Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"Good evening, dear audience. It's your familiar Phantom Jack here to lead you through tonight's match. Competing are Edith Academy's 'Death Rose Society' and Lelysia Academy's 'Celestial Consort Choir'..."

Against the backdrop of whirring propeller sounds, the screen shifts from the colorful glow of the urban district to focus on a large open-air stadium. The stadium's external lights are already on, with various colored lampposts shining up into the night sky, rotating occasionally to catch the attention of passersby.

The host and camera, carried by a flying machine, soar over the streets and buildings below, gradually reaching the airspace above the stadium. From here, one can overlook the entire arena; the seats are already filled with quite a number of people. It seems that many still enjoy watching the games on site, perhaps also wishing to truly feel the uninhibited soaring of magic power and the thrilling impact of force firsthand.

At the moment, in one team's rest room, the staff members of Edith Academy are performing a mental preparation for the members who are about to compete and checking their clothing and equipment. Meanwhile, in a small room not far from the hall, Tilan is lying on a large sofa, taking a short nap while covered with a thin cashmere blanket.

These days, she has been focused on various matters within the Academy, as well as coaching members of the society about to participate in the competition. She is already somewhat exhausted. Moreover, being away from the school and without much to attend to tonight, she has chosen to rest by sleeping. After all, there is still half an hour before the actual competition begins; this is only the warm-up.

The host on the screen continues to introduce the recent achievements of both Academies, and, based on the history of the two societies, analyzes the current situations they face, piquing the interest of many viewers who are not well-informed.

"...Alright, no more idle chatter. The music inside the venue has already begun to play, and the match is about to start. First up will be three three-person matches, followed by the overall confrontation. Let us wait and see."

Not long after the host finishes speaking, the lights within the entire venue dim, and then two bright lights focus on two entrances in the arena. Soon after, two students wearing black robes and white robes make their appearance.

With steady steps, the sound of black leather shoes tapping on the ground beneath the coat emits a crisp echo. After a short while, when she reaches the front of the stage and takes down her hood, shaking her head slightly, she reveals large, pitch-black curly hair. Dark indigo nails paired with snowy white fingers reach out from her sleeves and take off the entire coat. Then, with a light leap, she jumps into the competition area below.

"First to take the stage is Valeria from Edith Academy," the host introduces the girl's name, then the gaze shifts to the other side.

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Facing her is a student in a white robe trimmed with gold, whose robe back seems to have a design similar to a sun, but it appears to be missing some parts.

He walks to the front, undoes his robe, pulls out a large longsword hidden within, and then also jumps into the field. After steadying himself, the young man with pale golden short hair shakes his head slightly to relax the hair previously pressed down by the hood. His amber eyes directly meet his opponent as he takes hold in his longsword, breathing steady and prolonged.

"Entering the arena now is Ahmed from Lelysia Academy, renowned as the 'Holy Sword Bearer'. He won third place in the Southern Seventeen Star Domain's Youth Combat Tournament held earlier this year and was granted the title of 'Holy Sword Bearer' due to his expertise with the Holy Sword."

This junior student from Lelysia Academy is not a nobody; in fact, rumors of his participation in the competition have attracted a significant number of young women to the venue.

As expected, upon Ahmed's entrance, the arena erupts with a vast wave of screams and cheers. It seems that in the past six months, he has accumulated quite a fan base, and his handsome face and pale golden hair are indeed traits many girls admire and adore.

As for Valeria from Edith Academy, her fame is much lesser. She made a name for herself in her freshman year of high school when she participated in the 'Mercury Serpent Gathering' in the youth category, securing the 28th place. The 'Mercury Serpent Gathering' is a competition unique to the Withering Sequence, aimed at discovering geniuses within the Sequence and providing them with opportunities for fame. The youth category requires participants to be under 18 years old, so the prestige and attention are much less compared to the main event, resulting in fewer people being aware.

"Hmph."

Faced with the screams and cheers inside the arena, Valeria feels somewhat disgruntled, especially by those women's shrieks, which she finds particularly annoying.

"Just like a bunch of brainless monkeys, I don't see what's so thrilling about it." She doesn't understand, nor does she want to comprehend the meaning behind their screaming and shouting. Then her gaze gradually focuses on Ahmed across from her.

A Holy Sword Bearer, huh? That's going to be tough to handle. But today, let me test your true mettle.

In response to Ahmed's gentlemanly offer for her to make the first move, Valeria shows disdain. She then takes a sturdy, copper-bound tome from behind her waist, opens the pages, and the thick, yellowing paper flutters open, displaying various creature illustrations drawn in special blue ink. As Valeria infuses magic power into it, these illustrations come to life. One by one, deep blue phantom creatures fly out from the book, circling around her.

"Snow Howler Wolves," she utters a name, and two wolf-shaped spirits dart out from among these deep blue creatures, tilting their heads back and letting out prolonged, piercing howls.