The mock battle begins.
　It was a pair of boys who made the first move.

"Fire Bullet!

　The shorter boy unleashes a flaming bullet.
　It's a D-rank magic that focuses on speed. It's a D-ranked magic that emphasizes speed and is not just for wargaming. If you use this spell on your first move, you will always be ahead unless your opponent uses a spell of the same speed.

　Zeke moved backwards and avoided the flaming projectiles.
　A number of bullets were fired and Zeke kept evading them. In the meantime, the taller of the two launched a large scale spell.

"Earth Spear!

　The earth beneath his feet rises up and turns into a large spear.
　The spear shot straight at Zeke. It's a great way to make sure you don't get caught in the middle of the action.

You can't win if you keep dodging!

　The shorter man howled as he continued to shoot flaming bullets.
　One of them uses speed-oriented magic to check the movement, while the other uses big magic to exploit the gap. It's a natural situation for two against one. But...

"I don't need to be told.

　Zeke dodged the flaming bullets and earthen spears while preparing his magic so that his opponent would not notice. Exquisitely concealing the signs of magic. Not even ten percent of the students watching the mock battle would have noticed.

"FIRE BULLET!

　Zeke thrusts out his right arm against the approaching flaming projectiles.

"Wind Cannon!

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

"Ah!

　The other boy's eyes widened and went rigid as he screamed.
　Immediately after, Zeke launches a counterattack.

"Lightning Spear!

　A spear of lightning appears above Zeke's head.
　It was a C-rank magic of the same lineage as the "Earth Spear" used by the taller man. However, its scale is much larger than that of the Earth Spear.

　Multiple activation.
　A technique for operating magic. By activating the same spell in such a way that multiple spells are superimposed, the performance of that spell can be greatly improved.

　In the past, when Zeke was dueling with me, he borrowed the functions of the Eldekaiser, a military magic tool, to achieve this. But now he's doing it with his own technology.

　--How did he come to be able to perform multiple activations on his own?

　It's a skill that can't be acquired with half-hearted effort.
　The onlookers around them seemed to understand this, and even Mira from the student council took notice.

　A huge spear blasted the two boys together.
　Just before it struck, Zeke dropped the spear of lightning to the ground. As a result, the two students were not seriously injured, but the ground was violently gouged and shock waves were released in all directions.

That's it!

　Mira said a little later, after the winner was decided.
　Zeke is unharmed. On the other hand, his two opponents, both boys, are on the ground, shivering.

"Wow, that's amazing.

I'm sorry. ...... When did you become so strong?

　The man next to me, Mize, is impressed and I agree.
　Zeke's participation in the wargame has been decided. The man had shown in front of a crowd of students that he could deliver a result that everyone could agree on. No one is complaining. With Zeke's participation in the wargame, the Hawks would be closer to victory for sure.

This concludes the three-day review session. Tomorrow, each of you will begin practicing for the events in which you will compete.

　It seemed that the after-school practice would continue after tomorrow. However, it was not compulsory, and the practice was basically voluntary. Students are free to practice when they want.

Which event is the other student council going to participate in?　You haven't shown up once in the past three days.

　A student from a regular course near Mira asked.

I'm sorry, ....... If I do (・・・・・・), it will be for the war game.

　Mira said, bowing her head.
　The students around her whispered to each other.

...... Hey, the other student meeting is Baren, right?

Oh. It's ...... scary. I don't want him to show his face if he can help it.

I don't want him to show his face. He'll just cause more trouble.

Stop it. He'll kill you if he hears you.

　Me and Mize tilted our heads at the gossip we were hearing.



　.



"You're Barren-Steeleen. He's one of the most famous students at this school.

　The next day at lunchtime.


　When I brought up the subject of the student council, which seemed to have another member in the hawk group, Elysia described him to me.

I've been attending Builders Academy since I was in the first year of middle school, but I've known him since then. I believe he even participated in the War of Heroes.

"The war?

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and how to get there.

　When I heard the story, I asked Elysia.

"Are they good?

"I'm not sure if I'm good. There is no doubt that he is a strong man, but he was also known for his bad behavior. Even before he joined the Great War, he was in trouble many times, and after the war, it became even more noticeable.

　I wonder if something happened to him during the war.
　As I was speculating in this way, Gran, sitting in front of me, asked me a question.

"What exactly did you do about the problem?

"A fight.

　Elysia answered succinctly.

He's a very quick learner. If he's in a bad mood, he'll kill you half to death, no matter who you are. ...... He's so strong, there's nothing you can do about it. I've been in fights with high school students since I was in middle school and I've won without a scratch.

...... You're that strong?

For years, the rumor has been that the strongest students at the school are either the current student body president or Baren. Both of them have always been exceptionally strong.

　Elysia nodded with a mysterious look on her face.

I've been thinking lately that the strongest person in the school might be someone else.

...... I agree with you.

　Elysia and Mize are looking at me very intently.
　I ignored their stares and asked a question.

I'm not sure if you're in the same class as us or not.

　Originally, the topic had been about the other student council member in the hawk group.
　I thought that this guy Baren might be a classmate of mine as well as Mira, but then it was strange that Elysia called him senior.

He's not in school. I'm not sure what to make of that. I think joining the ...... student council is just another way of keeping me in a collar.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
　Elysia's explanation is consistent with the current situation of the hawk group. The falcon team had spent the last three days reviewing the competitors for each event, but Balen had not shown up once. Apparently, there was no reason for him to be there, he was just misbehaving.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

　Elysia asks.
　The tone was casual, but the eyes were narrowed sharply.

We promised not to tell you that.

You can at least tell me if it's been decided.

"...... was decided just the other day.

　Elysia said, "I see.

What about the lion's group?

What about the lions? But the students who have been chosen to compete have begun to practice in earnest.

　It seems that each group has a different way of proceeding. It's not that they don't share the same know-how, but rather that the student council members have their own methods. Mira is as serious as she looks, and is very good at what she does.

You have to practice your magic a lot!

You'll need to practice a lot of magic!" "Oh, so ...... mise is a competition that uses a lot of magic. So it's either Parade or Arrow Rain. ...... If Mize's personality is anything to go by, Exodus is a possibility.

I'm not sure what you're talking about, ......?

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but it's a good idea.
　I'm sure you're not the only one.

"...... magic?

　You need to practice a lot of magic. As I ruminated on Mize's words in my brain, I muttered to myself.

I'll be out for a while.

　I said no to Elysia and the others, and left the courtyard.

　It's been a while since the practice for the competition festival started. My desire to start something new is still there.

　Thinking about it, I've spent my whole life as a student in a crippled environment. In order to hide my past as a soldier of the Agency, I have avoided being conspicuous as much as possible, and when I have fought in public, I have done so with minimal force.

　But he can't stay as he is forever.
　Spending my days in fear and trepidation, lest my past be exposed, is not a normal life.

　Last month's escapade has taught me something.
　Freedom to endure is not freedom. To obtain freedom in the true sense of the word, you have to work hard and sweat.

　After all, if I were to challenge myself now, this would be the only way.
　I made up my mind and took out the "Correspondence Paper" from my pocket. Pressing the center of the paper with my finger, I let the magic pass through and start communicating.

"Two-eight?

　The caller answered immediately.

"Chris. Is this a good time?　I need to talk to you about something.

Yeah. What's wrong?



　I heard the question in my ear, and I answered.

"I want to learn a new spell.