Chapter 75

The Magic Deity Festival and the Six Academies Magic Competition have begun.

The magic city is bustling with an unusual liveliness due to the influx of tourists from all over. Stalls and market stands line the main roads, creating a lively atmosphere similar to a Sunday market in the squares.

Among these, the most highly anticipated event is the joint magic competition of the six academies, which takes place over five days starting from the second day of the festival. The host rotates among the academies, and this year it is the Green Academy. Naturally, the venue is within the grounds of the host academy.

The academies compete in various ways, and the overall performance determines the champion and runner-up schools.

One of the categories is the Newcomer Division, which involves students in their first or second year. Each academy selects six students to participate. The students use magic to complete several tasks, competing to determine the most outstanding student.

The organizers carefully select these students each year. Since only one student can represent each academy and the competition takes place on the first day, a high score here can significantly advantage the rest of the competition.

Today is the first day of the competition. The deans of the six academies have gathered in the VIP seats set up in the largest stadium of the Green Academy.

"Last time, we got off to a slow start, but this year, that won't happen. We'll surge ahead from the start."

"Unfortunately, the Blue Academy will undoubtedly take the lead on the first day."

"No, this year, our academy is very confident. We will definitely secure the top spot."

"Hehehe, I'm afraid I feel the same. After all, our representative is the standout talent of the past ten, no, twenty years."

"Oh, if you say so, the student I chose is the best talent since the founding of the academy."

Each dean seems to believe without a doubt that their student will win. As a result, the atmosphere is even more intense than usual.

"Hah, you can talk big now, but... isn't someone missing?"

"It's probably Brag from the Black Academy."

"Come to think of it, you're right... He should have been here by now."

"Well, he's probably just fed up with the usual crushing defeat. Or maybe he's given up from the start."

"The day the Black Academy closes is not far off."

"... It seems he's here. This year's top newcomer."

Redra, the dean of the Red Academy, looked at a young man approaching. According to tradition, participants greet the deans before the competition, and he must have been instructed by a teacher or staff member to come to the VIP room.

He is about eighteen or nineteen years old. Although he is a bit older for a newcomer, he meets the requirement of being within two years of enrollment.

"My academy's participant has arrived as well," said Bluna, the dean of the Blue Academy.

Green, the dean of the Green Academy, tilted his head.

"...? From what I can see, only my academy's participant is coming this way..."

Yellowa of the Yellow Academy and White of the White Academy added,

"That's odd? I can only see my academy's participant..."

"That's what I was going to say."

As they all claimed the same thing, the young man approached them.

"I came because I was told to come and greet you."

As soon as he said this,

"Let me introduce him! This is our academy's participant, Arle!"

"Let me introduce him. This is the Blue Academy's participant, Arle."

"Let me introduce him. This is our academy's chosen participant, Arle."

"Aye, let me introduce him. This is the Yellow Academy's representative, Arle."

"Let me introduce him. This is the strongest participant I chose, Arle."

The deans' voices overlapped.

"......Huh?"

◇ ◇ ◇

Just before the other deans realized that the person they each expected to be different was actually the same person.

Brag, the dean of the Black Academy, was not at the competition venue but in a building within the grounds of the Green Academy. The building was under renovation, but the workers were absent during the festival.

In the magical laboratory set up in the basement, Brag had been working tirelessly since last night.

"Finally, it's complete..."

He stopped his hands and smiled with satisfaction.

"Ku, ku... With this... I will show those fools... the power of black magic..."

He spent almost the entire night drawing a massive magic circle on the floor. When he poured in a vast amount of magic power, the complex patterns of the magic circle began to glow.

"Now... come forth... creatures of the netherworld...!"

Suddenly, a terrifying light burst forth, turning the basement laboratory pitch black. It was a sinister, black light.

Brag, who had closed his eyes, cautiously opened them to see—

"Oh... oh... it's a success...! This... this is... the strongest creature that only exists in the netherworld... Grato...!?"

He couldn't finish saying the name. The creature that appeared suddenly extended its tentacles and grabbed Brag's thin body.

"Wait! I am your master...! I didn't command you to do this...! Let go immediately!"

He frantically gave orders, but

"Why! Why won't you listen to me...!?"

There was no response. Instead, the creature pulled Brag closer, trying to engulf him.

"My body...! Stop...! Gyaahaaa—"

His scream was cut off.

The creature, having absorbed Brag's body, was not satisfied.

—I'm hungry.

Driven by this desire alone, it searched for more delicious prey and began to crawl out of the basement laboratory.