"Alright then, the victor of this Duel is I, the Student Council President of Saint Fusion Academy, the Black Witch—Sera Bredt!!"
As Aleister's voice spread outward with magic, the crowd fell silent for a brief moment before erupting into a wave of cheers like a roaring tide.
"Long live Princess Sera!!"
"Lady Sera is the strongest!!"
"Glory to Saint Fusion Academy!!"
"So strong! Absolutely incredible!!"
The students' cheers grew louder and louder with each wave. Amid the crowd, Alicia gazed at the scene before her with eyes full of envy. In that moment, she finally understood what it felt like to be acknowledged by everyone.
As for the students of Starlink Academy and Imperial Academy within the crowd, they too offered their applause without reservation. They were all Duelists, and a brilliant Duel deserved praise.
Especially the students from Starlink Academy—they knew their Vice President had already done her utmost. Going first, she had reduced her opponent's Life Points to below 1000 and even summoned a monster that could not be destroyed by battle or effects. A monster indestructible by battle—if their Vice President had just one more turn, Sera might well have been defeated.
However, unfortunately, "might" would remain forever hypothetical. A loss was still a loss, and there was no reason for regret.
After all, this had only been an unofficial Duel. Gaining valuable information about Sera Bredt—the strongest Duelist of Saint Fusion Academy—through an inconsequential match was more than enough to satisfy them.
Of course, whether such self-comforting words had any effect on Arella was another matter.
When the Duel ended, the surrounding spectators gradually dispersed. In the stands, Alice placed all the trash into her bag, then stood up. "Come on, Ali, the Duel's over. Time to get back to class!"
"Yeah."
Alicia nodded, then inexplicably turned to glance down toward the arena—only to see that the Grand Princess herself had looked in her direction.
Their eyes met for the briefest of moments before the Grand Princess turned away, continuing her conversation with Headmaster Aleister.
Meanwhile, Alicia stood there in a daze, the image of the crowd cheering for the Princess still replaying vividly in her mind.
"Yuui-san, I... I want to become stronger. I want everyone to cheer for me like that!"
A transparent hand rested upon the golden-haired girl's head, gently ruffling it.
"Don't worry. I'll make you stronger than her—stronger than anyone. Strong enough to surpass even the gods themselves."
Ahead, Alice narrowed her eyes slightly. She couldn't see anything, yet the light movement of Alicia's short hair told her that some presence was standing right beside the girl. That realization made a subtle smile rise to her lips.
…
That night, at the Bredt Kingdom's Crown Prince's estate—
Prince Zack Bredt sat reading a dossier detailing the Duel that had shaken half of the noble circles of the kingdom that day.
The might of the Dark Magician and the emergence of a new monster called "Dracotail" had once again earned the Grand Princess universal acclaim among the aristocracy.
Led by the Tutt family, the Princess's Faction was now working tirelessly to promote the strength of Grand Princess Sera Bredt, both among the upper and lower classes of the kingdom. Their chief slogan: "Grand Princess Sera Bredt will become the third Great Sage of the Bredt Kingdom."
The fact that a sixteen-year-old Archmagus stood at the pinnacle of magic lent that slogan a certain plausibility. The guardian spirit Dark Magician and the mysterious Dracotail monster only added more weight to it.
By tomorrow, the calls to support Sera Bredt as the next monarch would no doubt grow even louder.
Of course, Duke Babar and his allies would surely attempt to suppress such rhetoric… but strength was strength. Even if they silenced the news, how could they stop someone from becoming stronger?
The air in the room was heavy, pressing down upon the space. The servants and maids around him felt their master's silent rage and bowed their heads, scarcely daring to breathe.
After a long silence, the Crown Prince tossed the dossier aside, poured himself a glass of royal wine, chilled it with freezing magic, and downed it in a single gulp.
The crimson liquid spilled onto his snow-white collar, like fresh blood. His deep gaze turned toward the window, as though staring at someone far away.
"Don't be in such a hurry, my dear sister. I'll catch up to you soon."
Although no one answered him, it was as if he could hear mocking laughter echoing from another world in the air—the same sharp laughter from that little girl long ago.
Then, the Prince's voice turned cold. "Aret!"
An elderly white-haired butler emerged from the shadows, bowing low, not daring to raise his head.
"The matter regarding Neos… how goes it?"
The old man lowered his head, silent for three full seconds before replying, "Your Highness, we've uncovered some leads. It seems that the girl in question has Lord Aleister's shadow behind her. And since Neos also appears to be connected to Lord Aleister, our people are hesitant to make a move against her for now."
The Prince's gaze fell upon the butler, and the unseen pressure grew even heavier. Cold sweat beaded down the old man's face.
He understood perfectly well—this time, the Prince was truly enraged.
"Aret, you've never disappointed me. Don't start now. I'll give you half a month. In half a month, I want that Spirit standing before me."
"...Yes, Your Highness!"
…
The day after the Grand Princess and Arella's Duel, once classes ended, Alicia was heading toward the Academy Library as usual to study more about the HEROes.
Suddenly, as she passed through a narrow alley, someone she recognized appeared before her.
"Senpai Emily? What are you doing here?"
It was Emily Valentine—the same upperclassman who had tried to pressure Alicia into joining the Prince's Faction on her first night at the Academy. As before, the twin maid sisters stood silently behind her.
Yet this time, Emily's eyes showed neither resentment nor fear toward the kouhai who had once defeated her.
She simply raised her hand lightly and said, "Alicia, there's someone important who wishes to see you. Please come with me."
She didn't ask whether Alicia was willing. It was more like an order.
The moment Emily appeared, both Alicia and Yuui immediately realized—the Prince's Faction had finally come knocking.
...
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