Chapter 85 - 085: Banquet

The First High School group arrive at the competition site safely slightly late from their estimates time arrival. Arthur and Tatsuya will share a room with Miyuki is pair with Emilia. At the lobby hotel, they meet with Erika, Mikihiko, Leo, and Mizuki who using Erika family connection for getting access to the hotel as a part-time worker.

This is hotel owned by the military after all so there is not just anyone can book a room in this hotel, well there is a special case like Echidna who has room prepare for her even if she does not arrive yet, this is a goodwill show by National Defense University who have a connection with Military.

Other than taking a rest and make a little tour with Emilia there is nothing to do for Arthur except waiting for the banquet is held tonight.

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The banquet is held in the evening, since this was a high school event, after all, no alcoholic beverages were served. The buffet-style banquet without any prearranged seating for the contestants about to battle it out was almost like a miniature opening ceremony. Compared to the festive aura of the previous years, anxiety reigned supreme this year.

Emilia and Arthur didn't feel weird with the current banquet, they can attend the conference in the throne room in front of the royal guard and royal magician without a problem so this type of banquet is not a problem. Different from Tatsuya who feel uncomfortable with banquet and any other event with similar intentions.

At first, Emilia and Arthur always together with Miyuki but after more and more girls appear and surround Miyuki and Emilia, Arthur slips away from the crowd and went to a secluded area where he is finding Tatsuya standing alone there.

"You're more like security guards rather than a participant, why you didn't enjoy this banquet?" Arthur takes a glass of drinks from the passing by waiters and tastes it.

"I'm just can't get used to it, and this uniform is a little tighter too" Tatsuya uniform is something he borrowed from Arthur because as a technician he didn't bring his own uniform

"In other words, you just say I need to gain a little weight?"

"That's not a bad idea either"

"He is right Arthur, it's better if you have some extra muscle, you look like a model instead of combatants" Mari didn't let a chance to make fun out of Arthur passing by in front of her, she is coming to Arthur and Tatsuya place with Mayumi, Kanon, and Kei.

"I think you need to greet other school representatives, Mayumi-senpai, Mari-senpai"

"So that's your way to say we didn't welcome here so we need to go to another place?" Mayumi extended both arms straight onto her hɨps and leaned forward to look upwards at him. Though petite, she still possessed average measurements around the bosom. "I already greet them and it slightly made me feel tired you know"

This action can be lethal if the recipient has the weak mental fortitude, but even if it was direct to Arthur he still finds it hard to handle, spotting a waiter he took a glass of beverages and give it to Mayumi

"Then you need to moist your throat first, please drink it"

"Oh, how considerate of you" Mayumi takes the glass from Arthur with triumph expression on her face, there is no way Arthur can hide his expressions when Mayumi place her attention fully on him.

"Would you like a drink?", Arthur, Tatsuya, and Mari turned around to find Erika holding a serving tray carrying drinks with one hand.

"So you're coming to this place and act as a waiter" Mari take the last glass that Erika bring and she also takes the tray that Erika held

"Mari-nee, give back my tray, I can't work properly without it" different with how she usually acts, Erika look like a spoiled little sister in front of her older sister

"There is no one who protests if you just rest here for a moment right? And you look adorable on that dress"

"Well, isn't this cute? I look exactly like a real maid right?"

Erika twirled left and right, causing the Victorian-style servant uniform with a miniskirt to lightly dance back and forth with a happy tone in her voice.

There is no one who interrupts the interactions between Mari and Erika even if they act differently from their usual personality.

Gradually the secluded place Tatsuya and Arthur choose is become a gathering place for First High School contestants with the addition of Miyuki, Emilia, Honoka and Shizuku, and this attracts quite a lot of attention.

Student Council members from Third High School, who was likely the

the stiffest opposition to First High's campaign, discussing the strategy to counter First High School.

In the rear, the 1st Year students from Third High were whispering to

one another. If they were eavesdropping on their senpais' analysis of combat strength and strategy, then they would be worthy of the militant nature

"Ichijou, look, isn't that girl rad?"

"Who the heck says rad these days... In which generation did you

attend high school?"

"Shut up, I wasn't asking you. So, Ichijou, what do you think?"

"Why are you so excited... It's no use, that level of beauty is out of

your league, so don't bother trying."

"Man, would you quit it, even if I can't, Ichijou should be no problem,

right? Because Ichijou's got the looks and brains and is a member of

the Ten Master Clans to boot, surely we can get on his coattails, right?"

"I'm amazed you can speak so brazenly with a straight face..."

In reality, they were conversing in this manner, which was very

much like regular high schoolers.

"Masaki, what is it?"

George who is standing beside Masaki ask his best friend who didn't take out his eyes from First High School direction from the first time he laid his eyes there.

"...George, do you know who she is?" Masaki question is very ambiguous but as his best friend George can narrow the possibility of who is Masaki refer to

"Which one? Silver hair one or the black one?" But seeing there is no response from Masaki George talk without waiting for his response

"The sliver hair one is Emilia, she is first-year students and one of a new ace from First High. She will participate in Ice pillars break, Mirage bat and crowd ball. At first, she will just participate in the Mirage bat and Ice pillars break only but from the information I have she has excellent fitness levels and better than other contestants so they want to maximize it"

"And for the black hair one, is a first-year student from First High. Her name is Shiba Miyuki, and she's participating in 'Icicle Destruction' and 'Fairy Dance', she is also the first year ace from First High, Well their line up in female category can be described as superb if I must say it"

"Shiba Miyuki, eh....." Masaki muttered to himself and focus his eyes on her figure

"It's quite rare for Masaki to show interest in the ladies, isn't it?"

Masaki remained silent. He would continue to observe Miyuki during several unobtrusive intervals. His gaze possessed considerable warmth.

"If you want to try to get closer to Shiba Miyuki than I will not say anything, but if you want to court Emilia I must warn you that you need to put a lot of effort"

"Although I didn't have the intention what you say make me interested, what do you know?"

"Well, from what I heard her speed activation magic is very high and even if she didn't use CAD there is no difference even if she is using one or not, she is rarely showing her magic in the public but it was known she is skilled enough in freezing type magic"

"so both talented and beautiful, eh?"

"Yes, but what I said previously is not about her but about a person at her side, you see the one with white hair at her side?" George looks at Arthur direction and points it to Masaki "He is Arthur Spencer, the rumor strongest students in the First High surpassing Juumonji Katsuto and Saegusa Mayumi from Ten Master clans. When the terrorist invasion happened he is showing his magic ability and it said if it not for him there will be a lot of victim from First High side, well there is no record on the event so we can't be sure. But he will participate in the Monoliths code, Ice Pillars break, and Speed shooting, undoubtedly he is First High ace for male category"

"So each of us will be fighting against him twice in the final if his power is like what the rumor said?"

"Yes, so we need to observe every round he take and make a note of his ability"

"This will be interesting Competition"

"Well, from what I know, he is known excellent at freezing type magic and most of the time he uses variations of ice as a means to attack or defense. So with your magic, we have an advantage over him already"

"If we can defeat him than the newcomer's division will be ours, no, we will"

Misaki declares it with confidence and there is no one who makes fun of him because they believe with the crimson prince at their side the first place is secure already.

As the VIPs began speaking, the high school students that were the focal point of the day stopped what they were doing and paid overly serious attention to the ȧduŀts speaking, or pretended to do so at any rate.

This is included Arthur too, among these people, the one who held most of Arthur's interest was

the elder from the Ten Master Clans known as the "Patriarch". Kudou Retsu.

He appears in the podium with her trick and says a word that can shake the foundation of the modern magic, remembering his position and also his past achievements that dubbed as the strongest magician in the world.

Arthur focuses his eyes and amazes by his control over magic, except for Echidna, Elder Kudou is the most skilled magician he ever saw.

" despite his age... Worthy for the title of the strongest magician in the world"

With Elder Kudou is finished with his speech the banquets is over and all of the students going back to their respective room.