“That’s it?”
Kay, gazing at the towering block of ice before him like a tombstone, finally ceased his assault. It wasn’t out of arrogance or a belief that he had defeated Rourke.
Rather, his motivation for the match was waning.
“I thought it’d be a bit more interesting……”
Originally, due to his family background, Kay had aspired to be a musician rather than a spirit master.
However, he attended the academy as a spirit master because his parents, valuing his talent, had strongly persuaded him to do so. He didn’t particularly have a strong desire for it.
In fact, he found performing concerts outside far more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Thus, his interest in the Ranking Match was minimal, and he had no real stake in winning or losing. But since he couldn’t tarnish the family name, he had to participate and achieve decent results.
So, Kay decided to enjoy the Ranking Match like an opera.
He would create story settings, cast himself and his opponents as characters, and fight according to the narrative he crafted. This approach helped him maintain his motivation for the battles.
Even so, when he felt no interest in his opponent, he would sometimes skip matches, temporarily lowering his ranking. But as long as he defeated a few high-ranking opponents in other matches, he could maintain a high position.
Thus, Kay Trallus established his stance and style in the Ranking Match.
“You’re…… underestimating me!!”
“…………”
The block of ice split in two, and Rourke emerged from within, wreathed in flames. The sword spirit in his hand was enveloped in fire thanks to the minor spirits, and with a roar, Rourke swung his sword downward.
The approaching crimson crescent. It was a dangerous strike to receive, but Kay made no move to dodge, instead simply thrusting his baton forward.
In an instant, a staff of spiritual energy formed around Kay, effortlessly deflecting the slash.
“…………”
“………You’re still not calling your contracted spirit, huh……”
Kay muttered with disappointment as Rourke frowned at the outcome.
Rourke Areas, the spirit master who didn’t call his contracted spirit.
Indeed, his movements were impressive. Both his offense and defense showcased excellent techniques, and there were moments that truly impressed.
But that was all.
He was strong, yes, but no different from the opponents Kay had faced before. He wasn’t inspiring enough to ignite Kay’s creativity. Perhaps if he had called his contracted spirit, things might have been different, but it seemed that wasn’t going to happen.
“I have no right to force you to call your spirit. But if you’re not going to, then I’m afraid it’s time to end this.”
As the Siren’s voice echoed with a haunting, mournful tone, the staff expanded around Kay and the spirits, layering over them repeatedly. The notes played by the minor spirits began to overlap on the staff.
“You overcame the blizzard with your flames, but can you survive this trial?”
The notes on the staff shifted to red, brown, and yellow, releasing an overwhelming amount of spiritual energy.
The staff spun rapidly around Kay, and five boulders wreathed in thunder and flames appeared above him.
“Hey, hey……”
Rourke forced a bitter smile as he gazed at the five violent orbs hovering in the air, targeting him.
The spiritual energy infused into each one was on a completely different level from before. Even if he used all his spirit arts and the minor spirits, there was no way he could intercept all of them.
—This is it.
A sense of resignation welled up within him.
At the same time, his body naturally began to relax.
“I did my best…… right?”
Rourke muttered, as if defending himself.
After all, he had held out this long against Kay Trallus. If anything, he deserved praise.
But a voice in his head questioned him.
Did you really give it your all?
Is there still a way to overcome this situation?
Is it okay to end things like this?
“…………”
I don’t know. Truly, I don’t know.
Is it necessary to take such a risk in this match? Wouldn’t it be better to admit defeat gracefully and say that I tried my best but couldn’t win? If I do that, I might feel stressed, but I can still return to my normal life tomorrow.
[Why didn’t you summon your contracted spirit?!]
[Why won’t you summon your contracted spirit?]
[Why don’t you just summon your spirit? If you do, you’ll have a decent chance of winning.]
[……I guess you’re not going to summon your contracted spirit after all.]
No. It’s not that I won’t summon it—it’s that I don’t have one.
But I don’t have the courage to say that…… So I’ve been fighting without a contracted spirit…… And now people are starting to say that I’m hiding my true strength or something equally absurd……
Even though I’ve been giving my all in every single match……
“……Yeah, that’s right……”
That’s right. I’ve been giving it my all.
No matter how much I’m misunderstood by those around me, no matter who my opponent is, I’ve always fought with everything I’ve got. Even in the match against Misha, I gave it my all, and when I couldn’t win, I admitted defeat.
But I haven’t used everything I’ve got yet.
I can’t end things like this. I can’t let myself lose while hiding my true strength, just as the rumors say. I can’t allow that.
“Chapter Five: Heavenly Meteor Strike.”
“……!”
As Kay swings his baton, five rocks wreathed in thunder and flames come rushing toward me.
There’s no more hesitation. Facing the oncoming threat, Rourke quickly takes out his vessel and seals all of his spirits except the sword spirit.
And then—–
“……?”
Trallus, who had unleashed the technique, couldn’t shake off the strange feeling he had.
At the very last moment, when the technique was about to hit, Kay had clearly seen Rourke’s face. That’s why he noticed.
Rourke had…… definitely smiled.
“……Why?”
He muttered the question aloud, but the doubt remained. The only way to resolve it would probably be to ask Rourke himself, but he’s likely unconscious after taking that hit.
“……Well, whatever.”
It’s on his mind, but it’s already over.
Instead, he should hurry back and start preparing for the next concert.
Thinking that, Kay turned his gaze to the teacher acting as the referee, ready to have his victory announced…… but in the next instant, a chill ran down his spine.
“!?”
Kay reflexively turned his gaze back to Rourke.
He didn’t know why. He wasn’t even sure if this chill had come from Rourke in the first place. But his body naturally turned toward Rourke, who was likely still buried under the dust and rocks.
What is it? What’s happening?
As Kay was puzzling over this, a fierce wind blew from Rourke’s direction.
“Ugh!”
Kay covered his face with his arm, trying to endure it, but realizing that the wind was strong enough to blow him away, he quickly activated a spirit barrier. A staff sheet formed a shield around him, protecting him from the gale.
“……What is that?”
When Kay lowered his arm from his face, his eyes widened in shock.
The five rocks that had been closing in on Rourke had fallen unnaturally to the left and right, avoiding him. In the center stood Rourke, holding the sword spirit.
And above him, floating carefreely, was the unmistakable form of a high-ranking evil spirit, reminiscent of ray.
“………”
As screams and cries of shock echoed throughout the arena, Kay unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
The dark, evil spiritual energy radiating from the spirit Rourke had summoned was unmistakably characteristic of an evil spirit. The moment it appeared, everyone in the arena, as well as those watching from outside, knew for certain.
That was an evil spirit.
“Wha—? Huh!?”
“Wait, that’s an evil spirit, right!?”
“What’s going on!? Why is Areas summoning an evil spirit!?”
Shock. Confusion. Screams.
Amid the chaos of voices both inside and outside the arena, Kay, who was facing Rourke, quietly observed the evil spirit and confirmed their connection.
The spiritual bond was weak, so it was almost certainly a temporary contract.
But that wasn’t the issue.
Even if it was a temporary contract, he was commanding an evil spirit. That in itself was abnormal, a feat, and a threat.
“…………”
Kay lowered his gaze and turned his eyes to Rourke, who had summoned the evil spirit.
Like many spirit users, he suspected the risk of mental destruction that came with commanding an evil spirit, but the clarity in Rourke’s eyes as he looked straight at him told him otherwise.
He’s sane. Without a doubt.
In other words, at the very least, he’s controlling the evil spirit here and now. The fact that it’s floating idly above his head, not showing any signs of rampage, further proves that.
Interesting. It seems he’s finally revealed a glimpse of the power he’s been hiding.
Kay smiled, realizing that all the weariness he had felt earlier had completely vanished.
Visit the request page If there’s a Japanese Light Novel (LN) or Web Novel (WN) you’d like me to translate
When the donation goal progress bar above hit 100% one novel will be chosen for translation
| Table of Contents | Next* |
Support the Author by Buying the Original Books!
