Ch. 28 - Felter vs. Eliza

Amidst roaring cheers, Felter and Eliza stood facing each other in the arena-like field behind the school building.

It just happened to be the end of the class, so students with free time gathered around.

"… Does everyone have so much free time?”

"Aoi-san?! You dragged me into this with your talk! Why do I have to fight Felter-kun?!" Eliza grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

"You have no choice but to fight now. Please do your best."

Eliza held her head with tears in her eyes. "Felter-kun hasn't lost since he came to the academy! He even defeated a teacher in the junior section! That teacher was so ashamed that he retired and went back to his home country…"

"It's okay. Eliza-sensei, if you get serious, you can win. The key is to challenge him in a field he's weak in."

Despite my advice, Eliza just kept trembling. Still, based on her magical ability, I believed she could beat Felter if she fought properly.

"… What are you doing?" Strass walked over.

Seeing the commotion among the students, he hurried over and looked bewildered after hearing about the situation.

"… Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I didn't suggest it!" Eliza cried out in tears.

After listening to Eliza's desperate plea, Strass turned his gaze to me. "… Are you trying to kill her?"

"I believe she can win."

Strass crossed his arms and pondered while observing Eliza from head to toe. "… I don't think it's a bad idea either."

"Huh?" Eliza blushed at Strass's words for some reason.

Without noticing, Strass looked back at me. "How should she fight?"

"Felter-kun likes to use body enhancement magic and fight at close range, so Eliza-sensei should fight from a distance."

"… Everyone else has lost with that method, though." Strass furrowed his brow.

I smiled, waved my hand, and moved close to Eliza's ear to give her some advice. "Listen carefully."

"Yes?"

Despite her confusion, Eliza listened carefully to my advice.

"… Is that enough?" Felter said.

Eliza, now alone, nodded firmly.

She seemed to have regained her confidence, displaying a determined expression.

"What advice did you give her?" Strass asked.

"That's a secret."

We moved to the edge of the arena with the other spectators.

Suddenly, a white-haired student hurried over to me. It was Shenley running over in a panic.

"Aoi-sensei! What's happening?" she asked worriedly.

"Felter-kun underestimates Eliza-sensei, so I set up this fight."

"You're making them fight!?" Shenley exclaimed in astonishment.

I smiled. "Don't worry. Eliza-sensei will win."

"Eh?! She can win?!" Shenley looked at Eliza in disbelief.

"It's starting," Strass said when he noticed the battle was about to begin.

As if on cue, both began chanting. Eliza moved back, while Felter quietly chanted on the spot.

Not wanting to lose in chanting speed, Eliza cast her spell first. "[Wall of Sand, Sand Wall]!"

A wall of sand rose between her and Felter. Eliza began chanting another spell.

Felter's spell activated soon after. "[Strength Enchantment, Power Force]!"

Felter's body glowed with a faint green. He walked towards the sand wall, pulled back his arm, and thrust it forward.

"Ha!" Felter's fist pierced the sand wall, shattering part of it.

"Hyaa?!" Shenley gasped in shock at the impressive sight.

Strass was surprised. "The sand wall mitigated the impact. If it had been a rock wall, Eliza would have been in danger from the debris."

"Everything is going as planned. The next move should be the deciding factor," I said.

Eliza's spell activated. "[Sandstorm]!"

A dense sandstorm confined to a five-meter radius engulfed Felter, obscuring his vision and hindering his movements.

Unfazed, Felter raised his hands and struck down with such force that the ground exploded, disrupting the sandstorm's flow and weakening it. Then he dashed forward through the disrupted sandstorm.

At the same time, Eliza cast another spell. "[Quicksand, Sand Fall]!"

While trying to find Eliza in the sandstorm, Felter sank into the sand as if he had been caught in a swamp.

"This is…"

For the first time, Felter's expression changed as he struggled to find a grip on the shifting sand. Judging it was difficult to escape, he began chanting another spell.

Eliza rapidly cast a series of beginner spells at struggling Felter. "[Sand Ball]!"

"Guh!" Felter grunted as the beginner spells disrupted his chanting. He couldn't match Eliza, who had techniques to shorten chant times, in terms of casting speed.

There was no doubt about it. It was a complete victory for Eliza.

Yet Felter didn't give up. He glared at Eliza with a piercing gaze and leaned his body forward.

"Ugh!"

A sand ball hit Felter's head, causing his body to bend backwards. Even though it was a beginner spell, it was still a direct impact from attack magic. It definitely dealt more damage than a ful- blown punch.

Felter started chanting another spell.

Eliza panicked and screamed, "Ah!?"

She fired rapid sand balls, but Felter still continued chanting while receiving hits.

"[Leg Enhancement, Leg Force]!" Felter activated his spell, and a white light enveloped his body.

"Ngh… Ahhh!" Felter groaned and struggled, gradually rising from the quicksand.

He burst free, landed on the solid ground, brushed off the sand on him, and glared at Eliza. "… You're the most troublesome opponent I've ever faced."

"[Rock Wall]!" Eliza quickly cast another spell, creating a three-meter-tall stone wall to separate them

Felter leaped over it effortlessly. "Admit defeat."

"No! I won't surrender!" Eliza cried with tears in her eyes and began chanting again.

Felter took a deep breath and charged.

"That's enough." I jumped in between them to stop the fight.

Anticipating this, Felter immediately halted and lowered his fists.

"Ah, Aoi-sensei…" Eliza's hands trembled as she dropped her wand and teared up.

"I apologize. I underestimated Felter-kun's strength."

"T-that's wrong! It was my fault for letting my guard down… I'm sorry, Aoi-san," Eliza said, dejected.

Felter clicked his tongue. "… No matter what, I would have won."

"Not necessarily," I countered.

He glared at me. "… It's true that Eliza-sensei showed unexpected strength, but I still won."

I had no choice but to nod. "… I see. I'll heal your injuries. After that, you can fight me."

Felter grinned wickedly.

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