Chapter 49: Expectation

“––Tina-san!” Athena shouted.

There was no time to hesitate. Instead of thinking, I moved.

Aiming at the red-haired girl, I jumped with enough speed to make the world blur as it rushed past me.

“…”

It was at times like this I couldn’t help but think ‘Thank goodness.’

After all, I can do it.

I can protect whatever I want to protect when it needs protecting––

“…!”

Time flowed by slowly. That was how fast I was going.

The only ones seemingly moving were me and the magic beast closing in on Tina.

I scooped Tina up off the ground and dodged the magic beast.

A violent blast of wind blew past.

The magic beast’s red eyes glared at us.

The hell’s up with those eyes?

I glared back at it.

…Sorry, but, I’m not about to get broken by the likes of you.

A blast of wind hit my cheeks.

Ignoring my swaying bangs, I followed the shadow of the magic beast as it soared up into the air.

At the same time, I heard cheers––

Suddenly, I felt Tina looking at me.

…Oh, right. I should let her know it’s okay now.

“Sorry for the wait, Tina,” I said to her with a smile.

Seeing her eyes opened wide in surprise as she stared at me somehow gave me a sense of accomplishment.

It really had been a close call. I had only barely made it.

“……hic…”

Tears welled up from her pale red eyes.

She was scared. I can see why, though.

“…”

––The heck even is that thing?

The black magic beast had flown up into the sky after it had charged at Tina.

Is that Runaway Magic…?

No way. It’s completely different from what happened to me when I was little. Rather than a summoned beast, it’s more of a…

“…”

Maro was on his knees, his breathing rough as if he was in pain.

“…”

And there was the black magic beast, circling around in the sky with flaps of its black wings. It seemed to be hesitating to do another attack.

I don’t know whether that’s due to Maro’s resistance or not, though, but…

––Now’s the time to act.

Having decided on that, I made to take Tina somewhere safe.

But then, after having taken a few steps, I was filled with doubts.

…Somewhere safe.

Does that even exist?

As long as that thing’s here, the whole arena is the opposite of safe.

I spread my senses out over the whole arena as I thought that.

…Nope.

I can’t seem to find Lloyd-senpai.

“––So, what are you going to do?” came a voice from behind me right as I thought that, making me shudder for a second.

“…Lloyd-senpai.”

The person I had been looking for had appeared behind me.

Perfect timing. He should be fine.

“Tina, it’s alright now,” I said, trying to put her down, but her slender arms were suddenly wrapped around me.

“Wait… don’t go…” Tina said, looking up at me with teary eyes.

“…”

That was dangerous.

She had looked so cute that I thought I would fall over for a moment, but now wasn’t the time for that.

Instead I turned back to Lloyd, still being hugged by Tina.

“…What’s gonna happen?” was all I asked him, two different meanings woven into those words.

Firstly, what was going to happen with the tournament’s final.

And second, what was going to happen to Maro––

“––Well, when it comes to the tournament… it’ll most likely be cancelled. And I can’t say how Maro Burn will be dealt with.”

…So it will be cancelled.

“However, luckily, things haven’t gone totally out of control here yet. The audience looks more surprised than scared to me,” Lloyd-senpai said, looking towards the audience.

…Right.

Cheers still filled the arena, with many shouts of surprise mixed in.

Not many people had noticed how dangerous that thing was yet, although whether it was because they hadn’t noticed the amount of magical power it contained or whether they thought it was all staged was unclear.

“…!”

––It was then that I noticed.

Maro, a pained expression still on his face, had stood up, and was glaring at me.

His eyes were filled with a will to fight and determination.

––––Well, if that’s how it’s gonna be…

““We can just let the final be––”” Lloyd-senpai’s and my voices overlapped.

A grin flashed across his face. I had probably made the same expression.

We were just postponing the problem.

But, that was the best outcome for me.

I wasn’t doing it for Maro in particular. For my own goal.

……And that’s all.

Lloyd-senpai’s black eyes turned towards me, and I did the same.

My thoughts–– sped up.

Now then, let us begin the preparations.

I’ll make myself the best stage ever.

There are three problems.

First,––

––““Safety””

Our voices overlapped again, but I wasn’t surprised any more.

If it’s him, ––

“––Leave the audience to me. I’m not boasting or anything. Something of that level… is no problem,” he said with a suspicious smile.

The next moment, a magical barrier appeared, surrounding the spectator seats.

…Chantless. Inwardly amazed at his skill at having been able to cast magic without uttering a single word, I also used the strongest magic I knew.

“…Holy Shield, huh?” Lloyd-senpai murmured, and I gave him a nod in response before looking back up at the magic beast circling around up in the air.

I didn’t know exactly how much danger it posed, but I had confidence that I could win. The problem, however, lay elsewhere.

Second,––

“Will the academy accept continuing the tournament?”

Lloyd-senpai wasn’t the one to answer my question, however.

“It most certainly will not,” came a strong-willed voice, one I recognized immediately.

The owner of the voice walked up to us, bringing an overwhelming aura with her, her red hair swinging in sync with her steps as she sent a sharp gaze towards Lloyd-senpai.

“Lloyd, what on earth are you thinking!?”

“…What are your complaints then?”

“That’s not the point. This situation isn’t one we students should be making decisions during. I doubt you’d not know that?”

It was a sound argument.

Maro’s summon was running wild, and Tina had already been in danger.

“The principal and the others have already announced emergency countermeasures. The teachers will be here soon––”

“––They won’t,” Lloyd-senpai interrupted in a low voice.

That moment––

Two shadows appeared behind Lloyd.

“…”

Selena-san made a surprised face, and I was probably making a similar expression.

The two people clothed entirely in black knelt down behind Lloyd.

Even their faces were hidden behind black cloth, so I couldn’t tell what faces they were making.

Despite that, I could still tell––

––they’re strong.

But that wasn’t all there was to them; both of them were hiding almost as much magical power as Selena had, which meant they also had the magical power control to make all that magical power hidden…

The one who broke the silence that made it feel like time itself had stopped was Selena-san.

“Lloyd… what are you thinking!? Do you know how any people are watching…?” she asked him, unable to hide the shaking of her voice.

“It is no problem,” Lloyd-senpai said, and the clothes the two people were wearing changed.

Suddenly, they were wearing the black uniform of the Ferris Magic Knight Academy.

But that wasn’t all –– they had black hair.

Black hair was unusual in this country, so I decided they had probably somehow dyed it.

At the same time, I understood immediately––

I see… so they’re––

Lloyd-senpai looked at them over his shoulder, and they both nodded as if in response to that.

“…From now on, this arena is under the jurisdiction of Shadow Moon.”

“…” Tina, who was still in my arms, let out a small cry of surprise, which was mimicked by her older sister a moment later.

“…Are those orders from the country?”

“No. It’s my decision,” Lloyd-senpai said, glancing at me, then away.

I had no idea what that glance was supposed to have meant.

“Lloyd-sama… they’re?” the girl on the left asked.

I forgot to breathe for a moment when I saw the girl with her long, black hair flowing down behind her head.

––An elf?

Ears longer than those of a human’s. And an almost divine beauty.

N-no, but, why is there an elf here––?

Was what I was thinking when her black eyes gave me a piercing glare.

“You, what do you think you’re doing, staring at me?” she said, her glare turning murderous, making me rescind my judgement.

“N-no, you were just so beautiful that…”

“What…! Youuuu… how dare you make a fool of me…!” she said, glaring at me even harder. While blushing.

“Vier, your ears are sticking out,” said Lloyd-senpai, and the girl’s –– Vier’s face turned even redder.

“I-I’m terribly sowwy.”

“““You bit your tongue, didn’t you”””

“S-shut up!”

Her face red enough it looked like steam would come out of it any second, Vier’s ears shrunk.

…Amazing. I wonder what kind of magic she used to do that?

“Anyway, boss? What should we do?” asked the burly, bearded man standing next to the elf girl.

He seemed to be nearing his forties, and with his sharp, black hair combed back, he gave off a wild feel.

His beast-like eyes were fixed on Lloyd-senpai’s back.

Uhhh, him being in a school uniform is a bit…

His muscles were clearly visible under the uniform, which looked like it could tear apart at any moment.

“Vier will guard the venue. Sechs, your job is to watch.”

“Watch? …Understood,” said the man named Sechs, looking towards me.

It was around then I figured out what Lloyd-senpai was trying to do.

––I was being assessed.

They wanted to see exactly how much power I had.

I wondered how that would be helpful for Lloyd-senpai.

I see, I see. Quite an easy test.

And a very convenient one for me.

If I can enter Shadow Moon, surely my questions will be answered.

Both the secrets of this world –– and the existence of the god Zeus.

Lloyd-senpai was going to use the final to test me.

And I had been determined to show off my power in the final anyway.

My goal was to make Athena more famous. So, while our goals might have differed, we both wanted the final to go ahead.

“The preparations are done. The rest is up to you, Yuno,” Lloyd-senpai said, looking at me.

“…Yuno?” Tina asked uneasily, having grabbed my shirt as she looked up at me anxiously.

“You’re… going to fight…? That thing…?”

“Yup,” I answered, and Tina’s arms were suddenly around my neck.

“You can’t! Don’t! You’ll die if you fight it!” she said, trembling.

I could tell she was worried about me.

“Thanks, Tina, but you don’t have to worry.”

Right. It’ll be fine.

“…Eh?”

I did, in fact, feel fear towards that magic beast, but it wasn’t a fear of not being able to win. If I had to say, it felt more creepy and eerie.

In other words––

“I’m not going to lose,” I said, and I could feel the tension leave her.

“…Right… you’re going to win…” she murmured.

Her laughing yet crying face made it impossible for me to tell what she was feeling.

“So anyway, how long are you planning on staying in Yuno’s arms hugging him?” asked Lloyd-senpai, making Tina’s face turn red.

Selena-san also glared at him unhappily for some reason.

“T-that’s not it! L-let me down!”

Tina jumped out of my arms, flailing around like a cat.

Well, it looks like she’s fine if she has that much energy left.

Anyway––

I could tell Maro was looking at me.

Far up above, the black magic beast was circling in the sky.

I wondered if that meant it was under control.

Well, not like it matters.

I walked towards the impending fight.

“Tina, could I borrow your spear for a bit?” I asked, looking at her over my shoulder.

“Okay, but… why?”

“I want to win with your spear.”

It was purely for self-satisfaction, for payback.

She gave me a small nod.

Lloyd-senpai gave a fearless smile.

I grinned back, then turned away.

There was only one problem left.

The third problem:

Control of my power.

I have to give them all a show.

But I can’t be too strong, I can’t exceed the limits of humans.

I’m not an evil god right now.

I won’t achieve my goal by using enough strength to blast my opponent away in one hit.

So, I’ll just do things as usual.

“Wish me luck, kami-sama.”

So that you can be reborn.

I can feel it. It’s going to change. Everything –– is going to change.

I have the perfect stage. My opponent is my childhood friend, Maro Burn, who made a contract with a famous god. Thanks to that, he has that frightful, huge, bird-shaped monster.

If, if I win against an opponent like that…

“…Fufu.”

That would be the best…

I picked up the spear lying on the ground in the arena.

I don’t need overpowered magical power.

I’ll be using Athena’s ‘Spear Arts’.

I’ll overpower my enemy with spearmanship.

Now then –– it’s time for the finale.

“Let’s go, me,” I said, humming to myself as I usually did.

I’ll get just a little –– serious.