Elenoir: Hey, Igni.

Igni: What is it, Ms. Elenoir?

During the lunch break, Igni was eating with his usual group when Elenoir called him to over to talk to her privately.

Elenoir: Its about this~~~

Saying this, Elenoir takes out one sheet of paper.

On the sheet of paper, Ignis name, age, and address is written down.

His compatibility [FIRE] : [F} was also included as well.

Igni: Is this about my compatibility? I thought at this school, my compatibility didnt matter?

In order to enroll into the Rolmod Wizard Academy, you had to score a high enough grade during the Entrance Examination. That was all.

It was no more or no less difficult as long as you surpassed the average score.

But on the other hand, reaching that average score is no easy feat.

Elenoir: No, thats not it. I know that better than anyone else. Im not talking about that~~~, and its hard for me to say but~~~...

Igni: Yes?

Elenoir: Do you want to participate in the Tournament?

Igni: Um, what?

Igni didnt understand what she meant.

Elenoir: Well, I dont know if you know or not but~~~

Igni: Yes?

Elenoir: Just once a year, there is a Tournament that determines whos the strongest in the Kingdom. And I was thinking I wonder if Ignis would be interested~~~

Igni: A Tournament... huh

Igni takes the piece of paper from Elenoir and looks again.

Yes, there were details written about the Tournament there.

Participation Requirements: None

Age Requirements: None

All that is required is strength.

Igni: Is this a famous Tournament?

Elenoir: Yeah, a lot strong people from various countries gather together. We usually have a lot of participants from our school but~~~......well, this year, we dont have that many people going

Igni: Not that many? How many people usually go every year?

Elenoir: Umm~~~ about 10?

Igni: And how many people are going this year?

Elenoir: 3

Igni: What?

Elenoir: Yeah, so, um. 3 people.

Elenoir said this and then fell silent.

Elenoir: ........so...um..well? Basically.what Im trying to say is

Igni was wondering why she was mincing her words so much but then

Elenoir: Okay, we just need you to participate to just boost our numbers~~~....

She got tired of trying to find a way to rephrase it and just shot it to him straight.

Igni: ....and who else is participating this year by the way?

Elenoir: Frenda from the 2nd Year, Fray The Dawn of Light and Warped Erumi from the 1st Years

Igni: Wait, what about the 3rd Years? Are none of the Student Council members going to this?

Elenoir: Well~~~, so the 3rd Years are really busy with their missions.

Igni: Missions?

Its the first time Igni has heard anything about this and tilts his head.

Elenoir: Uh, oh, well, Im not supposed to talk with any 1st Years about this but..

Elenoir asks Igni to keep what shes about to say a secret, and begins to explain.

Elenoir: The Rolmod Wizard Academy 3rd Years have really advanced Wizards this year, so for those that are way ahead of the others, they have been given missions and quests from outside the school~~~

Igni: ....ah, I see.

Elenoir: And especially the kids in the Student Council are super serious and responsible by nature, so they are really popular. And now they are flooded with mission requests~~~

Igni: Now that you say it, it all makes sense now. I have one question though. Why arent you allowed to share this with the 1st Year students?

Elenoir: Its because~~~, there will always be students who will ask to be selected for missions~~~

Igni: ..............

Yeah, there are definitely many 1st Years who will definitely say that.

Elenoir: SO~~~, I want Igni to join this Tournament, but what do you think? No~~~?

Igni: I dont mind. If this is what you really want me to do.

Elenoir: Thank you so much~~~. With this, Ill be able to survive till next month~~~...

Igni: .....huh?

Elenoir: OH! Well~~~.... So you need to keep this a secret too but

Igni: Yes?

Elenoir: If a student from your class joins the Tournament~~~, you get a bonus on your salary.

Igni: Uh huh...

Elenoir: And then~~~... and so~~~... if that student moves up in the Tournament, you get an even bigger bonus.

Igni: Uh.. huh...

Igni couldnt believe that they had such a system in place at this Academy.

At this, Igni couldnt hide his shock.

Elenoir: So~~~.... Igni, please do your best.

Igni: Ohh. Got it. Ill do my best.

Igni didnt feel quite as motivated, but he accepted the invitation to join the Tournament.

Elenoir: Oh, and just so you know if you win the Tournament, youll win some money~~~

Igni: Did you want the cash prize?

Elenoir: Oh, no. I do want it, but thats not what I meant~~~.... What Im trying to say is, Igni, if you win, youll get a lot of nobles asking for you.

Igni: Why is that?

Elenoir: Theyll ask you to marry their daughter and stuff

Igni: .........ohhh

Being someone with a former fianc, that was something that bothered Igni.

Elenoir: Huh~~~?? Youre not happy about that~~~???

Igni: I just. dont like the idea of two households forcing people to marry.

And maybe it was because Igni was discarded from being too weak by nobles in the past

...NO!!

WAIT, NO, IGNI!!

A man would not back down from such an offer just for <THAT> reason.!!

But a memory from the past, some deep down and repressed began to resurface.!!

And in Ignis mind, one particular memory begins to take shape..!!

<<<<>>>>

[Oye, Igni. Do you want to go back being a noble?]

[Huh? What? Grandpa, whats with the question suddenly?]

[Well, I mean, its something important, so I wanted to ask you to see what you thought.]

[Well..hmmmmm. If I can go back to being a noble, I would. Wouldnt I be more popular?

[.....HA.]

Lucas mouth twists into a smile.

[Igni. Being a noble, doesnt make you popular]

[..............WH..A...T.?!?!]

The revelation left Igni slack-jawed.

[You were once a noble yourself so you should know. The uptight culture. The complicated and bothersome family relationships. And to put matters to worse, adventurers make more money.]

[.......no.wait! ..but then..I...then I..!!]

[Yes, Igni. Welcome to <THIS> side]

[WHOOOO!!! FATHER!!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU, FATHER!!!]

Igni thanked his father with tears streaming from his eyes.

[Im so glad Im no longer a nobleeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!]

<<<<>>>>

Igni: A man should attract a woman with his own strength.

Igni could not hide his ridiculous smile as the words spilled out of his mouth.

Yes, this man...

He just didnt want to go back to being a noble.

Elenoir: Oh~~~, Igni. Youre so cool to say that~~~

Igni: Hahaha, no no. Im not THAT cool

Elenoir: And youll also become popular with the commoner girls too~~~

Igni: I WILL GIVE IT MY ALL!!

Ignis motivation just skyrocketed and broke the gauge.

Elenoir: Okay~~~ now that were set, could you go meet with the other 3 right now~~~?

Igni: Just to introduce myself?

Elenoir: Yup. So~~~, you see, at the Tournament, youll be competitors~~~ but youre all from the same school~~~ so~~~ just to get to know each other~~~ do you understand?

Igni: Oh yes. I understand. I get what youre saying.

Elenoir: Theyre in the room next door~~~. Dont worry, itll be over before the lunch break ends~~~

And so they move to the room next door.

There were 3 already sitting there.

Elenoir: Im so sorry~~~ for being late~~~ Here is a participant from my class. This is Igni.

Igni: Hey

Igni bows.

Igni: (Is this good enough?)

Igni wondered this as he looked at the 3.

First was a girl.

She had light, cream colored hair and had her head on her desk and slept.

Igni: (Did she not get enough sleep? Thats kinda cute.)

Igni ignored the second one. It was a dude.

Plus hes one of those handsome types and got on Ignis nerves. NEXT.

The 3rd is a girl. Shes wearing a bandana around her forehead, and shes fidgeting in her seat.

Igni: (Is she the athletic type? Shes cute too.)

Teacher! *Iz he a 1st Year?! Hes cute!!

{{Chonky Notes: Frenda has an unique Japanese dialect that emphasizes the S sounds.}}

Igni: WHAT?!

The 3rd athletic looking girl said that.

Igni: (FINALLY?! My popular days are here?!)

This is all Igni really thinks about.

Elenoir: Hey hey, Frenda. Dont scare the 1st Years~~~

Frenda; Imz not scaring them! Hey 1st Year! Imz Frenda! Nice to meet you!

Igni: Its nice to meet you too. My name is Igni.

Frenda: You has a nicknamez?

Igni: Nopez!

Igni couldnt help but copy the way she spoke.

Frenda: Then youre the samez as me! These two already have nicknamez?! Iznt that scary?

Igni: Um not really

Frenda: Why notz?! I also want a nicknamez!

Well, a nickname isnt necessary for a Wizard to be popular (Per Lucas).

Elenoir: Alrighty now, everyone~~~ please introduce yourself. Okay! Erumi, go!

Erumi: Be quiet. Let me sleep.

Without even raising her head, she said this and went back to sleep.

Igni: (......oh wow.)

Elenoir: Then Fray, youre next

Im Fray Talcoyz. Nice to meet you.

Igni: .............hm? <TALCOYZ>?

Fray: Yeah, thats right. What, do you have a.problem.with that..

Startling revelation instantly overcomes Igni and Frays eyes.

Fray: IIGNI?!?!

Igni: WHO ARE YOU?!?!?!?!?!?!

Igni: (I dont know anyone THIS handsome!!!)