As soon as I grasped the principle of Void Treading, I was able to use it in actual combat without any particular prior practice, and fortunately, I had no trouble controlling it.
By manifesting the magic based on the image of stepping on the ground or climbing stairs, it became much easier to set foot in midair.
It did not consume much mana, either.
Of course, since the only space that could serve as a foothold was the spot where I stood, I could not completely exclude the fear that if my concentration wavered even slightly, or if I lost my balance, I might plummet downward.
It felt as though I were walking a tightrope.
At that moment, my evasion instinct helped.
Crackle!
The instant both my feet left the ground, the Gift that activated automatically tried to forcibly correct my balance or control the magic whenever I became even the slightest bit unstable, making me safe again.
Thanks to that, I was able to walk freely through the air within the bounds allowed in the match.
I also caught Mikhail off guard.
I had acted on a momentary flash of wit, leaping into the air and kicking the ball to strike him.
The ball that flew at him hit him in the face, snapping his head back, and he was sent sprawling.
“Supporter! Instructor Park Ayeong! Please come over here, quickly!”
“Hey, Mikhail! Snap out of it! Are you all right?”
“That bastard dared to do that to His Highness Prince Mikhail….”
“If you were an imperial citizen, you’d be dead!”
“No, why attack the head of all places? You did it on purpose, didn’t you!? This is murder!”
“Instructor! Do Gyeonwoo of the Divine Sword Do Family just committed an attack tantamount to lethal force! Please take action at once!”
“This is… Gyeonwoo was in the wrong. He’s on our team, but I have a conscience, so I can’t shield him.”
“He should’ve gone a little easier….”
“Ah, Gyeonwoo again….”
“It’s Do Gyeonwoo again?”
“That guy, seriously…. He should know when to stop. What a total lunatic….”
“It’s just Do Gyeonwoo doing what Do Gyeonwoo does. It’s not like this is the first time.”
The referee, who had hurriedly stopped the match, ran over to Mikhail, who had collapsed on the floor.
The students participating in the match, both the Blue Team and the Red Team, also gathered around regardless of sides.
The two teams that had been snarling at each other over the Five-Color Battle championship stepped out of their rivalry and came together as one.
Each of them, to varying degrees, subtly blamed me and took shots at me.
In the case of the Red Team, the students from the Grace Empire, the students who did not usually like me, and the triplets, they even criticized me harshly.
As for me, I felt both ashamed and somewhat wronged.
‘Geum, Eun, Dong…. Even if I let everyone else slide, shouldn’t you three not be doing this to me? And why am I the only one getting cursed at? Lisa and Hanbyeol were involved too.’
I swear on Yeon Haneul’s name that I did not kick the ball with the intention of hitting Mikhail in the head.
If anything, the ones who had done it deliberately were Lisa, who had awakened a Gift that manipulated space and altered the ball’s trajectory, and Gang Hanbyeol, who had cast binding magic to keep Mikhail from moving from where he stood.
So I looked down at Lisa and Gang Hanbyeol, meaning for them to clear up the misunderstanding.
The two whose eyes met mine….
“O-Older Brother! Are you all right? I’m sorry because of Gyeonwoo….”
“Gyeonwoo was in the wrong, haha…. He should’ve controlled his strength better….”
The two awkwardly scratched their cheeks and quietly slipped into the crowd gathered around Mikhail.
Then, in order to cover up their own wrongdoing, they went along with public opinion.
“Wow….”
I was at a loss for words at the betrayal of the two people I had believed were my friends.
I was so dumbfounded I could not even laugh.
‘How could you do this to me?’
Did I have any obligation to struggle so hard to protect a world like this?
Maybe it would be better if a world like this just ended.
I felt as though I could understand the feelings of villains who, driven to despair and disappointment by the world, led it toward an ending of destruction.
“Should I just switch sides…?”
It might not be a bad plan to persuade Yeon Haneul, take her hand, and turn to the villains’ side.
Feeling that hurt and resentful, I kept grumbling.
It was then that Mikhail regained consciousness.
“Student Mikhail, is your body all right?”
“…Yes, there does not seem to be anything wrong. Please resume the match. I will go out to the outfield and fight.”
“But you should go and get examined so we can determine your exact condition….”
“I do not need an examination. I am fine.”
I descended to the ground.
The students obediently made way so that I could approach Mikhail.
Just then, he was conversing with the instructor acting as referee, and he glanced sideways at me.
“…Very well. If that is your wish, we will continue the match as it is. However, Student Do Gyeonwoo, who broke the rules….”
“I do not believe he broke the rules. Being hit in the head was the result of my own carelessness, and it was not that threatening. Rather….”
With one cheek swollen red, Mikhail, strangely enough, defended me and persuaded the instructor.
After glancing at me and chuckling, he soon turned his gaze to Lisa, who was casting healing magic.
“I suspect the person who broke the rules exists elsewhere….”
“Ahaha….”
“Understood. Then Student Lisa….”
“No.”
Serves her right.
Lisa, looking embarrassed, smoothed down her hair.
Mikhail curled up the corner of his mouth with a faint grin, then abruptly grabbed her cheek and stretched it.
Then he spoke to the instructor.
“It is all right. As I said a moment ago, I did not feel it was an act of killing. I think it was an accident that could happen by mistake during a match.”
“Ugh…. I’m sorry, Older Brother….”
“Of course, if it happens again next time, I will not be able to see it as a mistake.”
With her cheek caught in Mikhail’s hand, Lisa teared up slightly and apologized.
Just seeing that made me feel relieved.
“Phew…. If the person involved says so, I can’t give out a heavy penalty. However, an accident did occur, so Students Do Gyeonwoo and Lisa Grace will receive yellow cards. Keep in mind that if you receive one more, you may be sent off without even going to the outfield.”
“Yes…. I’m sorry, Instructor. And thank you, Older Brother.”
“Yes, understood. But Instructor, I think one more person is missing. Hanbyeol was involved too.”
“That’s right, Hanbyeol did something wrong too, you know?”
“Wha— Guys? We’re on the same team….”
“Student Gang Hanbyeol will also receive a yellow card.”
I could not forgive him for trying to survive alone.
Gang Hanbyeol, who had been trying to smooth the situation over naturally, ended up receiving a yellow card because of Lisa and me.
A short while later, the match resumed.
* * *
Mikhail was exhausted from using his Gift for such a long time.
Compared to him, I was still full of energy, and once Gang Hanbyeol went out to the outfield, he actively supported the match as well.
Most of all, Lisa was overflowing with strength.
‘She awakened at just the right time.’
After fully absorbing the Witch’s Crystal, Lisa’s Gift had strengthened, and her physical abilities had also increased.
By as much as 5 in every category.
[Personal Information]
Name: Lisa Grace (Female · 17 years old)
Alias: Princess and 4 others
Affiliation: Geumgang Academy
[Gift Possessed]
Platinum Grace (40%)
[Physical Abilities]
Stamina: 50 → 55 → 60
Strength: 47 → 53 → 58
Durability: 42 → 48 → 53
Agility: 46 → 51 → 56
Mana: 70 → 74 → 79
Luck: 41 → 44 → 49
Remaining Points: 0
When I first met Lisa, when the first semester ended, and now, after she had absorbed the Witch’s Crystal.
Comparing her status window at those three points, I could not help but be satisfied.
At the same time, a question sprouted in my mind.
‘Her luck isn’t exactly low, but is it possible for the stat increase values from the Witch’s Crystal, which are determined at random, to all come out as 5?’
The change that had occurred in Lisa was something possible with a probability of 1 in 3 to the 6th power—in other words, 1 in 729.
All I could say was that she had been extremely lucky.
‘Maybe Lisa’s will or condition influenced the random effect of the Witch’s Crystal. In the game, subjective elements would have been excluded because everything was made of data.’
That was the difference between the game and this world.
In my own way, I rationalized the cause of the miracle like that.
In any case.
“Match over! Blue Team, victory!”
Lisa and I survived to the end without being hit by the ball, and we were able to defeat the Red Team.
In effect, the winning team of the Five-Color Battle had been decided.
All the students on the Blue Team, including us, cheered and rejoiced.
Lisa, the key player who had turned the tide at the very end, was tossed into the air, rising high into the sky.
“Lisa.”
“Ah, Older Brother.”
It was then that Mikhail approached.
Lisa, who had been repeatedly rising into the sky and coming back down, hurriedly fixed her appearance and received him.
He opened his mouth with a proud expression.
“I lost. I had no idea you had been hiding such power. You did well.”
“It was thanks to my teammates helping me. If I had fought you alone, Older Brother, I probably would have lost.”
“What-ifs are meaningless. In the end, the fact that you beat me and that I lost to you does not change. So, as promised….”
“…Older Brother?”
“I sincerely apologize for having looked down on you until now, saying that you lacked the qualities to become a Hunter. I am sorry. I was foolish.”
“….”
Mikhail bowed his head deeply in front of countless people, even though it would damage his dignity as a member of the imperial family.
While the people flinched in surprise, Lisa quickly raised him up.
“You don’t have to do this, Older Brother. I fully understand what feelings you had when you said harsh things to me. You didn’t do anything particularly bad, so there’s no need to apologize. Still… does this mean I’ve received your acknowledgment now?”
“You still have many unstable points, but… yes. If you wish to become a Hunter, I will gladly support you.”
With their conflict resolved, Lisa and Mikhail exchanged affectionate words amid the applause of the crowd.
It was a scene that had appeared in the game as well.
Taking in the sight that served as proof of clearing the Geumgang Festival episode, I clapped along with the others.
‘It’s good that they made up. From now on, Mikhail will start showing his doting side so much that even Lisa will be sick of it.’
I would be seeing that quite often from now on.
I laughed at the image that naturally formed in my head.
‘But reconciliation is reconciliation, and….’
I intended to settle accounts clearly.
I had no intention of letting it pass vaguely.
Gang Hanbyeol, whose eyes met mine, must have agreed, because he nodded firmly.
Right away, we pushed through the crowd, wedged ourselves between Lisa and Mikhail, and changed the topic.
“It’s nice to see things so warm and friendly, but shouldn’t we settle what needs settling? Enough of that, where’s the treasure of Grace?”
“You remember the bet you made with us, right? You’re royalty in name and in fact, so you won’t go back on your word. As promised, you’ll obey me until graduation, got it? The collective will of the students from the Grace Empire is in my hands now. I look forward to working with you. Oh, can I call you hyung comfortably?”
“Hanbyeol, Gyeonwoo… You can talk about that later…. Can’t you please read the mood?”
Whether Lisa sighed or not.
Gang Hanbyeol and I proudly lifted our chins and straightened our shoulders.
[Guardian of Light]
◆ Equipment Classification
—Necklace
◆ Detailed Description
—A treasure of the Grace Empire.
—In the distant past, a necklace dedicated to the emperor by the Church of Light in prayer for the glory of the Grace Empire.
—It contains the blessing of the Goddess of Light, who looks down from the highest place. However, because it crossed dimensions into a world outside the goddess’s domain, it is in the process of losing its power.
—The young Fighting Demon Gang Hanbyeol plundered it from Mikhail Grace.
◆ Detailed Effects
—Stamina +1, Mana +1, Luck +1
—Preserves up to 5% of stats reduced by Pressure.
—Skill 「Blessing of Brilliant Light」
* * *
The Five-Color Battle concluded without any particular upheaval, ending with the Blue Team’s victory after they earned a high score in the dodgeball match.
The students on the Blue Team received Geumgang Coins and a one-time rental voucher for an armament from the Second-Class Treasury according to their participation.
Though the rewards differed for each person, they were also distributed in varying amounts to the students of the Red Team, White Team, Black Team, and Yellow Team.
Thus, the Geumgang Festival, which had lasted for five days, was approaching its closing ceremony.
Bang! Bang-bang-bang!
As night fell.
Fireworks grandly embroidered the night sky, announcing the end of the Geumgang Festival.
Even though they were no longer running booths, the visitors who remained on the academy grounds, as well as the students cleaning up afterward, watched the fireworks show that could be called the specialty of the Geumgang Festival.
“It brings back old memories. How nostalgic.”
Amid the sound of fireworks, exclamations from people that were not buried by the noise could be heard sparsely here and there.
Like a person who existed yet did not exist, the old man quietly passed by them and let out a light laugh.
Then, gently lifting his fedora, he gazed at the fireworks bursting in the night sky and, for a moment, sank into old memories.
“This youthful, fresh atmosphere is nice. Why, it makes even me feel young. I was right to come.”
Turning his eyes away from the night sky, the old man—the head of the Demon Society, Tacheon—began walking once more.
As he did, he recalled the purpose for which he had personally come to the Geumgang Festival, and felt a touch of regret.
“It seems the Doll Ghost Woman truly is dead.”
Memories are dissolved into mana.
Through the mana lingering around Dongsik Hall, Tacheon had been able to look into the memories of the scene at the time.
He could not determine in detail whether it had been the work of the Star Witch, So Hyeyul, but one thing was certain: the Doll Ghost Woman, Lee Gahyeon, seemed to have been killed by many people.
“Even the Doll Ghost Woman would have had no choice if she was caught in a thoroughly planned trap.”
Who exactly were they—especially the ones who had driven Lee Gahyeon into a corner?
Tacheon could not help but be curious.
And so, using the period of the Geumgang Festival, he roamed the grounds in search of the faces left in those memories.
In that way, he investigated the enemies he needed to be wary of.
Among them were students as well.
“The disciple of the Fighting Ghost, the child of the Divine Sword Do family, and the other children as well… Their skills were all quite something.”
While watching the Five-Color Match, Tacheon had been able to gauge the abilities of the students who caught his eye.
Every one of them was a gem.
Thanks to that, his eyes had been delighted the entire time.
And he had also been deeply surprised.
“I thought that, as the price for crossing into this world, the imperial family of Grace could no longer wield the same power as described in the texts… To think there was an exception.”
Lisa Grace.
Recalling the platinum light she had revealed today, Tacheon split his lips in a grin.
“How very tempting.”
Tacheon murmured as he watched the students passing by in the distance just then.
“Ah, the fireworks have already started! They’re amazing, just like I heard!”
“Right. Seeing them with your own eyes really is different from watching them in a video. For reference, I heard the student council plans the fireworks display. So it’s not the same every year, and…”
“Hmm, they are splendid.”
“They’ll be even more spectacular from the roof of the Hall of Honor. Let’s hurry. Haneul went to the trouble of getting the key, so it’d be a waste not to see them, right?”
“Yeah, I think it was a good thing I helped Sieun unni with her work. I even got the key as a reward.”
“Guys, let’s hurry! We have to take pictures too!”
“Eunbi, you’re not going to stream this to other people on Hello By, are you? Sieun unni did this as a favor for us, so shouldn’t we keep it secret?”
“Eunbi-kkabi, wait for me! I want to see our tuition explode from a little closer too!”
“Yum… It’s worth eating.”
“Hmph, when has eating ever not been worth it? And are you opening alcohol right now? Seriously, you’re something else.”
And so, the Geumgang Festival comes to an end.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss