-- Koizumi pointed his hand at Saeki.

''【Dark Ball (Dark Ball)!

A purple ball was released from Koizumi's palm.

''Kook!''

But Saeki reflexively avoided it.
This was also thanks to Joanna.
Before, Saeki didn't have the skills to see through his opponent's chanting.
And that wasn't the only thing Saeki had learned.

In a mage's battle, it was important to know how much mana he could fight without consuming it.
When dealing with someone of the same level, it would be the difference between victory and defeat.
And this was the most important thing, Joanna said.

''Flame (Fire)!

Saeki unleashed three flames at the same time.
This magic, which was limited to just one at first, had been worked up to this point thanks to Joanna.

But Koizumi was not to be defeated either.
He managed to avoid three flames.

''Quite the wise man!　Well done!　I can't believe I can produce three more!

Saeki didn't return the words.

'You're ignoring me!

Koizumi was incensed.
But this was just a threat.
Koizumi was quite calm.

We are new wizards and we don't have any tricks. It's a good idea to use it right away and not be shy about it.

Saeki drew his sword.
Then Koizumi took it as a "sour grapes".

Hmm........then I'll let you out, okay?

Then Koizumi pulled a small nut out of his pocket, one hand full, from his pocket.
Then he threw them onto the field.

The nuts were scattered all around.

'Saeki-kun?　I'll show you how I fight.

Koizumi then put his hand on the ground.

''Growth enhancement (bakzo worm)!

Then the nuts scattered on the feld swelled up and the contents popped out with their juices.

'Not yet?　　[Gatherlink]

And that's when Koizumi finished chanting for the second time.
Vines began to grow at a tremendous rate from the scattered nuts.

Koizumi stood up and grinned triumphantly.

Vine after vine grew one after another, filling the field.
Then I noticed that there was a jungle gym-like structure made of green vines.

The two men stared at each other through the gaps in the countless number of vines that grew.

'What do you think, Saeki-kun?　This is the magic of an advanced sorcerer!

An advanced spellcaster.
It is an occupation that specializes mainly in dark-attribute magic.
Therefore, Koizumi also handles the dark attribute.

You're not going to be able to tell me what to do.　Pounce!

Koizumi shouted with magical power.
Then another vine grew out of the side of the vine, and it approached Saeki.
Saeki readied his sword and cut down the attacking group of vines one by one with his sword.

'I needed a catalyst for this magic, though, didn't I?　I was eating nuts when I got the idea. That's it!　You know.

Koizumi proudly spoils the story.
There's both carelessness and gaps in his expression.
But Saeki couldn't help himself.

'If you're frustrated, why don't you come here?　I'll play with you again in a different way.

With the sloppy swordsmanship he's learned in between lessons from Joanna, Saeki slices through the vines.
There was no room for error in his expression.

It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

''Flame Shield (Sika)!

A shield of fire appeared in front of Saeki.
But there is a magic circle at his feet.

'What is it, Saeki-kun?　Can't you even use that much magic without a magic circle?　Are you really a wise man?

Basically, a magic circle is used as a means to promote the stability of magic power.
Koizumi made fun of it.

'One thing I've learned. That's that magic has a sense, too. No matter how much of a boon it is, a person like you who has no sense can't even understand the art form. In other words, you're not cut out to be a mage!　From the beginning!

At that moment, the vines on the field began to focus and coalesce into a single point as Koizumi's hand moved.
And then it became like a single large, pointed tree, coming at Saeki.

Saeki deactivated his flame shield and dodged to the side.
The increased mass slowed the vine's movement, which allowed him to avoid it with plenty of time to spare.
And at that moment, Koizumi had an opening.
-- Saeki didn't miss that opening.

''【Fire!

"Thanks to the disappearance of the jungle gym, Koizumi was clearly visible.
Saeki quickly released the fire.
This time it's four.

''Ugh!　Whoa!

Koizumi's face twitched at the fireballs that were suddenly approaching, and he tried to prevent the fire by returning the vines to their original state at one end.
One ... two ... three ... three fireballs hit the vines and disappeared.
But Koizumi missed the fourth one.

''Hee!　Gahhhh!

At that moment, a light explosion and a scream could be heard, and smoke danced across the field.
And when the smoke cleared, there was the figure of Koizumi with a burn on his left arm.

But Saeki didn't even smile at the sight of him.
Saeki, nevertheless, did not let his guard down.

'You're Saeki!　What's that side of you?　You're as guilty as the rest of us!

The training grounds fell silent at the sound of his voice.
The spectators in the auditorium said, "What? He stared at the two of them, tilting his head.

Koizumi's expression showed obvious agitation.

''We're murderers!　Do you understand that?!

Koizumi called out, holding his left arm down.
And then he lost his composure.
His tone was so disorganized.

'You are that fact!　You're fooling me for some selfish reason, like growing up!

Koizumi's eyes turned red and he was furious.
Then Saeki looked at Joanna and the others in the audience for a moment.
Then he immediately turned his attention to Koizumi.

Koizumi? ...I'll tell you one thing.

Then Saeki finally spoke up.

''Oh?''

Koizumi opened his eyes and glared.
But the expression on his face still showed agitation.

''I don't give a shit about that, not in the first place.

Saeki said this in a voice just audible to Koizumi.

'Huh?'

You're an idiot, right?　He's the kind of guy who would have killed himself in the first place.　The point is, it's been dead all along!　Why should I feel sorry for myself just because a guy like that died again?

You....

Koizumi was speechless.
And he forgot to grin.
And he was made to feel as if he was really an idiot.

Koizumi thought Saeki was suffering just as much as he was.
He didn't show it to his face, but he thought it was a tough sell.
That was why he didn't talk to anyone, or so he thought.

'What?'　What did they say to you?　So you feel guilty about it, huh?　That's why I don't like weak people!　That's not the kind of growth I'm talking about!　I'm simply talking about magic!

Koizumi realized that he had been fundamentally, fundamentally mistaken.
And in his anger, Koizumi couldn't fool himself and licked his lips repeatedly with his tongue.

And then he thought, "This is not it!
This guy is different!
This guy was a piece of shit from the start, I thought.

I ain't got time to talk to your piece of shit. Small fry can hang out with pigs and burdocks like small fry!

Koizumi froze.

Saeki had done his best to avoid talking back to Koizumi as much as possible until now.
But that was at Grayberg.
Aries was there back then, and he was desperate for Aries.
He was desperately trying to put together a 2-3.
But we don't have Aries anymore.
And now that he was in Ficianatica, an environment that was no longer associated with Aries, Saeki stopped hanging on.
He thought he was a fool for asking Aries for a place....
Even if you make someone a place to stay, if that person dies, it's all in vain, that's what he understood.

'From the beginning........it didn't matter.

But in the end, Saeki just wanted to think that he was an idiot.
No matter how much he tried to think that way, it was Aries that came to mind.

''I........have to.......kill those guys.

Saeki was no longer looking at Koizumi.
It was as if he saw something else entirely in his eyes.

'Those guys? ...What are you talking about?

Koizumi asked, his cheeks twitching.

''Well it's none of your business,''

Saeki seemed to have lost himself for a moment.

Then Koizumi noticed from the look on his face.
He realized that Saeki didn't look at him.

'You're a fool...'

Koizumi gritted his back teeth and clenched them together.

"I'm going to move on to be strong. You'll stay there until you're done."

Saeki spat the words out.

Koizumi then grouped the vines on the field into three vines the next time they were on the field.
This way he could reduce their mass and make their movements lighter while maintaining their strength.

'Enough with your arguments. But either way, if you don't surpass me, there's no way to go beyond that!

Koizumi no longer had the time to mend his ways.

At that moment, three sharp vines struck Saeki.

''I'll skewer you!

Koizumi seemed to be freaked out.
He was shouting something off the mark and feeling embarrassed.

Then Saeki stepped forward with his sword at the ready.
Then he dodged the first vine first.
Then he cuts off the second vine with his sword.
Then, just as the last vine was about to strike, Saeki stepped forward.
Saeki grabbed the vine just in time to pull it down and flew up into the air just before it did.
Then the vine dug into Saeki's feet.

And the vine continued to Koizumi's feet as if drawing an arc.

''The [Fire Lance]

Saeki put his sword away and made a spear of fire appear in his right hand.
Then he ran over the vines at his feet and ran in a straight line to Koizumi.

-- The distance was reduced in an instant.

''This is the end--''

Flying upwards, Saeki swung his right-hand spear at Koizumi as if to strike him and threw it vigorously.

''Gyaaahhhh!''

The spear of fire was brilliantly stabbed into Koizumi's heart area.
At that moment, the protection system in the exercise area was activated and the spear that had pierced Koizumi disappeared.
After that, a green wave of energy enveloped Koizumi and applied rapid healing.

At that moment, a loud cheer erupted from the audience.

-- "Whoa!　Whoa, whoa, whoa!　Whoa, whoa, whoa!'"

Koizumi fainted on the spot.

-- "Winner, Kenta Saeki!"

With the announcement of Saeki's victory, more cheers erupted.
The victory was overwhelming.
Saeki had defeated Koizumi unharmed.

The medical team rushed to Koizumi's side as he lay on the ground.

With that, Saeki left the venue.



â



Koizumi opened his eyes.
Then he saw the ceiling.
It was the ceiling of the infirmary.
Koizumi was brought into the infirmary after that and was asleep for a while.

Koizumi stared at the ceiling with his eyes open for a while.
He didn't want to think about anything right now.

Then Takeshi, who was thinner than before but still chubby, came in.
He was followed by Teppei, who was as skinny as a piece of stick, in contrast to Takeshi.

'Koizumi-kun, are you alright?'

Takeshi called out.
He is seriously worried.
But Koizumi didn't speak.
Teppei, sensing the air, closes his mouth, which was about to open.

The two of them came to Koizumi's bed and kept their eyes on Koizumi's expression, scratching their heads with a polish and making unnecessary motions to disguise this awkward atmosphere.
Still, Koizumi remained staring at the ceiling.
And it took a little while for Koizumi to open his mouth.

''I don't think I wasn't good enough,''

Koizumi was the first to say so when he opened his mouth.
The two of them quietly show their agreement, "Yes.
Of course, Koizumi knows that it was said out of concern.

'I didn't think he was that sneaky, that greedy for victory. I thought he was joining in with the same lax mind as me, that's what I thought....

It can't be helped........Saeki is a wise man. And because of that, his magic power is also higher than mine.

Teppei blurted out.

'There's a difference in levels, though, isn't there?　But I lost because I let my guard down. I was on my guard the whole time. And I should have thought more. I know that his strongest magic is the fire attribute. Then I should have prepared water...

I'm sorry, Koizumi-kun.

Then Takeshi apologized.

'I didn't think you were that serious, Koizumi. I should have lent him a little more help. That would have raised Koizumi's level of skill, and he might have come up with a different plan. It might have increased our chances of winning...

'I don't know. .....

I think so.

I don't think so. I don't think so. You'd have lost anyway. It looks like Saeki was still hiding his inner workings. And since he didn't use any advanced magic he would have lost anyway. And it's not that I wanted to win. I just wanted to embarrass him. But that was the wrong thing to do in the first place. The only thing that mattered to him was winning. And because of that, I am the one who has been embarrassed. I was wrong from the very beginning... from the very beginning.

Then the door to the infirmary opened quietly.
Koizumi stared at the ceiling and they both looked towards the door.

'Is Koizumi okay?　How are you feeling?

--Saori Kawachi.

Her figure was there.