Chapter 58: The Destiny of the Commoners

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Superhuman Sprint Spirit Sprint.

The competition held at the training grounds is a full-throttle “race” among the aspiring national magicians.

It’s an event where they showcase their magical talents to the fullest, overcoming troublesome obstacles prepared along the course.

At times elegant, at times extreme, and at times like the wind, the magicians dash through a challenging path.

The spectacle was likened to a “sprint drama by superhumans,” and thus the competition came to be known as the Superhuman Sprint Spirit Sprint.

“…Well, if you put it bluntly, it’s just an obstacle race.”

I glanced around the corner of the training grounds, quietly shrugging my shoulders.

Despite all the grandeur it presents, it’s ultimately just an obstacle race.

Of course, since the runners are magicians, the obstacles set up are quite challenging.

Walls that can only be overcome by using magic, platforms resembling swamps created by earth-based magic, courses with gusts of wind and flying embers.

They have to overcome these obstacles, adapt to the interference from other magicians, and aim for the goal—a competition truly designed for superhumans.

However, compared to other competitions, it lacks the same level of spectacle and is rather gritty, if you ask me.

That’s why the training grounds, serving as the arena, aren’t filled with many spectators, as most people are engrossed in another competition taking place on the field.

“…It seems like it’s going to be difficult to stand out here.”

From the moment the competitions were announced, I had a feeling, but it seems that I won’t be able to attract much attention in my participating event after all.

The competitions awaiting on the second and third day are also rather plain.

It was a great opportunity to make a name for myself in the world of magicians, but it seems like my plans won’t go smoothly.

As I quietly let my shoulders slump, I see the participants gathering one after another at the training grounds.

Participants of the Superhuman Sprint Spirit Sprint, ranging from first-year to third-year students.

A total of nearly sixty participants.

I have to compete with these people and earn competition points for our class.

“Well then, let’s start with the draw.”

The members of the Starry blossom Festival executive committee say so, and each class is given a lottery ticket to draw.

The running combinations are determined by this lottery.

There are a total of twenty-one participating classes, and they are divided into seven groups.

As a result, three groups are formed, and one person from each group competes to determine the rankings from first to seventh.

This process is repeated three times, and the higher the rank, the more competition points are awarded.

Why three times? It’s because each class has three participants, and the same person can’t compete again.

“Hey, are we really okay doing this with just the three of us?”

As the lottery reaches its halfway point, a female student near me murmurs anxiously.

Then another male student nearby replies, somewhat exasperated.

“It’s no use complaining about it now when it’s already decided, right?”

“But still, I feel uneasy doing it with just the three of us. Wouldn’t it have been better if Maron-san, the representative, had come here?”

“It’s too late to wish for something that doesn’t exist. We have no choice but to do it with the three of us.”

The ones discussing are my classmates from Class 1A and fellow participants in the competition.

Radhi Monde, a male student with two-tone white and green hair.

Karot Julien, a female student with orange hair resembling sunshine.

The three of us are scheduled to participate in the Superhuman Sprint Spirit Sprint together.

However, their faces still show signs of gloom.

And rightfully so, as the representative, Maron-san, is absent from this competition.

“If Maron were here, maybe we could have achieved a high rank in the Superhuman Sprint Spirit Sprint…”

In some cases, even representatives who can participate in all the events may not be able to compete due to simultaneous competitions being held.

Currently, Maron-san is participating in the competition being held on the field, so we have to win here with just the three of us.

However, overall, the three of us have relatively low magical power, and the chances of defeating strong second and third-year students and achieving a high rank are quite low.

It’s natural for the two of them to show signs of unease.

Perhaps driven by that unease, Radhi, who is fidgeting, looks at me and mutters with disdain.

“Hey, commoner, don’t drag us down.”

“…”

I think you can infer from that one sentence, but I still have a strained relationship with my classmates.

It seems that they don’t like the fact that I’m a commoner without any family background, despite being students at the same academy.

As a result, we have never practiced together for the competition, and this is the first time we are having a discussion like this.

Our teamwork is, frankly speaking, probably the worst.

“Hey, what about the running order?”

When Karot says that, Radhi, who has the highest magical power among us, takes on a leader-like role and starts considering it.

Come to think of it, we haven’t decided on that yet.

While other classes have already determined their order and are fully prepared, we still haven’t established any coordination.

Well, it’s mostly because I’ve been left out.

“It would be better if I and Karot go first and second. I think the other classes will likely put their strongest runner in the later positions.”

“If, if that’s the case, shouldn’t Radhi run last…”

“Even I would find it challenging to achieve a high rank among third and second-year students. So here, intentionally, I think it’s better for me and Karot to go for points ‘reliably’ in the first and second groups. Let’s have this commoner run in the third group, like a disposable piece. It’s like a sacrificial strategy.”

…Hmm.

I do think it’s a smart strategy.

As Radhi says, I believe every class will place their confident runner in the later groups.

By observing the first and second groups, we can crush the classes that score well in the third group.

Although it’s called an obstacle race, as long as it doesn’t go too far, magical clashes between students are permitted in the competition.

It’s even possible to deliberately obstruct specific classes.

That’s why it’s considered standard to have a strong individual in the third group.

In addition to that reason, simply because the third group is the grand finale, it tends to attract attention, making it more likely for skilled individuals to concentrate there.

“We never expected anything from this commoner from the beginning. If we let her participate in the first group and even get last place, it would be the worst outcome. In that case, it’s better to bring her to the third group as a disposable piece. Losing the final competition points is frustrating, but if the two of us can earn points, it should be enough.”

“Well, if Radhi says so…”

“…”

It really feels like they don’t trust me at all.

Well, I am a commoner without any family background, and I even scored an unprecedented “1” in the magical power assessment.

It’s strange to expect anything from someone like me.

That’s why the strategy of putting me in the third group as a disposable piece and ensuring points in the first and second groups ourselves seems clever.

“That’s the plan. You don’t have to do anything special. Just make sure you don’t disgrace Class A and run all the way to the end.”

With those words, Radhi turned his back to me.

Karot, perhaps due to her timid personality, doesn’t show obvious hostility, but she avoids any interaction with me and lowers her gaze.

“Hmm…”

Is there any way to improve our relationship?

Since the Starry blossom Festival is an opportunity to cooperate with my classmates, I want to use this chance to foster better relationships.

If we don’t coordinate well, it might hinder our performance in future competitions as well.

“Next up is the Superhuman Sprint Spirit Sprint, which will be held at the training grounds. If you wish to watch, please come to the spectator seats at the training grounds.”

As if influenced by the anxieties of the two, a slightly restless feeling stirs within me as the announcement echoes through the school by magic.