I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

40

The Selenium Athletic Festival.

One of the essential events you inevitably experience while playing the game.

Regardless of grade or department, the dazzling battlefield of youth where all students are divided into Red and White teams and clash.

Explosions happen on the relay track, for sure.

Trios on the field turning the ongoing game upside down, swinging swords and casting spells recklessly in cavalry battles, or even in tug-of-war, not just the ropes but also sending opponents flying.

It’s a romantic battlefield where everything is allowed except for killing or being killed.

Moreover, being a “Selenium” event, it is a competition that attracts attention from the outside, and winning the “individual competition” here brings great honor and garners much attention even in society after graduation, recognized as one of the proud achievements you can boast about in your career after graduation.

As injuries are common, students wear necklaces that serve as protective barriers, so it’s safe to say that there’s hardly any risk of students dying.

Although the athletic festival is still a ways off, Selenium is already burning hot with unstoppable fervor.

And.

The same goes for the 2nd-year Magic Department.

Students who can’t concentrate well in class as usual.

“Hmm. The athletic festival, huh.”

Among them, there was a girl who always listened to lectures with a serious expression.

The girl, who seemed a bit more excited than usual, was Reyna von Wolfang.

The daughter of the Wolfang family, the next in line to lead the powerful Replight in the West, and the vice-chair of the 2nd-year Magic Department who handles all the academy’s information like the back of her hand.

Yes, 2nd year.

She endured a hellish year at Selenium and rose to the position of vice-chair.

Ultimately, it was a story that she had already experienced the “athletic festival.”

She shook her head while looking out the classroom window.

“Last year, I showed a truly pathetic performance and results at the athletic festival.”

How was she last year?

The self from the past, who knew nothing and was full of energy, came out as the last runner in the relay, but fell for the trap of the damn Student Council leader and ended up ranking third.

The face of that dim Eastern guy, who faintly smirked as if mocking her, still lingers in her memory!

“I won’t lose this time, no matter what!”

Yes.

This time, I will never be defeated!

I will mock myself in the same way!

With such determination, Reyna nodded her head.

‘Wait, now that I think about it….’

As she was getting ready, a sudden question arose.

‘Adrian didn’t participate in the last sports event either. Is he planning not to participate this time as well?’

I don’t know.

Adrian.

What on earth are you thinking?

Although she hadn’t told herself, Reyna, confident in her deductive skills, based her conclusion on the incidents involving Melwood Elian.

Adrian seems to be aiming to become the ‘heir of Repelheight.’

Defeat the current heir of Repelheight, Evnis Rothenchild de Repelheight, and then defeat the ‘heir’ himself.

Driven out of the family, he returns to take the highest position in the family.

And Reyna, the top student of the 4th-year Department of Magic Melwood Elian, is just one of the talents he has recruited for his ‘faction’ to become the future heir.

“Full of ambition, isn’t he.”

Of course, everyone will mock him as foolish.

They will scoff at the impossibility of it all.

A vagabond driven out of the family, trying to climb back to the very top.

Such a storyline wouldn’t be considered realistic even in a novel, so it would be criticized.

Anyway, a vagabond.

Reyna didn’t entirely agree with that statement, but neither did she completely deny it.

‘He used to send gifts and letters on my birthday.’

That must have been when they were young.

After they both grew a bit older, the content of the letters significantly decreased.

Just three lines.

But all the necessary words were there.

Greetings, what he’s been up to, questions about her, and a farewell.

He never forgot to send one each on her birthday and at the end of the year.

‘No, why am I even thinking about this? Forget it, forget it.’

It’s all in the past anyway.

Nevertheless, he is about to do something that everyone would mock.

He is about to walk a path that seems impossible to succeed in.

‘I was originally, no, I was the first one by your side, so it’s a bit disappointing you didn’t mention it.’

However.

The reason he didn’t tell her was probably because.

‘Because I’m from the Wolfgang family, you didn’t ask me to join you.’

The Wolfgang family from the West.

Recently, several letters urging a divorce have arrived at home.

She found them so distasteful that she stored them in the warehouse, but they will probably come again when she returns to the dormitory.

‘No need to worry about that.’

Reyna grumbled, but still smiled.

Wasn’t he always like that?

Seemingly indifferent and rough, yet naturally considerate of others.

It’s the kind of consideration that you wouldn’t know unless you thought deeply about it.

Even if something seems to have changed recently, that fundamental aspect hasn’t changed at all.

So, if he could thoroughly defeat Shukros, who was like an archenemy, in the sports competition and proudly break his lofty nose.

And if he could confidently declare that he had no intention of getting a divorce even when gaining a say in the family.

Wouldn’t the divorce letters coming from home decrease a bit?

‘I should visit after the lecture ends. It would be nice to have an excuse to meet. Oh, about the autonomous study room I didn’t finish last time…’

“Before we finish the class, I’d like to discuss one thing.”

Reyna turned her head to Professor Walnut, who was clapping his hands.

“I understand that you’re all excited about the sports competition. That’s why something came down from the Student Council.”

Assistant Melwood Elian brought a stack of papers with a solemn look, placed it on the table, and then left.

“The Student Council requests each person to inspect three places where the match will be held in detail, write a report, and bring it. The reward is additional service points, so those interested should take one and complete it.”

“That’s it!”

Reyna raised her hand eagerly.

Seeing her enthusiasm, Professor Walnut chuckled and said, “Oh, what’s this? Wolfgang, are you interested?”

“Uh, um…”

Blushing, Reyna sat back down and said in a barely audible voice, “One…please…”

* * *

“Adrian!”

Reyna’s equipment upgrade.

What should be given?

And if given, where to find it again.

With a drink in front of her, lost in thought at the café, she saw him approaching from a distance.

“Reyna, what’s that in your hand… Oh.”

“Adrian, let’s do volunteer work together.”

That thing.

The one I suggested to the Student Council yesterday.

When I asked where he got it, Reyna replied, “Professor Walnut said it was distributed by the Student Council, didn’t he?”

Moreover, it’s said that the reward is volunteer points that only members of the Student Council can receive.

Even if you don’t join the Student Council, you can lay the groundwork to claim, ‘I have collaborated on activities with the Student Council’ after graduation.

Well done, clever canary.

This is a win-win situation not only for the Student Council but also for regular students.

“Well, okay. I was actually looking for you, Reyna.”

“Me…?”

“Yes. It’s a bit out of the blue, but can I show you something with my wand for a moment?”

“Ah, yes. But does it really matter if it’s out of the blue?”

In response to my question, Reyna pulled out the cane that had been hanging on her waist.

At the end of it, there were jewels attached, a cane with gold engravings.

This was the cane she would bring out during the occasional ‘boss battle with Reyna,’ which would only be ‘swappable’ when her favorability level, based on the original work, was 9 or higher.

This sparkling cane, looking like a tremendous treasure, but…

“Well, it’s trash.”

“Pardon? Pardon?”

It truly was trash.

The ‘Branch of Spirits’ that I mainly use is a growth-type item, so its initial stats are almost poop, but this one is even worse than poop.

It’s so bad that it’s not even worth using any options on it.

“Didn’t they give you a wooden staff as a supply when you entered the School of Magic? Why did you throw that away and use this trash instead?”

Reyna’s expression seemed like she might cry at any moment in response to my words.

“Adrian.”

“Yes.”

“This is the cane that Adrian gave me as a gift for my tenth birthday…”

Ah.

Was that so?

Did that trash cane have such a sad legend attached to it?

“It was a cherished gift… from Adrian.”

Reyna wore a mournful expression.

Well.

Here, being shameless rather than offering a half-hearted apology seems more certain.

“Hmph, foolish. Reyna.”

“Yes?”

“That was a cane for the ten-year-old you, not for the current you.”

“…Huh?”

Back then, you weren’t as gifted a magician as you are now. Weren’t you just a little kid with some talent in magic?”

Reyna nodded her head.

“That’s why I gave you this cane. It’s for a fiancée with talent in magic, to become even more adept at magic.”

Whether it was actually given with that intention, I have no way of knowing.

That was entirely something the ‘Adrian’ before my possession would have done.

“That’s true.”

“But now, how about you? You’re not just a little kid with some talent in magic anymore; you’ve become a magician who can confidently hold a position in Salenium, haven’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Using the cane that was given to get familiar with magic when you were young is like a Knight School student bringing the sword they received at ten years old for training.”

“Ah… that makes sense.”

Reyna murmured in agreement.

“This cane is in its current state. It’s suppressing your magic manifestation… not enhancing it. Just limiting it.”

The reason I could easily win in the elemental utilization proficiency test, in a way, might have been significantly due to this cane.

No, it might be because of this wand that I haven’t been able to secure the top spot from ‘Daisy von Schkross’ until now.

“…I did have that feeling. It felt like something was hanging in the balance at crucial moments.”

“That’s exactly it. I have a proposal, Reyna.”

I said, handing over the wand.

“After today, once this volunteer activity is over. If you’re okay with it, would you like to go with me to get a new wand.”

In response to my words,

He clasped his hands together and

shouted,

“Alright! Let’s go! Ah… but where are we going? Shall we go to the wand shop in the shopping district?”

“That place is trash. Don’t even step foot there from now on.”

Who in their right mind buys equipment in a pristine shop when playing an RPG game.

“Yes? So, where, where are we going then?”

Where else.

A place directly related to the events of Act 2,

a place I thought it was about time to visit.

“The Imply Market, the Black Auction.”