After defeating the strongest contenders from various schools and advancing to the finals, ten students were matched in a tournament. By a twist of fate, two [Unique Ether] users faced each other in the very first round. These two were the most likely candidates for the championship, making the situation even more ironic.

One of them was Eir of the [Crimson Trajectory], who hadn’t fought a single match in the Combat Festival, yet everyone predicted her victory.

But Eir chose to forfeit the fight.

“Huff… I’m done with this.” “…What?” “Two years ago, I fought until I could taste blood in my mouth. And even though I got beaten up by Narsen after that… it was a great fight.” “That’s…” “This year, I’ve come this far without fighting even once… It just doesn’t feel right.”

Eir stared blankly at the audience. Tens of thousands of students had gathered at the largest school to watch the Combat Festival, all of them looking at her with wide, astonished eyes.

“…” Most of the faces were unfamiliar. The faces she always imagined were no longer there.

It was only natural.

“…” During the past two years when she had been stagnant, everyone she used to fight with had changed.

The only ones who hadn’t changed were the junior students of the simple-minded Scarlet Academy… and herself, who still believed those she fought with were still around.

“…” What she wanted was to be the ‘strongest in the academy city.’ But the ‘academy city Eir knew’ had disappeared two years ago.

‘It’s too late to remain a challenger.’

To those gathered here, she was already the ‘strongest in the academy city.’ She could no longer be remembered as a challenger.

Having run away without ever truly challenging herself, she had become the strongest just by being the last one standing.

She didn’t want to become the strongest in this way.

“...” She should have given her juniors the opportunity to fight.

“Everyone else knew. I was the only one who didn’t.” “…?” “Sorry for wasting your time. You give it your best shot.” “W-Wait…!”

Albit reached out desperately, but Eir, holding her sword that resembled the spine of an animal, walked away without hesitation.@@novelbin@@

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* Waaaaaah—!!!

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