It's been about a week since Dagris was suspended. Today is the day of the rivalry game. Everyone in the class seems to be a little nervous, but their expression is stiff.

Hey, Ray!　How are you doing?

　And speaking to me is Kate Schillinger, who takes a seat behind me. He looks like a simple charlatan without a uniform. On top of that, he's a pretty good-looking guy, but he's the eldest son and squad leader of the Schillinger baronial family.

Yeah, Kate. I'm always good to go.

　Me and Kate are talking and a girl comes in there.

Oh, uh, Kate. I'm all ready to go!

　The girl, who seems to be terrified, is Emma Larousha, who is in the same squad as Kate. She's also the eldest daughter of the Larrousha barons and seems to know Kate. Her eyes are crinkly and pretty, but she hides them with her bangs so I can't see them clearly. And I'm a bit of an evader. She doesn't tell me why.

'Oh, well. Thanks, Emma.

　And Kate strokes her head. Emma doesn't seem to be going easy on her. She rubs up against Kate's palm like a puppy. I'm sure it's not hard for Kate to stroke the 150-odd-year-old Emma as well, since she's just short of 160 in height.

　........I'm finally just a little over Emma, so I have to stand a little taller when I pet Alexia or something like that. Alexia is about 170 or so. I wonder if her growth spurt can't come sooner...

　When I think about it.

Ray. We're ready.

　And Elea came over. Behind them is also Renee. By the way, Elea is also about 160, and Renee is about my size.

I understand. I'm sure you'll be able to find it. Do you want to go with Kate and the others?

Sure.

　Kate was going with me, so I went to the rest of Kate's squad. There was a girl with long black hair and a man with a large shield.

'You're late, Kate. I'm telling you we're ready to go.

'Oh well, Mr. Shizuku. Calm down.

　And the girl is angry at Kate, and the guy is quieting her down. The girl's name seems to be Shizuku Kaidou, and she seems to be a descendant of one of the brave men summoned by the Regalia Empire a long time ago. A few generations ago, the person moved from the Regalia Empire to the Kingdom of Nanor to the present.

　And the man is called Burdon. His body is 12 years old?　He has a huge body that makes you want to ask him, "What do you think? It seems that he is from a farming village, but he came to the school because he wanted to become a soldier.

I'm sorry, Shizuku-san. Well then, shall we go to the teacher's place?

　and Kate's group is heading to the teacher's place, so we are following them. We're going to report the completion of preparations to the teacher.

We're ready to go. As I told you before, the rule of this rivalry is to protect the squad leader from the enemy. If a squad leader is defeated, that squad will be disqualified even if there are still members left in the squad.
　Also, although the entrance to this space is the same, you will be separated when you enter, so please hold hands with other squad members as you will be separated. So please hold hands with other team members as they enter.

　And Dr. Mary shifts to the side. This entrance seems to be connected to a special labyrinth for training. It seems that one of the founders of this Kardia Academy built it, and now they don't know how it was built. It is said that even if something inside is broken, it will be fixed the next time you enter, and even if you are injured inside, you will be healed once you get out. It's too strange. I'm thinking about that.

Okay, we'll start with our team. I'm not going to let you down.

　Kate says.

'We ain't gonna lose, either,'

　I said back, and Kate laughed and walked into the space. 'Okay we'll go too.

'Yes, Elea, hold it.'

　I hold out my left hand to Elea. Elea also holds it with her right hand. Lane holds Elea's left hand.

'Alright, let's go!'

　Then you step into the space and whoa!　I felt as if I was flying through the sky as my eyes went blank. And then the next thing I knew, everything around me went dark and I opened my eyes.

...in a school building?

　It was a corridor. It was like the inside of Cardia Academy. But it looks a little different and older than it does now. Is it from the era when the founders built it?

It's kind of old-fashioned.

But it's beautiful.

　It's certainly as good as new. I knew it was the time of the school that just made it.

''Alright, for Dagris' sake, I'll win at all costs!

Yeah!

Of course!

　All right, let's do it!