Black Iron Magician

Chapter 150 A Staff and A Staff

Everyone returned to the venue with the delicious aroma of lunch tickling their noses. The lunch break ended without any particular incident. The second round has begun as originally planned, and the match between Weerel and her opponent is taking place on the stage. However, the result came out immediately.

「The match is over. Winner, Weerel Joshua!」

While the matches of Haruna and Chinatsu caused a huge uproar, Weerel won the match as predicted. As if to compete with Haruna who pushed her opponent out of the stage as soon as the match started, Weerel used a large quantity of water to blow away her opponent in this match and her time was as good as Haruna’s.

「Wee, you look very motivated! It’s wonderful desuwa!」

「Prez…」

When Weerel got off the stage, Therese, who was waiting for her next match near the stage, welcomed her. With her Staff Fortress Coalesce in her hand, she’s showing her unique elegance as usual.

「It seems that you are motivated enough… Your next opponent is Chinatsu-san, right…? It’s going to be difficult, you know…?」

「Fufu, what are you talking about? This Therese Batten has never had a fight that wasn’t difficult! Even in the first round, we gave it our all and it was an intense battle desuwa! There’s only one thing I can do in this situation! And that is to believe in my own strength that has overcome many hardships with me until now desuwa!」

「That spirit… I hope I can learn from you…」

「Weerel, you don’t need to learn it since it’s something you can do desuwa. My match is going to start soon, so I will go now desuwa! Ohohoho!」

While laughing loudly, Therese goes up to the stage. Weerel is far better at handling magic than Therese and has a higher overall fighting power. However, she judged that she is no match for Therese in terms of the ability to attract the heart of people with the so-called charisma.

「But, that’s something that has nothing to do with a one-vs-one match… Chinatsu-san is probably as strong as I am… How will you fight, Prez…?」

「I just have to believe in myself desuwa!」

「Ah, yes…」

Weerel muttered so, thinking that Therese wouldn’t hear it, but she unexpectedly got a reply. Weerel was quite surprised by Therese’s sharp ears that her heart was beating fast.

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「Therese Batten and Chinatsu Rokusai, please move to the stage.」

Just as the broadcast sounded, the two people were on the stage at the same time. Just like in the first round, Chinatsu holds a simple wooden staff and Therese holds the Staff Fortress Coalesce.

「Chinatsu-san, I can’t thank you enough desuwa. After all, it’s because of your cooperation that I can participate in the graduation festival.」

「I’m glad. But, please say it to Deris-san and Nell-shishō, not to me. …I don’t think Therese-san will do it, but please don’t go easy on me just because of that.」

「Don’t worry, I have no intention to do that. Rather, I think the best way to repay you is to fight and defeat you with all my might! Don’t think that I’m the same as before, okay?」

「I’m relieved to hear that. My master won’t be satisfied even if I win a half-baked fight after all. Therese-san, let’s have a good match.」

Before the match started, the two of them came to the center of the stage and shook hands. Although it looks different than the spirit of sportsmanship, their figures are like noble and righteous students. But, many people were surprised by their appearance. No, to be exact, by the scene after that.

「Fuu…」

Chinatsu took her stance-like stance for the first time before the match started. Looking at her matches so far, Chinatsu’s means of attack is only to move at high speed and poke her opponent with the bottom of the staff. However, this stance is clearly not one of holding a staff, but like a middle-level stance of holding a bamboo sword in kendo. Chinatsu’s staff is almost in the shape of a wooden sword, so her form looks right for people who understand it. Therese, on the other hand, is holding her staff(shield) firmly and is hiding behind it to look for an opportunity. The spectators are making a stir while trying to carefully observe the battle.

「It’s time. Both sides please move to the starting line. Are you ready? Then―― start!」

Almost as soon as the start was announced, Chinatsu stepped in front of Therese’s shield. Furthermore, her wooden sword was swung down as soon as she stepped on it. The sharpness and speed of the attack are not the same as before, and the target is locked onto Therese’s head with precision. Stepped in, swung up, and swung down. Chinatsu completed this sequence at an extraordinary speed that the spectators couldn’t see her.

――――Clang!

However, it seems that the match is not going to end so easily this time. The wooden sword, which was supposed to hit Therese’s head, was bounced back with an echoing metal sound. It was a shield bash by Therese. Chinatsu’s attack was completely being seen, and on the contrary, she is exposing a defenseless figure because her staff got repelled.

(Uh, was the attack too straightforward…!?)

Chinatsu was aiming for the shortest and fastest attack, but it backfired and now their positions got reversed. Therese is approaching and using her staff (shield) to crush Chinatsu.

(I’m glad I made a backup plan…)

Flash!

Suddenly, a dazzling light exploded between Chinatsu and Therese. Unlike Chinatsu, who knew about it beforehand, Therese was a bit faltered by this light. Chinatsu took advantage of this opportunity and retreated for the time being. Thus, she escaped from Therese’s attack with a paper-thin difference.

「It was so close desuwa. Still, I was finally able to get you to use your magic desuwa.」

「It seems that I made a slight mistake in the adjustment, though…」

Before Chinatsu launched her attack, she had set level 10 Radiant Magic 『Glint Ball』 around her. This magic is a floating flash ball that can be activated at any time according to the caster. If this magic is released with Chinatsu’s magic power, not only the stage, but this magic can cover the entire venue. So, the spectators were exposed to the intense light and were covering their eyes.

Her master might be deducted a point because of that. Also, there’s the fact that Chinatsu used magic for the first time at the graduation festival. The current Therese is not an opponent that can be defeated by a direct attack with the staff (wooden sword) alone. Based on that, Chinatsu’s attack moves to the next level.

「Glitter Lance. I’ll start with ten of it.」

Multiple light spears were generated behind Chinatsu. And then, Chinatsu’s staff (wooden sword) started to shine. It was the moment when magic support was added to the direct attack with all its might.