The VIP seats were positioned slightly higher than the regular spectator seats.
Designed for an unobstructed view of the entire battlefield, the area fell into a brief silence.
The first to break the stillness was Arkandric.
“Oh-ho, the flag has fallen?”
A sneer that no one thought they would ever hear. But seeing the fallen flag with his own eyes, he had no choice but to accept reality.
Otor grimaced as he realized that his academy had lost.
“…Those fools let their guard down.”
He attempted to salvage a bit of his pride by pointing out the main reason for their defeat, but all he received was a pat on the shoulder from Arkandric’s massive hand.
“Right? You see it too, don’t you? If this were a real battle, their heads would be rolling right now.”
Otor felt like dying as he saw Arkandric’s insufferable smirk.Had this been an ordinary tournament, it wouldn’t have mattered, but too much was at stake in the Aizen Arena.
The students who lost to Frost Heart would find their job prospects frozen, and the prestigious families evaluating them would lower their assessments.
This would, in turn, significantly impact the academy’s ranking.
‘Unforgivable. To disgrace themselves in such a critical moment…’
Otor clenched his fists, barely restraining his anger.
It was still only the first round.
The final results would only be determined after five rounds.
“Haa…”
Regaining his composure, Otor sank into thought.
To be fair, he could understand why his students had let their guard down.
In the past, Frost Heart had often employed tactics that targeted weakened fortifications amid battle.
Each time, Scarlett had crushed them with a small force, and this time seemed no different.
It was simply that Frost Heart had fought better than expected.
‘Something’s different about them this year.’
Otor recalled Arkandric’s recent overconfidence and felt an odd sense of unease.
It was as if he was holding back something he desperately wanted to say.
Just as Otor was about to provoke him into spilling the reason behind his smugness—
“This is too pathetic for words.”
The man Otor despised the most among the four headmasters, Ianse, sneered in mockery.
“But more importantly, Ianse, Ever Blaze got lucky this time, didn’t they? Their flag fell before they were utterly crushed.”
Of all things, Otor could not let Ianse’s words slide.
It wasn’t just personal habit—there was a deep historical grudge between them.
“Sounds like you’re saying we would’ve lost if no one had interfered.”
“You heard me correctly.”
Their sharp words filled the air, but no one intervened.
Everyone was used to their constant bickering.
The only person who dared to address them was the lady of the house.
“You both seem as lively as ever, Sir Otor and Sir Ianse.”
The one to respond was Coulo, seated beside her.
“Even if they were buried six feet under, they’d still be cursing each other. Maybe they’re just squeezing the last bit of life out of themselves to keep up the fight.”
The lady turned her gaze to the crystal displaying the battlefield.
Frost Heart, having just finished off Scarlett, quickly retreated beyond the fortress walls to reorganize their formation.
Their direction was set toward Ever Blaze, now exposed after Scarlett’s retreat.
“What do you think, Sir Coulo?”
It wasn’t a question about strategy.
She already had enough knowledge in that regard.
‘She’s asking if they have value as soldiers. A natural question for someone without martial prowess.’
“To this old man, they still seem like children. But both Valient and Ever Blaze have improved overall.”
It had been a turbulent year across the world.
A generation that had endured tougher experiences than before.
Their trials had forged them, and they had emerged stronger.
“What about Frost Heart?”
“There are a few who can match Ever Blaze, but… hmm. Since they started at rock bottom, their growth stands out more.”
While they conversed, Frost Heart and Ever Blaze clashed.
Ever Blaze attempted to march toward Frost Heart’s fortress, but the battle soon devolved into a full-fledged skirmish.
“Then, do they stand a chance against Ever Blaze?”
To the lady’s question, Coulo shook his head.
“Even though Scarlett thinned their ranks, Frost Heart won’t win.”
Many of Frost Heart’s members had been eliminated while holding the fortress.
They still outnumbered Ever Blaze, but not by an overwhelming margin.
“As of now, they’re just trying to rack up as many points as possible before the match ends.”
“Then, Ever Blaze will soon move to annihilate them.”
Coulo smirked.
Just as she predicted, Ever Blaze abandoned their plan to capture the fortress and chose to wipe out Frost Heart instead.
“You have sharp eyes. The only reason they hesitated before was because they were still green. The best way to maximize points is to exterminate the enemy before taking the flag. It’s smarter to engage in battle right away rather than being chased down. The sooner they act, the fewer losses they’ll suffer, and the greater the reward.”
Frost Heart’s determination was evident in their expressions.
Fueled by lingering adrenaline and the high of their recent victory, they fought with everything they had.
Even when they were thrown to the ground by enemy attacks, they refused to let go of their weapons until they lost consciousness.
The mages kept casting spells until they suffered complete mana exhaustion, forcing Ever Blaze to struggle to subdue them.
It was an unexpectedly strong resistance, but the outcome remained unchanged.
“Hmm, they fought better than expected. Took down a third of them, at least.”
As Frost Heart’s flag fell to the ground, the lady spoke again.
“What will happen in the next round?”
“To be honest, the first round was nothing more than a lucky win. Scarlett and Ever Blaze will be more cautious now, strengthening their defenses. Things will return to their natural order.”
It was only a temporary disruption, he claimed, yet the lady’s subtle smile made Coulo raise an eyebrow.
“Hmm, to me, it looks like they might carry this momentum forward. Maybe even to the end.”
At times, her words cut sharper than any blade on the battlefield.
That keen insight is something even knights, who have always subjugated everything through strength, sometimes miss.
Coulo observed the lady of the house, trying to guess what unseen dagger he had failed to notice.
Her gaze was still fixed on Ianse and Otor, who were growling at each other.
Coulo scoffed.
No way. They wouldn’t go so far as to scheme over a mere student battle.
***
The final winner of the first round was Wisdom, the renowned academy of magic.
The reason? Ever Blaze, who had aimed for second place.
Ever Blaze had likely intended to reduce Valient’s numbers to secure more points, but they failed to meet expectations and were utterly crushed.
Still, their actions weren’t completely in vain. The delicate balance of power was slightly disrupted, leading to Valient’s defeat at the hands of Wisdom.
“The excitement didn’t last long, huh? They were making such a fuss earlier, and now it’s already forgotten.”
Limberton scanned the audience with a disappointed expression.
It was as if everyone had already forgotten about Frost Heart; now, all the chatter revolved around Wisdom.
“It was an upset, sure, but it was just the first round, Limberton. And an easy win at that. If it looks like just a lucky victory, its impact weakens.”
To most, it was nothing more than a rare, unexpected twist.
Besides, the main focus was always on the top-tier contenders—Valient and Wisdom.
Frost Heart wasn’t even a significant factor in the job market, making them even less noteworthy.
Before long, preparations for the second round were complete.
Among those stepping onto the battlefield were members of the student council.
Their names were Ente and Elciz, if I recall correctly.
They weren’t highly regarded in terms of combat ability, but they had decent intellects.
If they had a flaw, it was their extreme nervousness.
The two shoved their trembling hands into their chest pockets—most likely where they had stashed the script I had given them earlier.
“Will they do well?”
“Hm?”
“I just left something in their hands, that’s all.”
Attention shifted back to the crystal.
Unlike the swift start of the first round, the second round was filled with discussions.
Valient debated whether they should deal with the other three academies before facing Wisdom.
Meanwhile, Wisdom was in favor of maintaining their current momentum.
On the other hand, the Scarlett camp radiated nervous energy.
“You all saw what happened in the first round, right? If we don’t want to end up like that, we need to keep Frost Heart in mind. If we get caught off guard again, we’re all as good as dead.”
“Then what about Ever Blaze? Don’t tell me you’re planning to ignore them completely?”
I turned away from the Scarlett crystal.
There was no need to listen further.
Ever Blaze was likely reacting in a similar manner.
“Coincidentally, the focus right now is on Frost Heart’s movements. Their attack was opportunistic, but they still managed to take down Scarlett’s flag. There’s no guarantee we won’t suffer the same fate.”
“Oh, so what do you propose? Lock the gates and let Scarlett mock us from outside?”
“That would actually be fine. They just suffered a major defeat, after all. If we stay put, they’ll probably do the same, just keeping an eye on us.”
The conclusion they arrived at was to prioritize defense and observe the situation.
“But Hersel, why do Scarlett and Ever Blaze hate each other so much?”
Limberton’s question made me close my eyes for a moment.
What was the reason again?
Ah.
“Their founders didn’t get along. The bad blood started from the very beginning.”
“Still, that was ages ago. The headmasters change every generation. Hasn’t there been at least one kindhearted leader who wanted to bury the hatchet?”
Bellman answered in his place. Conveniently so.
“There was an attempt. A headmaster even went as far as offering a gift to mend their relationship.”
“Let me guess—it got rejected outright?”
“No. This happened right before the Aizen Arena began. Most likely, it was a calculated move to secure a good standing in the team battle. Both academies lacked something necessary to defeat Valient or Wisdom.”
As Bellman said, there had been a brief historical moment when they joined forces for mutual benefit.
Alone, they were lacking, so they had agreed to work together to achieve better results.
The outcome, however, was disastrous.
“One time, they successfully occupied Wisdom’s fortress. But then, a problem arose—who would be the one to take down the flag? It was an inevitable conflict since only one side could claim victory.”
“Oh, so that’s what happened.”
“And that wasn’t the only time. Later, the next generation of headmasters tried to cooperate again, even adjusting their strategies together. But that time, Valient was simply too strong, and they suffered a crushing defeat instead. Since they were already on bad terms, the blame game spiraled out of control, leading to an even worse relationship than before. Those grudges built up over time, and here we are today.”
The more they tried to fix things, the worse they became.
That was why, even after losing to Frost Heart, Scarlett still bared its fangs at Ever Blaze.
“Got it. That makes sense now. I was wondering why, with five factions in play, there wasn’t any temporary cooperation. Usually, in large-scale battles, alliances are formed at least briefly.”
Limberton nodded in understanding.
Neither Bellman nor anyone else bothered to explain further regarding Valient and Wisdom.
Those two factions had such overwhelming pride that they both saw themselves as the rightful first place. They would rather die than rely on someone they considered beneath them.
Because of that pride-driven rivalry, neither side made a move beyond their fortresses, making the start of the second round utterly dull.
“At this rate, I might as well take a nap.”
“Just don’t fall asleep completely. They’ll have to act sooner or later.”
By the time yawns started echoing across the stands—
“S-seriously, it’s happening exactly as the president said! No one’s making a move!”
A voice from the Frost Heart crystal rang out.
“…It’s time. Hurry and disarm, Elciz.”
“Eh? Ente, can’t we at least keep our armor?”
“Hersel specifically said not to wear gauntlets either.”
The two student council officers placed their equipment on the ground and approached the fortress gates.
The rest of the Frost Heart members, who had been waiting, watched them with puzzled expressions.
“They told us to wait, but… what are they doing?”
“Where do you think you’re going on horseback?”
Ente and Elciz, shivering with fear, answered in weak, trembling voices.
“Ever Blaze…”
“W-we’re going to have a chat with them, so… see you later.”
The two rode off.
Bellman’s gaze lingered on them.
He blinked in mild confusion before letting out a small chuckle.
Sensing his curiosity, Silla abruptly stepped in to block his view.
“What are they up to? What’s their plan?”
Sinking comfortably into his chair, he responded leisurely.
“You’ll see.”
Soon, a mere minnow would blow a single bubble—one that would make the big fish, which had been lying still, thrash into motion.
***
As Ente and Elciz neared Ever Blaze’s fortress, they raised both hands high in the air.
A sharp voice rang out from atop the fortress wall.
“Stop!”
Fortunately, the guards, seeing that they carried no weapons, seemed willing to at least hear them out.
Ente dismounted and forced his voice out toward the guards.
“We wish to speak with your squad leaders.”
The guards looked at him as if he were insane but soon disappeared from view. A few minutes passed, and then the fortress gates opened.
As soon as Ente and Elciz stepped into enemy territory, they were met with cold, scrutinizing stares and thoroughly searched.
Eventually, they were dragged to a courtyard where the squad leaders had gathered.
A woman who appeared to be their leader drew her sword and spoke to Ente.
“I heard you have something to say. I’ll give you a moment before I end this.”
“J-just a second. Before that, I’d like to take out a piece of paper from my pocket. I swear, it’s not a weapon, so please grant me permission.”
The woman glanced at the guards who had conducted the search.
“He’s telling the truth. It’s just a letter, not a magic tool.”
The woman nodded.
Ente and Elciz unfolded the paper and took a deep breath.
Even so, they struggled to calm their nerves and had to repeat the process several times.
“Hoo… Alright, I’ll start by taking out a pocket watch.”
“Hm? A watch?”
Ente hastily shook his head.
“…Ignore that. That wasn’t part of the script, Elciz.”
“Ahem.”
Elciz pulled out a pocket watch and spoke in a voice as weak as a crawling ant.
However, the words that came out were incredibly rude, making the woman frown.
“You all have brains, so you should know it’s just a matter of time.”
“…What did you just say?”
“A-ah! I was just reading what was written in the letter! It’s true!”
“Who the hell sent you here with such absurd words?”
“W-well, you see, our student council president figured I’d forget my lines when I got here, so he…”
The woman gave them a look of utter disbelief before gesturing for them to continue.
“For reference, these two messengers are named Ente and Elciz. If they do not return safely to Frost Heart, we will consider negotiations to have failed and will side with Scarlett. So, refrain from any rash actions.”
The shocking statement stirred the crowd, but the woman remained composed.
“There’s no need to hear more. You’re trying to use the threat of siding with Scarlett to force our cooperation, aren’t you?”
Ente let out a relieved chuckle and nodded.
“I refuse.”
“…What?”
“Honestly, whether you join Scarlett or not doesn’t make much of a difference to us. I suppose you don’t understand the immense advantage defenders have in a siege battle. No wonder you’d think something like this would work.”
“Wait, do you really believe that? This could lead to dire consequences.”
Ente’s gaze fell to the letter.
The woman found his reaction unnerving, as if he were anticipating the next move.
“Hand that over. I might as well read it myself.”
She snatched the letter and quickly scanned it—her eyes widening in shock.
Meanwhile, Ente pressed up against Elciz to share the script and continued speaking.
“I already said it’s just a matter of time. Our actions have caught the attention of the other academies, and by now, Valient and Wisdom should be making their moves.”
As if on cue, a report came in.
“Battle! Valient has invaded Wisdom!”
Ente ignored the panicked messenger and continued.
“You should be praying for Wisdom’s victory. Otherwise, Valient, fired up from their loss in the first round, will come charging at you next.”
This time, it was Elciz’s turn to speak.
“Make your choice. Will you gamble on Wisdom’s victory and try to withstand a joint assault from Scarlett and Frost Heart? Or will you act now and at least secure something for yourselves? You do know that Valient has the superior forces, don’t you?”
Ente and Elciz took turns pressuring her.
“You don’t have much time. Will you collapse under the wrath of Valient?”
“Or will you work with us?”
“Listen closely—you can already hear Valient’s war cries approaching.”
“To be honest, it doesn’t matter to us. We could just side with Scarlett.”
“They’d gladly accept us if we offer to take down Ever Blaze.”
“Stop stalling and make your decision.”
“Time is ticking. What’s it going to be? Tick-tock.”
Beads of cold sweat dripped down the woman’s forehead under their relentless pressure.
To read Chapters ahead 👇
CH 221-225 (The Underdog) $3
CH 226-230 (Who am I?) $3
CH 231-235 (Frostheart Vs Wisdom) $3
CH 236-240 (I want to lose) $3
CH 241-245 (Finals) $3
CH 246-250 (Vs Valient) $3
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