Elenoir: igni~~~ its time~~~

Ms. Elenoir takes Ignis hand as they stand up.

Igni: (Its so soft.!!)

An overwhelming sense of joy overcomes him as his face crumples into a smile.

Elenoir: Alrighty~~~ Im taking Igni to the participants waiting area, so everyone please wait for me here~~~

Alicia: Igni, do your best, got it?!

Iris: Sir Igni! Ill be rooting for you right here!

Alicia and Iris give Igni their encouragement.

Yoori: Igni! Ill be right here rooting for you too!

Edward: Igni, you represent all of Class D so dont you dare lose!

Igni: I know.

And he welcomes the encouragement from his male classmates.

Elenoir: Alright, then lets go.

Allowing Ms. Elenoir to guide him, Igni proceeds forward.

Elenoir: Ill be honest. When I first saw your Compatibility Report, I was quite shocked~~~

Igni: It is a [FIRE] : [F]

Now, Igni was able to admit it without any reservation, worry, or concern.

Elenoir: But more than that, I thought, Wow, he must have worked really hard~~~. I was the same way.

Igni: [LIFE] : [B]..... The first Wizard below A-Rank to have ever won the Tournament.

Elenoir: Oh~~~ Igni, were you curious about my background? Im so happy~~~

Battle Strength Analysis - the ability to decipher each others difference in strengths was a skill necessary to survive.

The higher level the Wizard was, the more they performed this as naturally as they breathe.

Igni: After that incident with Ellis, I wanted to.know more about you.

Elenoir: Oh my, thats so embarrassing~~~

Igni: Elenoir The Puppeteer. You are the record holder for the shortest Finals fight ever, am I correct?

Elenoir: Hehe. Yes, youre right~~~ but thats because no one took me seriously~~~

Igni: .....then Ill have to beat that record.

Secret to Popularity No. 3 --- Women love men who stand out.

If Igni doesnt stand out in this Tournament, then when will he ever be able to..!!

Elenoir: Im looking forward to it~~~

They arrive at the waiting room. Since the beginning of the Tournament, every participant has their own private room to prevent any fights from breaking out.

Igni enters the room that was made just for him, and sits down.

Elenoir: For me~~~ I only have compatibility with [LIFE] magic but~~~ I only have one spell that I can use for combat~~~

Igni: You mean those spores?

Elenoir: Yup~~~ Igni, arent you the same?

Igni: Yes, mine is [FIREBALL]. The most basic of all basic spells.

It is so basic that a Wizard without any compatibility to [FIRE] can cast this spell.

Elenoir: So thats why~~~ I think you and I are very similar~~~

Igni: Youre right. We are similar...

Responding to Ms. Elenoir without much thought, Igni realized something.

Igni: (.........Secret to Popularity No. 11!!)

--- Find things in common with a woman.

Igni: (If Ms. Elenoir is the one saying this, then..!)

Igni has heard that women like people that are the same as them.

Igni: (I won!!!!)

Out of all the participants attending the Tournament, Igni was the first to be certain of his victory.

As long as he can become popular, the Tournament doesnt matter.

Elenoir: Yup. And~~~ I actually have my hopes in you~~~

Igni: ....hope?

Igni: (Wait...wheres this conversation going?)

Igni thought Ms. Elenoir was just about to confess her undying love to him, but the conversation suddenly derailed off-course, and he seriously tilted his head in confusion.

Elenoir: Yes, even without talent~~~ you can still do anything. Im hoping that you will teach everyone in the Kingdom that~~~

Igni: Leave it to me.

Igni nods deeply in agreement.

Igni: I will definitely measure up to your expectations!

Secret to Popularity No. 10 --- Always exceed every expectation.

Igni: I will win no matter who I go against!!

Elenoir: Ill be rooting for you~~~

Ms. Elenoir smiled warmly at Igni.

<<<<>>>>

Will the A-Block Participant please report to Gate C. I repeat

A voice using a [WIND] spell carries through the air.

Igni: Ms. Elenoir, Ill be going now!

Elenoir: Do your best~~~

With Ms. Elenoir cheering for him, Igni heads to the gate.

Before him at the starting line stood a handsome man.

He had a large sword on his back and was probably an adventurer.

He was well built, and he had chiseled, deep features on his face that only enunciated his handsomeness.

Igni: (..........hes really good looking.)

A small spark ignites within Igni.

The first match in Block A will be contestant Igni versus contestant Dovan! Both contestants please take your position!!

Igni: ........!!

Igni instinctively turned around in response to a beautiful womans voice, and sure enough in the announcers booth was an EXTREMELY cute girl.

OOOHHH!! Whats going on?! Contestant Igni is looking this way!! Is it because Im so cute?!

Igni wanted to shout YES!! but Secret of Popularity No. 4 -- Women love a mysterious man takes over his brain, and Igni refrains.

Igni: (That was too close. I almost became an unpopular guy.)

Igni puts a hand over his chest and lets out a sigh of relief.

<<<<>>>>

Iris: I wonder why Igni suddenly looked towards the announcers booth?!

Amongst the crowd, Ignis classmates were confused at Ignis sudden actions.

Yoori: Was he about to pick a fight.? Edward: O-or he was about to declare his victory.?

Alicia: Okay, seriously you guys. Do you really not see what hes doing.?

Being the only one to realize what is happening, Alicia lets out a huge sigh of disappointment and lets it go.

<<<<>>>>

Let the match begin!!

A cute voice rings throughout the Gladiators Colosseum.

Dovan: Youre so young. Are you a student?

And even though the match just started, the contestant Dovan began talking to Igni.

Although the cheers and jeerings of the crowd made it difficult to hear what anything was said, Ignis hearing caught every word without fail.

Igni: Yeah, Im a 1st Year at Rolmod Wizard Academy.

Dovan: Im envious of...talented people like you!!

Dovan suddenly dashed forward!

Igni: Talent...huh

Igni creates one [FIREBALL].

Igni: [FLAME ARMOR - IGNITE : MAX GIANT SIZE]!!!!

And he creates a <GIGANTIC> size [FIREBALL].

He increased the size of the [FIREBALL] by pouring more magic into it.

Dovan: Wh----! How is this fair?!

The [FIREBALL] covered the entire field and with nowhere to run, Dovan was slowly being cornered to the edge as he retreated.

THATS AMAZING!!! IVE NEVER SEEN A [FIREBALL] LIKE THAT!!

WHAT KIND OF MAGIC CAPACITY DOES THAT GUY HAVE?!?!

Thats way too big.

The cheers that rose from the crowd perked Ignis ears.

Igni: .......Dovan...I do understand your feelings.

Dovan: Wh-what are you saying all of a sudden! You obviously have PLENTY of talent!!!

Igni: .......being born with a handsome face..being born handsome..its so unfair...

Dovan: HUH?!?! What are you TALKING about?!

Igni: .....I get it. I totally understand no matter how hard you work, you cant beat that handsome face they were born with!!

Dovan: Wait! Hold on!! HEY!! ITS TOO BIG!! Youre [FIREBALL] is too big!! HOT!! HO-H-H-HOT?!?! WAIT?!?! Do you plan on casting THAT?!?! It wont just leave me with a burn!!!

Igni: CURSE YOUR HANDSOME FAAAAAAAAAAAACEEEEEEE!!! Dovan: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Dovan dove straight into the water himself.

ROUND 1 WINNER IS CONTESTANT IGNI!!!!!!

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH

In the midst of the cheers, Igni felt a stronger sense of accomplishment than ever before.