Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

63 – 63. Class Duels (12)

Honor, scholarships, and the recommendation and attention of academy professors.

For students at the Chaldea Imperial Academy, there’s only one opportunity each year to seize all of these at once.

The class duels that are about to unfold at the Bruttini Duelling Grounds right now are precisely that.

“Oh… it’s larger than I thought.”

Sophia gasped as she scanned the dueling arena. And no wonder, the Bruttini branch’s dueling arena, a separate branch of the Academy, boasted a size that could accommodate all the students of the main campus and then some.

In the center of the stadium-like dueling arena was a patch of earth, which seemed to be the designated spot for dueling.

The spectators were already bustling with Academy officials, and Sophia also noticed students in slightly different uniforms. They seemed to be the students of the Bruttini branch who had come to watch the duels.

“When will the duels begin?”

“They will start soon.”

I glanced at my wristwatch.

It was currently 1 p.m. In about thirty minutes, the duels by grade would officially begin. It seemed wise to have a short break after lunch before diving right into the duels.

The lunch provided was decent, with the Bruttini branch’s cafeteria staff serving the students the right amount of food, unlike the usual self-service style. Thanks to that, the students didn’t eat too much, but they also didn’t go hungry.

The Academy was doing its best to take care of the students so that they could participate in the duels in their best condition. The noticeably cooler atmosphere at the Bruttini branch compared to the main campus must have been what President Damian was aiming for.

It was evident how much importance President Damian, as well as the officials of the Chaldea Imperial Academy, attached to this annual event.

As Sophia and I briefly observed the dueling arena, we soon turned our steps towards the waiting room.

Since the infirmary was right next to the waiting room, this was probably where I would be watching the duels.

The members of the Occult Research Division, including Chloe, had disappeared to the training grounds, saying that they wanted to improve their abilities one last time before the duels.

With the duels about to begin, I might be somewhere in this huge dueling arena by now.

As Sophia and I approached the waiting room, we noticed more and more students in the audience seats who were becoming increasingly restless with nervous expressions.

“Don’t be nervous. Huh? We’ve been practicing hard.”

“Ugh…I feel like I’m going to vomit….”

“I wonder who my opponent will be.”

“I hope it’s not Adelheid Yang.”

Laura von Adelheid. Her name was frequently mentioned, which was strange. In my memory, Laura only remained as a little girl who cried after seeing ghosts.

“Adelheid is definitely strong. Some of the students in Class A of the first grade are very wary of her.”

“…It’s because of Adelheid’s bloodline.”

Yeah. The current head of the Adelheid family and the unparalleled sorcerer at the age of forty, Maxwell von Adelheid, who succeeded the position of the family’s archmage, was already renowned centuries ago as the central figure in imperial magic. With the blood of Maxwell von Adelheid flowing in her veins, Laura could also be a genius of her caliber.

Maxwell von Adelheid. If I had inherited that person’s blood… If that were the case….

…Damn it, you bastard.

“Principal, Principal Joseph?”

Suddenly, Sophia’s voice calling me snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned my gaze towards Sophia, who was looking at me with a worried expression. I made an effort to continue moving, as if to reassure her that I was fine.

“Are you okay? You suddenly stopped and had a strange expression….”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“I, is it really okay? Even on your palm….”

“Sophia Subtitle.”

I could sense her concern, but the unending kindness was starting to annoy me a little. I almost let my nerves get the best of me and have an impatient attitude, but I managed to hold it back.

“I’m fine. Let’s go to the office.”

“Yes.”

Sophia Subtitle had an uncomfortable expression, but I turned my gaze away from her and headed towards the office.

For some reason, my palm felt slightly warm.

* * * * *

Sophia Subtitle looked worried. It was inevitable.

“…Maximilian von Adelheid.”

Just a moment ago, Father Antonelli, who was walking perfectly fine, suddenly stopped and started mumbling in Moore. Trying to hold hands with Father Antonelli, Sophia Subtitle felt a moist and tingling warmth, and let go of his hand.

“Blood…?”

Father Antonelli’s tightly clenched fist. At the end of that fist, there were drops of blood entangled. Sophia Subtitle stared blankly at the bloodstains on her fingers.

He was gripping his fist so tightly that his nails were digging into his palm. Sophia Subtitle hurriedly checked Father Antonelli’s complexion.

And she was shocked.

“….”

His face was distorted like a demon. As Sophia Subtitle, who had only seen his expressionless and dull face, could only stare blankly at his anger-filled face.

He was mumbling in Moore, but it was hard to understand. Sophia Subtitle’s lips trembled.

“Father, Father Antonelli?”

Due to the shock and confusion, Sophia Subtitle couldn’t say a word and eventually managed to call out to him with her trembling lips.

Father Antonelli’s pupils were directed at Sophia Subtitle. As Sophia Subtitle met his anger-filled gaze, she unintentionally shivered, but soon she could see his familiar expression returning to his face.

“Are you okay? You suddenly stopped and had a strange expression….”

Sophia Subtitle glanced at Father Antonelli as if she was pretending not to notice, and trailed off her words.

Father Antonelli hesitated for a moment, as if searching for words, but soon he replied in the same expressionless voice as usual.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“I, is it really okay? Even on your palm….”

“Sophia Subtitle.”

This time, his voice was a little different from usual. There was clearly a hint of slight irritation in it.

“I’m fine. Let’s go to the office.”

“Yes.”

While watching the retreating figure of Chief Priest Antonelli leading the way, Sofia reluctantly followed suit, her gaze fixated on the still fresh and worrisome red blood staining his hands.

* * * * *

– In a moment, the inter-grade competition will commence. All students participating in the competition, please take your seats.

A leisurely yet powerful voice resonated through the colossal stadium-shaped arena. I turned my head towards the familiar voice.

The origin of the sound was the VIP box where Chancellor Damian and several senior professors were gathered. The sight of Chancellor Damian holding a microphone caught my attention.

“It seems Chancellor Damian will be the host this time,” Esther, a professor who had approached me unnoticed, whispered. I nodded in response.

“He doesn’t seem to be nervous at all. Maybe there’s something to learn from him in that aspect.”

“I do get nervous.”

As I replied, Sofia, who stood on my left this time, looked at me with a skeptical expression.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Yeah. Even if I’m not human, I still get nervous in tense situations. However, having experienced all sorts of unimaginable scenes during the war, I had become immune to feeling tense in ordinary situations.

Ignoring the two who seemed to doubt my words, I casually turned my gaze towards the center of the arena.

In the center of the arena’s ceiling, there was a translucent glass suspended. It seemed to be there to broadcast the situation of the competition in real-time. Perhaps explanations about the competition would also be given from there.

– In a moment, the inter-grade competition will begin. All students and academy staff, please take your seats.

Students filling the stands and some professors took their seats one by one.

Unfortunately, the three of us couldn’t comfortably sit in the stands to watch the competition. Sofia and I were instructed to be on standby in the office, and Esther remained here to manage the students waiting in the lounge, preparing for potential mental damage caused by magic.

“Still, it’s better to watch from here. Don’t you think so?”

I nodded at Professor Esther. Indeed, this location was closer to the arena than the stands.

As we chatted, the crowd that had been wandering around the arena had all taken their seats. The once bustling interior fell silent, and the fading light from the ceiling gradually dimmed, casting a shadow over the arena.

And then, at that moment.

– Bang!

In the midst of the darkened arena, a sudden and intense light descended. In the illuminated area, a glass engraved with intricate magical circuits sparkled. The blue magical power shimmered on the engraved magical circuit, and soon, the face of Chancellor Damian began to be magnified prominently.

“What is that principle?”

“Oh, it’s an object similar to a spectrometer made by reducing a magical crystal. To explain in detail…”

“…No, it’s alright.”

As Professor Esther tried to explain with an odd enthusiasm, I decided to simply call it a monitor.

Headmaster Damien, displayed on the large monitor, cleared his throat for a moment and adjusted the volume before waving his hand with a warm smile.

– Greetings to all the esteemed students of the Caldera Imperial Academy. It’s nice to meet you.

“Now it begins…”

Professor Esther, with a tense expression, muttered under her breath, swallowing her saliva. We were not the only ones focusing on the monitor.

Silence enveloped the entire dueling arena. It was a dense and intense silence, like a heavy thundercloud formed by tension.

-To make a long story short, I will explain the core rules of the annual intergrade dueling.

First, as proud members of the Caldera Imperial Academy, we promise to approach the duels with honor and passion.

Second, the professors of the Caldera Imperial Academy also promise to evaluate these students with fairness and objectivity, driven by their passion.

Third, the duels that will unfold over the next four days will be evaluated by the professors in charge, including Headmaster Damien.

Fourth, the format, time limit, and conditions for victory will vary each day and will be announced before the start of each duel. However, if the duels become impossible to proceed or if the time limit expires without a clear winner, the professors will determine the outcome.

Fifth, there will be no duels between upperclassmen and underclassmen, as each grade will have separate duels.

Sixth, students are allowed to use offensive magic that prevents fatal injuries. Therefore, all attacks are permitted as long as they are not at a lethal level.

Seventh, to foster a healthy dueling culture, any acts of criticizing or insulting the opponent in a derogatory manner after the duel will be prohibited. However, some psychological warfare will be allowed during the duels.

– That is all.

The students began to whisper among themselves. As the noise started to spread, a man standing next to Headmaster Damien took the microphone.

– Haha! Hello! I am Professor Andres, the chief organizer of this duel from the second grade!

The man with a single strand of hair sticking out of his bald head was an impressive figure. I didn’t know he was the chief organizer for the second grade.

– Ahem. Then, let me explain today’s dueling format!

It was the most crucial moment. As Professor Andres raised his voice cheerfully, the rowdy dueling arena regained its silence.

– Today’s dueling format is Capture the Flag!

As Professor Andres’s voice reverberated through the dueling arena, the inside of the arena started to shake as if going mad.

And then, an incredible event occurred.

From a subtle space hollowed out between the center of the arena and the spectator seats, a dirt floor with the same conditions as the arena began to rise. We stared at the sight in disbelief.

As the tremors subsided, what appeared before our eyes was…

“Wow….”

“In, incredible….”

Above the training ground, now several times larger than before, a complex maze of twisted earthen walls rose.

The maze was constantly shifting and changing its structure, and one could easily sense the tremendous effort put into making it move.

Amidst the admiration echoing from various places for its intricacy, Professor Andreas continued speaking.

“The flag capture method is simple! Each grade will randomly fall into this massive maze, and your task is to find the 64 flags hidden throughout the maze and escape to the center! Of course, once you enter the maze, remember that you won’t be able to see the outside!”

Excluding the 80 students from the non-combat undergraduate department, there were 320 students per grade. All these students would enter the gigantic maze at once.

“Now, for the first batter of this flag capture, let’s start with the adorable freshmen! First-year students, please stand up!”

Out of the 320 first-year students, only a maximum of 64 would survive this death match.

And so, the annual grade-based training had begun.