5.16.

– Today was the day.

A merry, festive mood could be felt permeating the air as winning participants of various competitions were present to receive their awards.

While the main occasion for this award mostly came from the magic ensemble and duels, there were awards for other lesser known fields such as magic inventions, literary speech, hunting competitions, and the sponsors of the event.

The ceremony was held at Suntory Amphitheater once again. With the seats filled to capacity, some had been forced to stand.

Reciting Rika Nation's pledge, the day began with the awards for small time competitions. Many names came to be unfamiliar, most of the winners proud that they were able to meet His Imperial Majesty and the heroes in person. A carnival-like rondo around the stadium took place with large carts, flying balloons and banners magnifying the grandeur of the event.

Right after a break in the middle was the award giving ceremony for the Magic Showdown competition. There were six prizes in total, three consolation prizes, and three for the top caste.

First place went to Riestallia Academy. Coming in second was Covenant's Academy, and in third was Eluive's Prestigious Academy for Heroes.

The entire ensemble went up on stage, receiving the cheers of the crowd.

Together with Din, He walked up to the prized golden chalice and held it into the air. A thundering, grand applause erupted, with thousands of eyes on them.

In the past, Sequencee's mother had always been the one in the spotlight whenever they achieved something outrageous. Winning this award as the front soloist, there was a sense of dissonance being the main player in the victory.

["And as the special award promised by Riestallia Academy themselves, a sample of real demon lord horns will be dedicated to the magic concert faculty. Congratulations!"]

A willowy gray haired elf stood up from the row of authority figures. In his hands he held a chest.

Cabural walked up to Din, presenting the box. Din received the award with grace.

"Congratulations on your victory," Cabural smiled.

"It's an honor to have this," Din lowered his head in respect.

"Would it be alright If we have a meal together with your student sometime Sir Din?"

"Oh, it would be a pleasure. What do you think, Sequencee?"

Cabural glanced at Sequencee for a brief moment.

Seuqencee didn't find his idea pleasant.

"Then how about after the party later tonight?" Cabural followed up.

"Gladly," Din replied, perhaps to offset the awkward tension.

"Um, I actually have something to attend to," Sequencee said apologetically.

"Then will you be free tomorrow? It's likely another holiday would be issued."

"Excuse me."

Without finishing the conversation, Sequencee stepped off the stage.

Despite the air of confusion there, the ceremony proceeded with the next event.

Sequencee stared at the box in Din's hand.

'At least I don't need to cut my horns anymore.'

".. May this we carry this momentum of peace ushering into the new era."

The overture full of speeches from the representative instructors of the various academies. There was even one from His Imperial Majesty himself.

First was the prize for the battle royale category. The top 3 academies which had accrued the most points were awarded with prize money.

One by one, the top twelve official winners of the duel were called upon to receive their individual prizes. Holy gold coins, rare materials and special artifacts were honored to them.

["Please give your greatest applause to this year's champion, Reese Rine, sole daughter of Viscount Rine!"]

Her father, the viscount, her nanny Daisy alongside Yui and Dunken, the two mysterious children who attended were crying tears of joy. Reese, who noticed it, waved at them.

Shiro and Risa stepped up on stage and stood before her.

"Congratulations," Shiro said.

"Now we shake hands," Reese smiled.

"It's a pleasure."

Jealous stares meant nothing before them. Reese felt a sense of accomplishment swell inside her. She was one step closer to achieving her goal.

["Do you have anything you wish to say to the audience?"]

"Yes, I do."

Reese was passed the amplification device, she cleared her throat.

["Thank you everyone for having come to celebrate the victory of the participants of various faculties. I would also wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to all that stepped upon this platform to received their awards."]

Reese's words were met with applause.

["What a generous way to begin. If I may ask in the stead of the people, what was it that drove you to win? What is it that you find important in this opportunity to stand by the heroes' side?"]

["It has been a life-long dream of mine to work alongside the hero. I had always admired late Hero Rika for her noble deeds. Wanting to respond to the inspiration she gave me, I wanted nothing less than to fulfill her ultimate goal."]

["And what is that?"]

Reese chuckled at the emcee's question.

– To kill the Goddess Ra! Though, it's not like she could say that aloud..

She turned to the lone black silhouette standing at the ledge of the roof. The black domineering figure, red cape riding to the wind. At her notice, the silhouette disappeared, leaving a spark of purple flames. She was the only one who noticed 'her'.

["I will bear the hero's child in time. Look forward to it,"] Reese winked.

Shiro's jaw dropped. A hush fell upon the court.

First there was a single clap, then five, then a hundred. Applauses of salute spread through the crowd, Reese gave a magnanimous bow.

"See, they're in support of it," Reese turned to Shiro with a blushing grin. "So when do you want to do it?"

Reese's public announcement meant that there would be no escape for her, nor Shiro. It was practically a self fulfilling prophecy forced upon them. The populace being the judge of the matter.

The viscount fainted in shock, Reese's nanny frothed at the mouth. Yui and Dunken cheered on.

'Someone save me..'

Shiro thought he was going to die someday.

===

At the afterparty, Sequencee happened to bump into Titania.

"Congratulations to Riestallia Academy," she said.

She was wearing a light blue dress which resembled that of a nightglow flower.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Congratulations to Eluvie Academy for maintaining the top 5 in both categories."

"True. It is something we should be proud of."

"Oh, so this is the guy we lost last time? Too bad, congratulations," a friendly instructor from Eluive chided as he offered a handshake.

"Congratulations!"

"You deserved it!"

Other student members of the academy congratulated. While they were never close to Sequencee to begin with, the trouble he had to go through to deal with Lancet left a deep impression on them.

"Thank you," Seketh bowed.

"Thank you?"

"For allowing me this chance to continue with the competition. I apologize on behalf of Lancet, I didn't think he would lash out in that manner," Seketh shook Sequncee's hand with a firm handshake. He came in third place in the entire tournament.

"O-Oh. No, it's fine. Um.. if I may ask, how is.. he, Lancet, now?"

Seketh shook his head with a wryly smile. "He's already gone back to his home."

"I see.."

"The news of the incident will soon spread not long from now. We can only hope that the buzz coming from this award ceremony would be enough to mitigate the effects," Titania lamented.

"My condolences.."

"Don't be. You've plenty for us, the rest is our's to handle. It was my blunder to miss an easier solution to the matter. And my apologies for not depending on the princess, please pass on my regards to her if you see her."

Sequencee, looked around, not seeing Evelyn anywhere in the party. "Is she not here now?"

"She had left earlier alongside the hero. Likely, they were trying to avoid the public eyes, particularly after what the champion had declared. It would not look good on them."

'Then I need to move now too.'

"I'll pass your regards to her the next time we meet. I don't think she would take the mistake too harshly, after all, it was also my unthoughtful suggestion that led to this."

Sequencee then promptly excused himself from Titania.

The party being held at the Sage's Hall was to celebrate the end of the competitions. Sequencee who hadn't touched any of the food made his way towards the inner campus.

"Are you leaving now?" someone stood in his way.

"I'm sorry," Sequencee remarked, circling around the person in front of him without batting an eye.

"Would you reconsider if I said that I would like to discuss the fate of your friend Leticia?"

Sequencee halted.

"Caught your interest?" Cabural smiled. "What happens to her will largely depend on what you do here."

Sequencee turned around and looked at him with cold eyes.

"What if I just walked away. What would you do to her?"

"As a problem student, she will be expelled."

"And why would anything I say convince you otherwise?"

"If you can become an obedient scapegoat for the image of the academy, I would consider it."

"Scapegoat?" Sequencee wasn't getting him.

The serious air around them was attracting the attention of the people in their surroundings.

"I will see you tomorrow. Don't forget to come," leaving those words, Cabural walked away.

Sequencee stood there in silence for a few seconds before heading to his dorm. He didn't have the time currently to deal with this.

===

"Don't get involved," Risa warned sternly.

Her Highness Evelyn who had equipped herself with her new uniform glared back. Aaron standing behind her also didn't waver.

"If you can't give me an appropriate answer to the question, I won't relent. You know well that someone like him will get into trouble indefinitely," Evelyn challenged.

"Can't you trust Reese on this one?"

"Risa. I respect you as the new world savior, however, I won't stoop so low as to listen to your every order."

Risa definitely didn't say anything to compare Reese and her. What was it that's bothering the princess anyways?

"Where's Shiro?" Aaron interjected.

"He has something to attend to on Linton's side of things."

Two events overlapping. Linton's case of being hunted down by Dianne Territory's alpha had not been resolved. Something had occurred, forcing Shiro to act.

"If you want to help, maybe help Shiro. He's alone," Risa tried to divert their intent.

"Risa, whose side are you on?" Aaron narrowed his eyes.

"Who's side? Our's, obviously."

"I know you're not naive to not know who that person is, truly."

"I don't get what you mean."

"Sequencee's isn't just any demon."

Risa tilted her head and blinked a few times. It took her a good three seconds to realize what they meant, another five to question how they knew.

"Which means they're involved in something that would shake the foundation of the empire. What if turning a blind eye to this marks the beginning of war? As a princess, I can't allow that," Evelyn resolved.

"I won't allow you to go either way!" Risa wasn't going to give up either.

"Let's not pressure the hero with such a burdening decision can't we?" A fourth voice interjected.

Risa turned around– it was Quilin.

"What do you think is true in your heart?" Quilin asked Risa.

"Excuse me?"

"Evelyn?" Quilin turned to the princess.

"I have to go."

"How troubling. I wonder what my heart says," Quilin embraced Risa from behind.

"What are you.." then it dawned upon her.

Quilin and Evelyn nodded to each other, the latter alongside Aaron quickly left the villa.

"Your Grace! Let me go!"

"My apologies, Hero Risa."

[Unique Skill: Ex-point Transposition]

The gift which allowed Quilin to teleport into Sequencee's hospital room previously.

Any location she had been to in the past, she could warp to. The further in the time since she was last in that spot in time, the greater the mana cost.

The next moment, Risa and Quilin appeared at the afterparty.

"My apologies. This is what I must do," Quilin released her.

Their arrival garnered the attention of the people in the surroundings, and in an instant, she was swarmed by people. It was no easy escape from here–

Risa clicked her tongue.