Chapter 402: The Compressed Schedule!
Ding—!
One new email!
The sudden message on the student handbook seemed to announce the beginning of another troublesome day.
Sender: The 62nd Seven Star Sword Art Festival Operating Committee
[Notice to all competitors participating in this year's Seven Star Sword Art Festival.]
[This morning, the operating committee received withdrawal notices from Block B competitors Tatara Yui and Kazamatsuri Rinna.]
[In addition, Akatsuki Academy first-year competitor Pierrot Hiraga Reisen has lost his qualification to compete.]
[For these reasons, Stella Vermillion has been declared the winner of Block B and will automatically advance to the semifinals.]
[Furthermore, due to the reduced number of matches, the committee has decided to compress the schedule. Both the second and third rounds will be held today.]
[Competing twice in one day may inconvenience everyone, but we ask for your cooperation.]
Luke looked at the email on his student handbook, understanding flashing through his mind.
Stella's advancement did not surprise him. It had been practically inevitable.
Although Stella had defeated Tatara Yui and Kazamatsuri Rinna during yesterday's four-against-one match, its official nature had still been Stella versus Tsuruya Mikoto.
After excluding the disqualified Pierrot, Stella should have fought Tatara and Rinna separately during the second and third rounds.
Only then would she officially become Block B's winner and advance to the semifinals.
Even after yesterday's match, no one believed Stella could lose. Still, the matches were supposed to happen, since the audience wanted to witness another display of her overwhelming strength.
However, Tatara Yui and Kazamatsuri Rinna clearly did not share that enthusiasm.
The two withdrew without hesitation. Neither had any interest in climbing onto the stage merely to be beaten again.
That outcome was inevitable. What truly drew Luke's attention was the final announcement.
The schedule had been compressed.
This sudden change would greatly affect every competitor. One match per day had become two, reducing not only their rest but, more importantly, the time available to recover from injuries.
Although there was a break between the two matches, that amount of time was nowhere near enough to recover from serious wounds.
Naturally, some competitors protested the decision.
It was not only the competitors. Spectators who had already purchased tickets for the final day and merchants hoping to profit from the Festival crowds were also extremely dissatisfied.
However, the operating committee offered no further explanation and forcibly shortened the schedule.
What were they planning?
Luke did not know. Although he could make a few guesses, that was not the important part.
Hidden within this enormous change was one reasonable detail that almost no one would pay attention to.
Because of the schedule adjustment, the third round had been moved to today.
As a result, every second-round match had been brought forward, and the intervals between matches had been shortened.
Recalling what happened last night, Luke immediately determined that this change was connected to Shinomiya Amane.
He had no evidence, but there was no doubt in his mind.
...
"My, it's rare to see such a serious expression on your face. Well, it isn't very strong, but still."
"What are you thinking about? Why don't you tell me?"
The one speaking was Arisuin.
Luke was currently spending time with Ikki and the others for once.
It truly was unusual, since he had spent most of the past several days inseparable from Edelweiss.
As the leader of Hagun Academy's delegation, ignoring his teammates like that was clearly inappropriate.
That realization was obviously why Luke had decided to spend today with Ikki and Stella…
Yes, that was definitely the reason. It was absolutely not because Edelweiss needed to remain in bed and rest today.
Luke shook away the distracting thoughts, raised the student handbook toward Arisuin, and answered,
"It's nothing special. I was only reading the announcement we received this morning."
"Oh?"
Arisuin looked at the screen of Luke's handbook. It was indeed displaying the committee's announcement.
However…
"I don't think a simple announcement would make you show such a serious expression."
As a former assassin, Arisuin's powers of observation could not be underestimated.
Although Luke had only revealed a faint trace of emotion while thinking, Arisuin still caught it accurately.
He studied Luke seriously for a moment before sighing and changing the subject.
"Forget it. If even you can't solve the problem, knowing about it probably wouldn't help me either."
He had no intention of digging deeper. Just as he said, Luke's strength was obvious to everyone.
Arisuin did not believe many things could trouble him. Even if such a problem existed, he probably could not help.
If Luke needed assistance, he would naturally ask. There was no need to question him further.
Changing his tone, Arisuin smiled.
"By the way, every Hagun representative passed the first round this year~"
"I heard Oreki-sensei say that everyone who remained at the academy held an all-night party to celebrate your advancement and drank themselves senseless."
Arisuin's words reminded Luke of when they had gone to a bar together after Hagun's selection matches.
"If this were an era without the special adulthood regulations for Blazers, the teachers would probably scold everyone severely."
"They might even call their parents or expel them."
Luke smiled and teasingly looked at Arisuin.
"A student who leads everyone to a bar like you would be considered a standard delinquent back then."
"You'd definitely be the first one expelled."
Luke's teasing made Arisuin pause. He unconsciously imagined the situation in his mind.
"Pfft—!"
"Hehe. When you put it that way, I really do fit the image of a delinquent girl rather well~"
Arisuin immediately amused himself with his own imagination.
However, while he laughed, Luke helplessly covered his face.
He had actually meant a delinquent boy, yet Arisuin had immediately called himself a delinquent girl.
Luke could no longer look at the word "delinquent" normally.
He had no energy left to comment. Or perhaps after spending so much time together, Luke had already grown used to interacting with someone as unusual as Arisuin.
So instead of responding, he changed the subject.
Conveniently, the appearance of someone nearby had also made him curious.
"Hey, Alice."
"What happened to Stella? She looks completely dejected."
…
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