175 – Opening Ceremony
I understand that the product sold at the festival is not the food, but the atmosphere. Today is the day of the triathlon, which all the students of the academy have been waiting for so long, except for the eight participants.
On both sides of the road to the stadium, famous restaurants in the capital and the provinces were packed with food stalls prepared over the past few days. Like when the duel was held in the first semester, the design was unified with a temporary tent, but this event had the feel of a large store as all spaces were expanded by space expansion magic as befits the imperial family.
But even so, waiting was a necessity thanks to the endless flow of customers from all over the continent.
The academy was full of energy even with the students. There are traders, gamblers, spectators, graduates, and even students from other academies. Seeing all kinds of people gather, I could feel the festive atmosphere everywhere because of the heat that people exude.
Arya, naturally, said that eating breakfast at a restaurant on a day like this is nonsense, and led her staff to the store she had noticed beforehand.
She was Aria who checked the tent that was being set up with Kane and planned the route in advance under the pretext of taking a walk at night. Than elaborate eating.
After filling my stomach with meat-filled pasta from the morning, I headed to the auditorium on the 1st basement floor where the participants gathered while receiving support from the club members.
Looking at the schedule, only the opening ceremony of the triathlon was scheduled for the morning. There was going to be a performance at night, but I didn’t know what it was because I wasn’t interested. Anyway, maybe because of the opening ceremony, a few days ago, a senior from the student council came to the club room and gave me a new uniform to wear at the opening ceremony.
I know that it is to show a neat and well-groomed appearance befitting the representative of the academy at the opening ceremony. So yesterday, I and Luna went to a famous hair salon in the capital to get my hair done.
During her vacation, her hair, which was close to bobbed, was changed to a two-block style that exposed her forehead at Luna’s request. Maybe because of her impression, she looks like a blonde archer, but Luna liked it enough to make her face blush. The service also trimmed the eyebrows.
As I was waiting with my arms folded in my new crisp school uniform, someone quietly took the seat next to me.
“Looks like you got your hair cut. Matches well.”
Perhaps I sprayed more perfume today, it seems to have a stronger strawberry scent than usual. I turned my head and said hello.
“Did you sleep well?”
Beautiful black eyes like obsidian shine. The makeup is thicker than usual. Since it was a special day, it must have given me strength. Wearing a new, wrinkle-free school uniform like mine, Ellie looked straight at me and gave me a pretty smile.
“Yes. I didn’t even dream Isn’t Ross not sleeping because he’s nervous?”
“Not at all.”
I’m not bragging about being in front of a woman, I really wasn’t nervous at all. It was thanks to the activation of indomitable courage in advance that I would be swept away by the heat of the crowd like in the last duel.
“Thank God. Then I’ll take care of you today.”
Ellie smiled softly. Her face was no different than usual. It’s a look that doesn’t doubt her own skills. In a way, it’s natural confidence. He is the disciple of Archmage Nelson. She can’t seem to be nervous just participating in a triathlon.
As time passed, the participants began to gather. When I glanced at the place where the Elasium Academy was gathered, I saw a familiar face talking to someone.
This is Eunice, a lovely girl with orange curly hair and freckles. There were seniors around him who were listening to the conversation seriously, as if he had built up a lot of trust at school in just one semester. It is clear who the leader of the group is.
“… Anyone know?”
Ellie suddenly asked in a low voice if she had followed my gaze.
“No, because my hair color is unusual.”
Ellie gave a small nod of her head in agreement with my light reply.
“That is true. It looks like an orange.”
Ellie stared at her Eunice, then she turned to me. It’s a curious look
“Do you like orange?”
At that question, I lowered my eyes.
“I don’t particularly like it. I don’t even hate it.”
When she suddenly looked at me asking why I was asking this, Ellie smiled mischievously.
“You are a partner. It’s my desperate effort to clear up any awkwardness before the game.”
It’s out of the blue, but it’s true. We have to put aside our strange relationship, or the strange feelings I feel, and behave like partners in the game right in front of us. I don’t really care about asking what my favorite color is.
I’m not the type to refuse if someone extends their hand first. On the contrary, I am grateful and hold that hand and continue a conversation that does not work.
As I was answering Ellie, who was eagerly asking questions, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind without my permission. This kind of disrespect was only allowed by one person at the academy.
“Good morning. Aren’t you all nervous because it’s your first appearance?”
When I turned to the soft voice, for some reason, Roel’s face was harder than usual. Wouldn’t he be the kind of guy who would barely be nervous about a triathlon?
“How come, you seem more nervous?”
When I asked with a tilt of my head, Roel lowered his head in recognition and let out a sigh.
“Whew… My brother is in the triathlon and of course I’m nervous! Participating in a triathlon with me in such a cool way…. It still feels like a dream… !”
I wonder if this is a bracom with a look that looks like she’s about to shed tears at any moment, but Roel doesn’t have that unusual setting. He only treats the people he cares about sincerely. It’s just that he pays more attention to me, his brother.
“Huh, Brother Roel. Aren’t you worried about me?”
Ellie asked in a bewitching voice, and Roel removed his hand from my shoulder and scratched his head, as if embarrassed.
“Dang, of course I did. But Ellie is good at anything… Didn’t worry too much. Because she worked hard to prepare….”
I have no intention of joining a lover’s conversation without notice. Especially when the pods are caught. As he tried to turn his body forward again, ignoring Roel’s plea for help, he suddenly heard Ellie’s voice.
“Then Ross can’t do anything, so you’re worried? Different from me?”
Stupid- I stopped moving without realizing it. When she turned her head and glared at Ellie, who had been talking nonsense, she turned her gaze to Roel with an expression of her innocence, pretending that she did not know anything.
“Oh, no. It’s not…. That’s why I can’t compare to Ellie… No no…. Ross is….”
With a puzzled look on his face, Roel tried to excuse his hurriedness, but he kept making mistakes. I didn’t know if I left it alone, something really hurtful would come out, so I quickly replied.
“I know what you mean. It’s okay bro.”
After getting him out of the embarrassing situation, Roel let out a comfortable sigh and put on an expression that said he was alive.
“Ellie, why are you being so mean to your brother… !”
Then he smiled and apologized to me.
“Sorry, I made a mistake. But does my sister know what your heart is?!”
“… I know. Thank you.”
After the conversation ended like that, Ellie, who had been observing my expression blankly, smiled incomprehensibly and continued the conversation with Roel.
For what purpose did she ask such a question, she did not dare to ask. Unless it was specifically about the game, she didn’t care about Ellie.
As I was checking my plans for the last time in my head, Professor Leora appeared out of nowhere.
“From now on, we will move to the stadium to practice for the opening ceremony. You’ll need to stay focused during practice so you don’t get confused about your turn. Do not forget for a moment that you are the representatives of the academy.”
It was a stern voice as always. For some reason, his gaze lingered on my face for a moment while I was talking. Does that mean that I am the only one who will cause an accident? If so, what you just did is a mistake. I’m a tree frog who has no choice but to fulfill it when given bad expectations.
Everyone nodded, and Professor Leora led us to the stadium.
***
“Where are our seats?”
Aria asked with her hands full of food. There was sauce on her mouth, but no one pointed out that even if she wiped it off, she would get it again.
La Carr, who had changed seats in advance so that his crew could sit among each other, took a ticket out of his pocket to confirm his seat.
“It’s the 3rd row in area D. From 11 to 14.”
At Lakar’s words, Arya cut through the road with her lead. Aria said in a loud voice, “Wait, thank you, wait,” As she eagerly made her way through the crowd to her assigned seat.
Kane, who was in charge of drinks for the members, set a glass with a drink on the armrest of each seat. As everyone sat down, she asked if Carne, who had been handing La Carre her popcorn that she had received from Aria, suddenly remembered her.
“Ah, after the opening ceremony, do you have lunch with the general manager?”
“Well, maybe eat with your partner? It’s my first game after all.”
At Lakar’s words, Luna, who was quietly eating popcorn next to Arya, thought of Ross’s partner. A childhood friend and partner, Ellie, whose true feelings are unknown.
When she said that she liked Ross, she actually said it was to test herself, but she didn’t know if it was true. Rather, it was the cliché of her romance novels that her Luna often saw that she realized what she was feeling rather belatedly.
“They said they were close from before! Of course I’ll be number one!”
Luna, feeling strangely uneasy for some reason at Aria’s words, who had been swept away by the festive mood and raising her mouth all day, sucked her strawberry smoothie on her side. There is nothing she can do. I just hope that Ross, who is like an innocent and kind retriever (?), Will not be swayed by the female sub who belatedly realized her heart.
The crowd constantly wandered around looking for their seats. After enough time had elapsed for the popcorn that had been prepared in advance to show the floor, a splendid magic swept across the stadium announcing the start of the opening ceremony.
A well-dressed presenter rose from the stage floor and shouted in a magically amplified voice.
[The 31st. Imperial Triathlon! Four academies compete for one goal. The grand opening ceremony that everyone has been waiting for… !!! Now, from now on, let’s do it… !!!]
Firecrackers exploded with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
○○○
“Shall we track down the lily?”
A voice that seemed to have a philosophical view asked behind the curtain that was hidden by the vice-president’s question.
“Do you want to do that?”
A bizarre voice that makes you wonder if things could talk. It is a voice that gives the illusion of overlapping many voices. In spite of the inorganic voice that doesn’t feel human warmth at all, the vice-governor simply bows down without any change in expression.
“He is the one who uses space magic that we have been looking for. No matter what the sacrifice, I believe that the ability must be taken away for the sake of the plan. If you allow it, I will summon Confsion and find it right away.”
At the bishop’s words, a small moan flowed from the mother, who was connected to the baby by the umbilical cord, through the veil.
「 Destruction is already promised. 」
Something bounced out of the curtain with the sound of something exploding. It was a mask in the form of a liquid, but with the properties of a solid. When the assistant priest carefully stretched out his hand, the mask was sucked into his fingertips and disappeared without a trace.
Immense chaos weighed down the body of the vice priest. Pain that oppresses the whole body. Knowing full well that if he accepted it, he would become even more powerful, the assistant priest held back his groans with tremendous mental strength.
When the vice-chief finally accepted the chaos completely, his voice rang out as if he had been waiting for that moment.
「 You should concentrate on the saintess without any doubt. 」
It was the leader’s order.