Chapter 30: Access

‘You did it, Justia…!’

Right after the protective artifact signaled the end of the match.

I clenched my fist as I looked at Justia, who had covered the entire arena in ice.

I had been inwardly worried as she was being pushed back by her opponent until the latter half of the match, but in the end, Justia brilliantly awakened her potential.

Compared to the original story, her awakening around the time of the Sword Demon Festival wasn’t too late in terms of her growth.

It was worth having Raphaella help with her training from time to time.

‘Wait… but maybe she’s getting stronger faster than in the original story?’

In this world, magic is categorized into lower, middle, and high-tier magic.

Beyond that, magic with devastating power is referred to as supreme-tier magic.

The Ice Age spell Justia used in this match is one of the supreme-tier spells that requires an enormous amount of mana.

The fact that she was still standing relatively fine after using such a spell suggests that her growth might be faster than in the original story.

Because in the original, she suffered from mana exhaustion after using Ice Age.

‘I was so worried back then. Looking back now, I should have realized something was off when they treated the heroine like that…’

Well, whatever.

At this point, I don’t feel any regret or disappointment about having been transported into this world.

Above all, Justia is what matters now.

After watching her back as she left the stage.

A short time later, when people had regained their composure and were chattering, I headed to the room where Justia was.

“Let’s go, Elda.”

“Yes. Are we going to where Her Highness is?”

“Yes.”

I answered Elda, who was following closely beside me.

Since I’ve finally gotten close to her, I should let Justia know.

Elda is not only incredibly strong but also a professor at the academy, so Justia would surely welcome her joining us.

But Elda, seemingly impressed by the recent match, let out a heavy sigh of admiration.

“Wow, that was truly incredible magic. It’s hard to believe a student who’s only been at the academy for a little over two months could use such a spell.”

“You mean Ice Age? It’s indeed quite powerful for a supreme-tier spell.”

“Uh… you call that level of magic just ‘quite powerful’?”

Elda stuck out her tongue in response to my words.

Huh, what’s with that reaction?

‘…Is my sense of things off?’

Well, it’s been quite some time since I’ve been in this body, so it’s possible I’ve lost touch with what’s considered normal.

Anyway, Elda.

Her sparkling eyes looking up at me after my indifferent reaction are a bit burdensome.

After some more small talk, we soon arrived at the participant’s room where Justia was.

Knock knock.

“Are you there, Your Highness?”

“Ah. You’ve come. Please wait a moment. I’ll get up and greet you…”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll come in now.”

“Eh? W-wait.”

Creak—

I opened the door, sensing she was about to rush up.

And the scene that unfolded.

It’s not like the participant’s room would be anything special.

Just an ordinary room.

Except for one thing—Justia was sitting with her back exposed, and a priestess was behind her, casting a healing spell on her.

“Oops.”

“Oh my.”

Our voices overlapped.

Seeing me enter, Justia blushed and quickly adjusted her clothes.

In that brief moment, I stored the sight of her soft side chest and neat collarbone in my long-term memory.

‘What’s with this sudden exposure event…’

This isn’t some romantic comedy.

Feeling both grateful and embarrassed, I turned my gaze to the wall and said,

“My apologies. I should have waited as you said.”

“No, it’s fine. I should have been properly dressed.”

Even in this situation, Justia didn’t blame me but instead defended me.

Does this girl even realize what she’s saying?

Anyway, thinking she’s too much of an angel, I calmly spoke up.

“Please continue with the healing spell. I’ll stay like this.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m almost fully recovered.”

Amidst the rustling sounds of her dressing, Justia replied.

After the sounds subsided, I turned my head back to see Justia fully dressed.

Still with a deeply embarrassed expression.

Feeling awkward, I shifted the topic by asking the priestess beside her.

“You were the one casting the healing spell, right? How is Her Highness’s condition?”

“She’s fatigued from using a large amount of mana, but otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be any serious issues.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes. However, it would be best not to overexert herself in the next match.”

The priestess, squinting slightly as she explained to me, looked familiar.

After a moment, I realized it was High Priestess Hene, who had treated Lucy at the mansion.

‘So they sent her to look after Justia, huh?’

She must be quite skilled.

Indeed, despite having just finished a grueling match, Justia’s complexion looked much better.

“Whew.”

Anyway, I felt relieved.

As I sat down and removed my mask, Justia glanced at Elda and asked.

“Um, how did the two of you end up coming together?”

“Ah… well, you see.”

“Let me explain, Your Highness. She has decided to join us from now on.”

“…!”

The news that we had recruited one of the top ten strongest in the empire.

Hearing this delightful news, Justia’s face lit up.

“Professor Elda, you’re going to help me? That’s such wonderful news.”

“After hearing about the secrets of this Sword Demon Festival from the Grand Duke, I couldn’t just stand by if someone is targeting Your Highness. As a professor, I should help my student, right?”

Elda smiled coolly as she spoke.

But Justia’s expression darkened slightly, as if something was bothering her.

“Thank you so much. I had no idea… ahem…!”

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

“Yes, yes. Just something caught in my throat for a moment.”

Justia cleared her throat, even though she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything.

Then she turned to me and expressed her gratitude.

“You spoke to me in my mind during the match, didn’t you? It gave me a lot of strength. Thank you so much.”

“You must mean telepathy. I’m glad it helped.”

“And… you called me by my name back then.”

“Hmm. I did.”

“Can you… call me by my name from now on?”

Leaning toward me, Justia whispered in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Lately, we’ve been talking every night through communication magic, and I felt we were getting closer.

But it seems it wasn’t just my imagination.

‘Wait. Thinking about it…’

Going on dessert shop dates, talking every night, calling her by her name…

Isn’t this…

A green light?

‘No. Stop it. Don’t be ridiculous.’

A pleasant fantasy unfolded in my mind, but I quickly shook it off.

Even if Justia has feelings for me, right now we need to focus on the Sword Demon Festival.

I can think about our relationship later.

For now, I’m just happy to be growing closer to the heroine I adore, and I smiled and agreed.

As we continued to chat, Elda glanced out the window and said to me,

“It looks like the next match will start soon. Today is only up to the second round, right?”

“Yes. And tomorrow will be the semi-finals and finals. Newspapers from all over the continent will gather at the arena.”

“And that’s when we’ll expose the second prince and the Lord of the Magic Tower’s corruption, right?”

Elda asked, as if confirming what I had told her earlier.

Since she’s someone I can trust, I had already explained everything to her.

I nodded slightly and then turned to Justia.

“Your Highness, I’ll ask again, are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yes. My decision hasn’t changed. I will continue to compete.”

“Tomorrow will be dangerous. We don’t know what the second prince might do.”

“But I’ve made up my mind. I won’t just hide in the shadows.”

Justia replied with a determined expression.

About a month ago, I had asked Justia if she wanted to withdraw from the Sword Demon Festival.

It was obvious that Albireo had set a trap, so I thought there was no need for her to compete.

But Justia insisted on participating.

To prove herself as a capable mage.

And as a princess, to personally expose the second prince’s misdeeds.

‘Gentle, but not weak.’

I looked at Justia, her golden eyes filled with resolve, and felt reassured once more.

She really is a wonderful woman.

And I vowed.

No matter what, I would protect her.

“Then, let’s go.”

“Do your best. I’ll be cheering for you.”

“Ah, me too! Let’s go!”

Justia and Elda cheered me on as I stood at the door.

Seeing the two heroines together felt particularly nice.

‘Someday, I hope to see all the heroines together…’

The thought of them, who were once scattered, coming together because of me.

It feels like a dream just thinking about it.

But to make that happen, I need to do my part first.

With a faint smile on my lips.

I left the room for the second-round match.

***

To cut to the chase, the second round ended more easily than the first.

My opponent was a knight from a minor noble family in the western part of the empire, who was knocked out almost instantly by Heavenly Demon’s Descent.

He could use aura, as expected of someone competing in the Sword Demon Festival, but he felt weaker than Duran, the Knight of Justice.

I couldn’t even have a proper match yet, so I tapped my scabbard in frustration.

‘Tsk… how can you not even have one last hit?’

At least Duran didn’t get knocked out.

But if Luke wins his next match, I’ll face him in the semi-finals.

What kind of strength will the boy who grew up among the stars show?

Since I don’t plan to use aura, it might turn into a fierce battle.

As I headed to Justia’s room, lost in these thoughts, I suddenly felt something strange.

‘What’s this?’

A faint flow of mana, something only someone at the level of a Sword Master could sense.

Focusing my senses, I realized someone was hiding their mana and approaching me.

For a moment, I wondered if it was someone seeking revenge for losing to me in the match, but that couldn’t be.

The fact that there wasn’t even a sound of footsteps meant they were far stronger than those guys.

In the corridor, where the flow of people had suddenly stopped, as if space itself had been cut off.

I stood still and searched for the direction of the mana flow.

‘Behind me.’

Despite their impressive mana control, they couldn’t fool my senses.

With the thought of finding out who it was, I immediately turned around.

‘…Damn it.’

The moment I looked back, I almost let out a curse.

Why is this person here?

In the eerily silent corridor.

There.

A gray-robed, white-haired old man floated in the air, staring at me.