I Favor The Villainess Chapter 21

"Practical exam will be in the form of mock battles"

With the leader Lorec saying so, unrest spread among the applicants who pa.s.sed the written exam.
Some of them still remember the slime disturbance from the other day.
Even if it's a mock battle, actually fighting requires some courage.

"It's not the matter of winning or losing. You will pa.s.s if your ability is deemed sufficient for the Order of the Academy. Conversely, I want you to keep in mind that even if you win you won't necessarily pa.s.s"

I'm not too familiar with it, but I feel the licensing exam for professional boxers was like that.
If it's recognized you have the ability even the loser will be issued the license, conversely, if you only KO the opponent with a lucky blow it will be considered a failure.

"Without specific wishes, combinations will be decided based on the Magic test that immediately followed the enrollment, but is there anyone who wants to fight a specific person?"

Examinees looked each other in the eye.
I guess there's n.o.body they particularly want to fight――.

"Yes. I want to fight against Rei Taylor"

It's so like Claire-sama to say that.

"Is it okay, Claire-sama. Are you okay with an opponent whose results of the Magic test went down in history?"
"There is no problem"
"I understand. Rei, do you have any objections?"
"I have none"

There's no way I would have.
Rather, knowing it was the case, since a while ago I've been unable to calm my excitement.

"Anyone else?"
"Then, I want to partner with Misha. Honestly, I wanted to do it with Rei, but Claire stole a march on me"

Rod-sama ranked ninth on the Magic test.
Although it may appear to be quite a challenge considering Misha's second place, it should be enjoyable to watch their match.

"Then, I wonder if I could ask for Sein-sama. May I?"
"… I don't mind"

Like Rod-sama, Yuu-sama ranked ninth.
Sein-sama was eighth, it seems it will be a considerably fierce match.

Ultimately, the pairs ended up being――

・Pairs
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
・
・
・
8th match: Sein Bauer vs Yuu Bauer
9th match: Rod Bauer vs Misha Yule
10th match: Claire François vs Rei Taylor
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Like this.

By the way, because magical mock battles would be too dangerous as is, a special barrier is put up on the sports grounds.
It's created with an expensive magical tool that dampens magical damage.
Its main use is for defending a position at war.
It's extremely rare, only very few can use it.

"Well then, let's begin the first game. Compet.i.tors, forward"

The mock battles progressed quietly.
As expected there are few commoner partic.i.p.ants, and numerous n.o.ble partic.i.p.ants aren't good at handling magic.
Although n.o.bles, having received magic lectures from the middle school, are accustomed to handling it, unfortunately that can't help with the inborn apt.i.tude.
The matches so far were nothing impressive.

By the way, the only allowed magical tool is a magical wand.
If they could be chosen freely, the family a.s.sets would play a big role.

And finally, it's Sein-sama's and Yuu-sama's turn.

"Are both of you ready?"
"… Ah"
"I'm good"
"Well then, ready… go!"

Sein-sama closed in at the signal to start.
The moment he shortened the distance, he unleashed his fist.
Yuu-sama tried to create an ice wall to protect himself.
However――.

The ice wall was smashed to pieces.
Yuu-sama's usual gracefulness was wiped out and unrest flashed on his face.

Sein-sama's combat style is a close quarter style that makes use of wind attribute support magic - a so called magical warrior style.
Although we can't have weapons, even barehanded his power s.h.i.+nes.
Sein-sama's magical apt.i.tude is a high wind apt.i.tude.
As I explained in the past, wind attribute is commonly used for support magic.
With his high apt.i.tude, the extent  of the boost is considerable.

As for Yuu-sama's combat style, he uses water attribute offensive magic to fight at a distance - it's commonly known as ice prince.
He has only medium apt.i.tude, but his ice magic techniques are quite something, his ice wall never breaks against opponents other than Sein-sama.
Having water attribute apt.i.tude means he can also use recovery magic.

Still, the expressionless Sein-sama went a step further and sent a kick charged with magical power.
Yuu-sama realizing he's at disadvantage in close combat tried to make distance, but it's next to impossible to pull away from Sein-sama with his magically boosted physical abilities.
Yuu-sama judged it impossible to dodge the kick and rather than an ice wall, he created one from water.

Although it's not st.u.r.dy like an ice wall, the water wall softened the kick enough to dodge.
It's just like a water slime's body.
Evading, Yuu-sama perceived that Sein-sama's body was washed away and stepped back.
Freezing the ground while taking distance, he made Sein-sama's approach difficult.

"Fuu… Aren't you impatient, Sein-niisan. Now, prepare for counterattack"
"…"

Yuu-sama raised his hand and several sharp ice arrows appeared in the air.

"There I go"

Along with his voice, the arrows attacked Sein-sama.
Without minding them, Sein-sama once again casually closed the distance.

"Sein-sama!"

I wonder if she thought it was dangerous, Claire-sama who was spectating spontaneously raised her voice.
Mmhm, she's a maiden in love.
However――.

The ice arrows rus.h.i.+ng towards Sein-sama circ.u.mvented him and continued flying past.
Sein-sama was stretching a wind wall around his body.

"However, his footing is!"

I understand Claire-sama's concern.
But, Sein-sama is running on the frozen ground with certain footsteps.
As a matter of fact, Sein-sama is gathering air to create his foothold.
Once again, the distance between them shrank.

"Kh!"

Yuu-sama's face stiffened sensing the danger… only for a moment.

"Just kidding"

With merely one step until Sein-sama approached, sharp ice tips thrust from below.
Unlike the airborne ice arrows, they're impossible to parry with a wind wall while on the ground.

"… Hmph"

Sein-sama dealt with them by casually smas.h.i.+ng the ice tips with a kick.
Furthermore, with ice shards screen, Yuu-sama lost his vision.

When the ice shards disappeared, there was no Sein-sama's figure in Yuu-sama's view.

"… Here"

Sein-sama's figure was right above Yuu-sama's.
Using air as stepping stones, it's a three-dimensional killing method only usable by Sein-sama with his elevated physical abilities.
As he immediately got down behind Yuu-sama, he put his outstretched hand on Yuu-sama's neck.

"I give up"
"That's all! The winner is Sein-sama!"

With the content of their match being on much higher level compared to previous ones, cheers arose from the gallery.
As for Claire-sama, her cheeks flushed perfectly as if she was drunk.

"You're strong, Sein-niisan"
"… It's because you weren't serious yet. You withheld recovery magic"

And so on, the two princes conversed, as expected of two capture targets talking they were seriously cool.
This mock battle was Sein-sama's precious highlight scene.
For those who decided to capture Sein-sama here it was extremely common to lament their choice later.
But, Sein-sama has plenty good points, doesn't he?

Both partic.i.p.ants pa.s.sed.
This much is natural, the level was different from earlier matches.
Well, I knew the result from the beginning.

But, after all seeing people move while using magic is a little different.
Fantasy world hurray.