Chapter 231 - 230- Arrival(1)
The Contest of the Courageous. The Showdown of the Chosen. The Championship of the Elites.
It went by many names, but the purpose remained unchanged—a grand competition among the strongest students from the major academies. Held annually, the event was overseen by the Tower to ensure fairness and impartial judgment.
The venue was always selected by the Tower and was carefully chosen to be in neutral territory.
Since many students perform best under specific conditions, the organizers typically select plains with mild weather—open grasslands with gentle warmth that offer a balanced battleground for all.
This year, however, the venue had been set near the Celestial Vault—the very Tower governed by Albec and Tia.
Naturally, many assumed this gave an advantage to Runebound Academy, as it lay closest to the site. But in truth, only a handful of Towers are located in truly neutral zones with enough open land to host such a large-scale event. The selection was not about preference, but practicality.
Adrian sat quietly inside the carriage, with Gilbert on his left and Norma seated across from him.
Only three teachers had been assigned to escort the students for now. The others—including the more senior instructors—would arrive on the second day, just before the official start of the contest.
The Headmistress was expected to arrive with them.
Naturally, an event of this scale drew a massive crowd. Alongside the student participants, their families, curious locals, and even nobles from surrounding regions had been invited to witness the spectacle.
As for the venue, it remained the same as in the original canon. That alone brought Adrian some relief. However, his own presence during this arc was already a major deviation from the storyline—an unknown variable that could shift everything. He had to stay alert.
He turned slightly toward the teacher beside him.