Chapter 83

"Hmmmm..."

I sat down at my seat, leaned forward over the table, held my breath, and stared intently at the object in front of me with a tense expression. This was the usual old school building's conversation room, which was used as the executive headquarters for the school festival next door.

I wasn't relaxing with Tütte; I was in the middle of a special training session.

"Ah!"

I let out a sound that cut the tension, and my body relaxed. Scattered in front of me were cards.

"You can't seem to build a card pyramid properly."

I slumped in my seat, threw my limbs out, and gazed at the ceiling, a bit impolitely, while complaining to myself.

I was trying to build a pyramid with cards to improve my concentration. However, it was incredibly difficult. Not only did I lack sustained concentration, but my overwhelming power, fueled by excessive tension, would tear the cards in half.

"But, improving your concentration and practicing power saving is a good thing, isn't it? Try your best, Miss."

Tütte encouraged me while gathering the scattered cards and replacing the ones that were about to tear with new ones.

"You're right, let's do our best!"

I straightened my posture, picked up the cards, and focused again.

After an hour, I concentrated and concentrated, and finally managed to build the base of the pyramid. From there, I had to stack them up, but the fine work made my tension and frustration reach their peak.

(Focus, focus... focus...)

Knock, knock!

At that moment, a gentle knock on the door broke my concentration, and I shuddered.

I tore the card I was holding in half, and the cards I had painstakingly stacked fell apart.

"~~~"

After staring at the scene with a melancholic expression, I faceplanted onto the desk. Tütte, who was looking at me with a wry smile, went to answer the door and confirmed the visitor.

"Miss, it's Magilka."

"Ah, yeah, it's fine, come in."

I waved my hand while still faceplanted.

"What's wrong, Mary? You're being quite impolite."

Magilka, who had entered, approached me with a puzzled look.

"Don't worry, I'm just a bit tired from trying to improve my concentration."

"Improving your concentration? Why?"

"Well, it's... oh, dangerous. This is a secret."

I realized I was revealing my strategy to my opponent, Magilka, and instinctively sat up and clammed up.

"Oh, I see. If you can't tell me, it must be related to the tag team battle."

"No comment."

I crossed my arms to reject Magilka, who was smiling at me with narrowed eyes. She chuckled and sat down in front of me.

"By the way, I heard from Senior Carolus that you and Mary are developing some kind of special move."

"Ugh, that senior. She's such a chatterbox."

I sighed, imagining Senior Carolus, who had probably let it slip unintentionally.

"Speaking of the tag team battle, how's your side coming along? Is it going well?"

"Yes, that fool has improved quite a bit. We've been greatly helped by Senior Carolus and the others."

I tried to get some information from her, but she skillfully deflected it. As expected of Magilka, she is much calmer than I am.

I looked at Magilka with admiration and noticed something odd. Her wrist was wrapped in a white bandage.

"Magilka, are you hurt?"

"Huh? Oh, this? It's fine. I just hurt my wrist a bit during practice. It's not serious enough to require a healing spell, and it will heal soon."

(It's unusual for the elegant Magilka, who doesn't get involved in rough activities, to get hurt. And why would a mage hurt her wrist? She's not a swordsman.)

"Swords and magic... I'm impressed by Mary's skills."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"…It's my business, don't worry about it. But, about the Queen's visit..."

While I was lost in thought, I was intrigued by Magilka's offhand comment and asked her to repeat it. However, she deflected it and moved on to the main topic.

"I've planned the route for the third day when the Queen will visit."

"Hmm, hmm."

I took the paper she offered and looked it over.

"I'll avoid places that are too deep or crowded. After visiting a few places, the Queen will watch the tournament at the arena."

"At the arena, we need to be there, but what about then?"

"His Highness will take over the escort duty, so please don't worry. Mary, can you use this route as a reference to arrange the security and guide the visitors?"

"Sure, I'll discuss it with Safina and the team leaders to create a good schedule. By the way, Klaus and the others will be visiting soon. Can I share this plan with them?"

"Yes, I prepared it for that purpose."

"Thank you. I really appreciate it."

I was so focused on my own issues that I hadn't thought about the preparations, and I genuinely admired and thanked Magilka for her thoroughness.

"By the way, I have a question about the tag team battle."

"Hmm, what is it?"

As I handed the paper to Tütte for storage, Magilka recalled something and asked.

"Will you use that armor on the day of the battle?"

"That armor? Oh, the silver armor?"

I was momentarily confused by the sudden question but then realized that when it came to armor, it was the silver armor.

(Hmm, if I wear it, I can blame any issues on the armor. I'd like to wear it if possible.)

"We're also planning to be well-armed. What do you think about allowing the use of magic items? The silver armor is a kind of magic item, right?"

"Magic items, huh. I'll ask Safina."

The silver armor was just a suit made of white ore, but I had used it to cover up various things, and it had somehow become a magical armor that gave me various bonuses. So, it wasn't strange for Magilka to call it a magic item.

"I've already discussed this point. Safina said she would leave it up to you."

"…You work fast."

"If you use the armor, it will reduce the burden on your body. I would like you to wear it. Otherwise, I'll be distracted and can't fight at full strength."

(I see, that's how it is. I said it was a temporary solution and forgot about it.)

"Sure, if there's no problem on your side, I'll allow the use of magic items."

"Thank you. Now I can prepare without any worries."

"Huh, prepare? What do you mean by that?"

"Hehe, no comment."

Magilka crossed her arms, just as I had done earlier, but in a more refined manner.

"I'm looking forward to the mock battle. Well, Mary, I have other things to do. Good day."

As I tried to get more information, Magilka deftly deflected it, stood up, and left the room.

"Really, what is she up to, Magilka?"

I felt a twinge of unease and stared at the door she had left through.

The next day.

"Mary! I can do a four-hit combo now!"

"Wow!"

Safina excitedly reported something incredible to me. Even for the hardworking Safina, this was too fast.

"Though, I'm cheating a bit."

"What do you mean?"

Safina hesitantly showed me her right arm, which had an old and intricate bracelet. The gems set in the bracelet glowed suspiciously.

(It looks antique and expensive. It doesn't seem like something Safina would have.)

"What is that?"

"It's a magic item passed down in the Kalsana family. Yesterday, when I casually mentioned the four-hit combo to my father, he lent it to me after hearing that the Queen would be watching the battle. Fortunately, the rule now allows the use of magic items, so I'll use it."

Safina stopped showing me the bracelet, looking a bit embarrassed.

"What does this item do?"

"It temporarily increases the wearer's speed. The Kalsana family's sword techniques are closely tied to speed. It seems that an ancestor found this item to maximize their skills and it has been passed down through generations."

"Wow."

"That's how I managed to do the four-hit combo by combining it with a speed enhancement spell. However, the bracelet's effect only lasts a few minutes and can only be used twice a day."

"Wow, that's amazing. It feels more like a family heirloom than a magic item. Your father must have high hopes for you to lend it to you."

"Y-Yes, I guess so."

Safina looked at the bracelet with a mix of tension and joy, responding to my words.

"I want one too. I'm starting to want a family heirloom."

"Doesn't your family have something like that?"

"I don't know. I've never heard of it."

(Well, knowing my father, he might gleefully bring out some legendary heirloom that's too much, so I'm a bit scared to ask.)

I imagined my father going overboard and chuckled dryly.

"But, Mary, you have the silver knight's armor."

Thinking I was disappointed, Safina tried to encourage me.

"Yeah, that's true. But, it's not the silver knight's armor. It's just a convenient silver armor."

I emphasized this to Safina. Everyone tends to call it the silver knight's armor, so I'm trying to correct them subtly when I hear it. However, I don't want to raise suspicions by actively denying it.

(Hmm! Wait a minute. That means I'm the only one who can't do it. This is bad! I need to do something. Oh, I wish there was a convenient heirloom that could make my mental state invincible.)

While wishing for something that doesn't exist, I continued to practice improving my concentration.

"Apparently, my body is completely invincible" is being advertised on the GC Novels and Net Novel Awards websites. If you're interested, please give it a read. I'd be happy if you could pre-order it.