Chapter 80

At the Royal Academy's ball game tournament, it was decided that parents and relatives could come to watch.

It wasn't a formal invitation like for the swordsmanship competition or the arts festival; it was more along the lines of "If you wish, you may come and watch," with a note saying, "We may not be able to provide much hospitality."

For the swordsmanship competition and the arts festival, the Royal Academy mobilized all its resources for preparation. There were sufficient security personnel for crime prevention, and thorough guidance was provided from the main gate to the venue.

However, the ball game tournament was a light event, something like "If you enjoy capture the flag, you're welcome to come and watch," so there weren't many spectators.

In the middle school, the second and third years had a small monster extermination training instead of the ball game tournament, which was held a week later.

Therefore, the principal had not expected the royal family to come to the ball game tournament en masse.

When the Royal Household Management Office informed the principal that "His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, His Majesty the King's younger brother, and Prince Robert will be attending," the principal held his head in his hands.

"…This is unprecedented in the history of the academy."

When the principal said this with a hint of escapism, the vice-principal looked exasperated.

"What are you talking about? It has happened quite a few times in the past.

Besides, you could have predicted this, couldn't you?"

"It's impossible for all of them to come."

The principal shook his head while looking at the security plan.

"Prince Robert had returned from the academic conference in the Republic of Condorea and enjoyed watching the capture the flag game, so he sometimes came to watch. Her Majesty the Queen is a casual person, and with Prince Robert, there was a high possibility that she would come.

If that happens, her close younger sister-in-law would also come, as well as His Majesty the King, who is a devoted husband, and Prince Jules.

Lucian Vion is a victim of the recent incident. The Count of Vion would want to see how things are going at the academy.

It's clear that they will all gather."

"The Count of Vion will come too?"

The principal raised his head from the plan he was looking at.

"I confirmed it."

"I see."

The principal and the vice-principal had gone to the Vion family to apologize for the incident.

Count Salier Vion had calmly responded, "I have heard that it was a rare incident. I am grateful for the swift response."

—We cannot afford to make any mistakes.

That's what the Royal Academy thought.

The royal family would come with their guards to avoid increasing the security burden on the academy. The academy also planned to focus more on security than usual.

The visit of the King, the King's younger brother, and their spouses was kept secret. If someone with ill intentions appeared, it would be problematic. The number of other spectators was expected to be similar to previous years, or perhaps increase due to the presence of the first prince.

When the preparations were finally in place, the day of the ball game tournament arrived.

As expected, there were more spectators than in previous years.

The King and Queen, the King's younger brother and his spouse, Prince Robert, and Count Salier were all present.

The royal family and their attendants were seated in the seats prepared by the academy.

The guards were providing security, and the academy's security was also on standby.

In a somewhat tense atmosphere, the matches began by department.

Regarding the girls, complaints from noble families about "exposing our daughters in sports uniforms" had been received, so the girls' matches were completed the day before. This happened every year. Although they were not the majority, the complaints from certain families could not be ignored. Therefore, only the boys were participating.

On the large field, the matches were held in four courts for the General Education, Knight, Magic, and Healing departments. The Healing department, which had the fewest students, decided its winning team first, followed by the Magic, Knight, and General Education departments.

The Magic department, as expected, had Euseis' team win.

Euseis had instructed Lucian to play at "about 60% of his usual speed" to make the Knight department students underestimate him. Lucian found it difficult to gauge what 60% speed meant, but he played with just enough strength to win.

Euseis seemed to be aiming for the overall championship by making the Knight department students underestimate him.

Lucian wondered if he could really beat the Knight department. He thought that winning the Magic department, dominating the General Education and Healing departments, and having a good match against the Knight department would be enough.

Lucian was quite competitive, but in team play, his competitiveness was somewhat suppressed, and he focused on following Euseis' instructions.

Moreover, on the grand stage of the ball game tournament, he thought that all team members would want to shine. Therefore, it felt wrong to stand out and shine alone.

Besides, his confidence in social interactions had been shaken by the bullying incident.

In the end, it was a crime committed by students who had been manipulated mentally, and Lucian realized that his own aversion to him wasn't that severe.

The fact that Lucian was a victim was known throughout the academy, and he received sympathy.

However, this was after he had suffered greatly.

While he could understand it intellectually, the emotional impact was not so easily erased.

He had lost his understanding of team play, and it was a bit troublesome.

He also had strong doubts about whether he should stand out.

In other words, he had become timid in interacting with others.

Despite these feelings, Euseis' team won the Magic department and then defeated the Healing department's winning team. Lucian didn't need to move much; the Healing department team was quite weak.

When the Knight department team defeated the General Education department team, the match between the Knight and Magic departments began.

Lucian thought the Knight department team would know how strong he was. In this ball game tournament, Lucian was treated as a secret weapon, but he had played matches with the other Magic department team members in class, so they knew.

However, from their pre-match conversations, it seemed they didn't know.

The Knight department students were whispering things like "Hold back Balt and Glen" and "Take down the sidekicks first." Were they being open because they were carefree, or were they mocking them?

"Why are they discussing things so openly?"

When Lucian asked Patrice quietly,

"They're muscleheads," Patrice replied casually.

Incidentally, the Magic department team had set up a soundproof barrier.

"Sure enough, they don't know about Lucian," Euseis said, in a good mood.

"Right," Balt and Glen nodded with a grin.

"Why don't they know? There should be Magic department students who have friends in the Knight department."

Lucian asked, puzzled.

"Of course, the Magic department wants to beat the Knight department at least once, so they don't talk about it," Patrice said with a wry smile.

"Is that so?"

"Since it's the first year, if there are a few Magic department students who can enhance their bodies, they might have a chance to beat the Knight department. But so far, the Magic department has never beaten the Knight department.

The Knight department students have high physical abilities. There have been close calls, but they couldn't be beaten.

But with Lucian, it might be possible.

There's no Magic department student who would tell the Knight department."

Glen explained to Lucian cheerfully.

The Knight department students would improve their physical abilities through training. There would be a gap between them and the Magic department students. But at this stage, the gap wasn't so significant.

"Is that so..."

It seemed different from what Lucian had imagined.

As he was puzzled, other Magic department students also approached him.

"Lucian, let's beat the Knight department."

"They always beat us easily. It's really annoying."

"Exactly. They say things like 'The Knights are stronger than the Mages.'"

"I see..."

In reality, the Knights and Mages worked together well.

But it seemed the young Knight aspirants were different.

Lucian thought for a moment.

Body enhancement magic is, of course, magic. In terms of magical techniques, the Magic department students had an advantage.

Some Knight department students, like thoroughbred Knights, had been trained in body enhancement magic from a young age.

But not all of them.

On the other hand, the Magic department had students with high magical power.

Because of their high magical power, they had learned to control it from a young age with private tutors.

The Magic department students were much better at magical techniques.

Therefore, the students who had learned body enhancement magic and its techniques in physical education classes were gradually getting better. Some were becoming quite skilled.

—So, at this stage, there was a good chance of winning.

If they were to beat the Knight department's muscular students, it would be the Magic department students who could control body enhancement magic.

"Lucian, it's up to you."

"Let's win."

"It's our first victory."

For some reason, expectations were placed on Lucian rather than Euseis.

"Lucian, give it your all."

Euseis said with a good smile.

Looking at the other team members, he saw their bright, hopeful faces.

"I don't really want to stand out..."

When Lucian weakly expressed this, Glen said anxiously, "What are you saying, star of hope?"

"I don't want to stand out! What's with that?"

Balt and other members grabbed his arms.

"Lucian, I'll treat you to a meal later."

Even a wealthy marquis' son, whom he didn't know well, pleaded with him.

—Why?

"The girls say the Knights are cooler!

Let's crush them!"

Everyone nodded in unison.

"I see..."

Lucian felt he understood.

—Is it because of such desires?

He felt a bit deflated but decided to give it his all without reservation.

"Gather around.

We're starting the final match to decide the overall champion."

The referee called out.

"Let's make this the Magic department's first great achievement!"

When Euseis called out, everyone responded with enthusiasm.

The match began, and they quickly took their positions. The infantry lined up in a row, with the officers behind them.

Further back, the sidekicks stood to protect the king. The deepest position, of course, was Euseis.

The enemy side was similarly arranged but a bit more loosely. They probably had the snipers in front and the rear guard behind.

The academy's court was narrower, and a skilled infantryman with a good throwing arm could target the king. However, this would only be possible if the defense was particularly weak. In the case of the Healing department, the Knight department might have secured victory in the early stages.

During the match against the Healing department, Lucian could have taken down the enemy king in a few minutes if he had wanted to, but he didn't. He thought it wouldn't be interesting, and 60% of his strength wouldn't be enough.

—But the Knight department might target us.

As he thought this, they really did target them.

Ignoring the infantry and officers, they aimed all their balls at Euseis with full force.

He laughed.

They were really underestimating them.

His blood was boiling.

—We'll crush them!

Lucian was in a very serious mode.

(^o^)/