“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting!”

The announcer’s voice boomed through the magical amplification device.

“The youth division semifinals of the Martial Tournament will begin shortly!”

“Woooah!”

Lynen took his seat in the audience stands alongside the disguised Saint, Mihail, and Imelen who was masquerading as a child. Dietrich, pretending they had met by chance, had joined them as well. Lynen surveyed the stands packed with spectators.

‘There seem to be even more people than for the adult division matches.’

The Flameli honey incident and the showdown between the tournament favorite and the dark horse had apparently become the talk of the town. This time, all the imperial family members except the Emperor were in attendance.

Lucilia, spotting them from across the arena, sent a greeting with her eyes. Lynen responded with a slight bow while the others around him chattered excitedly.

“I still can’t believe Noah made it to the semifinals! Do you think he might actually win the whole thing?” Mihail exclaimed, waving a placard.

“Of course, he’s my disciple. It’s all thanks to my excellent language instruction.”

“I know your skills well. I was quite impressed back then—would you mind telling me about it again?”

“Oh, Saint. You truly are… sunshine on a spring day. Pure sunshine.”

“Um, thank you…?”

Dietrich and Allen seemed to be exchanging veiled insults.

“Big sister…”

Meanwhile, Imelen appeared to be missing Calliphe.

“Wish big sister was here too.”

Lynen gently patted Imelen’s head, who was wearing her hat pulled down low.

“Don’t worry.”

She’s already there, after all.

Lynen turned his gaze toward the arena. When Raul had relayed Calliphe’s plan to him, he couldn’t help but rub his forehead in exasperation.

‘Acting recklessly on her own again.’

At least this time he knew about it beforehand. However, what concerned him most was Dovion’s warning:

“If she receives a strong magical impact, she might suddenly revert to her original form. And not in a comfortable way.”

“How strong an impact are we talking about?”

“Like taking a direct hit from another spell or aura?”

‘The reason Calliphe has become younger is because she depleted her magic excessively.’

Magic would naturally recover over time, so she should have returned to her adult form by now. They were forcibly delaying that process with Dovion’s medicine.

‘There’s no telling what unexpected situation might arise.’

Lynen was ready to rush to Calliphe’s side at any moment.

“Now, let the semifinals begin to determine our final two contenders!”

* * *

“Contestant Noah, please enter.”

Noah, who had been quietly staring at his feet in the waiting room, looked up. As he approached the arena, he could hear the excited commotion of the audience.

‘It’s louder than yesterday.’

He felt unnecessarily anxious, though not about the match itself.

‘Ferica will forfeit as promised, right?’

That was the condition for borrowing Ortie. Though it felt like cheating and he wasn’t comfortable with it, he had agreed because she had begged so desperately. Still, he hoped Ferica wouldn’t rely on Ortie’s power any further. He didn’t want to fight and hurt her either.

‘She’ll forfeit. She promised.’

I trust Ferica.

Noah steeled himself as he stepped into the arena. Immediately, his eyes searched the audience stands—the section with the best seats after the imperial family. The Duke and everyone else were there, but his heart sank with disappointment.

‘Lady Calliphe isn’t here.’

His chest tightened with disappointment.

‘She must not care about me.’

Just then—

“What are you looking at? I’m right here.”

Ferica, sword in hand, was suddenly standing opposite him.

“Ferica? Weren’t you going to forfeit?”

“Not a chance.”

Ferica pointed her sword at Noah.

“Of course I came to fight you.”

Noah’s expression hardened as he saw Ferica’s mischievous smile. Watching his reaction, Calliphe secretly gulped.

‘I gave Ortie to him, so I’m going to get absolutely destroyed.’

Hang in there. I must endure! Didn’t I do some last-minute training with Lynen before the Harvest Festival?

‘Go easy on me, Noah.’

You should respect your sponsor, right? This Lady Calliphe has never held anything heavier than a fan…

Despite these inner thoughts, Calliphe, in Ferica’s form, provocatively wiggled her finger at him. Noah’s expression hardened with disappointment.

[Noah’s trust -5]

“You promised me.”

“I wanted to keep my promise, but I couldn’t help it.”

“…Liar.”

[Noah’s trust -10]

‘No! My trust points!’

Calliphe hastily shouted at the referee.

“Hurry up and start the match!”

“…Ready!”

The bewildered referee raised his hand and blew his whistle forcefully to signal the start of the match.

Tweet!

“Wooooah!”

“Noah! Noah! Noah!”

Cheers for Noah erupted from the stands. Yet Noah hesitated to charge at Calliphe.

Calliphe shouted, “What are you waiting for? Come at me!”

“…But you’re not a swordsman. You’ll get hurt. Just forfeit.”

‘Oh dear.’

Calliphe clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘If it were me, I would have immediately defeated someone who broke their promise.’

She couldn’t afford to waste time. She needed to retrieve Ortie, who had been absorbing aura from Noah’s sword all night, before it exploded.

‘I’ll forfeit as soon as I get Ortie back. Then I’ll make it explode near the arena.’

That way, no one would get hurt, and they’d still have evidence against Viscount Gallard. For the sake of her safe plan, Calliphe had no choice but to charge first.

“Then I’ll come to you!”

Clang! Clang!

Without Ortie’s guidance, Calliphe’s swordsmanship was terrible.

“Ugh.”

Just crossing swords with Noah was somewhat taxing for her. Noah bit his lip firmly and started avoiding her attacks altogether rather than parrying them.

“Hey, Noah! You’re asking for it!”

Flinch!

Noah’s eyes widened at the scolding tone that somehow felt familiar.

“Attack me, I said!”

“…No. Just forfeit.”

“I’ll keep attacking you then.”

“You’ll tire yourself out first.”

“Huff, huff… Me? Huff… That’s ridiculous!”

D*mn it. Calliphe paused, panting heavily. Noah was looking at her with pity, not even slightly out of breath.

‘I need our swords to make contact for Ortie to have a chance to come back to me.’

This wasn’t working.

‘I have no choice but to use that method.’

Though reluctant, Calliphe started taunting Noah with a sneer.

“You’re actually afraid, aren’t you? Afraid of losing to me?”

“…”

No reaction.

“No, you’re trying to insult me! You think it’s a waste to cross swords with someone like me, is that it?”

“…”

He shook his head.

“You, really, you…”

Calliphe racked her brain, trying to think of something hurtful to say without resorting to profanity. Finally, she just blurted out whatever came to mind.

“Seeing you act like such a coward, I can guess Lady Calliphe’s level too!”

“…!”

[Noah’s trust -30]

In an instant, Noah’s figure closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

CLANG!!

“Eek!”

He suddenly pushed against her mercilessly.