessly, before he had time to properly break his fall, he was blown straight out of bounds.
With that, the call for the end of the match was announced.
"Winner, Ariane Algren!"
At the same time, the venue reached a new peak of excitement.
"Th-The match is over!! What on earth! Was that Ariane’s trump card?! She blew Albert right out of the ring in one go!!"
"……That was definitely Origin Magic☆. I think she was concentrating Inside Code into her limbs... but that level is a bit beyond a student's level☆. By the way, magic that isn't general-purpose and can only be used by a specific sorcerer is called Origin Magic☆."
"I see. We see Origin Magic every year in the main tournament... but it's rare in the Newcomers' Tournament."
"Indeed☆. And one so specialized in physical combat is quite something☆. This makes the finals something to look forward to, Kyapi☆."
Accepting the fact that he had lost, the cheers of the crowd and the voices of the commentators naturally reached his ears.
Albert just lay spread-eagled on the ground... looking up at the sky.
──Ah, I see. The sky was such a beautiful blue today.
Only now did he realize his surroundings. Because Albert had been completely immersed in the match, he hadn't noticed.
He had... no regrets. He felt he had been able to fight with his whole heart and soul. Albert didn't have a trump card like hers.
But that wasn't the reason for his defeat.
The years of accumulated effort were different. The density of time spent reaching this point was overwhelmingly different.
He understood well that Ariane Algren was someone who had accumulated effort humbly, without ever being arrogant about her talent. He understood it all too well.
The taste of defeat was something he could never get used to. When he lost to Ray, when he lost to Amelia in the school preliminaries, and now when he lost to Ariane in the semi-finals—a painful feeling simply clung to his heart.
As he gazed at the sky, he heard footsteps near his ear. When they stopped beside him, a voice reached him.
"I didn't intend to use that until the finals, you know? So you should be proud. You made this Ariane Algren show even a glimpse of her true strength."
"……I lost, huh."
"The fact that you are even conscious after taking that hit is worthy of praise."
"Yeah..."
"……Are you frustrated?"
"Yeah..."
"Then, put in the effort. We can do nothing but face ourselves and accumulate training without ever becoming arrogant. If you want to succeed as a sorcerer, that is the only way."
"Yeah..."
"So those tears will surely one day... become your strength in the future."
"Is that... so..."
"Yes. Well then, good day to you."
Ariane, without a single wound, turned away gracefully and left the arena.
On the other hand, Albert was shedding tears—shedding them with an expressionless face. Without even distorting his features, he just stared at the sky and let the tears fall.
He felt the people from the medical team approaching. Albert was so severely injured that he required immediate medical magic.
He just stared at the wide sky, the clear blue sky.
──Ah. The world is this wide, after all.
Albert learned.
He learned that he could not reach Ray, Amelia, or Ariane.
But that was as of now. He was still on the path. One day, after accumulating more effort, he might also reach that realm.
"U... guh... uuu..."
Perhaps because some time had passed, he realized his defeat once more. Hiding his contorted face with his right arm, he let the tears flow.
Leaking sobs, he carved this pathetic defeat into his heart.
The overflowing tears would not stop. In the past, even if he lost to someone, he would brush it off, thinking it was because his talent didn't reach theirs or because the opponent was simply more gifted. That was why he never felt frustrated.
But now... he was incredibly frustrated.
──Is defeat this painful...? It hurts, it hurts so much... but surely this is... something I need. Right, isn't that so...?
Having learned frustration, Albert would continue to move forward. Even while knowing many defeats and much pain, he would not stop walking.
Because Albert already possessed the will to get up every single time──.
◇
The infirmary.
Albert had been carried there and was currently being treated. He was unconscious, simply lying on the bed. Two sorcerers, a man and a woman specializing in medical magic, were in charge of his treatment.
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Yes. He'll be fine. Injuries of this level can be treated immediately."
"Then, I'll leave it to you?"
"Understood."
At the woman's request, the man attempted to treat Albert with magic, but...
In an instant, the man gave a dark smirk.
At the same time, a black shadow spread out directly beneath Albert... and he sank into it without a sound, as if falling into deep water.
"Kuku... kukuku..."
And so, Albert was added to the list of missing persons.
The threat creeping from the shadows was steadily encroaching upon the Magics Chevalier...