The final match of the Magics Chevalier Main Tournament had finally arrived. The level of public interest far exceeded even that of the Newcomers' Tournament final, to the point where the stadium was packed with standing-room-only crowds.
Most of all, people were there to see Lucas Forst.
Having drawn massive attention as the tournament's greatest dark horse, he had reached the finals by winning every single match with nothing more than a single stroke of his blade.
"..."
"..."
The two competitors faced each other in silence.
Lucas Forst was known for his reticence. Even when hounded by the media for interviews, he spoke with a detached, flat tone. He never exchanged pre-battle pleasantries with his opponents.
As was his custom, his long black hair was tied back in a single ponytail, and his hand rested on the sword at his waist. The weapon was a tachi, yet its blade length exceeded one hundred centimeters—an unusually long weapon. Given Lucas’s small stature for a man, the sword appeared even more unnaturally lengthy.
Rebecca Bradley watched him intently.
As she stared, Lucas met her beautiful gaze with his own.
"...Rebecca Bradley-san. I have been looking forward to this fight."
"As have I."
"...I believe you will be able to entertain me."
"..."
With only that brief exchange, Lucas reached for the hilt of the sword at his waist.
He was already in a state of total combat readiness.
Though slightly taken aback by him initiating conversation, Rebecca pushed the thought aside and focused her mind on the match.
"Now... begin!!"
As Abby gave the signal, the final match of the Magics Chevalier commenced.
In a heartbeat, Lucas’s beautiful black hair was right before her. As it swayed, a brilliant, shimmering flash of light reflected in Rebecca's eyes.
"...Impressive."
The word came from Lucas. He gave his blood-stained blade a sharp flick, scattering the droplets onto the ground.
Meanwhile, Rebecca retreated, clutching her right shoulder with her left hand.
A crimson stain began to spread from the shallow gash on her shoulder.
"Hah... ah... hah... ah... hah... hah..."
—I dodged it. I managed to avoid it, but...
This overwhelming swordsmanship. There was a world of difference between watching it from the sidelines and actually being the target of his attack.
Still, Rebecca had successfully evaded it.
Her eyes had transformed into a brilliant gold. Around them, golden remnants of Prima Materia danced like falling dust.
"I see... you do possess one. A Magic Eye."
Lucas muttered softly.
Indeed.
Among sorcerers, Rebecca had acquired a rare supernatural gift. Specifically, she possessed a Magic Eye.
A Magic Eye was a special ability generated by magical factors that had become permanently fixed within the eyes.
It was said to be nearly impossible to acquire such a trait after birth. Innately inherited Magic Eyes were a defining characteristic of House Bradley.
While House Bradley was famous for this lineage, possessing a Magic Eye did not guarantee it could be used effectively in combat. Some sorcerers were even consumed by the overwhelming power of their own eyes.
Yet Rebecca, despite being in her teens, had already mastered her Magic Eye, bringing its power under her absolute control. That was the true essence of Rebecca, the champion of last year’s Magics Chevalier.
—If I didn't have this Magic Eye, this Prediction... I never would have been able to dodge that... Even with Prediction, I'm barely keeping up. It's terrifying. To think I can't capture him perfectly even with this...
Rebecca’s true value lay in combat utilizing this eye. Prediction was, as the name implied, a Magic Eye that saw through the future.
Depending on her condition, she could see roughly two to five seconds ahead. Because of this, despite being a Balance-type, Rebecca was able to hold her own even at cross-range.
"Whew."
With a sharp whistle of the blade, Lucas returned his sword to its sheath.
Dropping into a deep stance, he fixed his gaze on Rebecca once more.
—What is he thinking?
As Rebecca pondered this, Lucas spoke in a low voice.
It might have been a soliloquy, but the words reached Rebecca’s ears clearly.
"Against you, I suppose it's fine to use this."
"..."
—He's definitely about to use... a trump card.
Of course, Rebecca’s Magic Eye could read even that. Prediction was her final resort, an absolute ability. She believed that she would surely be able to evade the next strike as well.
"...I see it."
She saw the future.
To counter it, Rebecca conjured a series of ice walls to defend against her opponent's attack. As long as she didn't let him enter cross-range, she could still fight.
However, that hope was about to be shattered.
"Over here."
"—!!"
—Impossible! That can't be! The future my Prediction saw... it changed!!
In her future sight, Lucas wasn't supposed to be there. Yet, he was now behind her. Rebecca spun around, unleashing Prediction at its maximum output, but...
The last thing she heard was Lucas’s faint voice.
"—Eighth Secret Sword, Afterglow Gloom."
He drew his blade.
Lucas unsheathed his sword without a moment's hesitation.
The future reflected in Rebecca’s eyes was a blinding light and a pitch-black darkness.
As those two extremes appeared in her vision simultaneously, Rebecca was sent flying through the air. The rose pinned to her chest was sliced cleanly in half.
It felt as if time had stopped.
The audience, the announcer, and the commentator were all left breathless by that overwhelming display of swordsmanship.
"...Thank you."
Slowly returning his sword to its sheath, Lucas gave a bow and turned on his heel.
At that same moment, the stadium erupted in an explosive roar.
"I-It’s over! It happened in the blink of an eye! The winner of the Magics Chevalier Main Tournament is... Lucas Forst! The man hailed as the dark horse has finally claimed the summit of the Magics Chevalier!!"
As the announcer shouted, a flood of applause and cheers filled the arena.
Rebecca sat on the ground in a daze, staring at her severed rose with an expression of pure disbelief.
Meanwhile, Lucas left the arena as expressionless as ever.
However, among those watching the match, some had realized the truth.
The true identity of the sorcerer who wielded that secret sword...
"Everyone! A massive round of applause!!"
The Newcomers' Tournament had been won by Amelia, who had awakened a Concept Interference-type Origin Magic.
The Main Tournament had been won by Lucas Forst, who had displayed overwhelming strength until the very end.
He was an unprecedented champion—one who had triumphed using nothing but Inside Code and sword skills, never once casting a visible spell.
Thus, this year's Magics Chevalier reached its conclusion amidst peak excitement.
Yes. At least on the surface—
"Well then. It's about time~☆ Aww. This tournament is finally over~"
"This pink-haired idiot is seriously noisy. Abby, why on earth did you hire her at the academy?"
"Honestly! Lydia-chan, you're always saying things like that to Caro-caro~☆ But you actually love Caro-caro, don't you~☆ You big tsundere!"
"Abby, can I kill this pink idiot...?"
"Restrain yourself, Lydia. We have more important things to deal with right now."
"Well, I suppose so..."
Abby Garnet. Carol Caroline. Lydia Ainsworth.
The three of them had gathered on the lowest level, basement floor three—even deeper than where Ray had fought his battle earlier.
Carla was currently busy with other cleanup duties, so Abby was pushing Lydia’s wheelchair.
"Still, it's been a while since the three of us gathered like this! I'm so happy, hehehe~☆"
"Carol. Be quiet. We're here."
When Abby spoke, Carol replied with a smile.
"Okay~!"
The place they arrived at was a storage area lit by dim lamps.
However... they had already confirmed that their targets were here.
"Carol, that's enough."
"Oka~y☆"
When Carol snapped her fingers, a masked figure appeared at her side.
"Are they all here~?"
"Yes. Right here..."
As the man knelt and spoke, a shockwave of realization rippled through the area. The sorcerers hiding in the shadows were so agitated they revealed themselves.
"Wh...!?"
"H-How... is the Boss with them...!?"
"W-What’s happening...!?"
"...I-I don't understand..."
Four more masked figures emerged from the shadows. They wore large robes and each had a differently patterned mask. Their panic stemmed from seeing the one they called Boss suddenly approach Carol as an ally.
Normally, they had planned to either take down the Seven Grand Sorcerers here or flee immediately. Their combat preparations were complete, the traps in this location were perfect, and a barrier using Delay Magic had already been constructed.
And yet, the unexpected had happened, sending the Grim Reapers into a frenzy.
"Mm-hm. Just as you said~☆ Well done!"
"I am unworthy of such praise."
"Right! So, let's finish the rest of them together! Kyapi☆"
Carol’s gaze fixed on the four figures.
Her tone and behavior remained frivolous, but her eyes were like a darkness that reflected no light, skewering her opponents.
"...As expected, Carol is useful. Lydia, can you do it?"
"Who do you think you're talking to? It's already over."
"Hmph. I didn't even need to deploy my domain."
"I told you. You didn't need to come, Abby."
"Well, just in case. Now then, Carol. You ready?"
"Yes, yes~☆"
Sensing the abnormal atmosphere, the four masked figures were already preparing to flee. They had planned to follow the Boss and take the students they had abducted back with them, using the end of the tournament as a distraction.
However, the Boss was clearly a traitor.
Furthermore, the Grim Reapers here understood one thing: no matter how they struggled, they could never win against these three. They had information. They had prepared. They thought they understood their opponents' magic.
But they didn't understand the true weight of their strength until they faced it. The pressure was palpable. All three women were in combat stances, and the density of the overflowing Prima Materia was staggering.
Fleeing was their only option.
They were top-tier professionals in combat and supposed experts in escape... and yet, every single one of them found themselves locked in place.
"Guh...!"
"What is this...!"
"I-I can't move!"
"Don't tell me this is...!"
Lydia Ainsworth.
She had indeed retired as the Ice Sword Sorcerer, but that didn't mean she couldn't use magic. Rather, because she could still use her essence—Deceleration and Lock—it was trivial for her to fix an opponent in place.
Even if they were a world-class group of assassins like the Grim Reapers.
The abilities of the woman once hailed as the strongest in the world were still remarkably close to those of her prime.
"Lydia-chan, did you really retire~? Such amazing skill~☆"
"Well... I'm inferior compared to my prime. But small fry like this are nothing."
"Hehehe, I guess so~☆ Now then. Everyone, let Caro-caro see... what's inside you..."
The four immobile figures could neither lose consciousness nor take their own lives. They were forced to watch Carol approach... but suddenly, a dagger was thrown at Carol’s throat from behind.
It passed right through her and stabbed into the ground.
"Aha~☆ So you were there too~☆"
Carol smiled brightly. In the same instant, the sorcerer who had thrown the dagger was locked in place; they could no longer move.
"Now then. Is that everyone~☆ That ended quickly!"
"Sigh... Honestly, if this pink idiot would just fix her personality, she'd be in high demand."
"Now, now, Lydia. I'm the only one who can handle her. That's why I invited her to the academy."
"Though I'm sure Ray hates it..."
"Well, even so, Carol is one of the best sorcerers in the world. Not using her would be a loss to humanity."
"That may be true... but can't we do something about this insane way she talks?"
"Give up. We've known her for a long time."
"I suppose you're right..."
"Aww! You're both such tsunderes~☆"
The Grim Reapers could only watch in stunned silence as the three women chatted idly.
Their objective had been to abduct elite sorcerers from the Arnold Kingdom to the Empire. They had spent months on a meticulous plan.
Everything had been going perfectly.
One fool had gone rogue because he wanted to fight the current Ice Sword, but even considering that, the plan was flawless.
And yet, the reality before them made no sense.
"Right. Carol, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Yes, yes~☆"
Carol snapped her fingers, sending Code running through the air.
[[Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code]] [[Material Code = Decoding]] [[Material Code = Processing = Herrschaft]] [[Embodiment = Phenomenon]]
"—Carol in Wonderland."
With those words, the six Grim Reapers present collapsed like puppets with their strings cut. Their consciousness had been swallowed into Carol’s world.
Carol Caroline.
To the public, she was a famous researcher known by the alias "Illusion Sorcerer." Among the Seven Grand Sorcerers, she was the most public figure. People believed she excelled at illusions, but that was incorrect.
Carol’s true essence was interference with Magic Areas via Code.
Magically defined, it was Herrschaft.
Illusions were merely a byproduct of interfering with an opponent’s Magic Area. Through that, she could make people see hallucinations or even brainwash them.
"Carol in Wonderland" was a mental interference-type Origin Magic. If someone took a direct hit from it, they quite literally became her puppet.
Dominating a sorcerer’s entire Magic Area and intervening in their very consciousness—that was Carol’s true power.
This was the strength of Carol Caroline, who occupied the highest tier even among the Seven Grand Sorcerers.
"But this pink idiot dominated the Boss on the first day of the tournament, didn't she?"
"Yes. Even I was surprised by that report... though..."
"Ah... that's right..."
"She completely forgot about it and only remembered to tell me while I was scolding her for something else..."
"I apologized so many times! F-Forgive me, Abby-chan!"
Actually, after Carol had helped Ray and the others with their cross-dressing, she had spotted a suspicious sorcerer and captured him using Herrschaft. But she had simply tossed him into a room at the dormitory and forgotten he existed.
Later, when she finally remembered, they had used the manipulated Boss to lure the remaining Grim Reapers here to wipe them out in one go.
Since they knew the goal was to capture the students alive, they had let the Grim Reapers run free until they could ensure everyone's safety.
There had been irregularities—like Ray having to fight one of them—but the plan had concluded mostly as Abby intended.
As they were talking, Carla appeared behind them.
"Everyone, we will handle the post-processing from here..."
"Oh, Carla. Then we'll leave it to you."
Carla and the Hale family had arrived at the perfect time, so the three women left the cleanup to them.
"Ahem! Caro-caro is super useful, isn't she~☆"
"Her magic is certainly world-class... but I'm still amazed you got her into the academy. She's so temperamental. Usually, if you ask her for something, she just refuses."
"I had to offer many conditions. But as soon as she found out Ray was here, she agreed immediately."
The reason Abby had invited Carol and had her participate in the Magics Chevalier was because her ability was overwhelmingly powerful.
In truth, fewer than ten people in the world knew the true nature of Carol’s magic. Fighting her for the first time was a guaranteed loss. Once her magic was activated, there were almost no sorcerers who could resist.
Carol Caroline.
Her behavior was a nightmare, but her strength was undoubtedly at the very top of the Seven Grand Sorcerers.
However... her personality was something no one could control.
"Now then~. Summer vacation starts now! A-ct-ual-ly, Caro-caro is going on a date with Ray-chan! We made a promise! Tehe☆"
"What!? You... don't tell me...!! Are you going to lay a hand on my Ray...!?"
"He's not Lydia-chan’s anymore~! It's fair game now~!"
"Y-You! How could that be fair game! Shall I freeze you solid right here...?"
Whenever Ray was involved, Lydia lost her cool. She flew into a rage, glaring at Carol with murderous intent.
But Carol wasn't backing down. Until now, Lydia’s guard had been too tight, but it had relaxed recently. Carol had helped them on the condition that she get a one-day date with Ray.
"Hmph! I won't lose! Ray-chan’s virginity belongs to me!"
"What did you say...? I won't allow Ray to date anyone unless I approve! I'd never hand him over to an idiot pink like you!"
"I'm not an idiot pink! I'm the super-cute Caro-caro! Ray-chan will surely realize the charm of an adult woman~!"
"Hah? What is a hag pushing thirty who's trying to look young even talking about... you want me to kill you...?"
"Snap... Now I'm mad! I'm going to tell him about how Lydia-chan is constantly stalking Ray-chan!"
"Hah...!? It's not stalking! It's affection!"
"Oh, stop it. Nobody wants an overprotective parent forever. Really, Lydia-chan... you're a real klutz, aren't you? Whenever it's about Ray-chan... Pupu...!"
"I'll kill you... I'll absolutely kill you..."
"Bring it on! I'll take you down!"
The two of them began to engage in a full-scale magical battle.
Carol, a current Seven Grand Sorcerer, and Lydia, a former member who still possessed her prime strength. They had always bickered, but a magical duel between them would have devastating consequences for the surroundings.
"Sigh... Good grief..."
It went without saying that both of them were later scolded by a truly enraged Abby for several hours. As the only person they could never stand up to, they were forced to sit in seiza and endure her lecture.
Thus, in every sense of the word, the Magics Chevalier came to a safe conclusion.