There were twenty-two students in the first year of the Royal Class.
Excluding Bertus, there were twenty-one gathered here.
Adding Olivia Lanze, Rerdina, and Saviolin Turner, the number became twenty-three.
Of course, Olivia thought it was quite a stretch for her to be included here, so after patting my shoulder to show her support, she left.
I didn't forget to thank Olivia for coming.
Despite the terrible relationship between Ellen and me, she stood firmly by my side, cheering me on. The same went for Ellen.
Gratefulness towards Olivia was natural, aside from the headache-like feeling it brought.
"Take good care of yourself. Winning is great, but don't get hurt. That's enough for me."
"Yes."
After Olivia left, Charlotte and I led the large group of twenty-two students through the streets.
There were musicians playing on the streets, performers entertaining the crowd, and the streets were bustling with energy.
Ranian Sesor, the B-10 music prodigy, borrowed instruments from the street musicians and played even more flawlessly, causing passersby to stop and applaud.
When did we all start wandering around, enjoying various activities together? I couldn't remember.
Of course, we didn't have time to play late into the night. After gathering for a meal and wandering around for a while, the group split into those returning to the dormitory and those staying out on the streets.
Charlotte seemed intent on having more fun, leading a few students from Class B and Saviolin Turner.
Those heading back included me, with the final match tomorrow, Ludwig, Scarlett, and Ranian Sesor, the music prodigy. The magic research club members and Harriet also joined us.
Before I knew it, Ellen was walking beside me.
I was genuinely startled when she suddenly shouted earlier, thinking my heart might drop. Now, she had returned to her usual calm demeanor.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Should I answer honestly, or should I lie and tell you not to worry?"
Ellen glared at me in response to my nonsense.
Seeing Ellen's pouting lips after a long time made me feel strangely amused.
"Honestly, I'm fine."
The issue of my condition wasn't a serious injury, but rather an unsettling feeling that could create a crucial difference in a decisive moment.
Just as Richard Howlman had never been able to beat me due to that slight edge, it was a vital issue.
"Don't get hurt. And don't push yourself too hard."
"I'll keep that in mind."
In the end, Ellen and Olivia said the same thing.
Harriet was walking a little farther away, conversing with the magic research club members.
It seemed that the magic research club was working together, putting their heads together to support Harriet's unrestricted tournament participation.
In particular, Louis Ancton seemed to be deeply contemplating.
What kind of achievement had they made? It was highly likely that the outcome would remain unknown to me.
Could Harriet win?
I thought that might be difficult.
However, just making it to the main event of the unrestricted tournament was already an incredible achievement. It was possible that she had good luck in the bracket, but luck is only possible when backed by skill.
As if sensing my gaze, Harriet, who had been walking and talking with great focus, glanced at me and tilted her head.
"…Why?"
"…No, just, do your best."
"…Isn't that what you should be hearing right now?"
True.
The unrestricted tournament still had some time left, and the finals were tomorrow. Harriet briefly laughed at my words, as if she couldn't believe it.
"I'll do well."
Harriet showed a warm smile.
It was the first time I had seen her smile like that.
"So, you should do well too."
Not everyone was cheering for me, and not everyone wished for my victory.
But there were people who did wish for it.
At first, it was just something I started for the achievement points, but somehow, it was becoming increasingly unrelated to the original goal.
Now, I wanted to win even without any particular rewards.
——
As soon as we returned to the dormitory, Ellen, Liana, and Cliffman went off somewhere, saying they had to prepare for the Miss and Mister Temple contest.
But Olivia didn't seem so busy. What were they so busy with?
Naturally, Harriet, who was definitely busier, went to the magic research club's mansion instead of the dormitory.
The hopeless trio and Heinrich seemed to be staying to enjoy the festival, and there were hardly any people remaining in the B-class, except for the top four contestants.
It was a festival. Of course, I had played to my heart's content, but there was still a lot of time left.
"It's kind of quiet."
I had just changed into my training clothes and stepped out when Ludwig, who was sitting in the dormitory lobby, spoke to me.
"…Did I mistakenly enter the B-class dormitory? I mean, I can still tell my right from my left, right?"
What are you doing here?
Of course, there's no distinction between A and B classes anymore, so it doesn't really matter. Ludwig rose from his seat.
"I'm feeling a bit uneasy."
"Uneasy?"
"Honestly, no matter how I think about it, Grayden seems stronger than me."
Ludwig didn't appear to be scared. However, was there a hidden anxiety in his expression?
"So, can we practice together? Scarlett said she's taking a break today."
"Hmm…"
Ludwig was a cunning guy, but I hadn't been too involved with him beyond a certain extent. I didn't want to have too much influence on the protagonist, especially if it was another character.
But it's impossible to avoid forever.
"Sure. I didn't have anything else to do anyway."
If we didn't use Magic Body Strengthening, we could get any injuries treated by the on-duty priests, so there was no reason to refuse.
——
-Clang! Clang! Clank!
"Haa… Haa…"
"Phew."
After taking a short deep breath, Ludwig scratched his head.
"It's just not working, no matter how much I try."
He had only used Self-Suggestion without resorting to Magic Body Strengthening.
We had sparred about ten times, and each bout had ended in my victory.
The rank of my Self-Suggestion ability was A. It was a Supernatural power that had clearly reached the higher tier.
There must be obvious limits to Self-Suggestion, as it had given rise to the superior ability of Word Magic. Yet, in the end, Supernatural power was still Supernatural power, and my enhanced abilities were more than sufficient to face Ludwig.
The outcome was certain.
If Ludwig made it to the finals, my victory would be assured. There would be no need for me to strengthen my Magic Body Strengthening further.
"Damn it… I'm the one… who's tired…"
But although I had won, I was also the one who was exhausted.
This rascal, whose stamina had reached S-rank or higher, continued to lose during our sparring sessions but it was my stamina that was dwindling.
What was this feeling? A sense of defeat despite having won.
"Let's take a break and continue later."
"Phew… Alright."
My stamina wasn't weak, but Ludwig's was monstrously high. Thus, we practiced by sparring while controlling our pace.
Perhaps due to the festival, the dormitory was deserted, and the A-class training hall was only visited by Cliffman and Ellen in the first place.
As we had plenty of time, we crossed swords for hours, leaving both Ludwig and me drenched in sweat.
When the sun had set and our stamina had reached its limits, we decided to call it a day.
"I'll lose, right?"
Ludwig mumbled as he hung his practice sword on the rack.
It wasn't a display of weakness.
He just intuitively knew that he had no chance against Grayden Amorel.
He knew he would lose but wouldn't give up. That was the kind of person Ludwig was.
I watched Ludwig and wiped my sweat with a towel draped over a chair.
"Seems that way."
I had no intention of denying it.
Grayden Amorel's skill surpassed Ludwig's and even that of Scarlett and me. I could only face him with my Supernatural powers and Magic Body Strengthening abilities.
Of course, I would first have to win the quarterfinals against Scarlett without a hitch.
Ludwig opened the window of the training hall.
Cold winter air rushed in, but it didn't feel bad given how much we had sweated.
"Reinhardt, I have a question."
Ludwig, with his back to me as he gazed outside the window, spoke.
It was the first time I had seen such a serious side of the always bright and cheerful fellow.
"What is it?"
"You've fought battles knowing you would lose, right?"
"…Yes, I have."
"But, you've won all of them."
Ludwig stared at the darkness enveloping the festival-lit temple in the winter night.
I was the protagonist of some truly strange events. I had faced impossible battles, knowing I couldn't win, yet I had emerged victorious every time.
In a mere year, an F-ranked amateur had become the strongest contender for the first-year tournament, recognized by all.
An egg that would always shatter the rock it struck.
That was me.
"How do you think you were able to do that?"
Ludwig seemed curious about the secret behind my success.
It wouldn't be about questioning Supernatural powers, Magic Body Strengthening, or countless coincidences. Nor was it about doubting the cheats I possessed.
"You have to believe."
"Believe?"
"Yes."
I didn't have much to say, so I ended up talking about my Supernatural powers, which Ludwig already knew.
Self-Suggestion.
"Though I may lose, and losing seems inevitable, I still have to believe."
"That you can win?"
"Yes."
I also placed my practice sword on the rack, leaned against it, and crossed my arms.
"Rather than saying I'll do my best even if I lose, I should believe that I'll win by any means necessary."
"But what if you still lose in the end?"
"What does it matter?"
The outcome is not the most important.
"Saying I'll do my best even if I lose sounds like preparing an excuse for defeat. It's like creating an escape route for oneself in advance, justifying the loss by saying I've tried my best and I'll do better next time."
After returning from Darkland, I lived with that mindset for a while.
I can't say I'm completely free of such thoughts now, but I know what's truly best.
One must believe in the possibility even in moments where it seems impossible. Only then, when even the slightest chance appears, can one grasp it.
Saying I'll do my best even if I lose is not Self-Suggestion but consolation.
My power isn't like that; it's Self-Suggestion.
It must be described in the future tense, as in "I will win," not in the past tense of "I tried my best."
Not by judging the past, but by shaping the future.
That's how I have created who I am today.
"Instead of preparing such excuses, I think it's better to simply believe that I'll win. That's all there is to it."
Of course, Ludwig is not a Supernatural. Accepting my words won't change anything for him.
"Running away… Yeah, that's what it is. I was… doing that. Just saying I tried my best wasn't enough… Right."
Ludwig closed the window and turned his head.
Though I may lose.
Though I may not be able to win against Grayden Amorel.
"See you in the finals, Reinhardt."
Ludwig said it with certainty.