Black Iron Magician

The sun rises and the bell that informs the morning rings. This day has finally arrived. Ever since I entered the academy, I had longed for the day of the graduation festival, watching the backs of the seniors as they left the academy. One day, I will definitely participate in the festival and grab that glorious glory in my hands. With this thought in my mind, I worked hard at my studies and training every day.

「I wonder if I can really win…」

However, I bumped into a wall. It’s a very high wall that can’t be crossed over. The passion that I had eventually sank in the cold water and was left behind somewhere.

Weerel Joshua, the number one graduate, is a real prodigy who will graduate this year after skipping grades. She entered the school two years later than me, but her magic power is extraordinary and the magic she controls is very powerful. In addition, she is the grandchild of the country’s highest-ranking official, Mage Prime Minister Joseph. Making a difference not only in talent but also in birth. How unfair can God be? Perhaps, Weerel was given a special education when she was a child. Otherwise, there’s no way to explain such an absurd power.

Ahh, that’s right. The wall isn’t Weerel alone. My classmate Dry has a muscular body build, can manipulate fire magic skillfully, and has a great sense of handling a staff. To be honest, I can’t imagine winning against him in close combat.

President Therese also can’t be underestimated. Well, in her case, in exchange for not being able to use magic, she is stupidly sturdy and I feel like her mind is made of steel… Anyway, she’s a transcendental idiot who demonstrated that she could keep up with the academy even though she can’t use magic. She’s too much to handle and I can’t imitate her.

Karua was supposed to be a not diligent bad student, but before I knew it, she surpassed me in all subjects. I guess she is a genius in a way, but I can’t accept this. I have a suspicion that she’s secretly practicing on her own, but still can’t accept this. After all, she always skipping classes.

Next is Prince. He is a pretentious bastard who entered the academy halfway through the year. His name is Nevel. Since his air is like that, everyone is calling him Prince. I don’t know if he’s really a prince or not, but he never talks about himself. I don’t remember when, but he got into a duel with me and then declared himself as my rival. Well, his results are higher than mine and I don’t know if I can win against him now…

「… Well, it seems I could win against Solte.」

Solte, who has been in the same class since enrollment, is a girl who is diligent and is a strict meddler to me, and it can be said that we have been stuck together. Also, just like me, she’s the lowest-ranked of the 16 students who were selected. She was the only one

She was the only one that I think I could win, but according to what Prez said yesterday, we have to fight the outsider people who got the recommendation from the principal before the tournament. If it’s going to be the student vs the recommended person, my first opponent would be that outsider. Inevitably, there would be no match between me and Solte. That damn principal did something unnecessary…!

『Hahaha! Don’t be so dejected, Kiel! Also, your goal is too dull! If you’re a man, dream big and say you will win the championship!』

Suddenly, the words that Dry said came back to my mind.

「Win the championship, huh… My dream, my longing…」

Habit sure is a strange thing. Even now that my enthusiasm has cooled down, I still continue to train. Perhaps that habit made me got selected as a participant in the graduation festival. No, perhaps there was a part of me that couldn’t give up on my dream. My feeling of not wanting to lose to Prince, Karua, and Weerel…

「――Ahh, damn it! I don’t want to lose! I don’t want to lose and my dream isn’t over yet!」

I shouted before I realized it. Even though it’s in the morning in the dormitory of the academy, I shouted loudly without a care in the world.

「It seems that you are fine now, Kiel-kun.」

「Whoa!?」

I was surprised, seriously. Solte was next to my bed. With her usual eyeglasses, her usual uniform, and her usual braid. She suddenly appeared, but her air is somehow different from usual.

「S-Solte, what the hell!? Don’t come into a person’s room without permission!」

「It’s your fault for not locking the door, you know? Besides, I’ve already seen your sleeping face many times.」

「What’s with that 『I always watching you』 remark…?」

「I mean, who do you think that had been waking you up?」

「………」

Solte sometimes comes to the dormitory to wake me up. Originally, I was not a morning person and it started because I always late. Solte was instructed by the teacher to pick me up in the morning, and even after I was able to wake up, she still came to wake me up like this.

「Still, I’m glad. It seems that you finally made up your mind.」

「…What do you mean?」

「About facing your dream. You just shouted in front of me, right? I don’t want to lose――」

「――Ahh, don’t say it! What kind of punishment game is this!?」

I flew at Solte who teased me. She laughed and brilliantly avoided my dive. Then, I fall from my bed to the floor.

「Ouch… Seriously, what’s with you?」

「Fufu, I’m sorry. But, I know about it. About your dream. After all, I’ve been watching you for a long time… That’s why, I’m going to get serious at the graduation festival. If I go easy on you, I think it would be disrespectful to you who got serious about your dream.」

「Eh?」

Solte untied her braid and took off her eyeglasses. I don’t think it made her stronger, but at least her image inside me was renewed. Solte, who always looked overserious, looks surprisingly beautiful without her eyeglasses and with her hair down.

「I’m at the graduation festival is different than before, you know? If possible, I want to fight you in the final. Well, I guess it depends on the tournament table. So Kiel-kun, don’t lose in the first match. After all, I’m the one who will defeat you.」

「………」

I couldn’t say anything back to her as she walked out of the room. I mean, she changed too much. However, that confidence… she’s not like the usual her.

「Haha, what the heck. In the end, everyone is stronger than me, huh… Fine!」

There is no time to be depressed. Yeah, that’s right. It’s not the time for that. I’m grateful for my training habit! It has kept my dream alive this long after all! Just you wait, Prince, Weerel, and Solte! I’ll defeat you all and grab the glory of the graduation festival with my hands!

After that, I ate breakfast and headed to the graduation festival venue. Half of the participants were already there, but they didn’t seem to be nervous. Far from it, they even said something like I’ve finally woken up. Yeah, I’m awake now. That’s why just you wait! My enthusiasm was higher than it had been in a long time and I couldn’t help but look forward to the graduation match.

――――But, I didn’t even think about it at this time. Solte, who was equal to Prince and Karua or maybe even stronger, couldn’t do anything against the girl recommended by the principal.