Chapter 556: The Grand First-Year Combat Festival: Arrogance

Minutes before the end of the last match of the ninth round...

The crowd continued cheering and talking brightly throughout the arena.

Even though the previous fight had already ended, the excitement it had created had not faded.

The battle between Ravenor Burnwick and Vera Ashenlocke had left too strong an impression on everyone who had watched it, and now the spectators were already turning their attention toward the final match of the ninth round.

The next two First-Year Royal Academy students were among the strongest candidates to win the entire tournament.

Especially the already popular Flower of Bergwyn.

Diane Bergwyn.

She was already well known as one of the youngest geniuses of Alchemy and one of the precious young ladies of the Kingdom.

Her name had been spoken throughout the Combat Festival from the very beginning, and her title as the Flower of Bergwyn had only made the attention around her greater.

Yet this wasn’t a match where anyone could confidently declare Lady Diane Bergwyn the winner before the fight even began.

Because the person who would be standing opposite her was Maxwell.

His background remained largely unknown.

Even his Alchemy Path was unknown.

Because, from the beginning of the first round all the way to the eighth round of the Combat Festival, Maxwell had never displayed his Alchemy Path in any of his fights.

He had won through his natural physical strength.

In some battles, he had used Cognis enhancement to increase his speed, strength, and durability, but even then, he had never revealed what kind of Alchemist he truly was.

The only time he had shown anything close to the level of his Alchemy ability was when he used both the Law of Magnetism and the Law of Inversion against Cyrus Burnwick.

That battle had given the spectators a glimpse of something far more complicated than Maxwell’s physical strength.

But even after that...

Maxwell had never once used his Alchemy Path.

And that fact alone had made everyone wonder.

Would this match finally be the one that forced Maxwell to reveal his true Alchemy ability?

Or would Maxwell’s natural strength prove to be too much for the precious Lady of Bergwyn to handle?

The excitement and anticipation were clear throughout the arena.

The voices of the spectators overlapped from every direction, filling the huge hall with a constant wave of conversation.

Some were already arguing over who would win.

Others were discussing Maxwell’s strange lack of an Alchemy Path.

The fans of Diane were confident.

The fans of Maxwell were just as certain that he would surprise everyone again.

At the same time, the Craft-based Royal Academy Staff were finally taking their leave after fully restoring the fight platform.

The damage caused by the previous battle had been extensive, but the Craft Alchemists had worked quickly.

Broken sections of the platform had been repaired, cracks had been filled, and the surface had once again been made suitable for another battle.

Inside the arena hallway leading toward the left entrance of the arena...

"It’s finally time for you to face Lady Diane Bergwyn."

Cherry stood with her hands interlocked close to her lips.

She stared at Maxwell.

Compared to his usual self, he looked even calmer now.

That alone made Cherry more nervous.

But her eyes still sparkled with excitement for Maxwell’s match, but there was also a clear trace of worry in them.

She knew this match wouldn’t be easy for him.

"I’m so worried because just from watching that terrifying match between Sir Ravenor Burnwick and Lady Vera Ashenlocke was crazy."

Cherry suddenly began speaking faster.

The nervous feeling building inside her was starting to affect her words.

"If you manage to beat Lady Diane Bergwyn, you will still have to face a monster like Lady Vera Ashenlocke or even Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke, who uses too many strange gadgets... Ahhhhh."

She sighed heavily.

She wasn’t even the one fighting, yet somehow she looked more nervous than Maxwell.

Her shoulders rose and fell as she tried to calm herself down.

Maxwell turned toward her.

A helpless smile appeared on his face.

"There is no way I’m going to lose."

He raised his right hand slightly and gave Cherry a thumbs-up.

His smile became brighter.

Cherry stared at that smile for a moment.

Then her face turned red.

She immediately raised one hand and covered part of her eyes, as if hiding her expression would somehow stop Maxwell from seeing how embarrassed she had become.

"I... Know..."

Her voice came out low and broken.

The nervousness she had been trying to hold back was obvious.

"I just... hope... you don’t get yourself hurt badly."

Cherry lowered her hand slightly.

She still didn’t look directly at him.

"Ehn... What did you say, Cherry?"

Maxwell leaned closer.

He placed his right index finger against his ear, pretending that he hadn’t heard her.

Cherry’s eyes widened.

"I... I... I..."

She took a small step backward because Maxwell had leaned so close to her.

But Maxwell moved closer again.

Cherry’s face became even redder.

"I said you shouldn’t hurt yourself!!!"

Her voice came out much louder than she expected.

The words echoed through the hallway.

Cherry froze.

She realized she had shouted.

Her face turned even redder.

Without saying another word, she turned around and ran away with both hands covering her face.

"Maxwell, you idiot!"

Her voice faded as she disappeared farther into the arena hallway.

Maxwell watched her fading back.

A warm smile remained on his face.

Then...

"Welcoming the fighters!"

Patrick West’s voice echoed loudly through the arena speakers, reaching even the hallway where Maxwell stood.

Maxwell immediately turned toward the arena entrance.

The warm expression on his face faded back into the calm expression he had worn earlier.

At the same time, the noise of the spectators grew louder.

Much louder.

The voices of thousands of people rolled through the arena as they waited for the two fighters to appear.

"Lady Diane Bergwyn!!!"

"Let’s go! My Sleeping Ice Queen is going to win, right guys?!"

"Yesssssssss!!!"

"I repeat again! Our Sleeping Ice Queen is going to win! Right, guys?!"

"Yessssss!!!"

"Go!!! Lady Diane Bergwyn!!"

"Mr. Maxwell is definitely going to surprise everyone yet again!!!"

"Yeah! Winning all his rounds with just his natural strength! There’s no way Lady Diane Bergwyn is going to have it easy!"

"Blasphemy!! The Ice Queen of Berg will win, no doubt!"

The voices of different spectators overlapped.

Young children, teenagers, and young adults all shouted their opinions about the match that was about to begin.

Some held flags.

Others waved banners.

Many had already chosen their side.

The atmosphere around the arena entrance became more and more intense as the crowd waited.

"Mr. Maxwell!!!"

Patrick’s voice echoed again as he called out the first student.

Once Maxwell heard his name, he stepped forward.

His expression remained calm.

The moment he entered the arena, cheers erupted from the stands.

Many young ladies, especially those gathered among Maxwell’s fans, immediately waved flags bearing his name.

Some held banners with his face printed across them.

Others wore Maxwell merchandise while shouting his name as loudly as they could.

"MAXWELL!!!"

"GO, MAXWELL!!!"

"YOU CAN DO IT!!!"

Maxwell lifted one hand and waved toward the crowd.

He then stepped onto the fight platform.

"Ahhh..."

He sighed quietly.

"I still can’t get used to the attention."

He muttered the words to himself as he looked around at the arena.

There were too many people.

Too many eyes.

And far too many voices calling his name.

Maxwell scratched the side of his head lightly before turning his attention toward the opposite entrance.

"Versus..."

Patrick continued.

His voice deliberately slowed.

He suspended the next words for a moment, allowing the anticipation among Diane’s fans to rise.

The crowd became louder.

Then...

"Lady Diane Bergwyn!!"

Patrick’s voice echoed brightly through the arena.

The entire crowd erupted.

"LADY DIANE BERGWYN!!!"

"THE ICE QUEEN!!!"

"FLOWER OF BERGWYN!!!"

"GO, LADY DIANE!!!"

The voices supporting Diane were easily louder than the cheers for Maxwell.

They had already been louder when Maxwell entered.

Now that Diane walked out from the arena entrance, their volume increased again.

Diane stepped onto the fight platform.

Her appearance immediately drew the attention of the spectators.

She looked as tired as ever.

The cheering continued around her as she moved toward her position.

Once she stepped into place, the countdown commenced.

"THREE!!"

The crowd shouted the number together.

The four Holographic Screens displayed the countdown number as it appeared above the arena.

The light from the screens reflected across the faces of the spectators.

Everyone’s attention was fixed on the platform.

Meanwhile, on the fight platform, Maxwell stared at Diane.

His expression remained calm.

Diane yawned slightly.

She covered her mouth with one hand before lazily stretching her body.

Her shoulders moved first, followed by her arms.

She showed no sign of rushing.

"TWO!!"

The crowd’s voices echoed through the arena as they shouted the next countdown number.

Maxwell continued staring at Diane.

A Genius, huh...

He thought to himself.

Ravenor Burnwick.

Vera Ashenlocke.

Diane Bergwyn.

All of them were always called geniuses in their own right.

And each had already shown something that separated them from ordinary young Alchemists.

Which was the reason Maxwell had watched all three from the beginning of the Combat Festival.

"ONE!!"

The final countdown number was shouted brightly by the spectators.

The four Holographic Screens immediately changed.

The countdown disappeared.

The word announcing the beginning of the match appeared across them.

Maxwell’s eyes still remained on Diane.

Honestly, I thought to myself that I could see what Master meant by...

There are always people above you, even though you are among the top.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

But from everything I have seen...

All of them are just capable of making me excited to face their Alchemy Paths.

Not actually making me take them seriously.

The thought remained in his mind.

Then another thought followed.

Wouldn’t it be bullying if I even used my Alchemy Path?

He paused for a moment, a faint laughter escaped his mouth.

Not that I can use it easily.

Maxwell’s eyes briefly moved away from Diane.

He glanced toward the people seated in the high-power section of the arena.

Professor Kent had already told him to keep his Alchemy Path hidden unless it became necessary.

Maxwell had followed that instruction throughout the Combat Festival.

I guess he already knew that I wouldn’t even need it in the first place.

His gaze returned to Diane.

The girl standing across from him was still stretching lazily, as though she had all the time in the world.

The crowd continued to shout around them.

Hundreds of thousands of voices.

Hundreds of thousands of eyes.

And yet Maxwell’s expression remained unchanged.

Of course, just slightly.

He was still feeling nervous from the gazes and constant praises he recived.

"BEGIN!!"

The word echoed loudly throughout the entire arena.

The match had started.

Maxwell slowly lowered his body into his fighting position.

His feet shifted against the restored platform.

His shoulders relaxed.

His hands came up.

His eyes remained fixed on Diane.

"Well, at least I get to see the strength of the so-called Ice Genius."

Maxwell said it with a faint smile as he settled into his stance.

Across from him, Diane’s sleepy expression remained unchanged.

The two stood facing each other as the crowd’s excitement continued to rise.

The final match of the ninth round had officially begun.