Chapter 523

Bear-san, Participates In The Magical Exchange Meet

I parted with Noa when we reached the grounds, then Shia and I went to the teacher’s place.

“Shugu sensei, I brought her. She will be joining us.” (Shia)

!!

A man about 30 years old looks at me.

Indeed, he was the teacher at that time when I escorted Shia and her group.

I vaguely remember it, but I still remember it.

“Thank you very much. You’re a big help.” (Shugu)

The teacher thanked me, looking at my face before turning his attention to my hands and feet.

“So you really are the girl dressed as a bear.” (Shugu)

“Please keep it to yourself.” (Yuna)

I’m keeping it a secret that my usual appearance was a bear.

“But, am I really allowed to participate?” (Yuna)

“I will ask the other teacher’s permission, just in case. But it will probably be okay. Although, if you are too old to be a student, they won’t give you permission. That being said, you do look younger than the other students.” (Shugu)

In other words, I’m short.

I’m still in my growth period. A lot of places will start to develop from now on.

“Besides, this is a magical exchange meet. The purpose is to show and improve each other’s magic skills. I hope that Yuna-san, who is the same age as them, can serve as a model for the students and inspire their improvements.” (Shugu)

Improvement, huh.

That was the purpose of this exchange meet, wasn’t it?

“Besides, Euphalia’s academy has Cereille-sama.” (Shugu)

“You mean you want to win against Cereille?” (Yuna)

“I’m not saying I don’t have that feeling. I just thought it would be interesting to have a person who came out unscathed after beating the Black Tiger participate. And if that strong person joins, who knows what the odds would be.” (Shugu)

Certainly, a single strong person would not be enough to win with such a rule.

“Then, I’ll ask Euphalia teachers for confirmation, so please wait here.” (Shugu)

The teacher went to Euphalia’s teachers, talked to them, and returned.

“I got the permission.” (Shugu)

It seems that he easily obtained the permission needed.

“I told them that ‘She’s a strong mage for her age and the Fochuroze family trusts her’, then they said there would be no problem. They seem very confident.” (Shugu)

Well, there’s Cereille.

Aside from her, many other students were good at magic.

“Shia-san, please introduce her to the other students and give a brief explanation of the rules to Yuna-san.” (Shugu)

“Sensei, shall I tell them that Yuna-san is a student?” (Shia)

“Yes, that’s right. It would be less confusing that way.” (Shugu)

I’m wearing a uniform, and it would be a hassle to explain something else—no need to confuse them before the game starts.

As discussed with Shia at the beginning, I will participate as a student and as a friend of Shia.

“Ah, sensei. Before I forget, I’ll introduce her as Yuuna-san here, so please remember it.” (Shia)

“Yuuna-san?” (Shugu)

The teacher tilted his head.

Shia and I talked about my alias.

“I don’t think it’s much of an alias, though.” (Shugu)

Isn’t it~.

“Very well, I understand. Well then, Yuuna-san, please take care.” (Shugu)

Shea and I went to the students’ area.

Ten girls in school uniforms looked at me. I felt a little nervous.

“Shia, can you introduce her? She’s the girl who had a match with Cereille-sama the other day, right?”

“Etto, she’s Yu, Yuuna.” (Shia)

Shia introduced me under an alias.

“I’m Yuuna. I am a friend of Shia. I was supposed to be here to cheer on Shia, but I decided to participate since I can use magic.”

“I was watching the match the other day. It’s amazing that you beat Cereille-sama.”

“So there was a strong girl like you in our school.”

The girls surround me.

They were too close. I’ve been surrounded by kids, but never by girls my age. So I am getting a little nervous.

“Alright, people, let’s leave it at that. We’ve got a match to win. Yuuna, right? What’s your magic?”

An older, leader-like girl pulled me away from the girls and asked.

“I can use all types. Shia told me to protect the flag.” (Yuuna)

I’m the one who said it, but I’ll pretend that Shia asked me to do it.

“I agree. The girl who left was also in charge of protecting the flag, so I don’t see the problem with leaving it as it is.”

“Don’t worry if the flag is easily knocked down, and we’ll do our best to make up for it.”

These girls accepted me more graciously than I expected.

Normally, I would have thought that if a girl like me came out of nowhere, there would be at least one person who would complain. Were this thanks to the introduction of Shia, an aristocrat?

Once again, I listened to the explanation of the rules, which I’d already heard from Shia.

“The problem is Cereille-sama. What if she comes to me?”

“You’re lucky if she takes it easy on you.”

“U~u, that’s awful.”

Laughter breaks out all around us.

They’re not making fun of her, and she was laughing as well when she said it.

“But if it’s Cereille-sama, she would probably be going to Rouge’s flag.” (ルージュ)

When I asked, they said she was the best we got on the defensive side.

“I think I might go aim for Yuuna-san. Most likely for revenge.” (Shia)

“True, that’s possible.”

“But swords and magic are different.”

“Although, I feel bad for Yuuna, if she really aims for her, Cereille-sama will be eliminated earlier, so it’ll be helpful.”

Apparently, I am not counted as part of the defense force.

Well, they think I go to the academy and was not chosen for this magical exchange meet, so I don’t blame them.

“No, I think Cereille will wait and see first.” (Yuuna)

The rules I was briefed in detail included that the attackers were free to make substitutions.

If attacker A is attacking defender A and attacker B is attacking defender B, as long as the flag isn’t knocked down yet, then attacker A may switch with attacker B to attack defender B, and so on and so forth.

In other words, if they feel they cannot beat their opponent, they can replace them with someone who was more capable or more compatible than they were.

That being said, strong people do not participate in flag capture at first, but will only watch the situation.

“And one more thing, you are not allowed to surround the flag with earth magic.” (Shia)

She said that the earth wall could only be about a quarter of the way up at the largest.

Surely if you surround it like a dome with dirt, your opponent will have to use big magic to destroy it. That would be dangerous in many ways and not fun to watch.

“Come to think of it, Shia, which side are you on? Attacker? Defender?” (Yuuna)

“I’m on the defensive. Let’s defend together.” (Shia)

Then the female students, including myself, gathered on the grounds. And gave our greetings.

Cereille looked at me on the other side as if she wanted to say something.

After the greetings, everyone was about to move to their post, Cereille stopped me.

“I didn’t expect you to participate, Yuna.” (Cereille)

“I didn’t think so either. But do your schoolmates agree to my participation?” (Yuuna)

“There is nothing wrong with the participation of girls of the same age, because everyone thinks they are stronger than anyone else in the same age group.” (Cereille)

They were the students who were chosen for this exchange meet. They must be in the excellent category.

“And I’m happy to get my revenge on Yuna. I’m going to win this time.” (Cereille)

“I don’t intend to lose either.” (Yuna)

I want to win. That’s why I’m here.

After Cereille declared that, she left.

I moved to Shia.

“Shia, which flag am I guarding?” (Yuuna)

“Yuuna-san, your flag would be that one over there.” (Shia)

Shia pointed at the flag in the far corner.

“Yuuna-san. Etto, please do your best to hold back.” (Shia)

“I want to win, so I’ll do my best.” (Yuuna)

Cereille has declared herself the winner, and I will do my best to make it not happen.

Games should be fun.

I move to the flag I am guarding. The flag was a bit taller than I am. It’s about the length where I raised my hand.

My role was to protect this flag. I am not a team player, so this might be a good fit for me.

I looked for Shia,; she was at a flag a little ways away, and when our eyes met, she waved at me.

Then, when all the students were in position, the teacher gave the signal to begin. The students did not run, instead, they slowly walked towards the opponent’s flag.

I thought Cereille would come at me, but a different student came.

Cereille was looking at me at a distance, without moving.

“Where are you looking? I will take down your flag.”

A Euphalia student with shoulder-length hair said to me.

“I’ve heard that you are not a real student. Cereille-sama said she’ll take your flag, but we can’t let Cereille-sama walk away with the flag of a student who’s not even a real student.” (Girl)

“In other words, you’re the weakest?” (Yuuna)

“Unfortunately, yes. So it is my role to take your flag.” (Girl)

I called her weak, but she didn’t seem angry about it.

It’s cool that she says it’s her role. I like it.

“Now then, here I go!” (Girl)

The girl gathered magic power in her hand and released wind magic. I countered it with the same wind magic.

“Do you specialize in wind magic like me?” (Girl)

“I wonder~.” (Yuuna)

The girl started running around the white line. I also turn around to chase after the girl around the flag. The girl shot wind magic. But I canceled it out as if I were magically parrying it.

Interesting.

The girl and I continued to attack and defend against each other. She tried to blow me up with air bullets, but I prevented her from doing so. In between attacks, she sometimes aims at the flag. I countered all of her attacks and protected the flag.

The girl did not give up and attacked again and again.

I won’t show any openings, though.

“Ha~a, ha~a~” (Girl)

The girl gradually ran out of breath. The distance the girl and I were moving was different. The girl moves several steps, and I only need to move one step. The girl attacking from a distance inevitably must travel long distances.

The girl stops.

“You’re strong.” (Girl)

“I can’t let you take the flag so easily after all.” (Yuuna)

“This is my final attack. I’m going to blow you away. If this doesn’t bring down the flag, I’ll give up.” (Girl)

The girl said this and put her hands together in front of her, and the wind began to gather around the girl.

It’s the strongest I’ve ever seen from her.

“Here it goes!” (Girl)

She declared and stretched her arms out in front of her. Then a gust of wind flew towards me.

I made a △ shaped wall with earth magic and let the wind pass to the left and right.

“You could also use earth magic.” (Girl)

“That’s why I told you at the beginning.” (Yuuna)

“I don’t think I can take your flag by myself.” (Girl)

The girl said that and stepped back.

It looks like she’s going back to discuss it with the other students.

I looked at Cereille, and she was looking at me without moving.

=====

Author’s Note:

The last part of the exchange meet has started.

It’s a little difficult to write a team battle, so please note that it will be a special rule.

※ Volume 11.5 will be released on 1/25. Thank you very much for your cooperation.