The match had ended.
The first battle between the Vermilion Bird Class and Azure Dragon Class concluded when Seia lost consciousness due to Yunia’s magical bombardment, and Ludmila dragged her back and seated her in a chair, leaving about four minutes remaining.
“It’s a victory for the Vermilion Bird Class, but since it wasn’t a complete win, let’s call it a half-victory.”
Was she speaking with the composure of a winner, or was it regret for not securing an absolute victory?
“Let’s have another match next time. Or how about making this a weekly event? Maybe a 3 vs. 3 match in the field next time?”
“Th-That’s a bit….”
The person most flustered by Yunia’s enthusiastic suggestion was, of course, Shuri. But because of that, everyone else ended up being caught off guard instead.
“Shuri, have confidence. Your illusion magic was truly impressive.”
“That’s right. If we hadn’t used mana detection properly, we wouldn’t have noticed it at all.”
“Exactly. If it weren’t for Yunia, we would have spent the whole ten minutes talking about what to do after winning, only to say, ‘Huh? Why did we lose?’ and then have you walk in saying, ‘Actually, this is the next room over.’”
Evangeline encouraged Shuri by vividly describing an alternative future that never happened.
“H-Hehe, is that so….”
Since the Imperial Princess herself was personally praising her, Shuri knew that staying too downhearted would only dampen the mood further. So, she forced a smile and clutched her magic pad tightly.
‘Still not enough, huh.’
Her illusions had worked on someone at a higher magical level than her.
That much was fine.
But if they had actually secured a Azure Dragon Class victory, she would have been overjoyed.
“Miss Shuri?”
“Y-Yes?!”
“You don’t have to feel so discouraged. If Seia had held out a little longer, your magic might have worked.”
And the one offering her comfort was none other than Yurha, a fellow Azure Dragon Class member.
“Junior Phoenix, from the moment the three members of the Vermilion Bird Class entered this room until Seia was subdued again—how long did it take?”
“About 5 minutes and 50 seconds.”
“Then, if they had entered at 55 minutes instead of 50, or if we had just three minutes left, maybe we could have won.”
Yurha winked at Shuri.
“Have confidence. You have more talent than you think. And I’m not just saying that to be nice.”
“T-Thank you!”
Shuri bowed deeply, delighted.
After all, praise from the financier of a group that even an Empire struggling with debt couldn’t ignore was bound to feel better than praise from the Imperial Princess of a declining empire.
“And Yunia?”
“Yes, Senior Yurha?”
“For the next matches… how much ‘story’ are you planning to add?”
“Huh?”
“If you keep launching magic bombardments like the one that took down Seia… well, both Seia and I are going to have a hard time in multiple ways.”
“Ah, that….”
Yunia looked flustered.
Even though Yurha had phrased it somewhat gently, the truth was that her attack had been too much.
“…I got a little carried away. Hehe.”
“I don’t think a simple ‘Hehe’ is going to cut it.”
“…But…”
“Do you see that forest over there?”
Yurha pointed toward the trees.
“Because of your magic bombardment, it had physical destructive power, and now there’s a road there.”
“…”
Miss Yunia turned her head in the opposite direction of where Yurha was pointing.
A clear gesture that she did not want to see it directly.
“Phoenix.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“Can you turn Yunia’s head 180 degrees for me? I’ll give you 1 gold.”
“Like this?”
At Yurha’s request, I immediately moved behind Yunia and turned her head toward the direction of the damage.
“Ugh.”
“So what now? Is Phoenix not only going to turn your head but also force your eyes open?”
“N-No…”
Yunia, who had shut her eyes tightly, let out a tearful whimper before reluctantly opening them.
“What do you think, Yunia? That path is so clear that some students might mistake it for the entrance to the Old School Building at this point.”
“I-I can just snipe anyone who tries to use it with another magic bombardment, right?”
“You’re not going to stay awake 24/7, are you?”
Though Yurha sounded harsh, the state of the now-open forest path was undeniably severe.
At this point, they could just pave the area and lay mana train tracks over it.
The fact that it was Yurha advising Yunia instead of an Instructor spoke volumes—after all, the faculty were still out there dealing with the aftermath of the incident.
“Miss Yunia, if you’re going to fire magic bombardments of that scale, aim at a higher angle next time. Got it?”
“B-But the angle at that time….”
“If you’re up against Seia or anyone else, just use a Binding spell to restrain them and lift them into the air before shooting.”
“Ah! That method…. But are we really just going to casually talk about launching Seia into the air like that?”
“Well, Seia…”
Yurha sneaked a glance at me before shifting her gaze again.
“She needs to realize that there are people her age who are already much stronger than her. She also needs to expand her mindset.”
“Senior Yurha, does that have anything to do with Phoenix?”
At Evangeline’s question, Yurha flinched in surprise.
Since she usually avoided addressing Evangeline directly, she hadn’t expected such a direct question.
“Hmm, not exactly… It’s kind of related to what you’re thinking about with Ludvecia, but also a bit different. It’s complicated.”
“That complication—we should know about it, don’t you think?”
Ludmila chimed in as well.
Yurha glanced at me as if silently asking, ‘Should I say it?’
I gave a subtle shake of my head, signaling no.
“It’s nothing major. It’s just that, well… Phoenix was adopted, right? And according to Marchioness Ludvecia, he’s supposedly the boy who went missing ten years ago—Regif Habsderk.”
“So that’s how it is… Ah.”
The three members of the Vermilion Bird Class realized the truth.
“That’s right. Right now, Phoenix is occupying the place of the person who was destined to be Seia’s fated partner when she was a child, according to the traditions of the Count Habsderk family.”
Yurha shook her head with a hint of regret.
“If Seia gives Phoenix a bitter look or acts curtly toward him, it’s probably because the one who should have been in that position—Regif Habsderk, her fated partner—is gone, and instead, a blond and tanned delinquent is taking his place. Most likely.”
“Ah, so that’s…”
“…So he’s the one filling the void left by the older brother who died ten years ago. That’s quite a complicated relationship.”
“Hmm, but she doesn’t exactly look like she’s out for blood or anything….”
Yunia and Ludmila expressed their sympathy, while Evangeline tilted her head in curiosity.
“Considering that, in Phoenix’s room—”
“Ah! That’s right. It seemed like she was treating him as if her actual brother had come back to life!”
“Well, in a way, yes. That was what Marchioness Ludvecia was worried about too.”
A question.
Just how many people truly believed that Phoenix is actually Regif Habsderk, who was kidnapped by the Demon World ten years ago and has now returned?
If I were to count everyone who was at least *half-*convinced….
“Well, in any case, it doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that right now, I am ‘Phoenix’.”
Yes.
No matter what the past was, my current mission is what truly matters.
* * *
After the basic lecture ended, and after the Academy decided to formally convert the path Yunia had created into a new corridor—
“This is your room, Miss Shuri.”
“Wow….”
I personally guided Shuri to the room prepared for her.
Yurha had gone to take care of Seia, while the other three had headed to the Old Library for their evening training.
“Um, Ph— I mean, should I call you Fenrir?”
“Call me whatever you’re comfortable with. Either way, it’s still me.”
In the mirror inside Shuri’s room, my reflection showed Fenrir—gray-haired, jade-eyed.
Swish.
But soon, my hair and skin color changed in an instant, returning to the exact appearance of Phoenix.
“You didn’t… swap identities, did you?”
“Not at all. It’s just a disguise.”
“…Could it be that even your ‘Phoenix’ appearance is a disguise?”
“Oh? Is that what you think?”
“A-Ah, no! It’s just a guess, or maybe just a wild assumption…”
Shuri fidgeted with her fingers, nervously watching my reaction.
As expected of an overly cautious girl, she was highly defensive, worried that she might have inadvertently offended me.
But—
“Miss Shuri.”
“Y-Yes?”
Creak.
I locked the door and turned to face her directly.
“W-What are you…?”
“What I’m about to tell you is very important, Miss Shuri. It might become a major obstacle in your life—or it could be a great opportunity.”
“S-Suddenly? What are you even talking about…?”
“Miss Shuri.”
I lowered my voice to a whisper.
“I know exactly what kind of drawings you create.”
“…”
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Her expression stiffened, and her lips slowly parted.
“…Huh?”
“I know what kind of pictures you draw.”
“W-What do you mean… Ah! Do you mean my portraits? If it’s that, I just—”
“What do you think would happen if your artistic talent was combined with your ability to create illusions?”
“Uh, that is….”
“What if the people in this Old School Building…”
I locked eyes with her and asked in a serious tone.
“…Found out about your talent and started asking you to draw them with someone in… certain situations?”
That’s right.
Shuri.
If this girl’s supernatural ability was combined with her artistic skills—
“Would you be able to refuse?”
A deepfake “Kyun-Kyun” factory would be born.
