Chapter 142: The Sports Festival [REWRITTEN Chapter]
[Hello everybody, Wonderful day isn’t it?
Welcome to the Sports section of this year’s school festival. I’m gonna be your host today, Name’s Arthur by the way, if you didn’t already know that.]
Arthur’s lively voice rang out from the speakers in the arena. Many heads turned as they heard the voice of one who was most definitely a prince, doing commentary work but the owner of the voice paid it no mind and kept talking.
[So as I was saying, welcome to the sports section of this year’s school festival, I’m the one who’s gonna be the host for this arena.]
[Um...Pr- Lord Arthur, you were supposed to give your last name too...]
[Huh? I’m supposed to give my last name.
Fine. Name’s Arthur Vaughn and I am your host for today.
Happy now?]
The various screens and projected monitors in the arena showed the video of Arthur conversing with his co-commentator, Tom, one of the descendants of Grand Duke Belphegor while the speakers provided the audio.
[I guess. Oh, I am Tom Reed, by the way, I am your co-host for this arena.]
After giving his greetings, Tom turned to Arthur and asked the question that was on the minds of many spectators present.
[So, Lord Arthur, what makes you made you decide to join me in hosting this arena’s events today and not participate in the events themselves?]
[Well, partly because I was heavily involved in planning some of the events of today’s festival. Secondly, because I am still feeling the side effects from straining myself in the last fight, I did use a bit too many artifacts that have some rather nasty drawbacks after all.]
Arthur replied to Tom’s question after pondering on it for a few seconds, his reply planted many ideas in the minds of the spectators.
When he spoke of the ’last fight’, many immediately thought of the incident with Zach and Arthur’s confrontation with Owen that happened a few months ago. However, in reality, he was referring to his battle against the twin emperors on Phirex.
As for the side effects he spoke of, they assumed he was talking about the various drawbacks or repercussions of the multitude of artifacts he used against Owen, however, that was also not the truth.
He was actually referring to the side effects of using more energy than his body could hold and how his body had, still not fully recovered.
Without knowing the ideas and conspiracy theories that he had planted into the minds of many, Arthur continued speaking without a care in the world.
[Lastly, it was simply because I felt like it.
You see in life, when feel like doing something, you just gotta do it, regardless of the consequences. You just gott- Oh No! Wait! Think about the consequences!
I did not think about the consequences of my actions and my right arm still hurts even though it’s been weeks.]
His words elicited a small laugh from the multitude of spectators present, Arthur just smiled and continued speaking.
[Moving on to more important things, it seems to be time for us to hear a few words from the leader of the planning committee of today’s events, the student council president; Raylan Brock.]
As he spoke, the screens and projected monitors showed the appearance of the student council president’s office with Raylan talking to the vice president.
[Are we rolling already?]
[Yes, President Brock]
He handed a bunch of files to the vice president before turning to face the camera.
[Ahh, ahh. Good day everyone, today we are blessed with a fair sky, perfect to display the results of all the preparations that not only the student council, but the majority of the student body have painstakingly made over the course of the past few weeks.
The school festival events would be taking place over the course of two days with both the class exhibits and the sports activities being open for everyone to come and see.
To the students, both those participating in the festival activities and those who are not, and to all our guests today, I ask for your cooperation, so we can end this event safely with all smiles!
This has been the Royal Academy Student Council President Raylan Brock, and I wish you all a happy festival.]
「「「Uwoooooooh!!」」」
Cheers from all arenas rang out the moment he was done with his speech, as the student council president, Raylan’s popularity among the students was on a different level entirely.
He was also capable enough to handle his duties effectively, while also not being overbearing to the students like some of his predecessors.
And the icing on the cake was the fact that he was from the royal family of one of the largest Beastkin Empires in the Hell Universe.
It took a few minutes for the cheers to die down and the commentators of the respective arenas carried on with the events for said arenas.
Taking advantage of the tension that was already in full overdrive, Arthur proceeded to announce the events for the day.
[Now then, allow me to announce today’s program!
The first event kickstarts the day with a ’Quick dash through the bridge filled with despair!’ Event Number 1; The ’Death Bridge Run!’
Next up is Event Number 2! This is one of the few events I personally suggested, didn’t expect it to get accepted though.
’The ultimate defence against an unrelenting assault!’ Tentacle Guard!]
A certain group of people with strange hobbies rose up from their seats while cheering despite the strange looks the other spectators gave them.
Tom only chuckled and took on the mantle of announcing the day’s events.
[After the participants have guarded against the unrelenting assault, ’if’ they are able to, we would then move on the Event Number 3! ’The pair’s trust in each other is the key to victory!’ Fall Towers!
Lastly, we shall end today with Event Number 4! ’A fierce assault of a sky-fallen emissary!?’ Garuda Shoot!
With that, this will be all four events that would be happening in this arena today. Well then, preparations will be necessary, so for every participant excluding those of the first event, please head to the waiting rooms provided.]
The events of this arena were being held in teams of four students each. The teams were picked at random so it was almost impossible to end up in the same team as someone you wanted to be with.
There was a total of 4 teams of five students each in this arena. For each event, there would be a member of each of the four teams participating in them. However, for convenience’s sake, they would be referred to as Teams A-D for each event.
The team with the highest points after all the events would be considered the winner of that arena
Following Tom’s instructions, each team made their way to their respective waiting rooms, specially prepared for them.
These waiting rooms were equipped with large windows, allowing participants to watch the event. However, numerous magical tools resembling cameras were strategically placed throughout, offering real-time viewing on monitors inside the rooms.
This advanced magical technology was a recent creation by the genius alchemist, Weinbert Boffin, making the arenas at the Royal Academy equipped with these tools. Additionally, several projected monitors were scattered in the air for the audience’s convenience.
As Arthur’s commanding voice echoed, a surge of magic power emanated from beneath the ground. The earth quaked, and massive pillars began rising from the ground.
These pillars swiftly connected, forming an expansive bridge that stretched from one end of the arena to the other. The spectators marvelled at this display of precise magical manipulation, unaware that it was the work of a team of 5th-year students.
Tom, initially stunned by the spectacle, was quickly urged to proceed with the event. The audience fell into silence, a reaction that only hinted at the awe-inspiring events to come, and upon seeing this Arthur chuckled to himself while thinking that if this little display was enough to shock them to the point of silence, then they probably would not last beyond this.
◇ ◇ ◇
The stage was set and following Tom’s instructions, participants of the ’Death Bridge Run’ were directed to their respective waiting rooms.
The Death Bridge itself, a 1500-meter construct filled with traps, was unveiled as the first challenge
Half of the floating monitors in the air were displaying Tom and Arthur while the remaining others showed a sweeping shot of the bridge from end to end. Here and there were suspicious holes and boxes at irregular intervals.
These were the ideas of the 5th-year students who created the bridge as they wished to make it more...challenging.
A demonstration, featuring three first-year student volunteers equipped with sacrificial artifacts, revealed the perilous nature of the course, and the reason why the bridge had gained its title.
Tom and Arthur served as animated commentators, infusing the event with excitement and humour.
When the demonstration ended and the real competition began, the audience erupted in cheers. The course, initially designed for second-year students, presented formidable challenges, but Tom and Arthur’s commentary kept the atmosphere lively.
The race commenced with a head start by Blair from team D and Joe from team A, adding a competitive edge to the Death Bridge run.
Joe and Blair had seized an early advantage, both utilizing their wind attribute magic to execute a stellar starting dash. Gabe from Team C also made a valiant effort, albeit trailing slightly due to her human physique. Gene of Team B, however, stumbled at the start but swiftly regained her composure, bridging the gap.
The first obstacle, a towering wall, posed no challenge to the competitors as they effortlessly overcame it.
But right after that, Bigmouth, a massive jaw-like obstacle, awaited them right after. Blair unleashed her Beast Transformation, shifting into a wolf and surging ahead, leaving Joe in the dust.
Yet, Joe displayed remarkable determination, resorting to creative magic techniques to catch up, leaving the audience in awe.
As the race concluded, Joe’s innovative approach earned him first place, while Blair secured second, Gene claimed third, and Gabe, who had faltered near the end, took fourth place.
◇ ◇ ◇
The Second Event, the ’Tentacle Guard’ unfolded with four participants, Lehte, Naty, Myla, and Hermie, defending their respective flags against tentacles summoned unwillingly, by Layla and Nicole.
One didn’t have to think twice to know Arthur was involved in this somehow.
As the tentacles attacked, Lehte deployed Wind Magic: Tornado and Poison Magic: Poison Needle to counter the assailants. However, when Layla revealed that the summoned tentacles were a type of magic lifeform, she realised her poisons were ineffective.
Meanwhile, Hermie excelled at protecting her flag with a well-controlled tornado, securing her first place in the event. Ultimately, Lehte claimed second place, followed by Naty in third, and Myla in fourth place.
Her case was a bit strange as she was the only one of the participants who willingly threw herself into the tentacles to study their nature.
Even Arthur was dumbfounded by her actions and just when they were beginning to clear out the stage, he finally could not hold his curiosity back and asked.
[... Ah, before we finish up, Myla? Why did you throw yourself to the tentacles?]
To the Prince’s question, Myla heaved a sigh before replying with a crazy look in her eyes.
[Haahaa... Ahn? Are we done already? Hm? Why? Why of course! It is obviously because this is a unique magic Lifeform. This truly is a magic lifeform, no mistake, but unlike a golem, which is a command-response type, it even appears to have its own free will! No? Rather than will, is it intellect? I can even observe rationality in it! Ahh, before something of this sort-.......]
[Er, right. It seems like this will not end anytime soon, so I would like to cut it here. After setting up the stage, we will proceed to event no. 3, Fall Towers!]
◇ ◇ ◇
Arthur walked into the restrooms of the arena after confirming there was no one in the area. Entering and locking the door behind him, he heaved a loud sigh and dropped to the ground.
[Is there a problem Master?]
Celestia who had been silent for quite a long while spoke up after noticing his weird state. Arthur however, just chuckled while running a hand through his hair.
He walked up to the mirror and removed his left contact lens very carefully. Seeing his glowing blue eye and his strangely shaped pupil, he laughed depreciatingly before putting the contact lens back.
’To think I would do such a thing to myself. It’s bizarre and makes little sense but if I look at my recent actions, then everything falls into place.’
He flicked his fingers and saw the multi-coloured energy coat around his body tremble a bit. It was only a light tremble, but unlike before, he had finally evoked a reaction from it.
"Nothing is wrong Celestia, just that I think I may know where your fragments are..."
[Huh? When did you find out?]
Celestia was bound to Arthur, as such she knew practically everything that happened to him even if she was in a dormant state and she did not recall any events that may have given Arthur a hint of where her shattered fragments were.
Even she didn’t know where they were after all.
"Just a little trick I discovered, nothing much."
With that vague reply, Arthur unlocked the door and walked out of the restroom, back to the commentary box where he and Tom proceeded to continue the commentary for the third event.
◇ ◇ ◇
The third event, ’Fall Towers’, unfolded as a dynamic team-based competition where two students from each team aimed to protect their towers from their opponents’ destructive attacks.
The condition for retirement was the complete destruction of a team’s tower, with the last standing tower securing first place. Cooperation, a careful balance between offence and defence, and calculated boldness were the key elements in this intense team challenge.
The event began with Tom Belphegor introducing the participating teams, including the fire-wielding Sir Silva and his partner, Sir Feik, from Team A, with the audience’s anticipation being palpable as they eagerly awaited Silva’s impressive firepower.
The event heated up quite literally as Silva’s burgeoning magical power started to raise the temperature within the arena. Barriers were swiftly activated to shield the audience from the increasing heat.
With a signal from Tom, Silva unleashed his magic, employing a detonation spell, ’Explosion’, to obliterate Team D’s tower in a single devastating blast.
While Silva’s power was awe-inspiring, Team B’s Sola and Team C’s Hermie managed to mount effective defences against his fiery assaults, with Sola and Myla creating a water barrier to safeguard their tower.
Meanwhile, Team C opted for a wind-based defence but sustained some damage to their tower.
In a surprising twist, Team B’s Sola unveiled her exceptional lightning magic, devastating Team A’s tower and securing their first-place finish in the event.
Team C, led by Hermie, took third place, while Team D came in fourth. Sola’s brilliant lightning magic display ultimately turned the tide of the event and impressed the audience, showcasing her control and newfound destructive power.
Despite Silva’s formidable abilities, Team B emerged as the victors of the ’Fall Towers’ event.
◇ ◇ ◇
The school’s third event had come to a close, making way for the eagerly anticipated fourth event, which would be the last for the day.
In this individual competition, reminiscent of target shooting, participants were tasked with shooting flying magical creatures resembling griffins, called ’Garudas’.
The more targets they hit, the higher their placement would be.
Each participant would have five shots in the initial round, and additional rounds would be held if needed to break ties or determine the winner.
As the first participant, Jessie from Team A made a perfect shot with her fire arrow. Following her was Sola from Team B, a proficient lightning magic user, who managed to hit her target even though there was a slight hiccup in the timing.
Joaquin from Team C struggled with his lightning magic, narrowly hitting the garuda’s wings, while Kut from Team D displayed his skill with light attribute magic, leaving a small hole in the garuda’s centre.
The event continued with other rounds until Jessie, Sola, Joaquin, and Kut claimed their respective places.
In the subsequent rounds, Sola and Kut faced off, both making perfect shots, entering the extended one-on-one round. Sola’s lightning magic and Kut’s precise light attribute magic made it a challenging and endless competition.
However, in the 32nd round, Kut, running low on magic power, couldn’t activate his magic, resulting in Sola’s victory and a round of applause for the frustrated Kut.
The first day of the school festival came to an end and the guests and spectators went around the other exhibits placed in the class before returning to their residences.
The second-year Class A’s maid cafe was one of the most visited, naturally, this was largely attributed to the presence of two people, Layla and Nicole who returned to the class after helping summon the ’magic lifeform’ used in the second event. Followed by this was the art exhibit held by Class D2.
As for the hotels on Kreiz and its surrounding planets, they were making a lot of money due to the sheer amount of people who came over from various galaxies in the hell universe to see the school festival.
