Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

66 – 66. Grade-Level Sparring (15)

The second day at the Bruttini Branch. The morning dawned.

After a light breakfast with Professor Esther in the dining hall, I led the students I was in charge of to the sparring grounds.

“This morning’s meal was delicious….”

“Yeah. The seafood was incredibly fresh.”

Cloé and Eline expressed satisfaction with their tastes. As the two said, the meals at the Bruttini Branch were outstanding, not falling behind the main campus.

After all, port cities were known for their delicious seafood. I thought as I glanced at my wristwatch.

“Eight-thirty….”

The current time was eight-thirty. Since I had heard that the sparring on the second day would begin at exactly nine in the morning, I had arrived at the sparring grounds not too late.

“How do you think the sparring will proceed today?”

Professor Esther, walking beside me, suddenly raised her head. I looked at her face briefly and replied.

“Probably, they’ll try to reduce the numbers further.”

“Hmm…. Here?”

“Yes.”

Professor Esther had a puzzled expression, but I could understand.

Dean Damian and the senior faculty, including the head professors, would probably try to further reduce the 64 students who survived the flag-snatching on the first day. Perhaps they would aim to reduce it to 32.

Even if they conducted the matches in a tournament format, each year would have to play 63 matches. If you included the third year, that would be a total of 189 matches.

The semi-finals and finals would be held on the last day, and even if each match had a time limit of 10 minutes, it would still take too much time.

“Therefore, the number of students must decrease even further. That’s the only way we can have a real competition.”

“Now that you mention it….”

The expression on Professor Esther’s face, after listening to my explanation, was complex and subtle. After a moment of contemplation, she asked a question.

“Then, are we going to snatch the flag again?”

“It’s possible. However….”

Principal Damian, whom I had seen, wasn’t an uninteresting person who repeated the same training methods. Perhaps he would seek a different approach to the competition.

I glanced at the students from the Magic Theory Research Department following Professor Esther. My gaze naturally turned to Laura, who was leading the group.

“…….”

Laura von Adelheid. No matter what trials and hardships she faced, no matter how unfavorable the training method, she would persistently overcome it.

It makes sense; she is an Adelheid. A remarkable magician inheriting the blood of Adelheid.

“…Perhaps it will proceed in a very simple way.”

Concluding my words to Professor Esther, I raised my head to look at the vast training ground.

Only three days remained for the annual training, including today.

Indeed, how would Principal Damian select the students?

With curiosity in our hearts, we entered the training ground.

* * * * *

The training ground had returned to its initial state.

The maze made of earthen walls had disappeared, and the center of the training ground had reverted to a plain dirt floor. The spectator stands were already filled with students who had arrived at the training ground, and some representatives from the branches were also seated.

I checked the time. It was currently nine in the morning.

“We should start soon.”

As Professor Esther finished speaking, the lights in the training ground gradually dimmed.

Naturally, the sounds coming from the stands gradually quieted, and everyone’s gaze turned towards the monitor hanging in the center of the training ground.

Eventually, Principal Damian’s face began to appear on the large monitor.

– Greetings, proud students of the Royal Academy of Caledonia. Good morning.

Principal Damian’s gentle voice echoed through the training ground. The students who had been chatting until the last moment closed their mouths, and a complete silence fell over the training ground.

– Let’s set aside the unnecessary talk and get straight to the point.

The students’ eyes focused on Principal Damian’s mouth. This applied not only to those who survived yesterday’s flag-snatching but also to those who were eliminated in the process.

– First-class, standing at the pinnacle. Leap toward that opportunity.

The Royal Academy of Caledonia is the Empire’s leading first-class academy. Students here naturally analyze their own defeats, plan for the future, and aspire to leap forward in the pursuit of opportunities.

Even for students in the lowest-ranking class, it is natural to analyze and understand other students’ training, using it as a stepping stone for their own growth.

A peculiar fervor enveloped the training ground. In the gaze of the students, a distinct determination was evident.

In that stifling atmosphere, Headmaster Damien’s voice resonated.

– Well then, let’s welcome today’s host. He is Professor Andres, a professor of Summoning Magic in the second year and also the chief professor.

For a moment, the screen turned pitch black, and soon, a familiar face appeared.

– Greetings, everyone! It’s truly a wonderful morning to begin the training! Don’t you think so?!

Professor Andres, with his shining bald head, made a striking impression. His cheerful greeting gradually eased the tension on the faces of the students, which had been tightly wound.

Although he had shown a bright demeanor during their first meeting, it seemed to have become even more delightful recently. Perhaps it was due to a strand of hair that had grown on the top of his head.

With a bright smile, Professor Andres continued.

– Without further ado, let’s get straight to the point!

Instantly, the training ground began to vibrate. It was the same vibration as yesterday.

The space between the spectator stands and the training ground surged, expanding the size of the training ground that had been narrow the day before. However, it was smaller than the arena where flag-stealing took place.

Sophia Besse, standing next to me, murmured as she scanned the training ground.

“Every time I see it, magic is truly fascinating… Don’t you think?”

“Absolutely.”

Our gaze turned to the monitor. How would this training progress?

– Chaldea Royal Academy’s annual training by grade! On the second day, the training method is none other than King’s Guard!

King’s Guard.

Eight teams, each consisting of eight students distributed evenly based on their abilities, are formed, totaling 64 students entering the training ground simultaneously. Team members must protect their randomly selected king while also attacking the opponent team’s king.

Cooperative abilities, a sense of duty to protect someone, and agility and skill to pierce the opponent’s defenses—all of these are required in this training. The top four teams that survive until the end of this training will advance to the next round!

The students nodded with tense expressions. Simple yet the most challenging training.

The students are evenly distributed based on their abilities, meaning each of the eight teams will be evenly matched.

In other words, even lower-ranked students have a chance to turn the tables.

– Today’s matches! Just like yesterday, we’ll start with the first-year students!

With Professor Andres’s shout, thunderous cheers erupted.

It was the beginning of the second day of training.

* * * * *

‘King’s Guard…’

Cloé gripped her trembling hands tightly due to the tension. The tremors that had been flowing through her magic wand subsided a bit.

The entrance to the training ground was crowded by chance. Inside, seven students, excluding Cloe, were already gathered.

“Hello!”

One girl cheerfully greeted them. Cloe nodded and shook the hand that the girl extended.

“Are you from Class A?”

“Yes. I’m Cloe from Class A, first grade.”

“Wow…! There are three students from Class A…!”

This time, a boy exclaimed in admiration. They all recognized the faces they had seen a few times while going to the academy.

Cloe looked around, hoping to find Ellyn’s face.

“She’s not here….”

Unfortunately, Ellyn was not present. That meant that Ellyn would also meet them as an opponent. Cloe tightly closed her lips.

“Hello.”

At that moment, a girl with a sleepy expression briefly greeted them. Cloe returned the greeting and glanced at her face.

“By any chance, are you from Class A…?”

“Yes. I’m Owen, a combat major from Class A, first grade.”

Owen had been conversing with Cloe with half-closed eyes, but despite her small stature, a giant greatsword was hanging from her back.

“A, a greatsword?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing. Let’s work hard!”

“Sure.”

Behind Owen, a tall boy extended his head. He was also a student from Class A whom they had met a few times before.

“Hello! I’m Hubert, a combat major from Class A! As you can see, my specialty is dual swords! Nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you too!”

As Owen and Hubert stepped forward to greet them, the rest of the students also warmly greeted Cloe. While accepting their greetings, Cloe wondered why they were being so friendly.

Was it simply because they were from Class A? If so, she couldn’t let those expectations down.

With determination, Cloe clenched her fists and firmly shouted.

“Let’s work hard!”

“Of course!”

“Yeah. Let’s do our best.”

“But, who is the king?”

As Cloe’s question fell, everyone’s gaze focused on her. Cloe hesitated nervously and asked again.

“Who is that, the king….”

“You.”

“…Me?”

When Chloe asked with a surprised expression, Owen, still with sleepy eyes, looked at Chloe and pointed above her head.

“That thing on your head, isn’t it a crown?”

“…Huh?”

Chloe reached up to touch her own head. Indeed, she could feel a cool and solid sensation….

“Uh, um….”

It was a completely unexpected situation. Chloe held a position more important than anyone else in the team, as if she had become the queen.

If that was the case, then the way the students had been treating her warmly since earlier….

“Because I’m the king…?”

As Chloe denied reality, the heavy door blocking the students’ view slowly began to open.

“Uh…! I don’t know either…!”

Being the king was a predetermined affair. Even if she panicked and was at a loss right now, nothing would change. Chloe thought this and composed herself.

Now, she would only use what she was most confident in at this moment. That was Chloe’s determination.

Finally, a hazy cloud of dust began to swirl from behind the fully opened door. Chloe and her teammates reached out their feet slowly towards the training ground.

– All the first-year students have entered the training ground! Who among them will be the surviving students?!

As they left the slowly closing door behind, Chloe looked around with a determined gaze.

A gloomy atmosphere hung over the training ground. Chloe unconsciously swallowed her dry saliva and clenched her fist.

– You… You have indeed gained enlightenment, haven’t you?

“Flame magic….”

Quickly moving her staff, she began forming a magic circle. And she thought to herself.

Now is the time to meet everyone’s expectations.