[Irene's POV]

The month came sooner than expected. It was finally the day when Red's effort to prove his worth was showcased to the rest of the school. Due to various meetings and preparation for the festival itself, I haven't got the chance to ask how the progress was. I did ask the other faculty members for news, but none of them has seen him either. Even Gerald, who came back for a short break, was not able to locate him around the school. But his student does go back to their room to sleep after the lesson, so it was confirmed that he's still on campus... somewhere.

Whatever he's planning, hopefully, the result wouldn't be that embarrassing. To be honest, one month for half his students to reach the top 10? It's downright impossible.

Many students with talent would apply to the Combat tournament due to it being a start-up ground for them to showcase their abilities and be scouted. Some mages came from a rich nobility line that can increase their magical power with the use of their equipment. Some have raw talents that would outrival the rest of the other students.

But what if you combined the two of them? Those with Immense talent and equipped with the best items to enhance their power?

Enter the student Council, with the backing of several nobles and companies looking to invest in them, they are inevitably the one of strongest students in the whole school. Except for some that have monstrous mana and magical power.

Looking at Red's class, it would have been downright impossible.

With no sight of Red anywhere, I turned my head and proceeded to check the security of the academy since this was an important event where all the influential figures in Mundi Magicae gathered at one spot.

It would potentially be a very dangerous place to be, however, some of the mages that came are one of the strongest ones on the continent, so even though we are in safe hands, it's best to keep a lookout.

"Professor Irene. How's the festival to your liking?"

A familiar voice appeared from the back of my head. It was Gerald with a bag of food filled to the brim.

"It's all going according to plan. I see you're still as popular as ever, " I asked while glancing a look at what he was given. Food that ranges from cocoa to sweets like fruits tarts and cakes.

"Ye, every year the student gave me this much food even though I never met them before. Maybe my lesson was interesting to the point that it leaked to the other classes. Hahaha!" Gerald smiled brightly after finishing the sentence and continued chewing on the sugar-glazed doughnut.

Are you serious? Are you an idiot? - was what I wanted to say, but I refrained from saying any more things that may affect my image as a professor.

I think hanging around Red too much may have influenced the way I speak and act.

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~The main event would be starting in a short while, so please head to the main stage in 7 minutes. Thank you.~

"Oh."

Looks like the event is about to start soon.

I turned my head around just to find Gerald accepting the food from another female student. As he thanked the girls for the chocolate, he smiled warmly and smiled, thanking the female student. The female student's face was blushing so hard that I could have sworn steam was coming out from her ears. Her friends had to drag her out of there as the girl lost all strength that was in her legs.

Gerald gave an expression that is best described as "?" Before turning his head towards me and smiling about the chocolate he got.

For some reason, the fact that he was so dense pissed me off.

So I stomped his foot and immediately headed off to the main stage.

"Hmph... idiot."

**

Before long, we were seated in our respective areas, waiting for the match to begin. Generally, the first event would be held in another large location for an elimination round to cut down the number of participants in the competition.

The main stage, however, was held behind the academy as normally that was where the finals would be held. The main stage was constructed in a square-shaped arena with the audience sitting from the 4 sides of the arena.

As everyone gathered and was ready to watch the match, I noticed Red is still not around. The faculty members around me started to speak among themselves as they realized he was nowhere in sight as well.

Did he run out?

What do you expect? His student has to face the elite students from the academy. What can he do with a bunch of misfits that were in his class?

Still, I expected him to show up and lost admirably.

In the end, he was only a coward.

The bad-mouthing continued for a few minutes until the headmaster appeared to begin his speech.

"Let's invite the contestants that came to compete. Come!"

One by one, the students appeared, filling up the space that was in the middle of the main stage.

There are around 1500 students that attend Elderwinn every year, while the number of participants for the tournament this year was about 300, which was about 1/5 of the school population.

It was still quite a huge amount compared to last year when only 170 students participated.

"Alas, without further delays, let's just start the match."

With no warnings, the headmaster snaps his finger, and magic circles appear under the feet of the contestants.

The magic circles shine brightly before it suddenly vanishes, leaving a hole underneath each of the contestants.

"Looks like it's a warp portal."

Sure enough, a giant screen appeared in the middle of the stage as it depicts all the contestants in another location. It's a forest.

"Ahem. Now listen up, contestants. The first event would be a free-for-all. You are allowed to eliminate and fight against other students. All damage to your body would be reflected in a crystal located on the main stage. If the crystals shatter, it means you are out of the tournament due to excessive damage. However, don't think that just because the damage is reflected, you wouldn't feel the pain. The damage output has been adjusted to 30 percent by the magic engineering club so please do your best. Anyways, enough blabbing. Start!"

With the command issued, all the students dispersed from their initial position and went into hiding.

Just then, an announcement was made immediately.

[Contestant #279 is eliminated]

Someone was already eliminated? But that's too fast. Who could possibl___

As I turn my head up to look at the screen, it depicted a scrawny and short boy that had purple hair. He stood against the eliminated contestant before turning his back against the screen and walking away.

There was no doubt about it. All of the audience kept their mouth shut as they stared at the back of the boy with the purple hair walking away nonchalantly.

- Is... that who I think it is?

- That purple hair... the unique traits of the Adhira family.

- It couldn't be... the disgraced son?

- You mean Desmond Adhira?

- Yes! He's a yellow robe student as of now.

- What's the color of the robe that the eliminated contestant wore?

- All eyes focused on the middle of the stage as the portal brought the eliminated contestant out.

The contestant was wearing a Green robe.

- He won against someone who was a higher-tier mage within a few seconds?

- Did he cheat by using an artifact?

However, the investigation squad returned with nothing, confirming that he did defeat that contestant within a few seconds.

"Desmond..."

Just as I said it, the announcement blasted again.

[Contestants #211, #168, #154 has been eliminated]

[Contestant #111, #40...]

[Contestant #3...]

What's happening? Within minutes, the number of contestants are dropping at a rapid speed.

What the hell is going on?