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“As you all know, the exchange event is about showcasing your strengths. The scores will be given by the Sky Swordmage Jeryd here, who will be judging.”

“Hello, students. I’m Jeryd, undeservingly called by such an honorable title. At Principal’s invitation, I’ve been tasked with judging this prestigious department exchange event of the esteemed Ivecar Academy. I look forward to your performances!”

“Mr. Jeryd!”

“Hello, Mr. Jeryd!”

Jeryd was quite popular.

Not only was his appearance refreshingly handsome, but his position as the head of the Inquisition, which judged heresies, contributed greatly.

The Inquisition was a quite powerful independent organization within the Holy Empire. The head’s only superior was the emperor, the sole ruler of the empire.

In other words, it could be seen as the emperor’s direct organization, his iron fist.

Of course, that was just nominally so – in reality, their orders came from someone other than the emperor.

Because the Holy Knights belonged directly under the emperor.

In any case, Jeryd was the director of such an Inquisition, so impressing him meant potentially joining the Inquisition.

More than anything, the Inquisition uniform was hugely popular among the youth.

The exquisitely designed Inquisition uniform was a masterpiece created by Shamarziel, the empire’s renowned tailor.

This outfit that exuded style at a glance was loved by all, regardless of age or gender.

As such, quite a few students wished to join the Inquisition solely for the chance to wear the stylish uniform, putting aside all other reasons.

“Mr. Jeryd possesses outstanding skills in both the sword and magic, allowing him to evaluate without bias or leaning towards either side. You need not worry about his assessment.”

The vice-principal shouted loudly.

“Now then, from the Knight Department’s Swordsmanship Department! Ms. Yuna Garnet will take the vanguard. Her opponent from the Magic Department’s Magic Department is Ms. Ingerd!”

At the vice-principal’s call, Yuna and Ingerd stepped forward.

“Ms. Yuna Garnet will showcase her transformation-focused swordsmanship. And Ms. Ingerd will display technique magic.”

The vice-principal’s words caused a stir among the students.

“But with only Roanna absent, isn’t this actually advantageous for the Magic Department?”

“There are still two golden age members, and Yuna Garnet didn’t even participate in the department representative selection.”

“They said personal circumstances, so she probably couldn’t train.”

“While Ingerd being Roanna’s replacement lacks weight…”

“This seems like a mistake by Teacher Ethan. The vanguard is so important. Wouldn’t it be better to put Ron up front instead?”

“I think so too. It has to be either Mason or Ron. The vanguard needs to secure the first win.”

“Not Yuna.”

The other teachers were also looking at Ethan with the same viewpoint.

Yuna Garnet was certainly skilled.

But it was difficult to compare her to Ron or Mason, whose abilities had rapidly grown recently.

It was hard to picture Yuna winning as the vanguard.

Especially Ron.

While Mason’s innate potential had exploded thanks to Ethan’s teachings, Ron was completely different.

Ron used to be the absolute worst in the Swordsmanship Department.

Yet that former dead-last had surpassed top students.

All thanks to Ethan’s teachings.

If Ron had been the vanguard, he would have surely carried that momentum to secure the first win.

“If it were me, I would have sent Ron as the vanguard.”

“This is his first time, so he must have been nervous.”

“If I had gone out…”

Ciron Ramsdale was watching the teachers with a look of distaste.

“If you had gone out? You don’t even have the ability to… Ugh.”

“Be quiet, Teacher Ciron. Everyone can hear you.”

Iris covered Ciron’s mouth.

“I understand you’re upset too.”

The Magic Department side was also clearly dismissing Ethan. Of course, the teachers who had witnessed the department representative selection firsthand remained quietly reserved.

“There must be a reason Teacher Ethan chose Ms. Yuna Garnet as the vanguard, not out of thoughtlessness. The vanguard has the crucial opportunity to set the tone. Especially since they need to win two out of three exchange events, it’s very important. He definitely had a reason for choosing Yuna over Ron or Mason!”

However, even Ciron, who spoke those words, couldn’t help but understand the other teachers’ thoughts.

Recently, Ron and Mason had been in excellent condition.

He had produced outstanding results in the midterm exams, surprising the students, and could be considered at their peak, having defeated higher-scoring students in the department representative selection.

In contrast, Yuna hadn’t shown much.

Of course, everyone knew Yuna Garnet’s skills were top-tier. But the Magic Department’s vanguard Ingerd was the student Teacher Duty had brought in as Roanna’s replacement.

In other words, she was undoubtedly skilled. If she were merely average, Teacher Duty would not have sent Ingerd as the vanguard.

He would have secured two wins with the definite golden age duo, and not fielded Ingerd.

While Ciron and Iris thought Ethan must have had a solid reason for choosing Yuna as the vanguard, they didn’t know what it was.

They weren’t the only ones questioning the situation.

At the highest point of the arena.

The Principal accompanying Jeryd was also tilting his head quizzically.

“Ms. Yuna is the vanguard.”

“A student of lower skill compared to the other two?”

“Originally, Ms. Yuna Garnet had the highest grades and evaluations among those three, but things changed recently. Those two did well on the midterm exams. And the department representative selection was also decided by their victories.”

“Hmm, then you’re saying he should have sent one of those two as the vanguard.”

While everyone thought Yuna shouldn’t go, but rather Ron or Mason, Ethan stubbornly insisted on Yuna.

‘How interesting.’

Jeryd began to focus intently on the two students.

“First, Miss Ingerd will start.”

Jeryd liked this style of exchange battle. He especially enjoyed the fact that they didn’t simply decide the winner by fighting.

‘It’s like they’re showing off their beauty to each other. It’s a chance to display how well they’ve honed their weapons.’

No one gets hurt. Having spent every day smashing heretics, he couldn’t help but appreciate such a peaceful event.

“I’ll begin.”

Ingerd spread her two hands, then instantly created a technique by raising her thumb and index finger.

“Oh.”

With both hands, she deployed different techniques and overlapped them with magic. Her specialty was the composite deployment of techniques.

While ordinary magic uses a single completed technique, Ingerd was extremely skilled at breaking down techniques and introducing variations into the same magic.

She was also skilled at separating and combining techniques.

She mixed a 1st circle light technique with a 3rd circle fire lane technique. Then, light began to spread like rain from her two hands.

“Ooooh!”

Exclamations burst out from among the students.

Particularly loud were the voices of the Magic Department students.

It’s originally difficult to tamper with techniques. Especially separating a completed technique and attaching it to another magic’s technique was even harder.

If the control slipped even a little, it could explode – the risk was there.

Yet Ingerd did it so naturally and calmly.

Watching her, Duty grinned wryly.

‘Just watch. That’s Ingerd. The Ingerd I discovered. She has an innate talent for magical control.’

Duty checked the faces of the Magic Department teachers.

‘It’s not at a level that even a teacher can easily do.’

Ingerd then combined a 3rd circle Magic Department spell with a 4th circle spell. And she continued to elegantly deploy them.

Without pause, she showed off the extent of her abilities, her specialty of composite techniques.

“So Miss Ingerd’s skill was to this degree.”

“Hmm, it seems our department will win the first opening bout.”

“Our department won.”

“It’s over, no need to watch further.”

Duty turned his gaze to the one he most anticipated.

Ethan Whiskers. He never dreamed he would send Yuna Garnet out as the opening fighter.

Contrary to expectations, Ethan’s expression seemed quite relaxed instead of strained.

Even Yuna Garnet in front of him was watching Ingerd’s beautiful magic deployment as if observing.

‘Hah, have they given up already?’

If so, even better. If their real aces were Ron and Mason, then this side could just finish it with their golden age.

“That’s all.”

“Waaaaaah!”

“Incredible! Ingerd’s skill was that good!?”

“I don’t know what’s what… but it seems incredible!”

Ingerd’s flashy composite technique magic drew a huge response from the Magic Department students.

The students applauded and praised her.

“Excellent work, Student Ingerd.”

Jeryd also applauded and praised her.

“Thank you.”

“Moving right along, Miss Yuna Garnet, you’re up.”

“Yes.”

Yuna responded brightly and drew out a wispy chain whip-like weapon. This chain whip could bend with force but stiffen when infused with mana.

Before she had left the academy for personal reasons, Ethan had given her one assignment.

He didn’t assign her the full 100 percent. Just 80 percent of the load – Ethan’s assignments were that intense.

-The assignment? Of course, I finished it all!

She said this as she showed Ethan the results of the assignment. More diligent than she appeared, she had completed Ethan’s assignment 100 percent.

“Are you anxious?”

“…To be honest, yes.”

“It’s certain that Ingerd’s skill is far below Roanna’s, right?”

“Yeah.”

Mason had some mastery of magic too. Even to him, Ingerd’s skill looked outstanding.

“You two, watch closely. Not a single person here thinks I made the right choice. Everyone thinks I made a mistake. Look over there especially. The Magic Department already thinks they’ve won. They think Yuna is the sacrifice pawn.”

Ethan said this.

Yuna, having drawn her sword, took a stance. It was the first stance of her ever-changing sword art, her specialty.

“I made the right choice.”

Yuna’s sword unfurled.

“And now everyone will see that my choice was correct.”

Shlick –

Hundreds of thin lines bloomed from Yuna’s sword like a flowering blossom.

Author's Thoughts

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