"Phew..."
An interval. The break was set for fifteen minutes. During that time, they began to discuss the next round.
"Ray, what are your thoughts on this?" Ariane asked.
"...It’s reasonable to assume they intended to throw the first round from the start."
"To make such a decision in the finals?"
"They must have some objective. It isn't clear yet, but we've put them in checkmate."
Amelia joined the conversation as well.
"That’s right. If we win the next one, we’re the champions."
"Quite right! Now we just have to do as we always do!"
The three of them then re-evaluated their strategy for the next round. Next, they would be on the defensive. They discussed where to place the flag and how to protect it based on that location.
Furthermore, Ray informed the two of them about the Secret Sword he had just faced.
"Lastly, regarding Lucas Forst’s Secret Sword..."
"He used it in the previous fight?" Ariane asked.
"Yeah."
Ray recalled his battle with the man.
"Eighth Secret Sword—Afterglow Gloom."
In an instant, his vision had plunged into total darkness.
However, his Master had taught him that relying solely on sight in combat was far too dangerous. Since he had already deployed his Perception Field, he had grasped Lucas's movements through sensation alone.
An Iai draw. A high-speed Battoujutsu.
The Eighth Secret Sword—Afterglow Gloom was a simple technique. First, magic was used to generate a burst of light. The intensity was likely considerable, especially given that Lucas didn't seem to account for his own eyes.
The moment the opponent was struck by that flash, the sudden shift in brightness caused their vision to black out.
Taking advantage of his natural speed during that interval, he would draw his blade. That was the trick behind the technique.
While Lucas Forst was activating this Secret Sword, he likely kept his eyes closed. It was safe to assume he didn't rely on his sight at all.
In other words, it was only natural to think he possessed magic to perceive his surroundings, just like Ray.
"...It looks like you managed to withstand it."
Ray had blocked that draw head-on. His Ice Sword had been shattered to pieces as a result, but Lucas Forst’s katana didn't have a single scratch on it.
It was likely a masterpiece of a blade.
Having blocked it unscathed was more than enough.
"Well then. Let's leave it at this for now."
"What do you mean by—"
Before Ray could ask what he meant, a siren echoed through the castle.
And then, Lucas had simply vanished. He had withdrawn quite easily, as if he had anticipated this development all along.
"Eighth Secret Sword—Afterglow Gloom. To put it simply, it's a blinding flash. There weren't any particularly magical factors to the sword technique itself. However, the problem is that it will be difficult to deal with unless you possess perception-type magic."
"I see. But Ariane and I don't have that," Amelia noted.
"Yeah. That's why Amelia’s Butterfly Effect will likely be the key."
They had already discussed it.
If they were to counter Lucas Forst’s Secret Swords, Amelia’s Butterfly Effect was the only viable option.
If they were to take a Secret Sword head-on, Amelia and Ariane would have no means of resisting. Even Ariane, who excelled in cross-range combat, would be helpless before a Secret Sword.
That was why it was more important than anything else to prevent the Secret Sword from being activated in the first place.
"Now, it's almost time. Let's go."
"Right. Let's win the next one."
"Our victory is just a step away!"
Only one more win stood between them and the championship.
In a mental sense, they undoubtedly held the advantage. But for some reason, a feeling like impatience lingered in Ray's heart.
Just what was he worried about?
Finally, the second round of the finals was about to begin.
◇
"The first round is over, but it was surprisingly brief."
"Yeah. I thought it would drag on a bit longer, but it was a fast-paced development."
Lydia agreed with Lise’s words.
They were watching the finals together. Fran was with them as well, but since her constant chatter was noisy, they were currently feeding her an endless supply of handmade donuts prepared by Carla.
The way to silence Fran’s mouth was easy: just keep giving her alcohol or food. In this particular instance, giving her alcohol might have resulted in a catastrophe, so they were giving her donuts instead.
"Even so, a Secret Sword came out."
"Yeah. It’s been a while since I last saw it, but that was Afterglow Gloom. He’s using it well."
"The Ten Secret Swords possessed by the Absolute Blade... Do you know all of them, Senpai?"
"No, I don't know all of them. I know four at most."
"I see. So, how do you see this match?"
Lydia pondered the question for a moment.
Normally, she would want to say that Ray and the others would win unconditionally, but... the existence of one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers was simply too significant.
Since he was still young, there were likely areas where he was still green, but at this student level, such things were nothing more than trivialities. She wanted to take advantage of his lack of experience, but that was impossible.
If that was the case, they had no choice but to face him head-on.
"For better or worse, this match likely depends on Amelia Rose’s Butterfly Effect. It’s a matter of how Ariane Algren and Ray utilize it. I'm sure their opponents realize that as well, though."
"The Butterfly Effect, huh? It looks like Amelia hasn't used it yet..."
"What’s your assessment, Lise?"
Lise had experience mentoring Amelia’s Butterfly Effect for a short period. Lydia had intended to hear more about that in detail, but the answer that came back was unexpected.
"Who knows? Even I don't understand it."
"Does that mean even you can't comprehend it?"
"Yes, to put it simply. To begin with, the code construction is far too complex. It might be the most complex magic I know of. For Amelia to manifest that at her age and use it without triggering an Overheat makes her a bit of a monster. I haven't told her that, though."
Lise spoke matter-of-factly while staring intently at Amelia’s profile on the monitor.
Amelia’s ability was something quite extraordinary, even from the perspective of Lise, one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers.
"It likely has something to do with his involvement."
"...So it turns out things went exactly as those at the top intended, coincidentally or not."
"Indeed. The hypothesis might be correct. Although, I think it's better not to tell him yet."
"I suspect Ray has likely realized it, though."
"Is that so?"
How to utilize the existence of Ray White? That was perhaps the primary challenge for the Magic Association as well. Ray’s enrollment in the academy hadn't been decided solely by Lydia’s discretion.
It was something that had been finalized after numerous debates within the Magic Association.
"He's always like that. He’s a very clever guy. But he never tries to show it. He likely understands his own fate. We don't know how he'll face it. That's Ray's problem."
"I see. Even so, will it not affect this match?"
"I have this, so there's no problem."
As she spoke, Lydia lightly tapped her own head with her index finger. Upon seeing that, Lise let out a sound of realization. "Ah..."
"I see... Is Ray still shackled by you, then?"
Fran, having finished her meal, joined the conversation, her tone carrying a note of seriousness.
"What is it, Fran? Is that a bad thing?"
"No. Not at all. It's only natural that Ray needs a shackle. However, he should be released from it soon."
"...I know. Surely, by the time Ray advances to the next grade..."
The three of them stared at the monitor once more.
Ray happened to be on the screen at that moment.
Just where was he headed? Only Ray himself likely knew the answer to that.