Chapter 78: Laughably, the One Holding Back Her Own Goals and Dreams Was Herself No matter what anyone said, the highlight of the Yggdrasil Tournament was the Grande Magician.
Though it was part of a team-based tournament, this particular event leaned heavily toward individual competition, offering a preview of the combat mages who would soon dominate the front lines.
Most students who won the Grande Magician went on to become mages of great renown. Consequently, every student at Yggdrasil had, at least once, imagined themselves standing there as the victor.
In a school like Yggdrasil, where only the elite gathered, countless students participated, all dreaming of the single championship spot permitted each year.
Chika had entered with her sights set on that victory as well.
It wasn't that she truly expected to win.
She was well aware that her skills were still lacking, and she admitted that the third-years—who were already out in the field performing commissions—possessed a level of skill and experience that was difficult to overcome.
Beating a third-year might be a tall order, but she intended to climb to a height she could be proud of.
From there, she would simply trust in a bit of luck, grit, and her own talent as she pushed forward.
That was what Chika had thought.
"Yukina Serizawa defeats Chika Fraser and advances to the second round!!"
Chika stared blankly, unable to comprehend the sight of the floor so close it nearly touched her nose.
What just happened?
Her mind, which had gone completely white, slowly began to piece together the events of a few moments ago.
The match had started with Yukina's Ghost Fire instantly blanketing the stage.
Having already seen it during the Deserted Island Exam, Chika had responded without much difficulty.
To break Yukina's attempt to create a favorable environment by covering the stage in Ghost Fire, Chika had thrown a powerful straight punch.
The mana infused into the wind pressure from her fist pushed back the Ghost Fire, carving a direct path toward Yukina.
However, Yukina was closer than Chika had anticipated.
As if she had expected Chika to use a major technique to clear the Ghost Fire—no, as if she had intentionally baited it—Yukina had charged straight through the mana that was pushing the flames aside.
Taking the hit head-on without defending had significantly depleted her Mana Barrier, but Yukina didn't care. She lunged at Chika, who was left momentarily vulnerable after her big swing.
It was only a split second. A single opening. But Yukina gave her no room to counter, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks.
Chika tried to swing her fists while enduring the shocks vibrating through her Mana Barrier, but Yukina evaded them with ease, sticking to her like glue in extreme close-quarters combat.
Extreme close-quarters.
Despite this being the ideal range for Chika, who specialized in fisticuffs, Yukina overwhelmed her and forced her to her knees.
The shock to her abdomen as her Mana Barrier shattered, followed by the hilt of a sword striking her temple as she fell, caused Chika to lose consciousness for a moment.
And then, the match was over.
She had seen Yukina's skills during the Deserted Island Exam.
Chika had expected a good fight, but she had been eliminated without even getting a proper hit in.
Those indifferent eyes.
Chika couldn't forget the cold, indifferent gaze Yukina had looked down at her with.
As she emerged from the Illusion Space, Chika saw Yukina's back; she had already exited her capsule.
Chika wanted to grab her—to stop her from leaving without even acknowledging the loser—but the capsule, which served as both protection and the interface for the Illusion Space, opened far too slowly.
With a silent scream, Chika reflexively slammed her palm against the transparent capsule cover. Yukina, who was heading for the door, paused and looked back.
"… …"
"Good fight."
Leaving behind those short words, Yukina walked out.
As the cover finally slid up, Chika's palm fell limp. A surge of emotion hit her, and she collapsed back onto the seat.
"Haha… Good fight? Fuck… Fuuuck…"
Covering her eyes with her arm, she sobbed, struggling to stifle her cries.
A female teacher who had entered to check the used capsules saw Chika trembling with her face hidden and quietly stepped back out.
It was a common sight during the Grande Magician.
Most of these students were exceptionally talented.
Because of that immense talent, they were envied by those around them, and they unconsciously developed the sense that they were the best.
But there were always people with even greater talent and skill.
Upon coming to Yggdrasil, they found themselves surrounded by mountains of people with similar gifts. In their presence, one's own limits became painfully clear, and their once-shining talent began to feel like something utterly mundane and devoid of light.
After the teacher gave her some time, Chika managed to stop crying and stood up.
She checked her face in her phone, fixing herself up to look as though nothing was wrong, and headed outside. Someone was waiting for her.
"My Lady."
"…I'm sorry, Gramps. I lost."
Seeing the sorrowful smile on the young lady he served, Kyrillos offered a warm expression.
"There is no need to worry. There is next year, and the year after that. You are still young and talented, My Lady."
"…What about… Father? What did he… say?"
When Chika asked tentatively, Kyrillos fell silent, unable to answer.
His troubled expression was answer enough. Chika let out a hollow laugh and turned away.
"I'm fine, so you don't need to follow me. Actually… please don't. If I hear your comfort, I might start crying."
Kyrillos, who had been about to follow and offer more consolation, froze in his tracks at her words.
Though he was her servant, he had watched over Chika since she was a child, caring for her like his own daughter. Seeing her so dejected broke his heart.
However, there was nothing he could do for her now, so Kyrillos turned back with a heavy heart.
After parting with Kyrillos, Chika walked alone before collapsing onto a roadside bench.
She forced down her turbulent emotions and watched the crowds of people wandering about, enjoying the festival.
'Did you win here too, Dad?'
'I did. They say a mage who wins the Grande Magician has a high chance of becoming one of the 12 Zodiacs in the future.'
'Then are you going to be a Zodiac too, Dad? Whoa—'
As memories of the past surfaced amidst the festive crowd, Chika couldn't bear to watch anymore and closed her eyes.
Her father had not become one of the 12 Zodiacs, the greatest among mages.
He wasn't at retirement age yet, so he might join their ranks in the future, but for now, he was mockingly referred to as the "13th Zodiac."
Since there was obviously no such thing as a 13th Zodiac, it was merely a nickname used to ridicule her father, Roman Fraser.
The 12 Zodiac positions were already filled by formidable mages, including those younger than Roman, like Erin.
Roman had entered Yggdrasil at the same time as Akito's father, Yukio, and had even defeated him to win the Grande Magician. But now, he was nothing more than an object of derision, the "13th Zodiac."
Thinking of her father before he became obsessed with the title, and of her younger self, Chika grit her teeth to keep the tears from falling again.
Every time Roman felt frustrated by his own talent, he placed more pressure on Chika. As she grew, her training became increasingly brutal.
'That was when I started liking Akito…'
Not all the memories were bad.
Whenever Chika struggled under the weight of training that bordered on abuse, Akito was the one who helped her and stayed by her side.
During a childhood she never could have endured without him, he had been her lifeline.
"Chika! I saw your match!"
Chika opened her eyes at the sound of the familiar voice.
It was Akito, along with Shiori, Kurumi, and Emma—the members of Blue Lagoon.
A strange sense of loneliness washed over her, as if she were the only one missing from their usual group, but Chika hid it behind a smile.
"I lost. Sorry."
"Huh? You don't have to apologize to me. We're not on the same team. You fought well."
Not on the same team.
His tone was so indifferent, so detached.
I really am nothing to you.
He was so kind and treated everyone well, but that was exactly why it felt so cruel to Chika. She wanted to be special to him, yet he treated her exactly like everyone else.
Is it ugly of me to want to be special?
The more she looked at Akito's face as he casually chatted about the match, the heavier Chika's heart became.
"She just pushed recklessly without thinking about what came next. If the match had gone on just a little longer, Chika-san would have won. Don't you think so, Brother?"
The perceptive Shiori noticed the sadness hidden beneath Chika's smile and sought Akito's help, but he shook his head.
"But that was the strategy. Yukina had prepared perfectly. I knew she was strong, but it turns out she's smart, too."
"Akito-dono is right. It was a bit reckless, but being caught off guard by such a strategy is also a sign of… Uh, why?"
Kurumi, who had been nodding in agreement with Akito, looked down at Shiori, who was tugging on her sleeve.
With a stiff expression, Shiori was staring at Chika. Kurumi followed her gaze and finally realized.
Chika's face was still smiling, just as it had been.
But over that smiling face, transparent tears were rolling down.
The tears traced paths down her cheeks, gathering at her chin and dripping onto her trembling hands.
The bright, cheerful smile was a jarring mismatch for the tears. As a panicked Akito reached out toward her, Chika bolted upright.
"Sorry, I have another match to get to."
Before anyone could stop her, she turned and ran away as if fleeing for her life.
She tried to wipe the tears with the back of her hand, but they wouldn't stop, making her feel even more pathetic. People turned to stare as she sprinted across the street.
Hating the stares, hating Akito's praise for Yukina, and hating her own lack of talent, Chika kept running toward somewhere—anywhere—without people.
How long had she been running?
Far from the main street where the events were held, Chika slumped down in a secluded corner where no one passed by.
The boisterous sounds of the festival reached her faintly from the distance, but to her, it was just irrelevant noise.
Why did it turn out like this?
She had worked so hard. She knew all too well that effort could betray you.
After all, the person standing right next to her was Akito, the very embodiment of talent.
He mastered magic in an instant with just a little instruction, and he could explain complex magical theories without a moment's hesitation.
Even her father had marveled at him; Akito was the definition of the word "genius."
No matter how hard she worked, staying up all night, grit her teeth and training until she felt like vomiting, she could never surpass what Akito achieved with minimal effort.
Effort had always betrayed her, and every time it did, Chika clung to it even more desperately.
To follow the back of the ever-advancing Akito, to meet her father's expectations, Chika had to drag her battered body forward, one step at a time.
And this was where she had ended up.
Unable to erase the memory of Yukina's gaze, Chika wrapped her arms around herself and trembled.
She was afraid.
It wasn't Yukina she feared, but her own lack of talent.
Chika, who had always been bold and unafraid of anyone, had finally faced her most terrifying enemy: herself.
Her heart was stained with darkness, and she felt as though she were slowly sinking into a bottomless quagmire.
Wouldn't it be easier if I just disappeared into this swamp?
Into the darkness where there is no Akito, no Father, and no me…
As Chika's broken spirit sought escape from reality, someone reached into the darkness and grabbed her.
"Hey, you crying?"
It was a flippant tone, devoid of any warmth.
But when Chika lifted her head and saw the face of that obnoxious, handsome man, she felt the world begin to shine brightly once again.
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