Chapter 182: The Grand Festival (3)

Chapter 182: The Grand Festival (3)

༺ The Grand Festival (3) ༻

Thirty minutes before the start of the Arc Ball race.

I changed into my gym clothes in the waiting room.

It was specially made by some second-year Class B students of the Magic Department.

The Arc Ball race was a team event, so a coordinated uniform was a requirement.

I looked around. The others had changed into gym clothes with the same design.

‘Ohh.’

Maybe it was because we were wearing matching clothes for the festival, but I felt a stronger sense of belonging than usual. It reminded me of high school festivals, and I was secretly excited.

With the safety gear on my knees, elbows, and head, I was ready to go.

I sat down and put my safety gear on the table next to me.

My teammates were already in full safety gear. The reason I was slower than them was because I came to the waiting room late.

I used [Clairvoyance] to watch the Clover Paladin enter the first-year waiting room of the Magic Department. I couldn’t help but be anxious because I didn’t know what he would do to White.

“Tristan already went out.”

“Tristan was so excited. Uhh, I’m shaking like crazy...”

“I’m going out first, Isaac. Come out when you’re ready.”

I nodded indifferently and said, ‘Okay,’ to the main character, Ian Fairytale.

The team was about to leave when the door on the other side suddenly swung open, and they stopped in their tracks.

“Huh...?”

Everyone looked shocked.

What’s up with them?

I turned my gaze toward the door and it suddenly made sense.

“President?”

“What is the Student Council President doing here...?”

Wait, what?

As the surprise visitor came in, the team parted like the Red Sea.

Then, a beautiful woman with a gentle smile came into view. For a second, time seemed to slow down before coming to a standstill.

She was neatly dressed in her uniform, with her light gold hair.

‘What are you doing here...?’

The Student Council President, Alice Carroll, walked straight up to me.

She bent down, resting her hands on her knees, until we were face-to-face.

My teammates just stood there, frozen with wide-eyed shock.

“Hi, Baby.”

“Senior Alice? Why are you here...?”

“No reason, I just miss you.”NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

My teammates’ mouths dropped open in disbelief and they started whispering.

Alice, this girl really didn’t know right from wrong. Was that something one said in front of people?

This was making things difficult for me. It was the same when she visited White, it was clear she was trying to provoke a reaction out of me.

Possibly because she was the type to easily brush off other people’s murmurs, Alice didn’t mind it. But please, pay attention to their chatters.

I gave her a half-hearted look, and Alice shifted her attention to the safety gear on the table.

“Are you putting on your safety gear?”

“Yeah...”

“Hmm.”

Alice looked back at me with her cherry blossom-colored eyes.

“Could you hold still for a moment?”

“What?”

Alice picked up the safety gear beside me and slid it onto my arms.

What the hell is she doing?

“What are you doing?”

“I’m taking care of you, Baby.”

“No, I can see...”

“Lucky for you, then.”

Alice offered a warm smile.

‘...Hilde, do you think she’s putting on some sort of device on me?’

[I do not believe that to be the case.]

Hilde communicated telepathically, hiding as a faint glimmer around my collar.

I also recognized other familiar faces.

Among my peers from Class A, Lisetta Lionheart was participating. She seemed pretty excited at the thought of clashing with others.

But when our eyes met, she quickly turned her head away in fright.

Is she still scared of me...?

It was disheartening how she reacted like that every time she saw me, even though I wanted us to get along.

“Ha!”

Among my teammates, the vain blond nobleman, Tristan Humphrey, let out a gallant chuckle.

“This heat! These cheers! Truly a perfect stage for this body! Kaha...!”

Bam bam bam.

The band began to play, and Tristan gasped and began to choke in his laughter, coughing in surprise.

“And now!! The moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived!!”

The lively voice of the announcer echoed throughout the academy. It was Amy Holloway, a girl with short white hair adorned with black ribbons that were tied to resemble the shape of rabbit ears, and also Ian’s girlfriend.

As the announcer, she was also dressed up in pretty clothes for the occasion.

Standing at the announcer’s booth above the stadium, she energetically shouted into the megaphone as the band played in the background.

“All participants have assembled! The preparations for the Arc Ball race are now complete!”

The students in the stands let out a unified cheer.

And the band’s music changed to an upbeat tune.

‘Amy looks excited...’

This is nice.

My teammate, Ian Fairytale, also smiled fondly upon seeing his enthusiastic girlfriend.

“Before we start the Arc Ball race, let’s go over the rules briefly! The competition will take place over 3 days, skipping a day in between the 5 days of Jeblem! Teams will be selected based on their performance to advance to the next round!”

It meant that the tournament would be held every other day.

“Now~, everyone, please raise your heads and look at the sky!”

Amy raised her right arm and pointed toward the sky, prompting both participants and the audience to look up.

I also gazed up at the sky.

Above the stadium, in the air, numerous mana particles moved around, clinking and clanking through telekinesis, orchestrated by the delicate magic of the Hegel Tower Master, Aria Lilias.

It was the same as the end-of-semester evaluation when I was a first year. That immense mana mastery was as impressive as always.

The mana particles formed a map mimicking the surroundings. The route and destination of the Arc Ball race shone brightly in vivid colors.

“The race track extends to the outskirts of Märchen Academy, and today’s destination is Bartos Hall! The first six teams to reach the destination with the Arc Ball will advance to the next round! The rest, unfortunately, will be eliminated! On the last day, the top three teams will receive the very, very nice prizes announced during the opening ceremony, so everyone, do your best!”

All participants shouted, ‘Woah!’ Raising their arms in excitement. I joined in too.

“Lastly, let’s hear some words from the idol of our female students, the cool and handsome, Professor Fernando Frost!!”

As Amy pointed to the silver-haired, handsome Professor among the faculty, the female students screamed their lungs out, almost roaring.

Fernando cleared his throat with an, ‘Ahem’.

He picked up the megaphone and spoke firmly and without expression.

“First-year Class D of the Magic Department, be prepared if you get eliminated. I’ll double your homework.”

“Impossible!! A terrifying statement I hoped I’d never hear!! But, it looks like my juniors are now motivated! Excellent!!”

Aside from the horrified first-year Class D students of the Magic Department, the rest of the academy erupted in laughter.

“Now, then~!”

With a beaming smile, Amy stretched out one arm forward.

“We now commence the crowning event of Jeblem! Let the Arc Ball race begin!!”

Boom!

A firework made of fire magic bursts in the sky, creating colorful patterns in the air.

The band played a grand and lively melody.

Students cheered, each supporting their team, creating an electric atmosphere.

And then.

“All participants, get ready!!”

As Amy raised her right arm, students on either end of the starting line raised their flags forward. At the same time, the cheers from the entire academy died down.

A heavy tension filled the air. I bent my upper body slightly and braced my knees, ready to run.

I had a few goals during the Arc Ball race. Protect White, land a blow on the Clover Paladin, to win a prize, and although uncertain, I hoped to gain some EXP as well.

I glanced at the Clover Paladin, Pierre Flanche. He was eyeing his target, Snow White. He looked like a creep.

I was going to take this opportunity to show him how foolish his plans were.

Soon, Amy threw her arms up and shouted, her voice filled with laughter.

“Race start!!”

The flag was raised.

Amidst the cheers and shouts of the students, I, along with the other participants, crossed the starting line and dashed forward.