Chương 25: Chapter 16:"Stardust Festival Day 1: After the Tag Match"

From the spectator seats, I watched Alice and Milia's match mixed with other students. Although they lost, I think both of them really did their best. Like when Alice melted the ice using fire, or when Milia escaped with sheer willpower using Water Magic while being bound by sand by Karla-senpai. I thought their guts were amazing. And the flowing, splendid coordination from trifling with the seniors using 《Falspeed》 to that final combination technique. Honestly, I was moved.

But, they both seemed to have pushed themselves quite a bit. Are they okay? I'm worried about that. The seniors were strong too. I had never seen Ketty-senpai's Dark Magic, and Karla-senpai mastered any magic just like Argus. Especially, although I couldn't see well because I was dazzled by the lightning, Karla-senpai's movement at the end was terrifyingly fast. I don't know what magic she used, but it must be magic with a different principle from 《Falspeed》 at least.

If it were Wind Magic, I, who am good at it, should be able to sense its use. Still, she was really fast. Even if I used full-power 《Falspeed》, no, even if male-me enhanced physical abilities with Qi, I don't know which is superior. As expected of Karla-senpai. By the way, one thing that bothered me was the MC called Wandering Thomas. Who on earth is that person? There shouldn't have been such a person among the school staff.

No matter how I think about it, he is dressed strangely, far removed from the common sense of this world. Certainly, he fit the role of MC, but he shouldn't be someone the school would entrust with it. Originally, wasn't Moll-sensei of Magic Practice supposed to be the MC? And yet, the people around felt uncomfortable only at the very beginning, and soon everyone stopped caring at all. Unnaturally, everyone accepted him obediently. I could only say that the perception of him by the people around was twisted.

Did he use some magic? Moreover, on the entire Coliseum. If he can use magic with such tremendous effects, isn't he actually an outrageous person? I thought so. But strangely, it seems it didn't work on me for some reason. Actually, here I am, still thinking it's weird. Hmm. Wandering Thomas. He's a presence that bothers me somehow, but all he did was just act as a normal MC. No use thinking about it, I guess.

In the public space in front of the Coliseum, I was waiting for Alice and Milia to finish their treatment and come here. It would be fun to continue watching the Magic Combat as it is, but more than that, I wanted to comfort the two of them, and I wanted to enjoy the festival with them quickly. Although I said treatment, participants in the Magic Combat are supposed to receive treatment for free from healers called for the tournament.

Since they must have suffered considerable injuries, it seems to be taking a little time. Eventually, the two came.

"Yahoo."

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Both seemed to have received proper treatment for their injuries. Especially Alice's right arm, which she pushed too hard, was wrapped in plenty of bandages, and it looked painful just seeing it.

"Really, good work." I say the words of appreciation I wanted to tell them first.

"We lost." You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Our strength fell short." The faces of the two saying so looked sunny for having lost. Probably because they did everything they could.

"It was close."

"Right. It might have been just one step away. If that hit, we might have won!" Alice clenches her fist looking a little frustrated. Indeed, if that lightning strike had hit, they might have been able to defeat even Karla-senpai.

"It seems to me that that one step is far, though. It became a match because the strategy went well. But in terms of ability, we were completely defeated." Milia drops her shoulders and evaluates herself with a calm tone. That might be true. But.

"Strategy is also a splendid part of ability. I think you did well."

"Ehehe."

"Fufu. Do you think so?" The two who were praised looked very happy.

"Still, it seems you got injured quite flashily."

"I am not that bad, but. Alice is..."

"Man. I'm beaten. The healer said. Rest for two weeks, and absolutely don't use magic." Alice laughed while waving her right arm wrapped round and round with bandages.

"Two weeks, huh. That's tough..." It's more serious than I thought. I started to get worried.

"That's right. Besides, maybe I was too fired up. Since I used magic beyond the limit, my body can't take in Magic Element for about three days, they said."

"Is that so." So there are cases where Magic Power doesn't recover for three days if you use too much.

"In short, during the festival, I became just an injured ordinary person."

"There won't be aftereffects or scars, right?"

"They said that's okay." Hearing that, I feel a little relieved.

"Phew. I'm glad it seems it will heal properly." Alice stared at me like that with lukewarm eyes and was grinning.

"You're a worrier~, Yu. I'm happy, but since it already happened, it's no use worrying so much." Feeling like I was being teased a little, I decided to respond.

"I don't want to be told that only by Alice who is also a worrier."

"Ha? There's no way I'm a worrier. I'm always positive, and my principle is not to worry unnecessarily." She says so with a triumphant face, but even dull me already knows that you are quite a severe worrier.

"Then, why have you been caring about what happened to me in the past all this time?"

"That's because I'm worried about Yu, obviously. Ah." You fell for it. She probably went along knowing it, but here let me declare victory with an exquisite smug face.

"See, you are a worrier after all."

"Kuh. You trapped me!"

"Fufu. Pot calling the kettle black." Milia laughs amusingly seeing our exchange. You are always unfair being a composed bystander. Shall I mix you in once in a while? I, who was always teased by the two and felt a little frustrated inside, whispered to Alice ostentatiously.

"Captain Alice! Actually, I think Milia is also quite a worrier."

"Good opinion! I thought so too." Together with Alice, we stare at Milia intently. Milia, who is good at teasing others, seemed not so good at being teased, and was flustered.

"Eh, that's not true. Because I am a cold human." Here, I decided to play the trump card. It's payback for being made to feel chilled many times.

"Heh. But I wonder if a cold human would say,'My favorite Yu'?"

"A... um. That is, a slip of... the tongue, so to speak..." Seeing Milia turn bright red as aimed, I felt refreshed that I finally won in teasing. However. The one who can't stay silent hearing such things is the person named Alice next to me. I had forgotten about that.

"Ehh! Milia, you said such a thing!? Finally confessing love to each other... Hah! Is this a premonition that love between girls will seriously begin!?" No, that's not happening!

"Why does it become like that!"

"Alice... It's not, like that!" We glared at Alice together, but since it was perfectly synchronized, she just laughed more amusedly.

"Yes yes. So hot. Be happy, both of you~" No one can stop Alice who got carried away. I could only exchange glances with Milia and smile bitterly. But Milia looks somewhat happy. Strange. In the end, the teasing battle, which I don't know how many times it has been, ended in Alice's sole victory. After that, the three of us went around looking at various things. Looking at exhibits, doing something like goldfish scooping (we scooped small fish called Seema. I remember Alice was awfully good at it), and eating snacks. Fun time passed in the blink of an eye. Around the time we got hungry, we decided to have dinner at a nearby restaurant. There, we learned from other customers' stories that the Karla-senpai and Ketty-senpai tag team ended up winning the championship. It seems Ketty-senpai's Dark Magic raged in the semi-finals, and finally, their combination magic was seen in the finals. Or rather, Ketty-senpai could move even after taking such an amazing attack.

Well, it seemed she reduced the power with darkness, and she probably had Magic Power left, so maybe she was okay. Many people said the most spectacular match was the first match of the first round. Every time that reached our ears, Alice and Milia looked proud.