ebookland #156 - When was Tianjin (College) No.1?
#156 - When was Tianjin (College) No.1?
The sky was a clear, cloudless blue.
The midsummer sun poured down on the earth without obstruction.
The final battle of the Selection Trials.
Today's competition consisted of only one match, and thanks to the academy's publicity and social media coverage, the audience was even larger than usual.
After all, today would determine who was truly the strongest within Hagun Academy.
Even the academy's largest training ground, capable of holding the most spectators, was packed to the brim, with even the students who came to observe gasping in amazement.
"Wow, there are so many people!"
"That's normal, isn't it? Everyone wants to see the Crimson Magician versus the Failure Knight. This match is super popular."
"I heard there's even a TV station here?"
"Ah, it seems like they prepared it specifically? The League is making some big moves this time, so it must be a special case, right?"
"The Strongest Unbeaten versus the Weakest Unbeaten… I wonder who will win. It's so exciting!"
Amidst the clamor of voices.
People argued amongst themselves, bickering because they supported different individuals, even going so far as to arrange a private fight. Eventually, they were 'invited' out by the security guards with friendly smiles for disturbing the other spectators.
The two on the stage hadn't even begun to fight, yet the audience was already throwing punches.
One couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of the spectacle.
A petite woman in a kimono, Nene Saikyo, stood at the highest point of the audience stands, looking down at the crowd and speaking with admiration to the chairwoman, Kuraudo Kuryu, standing beside her.
"You've done a great job. That kid will surely make a name for himself through this."
"What are you talking about? I was forced to make it public. It was all arranged by the board of directors."
"Don't joke around. It was definitely intentional on your part."
"…Heh, who knows."
The chairwoman revealed a sly smile, like a fox who had successfully stolen a chicken.
It didn't matter who won this Selection Trial.
Because she knew full well that both individuals on the stage had the ability to obtain a representative spot, and their battle would surely leave the audience dumbfounded. It was the result she wanted.
"Oh my, I've finally found you. This school is so big; I can't figure out where anything is. That's enough, Touka."
"Yes, Sensei. Chairwoman, Saikyo-sensei, excuse me for interrupting."
"Oh, old man!"
Saikyo's first reaction upon seeing the old man was this.
But that wasn't surprising.
The old man's name was Moroboshi Ginjiro, currently 92 years old. He was Japan's oldest Magic Knight, and also Saikyo and Touka Toudou's teacher, known as: The Battle God.
"Hoh hoh hoh, my favorite disciple still has such a sharp tongue, but that's what makes you so adorable."
"A-adorable… D-disgusting!"
No matter how loudly Saikyo Nene protested, she couldn't hide the blush on her face.
"Speaking of which."
The chairwoman looked at the Battle God, who was being supported by Touka Toudou, and asked, "Why has Moroboshi-sensei come here today?"
But it was merely a polite inquiry.
She could probably guess the reason Moroboshi had come here.
"Of course, this old man is here to witness the battle between two youngsters… Of course, I wasn't planning on coming, but one defeated Touka, and the other is a descendant of the Kurogane family, so I had to come."
"I-I'm sorry, Master…"
"Hoh hoh hoh, it's alright, it's alright. A temporary setback isn't the end of life. Failure always runs through life, that's life."
"Yes, thank you for your teachings."
"Moreover…"
Moroboshi Ginjiro revealed a kind yet strange smile and said, "This failure isn't necessarily a bad thing. That kid is also a lightning-type ability user, right? Although this old man never agrees with the League's idea that combining powerful ability users will create even more powerful ability users, if they truly love each other, then that's another matter."
"M-Master!?"
"What nonsense are you spouting, you old geezer!"
"Moroboshi-sensei…"
The three of them were speechless at his thoughts.
Moroboshi Ginjiro spoke as if he had seen through everything, "By the way, Touka, that kid should be in the preparation room, right? Although it's not necessarily needed, if someone could encourage him a little at this time, he would be able to unleash even greater strength."
He seemed to be hinting at something.
Touka Toudou was slightly stunned.
"But Master…"
"It's alright, it's alright, Kuryu and Nene are here, nothing will happen to this old man."
"That's right, leave the old man to me. I won't let him collapse here."
"Toudou-kaichou, please help me convey to Zunzun-kun that he must use all his strength in this match, and not let Hagun Academy lose face in front of the media."
"…Yes, I understand."
Urged by the others, she left the audience stands and ran towards the contestant preparation room where Zunzun was.
"How youthful…"
"Indeed."
"That's what I'm saying."
The three sighed in unison.
— — — —
Zunzun and Ikki Kurogane were good friends, but other than them, to be honest, Touka Toudou had never heard of him having any close relationships with anyone else. So perhaps there was no one by Zunzun's side right now, and it was precisely the time when he needed encouragement!
That's right!
This task could only be done by me, the student council president!
It's not for any strange reason, it's just because Zunzun defeated me, the strongest in Hagun Academy, so I absolutely won't allow him to lose to anyone else before I win against him!
Yes, that's it!
After the brainstorming ended, Touka Toudou took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the door to the lounge.
"Zunzun-kun, you… Ah?"
The scene she had imagined, where only she would be there to comfort him, didn't happen. Not only was it not the case, but Shizuku Kurogane, Stella Vermillion, Arisuin Nagi, the members of the student council, and even Ayatsuji Ayase, who had been suspended and then reinstated, were all crowding the lounge, packed like sardines in a can.
Were there a few too many people?
Speaking of which, shouldn't you all be with Ikki Kurogane? Why?
"I still believe that Nii-sama will win."
"That's right, I also think Ikki will win!"
"Hmm… Even I, who was defeated by him, think so."
"I actually think Zunzun will win."
"M-me too!"
Shizuku Kurogane and Stella Vermillion, as well as Yutori Kanata, supported Ikki Kurogane. Arisuin Nagi and Ayatsuji Ayase supported Zunzun. As for the remaining three student council members, including Utakata Misogi, they remained neutral.
The noise was making her head hurt a bit.
"Hey, why don't you guys go keep Ikki company instead of disturbing me here?"
"Kaichou (Toudou-senpai)?" xN
Touka Toudou still had a lot of authority. Although she usually seemed absent-minded, her aura as a strong individual made the students present tremble slightly.
"Alright, alright, Zunzun-kun also needs to rest, let's go out first."
Utakata Misogi clapped her hands.
Since the vice-president had said so, Stella and the others, considering that Zunzun still had to fight Ikki Kurogane later, obediently left the lounge.
Touka Toudou stayed behind.
"…Kaichou?"
"S-sorry, I'm disturbing you here too, right?"
"You're not disturbing me. After all, Kaichou won't be saying that my opponent is strong in my ear, causing me mental pollution."
"What is that, that's too much."
"Right?"
Any contestant participating in the Selection Trials needed to concentrate and maintain their energy before the match. If they said words of encouragement, that would be fine, but disturbing them like they had just done was a bit too much.
Touka Toudou was a little worried.
Ikki Kurogane's record was also very impressive. He had defeated the academy's second-ranked combat faction, Yutori Kanata. His strength was definitely not to be underestimated.
"…Can you win?"
"I'll win… cough cough, Kaichou, that person's strength is not below you or me."
Zunzun immediately changed his tune to avoid setting a flag.
This instead gave Touka Toudou the impression that Zunzun lacked confidence.
"That's true. Kurogane-kun's 'Itto Shura' is very troublesome. Even I would find it difficult to stop him at close range."
Hmm???
Shouldn't he have said that he would quickly defeat him in one move?
[First Year - Zunzun-kun. First Year - Ikki Kurogane-kun. Match time has arrived, please enter.]
"Time's up, I'm going, Kaichou."
"Wait."
"Hmm?"
"The chairwoman told me to tell you that you must use all your strength in this match, and not let Hagun Academy lose face in front of the media."
"Ah, I will."
Zunzun slowly stood up, passed through the doorway, and walked towards the gate ahead.
At the end of the passage, he saw a girl.
She had short brown hair, wore rimless glasses, and had a camera hanging around her neck, looking expectant.
"Yo, Kagami."
"Zunzun-kun!"
"How rare, shouldn't you, the academy's reporter, be at the venue? What are you doing here? Don't tell me you want to interview me at this crucial moment?"
"How could I! Although I want to interview you, it's not now. I wonder if Zunzun-kun will have time later for me to interview the absolute champion who has won all the matches in Hagun Academy?"
Kusukabe Kagami smiled brightly.
"Of course."
Zunzun chuckled.
Just as he was about to step over the gate and walk onto the training ground.
"Zunzun-kun, when will you be the academy's number one?"
"I don't know, what do you say?"
"It's today, it's today!"
Under her constant cheers, Zunzun proudly stepped out of the gate and onto the battlefield.
"Next, we will introduce the Strongest Unbeaten, who defeated the academy's strongest, the Lamia Academy's strongest, and has not suffered any injuries along the way. His record is exceptionally impressive, his strength is unfathomable, he…"
The commentator was passionately introducing his resume.
Zunzun didn't listen.
In the past, he would have waved to the people in the audience stands, but this time, how should he put it… Ikki Kurogane's unusually tense expression, as if he was fully prepared, made Zunzun unable to help but take it seriously.
No need for conversation, everything was in the sword.
A swordsman should speak with his sword!
As soon as the buzzer sounded, Ikki Kurogane emitted a blue glow from his entire body.
"—Itto Shura!"