Chapter 16 - The Inter-year Exchange Competition (1)

"Greetings, everyone."

In the lecture building of Olympia Academy.

Currently, numerous students are gathered in the main auditorium.

From first-year to fourth-year, students of all ages are present for one reason.

The notice posted on the administrative office wall─ for the Inter-year Exchange Competition.

Vice Chairman Chiron, who gathered them all, continues speaking.

"First, I'd like to thank those of you who have applied to participate in the Inter-year Exchange Competition. I hope you all achieve satisfactory results."

"......"

"Since there are newly admitted students as well, I'll explain how the Inter-year Exchange Competition will proceed."

The rules of the Inter-year Exchange Competition are simple.

The school administration arranges 1-on-1 matches considering the students' abilities.

Since it ends with just one duel, the key is how good an evaluation you receive within that.

"...Therefore, you must showcase your best performance during this one opportunity. The more outstanding your performance, the better evaluation you'll receive."

As mentioned before, the Inter-year Exchange Competition scores are based on 'how good a performance you showed'.

For example, let's assume the previous record between A and B is 99 to 0.

If B overturns this absolute disadvantage and wins in the Inter-year Exchange Competition, they'll gain an overwhelming score.

Or if you put up a good fight despite a clear skill difference with your opponent, that too will receive a good evaluation.

Therefore, the winning condition for the Inter-year Exchange Competition can be simply defined as:

"Showing the most outstanding performance in your year group. That's the qualification for the winner."

Chiron concluded his explanation with those words.

─They say the school administration arranges it? Is that okay?

─Who will be my opponent? I hope it's not the top student.

As the new students who are still unfamiliar whisper among themselves, Chiron smiles gently.

"Don't worry too much. It's set up to match those with similar abilities. Top students are arranged to meet other top students."

Haah─ 

The freshmen sighed in relief at those words, but.

I knew better.

'That's not something to be happy about.'

If all matchups have similar skill levels, then the top student has an advantage for winning in the end.

If you want to win, you need to overcome an unfavorable skill difference.

That's also my strategy for aiming for victory.

'Anyway, from my perspective, I'll definitely be at a disadvantage compared to my opponent.'

No matter who I face from the Knight Department, I, the loser, will inevitably be the underdog.

That's why there's a high probability that I, not the top student, will become the 2nd year winner.

"Vice Chairman. In that case, can I choose my own opponent?"

"Hm?"

Someone raises their hand in the middle of Chiron's explanation.

The attention of the audience turns in that direction. I too was interested in this intriguing statement.

A vicious-looking impression, muscles attached to the body, a sword at the waist.

I remember who it is.

'It's that Jackson guy or whatever.'

The guy who got thoroughly beaten by me when I first possessed this body.

"Rather than the school administration, I'd like to choose my own opponent."

"Hmm... While I admire your spirit, choosing an opponent with a skill difference on your own..."

Chiron's brow furrows slightly.

Jackson's statement was quite irrational.

'What's that guy thinking?'

It's not for nothing that the school administration arranges matchups with similar abilities.

For example, if your opponent is stronger than you, your chances of showing a good performance decrease.

Then it becomes difficult to receive a high score.

Or if your opponent is weaker than you, showing a good performance becomes meaningless.

Because you've created a situation where you're bound to be superior. There's no reason to give a high score.

'...It seems he has some ulterior motive.'

Therefore, Jackson's statement shouldn't be judged by common sense.

Rather, it should be seen as having a bit more 'intentionality'.

A firm purpose of wanting to meet someone.

"There's an opponent I really want to face. Is it possible?"

"Well. If you insist so much, I'll allow it. My, my, this is the first time I've seen a student like this..."

After persistent requests, Chiron finally agreed.

He probably thinks Jackson has the competitive spirit to choose an opponent stronger than himself, but...

'I wonder.'

Is Jackson really that big-hearted?

He didn't seem like it at all.

***

"Who do you think your opponent will be, Herak? For me, it's too obvious to be interesting."

"That's true for you."

Walking out of the main auditorium.

The Inter-year Exchange Competition is held over two days, and today is the turn for 3rd and 4th years, so the schedule is currently free.

I happened to meet Penel, whom I'm acquainted with, and we're walking back together.

"They say the top student must participate... but I'm not really up for it. It feels like I'm going to get beaten up."

"That's too bad."

Penel's lips are pouting as she sticks close to my side.

She has been consistently defeated by Apollon, the Knight Department's top student, until now.

She entered this time too to protect the pride of the 2nd year Magic Department, but she probably didn't really want to.

"What about you, Herak? Why did you participate?"

"Why, should I not participate? You're not saying I should stay put because I'm the loser, are you?"

"Eek? Of course not!"

Penel jumps at my playful joke.

Worried that I might misunderstand her words, she waves her hands around to correct herself.

"I was just, well, curious. I was just wondering why Herak suddenly decided to participate in the Inter-year Exchange Competition."

"Well, that's possible."

Even I would be curious if I were in her shoes.

The last place in the 2nd year Magic Department. A failing student with no talent for magic.

Yet he entered the Inter-year Exchange Competition.

It's essentially jumping into a fire pit of his own accord. Like a moth to a flame.

"I have my reasons. You don't need to worry too much."

However, it's a bit much to explain the deep circumstances of needing to win to avoid expulsion.

I vaguely brushed it off so Penel wouldn't worry too much.

There's no good in a nice person like her wasting time on a loser.

In that sense, I smiled slightly and admonished her.

Penel's cheeks turned bright red, and she quickly turned her head away.

"Y-Yes, okay..."

And then she starts fidgeting with her fingers.

Her fingers intertwining on top of her large chest.

'...What's this?'

Why is she acting like this?

Penel's shy words that followed revealed the reason.

"I see. Herak, you said the same thing in the library..."

'Ah.'

The day we went to the secret room before!

There was something I said when we met Penel and Berry in the library.

I bet my life on winning. So stop worrying and sleep easy.

'That was just stating the facts.'

I had no particular intention.

I certainly didn't say it with any bad intentions to charm Penel.

But Penel still seems to be misunderstanding on her own.

She muttered something while fanning her cheeks with her hand.

"Winning, well, it would be better if I do it... But if I can't, I can leave it to you, Herak, right...?"

"......"

No, please come to your senses, Miss Penel.

Why are you falling into your own reverie?

This strange situation that formed incomprehensibly.

Penel swimming alone in her delusions, and me pondering how to respond beside her.

Our standoff didn't last long.

"Hello!"

A shout that echoes across the open space.

A female student approaching us quickly with a clear voice.

"Finally, a chance for an interview! ...or so I thought, but what's this! What kind of situation is this!"

Bright red twin-tailed hair similar to Irina's.

But unlike her, she left the back of her hair down instead of tying it in large twin tails. It's a two-side up hairstyle.

Looking at her similarly burning red pupils, I flipped through the pages of my memory.

'Ruby Duer.'

A 1st year student in the Magic Department. Probably 2nd or 3rd place.

Anyway, Ruby circled around us.

All the while, her mouth never stops chattering.

"This is a scoop, a scoop! A secret meeting between Penel, the top student of the 2nd year Magic Department, and Herak, the loser! I absolutely must ask about this!"

"......"

Come to think of it, this one was in the newspaper club.

I remember her as an oddball who persistently clung to the protagonist in <Song of Sword and Magic>.

Someone who never misses the academy's hot topics and interesting stories. It's natural for her to cling to the protagonist who usually plays that role.

She had a lot of dialogue scripts... and reality isn't any different.

Ruby walked over and immediately pulled out a notebook from her pocket.

She put her pen to it and quickly asked Penel a question.

"Now, Senior Penel! Here's my question. What kind of relationship do you have with Senior Herak?"

"Eh, eh?"

"Fufu. Excuses are useless, you know? A reporter's intuition is no ordinary thing. Looking at that expression Senior Penel is showing right now─"

"N-No, it's not like that!"

Penel shrieks at Ruby's mischievous question.

Her cheeks are already bright red as if steam might rise, and dew forms at the corners of her eyes.

'This won't do.'

If this continues, something is bound to happen.

Mainly in the direction of me getting entangled with Penel and being gossiped about by the academy students.

I was about to intervene, albeit belatedly, to prevent troublesome things from happening─

"W-We're not anything yet!"

I closed my mouth at Penel's bombshell statement.

"......"

"I see, so that's how it is. You're not anything yet. I understand well, I'll make sure to write that down!"

"Ah! No! That's not it! Let me say it again, please listen!"

"Hahaha! No, once a statement is recorded, it can't be deleted. It's a reporter's duty. Thank you!"

Seeing Penel belatedly making a tearful face and clinging to Ruby, while Ruby smiles brightly and refuses─

'...This is going to be troublesome.'

I have a feeling I'll be caught by the mages worried about Penel.

Especially that black-haired girl with glasses who'll probably make a fuss, I couldn't help but sigh.