Chapter 150 National Competition 1

Being forced out of his cabin, Lucas wondered what was wrong with Elam, the snowstorm started its assault on Lucas again, but his body automatically protected him once more. What they said about him not using his unique body's full potential did make Lucas think, sadly he couldn't come up with any great ideas. 

His mind was occupied by something else. 

'The guest teacher just so happens to know what the competition will be about?'

'Not only that, but he has antidotes for a disease we haven't even seen before, how does he know?'

'Hmm, well, Elam did say that he was a friend that came to teach for a bit, so maybe he worked on the competition as well, or has experience with them.'

'What are the chances of that?'

'Low, must be a coincidence.'

'We both know there are no such things. Elam wanted us to win because he wants the reward from the ceremony, he must've brought him over to gain intel on the competition.'

'Either way, we got something at least, two vials. One for us, and one for Asta?'

'You're going to give away something so precious? What if we get sick twice?'

'And what if we get sick trice? Don't use convenient hypotheticals as arguments.'

'Oh, like you don't do the same.'

Lucas went down the mountain and visited the Blue Fire Academy, he was a student here, but he really didn't feel part of it. He barely visited, never used the dorms or interacted with other students during lunch. The commoners would've gladly accepted him in their group, but Lucas never bothered with it. 

He wondered if he had enough time to visit Gilbert's classroom again, maybe if he went fast enough. Entering the academy he went to the strange halls again. 

Each time someone needed to use the halls, they needed a map to get to the desired location. Every student knew something was strange about the building, but as long as the map brought them to the correct location, they didn't mind as much. 

If they tried to investigate they would get lost and panic, so many didn't want to bother with it. Lucas on the other hand never received a map since he never followed the group. He was forced to find his way through his intuition. 

Identifying the stream of magic and the way it flowed could bring him forward. Lucas was also one of the few that wanted to explore the building further. So on his way to Gilbert class, he took each correct turn to visit the place with the highest magical density. 

He knew there was more to the building than this, but he didn't have enough time. After walking down some hallways and taking a bunch of turns that would've seemed random to others he arrived at a simple door with a keyhole. There was no doorknob to pull or push, so Lucas could only be disappointed before rushing back to Gilbert's class. 

Lucas didn't bother trying to even open it, not a single mage would just have a door if there wasn't anything special to it. He knew there had to be a bunch of rooms for experimentation and the dean of the school must've had a special chamber for himself. The secrets and spells were tantalizing, but not at the cost of his own life. Messing with such a thing was just asking for death.

Arriving at Gilbert's classroom he entered only to see Sharon there, she was cleaning the tables that would probably never see any other student again. Gilbert might've cleared his name with the church, but to Lucas that didn't mean a lot. The only students who would willingly come to his class were the desperate ones. 

The cost for attending was a body as well, so anyone willing to join needed to be at least somewhat determined. "Hello there Sharon, how have you been?"

"Great! Good to see you again Conrad, teacher Gilbert is in his room again, do I need to call him?"

"Sure, that would be great."

Seeing Sharon put away her cleaning equipment and heading for the backdoor, Lucas could only wait impatiently. 

'Sharon's a pretty good name.'

'Meh, compared to Rita? I don't know.'

'Well, not that she had much of a choice.'

While Lucas was trying to pass the time Gilbert came back in his full glory, meaning dark clothes, a hood, pale skin and a body that would look like it would fall over in a strong wind. 

"Well look what the devil dragged in? I thought you had enough of my lessons?"

Lucas had been skipping a lot of his lessons and Eleven wasn't that much better. Especially after their little trip, Gilbert hadn't been seeing anyone besides Sharon, which was actually quite a lot for him, but that was beside the point.

"My apology's sir Gilbert, my friend needed urgent help somewhere far away, and I didn't have time to inform you. Now that I'm at it, Eleven won't be coming anymore, he has found his purpose and set off."

"So you're saying you took my only other pupil with you and ditched him somewhere? Great, now what I'm to do?"

"Teacher Gilbert, if I may be so rude to interrupt you, I think your student has come with a purpose."

"Ah, yes, as Sharon says, I have to leave soon to compete in the national competition and came to ask you for help."

"Oh, only seeking me when you think you can get something from me now?"

"While that might seem like the truth, as one of your pupils I need to represent your class and I want to leave behind a good impression. I got first place in this school's competition because of your lessons, think of the promotion you would get when I am victorious in the national competition as well?"

"Wait, you're first place in this school?"

"Uh, yes, it took a lot of work, but I did finish first!"

"Because of my lessons?"

"Well, yes, you taught me how to use magic in ways I've never seen before. The complex structures of magic and the power of using souls to your advantage were all fantastic tools to grow."

"Haha... hahaha yes! Yes! I know! I knew my topic wasn't some dusty old one, hahaha! Let those hoity-toity teachers feel their despair when they realize they lost because of me! Hahaha!"

"Teacher Gilbert? Are you going to support your student?"

"Hmm? Ah, right, hmm." Gilbert went in his study and came out with a small skeleton bird. "You can have this, it's pretty useless when it comes to fights, but knowing you, you'll figure out what to do with it."

Gilbert threw the tiny skeleton bird at him, Lucas was scared it would fall apart, but it stuck together. Bones that should fall apart were kept together with almost invisible little threads. He grabbed it by the neck and took a long look at it before staring at Gilbert.

"What? You followed my lessons right? You know what to do, now leave, I'm busy."

Gilbert retreated back to his little study with a massive grin on his face. Sharon stayed behind and brought Lucas outside. 

"Hey, I helped you get something from him, now can you please help me out?"

"What do you mean?"

"I want to leave this place, but I can't go against his orders."

"Although I'm very happy that you helped me out, I can't do anything about that. You should've thought more when you struck a deal with him."

"Wait, how do you know about our deal?"

"Who knows?"

Lucas left a stumped Sharon behind. He just needed a satchel to carry some potions, and he would be set. He knew what to do with Gilbert's gift, but he would have to revisit some old studies he did. Luckily everything was kept in his mental dome, he would just have to remember it correctly. 

Making his way to the courtyard he met up with Asta, who already had a satchel prepared, he showed Lucas where to get one for cheap. Then they could join up with the other students. Everyone was waiting in anticipation of the contest like little children. 

Lucas really didn't understand why they would be happy to compete, as if their life wasn't in danger. 

Asta noticed his gaze and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Did you expect everyone to be so serious like you? Most just want to get some rewards and play around with their power."

"We're an academy that's on the border, do they think the academies in the capital are on the same level?"

"Teachers are around Rank 2, Matheo is almost Rank 2, thus they believe that our school will have a massive advantage."

"Fools."

"Have you figured out a way to defeat a Rank 2 yet?"

"Nothing concrete, what about you?"

"I'm working on something, but progress is slow. We could recreate our previous method if you wish."

"No, that's too dangerous, I'm not fully in control when I use that technique. It's too risky. Especially since Brutus didn't have any defensive artifacts, but these guys will."

"You have one as well, don't you? The reward from the competition should prove useful, no?"

"I wish, it didn't withstand a single hit from Brutus, so it's useless."

Asta sighed before putting on a serious expression. "Then we better get our act together." 

Asta and Lucas stuck together and blended with the other students who were waiting. Some students saw them and started to talk about them. Some even dared to approach. 

"Excuse me, Conrad? I'm a huge fan. As a commoner myself I admire your strength. Putting those nobles in their place is something I have always wanted to do. You're a beacon of hope for the lower class.", Lucas stared at the man and could only think how sad it was people thought in classes. Asta on the other hand saw his silence as a sign to step in.

"Boy, leave us, we don't have time for lowlifes."

"Urgh, you're just another corrupted noble! We might be peasants, but Conrad won the competition fair and square! That means you're weaker than a peasant!"

"Status doesn't matter in our eyes, why do you think a noble and a commoner are sticking together in the first place? Calling you a peasant would be an insult to peasants since they are at least hardworking, you're just a waste of space. Use that barely developed brain of yours and reflect on your actions."

A magical chain appeared from thin air and clasped itself around the man's leg. The chain started to fly away, dragging his poor victim with him. 

"Did you know him perhaps? It felt a little vindictive."

"Not really, but most commoners have trouble reaching Rank 1, and if he truly thinks you won fair and square he's not the smartest. Plus, this sends a message to your other fanboys."

"I don't have fans, just jealous supporters. And, technically, I didn't break any rules."

"Pfff, sure buddy.", Asta looked at the group of commoners that were admiring Lucas from afar, but they wouldn't be capable of competing since they were too weak. To Asta, and Lucas as well, class didn't matter, but the determination and ingenuity of the person mattered. Lucas was weak, but he never stopped grasping for a tiny bit of power, making him reach such heights. 

"I see you've improved the chain. I don't remember it dragging someone away."

"It's an easy improvement, but it wouldn't have been capable of moving Brutus in the slightest. It's too fragile.", Asta seemed angry at himself for being so weak. Lucas could only see that as motivation to improve himself even more. He had a lot of attacks, but they were all basic and predictable, he needed to grow more versatile. 

"How did he know how I looked though? I wore a mask during the competition."

"You really think you could hide how you look? Don't worry though, only the most interested people know your face. The moment you choose Gilbert as a teacher you name was already written down. The nobles were also out for your looks and the church has no reason to not help."

Lucas looked around to distract himself from the tremendous task in front of him. He saw a lot of nobles prancing around like they own the world and commoners that had enough hatred in their eyes to destroy the country. 

One thing stood out, someone who made Lucas grimace. Matheo was talking to someone who shouldn't have been here. A red-haired man with the look of death in his eyes was staring at Lucas. Eliot was here. They noticed his gaze and approached him. Before they had a chance, Lucas spoke up first.

"I didn't know they let losers compete?", Eliot's ego was easy to hurt, but he was surprisingly calm. 

"If a commoner dies due to unknown circumstances, someone has to replace them. And this time, I won't make the same mistakes as last time."

"Do you even know what your mistakes were?"

"Letting a commoner like you attend this competition in the first place was a mistake, I'll make you regret joining."

Lucas simply stared at Eliot with a look of sympathy in his eyes. Unlike Lucas, both Eliot and Matheo needed to report to their parents. They had expectations from more powerful people and needed to fulfill them, or they would be disgraced. Lucas on the other hand knew that after this competition, he would be free to do whatever he wanted to do.

Asta couldn't help but join the conversation as well, "Better watch your words Eliot, you might be powerful, but you failed to win during the duel, what makes you think you'll win this time?"

"Ha! I've been waiting for you to ask. The best teacher in this entire school was locked up because of this piece of shit commoner, but I visited him recently. He gave me the secret technique of this school, the Blue Fire Technique. With this, I'm unstoppable."

Lucas stared at Eliot for a moment and couldn't help but smirk. "Are you so incompetent that you can only use fire magic?"

"Laugh all you want, when we meet during the competition, I'll let you experience my true power! Enjoy your life while it lasts."

And with that Eliot took off, Matheo followed him and didn't say a single word. 

"Poor kid, he probably doesn't know he's being used.", Asta was officially a noble, so he knew how they worked. 

"Eliot was never one to think critically of other nobles. The threat isn't going to be Eliot, but Matheo. If he has the Blue Fire, that could be annoying."

"Do you know that secret technique?"

"Calling it a secret is just stupid, it's a flame with higher destructive powers than a normal flame, but doesn't produce any heat. A cold flame if you will."

"I see, I wasn't expecting you to know that, where did you even get that information?"

"I have a great teacher, that's all."

After waiting for what felt like hours Lucas started to get pissed off. He was on time, but still had to wait until the teachers arrived. Even when they arrived they still had to wait for the headmaster. 

Only when the old and decrepit man showed himself did things start to move. In total there were a 150 students present, the strongest 50 from each year, but they were separated from each other. A lot in the second year had reached Rank 2, while most in the third year were Rank 2. They kept their distance from the first years, who didn't have a single Rank 2, they were weak. 

Some students were even disappointed because when they were first years, there was at least one person Rank 2, but now, there was nobody. 

"Welcome, everyone. I hope you're prepared for what's to come."