Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (LN) - Volume 4 - Chapter SS2

Arifureta Magic Academy 3 

In a faraway land, there was a magic academy that was considered the best in the world. It boasted a massive courtyard, which was about as large as the Tokyo Dome, for its students to train in. Normally it was a rather dreary place, but today it was filled with decorations and ornaments. Furthermore, it was filled to the brim with students, their families, and simple observers. For today was the annual sports meet. 
The students had spent the past few months polishing their skills, all for the sake of carrying their team to victory. The morning events had already finished, and after a short break the afternoon events would commence. The reason everyone put such importance on this event was because if one did well, it was possible nobles from various countries would want to scout them for high-ranking positions. However, while most students were pumped up for this event, there was one girl in the broadcaster’s booth who looked dispirited. 
“Shizuku can’t take this anymore. Shizuku’s going home...” 
“P-President!? Why’re you talking like a kid!? Get ahold of yourself!” 
Slumped across the broadcaster’s desk was the student council president, Shizuku Yaegashi. She was so depressed that even her ponytail was drooping. Next to her was a special guest who’d been invited to the sports meet, Liliana, the kingdom’s princess. 
“Hehehe, I’m fine, Liliana-sama. I just died a little inside when I realized there’s still half a day of this hell left.” 
“Then you’re not fine at all, are you!? Your eyes look like a dead fish’s...” 
Shizuku looked up at Liliana. It looked like she’d aged a decade over the past few days. Liliana couldn’t hide her worry, but before she could say anything more, the bell signaling the start of afternoon events rang. Shizuku’s expression returned to the stoic mask of the student council president. She flipped the switch on the magic amplifier and began her speech. 
“This is the management committee speaking. The afternoon games will begin shortly. I hope you all are rested and ready for the final round of events. Let’s give it our all until the very end... Lastly, I would like to implore everyone to please, please follow the rules, and play safe.” 
Cheers rang out throughout the grounds. It seemed her desperate pleas for certain students to play nice had been well received. The rest of the student body was tired of all the collateral damage they’d been suffering. 
Finally, it was time to start the first event of the afternoon. The obstacle course. Participants would have to overcome the physical and magical obstacles in their way using a combination of their athletic talents and their magical abilities. The first team to reach the flag at the end would be the winner. 
For some reason, though, the pedestal where the flag was supposed to be was covered by a huge cloth. Shizuku’s expression stiffened. She had a bad feeling about this. A teacher walked up to the pedestal with tears in his eyes, and reluctantly pulled the cloth off. The crowd fell silent when they saw what lay underneath. 
“Mmmmmm. Mmmmmm. Mgah!” 
Instead of a flag, there was a chair on the pedestal. And sitting on it, tied and gagged, was Hajime. He was struggling desperately against his bonds, but to no avail. It was rather pitiful, really. Hajime was probably the best Synergist on campus, and whoever had captured him had taken that into account. His chair was made of the sturdiest wood, and the ropes tying him of the toughest ivy. There was no metal or ore he could transmute within reach. 
“H-Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey! What do you think you’re doing!? Why on earth is Nagumo-kun tied up here!? Kudeta-sensei! You’re a teacher, aren’t you!? Hey, look at me! Tell me what’s going on!” 
“I-I don’t know! I have nothing to do with this! Yue-sensei just told me if I didn’t do as she said that she’d... err, well...” 
Kudeta was known as an upright and thoughtful teacher, which made him very popular with the kids. However, he was trembling in fear at present. After a few seconds of dithering, he dashed off the courtyard as fast as his legs would carry him. 
“Tch, he got away. Fine, we’ll just have to handle it ourselves. Someone! Anyone! Untie that student—” Loud music drowned Shizuku out before she could finish. It was an upbeat rock number, one that got everyone’s blood pumping. Confused, Shizuku turned to look at the music control tent. But before she could get a grasp of the situation, the girls entered the stage. 

“Let’s settle everything once and for all here on this grand stage. Hajime’s mine, I won’t hand him over to anyone, no matter what obstacles present themselves.” 
Yue, the strongest and prettiest magician in the school strode onto the courtyard first, her white lab coat and golden-blonde hair glimmering in the sunlight. Following behind her were a hundred members of the “I want Yue-sensei to give me private lessons after school” club. 
“I’ll obliterate any obstacles that get between me and my love. Whether they’re a teacher or a friend, I won’t show any mercy. I’ll drown this field in a sea of blood if I have to!” 
Shea stepped onto the courtyard next, swinging her trusty warhammer from side to side. If Yue was the academy’s strongest magician, then Shea was their strongest melee fighter. Not only that, she was revered as an idol by students and teachers alike. Following behind her were a hundred members of the “I want Shea-tan to step on me” club. 
“Hajime-kun is mine and mine alone. I’ll seal away any obstacles that try to come between us.” 
Kaori stepped onto the courtyard next. She was dressed in a nun’s habit that only showed off the barest hints of her tantalizing legs. She was known as the school’s gentlest healer, but right now her gaze was as cold as ice. Following behind her were a hundred members of the “I want to be healed by Kaori-chan” club. 
“My goodness, I cannot believe these youngsters are doing whatever they want on my campus. Know that none who’ve dared to stand against me have survived the encounter. This love nest belongs only to me and my mast— Hajime. All obstacles will be removed.” 
Tio’s golden pupils flashed dangerously. She was the last to step onto the courtyard. She was the respected dragon princess who reigned as the chairwoman of this school, and also a raging masochist. Following behind her were a hundred members of the “Dragon Princess Bodyguard” club. Sadly, they were unaware of her hidden perverted side. 
After glaring at each other for a few seconds, the girls all simultaneously said, 
“I’ll be the one to remove all obstacles in the way of my love!” 
“Stop right thereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! What the hell are you guys doing!? You’re not even entered in this event! Besides, teachers and administrators aren’t even allowed to participate! And just because you guys keep using the word obstacles doesn’t automatically make what you’re doing an obstacle course! What kind of battle are you trying to hold here!? Get off the stage and get back to the stands you idiots! I’ve had enough of you!” Shizuku was panting by the end of the tirade. 
“Wow, to think the student council president can argue on equal footing with those four. She really is amazing,” Liliana exclaimed. 
Unfortunately, the four of them completely ignored Shizuku and went ahead with their competition anyway. The student council couldn’t hope to match the authority of the chairwoman, so it wasn’t like Shizuku ever had a chance. 
The “obstacle course” that followed was one that had never before been seen in history. Shizuku lost a few years off her life from that event alone. 
“Heeey! Quit sending lightning dragons into the stands! Chairwoman, you can’t transform here! Hey, don’t use your breath! Kaori, stop using the teachers as catapults. Just because you’re healing them right after doesn’t make it right! Shea, just because Kaori can heal everyone doesn’t give you the right to knock people around like pinballs! Oh no, one of the teachers got thrown right into the pope’s stand! I’m terribly sorry for how unruly the students are being!” 
Shizuku kept yelling until her voice grew hoarse. She was respected by the entire student body, and known as the academy’s strongest swordswoman, but there was one other nickname the school knew her by. 
“The school’s most pitiful student council president.” 
“You braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaats! Cut it out, before I cut you all down!” The student council president’s angry screams had become a regular fixture of this academy.