Early in the morning, Alphs visited the [Order of Light].
Her purpose was for confession—a religious ceremony typically involving the admission of one's sins to an order member and seeking forgiveness.
However, it also serves as an opportunity for counseling on concerns not easily shared with even close friends, such as family and romantic troubles.
This counseling service is quite popular among students, largely because the order is bound by a strict principle never to reveal what they've heard, no matter the circumstance or to anyone.
Of course, for Alphs, who could not call anyone a friend, members of the order were the only ones she could truly confide in.
Silently, Alphs approached the confessional located behind the altar of the Order.
The confessional consisted of two rooms, separated by a thin wall with a window.
Between the windows, blinds enchanted with a perception-reducing spell were hung, preventing either parties from seeing each other.
Alphs stopped in front of the confessional.
But, there was someone there before her.
Naturally, from the outside, one could not see in.
What troubles could the early visitor possess to seek solace at this hour?
Alphs pondered from a distance as she waited for her turn.
About 20 minutes passed.
The door suddenly opened, and a person emerged from the confessional.
'Huh? Why is she here?'
The woman was Piel, well-known to Alphs and the second-in-command of the Hero Department.
Of course, they did not know each other personally—it was Alphs who knew of her unilaterally.
Piel passed by with a somewhat flushed face, quickly leaving the Order behind.
'Even someone with such blessed talent has struggles.'
She entered the confessional.
The door creaked as she sat down and faced the window.
"Good morning, Father. I apologize for coming at such an early hour."
"Not at all. These days, with the festival going on, visits from the faithful have been sparse, so your presence is actually a pleasure. What concerns bring you here today?"
The voice of the woman from beyond the window was unexpectedly warm and comforting.
Alphs's eyes widened in surprise.
'Were there female priests in the Order as well...?'
The perception reduction magic cast affected not only her appearance but also her voice.
Even so, it was still possible to distinguish gender.
'Anyway, that's not what's important right now!'
If she was a female priest, that might even be better.
Putting her questions aside, Alphs spoke up.
"I haven't come to confess any misdeeds. Rather, I'm here seeking advice on a concern of mine."
"May the grace of the great Renimid reach you, my child. I will listen to any worries you have with all my heart."
"The thing is... I've received an aide recruitment offer from someone I would have never expected..."
And so, Alphs began to recount the events that had taken place the previous night, during the [Night of Light].
12:59 PM.
Theo Lyn Waldeurk arrived at the registration desk just one minute before the start of the [Martial Arts Competition] and completed his registration.
Unlike the variety competitions Theo had participated in before, the [Martial Arts Competition] was the main event of the Academy Festival.
Therefore, it took place in the exclusive arena within the Knight Department.
It was the same venue that had hosted the Knight Department's 2v2 tournament.
-All [Martial Arts Competition] participants, please gather backstage~
An official's voice boomed through the loudspeaker.
Students, including Theo, swarmed towards the backstage area.
Theo surveyed the surroundings with an indifferent expression.
'Hmm. As expected of the most popular competition, there's a huge turnout.'
There seemed to be roughly 500 participants.
He recognized quite a few faces.
'From the Hero Department... Tarkan, Kazim, Travis.'
Tarkan and Kazim, members of the Noctar Orc Cartel.
Travis, despite being ranked 188th in his class, had achieved a career-high by reaching the semifinals in the previous Knight Department's 2v2 tournament.
'From the Knight Department... Cyrus, Julia, Jacob. And Irene.'
Cyrus, who had teamed up with Neike in the Knight Department's 2v2 tournament.
Julia, the only first-year student in the Knight Department to possess a master-level trait, effectively ranking her as the department's top combatant.
Jacob, who had partnered with Travis in the 2v2 tournament.
And Irene.
There were many formidable contenders.
It was as if every eligible student had signed up to participate.
Of course, not a single Magic Department student was participating, since the use of offensive and debuff magic was prohibited in the [Martial Arts Competition].
The students gathered backstage were all turning their heads, looking around.
"Looks like all the big names from each department have signed up. I see Travis, Julia, and even Irene..."
"Man, I just hope I get a good draw. Let's try to make it to the top 64!"
"Sigh... The third prize is an emergency communication crystal. I might as well give up on that dream."
Amidst the murmuring students, a group of orcs approached Theo.
No one stood in the way of the group of twenty or so burly orcs. The students, intimidated by their presence, naturally cleared a path.
"Ah, as expected, you're here, Theo."
"Have you been training hard?"
Tarkan and Kazim, who stood at the forefront of the group, looked at Theo and gritted their teeth.
They each served as Noctar's right and left arms.
All of the orcs, including these two, bore numerous large and small wounds on their bodies.
Theo offered a faint smile.
"To some extent. It looks like you've had quite the fierce time."
"Of course. This time we'll show those lizardmen the true might of the orcs."
With that, Tarkan and Kazim turned around and looked back at the orcs with fiery determination.
"Is everyone ready?"
The orcs all raised their thick, muscular arms in response.
"We're ready, Tarkan, Kazim!"
"Make orcs great again!"
"Down with the lizardmen! The true masters of the desert are the orcs!"
"Let's offer the lizardmen's heads to the great god of war!"
The fervor was like a gathering of zealots.
The other participants looked on with a mix of shock and fear at the orcs as they loudly chanted their defiance against the lizardmen.
While the orcs were vociferously chanting down the lizardmen, another voice cut in.
"Cut the crap, you stupid orcs."
"Orcs really have no manners. Do you think you own this place? Enough with your blabbering."
A group of about twenty lizardmen walked up in front of the orcs.
Like the orcs, two lizardmen led the group.
Tarkan simply curled his lips into a devilish smile and stared down the two lizardmen at the front.
"Shut up, Grendor, Kurok. You're so scared you can't even speak."
Grendor and Kurok, their horns quivering, laughed.
"Hmph. As expected of a foolish orc, your thinking is so simplistic."
"I agree, Grendor. It's pitiful that someone who claims to be second in the hierarchy can only make such weak provocations."
The lizardmen and orc groups faced off, each glaring at the other, the tension palpable.
Most of the participants looked on with fear at the lizardmen and orcs, poised on the brink of conflict.
But Theo remained as indifferent as ever, his face impassive.
'Hmm. Despite what Noctar said, it looks like both the orcs and lizardmen are about equally injured.'
The showdown seemed like it would be an interesting one.
Grendor and Kurok are members of the Lizardman Cartel.
Both are students in the Hero Department, serving as the right and left hands of 'Shagarod,' the head of the Lizardman Cartel.
Grendor looked at Theo and opened his mouth.
"It's the first time we're greeting each other like this. Pleased to meet you, Theo. I'm Grendor. Your bravery and knowledge are the talk amongst us."
Grendor extended his hand to Theo, which was calloused from much use.
Theo grasped Grendor's hand.
"Nice to meet you, Grendor. You must have trained hard. I hope we have a good match."
"Thanks. But I would advise against mingling with those dim-witted orcs. Their stupidity could rub off on you."
Upon hearing Grendor's words, Tarkan gave a devilish smile.
"Is sowing discord all you can do? That's despicable, Grendor. Besides, Theo has already been unanimously accepted as an honorary orc a few days ago."
The orcs looked at Theo in unison.
"Theo! Theo! Theo! Theo!"
"Just looking at how he brings down divine punishment on those mages shows that Theo is an orc!"
"Don't try your dirty tricks, lizardmen! Theo is Noctar's friend!"
The lizardmen scoffed.
"What nonsense, you stupid orcs. Don't taint Theo with your stupidity!"
"Indeed, even judging by intelligence, Theo deserves to be an honorary lizardman. We too dislike those mage bastards!"
"Shagarod himself has recognized Theo. Theo is Shagarod's friend!"
The orcs and lizardmen all raised their voices, slinging insults at each other.
All the participants were looking at Theo, the center of attention, and whispering among themselves.
Theo frowned deeply.
'These damn fools.'
He was embarrassed.
[Twisted Noble's Dignity] trait activated and a sharp pain surged from deep within.
Theo screamed internally.
