Chapter 3: The Great Spirit Martial Arts Festival
“I hereby declare the opening of the Great Spirit Martial Arts Festival!”
Along with the opening declaration by the Archbishop of the Spiritism Religion, cheers resonated throughout the entire Holy City.
“…………”
The origins of the Great Spirit Martial Arts Festival were said to be a dance dedicated to the good god Arumati, enshrined in this Holy City, and the spirits considered his messengers—in other words, a Kagura.
Over a long period of time, it evolved from a ritual dance into a martial arts demonstration. Now, because spirit-user training institutions from various countries gather to compete, it is treated as a stage for each nation to flaunt the prowess of its spirit masters.
In fact, countless spirits and spirit arts are used to broadcast the festival to every nation. During this period, not only the students of Academy City Galadea but almost all its citizens gather in multi-purpose halls, theaters, and arenas equipped with broadcasting facilities to witness the brave figures of the spirit masters.
In short, if you make a fool of yourself here, you aren’t just shamed in the Kingdom of Romus, but before the entire world. To Rourke, this was terrifying beyond belief.
“Are you nervous, Rourke?”
“How could I not be?”
As the solemn opening ceremony, filled with the hymns of the Spiritism Religion, concluded, I was waiting in the participant’s prep room. Gareth called out to me, and I answered with a grimace.
The fact that I had no contracted spirit, the strange rumors circulating among the opponents, the expectations from my comrades, and the simple reality that I was standing on the stage of this Great Spirit Martial Arts Festival—all these facts combined to make my mental state incredibly unstable. When I confessed this to Gareth without hiding anything, he gave me a blank, exasperated look.
“So, it’s just the same as always then.”
“What are you saying… actually, you’re right.”
Now that I thought about it, the situation wasn’t much different from the Degree Battle. If anything, it was almost identical.
“…………”
“Feeling a bit more settled now?”
Gareth asked with a laugh, seeing that I had relaxed slightly after coming to that realization.
“It’s kind of scary how well you understand me…”
“Maybe you’re just that easy to read?”
“Impossible…”
“You two, it’s starting,”
Misha interrupted our idle chatter.
As if drawn by her gaze, the two of them looked up at the sky to see two angel spirits floating in mid-air with their wings spread wide. One angel held a set of scales in its hand, while the other held a wooden chalice engulfed in flames.
[We shall now select the first event, the field, and the participating participants.]
With those words, a large projection of the scales and the flames held by the angels appeared in the sky. In the next instant, wooden dice thrown by the angels rolled onto the left and right pans of the scales.
“Well, let’s see our luck.”
“For now, I just hope it’s not a grueling event…”
All events held during the Great Spirit Martial Arts Festival are decided not by humans, but by the hands of spirits. This is a remnant from the days when it was called a “Dance Festival”; the competition is ultimately a ritual dedicated to the gods and spirits. Therefore, everything is left to the spirits so that they may choose the competition they desire.
[The first event is the Skyrace. The course will be Mount Dolca.]
Once the angel with the scales decided the event and location, the flames in the other angel’s chalice flared up violently. At the same time, the gloves I was wearing began to glow.
[Those whose gloves bear light shall be the participants for this round. Selected representatives from each school, please gather at the designated location.]
“…I see.”
These were handed to us by the Spirit Institute beforehand with instructions for the participants to wear them. It seems they were meant for selecting the participants.
“I mean, I’m up right from the start…?”
“There’s one more over there.”
While I was despairing over being chosen for the very first event, Gareth pointed out that there was another member. Looking over, I saw light leaking from another source and realized Leia’s glove was also glowing.
“It seems the two of you are the participants for this event.”
“…………”
At Misha’s words, Leia stared at me, seemingly still unable to fully grasp the situation.
Well, that makes sense. You’d be shaken if you were suddenly told you’re the participant. Honestly, I’m still confused because it happened so fast.
“Let’s go, Leia. We’re the glorious vanguard.”
Even so, I chose to call out to Leia with a bold, confident tone. At my words, Leia’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then she nodded with a softening expression.
“Yes, let us go, Senpai.”
Following Leia’s words, the prep room overflowed with cheers from the other members, like “Good luck!” and “Show them the power of the Second Seat!”
“Both of you, fight a battle that brings no shame to Utrea Academy.”
Misha said this as we were about to leave the room, then she finally broke into a smile and continued.
“And above all, please go out there and enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”
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The number of academies participating in the Great Spirit Martial Arts Festival is five: Utrea Academy, Liber Academy, Clast Academy, Titania Academy, and Draconia Academy. All of them belong to the four nations that have formed an alliance. Among them, the Alsace Empire, the largest power, is the only one with two spirit-user training institutions, so both Liber Academy and Clast Academy are participating.
“My heart is really pounding.”
“Well, yeah, same here.”
I said this while my heart was thumping way harder than Leia’s probably was.
About a dozen or so spirit masters had gathered around us, and every single one of them looked incredibly strong. Actually, looking closely, even the student council president from Liber Academy, Yuma, whom I met the other day, was there.
I have a feeling this is going to be a fierce battle right from the get-go.
“I will now explain the rules for the Skyrace. First, you must decide on a ‘Runner’ from among the participating participants who will race atop a spirit. The other participants will act as support members for the runner—”
A priest from the Spirit Institute appeared shortly after and explained the rules. It seems only one person actually flies as the runner. In that case…
“Alright, Leia, you’re the runner.”
“Are you sure you want me?”
Leia asked back, as if to confirm.
“Of course. With your Salamander, we have a good chance of winning.”
“What about your Sigrum, Senpai?”
“I don’t have it.”
“You don’t!?”
I didn’t receive Sigrum from my Master this time. More importantly, ever since that scuffle with Kuro, that guy has developed a bit of an aversion to me. In a simple contract, he probably wouldn’t be able to exert his power like before.
“Well, besides, there aren’t many spirits that can exceed the flight capabilities of a Dragon-type anyway. I think it’s best for you to be the runner.”
“I understand. In that case, I shall run with Salamander as the runner.”
“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
“For teams that do not possess a spirit with flight capabilities for this event, we are lending out spirits for temporary contracts. If you require one, please let us know beforehand.”
At that explanation, I realized there might actually be a team of spirit masters who hadn’t contracted with a flying spirit.
I hope someone over there has a total accident, I wished inwardly, but no team went to the priest to get a sealing stone. My hopes were vainly shattered. I guess the spirits who do the choosing are considerate of that much.
“We will now begin moving to the starting point. All participants, please step inside this Cirquea.”
While I was thinking about that, preparations for the move seemed to be complete. Just like when we came to the Holy City, the participants, including us, gathered under a Cirquea that had expanded its circular body.
“I didn’t expect to run into you right at the start…”
“Ha, haha. Truly.”
When Yuma noticed me and spoke in a cheerful voice, I replied with a dry smile. But perhaps as a blessing in disguise, Yuma seemed to be the only participant from Liber Academy, meaning he had no support. His skill is an unknown variable, but maybe we can manage.
“I’m looking forward to this, Areas-kun.”
“Yeah, me too.”
With my reply, my vision was enveloped in light, and the surrounding scenery changed completely.
The view of beautiful buildings was instantly replaced by a landscape resembling a barren wasteland, and looking up, the sky felt much closer than before. It seems we successfully teleported to Mount Dolca.
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