VCAM 24

Chapter 24

 “The War Ridge Festival—Disqualified!?”

【Academy Events Arc: War Ridge Festival 】

The chill of autumn wind swept across the academy courtyard.
On the bulletin board, a large paper framed in gold trim had been posted:

《Royal Roselia Academy — War Ridge Festival Announcement》

It was the academy’s grand annual event—a festival where students competed in both swordsmanship and magic.
In other words, their own version of the Olympics.
Excited students crowded around the notice board, shouting and cheering—or screaming—in every direction.

“Kai! Kai! Did you see it? The War Ridge Festival!”

Bursting into the morning classroom was Luthia, her luxurious red ribbon bouncing as she puffed out her chest, eyes sparkling.

“Of course, I’ll be the representative for the Magic Division, right?”

“Whoa, hold up. You don’t get to decide that all by yourself.”

“But it’s obvious, isn’t it? Who else but me—”

“I want to try it too!”
“M-me too! I want to participate!”
“Please recommend me, teacher!”

Hands shot up one after another.
Even students who used to struggle to cast the simplest spell were now filled with confidence.
Voices of hope filled the classroom, and Kai scratched his head.

“…This makes me proud as a teacher.”
(Though, I can’t shake this bad feeling somehow…)

That afternoon, the selection trials for the Magic Division were held in the schoolyard.

Rows of targets were set up, and students from other classes had gathered to watch.
The air was thick with anticipation and tension as Kai stepped forward.

“Alright then, let’s see your best spell one by one.”

“Yes, sir! 《Fireball》!”

BOOM!

The launched fireball obliterated the target—and left black smoke rising from the stone wall behind it.

“Hey hey, that’s not a beginner spell, is it!?”
“T-the rock… it evaporated…”

Murmurs spread through the onlookers.

“Next! 《Ice Lance Barrage》!”

SH-SH-SH-SH!
A rain of sharp ice spears tore through the air, reducing the target to splinters.

“Wh-what the heck was that…”
“That’s military-level magic…”

Then another student unleashed 《Lightning Chain》.
Crackling bolts scorched a steel dummy black.

The crowd screamed and backed away to the edge of the field.

Finally, Luthia stepped forward.

“Watch closely! 《Stellar Explosion Array》!”

A magic sigil of light appeared in the sky—then brilliant rays rained down, erasing the targets in a blinding explosion.
A thunderous roar, clouds of dust, blinding flashes—half the training ground was now a wasteland.

“M-miss! You overdid it!”
“Obviously! You need this much power to be a proper representative!”

Her classmates cheered wildly, while the other classes were already waving white flags.

That evening.
Kai was summoned to the Headmaster’s office.

“Kai-sensei…”
“What’s wrong, Headmaster? You’re frowning so hard your face looks like wrinkled wallpaper.”

“…Your class is banned from entering the Magic Division.”

“…Huh?”

The headmaster slammed his desk.

“Complaints are flooding in from the other classes! ‘There’s no way we can fight against that!’ they say!”
“Ehh…”
“Some even said, ‘If Class Cross participates, we’ll withdraw entirely!’”

Kai buried his face in his hands.

“My poor kids worked so hard for this…”
“I know. But if they participate, the whole festival will collapse. The decision is final.”

After school, in the classroom.
When Kai broke the news, a heavy silence fell.

“…No way…”
“That’s unfair! Just because the other classes are weak!”
“We finally learned how to use magic properly!”

Frustration erupted across the room.

Luthia slammed her chair back and stood up.

“Then we’ll just win in the Swordsmanship Division instead! We’ll show them our strength!”

“M-miss, are you even good with a sword?”
“Eh? Um… I can stab… probably?”
“Probably!?”

Laughter broke out, easing the tension a little.

“Alright then, we’ll focus on the Sword Division! They banned us from magic, but not from swords.”
Kai clapped his hands, scanning the students’ faces.

“But, teacher, I’ve never even held a sword before…”
“No problem! Swordsmanship is all about patterns and angles. It’s basically trigonometry.”

“Trigonometry!? What does that have to do with swords!?”
“Everything! The optimal thrusting angle is 30 degrees—history proves it!”
“What kind of history is that!?”

Laughter spread again, and the light returned to the students’ faces.

And so—
Class Cross decided to enter the Swordsmanship Division.

But no one yet knew that their “abnormal strength” would shine just as brightly there too…