Chapter 219:


    Chapter 219 It’s Okay.


    The next day.


    The representatives of the Magic Department, after resting well in their dormitories, arrived at the stadium early in the morning. As soon as they arrived, they looked around with astonished expressions.


    The scenery waspletely different from what they had expected.


    “Did wee to the wrong ce?”


    “Haha… It doesn’t seem like the same ce.”


    “Why is it so grim?”


    Becky, Trixie, and Louis nced around with puzzled expressions. Until yesterday, affectionate gazes had been directed towards the Magic Department, but today, the atmosphere was very different.


    Yesterday, both the participants and spectators were immersed in a festive mood, but today, there was a tense atmosphere.Bang─!


    Crack─!


    The arena where the current match was taking ce was even worse. The hostility was so intense that it almost felt like one could see the sharp aura with their eyes.


    Becky shivered and rubbed her arms in fear.


    “What’s wrong with this ce? Just overnight.”


    “The atmosphere has changed so much from yesterday.”


    Until yesterday, there was a sense of learning and camaraderie as theypeted, a warmth that could be felt. However, today’s situation waspletely different.


    “They seem intent on killing each other…?”


    There is a vast difference betweenpeting to ‘win’ andpeting to ‘kill.’


    In a simple pursuit of victory, the chance of a weaker opponent defeating a stronger one is negligible. But in a world where killing is involved, it’s different.


    Since people are willing to risk their lives, unexpected turnarounds can ur.


    In short, both the spectators and the participants were now fighting with their lives on the line, unlike yesterday.


    Becky looked around with wide eyes like a deer.


    “Why has the atmosphere changed so much in just one day?”


    At that moment, Maiev spoke calmly.


    “What do you think is the age range of the participants?”


    “Age range? Why suddenly bring up age…? Oh, wait a minute.”


    Becky narrowed her eyes and scrutinized the arena carefully.


    “Now that you mention it, the people wepeted against yesterday, they all seem quite old. We’re very young.”


    “If you understand the reason, the problem is easily solved.”


    Maiev nodded and continued.


    “In times when there were no gaps in the Hero selection, how many people do you think honed themselves to be heroes?”


    “A huge number, probably countless.”


    “But then, suddenly, they stopped selecting heroes. What do you think happened to those who strived to be heroes?”


    “That’s a tough one… Did they leave to find other work?”


    “Of course not. To be precise, they couldn’t.”


    Maiev’s eyes grew serious.


    “If, right now, you had to stop practicing magic, what would you do, Becky?”


    “Me?”


    Becky pointed at herself with her index finger.


    Magic was something Becky had done all her life. If she were told to find another path… she couldn’t. She had never thought about another path, and having done magic all her life, it was too ambiguous to start something else.


    Moreover, that wasn’t the only thing.


    n, Trixie, Maiev, Louis… When I looked around, there wererades who had be incredibly precious. I wanted to continue doing magic with them. Just the thought of letting it go was unbearable.


    In the end, the red-haired girl shook her head.


    “That would be very difficult. Impossible.”


    “Right?”


    “I’ve never thought about another path besides this.”


    “It’s the same for them.”


    Maiev pointed to the arena with her chin.


    “People who have dedicated their lives to bing heroes can’t find another path, even if there’s a long hiatus. They just endure the time, waiting for the moment when heroes are selected again.”


    “…And finally, the time for selection hase.”


    “Exactly. For those who didn’t receive an invitation, today is theirst chance. Once they go home, it’s over. It’s understandable how desperate they must be.”


    Louis, who had been listening nearby, shrugged his shoulders.


    “Listening to this kind of talk… It makes me appreciate n even more. It’s all thanks to n that we’re able to experience this at such a young age, right?”


    “That’s true! Even we are this happy, imagine how the professors and the Dean of the Magic Department must feel. Hehe.”


    But then, it happened.


    “There’s still a long way to go.”


    The voice belonged to n. His gaze was directed in a different direction from the other representatives. While everyone else was focused on the arena, his eyes were on the Dean.


    Naturally, everyone’s eyes followed his.


    In the distance, the Dean of the Magic Department, Cte, was visible. She was sitting quietly in a corner, as calm as usual.


    However, something felt off. Cte had always been a calm andposed woman, but this time it felt different. Soon, everyone understood the situation.


    The guards were talking among themselves and notmunicating with Cte. It was as if there was an invisible line separating them.


    Beckymented.


    “Isn’t that too tant?”


    “It’s tant but also natural. Everyone is only talking about the Magic Department, so the guards can’t help but feel ufortable.”


    While the city guards were distant from the world, heroes were very close to it. They could never be separated.


    When a great hero was born, more people dreamed of bing heroes, and young talents honed themselves to behave as much like heroes as possible.


    In other words, more people were diligently active, and as more righteous deeds were performed, the continent itself brightened.


    …But what if that idol was not a knight, but a magician?


    And what if people were expecting such results?


    The guards couldn’t help but feel ufortable.


    Trixie spoke in an annoyed tone.


    “It’s not nice to see the Dean being treated like that. Isn’t there anything we can do?”


    “There is a way.”


    “There is?”


    n quietly nodded.


    “Just prove it by winning. The guards are only wary because they are not used to this situation.”


    “Aha. So, until they get used to it, we just have to keep winning and winning again.”


    Bang─!


    Just then, the final match in the arena ended. The faces of the participants and spectators showed a mix of joy and sorrow. Those who lost would have to train themselves and endure another period of hardship.


    As the representatives quietly nodded their heads, it happened.


    “Ah, nice to meet you. Representatives of the Magic Department.”


    A royal official approached us and started speaking. The representatives of the Magic Department awkwardly nodded their heads, and he promptly pulled out a piece of paper.


    “Let’s see… The main matches will begin now. Today, you’ll only have topete in one match, but you will be facing a city knight.”


    He extended the paper a bit closer to n.


    “n, you’re the one participating, right? Just sign here.”


    The representatives of the Magic Department huddled around n. They quickly skimmed through the written content.


    “This is…”


    Becky, standing next to him, swallowed hard.


    The content was simple yet intense.


    Acknowledge the possibility of death during the match. Also, no one will be held responsible if you die. There will be no room to question the reasons for this.


    “We need to hurry… Hmm…”


    The royal official repeatedly lifted and set down one foot. He kept ncing at the watch on his left wrist.


    “For the Magic Department, if even one person loses, it counts as a loss for the entire department. You are aware of this, right?”


    “Really?”


    Becky asked again.


    “Of course… Originally, only n was supposed to participate, but due to his request, the other representatives were included. Therefore, this is only fair.”


    “Ah…”


    At that moment, Louis raised his hand and asked a question.


    “Can we change the participant?”


    “…?”


    The official tilted his head to the side. His expression showed clear disbelief.


    “Change the participant? When the opponent is a city knight?”


    “Yes.”


    “You do understand that if any of the representatives lose, the entire Magic Department is disqualified?”


    In other words, the official’s words implied that no one but n could face the city knight. Despite the tant disregard, Louis remainedposed.


    “Anyway, it’s possible to change, right?”


    “Yes, but…”


    The official looked Louis up and down.


    “…Do you think any of the other representatives can face a city knight? It’s extremely dangerous. Don’t ask unnecessary questions.”


    He tapped the paper with his finger.


    “Just sign it first. Many people are waiting.”


    As the official approached n, Louis snatched the pen and paper. Before anyone could say anything, he signed his own name.


    “…!”


    Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.


    “Guys.”


    Louis spoke with a serious face.


    “I really want to do this.”


    As Louis’s name appeared in blue mana above the arena, and n’s name did not, the audience began to buzz loudly.


    “Louis!”


    “Louis, wait…!”


    Smiling as usual, Louis walked toward the arena. Then, suddenly, he looked back just once.


    “It’s okay.”


    He continued walking toward the arena.


    There, waiting for him, was the city knight, Clotte.