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Chapter 231 – Vannabelle’s Support

“Leeeeeeet’s get this started, laaaaaaadies and gentlemennnnnnn! This is the fiiiinaaaaaaals of the Zesteller — Canalford Cupppppppppppp!!! Lend me your eaaaaaars, everyone gathered here todaaaaaaaay――!!”

The Zersteller — Canalford Cup Finals.

Under the clear sky, the entire area surrounding the colosseum seemed to be suffering from unprecedented congestion.

“Mr. Johnny’s been here since the morning, huh.”
“If there’s anyone who can actually make themselves heard over this crowd, it’s him.”

As instructed, we entered the backstage area early in the morning. While eating the warm breakfast offered to us by the cafeteria staff, we watched the outside scene through the projection panel.

Our battle yesterday—the semifinals fought by us, the nameless Class 1-F—had become a huge topic of conversation. Apparently, it had even been given the extraordinary treatment of a late-night rebroadcast on the TV. The effect far surpassed the organizers’ expectations, and the frenzy had spread beyond the colosseum itself, engulfing the entire surrounding district.

At the broadcasting bureau’s behest, massive projection panels had hastily been prepared, set up by cranes and Subordinate Units. In order to avoid the already packed streets, several of the panels were installed on rooftops, creating a curious sight.

When footage of yesterday’s semifinals was played as a test broadcast, voices of praise for Estea and Melua, along with cheers for the feats of Altered and Lemures, could be heard all the way into the backstage.

“Everyone’s really looking forward to our finals, huh.”
“I, too, am excited. I’ve been waiting for this day.”

Replying to Alfe with a nod, Hom finished her breakfast and stood up. She then walked toward Altered’s feet and looked up at the mecha soldier.

“Thank you so much, Master.”
“I’ve heard that plenty of times already.”
“Even so, I don’t think I could ever say it enough.”

Hom answered in her gentle voice, then turned back to me with a softened smile. There was no sign of overwhelming tension on her face. If it was because we had slept together last night, then I was glad for it too.

“Altered and Arkecius are both in perfect condition. And I had Lemures wear the secret weapon—the aether-blocking robe.”
“Thank you, Leafa.”

The aether-blocking robe, which Alfe had asked me to prepare in anticipation of facing Melua, had been held back as a trump card for the finals. With it, Alfe would be able to unleash Multi-Vision spells without Melua’s Pure Eyes seeing through them. It would surely be a powerful weapon in her hands.

“……I’ll win. No matter what.”

Alfe lifted her gaze to Lemures, now draped in the aether-blocking robe, and slowly sipped her hot tea. The steam carried an unusually sweet aroma. From the smell, she was clearly preparing for heavy magic expenditure. The fact that she was carefully consuming energy to avoid running out of magic—well, that was just like Alfe.

“Nya-ha-ha! Lemures is finally in its ultimate form!”
“We came to cheer you on～!”

Suddenly, new presences joined us backstage—Farah and Numelin. Even Isaac and Romeo, our mechanics, had struggled to get in through the crowd, so seeing these two arrive ahead of them was a bit of a surprise.

“Farah! Numelin!”

Alfe jumped up, ran to them, and took their hands, spinning them around in a little dance. Farah and Numelin matched her steps. It seemed Lili-Lulu’s ritual-like dance had spread through the entire Class F. Seeing it now, I had to admit—it was helping ease Alfe’s nerves, which was a relief.

“Still, I’m impressed you two made it here.”
“Nya-ha! That’s because I’ve got these Magic Eyes.”
“I just swept right through the crowd, like swish-swish～.”

Ah, I see. So Farah’s Magic Eyes could be used that way too.

“And Vannabelle?”
“Umm, Belle is~”

Numelin looked around the backstage area in response to my question.

“Hey! I made it just in time!”

Vannabelle approached us, flashing a big grin, looking completely recovered from yesterday’s defeat.

“Man, it was craaaaaazy packed out there! Even though I left at the crack of dawn, I still lost tons of time just trying to buy betting sliiiiiiiiips!”

She must have spent the wait listening to Johnny’s commentary, because her way of speaking carried a hint of his over-the-top style.

“Nya-ha! You’re sounding a little too much like Johnny there.”

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at Farah’s remark.

“Can’t be helped! The guy’s got such a ridiculously strong quirk to his voice, it sticks～～! Anyway, like I promised, I bet my entire fortune on Reinforce!”

With that, Vannabelle beamed and swung open the trunk she was carrying.

The lid popped open, and several bundles of paper betting slips tumbled out. The trunk was packed to bursting—every last one of them slips for the Zersteller finals.

“Nya-ha-ha-ha! You really did bet everything!”
“That’s Belle’s whole allowance for the year～～”
“Vannabelle… are you sane?”

Promise or not, this was downright reckless. I could only hope she hadn’t hit her head too hard in yesterday’s match.

“Of course I’m sane! And besides, what faster way is there to show you guys how much I’m rooting for you, huh?!”

Grinning wide, Vannabelle shoved the mountain of slips back into the trunk with Numelin’s help.

“…We’ll do our best not to waste that support and spirit.”
“I promise we’ll claim victory.”
“We’ll give it our all!”

Following my words, Hom and Alfe added their own. Vannabelle gave us a firm nod, waving her hand as though to send us off.

“Now get out there! It’s the shining stage you’ve all been waiting for!”

***

#Editor’s Note#

I’m sorry, I’m still salty over that loss, and with no reflection on it whatsoever. I hope Leafa has a redemption arc in the finals.