Volume 2 Chapter 7 End Of The Mock Battle, Day One
The mock battle is over, and day one has ended.
Now, students have free time to either return to the dorm, shop at the mall in the academy, or go out to play in the town.
Back in the classroom, Elk put the 'Guide to Galatine Royal Academy' paper he got from Shakariki into his bag and looked around the room.
"Whoa!" "Hey, he's looking this way!" "That guy is scary!"
"Is that Gambo guy okay?" "Better not get too close."
He went from being underestimated to being feared.
It's better than being mocked, but it still feels lonely.
He should leave the classroom and meet up with Emma and the others. With that thought, he slung his bag over his shoulder.
"Hey."
"Hm?"
"Are you free from now on?"
"Uh..."
Surprisingly, Yato started talking to him.
Elk was taken aback.
Yato stepped closer to Elk and asked again.
"Are you free from now on?"
"Uh, no... I have plans."
"Oh. Can I come along?"
"...Huh?"
"I'm interested in you. Is that okay?"
She said this while swinging her black ponytail and crossing her arms.
It's definitely not a flirty conversation.
Elk hesitated for a moment and then nodded slightly.
"Well, okay... but we'll just talk a bit before heading back."
"That's fine. Let's go!"
"Uh, okay."
Following Yato, Elk left the classroom.
"Hey, what's going on?" "Is that girl okay?" "Isn't this bad?"
"Shouldn't we go help?" "No way, we'd get killed!"
Elk pretended not to hear and left the classroom.
Just a little... he felt like he might cry.
* * *
"Ah, Elk... huh?"
"Seriously...?"
"...No way."
Emma, Nickes, and Merry's reactions were just as expected.
Elk brought Yato, who gave the student representative speech. Of course.
As soon as they joined the 3, Nickes spoke up.
"So, what's going on?"
"Um..."
"I'm just interested in this guy. No need to overthink it."
"Wow, sharp tongue girl."
"Hmm... Mr. Elk, looks like you've made a friend already."
"Friend, huh?"
Elk smiled wryly.
Merry was staring intently at Yato.
Then Nickes said,
"Hey, there's a shopping mall in the school, right? Let's grab some tea there. We can reflect on our first day together."
"A shopping mall in the school...?"
"You seriously need to read the school guide, Elk."
Elk felt exasperated by Nickes.
Emma, Merry, and Yato seemed to know about it too.
Elk decided he would read the school guide properly when he got home.
So, the 5 of them headed to the school shopping mall.
To Elk's surprise, it was located underground.
"I-It's underground?"
"Yeah. Most of the above ground is for learning. The shopping mall is underground."
As they approached the gate to the underground, it felt like a different world.
It was as bright as the surface. The ceiling was high, and it was really spacious.
It truly was a shopping mall. There were stores for all the supplies needed for school life, of course, as well as restaurants, weapon shops, armor shops, blacksmiths, tool shops, magic shops, bakeries, and even inns.
"Is an inn really necessary? Don't students have dorms?"
"Guests related to students might stay here. Like parents."
"Oh, right."
As Elk looked around the shopping mall with interest, the girls were chatting.
Before they knew it, Emma had a shopping mall map in her hands.
"Hey, Merry, which store do you like?"
"Well... I want a place with delicious cake, Elk."
"Cake, huh? Oh, um... Yato, right? Is there a store you want to go to?"
"...A dango shop. And a place where I can drink matcha."
"Dango, matcha...?"
"Oh, I've heard of those. You know, Elk, they're sweets from Yamato country, right?"
"Wow, sweets from Yamato country? I'm curious, brother!"
"Emma, let me see the map... Ah, here it is. A shop from Yamato country."
"Let me see... Yeah, it says 'Tea House' here. Let's go there!"
"Okay! Then let's go!"
Before they knew it, the 3 girls had started walking.
Nickes tapped Elk on the shoulder.
"I think girls' power is amazing in times like this."
"I agree."
Elk and Nickes followed behind Emma and the others.
They arrived at a wooden single-story building.
A banner with 'Tea House' written on it was hanging, and there were bamboo benches and wooden tables set up.
Once they entered and sat at a table for 6, a staff member came to take their order.
"Three-color dango, mitarashi, and zunda dango. And matcha. You all good with that?"
Since they didn't know about Yamato country sweets, everyone agreed.
Elk quickly tried the dango that was brought to them.
"Wow, it's sweet! This sauce? Mitarashi? It's super delicious!"
"Oh, different colored dango... Oh, it's yummy!"
"Wow, this green one... what is it? I feel like I've had it before. Is it zunda?"
"Um, the tea... might be a bit bitter. But it's good!"
The 4 of them were having fun trying the new flavors.
Only Yato, who seemed used to it, was munching on the 3-color dango.
She savored the dumplings for a while.
* * *
Skill Martial Arts Tournament.
It's a 'martial arts tournament' for students learning combat skills.
It happens 3 times a year. The first one is for new students, the second is a competition between grades, and the third is at the end of the year.
The third tournament also affects class assignments after advancing to the next grade.
Skill Cultural Festival.
It's a 'cultural festival' for students with commercial, development, and general skills.
It's a place to present original products they've developed, and students with commercial skills can team up to open 'booths' and sell products.
Many famous merchants and nobles from various countries come to the cultural festival, making it a great opportunity for students interested in business and development.
"──So, these two big events are the main ones. Emmy and I will be at the 'Cultural Festival.' Elk, Merry, Yato... no, Ms. Yato will probably shine at the 'Martial Arts Tournament.'"
"I see."
While eating dumplings and sipping tea, Nickes explained.
The martial arts tournament is a place for battles using skills.
"Isn't it dangerous? That tournament?"
"Don't worry. They say participants are given special magic to fight. Plus, there's a top-notch school nurse in the 'infirmary' who can even bring the dead back to life. It's probably a medical skill."
"...If you're afraid of getting hurt, you can't fight."
Yato said.
Merry clenched her fist.
"I've been looking forward to the martial arts tournament... to see how well my current 'sword' holds up."
"Stop it."
"...Huh?"
"You use a sword, right?"
"Yes, I do..."
"It doesn't smell."
"Huh?"
"I don't smell any blood. Do you have any real combat experience? Have you ever killed someone?"
"Wh-what..."
"Swinging around a toy sword like that will get you killed in no time."
"......"
With a snap, the skewer holding Merry's dangos broke.
Merry glared at Yato.
"Do you want to test if it's a toy sword?"
"Sure, why not..."
The moment Merry's hand touched the hilt of the sword hanging at Yato's waist───.
"Stop it."
"!?"
Both of their hands froze in place.
Elk's hand was pointed at them.
He had stopped their movements with telekinesis.
Yato felt it. The power of Elk's telekinesis.
(Whoa, I can't move at all!? I guess even that muscle-headed idiot can't break free from this.)
The muscle-headed idiot referred to was Gambo.
Elk flicked his fingers, and the swords at Yato and Merry's waists floated up gently.
Without even looking, he moved his fingers, and the swords went into the umbrella stand outside.
Then, Nickes spoke up.
"Hey, using skills in the shopping mall is against school rules."
"Seriously!? Oh no!"
Elk panicked.
Nickes laughed. Emma smiled ambiguously.
The atmosphere was getting tense, but it somehow settled down.
Merry exhaled and said to Yato.
"We'll find out if it's a toy sword in the martial arts tournament... in the individual matches."
"Right. I'm looking forward to it."
"Hey, hey, if it's individual matches, does that mean there are others? Like team battles or something?"
When Elk said this, Nickes replied.
"There is a team battle. It's called 'Flag Battle,' and you participate in groups of 3."
"Groups of 3, huh..."
"?"
Elk looked at Yato and Merry and grinned.
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