Episode 37: “Declaration of War”
“Fiine, aren’t you eating a little too much?!”
“You think so? Ah, I want another order of that potato and sausage platter from before. And this cheese-topped seafood risotto, and the squid-ink pasta, and…”
It was her first time in a place like this, but just as Yuria had said, it was surprisingly delicious for the price.
Since she’d never make anything this elaborate herself anyway, she figured she might as well eat plenty while she had the chance.
“Ah, maybe I’ll order bread too. Want some, Yuria?”
“Any more and your stomach’s going to burst.”
Yuria let out an exasperated sigh.
Even so, the look she gave Fiine was thoroughly fond.
“But maybe I’ll share dessert with you, at least.”
“Got it. Then I’ll order the beef stew and the mushroom-cheese pizza too, and have dessert with you after.”
“You’re eating even more?!”
“P-people always tell me eating a lot is good for me, so…”
“…Is that the secret behind your magic capacity, I wonder?”
◆
“Thanks for the meal,” they said together, pressing their hands together in unison.
Thanks to repeated rounds of ordering to her heart’s content, Fiine was thoroughly full.
(I bet I’ll sleep well tonight. Ah, but taking a bath sounds like a hassle…)
Even so, she’d worked up a real sweat during physical training at the academy that day. Skipping the bath probably wasn’t a good idea.
“Hey, Yuria, where’s your house—”
She trailed off before finishing the question, because the moment they stepped outside, they found themselves surrounded by several people.
All of them wore magic academy uniforms, though some faces she didn’t recognize.
(These aren’t just… classmates, are they?)
She still didn’t have every classmate’s face memorized, so she couldn’t be certain, but it seemed likely.
“You’re Fiine Fellner, aren’t you?”
A girl standing at the center stepped forward.
At her chest was a pendant set with a black onyx.
(If I remember right, the black onyx pendant goes to whoever ranks fourth. Though I don’t know what year she’s in…)
The magic academy ran on a four-year system, and four different students held pendants of the same gemstone at once — one per year.
Because of that, the pendant alone couldn’t identify a specific individual.
As though reading Fiine’s very question, the girl introduced herself unprompted.
“I am Andrea von Balschmiede. Third-year student at the magic academy.”
“…I see…”
She now knew the girl’s name and year, but had no idea what she actually wanted. The familiar classmates behind her wore smug, satisfied smirks.
“I hear you’re the top student among the first-years. Word is, you’ve been carrying yourself rather full of yourself about it.”
“…No, not really…”
Far from being full of herself, she’d barely had a proper conversation with anyone besides Yuria at all.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
With that overbearing declaration, Andrea drew a wand from inside her coat and leveled it directly at Fiine’s chest.
“Fiine Fellner. I challenge you to a duel.”
“…Eh?!”
Private duels weren’t permitted at the magic academy.
Official duels, however, were.
An official duel required both parties’ consent, a formal application submitted to the school, and took place on the school grounds under the supervision of at least one teacher.
It functioned less like an actual duel and more like practical sparring training, with wagering money or goods strictly forbidden.
Spectating, on the other hand, was actively encouraged — it was the kind of event plenty of students turned out to watch.
“Um… would it be all right if I declined?”
Fiine saw no benefit in accepting, and said so — but Andrea only smiled, triumphant.
“My, my. No confidence, I see. Well, of course — no matter how proud you are of that ruby pendant, you’re still only a first-year, fresh out of enrollment.”
Fiine didn’t particularly care what Andrea thought of her.
She turned to leave with Yuria, ignoring her entirely, only for a voice to call out sharply from behind.
“My uncle works in the Magic Corps. I heard it from him — you’re Instructor Burkhardt’s adopted daughter, aren’t you?”
She’d always gone by her surname alone at the academy and had never once mentioned that fact herself.
But the fact that Burkhardt had taken in a child named “Fiine Fellner,” rescued during a mission, was a matter of official military record.
It wasn’t strange that someone might know.
“I bet that pendant of yours is just the instructor playing favorites too.”
She should have simply ignored it.
Both students and teachers surely knew Burkhardt wasn’t the kind of man to commit fraud out of affection for a child.
She knew that, and yet found she couldn’t let it go.
“…Burkhardt-san isn’t the kind of person who would do something like that.”
Turning back around, she found Andrea’s mouth curling upward, provocative.
“Then you’ll accept the duel, to prove it, won’t you?”
Fiine, Yuria called out, her voice edged with worry.
Fiine tried to smile reassuringly, though it must have come out stiff and awkward.
“Understood. …Though, regarding the duel, I have one request.”
“And what would that be?”
“Please gather as large an audience as you possibly can. If people are going to pick fights with me like this, I’d rather settle it all at once, in one go.”
Ignoring Andrea, who looked ready to shout back at her, Fiine grabbed Yuria’s hand and took off running, practically fleeing the scene.