Episode 85
It was on the same day that the fact that the event was announced was confirmed that the stage the emperor had spoken of was Matou Jie.
It was because of a letter lying in front of the door of my workshop, my base.
“… … invitation?”
A letter stamped with the imperial family crest.
No need to ask who sent it.
Nothing else was explained. Inside the envelope were the application documents for the tournament.
It is also a document that has already been submitted arbitrarily.
“… … Right. Are you trying to show off your skills here?”
You’ve built up a lot of hurdles. Like a wicked emperor.
It’s as expected, but I didn’t put an easy condition.
Behind me as I leaf through documents with explanations such as the entry requirements for the tournament, Emily is reading them together, hugging the back of my head before I know it.
“Did that strange emperor send you?”
“hey! My head is heavy.”
“It can’t be heavy. … … Hey, it’s a magic battle. Wouldn’t it be surprisingly easy if it was Xian?”
“It won’t be too hard.”
I’ve experienced fighting in real combat several times so far, but this tournament only requires knowledge of pure magic combat.
“Because the fights up until now were just fights using various tricks besides black magic.”
Even more so, including Emily’s support.
However, in this competition, I have to compete with my own abilities.
Fighting fair and square is not my taste.
“On top of that, I don’t know if it’s just the guys from the academy, but there will be contestants from outside, so I’ll have a hard time.”
Not to mention the wizards belonging to the Mage Tower.
In addition, those who have developed their skills on their own will participate because of the prize money or the desire for honor.
A big game that can’t win in a fight won’t be caught under these conditions, but it’s something you never know.
“There’s no reason why I can’t win.”
He also has his reasons.
The Emperor holds several events under his name.
Among them, the most common are combat competitions for each class.
“I prefer a battle where the outcome is clearly decided rather than a halfway contest of knowledge.”
Regardless of the condition the emperor had stated, this kind of event was something he couldn’t help but wish for.
“In addition, it seems to be a good advertising stage.”
Brilliant magic battle.
It’s because it’s the most guaranteed success among the various events held in the empire.
It’s a chance to eat a bite.
“Surely there will be betting on who will be the winner in a contest like this.”
“You’re steady.”
More than I decided to do, I have to pick up the mulberry.
* * *
The Imperial Mage Tower, which is said to be the home of the magic system.
The upper part of the magic tower.
It is not an exaggeration to say that they are the pinnacle of wizards within the empire, and the most talented wizards held an unexpected meeting and let out a sigh.
“Even though His Majesty’s whims are not for a day or two.”
“… … Pretty embarrassing this time.”
“You told me to open Matuje… … .”
“It was a big deal to match the schedule as I wanted.”
this contest.
The event that the emperor named ‘Matouje’ and held is a nuisance.
Although it is ostensibly organized by the Tower and they are preparing.
The decision to hold the tournament was due to the emperor’s blatant pressure.
“It’s hard work, but it’s not meaningless.”
“Isn’t there a need for a place to raise the status of the imperial mages?”
“By adapting to his whims, we can borrow his coat of arms. It must be worthwhile to wield it.”
Above all, the emperor does not show much interest in interests in such competitions.
It’s just for your own enjoyment.
If you can adapt to those whims and live up to their expectations to some extent, you can get your hands on the benefits that come with it.
In addition, it will be a stimulus to fuel the will of the youngsters who are training in the tower and academy.
The proceeds that can be recovered from the splendid competitions are not easy.
Therefore, from the Mage’s point of view, there was no reason to reject the Emperor’s order.
“There’s just one thing that bothers me.”
Preparation for the competition went smoothly.
Although the young wizards had a hard time keeping up with their schedules, well, being pressed for time is a matter of a day or two.
It’s not for nothing that it is said that the nemesis of magicians is time.
But it was for reasons other than the preparations for the convention that the brows of these old men were furrowed.
“… … Right.”
“Is that black kid?”
contestants in the competition.
According to the rules, anyone who uses magic can participate in this tournament regardless of qualifications.
They had no complaints about this rule itself.
It’s a rule to prove that everyone is given the freedom and opportunity to learn magic, which is the philosophy of the Magic Tower, so there’s nothing to criticize.
Only if they really think so.
“When magic is blue, there is the aesthetics of true knowledge… … .”
None of those who occupy this position believe that magic is free knowledge that anyone can learn.
There wasn’t a single one.
“Are you a newcomer to black magic?”
“Why did His Majesty accept this youngster’s participation?”
Registration for this event was made without problems.
Not only talented people from the top and academy, but also gimmicks who are famous throughout the empire or in other countries are also participating.
That’s a welcome thing.
The contents of the competition will be more colorful and colorful only when talented players are active.
But the only thing they don’t like is.
“draft? That’s a name I’ve never heard of.”
“I heard that you are an orphan from the outskirts of the Empire.”
“Are you literally a kid who’s no better than a rat?”
One registration document.
As they looked at Xian’s name written on it and the matters related to his magic, they clearly expressed their displeasure.
“How could black magic get in the way of competing with holy magic?”
I have no interest in Xi’an.
It’s not Xi’an itself that these old people are concerned about.
Only the fact that Xian is a boy who uses black magic.
“Your Majesty is really making trouble.”
“Is it necessary to allow black magic to participate?”
“I said all magic. According to the rules, there is no reason to refuse.”
“Even more so, there is a risk of offending His Majesty if I refuse.”
Even if you don’t think so, you should at least pretend to be compliant.
Above all, blatant discrimination against black magic reached the ears of the emperor, and there was nothing good about it.
The current emperor is promoting raising the level of black magic as a national project of the empire.
Even if you don’t like it, it’s hard to guarantee that their future will be safe if you oppose it.
Of course, in all the magic-related contests in the empire, there had never been a clause that refused to participate in black magic.
Even so, since the black magicians did not participate, there was no problem.
In fact, I didn’t have the ability to compete.
But this kid is different.
“Looks like you’re looking forward to your skills.”
“draft… … . draft… … . Right! Is it the kid from the black magic scroll?”
Originally, this boy’s name would never have entered their ears.
The trigger was related to the previous development of the black magic scroll.
The commotion itself was a problem within the academy, and there was no particular reason for the Mage Tower to care.
However, Xian’s behavior in the process of getting the scroll acknowledged must have been enough to offend these old people.
“I don’t think a single rookie will change the game of black magic.”
“This… … I am concerned.”
“Magic must always be green.”
“On the day black magic wins, we lose face.”
He despises black magic and refuses to acknowledge its possibility.
The magic they used is known to have been active in the history of the continent for a long time.
It was a magic system using blue mana, now called public magic.
On the other hand, black magic has been done secretly throughout most of history, except for recent times.
“What if this boy wins?”
“Don’t even say that horrible thing.”
No one thought that a single talented person would overturn the perception of magic that had been passed on so far.
They didn’t appreciate the idea of black magic itself coming up against them.
“Don’t worry. This kid will never win.”
“How can I say it?”
“Looks like an international student from the Forest of Wisdom is participating.”
“Huh… … . A disciple of those hermits?”
The three great factions of the Empire’s magic.
Academy, Mage Tower and Forest of Wisdom.
Although they do not pursue the same interests and scale as the Mage Tower, they have a reputation for being one of the few wizards who have been relegated to the forest.
However, unlike the magic tower, the mages of the forest never try to get involved in mundane affairs.
“Did you say Michelle?”
“I was surprised to hear that the guys from the Forest of Wisdom admitted their apprentice to the academy.”
No matter what the caprice of those hermits was, they sent one of their students to the academy.
“What about your capabilities?”
“It’s frustrating, but I’m sure.”
Although he is not a member of the Magic Tower, if he is a disciple of the Forest of Wisdom, he will have more ability than most talented people.
Their voices become more relaxed as if they have put their minds to rest.
“For a world where true magic arrives.”
“Under the name of Xelferid, the founder of the blue, we must pursue the right magic.”
Obsession and madness for one’s own magic.
The right magic!
Saying what they believed, they burned copies of the papers with Xian’s name on them.
As if he were certain that he would never hear this boy’s name again.
* * *
Matuze’s qualifying round.
The number of wizards who met the minimum standards at the document stage was over 200 even after filtering.
The document review itself was not a low threshold either.
At least 3 circles or more.
It is often said that a wizard only truly does his part when he reaches his third circle.
However, there are surprisingly few people who reach the level of doing their part.
Thousands of people flocked to hear the rumors from all over the empire.
Excluding those who failed to meet the standard among them, there were about 200 people.
It would take a lot of time to take them and create a place where they could compete one by one.
finals.
Even taking into account the schedule, the upper limit for the event’s contributors, including the emperor, who can directly sit in the observer’s seat will be around 20 people.
Then what about the rest?
Just cut it off and say it like this.
you can drop it all
“Isn’t this the so-called ‘come on, kill it at once’ thing?”
I glanced over the match guide with an absurd smile.
It is good to know the rules several times. That way you’ll dig a loophole.
“I like it because it seems like the schedule will end quickly.”
Preliminary round of the magic match.
After hearing the explanation of the schedule and receiving the parchment outlining it again, I was sure that the schedule would not be as long as I thought.
(To have 10 people fight in one match? It must be quite a battle.)
‘I guess that’s how it goes. In short, let’s organize everything at once.’
A total of ten wizards are put into the arena, and the winner among them advances to the finals.
In a way that might be unreasonable if unreasonable.
“If it’s black, you have to black it, what.”
Personally, I have no complaints.
To be honest, I wasn’t interested.
Considering the personality of the emperor who initiated this match, it was assumed that it would be held in a more extreme way.
“Because if you win in the end, that’s it.”
At least I don’t think I’ll lose in the preliminaries.
I can never imagine Xian losing.
‘Ah, if I put it like this, is it the opposite defeat flag?’
More than anything.
“Nearly 90% of the guys you meet in the original preliminary round are weak guys.”
So there was nothing to worry about.