Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 48: You Must Keep Doing That.

Chapter 48 – You Must Keep Doing That.

“It’s nothing.”

Before the match.

After waiting for ten minutes, Ivan heard only one word from Scarlet’s mouth.

With a polite bow, Ivan looked at Scarlet.

There was no small commotion in the Knight Department of Merhen Academy today. The reason was obvious: the knight of the Flame, who had personally visited.

The meeting between Ivan and Scarlet was enough to make the hearts of the first-year knight students flutter.

“Just go out and crush your opponent.”

“I’ll keep that in mind!”

“Just do as usual.”

“I will!”

With the spirited Ivan in front of her, Scarlet turned her eyes to the newspaper in her hand.

[ Plan, pushing for the match in connection with the president’s opinion ]

…What kind of representative is that?

She wondered about that.

He was just a first-year representative, but didn’t that mean he had beaten all the other classmates with magic?

The reason why she visited the academy today was also because of this.

Many people understood that ‘Scarlet visited to cheer Ivan up’… but the reality was that she had a question about Plan.

“Does it bother you?”

Ivan cautiously opened his mouth.

Scarlet’s eyes, burning like flames, rolled silently toward Ivan.

“I heard from my classmates. It’s very unusual for the Magic Department to send out a newspaper article…”

“Bother.”

It would be a lie if she said it didn’t.

She was troubled, but she didn’t know why she was troubled. Scarlet paused to think.

She couldn’t suspect that he had made a contract with a villain. The Magic Department wasn’t stupid. Hating something and not acknowledging it were different issues.

But if it wasn’t a contract, there was only one way to explain Plan’s growth.

‘Effort.’

It couldn’t be explained without putting his soul into it. He was born with the bloodline of a knight, so he had no magical talent.

ㅡThe deadline is the midterm evaluation.

Scarlet remembered what she had promised with Plan.

The confidence, determination, and conviction he showed when he made that promise…

“No.”

She shook her head vigorously.

Scarlet was proud of her eyes being very accurate. The sharp eyes of a knight would show her the truth.

Thud, the newspaper was thrown at Ivan’s feet.

“Just do your best. I’ll watch.”

She didn’t even know if that meant she would watch Ivan.

◈

The match had officially begun.

In fact, the official name of the match was ‘Merhen Sword and Magic Festival’, and not only the name but also the method was unusual.

It’s not a simple festival where all the events are held within a set period of time. At Merhen Academy, every moment is a festival period.

The reason is the ‘One Month One Event’ system, which allows only one event per month.

But today’s event, ‘Combat’, is especially meaningful.

It’s the first event of the year, or in other words, the opening match of the Sword and Magic Festival.

“…You’re all lucky.”

Today’s match is watched by various scouts and royal officials. You’re all lucky.

[ Ivan’s perfect story… ‘Undefeated’ ]

I also read some articles about my opponent. Undefeated, huh? I’m a bit curious about what kind of person he is.

After finishing my training and parting with Yushia, I headed to the waiting room for the participants.

The scenery was quite different from usual, since it was the day of the match.

To put it bluntly, there were a lot more people.

The sight of knight and mage students tangled up in a mess was a spectacle that could only be seen on the day of the match.

“Hey, isn’t that Ivan? Me, me! I want to go and say hello to Ivan!”

“No way. He’s been saying that anyone with blond hair is Ivan since earlier.”

The atmosphere of the knight students was warm and friendly. As if they were having a picnic.

“Drinks… Should I buy some or not?”

“Don’t. You’ll regret it if the match ends before you even drink it.”

On the other hand, the mage students were more anxious. Their expressions were tense, whether they were cheering or not.

I passed by them indifferently, ignoring their crossed arrogance.

“Flan student~”

The moment I entered the waiting room corridor, someone stuck to my side. It was Sephia.

“Isn’t the interview after the match?”

“If it was an interview, I would have done that. But, I came here for a personal reason this time.”

“What do you want?”

Sephia thrust out a hand to me.

“I’m cheering for you, Flan student. And… What else did I write? Merhen rank, Kaplan?”

“I don’t need your cheers.”

I walked past her.

Sephia let out a gasp, then quickly stuck to my side again.

“Please do it. This is confidential.”

Sephia took out a paper bag and shook it.

“There’s a professor who bet his resignation on your victory. He’s a very precious person to me, so you have to win for sure. Oh, and…”

Sephia quietly backed away.

“I guess I have to go now? There seems to be someone more urgent than me.”

I didn’t care who it was, but someone blocked my way.

A strong rose scent that tickled my nose. It was Becky.

She started to spill out words at twice the speed she usually spoke.

“Hi, chocolate is good when you’re nervous. I made it myself… No, that’s not important. Just take this.”

“Fine.”

I took it.

These things that girls give, they tend to cause more trouble when you refuse.

“Flan. This is purely for cheering, okay? Okay?”

“I need a specific explanation.”

“Oh, come on! You saved me in the magic labyrinth that time. I didn’t forget that.”

Becky twirled my hair with her finger.

“So… I’ll repay you later, separately. This is just for cheering, you know. I’m not that ungrateful.”

I stared blankly at the not-so-small amount of chocolate, then called her name softly.

“Becky.”

“Huh?”

“…Did you have time to make chocolate?”

“Ah, ah? Time~?”

Becky blushed and avoided my eyes.

“Well, just. Normally? All day? No, was it shorter? Anyway. This is the basics!”

“All day… I see.”

I left Becky behind.

How could she make chocolate all day? I pondered that for a moment.

‘I need to increase the amount of homework.’

◈

[ Magic Department Waiting Room ]

I opened the door with telekinesis.

The chatter of the female students stopped at once, and the space became suddenly quiet.

Exactly six pairs of eyes were fixed on me, then… they resumed their conversations among themselves.

‘Sword and Magic Festival Daily Staff’

That’s what was written on the necklace-shaped name tags around their necks.

*

Normally, they should have cared about my condition before the match… but I didn’t need that kind of help, and they didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so either.

I closed my eyes quietly and started to clear my mind.

“So you made it to the representative? Just as you wanted.”

Suddenly, someone spoke to me. I recognized her face, it was Hailey.

I suppressed my annoyance and nodded briefly.

“Do you think you can beat Ivan? If you can’t handle it, just stay still. Why did you have to steal the representative spot?”

I didn’t bother to answer.

“By the way, what’s going on between you and Trixie? Did you feed something to the Frits family?”

But she kept talking, so I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“Hailey.”

At the same time, I remembered the words she had whispered to me when she first entered this body.

“I want to date a man who I respect magically… you said that for sure.”

Hailey snorted.

“You remember well. Why? Did that hurt you?”

“Don’t you want to change your belief?”

“…?”

Hailey tilted her head and then burst into laughter.

“What are you talking about? You want me to change my mind and look at you more… is that some kind of cheesy confession?”

“You are at a crossroads, and I’m just trying to advise you.”

I continued calmly.

“I have no interest in you. Not even a little bit.”

“…”

Hailey’s face hardened. I didn’t avoid her expression, I just looked down at her.

“You should stay that way too.”

“Hey. I don’t know what you’re babbling about.”

Her voice, cutting off my words, was full of anger.

“I’m going to keep liking Louis, okay? Do you think he’s a wimp like you?”

I didn’t reply. Instead, I walked towards the stadium.

One step. Another step.

“…”

Finally, an interesting scenery came into my view.

I looked at it naturally and soon smiled a smile that I couldn’t even understand myself.

──The huge stadium, filled with spectators, reflecting the brilliant sunlight.

The doubtful eyes, or the hostile ones beyond that.

The murmurs that were so mixed up that I couldn’t understand them, the fuss of someone I’d never seen before.

The whole thing was one of the events of the Black Horse Festival. Combat.

To me, Kaplan.

All these things… were nothing but beautiful melodies.

I stood in the middle of that melody. Not alone.

“Ah, I’ve been waiting for you.”

A cheerful voice.

Eyes with faith. A knight with no malice, full of enthusiasm.

“Many students are looking forward to it. I’m one of them too.”

She stabbed her sword into the ground and reached out her right hand to me.

“Let’s do our best.”