From the main tournament, two victors remained. Out of these two, only one would emerge as the champion of this swordsmanship tournament, claiming the prize money, honor... and the right to challenge the Seven Swords of Unparalleled Might.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience! …No! Perhaps I have kept you waiting far too long!!"

Following Freesia and Ibuki’s duel, a ten-minute break was granted.

It would be far too cruel to demand the final match immediately after such a fierce battle. Even the spectators, after witnessing a series of intense clashes, needed a moment to regain their composure. However, the return of Spica Lauder—the host who had been masterfully guiding the tournament—signaled the end of this respite.

"We’ve waited long enough!!"

"Hurry up and start already!!"

"Spica-chan, I love youuuuuu!!"

As she reappeared in the combat arena with her usual vigor, the crowd erupted into cheers. Among them, a few overzealous fans shamelessly professed their admiration, but such things were mere trivialities.

"Thank you, dear audience! Now, only the final match remains in this year’s swordsmanship tournament! Many fierce warriors have fought their way through deadly battles, and now, these two stand at the pinnacle!!"

As cheers resounded from all directions, a young man and woman stepped onto the battlefield. Spica’s voice rang out as she proudly introduced them.

"First, having placed among the top competitors in the previous tournament, she has honed her strength to reach the finals this year! The Duke’s daughter of the Greyfrost family—The Ice Demon Freesia Greyfrost!! She displayed a masterful use of magic to incapacitate her opponent in the last match, but will she once again showcase a spectacular magical battle in this final showdown?!"

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, her silver-white hair fluttered as she stood on the battlefield. Having made it to this stage two years in a row, her striking appearance and formidable skill had made her incredibly popular.

"Take the championship this year, Greyfrost!!"

"I’ve been your fan since I was a kid!!"

"Go for it!!"

However, her opponent was no less formidable.

"And facing her is a newcomer to the tournament, yet with extraordinary swordsmanship and sheer physical ability, he defeated the Refined Magic Sword Corps! Behind that charming face lies a ferocious beast—The Hero of Light, Weiss Brightness!!"

His delicate and well-formed features could almost be mistaken for a girl’s, but his prowess had left an indelible impact on those around him.

"Kyaaaa!! Weiss-samaaaaa!!"

"Look this way!! Smile just for meeeee!!"

"I love you, I love you, I love youuuu!!"

Particularly among the female spectators, his popularity was overwhelming.

"From what I’ve heard, these two study at the same Magic Sword Academy. And not only that, but they belong to the same faction within the academy! This year’s Chronostaria Swordsmanship Tournament has become a clash between fellow students—who will seize victory?!"

Spica, having likely gathered this information during the break, provided additional context, which intrigued the audience.

However, despite being students of the same academy, despite belonging to the same faction, the two figures standing face to face on the battlefield wore expressions that did not match the camaraderie implied.

When it came to battle, friendship meant nothing. More importantly, their relationship had always been ambiguous at best.

Ultimately, the reason they were even remotely connected was due to one boy.

"────!!"

Since stepping onto the battlefield, the female announcer had been enthusiastically speaking about something. Most likely about the two of them. However, as Weiss and Freesia faced each other, such things quickly ceased to matter.

────Somehow, I had expected this.

The Hero turned what had long been a lingering premonition into certainty. There was no need for surprise—this was inevitable.

────Of course, my opponent would be you.

The Ice Demon felt the same way, muttering a quiet “I knew it.”

Though they had several similarities, their connection remained vague.

Calling them mere “acquaintances” felt too distant, yet they lacked the trust to be considered true “allies.” Even so, the one thing that bound them together was undeniable.

────We’re thinking the same thing.

That boy.

At the end of their respective paths, he stood as their ultimate goal. Their inner emotions might differ slightly, but in the grand scheme, they were one and the same. Because of that, they understood.

"This will be the first time we properly cross blades."

"Yes, that’s right…"

"I don’t care if you’re Clay’s so-called first disciple—I have no intention of yielding."

"Nor do I. At least for this match, status and position mean nothing. I will not back down."

Perhaps—no, almost certainly—their thoughts mirrored each other’s. And in realizing that, they acknowledged that, in some ways, they were alike.

"────Then let us begin! The Chronostaria Swordsmanship Tournament—final match!!"

Spica’s long-winded introduction came to an end, and a familiar explosive sound echoed throughout the arena. There was no need to say what it was—the signal to begin.

"────!!"

In an instant, both the young man and woman kicked off the ground.

They had fought their way through countless opponents to reach this point. More than that, they had already gained some understanding of each other’s fighting styles and habits. There was no need for cautionary probing. In the blink of an eye, they closed the distance—

"Ice Wall!!"

"Radiant Light!!"

However, the moment their incantations rang through the arena, the battle took an unexpected turn.

A sphere of light illuminated the surroundings, its radiance reflecting off the countless ice walls towering like crystalline monuments.

“Of course, you’d have a countermeasure for that…!”

The hero’s signature opening move, a blinding flash, was easily deflected. Worse still, the numerous ice walls obscured his view of the Ice Demon, leaving him entirely on the defensive.

“If all you have are predictable one-trick moves, you’ll never defeat me!!”

In an instant, she vanished from sight—no, she had already circled behind the Hero. The Ice Demon launched a surprise assault, yet the hero’s expression remained unfazed.

“No, no, I was just testing you. If this much was enough to beat you, I wouldn’t even need to get serious… that’s all.”

A rapier thrust came slicing toward him. Yet, the Hero did not panic. Instead, he smoothly pivoted his body and intercepted the attack. The fierce clash of blades sent a shockwave between them, forcing a temporary separation—but neither let up.

“You talk big—Ice Lance!!”

“Light Bullet!!”

Both unleashed their signature long-range magic. Spears of ice and bullets of light streaked through the air—not just one or two, but dozens, no, hundreds.

“Wh-what kind of magic barrage is this!?”

One, two, three… in the blink of an eye, the spells multiplied into the hundreds, each one a deadly projectile. The arena host was stunned, the audience speechless. But neither combatant seemed to care.

Both kicked off the ground at the same time. Even as their magical bombardment continued, they seamlessly transitioned into close combat.

“Haaaaaaa!!”

“Uooooooooh!!”

A flurry of clashing blades. Their swordsmanship was evenly matched—or rather, the Hero had a slight edge. The tide of battle was tilting in his favor.

“As expected of someone trained by Lord Fade…!”

Realizing close combat was unfavorable, the Ice Demon immediately shifted tactics.

“Freesia, your magic control is just as impressive!”

In contrast, the magical battle favored Freesia. Seeing this, the Hero tried to keep her within reach, preventing her from creating distance.

Neither too close nor too far—a back-and-forth struggle for dominance. If they continued like this, the battle would remain at a stalemate. Both fighters and the audience alike felt the frustration building.

—Whoever makes the first decisive move will win!

The Hero resolved to go for the finishing blow.

“Time to end this—!!”

He channeled all the magic he could muster into his sword.

The pulsation of radiant energy intensified. Particles of light surged around him, converging into his blade until it took the form of a massive sword of pure brilliance.

“Luminous Vanish, Blade of the Aurora!!”

He swung the great sword of radiant energy straight at the Ice Demon.

“—!”

The high-density light and magic compressed into the blade burned the very air around it. No matter how thick or sturdy her Ice Walls were, they would be effortlessly incinerated.

—He would cleave through it all!!

The battle was decided—

“You rushed things.”

“Wha—!?”

Or so it seemed.

But the Hero’s blade never reached the Ice Demon.

Why?

The answer was simple. Before his attack could land, her magic had already been completed.

“A trump card deserves a trump card—Turn all to the frozen ashes of Greyfrost.”

It was the most powerful magic in the Ice Demon’s arsenal. The Hero had been wary of this spell all along, knowing that if she cast it, he would have no chance of winning. Yet, he hadn’t even noticed its activation.

“Why…?”

Before he realized it, frost had begun swirling around him. The ground was now frozen white. His body was encased in ice, completely immobilized. All he could do was question what had happened.

The Ice Demon provided the answer.

“The answer’s simple. Delayed activation, time lag… I just adjusted the moment of casting, that’s all. You were so focused on my spell that you never noticed when it had already begun. I prepared everything from the start, and once it was ready—boom, game over.”

“—!!”

In the end, the Hero had been in the palm of her hand from the very beginning. From the initial Light Flash and the countless Ice Walls, she had meticulously laid the groundwork. Even during their swordfight, she had intentionally remained defensive, slowly lowering the temperature and leaving traces of magic behind. Without anyone noticing, she had woven her spell throughout the battlefield.

—I never even realized…!

By the time he understood, it was far too late. The Hero had lost because he was too wary of her trump card and rushed his attack.

“This time, I win.”

“—I lost…”

Completely encased in ice, no matter how much strength he mustered, he couldn’t move an inch. The match was over.

“It’s decided!! The winner of this year’s Chronostaria Swordsmanship Tournament, making a triumphant return after a year-long challenge, is none other than the Ice Princess, Freesia Greyfrost!!”

“Uoooooooooooooh!!”

Deafening cheers erupted from the crowd, filling the arena. Every single voice was a tribute to one girl—her victory, her glory.

But she was not yet satisfied. To her, winning the tournament was merely a step forward, not the ultimate goal.

“I’ve finally made it this far…!”

Her dazzling sapphire eyes burned with determination, locked onto a single boy.