Ring of Pursuit.
　Despite its dumb name, this is a very powerful accessory.

　The effect is a simple "10% chance of additional attack after casting a spell", but it's a huge benefit.

　For example, let's say you have to fire a lot of magic at an extremely high HP boss, and you need to fire not 100 shots, but 1,000 shots or more, 10% of that 1,000 shots will be "two magic attacks". In other words, you save about 100 rounds.

You may think, "That's not much of an effect," or "That's a rare situation," but it's not. Well, that's not true.

　In fact, this accessory can be strengthened to three levels. If you eventually get a high-ranking blacksmith to join you in enhancing the performance of your equipment, the chase ring will evolve into a monster of a performance.
　To be more specific, after the three levels of enhancement, the additional attack probability will increase from 10% to 25%. That's one in four, and if you fire 1,000 rounds, you'll save the equivalent of about 250 rounds. It's a tremendous effect. My skin was already glowing and my blood thinner.

　But you know what? There's no way that an item with such high performance can't be rare.
　The price is a whopping 1.5 billion cl, and it comes with three low-rebound pillows.
　That was a lot of money in the Mevion era. I have no idea how much they cost in this world.


　I want it at .............

　I'm definitely going to get this one here.

　No matter what you have to do, that is.

　With my mind made up, I asked to participate in the witchcraft tournament.
　Fortunately, the tournament was held on the last day of my study abroad program. Some people will be suspicious of me using the 2-nos and the 3-nos because I said that grimoires are rare, but if I do a ton of rubbing, I'll be able to manage.
　I'd like to think I can handle it.
　I don't care if it's a little suspicious, I want a chase ring.



"Mine, are you going to the magic competition?

　The day before the magic competition. Mine's expression froze when I casually asked that at lunch.

'...... Is Mr. Second leaving?'
Yeah. I'm leaving.

Whew!

　Beside me, Sylvia spews a drink from her mouth in surprise.

'I didn't hear you!
I didn't tell you.

　As usual. This time it was a nice reaction.

'Hey Mein, what's wrong with you, what's wrong with the magic convention?

　I was curious and asked a question. Then Mein said with a cloudy expression on his face.

'Tomorrow your ...... brother will be there .......
The First Prince. You don't like it?
It's not like that, but, you know, I'm not very good at it: ......

　I don't like this one.

"My brother is a talent freak. I'm a very talented swordsman, and he looks down on me because I'm a weakling. I'm not a good judge of character, but I'm also a contender for the throne. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who's interested in this, because it's not just a matter of time before you'll find out.

　That guy seems to have a bad character.
　But is the First Prince the leader of the First Order?

............
　I glanced at Sylvia and saw that she looked like she'd bitten down on a bitter bug.
　I see, I understood. So the top of Sylvia's tormented knight's "upper echelon" is its first prince.

''Can't you miss the magic tournament?''
'I can't!　I'm the second prince, okay?
Oh, you know, the temporary sickness.
''Your brother would say this. That soft and foolish little brother is a cowardly coward who can't even participate in a magic competition while attending a magic school!

　...... Looking at the current situation where he was suspected of bribing and falsifying grades just because he's the second prince, he's finally going to have no place in the school if the first prince is going to say something like that.
　But that doesn't mean that if you leave like this, you'll be cursed out in front of me this time, and I'll have to argue with every single one of them, right?　It's hard for the prince. .......

I'm sorry,
...... It's fine, Second. I don't have a choice.

　Mine said that with a look of resignation and realization.

　It's a very comforting sight to see Eco chewing on her food beside me, oblivious to the sad reality of the situation.


By the way, Second-dono.
Hmm, what do you need?
I've got the prototype, three days ago.
'Seriously?　was three days ago!　I'm not listening to you!
I didn't tell you.
............

　d*mn, they did it back: .......




　The day of the witchcraft tournament.
　A large number of spectators have gathered on the ground.

　I was separated from Silvia and Eco, and stood by alone in the contestants' waiting room.
　There are several other students participating in the tournament, and they are all chatting with each other. There are about 10 of them.

But the winner's prize is this ring ...... which I've never heard of.
'It's like it wasn't a big deal last year, even though it was the 50th anniversary last year, and it's shrinking in size every year.
'We're losing participants, and with all the rule changes we've had, we're down.

　How can these guys say that they are shelving the possibility that their students are getting lower and lower?
　But still, you're an aspiring sorcerer and you don't know the value of the chase ring?　Sure, if it's unenhanced, you might think the 10% chase is a minor effect, but it's not like you don't know about the enhancements: .......

''But I heard that Klaus-sama is coming to visit this year.
That's right, you're in "A" group, you know?
Oh, I see. The Second Prince.
You know the rumors that you don't get along.　Why?
You gonna call it an exhibition or something and beat the crap out of them?
"Ha-ha!　That's a good one.

　After that, things started to heat up with Mein's innuendo. He can say all he wants because he's not there.

　Shucks, everywhere I go in this school, the "first prince > second prince" scheme is completely in place. It's quite unnatural. I can't think that Main himself is the cause of the problem, and the possibility that the First Prince's side is manipulating the impression is huge. Do they hate Mein that much?　That Klaus guy.

Excuse me. ......

　Saying that, the one who opened the door of the waiting room and walked in was an expressionless Mine. At that moment, the room fell silent with a thump. That's right. You guys were talking about it a lot until just before.

"Oh, you're Seed?

　I called out to him, and Mine instantly smiled and ran over to me.

"Yeah. I'm from the quarterfinals.
Really? So you don't stand a chance in the finals.
I'll see you in the finals.

　The witchcraft tournament is said to be held in a tournament format. There were fifteen participants. Mine was at the left end and I was at the right end. Mine had to win twice to be in the final, and I had to win three times to be in the final.

　I see.
　It's getting interesting.

　...... But there's one thing I don't understand.
　That's because...

By the way, Mine. What's the witchcraft convention about?

　There was a thumping sound and a thumping noise all over the waiting room.

'Oh, you didn't even know you were going to be there!
I'm sorry. What, maybe it's that?　We kill each other with magic, don't we?
Not at all!
So, is that it, or do they just kill each other?
What about magic?　Where's the magic?!
''I see. Then we'd still have to kill each other with magic .......
'No!　We don't kill each other!　Get away from killing each other first!
I don't know what you're talking about.
Why don't you understand what you're saying!

　A sandwich of blurbs and tweaks warmed the frozen air in the waiting room a bit. Mine also seemed to relax somewhat.

'Totally, Mr. Second is .......'
　Mein is stunned, but opens his mouth to explain.

"The magic tournament is held with a 'crown'. That's why it's not a matter of life and death.

　The game crown is an item for PvP (Player vs. Player). Unlike the usual "anything goes" duel, this is a "chicken" item that allows players to duel without any risk to each other, with detailed rules such as restrictions on the use of items and skills.

　The reason why there is no risk is because all the games using the game crown are virtual. Your HP and MP are virtual, and the damage you deal and the damage you can deal are also virtual. Hence, even if you have zero HP, the game is over and you are back to normal without any problems. It is for the chicken. Some gamers fell in love with the freedom of the rules of the game, exploring all sorts of variations and developing interesting games that are different from the usual 'duel'. ......

'The attack has to be sorcery. That's the rule this time. Do you understand?

　Mine's words convinced me.

　...... f*cking game, that's it.



'Round seven!　Grade 1 A Second vs. Grade 1 F Dean!

　When my name is called, I walk out onto the ground and find Sylvia and Eco just behind me.
　I smiled and waved at them, and Eco buzzed and waved back vigorously. The hand touches Sylvia's nose, and she screams in agony.

'The game crown, wear it.'

　The referees will be instructed. When we obeyed the instructions, a large circle appeared to surround me and Dean. This circle with a radius of 50 meters was the field of the game. If you go outside, you lose.

"Both of you take a stance: ...... begin!

　Immediately after the command, Dean started chanting.
　The magic circle appearing at his feet can be identified as 《Wind Attribute, Ni-no Type》 from its color and shape.

　...... This guy is an idiot.

　Type 1 is a normal attack. Type 2 is a ranged attack. Type 2 is a powerful single attack. Four is a powerful ranged attack. Corporal is a very powerful ranged attack.
　The chanting time is 1 → Councillor → 2 → 4 → Corporal, respectively.
　If you are attacked during the chanting time, the chanting is discarded. Hence, during the game, magic of type 2 and above with long chanting time is of little use. This is common sense.

　This is common sense. .............

　You're not going to be able to get away with it, are you, Dean?　Apparently, I heard a rumor somewhere that the Second can't use magic properly?

　I'm bummed.

　I was licked. ...... World number one!　You little bastard!

　If you move forward and hit the Ichino type in the last three seconds of his chanting, it will be settled in an instant. But that would be boring. It would not redeem the resentment of being insulted in this hallowed room of the game.

"Prepare yourself, boy.

　I only took two steps forward and shot 《Wind Attribute, Type 1 No. 1》 in front of me. At about the same time, Dean released the "wind-attribute 弐ノ型" at the same time.

　The magic of the same attribute has the characteristic of "clashing". It is a simple defense method that takes advantage of that. I'm not going to be able to get the same amount of damage, but there is a difference of more than double the hardening time after using the Ichino type and the hardening time after using the Ni no type, so we can create an advantage that is more than enough to make up for it.

"Huh?

　Dean is surprised. 'That's a different story!' This guy's really good at magic! That's about it.

　Worst of all, he let go during the game with a tenth of a second to spare and didn't make another move. Did this guy take me for a fool? I was beyond angry, and I was disgusted.

'You can choose to be tortured to death or to die unceremoniously while begging for your life.

　I chanted 《Fire Attribute, Sanno Type》 while saying that, and finished preparing to activate it by the time I finished saying it.
　The rank was five levels. The chanting time reduction has been increased by 2 levels, and I can attack with 300% of my magic attack power converted from INT. Considering the fact that the 9-dan of the flying wheel archery is 600%, the power doesn't seem like much, but since there are more than 20 magic skill types compared to about 9 archery skill types, the amount of firepower is quite impressive because the INT is easily raised that much more efficiently.

''Well, d*mn--!
'Ugh!　There's garbage in my eyes!

　Just as Dean was about to say the word of surrender, I unleashed a biting samino type.

　A fireball so big it looked like the sun was coming at Dean with a roaring sound. At this point in time, Dean has no way to prevent or duck.

''Whoa!''

　Dean was hit while screaming, and his HP was blown away in one shot. d*mn, it was too powerful, I was going to play with it with about 10% left .......

''......, winner, second!

　When the game is over, the ground goes back to normal as if nothing had happened. It looks like the specifics of the game are the same in this world.
　When I glanced at Dean, I saw that his crotch area was wet. No matter how virtual it is, isn't the physiological phenomenon of the body virtual? Or did it just come out?

Oh. We won.

　On the way to the waiting room, I walked past Silvia and Eco and exchanged a few words with them.

'Sendo, tsukii!
A natural-born deviant.
You've gone too far!　Are you sure?
Yeah, sure. We'll be number one in the world sooner or later. Besides, I'm not going to be in charge after today. I'll get out of here as soon as I get the first prize.
Okay, okay, but don't overdo it. Don't do it again!
All right, all right!　You're my kerchief.
Good luck, Senator.
Oh.

I left with Sylvia's voice caving in, "ka, kerchan ......," and Eco's straightforward support on my back.


　After that, I made it through the second round without a hitch.
　It's time for the semifinals - and that's where I'll face an unusual opponent.