The Sage Festival was, for all intents and purposes, a cultural festival.
Among the various events like the Ikemen Grand Prix and theatrical performances, the magic tournament stood out as the most popular. For students of a magic kingdom, it was the ultimate stage to showcase the fruits of their daily labor.
A circular colosseum, the kind of open-air structure built specifically for combat, dominated the landscape with a presence that made one wonder where it had been hidden all this time.
Inside an individual waiting room for the contestants within that colosseum, Laguna stood before a deeply apologetic Alicia.
"Laguna, I am so sorry. This was entirely due to my failure as a supervisor."
She looked genuinely mortified.
"Honestly, it only took a single moment of distraction," Alicia said, pressing a hand to her forehead. "I never imagined he would go so far as to enter Clive into the Ikemen Grand Prix without his consent... He had been acting so normal lately..."
That was "normal" strictly in the public sense. Behind the scenes, the Prince was thoroughly enjoying his "Shadow" roleplay and had even started recruiting his own subordinates. He was already beyond help.
Furthermore, even if he performed his student council duties with the utmost diligence, there was nothing normal about a man who walked around boldly wearing a mask and a robe. Everyone had simply grown accustomed to his idiocy. And in doing so, it seemed their own common sense had been warped alongside his.
"Even when he's being serious, his baseline is far from normal," Laguna noted. "He's moved squarely into the realm of the eccentric."
The current Edward, liberated from his previous constraints, was a completely different beast.
"You're not exactly one to talk," Alicia countered.
"Excuse me!?"
Laguna didn't appreciate being lumped in with that idiot, but apparently, they occupied the same category in Alicia's mind. He found that hard to accept.
"You know what? You can just kill him. Really, just put him out of his misery," Alicia said.
"Uh..."
Laguna never expected to hear those words from her. Behind her apologetic facade, he could see the faint glimmer of a hannya mask. He wasn't exactly opposed to the idea, but if Patricia’s plot succeeded, Edward would likely end up dead anyway, so wasn't it better to just leave him be?
Well, she wasn't being entirely literal, so Laguna intended to limit the punishment to a thorough disciplining.
To be fair, the idea of him dying due to Patricia’s schemes wasn't just a dark joke; it was a very real possibility. In the world of the game, the Duchy was only ever repelled after the barrier was restored. If the barrier stayed down, the Duchy’s malice would flood in, and it would be the end. If the barrier wasn't destroyed, Mariana would likely be turned into a human pillar, which meant Laguna would have to destroy the barrier himself to save her. Either way, it looked grim for House Etherdam.
Poor Edward. No matter how the dice rolled, his survival seemed unlikely. Looking at it that way, Wendy was the one Laguna felt sorry for; she had entered into a truly disastrous contract.
"By the way, what happened to Clive?" Laguna asked.
"He’s been winning his way through the brackets. He should be in the finals by now," Alicia replied, letting out another heavy sigh and rubbing her temples.
"Is something else wrong?"
"It’s Treisa... She has always been such a diligent student, but the moment it was decided that Clive would participate, she abandoned everything to go cheer for him. I suspect she finally reached her breaking point with everything she’d been suppressing."
Laguna could understand the sentiment; she was Clive’s fiancée, after all. While it was unlike her to neglect her student council duties, he wondered if it really warranted such a deep sigh.
"That doesn't seem like enough to—"
"Hwee... Alicia, I'm back..."
Before Laguna could finish, Mariana staggered into the room. She looked utterly drained, her eyes spinning in her head.
"Welcome back, Mariana," Alicia said.
"Alicia... Treisa-san is... she’s gone. She’s too far gone."
The two girls shared a look of profound sorrow.
"What's going on? What are you talking about?" Laguna asked, tilting his head.
"Laguna-san, the truth is..."
Mariana began to recount the tale with the expression of someone describing a waking nightmare.
"Treisa-san has organized a group called the 'Clive Fan Club.' They've all donned identical robes with incredibly gaudy patterns and have staked out the entire front row."
"You’re kidding..."
Upon further inquiry, it turned out she was wearing a headband and brandishing spear-flags in both hands. The "serious character who is actually a hardcore closet otaku" was a common trope, but reaching that level of obsession pushed it into the realm of a comedy sketch.
"I... I couldn't do a thing to stop them!" Mariana cried.
"Mariana, I'm sorry for forcing such a terrible burden on you," Alicia apologized.
Everything was in total disarray. Laguna wondered if the Sage Festival—this grand cultural event—inevitably caused the students to lose their minds. It felt as if some localized spirit of madness was haunting the academy. He couldn't dismiss the possibility.
"Well, I'm heading out," Laguna said.
Ignoring Mariana, who was now "meowing" at Alicia’s feet as she sat in her lap, Laguna decided it was time to move. The match was about to begin.
"Oh, Laguna. I know this will be easy for you, but I'm cheering for you!" Alicia called out.
"Thanks. I'll go wrap this up."
Laguna had no intention of losing to a man who didn't have a single hair on his head to lose, but being cheered on like that gave him a genuine surge of motivation. It wasn't a bad feeling; it almost felt like he was experiencing a real youth.
"Due to the sudden illness of both the Etherdam Academy and Continent Academy representatives, the First-Year Division will now be contested by temporary substitutes from the Student Council!"
As Laguna entered the arena, the announcement echoed through a loudspeaker magic item. Since the matches were held in order from the first-years to the third-years, Laguna and Edward were up first. As the newest students, it was only natural for them to serve as the opening act for the dignitaries.
However, the audience showed no signs of boredom.
"From the First-Year Division, temporary contestant: Edward Gran Etherdam!"
Edward, who was already set to compete in the General Division, was a known quantity. Despite his eccentricities, the public evaluation of him as a mage was exceptionally high. He was undeniably the most talented student of his year. Laguna didn't disagree. A man who could conduct high-level combat while maintaining complex chants was someone truly fit to carry the future of the kingdom.
"From the First-Year Division, temporary contestant: Laguna Ver Brave!"
When his name was called, Laguna walked toward the center of the colosseum. Compared to the roar Edward received, the gazes directed at Laguna were icy.
"It seems no one here knows the first thing about you," Edward said with a smirk as they stood face-to-face.
"You’re as popular as ever," Laguna replied.
"It isn't me they love; it is my blood. The expectation in their eyes is for the talent of my lineage, not the results of my effort."
Laguna knew that one didn't reach Edward's level of skill without grueling practice, but Edward clearly felt that his individual identity was constantly overshadowed by his royal status. He had lived his life measured against a yardstick where "greatness" was simply expected as a baseline for the crown.
"Hmph! The sky is clear, and the stage is set. It’s a perfect day for a fight," Edward declared.
"You’ve been so selfish that Alicia told me to fight you with the intent to kill. You okay with that?"
"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Edward looked Laguna directly in the eye, his expression turning sharp.
"I arranged this stage specifically because I wanted to face you properly. I want you to try to kill me with everything you have. Because I intend to do the same to you."