48. Academy Martial Arts Tournament (3) Fin
Not that I was trying to brag or anything.
But Rena was born with quite decent magical talent—so much so that it was hard to believe she came from our family.
"Is that so? Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen anyone else from the Byron House studying magic besides Rena."
"Yes. Our house has been a house of knights for generations.
So when it was discovered that Rena was born with a talent for magic, everyone was shocked."
In a family that produced nothing but knights—to the point that calling us magic cripples wouldn't be an exaggeration—a mage had suddenly popped up out of nowhere.
The shock was comparable to discovering a shiny mutant monster.
Well, as someone who remembers a past life where science was developed, talking about inherited talents through bloodlines.
Made me feel a bit queasy, as if I'd turned into a fascist imperialist with a mustache who believes in eugenics.
'But in this world, it's the truth.'
In this world, it was common knowledge that talent was passed down to some degree through bloodlines.
That's why there are houses of knights and houses of mages.
It was probably because mana, which didn't exist in my past life, was at play? I'm not an expert, so I don't know for sure.
Of course, there are also mutants like Rena and Bei who are born with talent unrelated to their bloodlines.
And there are guys like me who couldn't do either and quit both.
"Ah, and just so you know, the reason I tried dabbling in magic and quit was also because of Rena.
When they found out Rena had a talent for magic, my parents wondered if I might too, so they had me try it."
"There was such an anecdote?"
"Yes. In the end, I had no talent in either magic or swordsmanship, so I quit both."
"Ahaha..."
Anyway, having an outstanding younger sister is exhausting for an older brother.
Compared to that, for fifteen years...! Until I became a proper author, the suffering I endured as an unemployed layabout, treading on eggshells around my parents...!
"Was it painful?"
"No? Not at all.
An unemployed layabout from a noble family who didn't have to worry about money could easily endure a little parental nagging."
"...It wasn't intentional, but I suppose it was fortunate that I asked you to try writing on the day we first met.
To think I had unknowingly protected the kingdom's culture."
Aria laughed in exasperation, as if she couldn't believe it, a stark contrast to the respectful gaze she usually showed me.
No, why?
The life of a noble unemployed layabout is easily in the top one percent...?
Well, though now that life has flown away because I've started this massive undertaking called a cultural revolution.
"In any case.
To get back to the point, Rena definitely has talent.
When she was younger, a mage from the Magic Tower who visited our house even praised her."
However.
"Tsk. But even so, it's strange that she would be included in that lineup."
"Hmm. Certainly, the Saintess and Sir Joshua are beyond simply having talent—you could call them geniuses.
Ah, it was the same for the other one, Bei, wasn't it?"
"Yes. I heard he has prodigious talent in both magic and swordsmanship.
If he hadn't been born in the slums, he would probably be incredibly famous by now?"
Which made it even more questionable.
Rena had talent, sure, but it wasn't particularly genius-level.
At the very least, she was nowhere near good enough to fit in among such prodigies.
"But she made it up as a team with them?
Tsk, how on earth did Rena worm her way into that lineup?"
"Sir Wei, you truly are harsh when it comes to Rena.
You aren't usually like this."
"To an older brother, a younger sister is just that kind of existence.
I'm sure Rena sees me the same way."
Siblings are genetically programmed to see each other as less than goblin dung.
"Is that so...? I'm not sure I understand.
Anyway, the reason Rena is with them is probably because they're friends?
I believe you mentioned it once before."
"Ah, now that you mention it, I did say something like that."
I certainly had.
At the time, the roster was so absurd that I was half-doubtful, but turns out they really were friends.
And close enough to participate in such an important tournament together, at that?
At their level, they could have aimed for the championship in the individual competition.
If they intentionally chose to participate in the team competition while dragging along Rena, who wouldn't be of much help at their level, then they must be true friends.
'It's no different from a Challenger carrying a Platinum on the bus.'
Rena's expression seemed a bit dark, but I must have been seeing things.
There's no way she'd dislike such close friends going out of their way to help her, right?
"That punk Rena. She found some good friends and is leeching off them, huh? What a freeloader!"
"Hmm. Perhaps she joined the team competition to capitalize on having the Saintess?
It's a composition that becomes much stronger when they stick together, after all."
"Even so, the fact that it's the result of friendship doesn't change."
Mage, swordsman, magic swordsman, saintess.
It was certainly a combination whose synergy in team play far outweighed individual matches.
But that didn't mean it had to be Rena in that slot.
Just the fact that they squeezed her in there was already a lethal overdose of friendship.
"Forget the power of friendship—their composition is already broken."
Still, I should wait and see how the results turn out.
"The Academy Martial Arts Tournament in real life.
I never thought I'd actually see this in person before I died."
"Hehe. It's all thanks to you creating this, Author."
"Now you're making me blush."
Hmm, let's redirect this glory to the authors of academy novels in my past life.
On the other hand, the readers of academy novels in my past life.
If they knew my current situation, I think they'd weep bloody tears of envy.
'Being reincarnated into a fantasy world is good for this, at least.'
Having to build up culture piece by piece so I can enjoy it is a bit inconvenient and exhausting, but.
Watching an Academy Martial Arts Tournament like this—something impossible in my past life—definitely gives a different kind of fun and satisfaction.
'No computers or smartphones? So what? Can you guys watch awesome magic and sword fights?'
This incredible dopamine rush, as if I'm enjoying a virtual reality game I'd only ever seen in novels in real time!
This is why I can't stop the cultural revolution.
When I think about how many more incredible products of imagination I'll be able to see in reality beyond just academies and martial arts tournaments, my motivation gushes forth like a spring.
And so, thinking about the future ahead of me—
"Nice one! Blow them all away!
Hey, Rena! Don't just ride the bus—try to pull your weight!"
"Ah. It seems magical barriers have been erected around the arena to prevent danger and interference.
So even if you shout like that, Rena probably won't hear you."
"Dear me, they've prepared quite thoroughly.
Then what are we supposed to do when we can't even cheer properly?"
"Mm. Shall we start with the popcorn I brought?"
We began cheering for Rena and her friends' team.
Well, like her or hate her, she's my younger sister.
Might as well win the whole thing!
***
Whether thanks to my Bluetooth cheering and raging popcorn massacre mukbang or not.
"The inaugural team champion of the Royal Academy Martial Arts Tournament is!
None other than the 'Author Wei, Please Release a New Work' team!"
Skipping the preliminaries held in advance, the Academy Martial Arts Tournament held over two days was ultimately won by Rena's team.
To be exact, only the team event; there was a separate winner for the individual competition.
"Oho. So this team won, after all.
I had a feeling they would. The gap in skill compared to the other students was far too wide."
"It was a blessing for the individual competition participants that they didn't enter it.
Otherwise, the individual champion would have been different."
"But why is their team name like that?
Isn't it a bit too frivolous?
Well, I understand the sentiment, at least."
Because Rena's team had displayed such overwhelming performance, every spectator in the arena was focused on them.
The team name was reminiscent of fried dumplings and a whip, which was a bit distracting, but.
They were definitely in a different class from the other students.
I mean, why were such skilled people at the Academy stomping noobs?
In the old Academy, they would have had skills closer to professors than students.
"Of course, excluding Rena."
"Ahaha. But Rena did play a part, didn't she?"
"Come on, she was clearly carried."
At best, she pulled her weight; the result wouldn't have changed much without her.
Still, the way she mediated and managed her other friends who were growling and clashing was somehow impressive.
'She seemed to nag them occasionally, too.'
I thought she was just an extra friend in an academy story, but it seems she might play a slightly more important role than that.
'Come to think of it, she said she was a suppressor or something?'
At the time, I wondered what confidence that was born from.
Now that I see it, it might have been true.
"The sister I thought was an extra is actually the Academy's greatest connection tycoon and a Buster Call suppressor?!"
What is this situation, reeking of a brain-dead novel title?
Is this for real?
With that strange, queasy feeling, Aria and I headed for the lounge where the winning team was resting.
To congratulate them on their victory.
Normally, this wouldn't be a timing where we could meet them so freely.
But I had a fairly deep relationship with the Academy side, and I was a family member of a team member, so permission for the meeting was granted.
And so, arriving at the lounge with a bouquet prepared for celebration.
"Are you truly the esteemed older brother of Lady Rena, Author Wei?!
If so, please! Could I request your cooperation with our church?!"
I ended up being bowed to at a ninety-degree angle by the noble Saintess and asked for cooperation.
What the hell is going on?!