LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 55.1
Stage 2-24. Praise And Schemes
Three students lay sprawled on the floor.
Sherba’s glasses shattered from the fall. Malka rolled around like a caterpillar. For some reason, Bowden lay with an ecstatic expression, his rear sticking up.
Seeing this, the judge raised a white flag.
“What… what an outcome! Once the lid was lifted, it was a flawless victory…! Sheer power! Rishburg Magic Academy has thoroughly crushed Misosona Magic Academy with its new team after last year’s bitter defeat!”
The announcer declared the results.
After a brief pause, the audience’s voices filled the venue with various emotions.
Voices of admiration for our victory. Voices shocked at the unexpected outcome. Voices of frustration from those cheering for the losing team.
All the voices I hear now make me happy.
Because they’re all celebrating our win.
“Mashiro. Reina.”
“Ouga-ku~n, yay!”
“Great job.”
High-fiving the two who share my joy.
This is just the first round, but this match will have a big impact.
Other schools will surely abandon any hope they’d held, accepting that Rishburg Magic Academy is indeed strong.
When even a small shadow of doubt about winning appears, the chance of victory becomes extremely slim.
But right now, more importantly—
“Hey, Reina. Aren’t you glad you trusted me with this?”
“…Yes. Choosing you as a teammate was the right call, Ouga-kun.”
“Rely on me whenever you need to from now on. I’ll do anything for you, Reina.”
“…Understood. I won’t hesitate to ask.”
Her expression seemed like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she said that.
Phew… now I can relax a bit.
When she’s forced to make a choice, she’ll come to me for advice.
That will make things a lot easier to handle.
“Ouga~! You looked so cool~!”
“You were all absolutely wonderful~!!”
“President! Please, look this way~!”
“…Now, it’s the victor’s right. Shall we respond to their cheers?”
“Yes. I’m in a very good mood right now.”
“Thank you~ everyone!”
Waving to the crowd and thanking them for their cheers, we left the venue.
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“To celebrate our first-round victory—cheers!!”
“Cheers.”
“Hehe, cheers.”
With Mashiro’s call, we clinked our glasses.
After finishing the match against Misosona Magic Academy and enjoying a delicious dinner, we gathered in my room.
I actually wanted to call Karen too and celebrate with the whole student council, but only authorized personnel are allowed into the lodging facility.
I thought of holding the celebration outside so Karen could join, but she stopped me.
“Because I believe you guys will win the championship, Ouga. I’ll reserve a restaurant just for us. Let’s save the fun for the end, okay?” she said.
I can’t let my fiancée, who sent me off with those words, down.
Now, I have one more reason to win the championship.
“Hmm… even cold tea tastes good.”
“Yeah, the taste really changes when Reina makes it.”
Reina brewed iced tea using tea leaves from Lamdaurb that I had bought, giving it another try.
The lingering smell from the store had softened, allowing us to enjoy its aroma fully.
“There’s a trick to it. Gently kneading the leaves with warm hands makes it mellow.”
“Did you get that, Alice?”
“Yes, without any delay.”
“Hehe. But the only downside is that it leaves a smell on my hands…”
“It really does. …But, somehow, I don’t mind it. I wonder why.”
Taking her hand, which she held out, I sniffed it.
The tea scent had seeped into her skin, but I could detect a faint sweet fragrance within it, too.
This scent, represents Reina’s history… yeah, it’s a fragrance I like.
“…Um, Ouga-kun?”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“Even for me… it’s a little embarrassing…”
When I looked up, Reina was, unusually, mumbling a bit.
Reflecting on my actions, I stepped back and assessed the situation.
Holding an older female classmate’s hand and sniffing it… hmm.
Definitely over the line!!
“O-U-G-A-ku~n…?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Accepting the angry pinch from Mashiro, I apologized to Reina, enduring the pain.
“N-no, I was just a bit surprised. …Even if the scent sticks, it’s delicious, so I can’t help but drink it.”
With that, Reina drank it in deliciously, her throat making a soft sound as she swallowed.
“You really do love it.”
“Yes… it’s a taste full of memories.”
It’s a specialty of her homeland. To her, it’s a familiar flavor.
Now that I think about it, given that Frone also drove away the monster army, the Kingdom of Lamdaurb must have strong ties with them.
This means that Reina and Frone likely met here in Lambdave… right…
A spark connects the dots in my mind.
…Wait. What if she wasn’t burdened with all this work only after becoming the student council president, but from an unthinkably young age?
Her suppressed negative emotions could have reached far beyond what I imagined.
“…Reina, since when have you been Frone’s apprentice?”
“…Hmm, when did that happen?”
“Answer me.”
“…I guess I have no choice. It’s a maiden’s secret, you know. …Since five years ago.”
I instinctively knew she was lying.
Her eyes wavered between the Vellet family and Frone, giving it away.
She’s trying to tell me: that the information she just shared isn’t true.
I see… so that’s your way of seeking help, Reina.
You’re testing me to see if I’ll notice.
“Oh, what’s wrong, Ouga-kun? You look so tense.”
She poked my cheek softly, like she did before.
“Really, Ouga-kun. You just won; you’ll miss out if you keep that look on your face.”
“…You’re right. Sorry for spoiling the mood.”
“No worries at all. I get asked that question a lot.”
“…Heh. Then it’s not much of a maiden’s secret, is it?”
“Those kinds of things aren’t meant to be said, you know.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Pff, ahaha!! O-Ouga-kun… that face is… hilarious…!!”
She pressed my lips firmly, turning my face into a funny expression, and Mashiro burst out laughing, lightening the atmosphere.
“Well then, see you tomorrow, Ouga-kun!”
“Please rest well tonight.”
“Yeah, you two rest up too. Goodnight.”
After that, we chatted for a while and then decided to call it a night.
…Alright then.
“Alice. Paper and pen.”
“Already prepared.”
“Efficient as ever. With someone as capable as you, I’m lucky.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Saying that, Alice casually snapped a picture of my profile with a camera.
There’s no point in worrying. I trust she won’t misuse it.
Right now, I need to focus on Reina.
I figured my father might know something, so I started writing a detailed message.
“By the way, Alice. I have a question for you.”
“If it’s something I can answer, ask away.”
“What was that cheering group I saw during the match?”
“They called themselves Ouga-sama’s fan club.”
…It really was a fan club.
Some people have unique tastes. In my previous life, some people even rooted for villains over heroes; maybe they’re the same kind.
But a fan club… heh, that has a nice ring to it.
“However, thinking it didn’t suit you, Ouga-sama, I took the liberty of giving them some guidance.”
“…I see.”
So that’s why their cheers were so embarrassingly loud…
“They intend to attend all your matches, so I plan to continue guiding them.”
“…Don’t go overboard.”
“Understood.”
…While talking, I finished writing.
“Alice. Could you take this to the courier? I don’t mind the cost. The sooner it arrives, the better.”
“Understood. I will leave at once.”
Alice took the letter and immediately left the room.
Now, I just have to wait for my father’s response.
Hopefully, it won’t take too long, but he’s a busy man, so I can’t ask for too much.
I’ll continue to do everything I can.
“…Hopefully, nothing happens.”
With that resolution, I headed to the shower room to wash away the sweat and unease.
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