第５８８堀：ようじょつよい (Part1)
### Chapter 588: The Little Girl is Strong
**Side: Yuki**
Kagura vs. Zieman!!
A rookie challenging the champion!!
...Or is it the other way around?
In any case, while receiving the report from Dressa was fine and dandy, the result was that everyone in the room ended up tilting their heads in confusion.
"H-hey, wait a minute. Kagura is being pestered by an annoying idiot, you know!?"
Dressa, who had brought the report, seemed puzzled as to why we were agonizing over this, but this was a situation where it was difficult to intervene.
"Well, you're right about that, Dressa, but in the end, Kagura accepted the duel, didn't she?"
"Eh? Probably. I heard she went to the practice grounds."
"Then, wouldn't butting in between Kagura and Zieman, who have officially accepted a duel, just be an unnecessary interference?"
"Ah. I see..."
My words seemed to help Dressa grasp the current situation correctly.
"By the way, is dueling against school rules?" I asked Kanna, just to cover the basics.
"No. Dueling is not a violation of school rules. It is seen as a means for students to resolve problems among themselves. Of course, we do not permit duels that involve rule-breaking or forcing unreasonable demands, and in such cases, the duel wouldn't be accepted in the first place."
"Then, we can't interfere even more. Kagura accepted Zieman's duel. I don't know the conditions, but I can guess. He probably wants to get back at her for yesterday. Kagura also hated Zieman's jealousy, so she probably wanted to settle the score here."
"That sounds like something Kagura would do."
"What about the judgment of the match and follow-up for injuries?"
"A teacher is always required to be present as a referee during a duel, so there is no need to worry."
There really was no reason to go to Kagura’s location.
If we went there clumsily, Zieman might make a scene, and since Kagura wanted to settle it herself, it would be completely out of place for us to chime in.
If she were a commoner or a low-ranking noble, we would have to worry about someone bribing the referee, but Kagura is a Duke’s daughter, deeply trusted by Princess Carrie, and has proven her worth in the defense of Bide, so such petty tricks wouldn't work.
I struggle to understand why Zieman picked this fight.
Just as I was wondering what to do, a voice suddenly called out from near my feet.
"In that case, I shall go and observe."
Everyone’s gaze turned toward my feet.
Standing there was a woman who could be called a little girl.
Her name is Popuri Lancer.
She is the greatest mage in the If Continent, gathering and educating the few mages on the continent.
Until recently, Comet was the greatest in the If Continent, but since her defeat in the duel at the Hifie Holy Nation, the title of "Greatest in the If Continent" has shifted to Popuri. Or so Comet claimed on her own.
Simply put, because she wanted to focus on experiments and development, she pushed the mage-related work onto Popuri.
The title sounds incredibly prestigious, but to Popuri herself, it’s just a nuisance.
Well, she doesn't introduce herself by it, so it’s not a problem.
Even if she did, she looks like a little girl, so no one would believe her anyway.
Naturally, at this academy, she is treated as just a little girl—a child brought along by us.
I had explained it, but she wasn't at yesterday's magic demonstration and only showed her face in class today, so it couldn't be helped.
It’s not like we could rent out the practice grounds just for Popuri...
Ah, so that’s it.
"Understood. It seems Vilia is acting on her own, so I'll leave the follow-up to you. There's no telling if Zieman might do something strange."
"Leave it to me."
With that, Popuri trotted out of the classroom.
We all watched her go.
"Hah!? Y-Yuki-sama!? Why did you let her go alone!?"
"Exactly!! She’s about the same size as Hiiro!? What if she gets lost!?"
Kanna and Stasia rushed to ask me.
Since a little girl had acted on her own, that was a natural reaction.
"It’s okay. Big Sister Sta. Popuri-sensei is strong."
When Hiiro told Princess Stasia not to worry, the Weed members nodded.
The members from the If Continent—Eoid, Amanda, and Agil—added further explanation.
"Well, it’s hard to believe given her appearance."
"But she really is strong. As I said before, she is the Academy President."
"Yes. She is truly the President of the Lancer Magic Academy. Perhaps Yuki-dono sent Popuri-dono specifically to make them reconsider their perception of her?"
"Spot on. If they won't believe it when you tell them, you have to show them. Besides, as Kanna-dono and Princess Stasia said, such a small child went out alone. We have to go search for her, right?"
"Ah."
Everyone looked surprised.
Now we had an excuse to show our faces at the practice grounds where Kagura was dueling.
The excuse of searching for a lost child.
"Hahaha, as expected of Yuki-sama. Then, shall we go search for Popuri-dono who wandered off?"
Jorgin immediately jumped on my suggestion.
"I suppose so."
"She might be crying because she's lost, after all."
When Deryu and Ria said the same, the others felt they had no choice, and we all headed toward the practice grounds to "find" Popuri, who had gone to watch Kagura's duel...
"Oh, Popuri is already out there. Did it end quickly?"
"Naturally. No matter how talented the intermediate student Zieman is, he has no combat experience. Considering Kagura's ability, it must have ended quickly, but..."
Kanna praised her sister, but as she watched Popuri’s rampage, her face froze.
No, all the members who didn't believe Popuri was a mage had frozen solid.
"C-coward!! Flying in the air!!"
"Oh? Referee-san. Is there a rule against flying in the air?"
"N-no. It is magic, so there is no problem."
"Hmm. It seems there is no problem."
"Gwah!?"
Popuri lightly dodged the fireballs Zieman unleashed while casting multiple spells.
Although the referee said there were no rule violations, Zieman continued to complain.
"Flying magic can only be used by elites!! Even in our country, only the Saber Corps and Eagle Corps can use it!! There’s no way a child like you could use it!! It must be a trick!!"
"Calling it a trick is rude. However, Zieman-kun. You seem to be holding back more than I thought."
"Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"No, you're moving and talking quite well for someone who took Kagura-dono's attacks. Well, your knees are shaking, so you must have taken some damage, I suppose?"
"I haven't lost!!"
Taking the bait of Popuri's provocation, Zieman unleashed an exceptionally large fireball.
Popuri didn't even try to dodge it; she caught it and lifted it up with a flick.
"W-what!?"
"Yes, yes. You’re well-trained for your age. But your control is sloppy. That’s why your magic was snatched away by me like this."
"Y-you snatched it!?"
"That’s right. Magic is a type of arrow. The bow is yourself, the magic power is the string, and the spell is the arrow. If you can grasp it, you can snatch it away."
Popuri wasn't wrong.
It made sense, but it wasn't something easily done, so it had zero practical use.
She was likely imitating Eoid’s magic manipulation.
Though, the difficulty level for Popuri was overwhelmingly higher.
Either way, it could only be done if the opponent was extremely careless, so it was truly in the realm of circus tricks with no practical application.
Then again, perhaps the gateway to being a genius or a weirdo is learning how to use these circus tricks in actual combat.