“Noah, I’ve told you time and time again. Staying still is not the way to go.”

Within the pristine white blanket, Noah’s eyes barely peeked out as he stared blankly at Allen.

“Just watching? Of course it’s nice for you. After all, you’re the one with the unrequited love. But do you think Nigel will also stay still like you?”

…… Shake, shake.

The large blanket mound moved slightly from side to side.

“Just look at today. Did we ever expect that Nigel, that kid obsessed with studying and love, would have someone he likes?”

Flinch-

The blanket mound soon shrank back weakly, wriggling.

“You need to be vigilant now! From what I see, it definitely looks like Nigel’s first love. You know that first loves, even unrequited first loves, stay deeper in the heart! in the heart! You know that best, don’t you?”

Allen patted his chest forcefully.

“Noah, are you going to keep staying still as just Nigel’s friend? Even when Nigel gets a new unrequited love, even when Nigel starts dating someone other than you, even when Nigel sends you an engagement letter asking you to congratulate him?”

At the mention of unrequited love, a startled face popped out of the blanket. And the more Noah listened, the paler his face became.

“Yeah, you’ve finally realized the gravity of the situation? Then do you know what you need to do right now?”

Slam!

Allen reached out his hand powerfully.

“There’s a pâtissier at the Imperial Palace that I’ve known since I was young. I’ll ask them to make a dessert for Nigel……”

“No…… That’s of course really great too, but!”

Allen gritted his teeth in frustration.

“Noah, we need to think about the matter at hand. Where did Nigel say he’s participating? The Sword Mastery Tournament! If he participates in the tournament but drops out and can’t compete against senior Jayden, how much regret will he have?

At that moment, ta-da~. Like a true knight, I shall continue the lady’s revenge for him. If you do that, wow~ wouldn’t Nigel be happy?”

“Now that I think about it… it does seem that way.”

Noah nodded in agreement at Allen’s smooth flowing words.

“See, I told you? Even though Nigel seems all stiff, his inside is soft and squishy. If you take revenge for him, he’ll secretly be happy. So let’s hurry to senior Oliver before it’s too late. If it seems fun, that senior will definitely make a spot for you somehow.”

Bang!

Allen’s hand pulled Noah, who was buried in the blanket, and kicked open the door.

Friday, the day of the Sword Mastery Tournament.

From Monday when the big news broke that Nigel was participating in the tournament, until Friday approached, a subtle atmosphere lingered in the academy.

The students who would normally chatter lively enough to make the academy fly away were collectively muttering all week as if they had eaten something wrong.

“…… Who did you pick for the round of 16?”

“…… I bet 10 silvers each on Noah and Jayden, of course.”

“…… The Sword Mastery Tournament has been held over 200 times, but having it within the same department is really boring. You should know to diversify your investment like me. Swordsmanship Department 1, Magic Department 1. I bet 5 silvers each on Elliot and Nigel.”

Even the fact that the departments don’t get along well was an exception only for this week.

As the tournament approached, students directly approached those from other emblems to ask about the recent health status and mood of the participating students.

Especially for the significant others and close friends of the participants, an onslaught of gifts continued day by day, including desserts procured from outside that couldn’t be obtained within the academy and exam answer keys.

The professors would pass by, satisfied to see students from different emblems gathered here and there in the academy, holding textbooks and engaging in heated discussions.

In reality, the students were hiding the participant list under their textbooks, using ventriloquism, and wishing for the professor to pass by quickly.

Thanks to that, the popularity of some Magic Department students who possessed soundproof magical tools skyrocketed.

In addition, a notebook belonging to a Political Department student, containing the tournament records of the past 10 years, circulated throughout the school without a single crease or doodle, as if it were a bible.

Tap.

“…… So, why is everyone so serious about the Sword Mastery Tournament?”

Nigel, who had taken refuge in the Magic Department’s student council room, put down his pen on the desk and spoke.

It had been 5 days since he had been escaping to the student council room via teleportation stone as soon as classes ended, due to unknown students approaching and talking to him at every free moment.

“Ah, don’t be like that and enjoy the popularity, freshman. You won’t get to experience it if not now.”

Oliver, with his feet stretched out on the desk, rested his chin on his hand and said.

“If I had known it would be this bothersome, I wouldn’t have participated……”

Nigel frowned.

“It’ll be over in just one day anyway. Round of 16 at 6, quarterfinals at 8, semifinals at 9, finals at 10! Simple, right?”

Oliver counted on his fingers as he spoke.

“Why do we have to do it overnight when there are many other days??”

“Freshman, you don’t know anything. If we split it across dates, the risk of the professors finding out increases. And the kids’ interest and anticipation drop too.”

“In the first place, does it make sense for the entire 3rd year of the Magic Department to be working on illusion magic just to hold the Sword Mastery Tournament behind the professors’ backs?”

“Ah, you mean that insanely complicated large-scale illusion magic design to create illusions identical to the entire student body and have those illusions naturally roam around for several hours?”

“Judging by how detailed your knowledge is, I guess the designer of that illusion magic is you, senior.”

“Correct!”

Oliver grinned.

Nigel felt goosebumps rising on his arms at the carefree smile imbued with madness.

‘Is this person a genius or a madman?’

It was already amazing to expand the illusion magic, which has a dreadfully complex design compared to other magic, to the scale of the entire student body. What was even more astonishing was that Oliver had created this design in just a few weeks.

All to hold the Sword Mastery Tournament behind the professors’ backs.

“…… I really can’t figure you out, senior.”

“Oh, I hear that a lot!”

Heh, Nigel let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded and picked up his pen again.

Then Oliver gave a gentle smile.

“Freshman. Let me give you some advice as someone who’s only lived 2 years longer than you. Studying is of course good, but sometimes immerse yourself in events like this.

When else will we have the opportunity to play with our peers like this if not now? When we all leave the academy and meet outside, everyone will be busy being formal with each other. There aren’t many days when we can play together putting backgrounds aside.”

“…… Yes.”

Nigel, whose favorability towards Oliver had risen slightly after the picnic, obediently nodded.

“By the way, why did Viscount Beselion suddenly decide to participate in the Sword Mastery Tournament? I approved it right away because it’s fun, but…”

Flinch.

Nigel belatedly tried to act nonchalant, but it was of no use in front of Oliver.

“Ahh. You don’t know either?”

‘He really won’t pretend not to know even once.’

Tsk, Nigel clicked his tongue.

When they persistently questioned him about why he was participating, Allen and Noah never mentioned a word about why Noah was suddenly participating in the tournament.

Whenever Nigel tried to bring up a topic related to the tournament, they somehow changed the subject.

‘Thinking about it makes me annoyed again.’

Nigel wrinkled his face and got up from his seat.

“I have some business at the annex, so I’ll get going.”

“Hmm…… I think I know. Nigel, shall I specially tell you?”

“No thanks?”

Nigel quickly packed his bag.

“Alright, don’t forget to meet at the main sports field after dinner. And don’t forget to find out why Viscount Beselion is participating~”

Oliver leaned his head back and waved at the upside-down Nigel.

The sulky Nigel nodded his head.

And not long after, Nigel’s hand emitted a blue light and soon disappeared from sight.

In front of the annex.

Nigel stared blankly at Charlotte’s note he had received this morning, asking him to come to the annex, and smiled.

‘Is she perhaps inside?’

Worried about missing Charlotte, Nigel quickly stepped into the annex.

Creak.

As he opened the door, he saw a male student sleeping with a robe with green ends flipped over his head.

‘Oh no.’

He got caught at the wrong time.

Just as Nigel was about to hurriedly leave the annex, the male student raised his head.

And as the robe naturally flowed down, the blue hair reminiscent of an early autumn night sky hidden inside was revealed.

‘…… Jayden Galloway.’

Of all people to run into, it had to be Jayden. Nigel’s already unpleasant mood plummeted to the underground.

“…… Phew, that’s a relief. It was you, junior.”

Jayden, who seemed to have been quite troubled by the Sword Mastery Tournament like Nigel, sighed in relief and brightened up upon seeing Nigel.

Bow, Nigel lowered his head once and quickly moved his steps.

“Ah, wait a moment, junior.”

“……”

Of all places to get caught, it had to be right in front of the door. Nigel cursed his unfailing misfortune inwardly and stopped his steps.

Then he turned around and sat a few spaces away from Jayden.

“Seeing you like this makes me happy again.”

“Ah, yes.”

Nigel answered without looking towards Jayden.

“Hmm…… I felt it at the train station too, but I guess you really dislike me, junior.”

…… You’re calling me even though you know that?