NOVEL WEB Ch. 202
Chapter 202
After that, a ranking match was held at the Royal Academy among students aspiring to become knights.
Mock battles were conducted among students who wished to participate, and the top thirty-two students earned a recommendation slot to compete in the main bracket of the under-18 division of the martial arts tournament.
Since making it to the main bracket of the martial arts tournament almost guaranteed entry into the knights, the students fought with great passion.
As a result, the one who ended up representing the academy as its top-ranked student in the tournament was, unsurprisingly, one of the main characters—the arrogant pretty boy, Vincent Flame.
And... the second place went to a male student who seemed to be Vincent's rival, Guardly.
The two had once gotten into a fight that required intervention from the teachers... but after that, there were no major issues.
Clael didn't know what had happened between the two.
Did they open up to each other and have an honest talk?
Or maybe they had a fistfight by the riverside?
In any case... Clael saw the two of them chatting casually in the academy hallway, so their relationship must have been mended.
He didn't arrogantly think it was thanks to his advice... but knowing they had reconciled brought Clael a sense of relief.
With this, the academy's top thirty-two students had been decided.
However... it wasn't the end for the students who didn't make the cut.
They could participate in the general bracket preliminaries, and if they won there, they could still enter the main tournament.
The preliminaries, which also included martial artists from other countries, were a narrow gate—but those with both luck and skill would surely be able to succeed.
Incidentally... in the game's scenario, Reina ends up cheering for Vincent, who participates in the tournament.
Behind the scenes, criminals from other countries cause a series of incidents, which are then resolved.
(But... the criminals who were supposed to cause those incidents have already been caught. This should mean the event has been avoided, right?)
On a related note, Reina isn't particularly close with Vincent.
She probably wouldn't go cheer him on of her own accord, and even if invited, she'd likely turn him down.
If a friend invited her to watch the match, she might go, but Reina wouldn't cheer voluntarily.
(There are also sub-characters who only appear during the martial arts tournament... but if she doesn't go, she won't meet them, will she?)
In other words... no more game events should occur during this martial arts tournament.
They had made plans to go to the festival together over the weekend... but aside from that, Clael probably wouldn't be involved in the martial arts tournament either.
"It's not like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders... but I do feel a bit more at ease. Yeah."
Muttering that to himself... Clael relaxed in his room at the staff dormitory after finishing work.
During the martial arts tournament period, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Clael could finally rest easy and sleep soundly.
"Mr. Byrne. You have a visitor."
However... just before dinner, the dormitory manager brought him that message.
"Huh? For me?"
The sun had already set... who could the guest possibly be?
"Yes, they're waiting for you at the entrance on the first floor."
The manager, who had come all the way to his room to inform him, gave him a strangely knowing smile.
Tilting his head at the manager's mysterious grin, Clael responded to the summons and headed to the staff dormitory's entrance.
"Huh?"
"G-Good evening... Clael."
And... upon seeing the person standing there, his eyes widened.
"Sorry for showing up so suddenly... but, would you like to have dinner together?"
"Erika... is that you?"
"Yes... it is..."
Standing there with a strained smile was Erika Jermie.
An A-rank adventurer belonging to a party called 'Fairy Sword.'
The woman who was also Clael's former classmate stood there in a mature-looking purple dress.