Chapter 554

Before the match began.

Walden, who had tasked Eliana with provoking the opposing team, spoke.

“The opposing team’s core attackers will undoubtedly be Chelsea Lewellin, Chen Xia, and Eiran Ersar. Those three.”

He looked toward Chelsea, Chen Xia, and Eiran.

“Taking the ball back from them won’t be easy.”

Duran might have an edge over Chelsea in raw speed, but Chelsea held the upper hand in evasive maneuvers.

Furthermore, while Celia and Duran crushed their opponents with overwhelming power, Chen Xia excelled at slipping past them with fluid movements.

As for Eiran, she was quite literally the guardian of her allies.

Once those three possessed the ball, reclaiming it would be difficult.

“At the start, we must focus on stopping their offense. However, if an opening appears...”

“We pass the ball to Celia and aim for the first point, I assume.”

Haul nodded as he spoke.

While everyone else agreed, Walden shook his head.

“No. Our first priority is to eliminate Carr Thomas.”

Everyone looked at Walden in surprise.

“Why those looks?”

“We can’t help but be surprised. You’re saying that taking Carr out is more important than scoring the first point.”

Jureden spoke with bewilderment.

In Basterra, when both sides were evenly matched, the defensive team gained the advantage the longer the match dragged on.

Defense also included the ability to retain possession, and the ball was the only means of attack.

The longer a team held the ball, the more opportunities it had to score.

Like a steady drizzle soaking one’s clothes, time favored the defensive team.

“We won’t get many chances to attack. Isn’t it a waste to spend one of them just to take Carr down?”

At Jureden’s words, everyone except Walden nodded in agreement.

“In Basterra, when a team specializing entirely in offense faces one specializing entirely in defense, the defensive team has the advantage. That’s why most students think Professor Rifen placed Carr Thomas on the defensive team to balance the match. You all think so too.”

Walden glanced toward Carr Thomas.

“However, Duran Moira, Abad Lewellin. Didn’t the two of you just name Carr Thomas as the most troublesome opponent?”

“That’s...”

“Celia Zerdinger. You’re wary of Carr Thomas too, aren’t you?”

“That’s true.”

“But you only see him as a nuisance, not a genuine threat.”

“Well, I mean... it’s Carr, right? The weakest of the second-years.”

Turka shrugged.

“I’m not dismissing Carr. He has survived this far through his own skill, and his strategies are excellent. But this isn’t a real battle, is it? Sacrificing an opportunity to gain the upper hand just to take Carr out seems wasteful.”

“That is precisely what makes Carr Thomas so troublesome. He never lets those watching see him as a threat. Even Carr Thomas himself fails to see it.”

The corners of Walden’s mouth curled upward.

“But remember this. He has overcome the same trials as us—no, in some ways, even more trials than us—to stand here. And each time, the party members fighting beside him have drawn out power beyond their limits. You were all there, so you should know.”

At Walden’s words, Celia, Abad, and Duran’s expressions hardened.

“You were certainly the ones who surpassed your limits. But can any of you guarantee that you could have done so if Carr Thomas hadn’t been there?”

“That...”

Celia’s voice trailed off.

Walden looked at Celia.

“That is what makes him terrifying. He draws out his comrades’ full potential and pushes them beyond their limits. The longer he remains on the battlefield, the more of our openings he will find and the stronger the opposing team will become. I believe eliminating him first is the key to this match.”

Walden’s gaze shifted to Carr.

“I’ll leave the final decision of whether to target him from the start to you.”

===

Crackle—!

Divine Lightning surged around the ball.

Nella blocked its path toward their goal.

“Aaargh! Nella, get out of the way!”

“That’s too reckless!”

The boys on the sidelines screamed.

Nella, one of the most beautiful students in the second year, was standing against Duran, who boasted the greatest offensive power in the Knights Department. They couldn’t help but worry.

Boom—! Crackle, crackle—!

The impact forced Nella backward as she caught the ball.

Seeing that, Chelsea hurriedly cast a spell.

Whoosh—!

A gust of wind wrapped around Nella’s back.

After barely coming to a stop, Nella took a light breath and beamed at Chelsea.

“Thanks, Chelsea.”

Smiling brightly, Nella bounced the ball as she advanced toward the opposing goal.

The boys’ mouths fell open.

“A-Are you okay?”

“How?”

As the boys marveled, Professor Rifen, who was grading the match, spoke indifferently.

“It seems you all thought of Nella Carven as nothing more than a healer.”

“Of course, she was born with the exceptional ability to wield healing Aura, but Nella Carven is still one of the top students in the Knights Department. She uses defensive swordsmanship because she lacks an aggressive temperament, but her toughness ranks among the best in the entire department.”

“Nella is that tough?”

“But she’s such a delicate beauty.”

Rifen clicked his tongue at the boys’ blank muttering.

Nella specialized not in defeating enemies on the front lines, but in hindering their attacks.

Her healing ability was the foundation of that fighting style.

She was the ultimate shield, capable of holding enemies back while continuously healing herself and buying time for the mages in the rear to cast powerful spells.

'It’s good that she’s making the most of her abilities, but I should advise her to take better care of herself.'

She must have been in pain, but she still wore her characteristic smile, most likely to keep her teammates from worrying.

Just then, Haul tried to steal the ball from Nella using his Aura.

However, Tide quickly blocked Haul’s attack with a Summoned Beast.

“As long as I’m here, you won’t lay a finger on Nella.”

Eliana booed as Tide grinned.

“Boooo! Don’t try to act cool, Tide!”

“Nella, pass to Eiran.”

The moment Nella passed the ball to Eiran, Eliana quickly fled.

The current score was 2-2.

The match appeared neck and neck, but the defensive team was gradually being pushed back because they were one player down.

'It’s a shame Carr Thomas was eliminated so early.'

Rifen had not placed Carr Thomas on the defensive team to give them a handicap.

He had properly assessed Carr’s ability and assigned him to the defensive team accordingly.

'Though his tendency to underestimate himself ultimately held him back.'

As Rifen clicked his tongue, the tide turned in favor of the offensive team.

In the end, the match concluded with a 3-2 victory for the offensive team.

===

Carr opened his eyes.

“Huh?”

Sitting up, Carr scratched his head.

“I got knocked out. I guess we lost?”

“You guessed right.”

“Ugh.”

Carr’s shoulders slumped at the voice beside him.

Eliza was sitting there with her legs crossed, filing her nails.

“Eliza? Why are you here?”

“Because I’m the one who brought you to the infirmary.”

“You? Not Chloe or Chelsea?”

Eliza’s eyes sharpened at Carr’s incredulous response.

“Why are you reacting as though it’s only natural for the other dorm leaders to take care of you?”

“No, I mean... I thought you’d say something like, ‘Hmph, why should I care about someone like Carr Thomas? I’d rather spend that time filing my nails,’ and wouldn’t give me a second glance... Gack!”

“You’re asking for it, Carr Thomas.”

“F-Forgive me...!”

Eliza had wrapped her whip around Carr’s neck while he was doing an exaggerated impression of her, making it difficult for him to speak.

She loosened the whip and snorted.

“I simply thought I should take care of you since we’re in the same dorm and were on the same team. Furthermore...”

“Furthermore?”

“I had a feeling Walden Thaiden might target you first. Even so, leaving you unguarded was clearly my mistake.”

Eliza bit her lip hard.

“So it was Walden’s idea to target me first. But why?”

“...Are you seriously asking because you don’t know?”

Eliza stared at Carr in disbelief.

Carr scratched his head as he looked at her.

“When choosing between Summoned Beasts of the same rank, Summoners have to identify the one with the superior traits. That’s why I think they have a better eye for people than knights or mages.”

“Hmm, the students in the Summoning Department certainly do tend to be good at reading others.”

When Carr nodded, Eliza spoke.

“I never thought I would say this to you. Carr Thomas, you are far more remarkable than you think.”

Eliza glared at Carr in irritation, as though offended that she had to explain something so obvious.

“I receive a great deal of help from you. So stop treating yourself as though you’re worthless. It makes me feel worthless too for relying on someone you consider so insignificant.”

Carr stared at Eliza, visibly moved.

“W-What?”

Eliza grew flustered beneath his unwavering gaze, and her face reddened.

Carr clasped both of her hands.

“I asked what you wanted.”

Eliza became even more flustered, her face turning redder.

“Eliza, you actually realized how much I help you?”

“...”

“I thought you would never notice.”

“What do you take me for?”

“But I thought you’d say, ‘Hmph. A mere commoner. It’s only natural for him to help me. He should consider it an honor.’”

Swish—! Crack! Crack! Crack!

“Aaargh! I’m joking! I’m joking!”

Her expression turning cold, Eliza swung her whip wildly at Carr.

Just then—

Bang—!

“Carr! Are you all right... Oh my?”

Eliana burst through the infirmary door, then widened her eyes at the scene inside.

“You two were having a good time. Sorry for interrupting.”

Then she closed the door.

“Don’t go in. There’s some whip play happening inside.”

Eliana’s mischievous voice came from the hallway.

“Carr Thomas.”

“Yeah?”

“I can get rid of her, right?”

“Of course.”

Eliza let out a cold laugh and walked out of the room.

Eliana’s desperate screams soon echoed throughout the infirmary.

“Sigh. I can’t even rest in peace.”

Carr sighed deeply, rested his chin on one hand, and looked out the window.

'Stop treating myself as though I’m worthless, huh...'

(T/N: SEEEE, this is what I'm talking about. )

===

“The weather is so nice today. It puts me in a good mood.”

Seated on a café terrace, Elena spoke as she sipped fruit juice through a straw.

Leo, who was drinking coffee across from her, replied.

“You seem happy.”

“Because it’s been a while since I skipped class.”

Elena’s radiant smile befitted Lumene’s greatest beauty.

Everyone in the café who saw her smile stared in a daze.

Leo chuckled at the sight.

“You seem quite relaxed.”

“Do I?”

“Yeah. We called it a date, but all we’ve done is sit here and watch the street. Aren’t you bored?”

After leaving Lumene, Leo and Elena had spent several hours at the café.

They had barely spoken, simply eating snacks and watching the street outside.

“I like it. Spending time like this, doing nothing.”

Leo looked toward the street.

He always led a busy life, so spending time this leisurely left him feeling far more relaxed than usual.

“Hmm?”

Elena, who had been watching Leo with her chin resting on one hand, spoke.

“Leo.”

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you stay at my place tonight?”

***