A boy raised by a demon king and a dragon king seems to be peerless in his school life.

Volume 9 Chapter 15 Opening

The Next Day.

Ruisha and the others arrived at the impressive stadium located in the heart of Sanctria. On the rectangular arena, outstanding students gathered from thirty-two academies scattered throughout the continent.

The spectator seats were packed, everyone eager to catch a glimpse of the students’ valor. Opportunities to witness people engaging in serious competition were rare, making the Grand School Festival an unparalleled entertainment for those weary of mundane days.

“Wow, this is amazing. Everyone here is a student,” Ruisha exclaimed.

Amidst the opening remarks, Ruisha observed the surrounding students keenly, curious about the different skin tones and facial features of foreign individuals.

“Hey, don’t stare so much,” Yuri interjected, noticing Ruisha’s curiosity.

Ruisha seemed dissatisfied. “But I’m curious. Oh, tell me about the other academies then.”

Sighing in exasperation, Yuri offered brief explanations about the academies known for their prowess among the thirty-two.

“Do you see those students wearing green robes and pointed hats, looking like typical wizards? They’re from the Grand Sorcery Academy ‘Libra’ in the Bookish Capital. Being affiliated with the formidable magical research organization ‘Third Eye,’ their magic prowess is among the top in this tournament.”

“Wow, that’s cool! I’d love to challenge them!”

“And the students over there wearing revealing clothes with a tan complexion are from the ‘Santana Academy’ in the southern country ‘Centaur.’ They specialize in a unique combat style called ‘Tenram,’ which blends dance, music, and magic. They performed admirably, securing third place in the previous tournament.”

“So those are Centaurs. I’ve never seen one in the kingdom.”

“That’s understandable. The kingdom and Centaur are quite far apart. Though we share the same continent, Centaurs wouldn’t typically come all the way here. Centaur is a resource-rich country, so there’s little incentive for them to travel abroad.”

Yuri went on to describe other noteworthy academies to Ruisha—academies shrouded in bloody mercenary rumors like the ‘Gira’ training institution for mercenaries, or the Saint Kryea Academy from the Holy Kingdom of Artemisia, headquarters of the Genesis Faith, each boasting a distinctive quirk.

“And the one we need to be most wary of is the ‘Imperial Academy,’ which is currently on a two-time winning streak. With Sword King Chrome directly overseeing their training, their combat skills are considerably high. If we progress as expected, we’ll inevitably have to face them,” Yuri cautioned.

“The Imperial Academy, huh,” Ruisha remarked.

Ruisha turned his gaze towards the students neatly forming ranks in their military uniforms. Their every movement displayed precision and efficiency, a testament to their high-level training. The thought of battling them on such a grand stage made Ruisha’s heart race uncontrollably.

“Hey, hey, you’re not doing a good job hiding that grin, Ruisha. Try not to radiate so much hostility; it’s making my stomach ache,” Yuri teased.

“Calling it hostility is a bit of an exaggeration. Well, I won’t deny I’m excited,” Ruisha responded.

“I’m counting on you, Ruisha. Don’t make me regret approaching you,” Yuri added, lightly jesting.

As they bantered, a gigantic image, about twenty meters in length, was projected into the air. The image was emitted from a crystal-shaped magical device, a rare item that could display images. While crystals capable of projecting images were not uncommon, those that could display such large images were exceedingly rare.

With this precious magical device, they projected the tournament bracket. The pairings of the thirty-two randomly selected schools were about to be revealed.

“Our opponent for the first round is… the Mercenary Training and Education Organization ‘Gira.’ It’s one of the places Yuri warned us about,” Ruisha noted.

“Yeah, first, we have the opening match. Show your strength to the spectators here,” Yuri encouraged.

“Sure, I’ve got this,” Ruisha affirmed.

With these words, the two nodded at each other and bumped fists, ready for what lay ahead.

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Volume 9 Chapter 16 First game

“Welcome to the Sanctria Arena, the pride of Sanctria, featuring a central square ring with a diameter of approximately fifty meters,” the booming voice of the Sanctria Academy’s grand stadium announcer resonated.

Surrounding the ring were spectator seats, and thousands of people were eagerly waiting, yearning for the battle to commence.

“Now, here we go, the long-awaited event has finally begun—the Grand School Festival! I am your commentator and referee, ‘Pezzo Microphone!'” announced a distinctive man with black sunglasses and slicked-back black hair, standing beside the ring. The audience erupted into cheers upon hearing his words.

Known as Pezzo, this man was not only renowned in Sanctria but also a famous commentator invited to martial arts tournaments across various regions. With his vibrant commentary and extensive knowledge, he captivated the audience, never letting go of their excitement.

In his hand, he held a microphone embedded with a magic stone that amplified the sound, ensuring that even amidst the deafening battle sounds, his commentary would reach the spectators loud and clear.

“Alright! Let’s get right into introducing the competitors! Emerging from the Magic Corner, we have the students from the ultra-practical combat training facility, Gira, located in the mercenary town of Gardon!” Pezzo exclaimed.

Upon this introduction, the students from Gira displayed a sinister grin.

Graduates of Gira were automatically placed into mercenary organizations. Hence, their curriculum primarily consisted of practical exercises, often to the point where lives were lost each year due to its harshness. Most students entering Gira were orphans or children who had fallen into slavery. Though few were naturally talented, within the brutal environment, their combat skills improved drastically. Many of them would eventually rise to become full-fledged mercenaries.

On the flip side, their hearts often failed to mature, and most of the students were of unruly conduct. However, this was a common characteristic among all inhabitants of Gardon, the city of mercenaries.

“Only those who endure the harsh training are said to graduate from Gira. Just how strong are these students!? Can’t take our eyes off them!”

The audience’s anticipation soared as they wondered how these Gira students, undoubtedly skilled in top-notch combat techniques, would fight. The venue was engulfed in an atmosphere of excitement.

Feeling the heightened atmosphere in the venue, the students from Gira started to get into the spirit.

“Though it’s our first time fighting on such a grand stage, it’s surprisingly not bad to be in the spotlight.”

“Yeah, and our first-round opponents aren’t anything special. It’s a perfect opportunity to showcase our strength and make a name for ourselves.”

Saying this, they turned their backs to their opponents on the opposite ring.

The person who seemed to be their leader was a short, frail-looking boy. Having undergone grueling training daily, they were certain that they wouldn’t lose. They were brimming with such confidence.

“Now then! Challenging the formidable Gira, we have students from the prestigious Exadore Kingdom’s capital, the Floyd Magic Academy!”

Upon Pezzo’s introduction, Ruisha, Wolf, and Iris stepped onto the ring.

The audience erupted in applause and cheers for them, but it was noticeably less than what they directed towards the students from Gira.

“What? The applause is weaker. Isn’t this disrespecting the fact that the Captain himself graced this stage with his presence?”

“I agree. It’s offensive, considering just being able to see him is an honor… It’s unpleasant.”

Wolf and Iris frowned, showing their displeasure. Concerned about their potentially eruptive reactions, Ruisha placed his hands on their shoulders to calm them down.

“Well, well, considering we were knocked out in the first round last year, it’s no surprise there isn’t much expectation,” Ruisha remarked.

As Ruisha pointed out, the Magic Academy suffered a heavy defeat in last year’s Grand School Festival. The audience, as well as students from other schools, were well aware of this, making the Magic Academy almost negligible.

“That’s precisely why I formed Class Z…!”

Watching Ruisha and the others from the cheering section, Yuri muttered quietly.

This tournament, gathering spectators from across the continent, was a significant opportunity to showcase the Magic Academy’s capabilities. Yuri, who had placed immense hopes on this event, had implored Ruisha just before the start of the first round.

“Ruisha, no need to hold back. Give it your all!”

Receiving his sentiments, Ruisha responded by giving a thumbs up before making his way to the field.

“To meet Yuri’s expectations, I’ve got to do my best.”

Saying this, as he observed the opponent, the students from Gira continued to exude an arrogantly dismissive attitude towards Ruisha and his team. It didn’t seem like they were going to take this match seriously.

Pezzo, who not only provided commentary but also served as a referee, confirmed that all three members from both schools had entered the ring and began the declaration to start the match.

“Here we go! Finally, let’s kick off the first round of the Grand School Festival! If all three battle members become incapacitated, surrender, or exit the ring, it’s over! Now, staking their pride against each other, ready… Fight!!”

At the moment Pezzo’s command resonated throughout the arena, one of the students from Gira rushed towards Ruisha and the others. He had a dull-glowing shortsword in hand. It was a practical weapon, devoid of any adornments, clearly maintained and capable of easily cutting through the soft skin of a human.

“I’ll take care of this. You two, stay back,” Ruisha said, addressing the eager-to-charge-ahead pair. Stepping forward, he allowed his arm to hang loosely by his side, presenting an opening, tempting the Gira student to attack.

“Is that all?”

A well-practiced, flawless strike for a student. The sword swung sideways seemed to hit Ruisha’s shoulder… or so it seemed, but Ruisha was faster in action than the strike landing.

“Take this!”

Wham! He delivered a resounding slap to the student charging at him. From a bystander’s perspective, it might not have looked particularly painful, but once Ruisha executed a slap, even a slap turned into a fearsome finishing move.

The student hit by this strike was sent flying, making a beautiful arc as they fell outside the ring.

“Ah, Agaga…”

The sent student lay flat on the ground, mouth moving in shock. Despite enduring grueling training, this impact was unprecedented, leaving his mind blank.

“R…ring out…!”

Pezzo, still surprised by the turn of events, declared the ring out. The venue, initially stunned into silence, gradually erupted into cheers upon hearing the announcement.

“W-what… That student is amazing!”

“Hey, I thought the Magic Academy wasn’t all that great?”

“That boy, if you look closely, isn’t he cute?”

“This is an upset! It’s getting interesting!”

Observing the electrified audience, Yuri felt a sense of accomplishment. If they continued in this manner, the reputation of the Magic Academy would undoubtedly rise.

“Show them, Ruisha. Show them the strength of our class…!”

The fervent battles of these young boys and girls marked the opening of this event.