After Abel's death, time flew by. One day, Liebe and his team were called to Obsidian's office. As Liebe and the others went inside, Obsidian said, "Everyone, sit down and have some tea. We need to talk about the World Battle Championships."
As they sat down, Obsidian poured some tea and said, "Ok, so listen. Each team can have 7 key members, 1 substitute, and 300 regular students. Of course, from our side, the 7 main fighters will be Liebe, Licht, M Grinberryal, Alysa, Isurugi, and Elizabeth, with Liebe in the center as team leader. And for substitution, who do you suggest? I want the sub to be from Team Liebe as well as the 7th member, since you are already a team. It will greatly affect the teamwork, so we won't have to waste time there."
After going back and forth for a bit, they decided the 7th member will be Fate, with Gaia as the substitute. And the 300 will include Iris, Olivia, Elina, Licia, Lumos, Hedin, Mey, Eosian, Aoi, Aile, Nior, and among the 300, the healers in charge will be Gaia, Lumos, and Mey.
Obsidian said, "Also, I mean no offense when I say this, specially Mrs. Alysa, but we should be more careful when deploying Eosian, Mey, Nior, and Aile since they are foreign exchange students. If anything happens to them, it wouldn't leave a good impression."
Liebe said, "I agree, specially since those four are far too weak. But Mey is useful for her Phoenix Flame magic. But she is a support and healer; she has no purpose on the front lines."
Obsidian said, "K, then. And the first round is a 3v3 team battle out of the 3 rounds, and it's against the team from Haldonia, Team Yin Tenhuang. They have a way of mixing martial arts with magic, basically connecting mana with their body. Even though for a knight, this is a basic technique, and I'm sure all four of you know how to use it—by engulfing muscles with magic, we are able to grow stronger and raise our defenses to the level of the demi-human races—but they are the ones who perfected it."
Licht said, "Sir, if there are 7 rounds, I have a question."
Obsidian said, "Please go ahead."
Licht said, "Since there are 7 rounds, if we make it to round 5, by then the info on our magic attributes will be known. So this is the strategy I propose: M will start battling from round 3, I will start from round 5, and Liebe starts at 6. In that way, since we are the strongest in our teams, the properties of our attributes will be protected till the end. And since Liebe is our ace, his strength needs to be saved no matter what."
Obsidian said, "Interesting proposition. Yet the danger remains: while trying to protect our secrets, what if we get wiped out in the first round?"
Liebe said, "I have a suggestion regarding that. For the first round, the 3v3 battle, from our side, I suggest Alysa, Isurugi, as well as Licht. As much as I hate to admit it, this is the best plan I can suggest in accordance with Licht's, even though it means I won't get the chance to fight the most battles. In this scenario, even if Alysa and Isurugi are somehow defeated, Licht will be there to stop it, since Licht is comparable to me in strength. And since I'm among the top 2000 people in the world—"
Obsidian said, "Ok, then. That's the lineup we will follow. Just because you are in the top 2000 in the world doesn't mean we can take the others lightly. This competition is only for students and prohibits participation from veterans such as myself. Even so, there are people who are even in the top 1000 in the world, such as Warner Crimson Makido from Aldonia—he is a captain yet still a student. Or there is Zen from Hezen, or the various godkin from the empire, or even Roy from Irish, or Hwang from Haldonia, and finally Christopher Raid from Symphonics. Each of them are monsters in their own right, and some are the personal forces of one of the 25 Princes. And among them, the one who ensured the empire's victory the last 4 years straight, the godkin known as Double Finger—she is the biggest threat here."
Alysa tightened her fist and thought, Ava. I never was able to beat her before, but now I have to do it.
Liebe said, "We will bear this in mind."
Obsidian said, "Splendid. Now, would you like some hot chocolate as well?"
Liebe said, "I'm good."
Licht said, "Sure."
After giving the hot chocolate, Obsidian said, "We leave in a month after this year's Knightly Festival to the God Freyr. I'm sure you Black Rose members are aware, since it's the loudest festival you celebrate."
Liebe said, "Of course."
Obsidian said, "And finally, the 1st round will be in the land of Haldonia. Till then, relax and prepare mentally, and avoid battles if at all possible."
Liebe said, "Of course, sir."
Obsidian said, "That would be all. You may leave."
While leaving, they said, "Thank you for the gracious invite, sir."
Licht said, "The chocolate was good."
Obsidian said, "Of course. I enjoy the chocolate quite a bit, and it's from the empire. It helps me stop crying when I forget... when I forget I'm 45 and still unmarried."
Liebe said, "I'm so sorry to hear that, sir. But if you ever need help, there are a few members in our knighthood that are single."
Obsidian said, "I will consider that. Now, enjoy your day."