Chapter 60: The Terrifying Lucky Girl

Leave a Comment / Level 999 / By IX

“Alright, runners from Group 3, please take your positions.”

Following the instructions from the announcer, I made my way to the starting point. Participants from other classes were also gathering, and the tension for the main event was building up.

And then…

“Hmm?”

I suddenly felt strange gazes from around me. It seemed like the participants were paying attention to me.

Moreover, I could hear conversations like this:

“Hey, that silver-haired girl…”

“So, the rumors were true?”

…About me?

I don’t recall being the subject of any rumors, especially since I don’t have any connections with students from other grades.

As I pondered about this, I suddenly caught sight of a “blonde hair with vertical curls” at the edge of my vision.

“Oh my, it seems quite muddy around here, doesn’t it?”

It was the hair of a female student who approached from the side. She had long, golden hair elegantly styled, and she was adorned with expensive-looking accessories. Judging by the green accent on her uniform, she appeared to be a second-year student.

Despite maintaining a fixed gaze, she scrutinized me condescendingly, and suddenly displayed an exaggerated reaction.

“Oh my? Could it be my mistake? It seems like there’s no family crest anywhere on your uniform.”

“…”

Ah, I see.

Just by the way she approached me, I could already deduce what kind of person this blonde-haired, vertical curls upperclassman was. And it also made sense why I was receiving so much attention.

Most likely, rumors had spread even among the second and third-year students that a commoner like me, who doesn’t wear a family crest, had enrolled. That’s why my lack of a family crest drew their gazes.

So, this blonde-haired upperclassman, with her twisted smirk, came to “tease” me, a commoner. This school really has a lot of people like her…

“What happened to your family crest? Could it be that you dropped it somewhere? If that’s the case, I would be happy to help you search for it!”

…Well, I never had one to begin with.

“You don’t have it? You mean to say you don’t possess a family crest? I can’t possibly believe that a commoner like you could pass through the gates of this school!”

Her loud voice attracted even more attention from the surroundings. Disapproving gazes were directed at me, and faint laughter could be heard.

Feeling uncomfortable with all of that, I tried to distance myself from the upperclassman. However…

“No wonder it’s so muddy around here. It’s said that commoners often kneel on the ground and beg for alms, so their clothes are always covered in dirt, or so I’ve heard.”

If I were to retreat now, it would seem as if I were running away, and that would be frustrating.

So, I endured it in that moment.

The blonde-haired upperclassman, seemingly aware of the teachers’ presence, suddenly lowered her voice and whispered.

“It’s quite surprising that such a dirty commoner was allowed to enroll in this school. Perhaps it would be better for you to learn how to wash your body before learning magic, don’t you think?”

“…”

Next, she covered her nose with her uniform sleeve and displayed open disgust.

“I have a bit of a cleanliness obsession, and I absolutely detest anything dirty. Especially being in the same space as commoners who grew up in bad environments. So, I would be grateful if you could just drop out already.”

It seems that she holds a particular animosity towards commoners more than other students. The fact that we’re in the same school seems to bother her, and she seems determined to drive me out.

“…It’s unfortunate, but I can’t leave this school just yet, so I can’t fulfill your wish.”

“In that case, I’ll show you during this competition. I’ll thoroughly demonstrate how out of place a commoner like you is. I’ll make you taste the fragility of your talent and force you to drop out.”

Saying so, the blonde-haired upperclassman headed towards her own starting position.

While silently sighing in exasperation, I took my position as well.

I still felt the scornful gazes and mocking laughter from those around me.

Truly, the aristocratic bloodline fanatics in this school…

They judge and make assumptions based solely on someone being a commoner, without even trying to see their true nature.

While I can understand if they speak ill of me to some extent, I can’t tolerate comments that belittle even Mil, who also doesn’t wear a family crest.

Well, it’s a perfect opportunity to make everyone understand.

“Take your positions, ready… Start!”

The Spirit Sprint race for Group 3 began.

Immediately after the signal, the runners dashed forward from the starting line, chanting spells as they aimed for the finish line.

“Oh! One of the first-year students has actually started chanting their spell on the spot! Did they fall behind?”

The commentator’s narration suddenly stopped. And it was understandable because among all the participants who had started running, there was only one person who was “completely motionless.” Well, that would be me.

“Oops! One of the first-year students is actually chanting their spell on the spot! Did they start late?”

Witnessing me standing still at the starting line and chanting my spell, the onlookers were astonished. And Rady, from the same class, shouted in frustration.

“I-Idiot! Start running already!”

But I remained unaffected by his voice and continued chanting in place.

I had decided to learn from Karote’s strategy.

A tactic of casting magic at a slight distance from everyone, deliberately staying one step behind. This way, I could cast enhancement magic without anyone interfering.

I thought that if I did this from the starting line, I would undoubtedly avoid any interference.

Considering that there were unpleasant seniors directing their animosity solely towards me, it was best to ensure absolute safety by doing it this way.

It was true that I would fall behind by quite a bit, but I could easily catch up with just a little delay. After all, my body enhancement magic was completely different from ordinary body enhancement magic.

“[Foolish Brute Force: Grand Deal]!”

In an instant, my entire body was enveloped in a deep crimson light. Boosted by that light, my body became as light as a feather, and power surged from every joint.

In front of me, hindering magic and minor offensive magic flew about, but I paid no mind as I propelled myself off the ground.

I sliced through the air with my entire body. The scenery flowed past me. Leaving the sound behind.

In the blink of an eye, I caught up with everyone.

“What the hell!”

“What’s with her?”

A probability-based magic that allowed me to enhance my physical abilities to the extreme—[Foolish Brute Force: Grand Deal].

Unlike other body enhancement magic, whether or not I could enhance myself was left to chance.

If it failed, it would even have the effect of lowering my physical abilities. However, in exchange, when it succeeded, the explosive power was significant, far surpassing ordinary body enhancement magic.

That’s why, at this moment, I obtained a body faster than anyone else.

“Amazing! The first-year student, who was supposed to be left behind, is surpassing the other runners one after another!”

Of course, the other participants didn’t just stand there in surprise; they devised strategies to stop me.

The third-year student running just ahead of me started chanting a long-range attack spell while glancing back at me.

“[The enemy is right here—Crimson Blaze—Become one and shoot through the magic]”

Reflexively, I also moved my lips.

“[The arrival of peace—Heavenly Guardian—Protect the powerless]”

In an instant, the two incantations overlapped.

“[Burning Sphere Flame Sphere]!”

“[Momentary Peace Aegis Fried]!”

From the third-year student’s hand, a dangerously close fireball was launched. At the same time, a silver light burst from my body.

Thanks to the magic’s effect, the fireball that was supposed to hit me was blocked by an invisible barrier at the last moment.

“What?!”

The fireball then vanished like a candle being extinguished with water.

A magic that nullifies magical attacks with a probability of one in a hundred thousand for thirty minutes—[Momentary Peace Aegis Fried].

With this, I could nullify all the hindering magic from other students…

“Oh, I could have used this magic from the beginning.”

I thought belatedly that it would have been safer to use this magic at the starting line. By becoming able to nullify attack magic, I could have used [Foolish Brute Force: Grand Deal] without any issues and easily caught up to everyone.

…Honestly, I feel like I could just rely on [Foolish Brute Force: Grand Deal] alone to deflect all the magic.

“What is she? That commoner!”

The blonde-haired upperclassman, who was running ahead of me, was astonished by my fierce progress. Gradually closing the distance, she turned around and prepared to face me with her “bare hands.”

“If it comes to this, I’ll use brute force!”

Having seen that the previous student’s magic didn’t work, she seemed to have devised a plan to stop me with her physical strength. She must have thought that she could overpower me since she was already using body enhancement magic.

However…

“Kyaa!”

The quality of our body enhancement magic was regrettably too different.

As I was about to pass by, the blonde-haired upperclassman reached out and grabbed my shoulder. But with the momentum granted by [Foolish Brute Force: Grand Deal]…

The upperclassman was blown away like a piece of paper.

“Ah…”

If someone had been watching from the side, it would have appeared as if a carriage had run over a baby rabbit. Moreover, due to the impact, the blonde-haired upperclassman was blown backward and unluckily fell into a “muddy swamp” obstacle.

Thanks to that, the impact was mitigated, but her whole body ended up covered in mud.

“H-How dare you… get my uniform dirty!”

I didn’t intend to blow her away; she reached out to me on her own…

With those thoughts in mind, I passed by the senior and continued running.

There was no one ahead of me anymore.

The obstacles, such as the adhesive nets, paralyzing panels, and moving floors, were all created by magic. So the moment I touched them, all obstacles became nullified.

“What’s happening?! The obstacles have no effect on the first-year student!”

The adhesive nets, paralysis panels, and moving floors were all ineffective against me.

To me, this competition wasn’t an obstacle race but just a jog, no different from before.

“Alright, I’ve reached the goal.”

With a significant lead, I reached the finish line.

Normally, the crowd would cheer when the first-place runner crosses the finish line, but the surroundings were silent.

The members of the Star Flower Festival organizing committee, who were waiting at the finish line, just stared at me in disbelief.

“…F-First place, Class A, first-year.”

Delayed applause and sporadic clapping could be heard along with that announcement.

The spectators seemed to be struggling to understand what just happened. Well, they probably haven’t heard of a magic that nullifies magic before.

Nevertheless, this competition lacks a bit of excitement, doesn’t it?

Even though I won by a large margin, I didn’t use any flashy magic, so the audience’s reaction is subdued.

I really wanted to participate in a more attention-grabbing event.

Anyway, I safely secured first place and received a golden makeshift badge from the organizing committee.

At that moment, the muddy girl arrived at the finish line.

“I-I… To such a commoner…!”

Covered in mud, she was unrecognizable for a moment, but it was the blonde-haired upperclassman.

Perhaps due to being pushed by me, she finished in fifth place.

It seemed like she was disappointed with her lackluster result.

While glaring at me wearing the first-place badge, she clenched her teeth in frustration.

It looked like she was about to complain, so I deliberately covered my nose with my sleeve.

“Since you’re so muddy, why don’t you go wash up quickly, senpai?”

“――!”

Blushing intensely, the senior ran off towards the training ground’s shower room.

Secretly sticking out my tongue and watching her leave, I returned to where my classmates were waiting.

Rady and Karot were still frozen in astonishment.

I tossed the first-place badge onto Rady’s chest and shrugged my shoulders.

“Here’s the first prize.”

“…”

“See, I told you. Don’t underestimate luck. And let’s not judge someone’s worth based on their magical power or birth anymore, okay?”

Finally, Rady snapped out of it and relaxed.

He glanced down at the first-place badge he received and bit his lip in frustration.

He wasn’t satisfied with his seventh-place finish and especially couldn’t accept that I took first place.

Moreover, I participated in the magic category’s third race. It’s only natural for him to feel frustrated.

So…

“I’m fine if you still don’t like me. You don’t have to be friends with me. But since I want to win this Star Flower Festival, can’t we cooperate with each other at least during this festival?”

“…”

Rady widened his eyes in surprise once again.

Then, seemingly lost in thought, he fell silent and looked down.

I guess he still doesn’t like me after all.

It seems difficult for us to be on good terms, but just as I was about to feel disheartened…

“…Let’s go together to report the results.”

“…”

Rady, without meeting my gaze, said that as if acknowledging my existence.

And he led me and Karot towards our classmates waiting at the first ground.

Karot also seemed to have been avoiding me, but she quietly said, “Good job,” as we walked.

By the way…

“Can you teach me about the magic you used earlier later?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s totally fine…”

Since I was also asked to explain probability magic, I would explain it to Karot later.

This might be…

“…A little step forward, I guess?”

After this competition, I felt like I had gotten a little closer to my classmates.