Isekai Journey Of The Magic Archer

[Mia's POV: ]

"Ummm? Captain, do you feel something weird?"

"Hmmm? What do you mean Ball?"

"Well… I just, I just have this weird feeling that something strange happened last night but I couldn't put a finger on what this feeling exactly is."

Hmmm?

Is he talking about the strange feeling of forgetfulness I had been feeling since the morning?

"I think I can understand what you are trying to say, however, I think it's because something we ate or drank last night. Don't think too much about this and let's focus on what is before us."

"Ummm… alright captain."

Last night was pretty magical… and definitely mind blowing.

'I didn't think young master Axion would invite all of us to their estate for dinner. And to think he actually prepared all that food just for us, haaa.'

All of that was so magical I feel like I had been dreaming about it since the moment I laid on my bed last night.

'He was charming yesterday and looked just as gooooooood as he did when we had our meeting~.'

Hmmm. Hmmm. 

Choosing him to be my sponsor was the correct decision~. 

Perhaps yesterday's banquet was also his way to tell me that I had made the right decision.

And then there was Lady Reinelle… haaaa.

I almost fell in love with both of them yesterday. Just like most of us who were present there.

'They are just too amazing, haaaa.'

I don't know why I am sighing so much but what we experienced yesterday in that fine estate is something I want to experience once again.

And, perhaps, if we put in a good performance during both of today's rounds, we will get to meet the two of them again~.

'And they should be looking at us right now, right?'

I looked up at the grand balcony where the important guests had been observing us from since the first day was full once again.

The same nobles and experts were filling the seats of honour and among those people, there were two who were even younger than me, and still so special that they could sit right beside the rulers of this prestigious land of divine.

"Haaaa. Gather up everyone."

Today was the third and the last day of the annual alchemy competition and it will last until late night with all the three rounds and the award ceremony.

'I have participated in this cometation before, however, aside from one complementary award, I have won nothing. The grand spot of the winner of this competition being a spot I have coveted form my first ever try at the cometation.'

The title of the grand champion of the annual alchemy competition is nothing less than a global champion title.

The winners are awarded the opportunity to ask of anything they wish from the Lakmer, anything that the nation itself is capable of.

And, that isn't all.

'All the winners of the cometation get a thousand platinum prize money, individually. Along with an opportunity to request the master and the grandmaster craftsman present to make any kind of equipment they want. And, the title of the 'Honour'. A special privilege under which, one can buy anything they want at a discounted price through the principality.'

These rewards are nothing small if one looked at it from the perspective of investment and profits. Especially the wish.

One can ask them to become a noble of their or any other kingdom on the continent they want.

They can ask for land, more funds, resources, or even request them to become their sponsors for their lifetime.

'And the thing is, rulers of Lakmer do grant these wishes to the best of their abilities.'

They have been doing it since the old times, and they are still powerful enough to do it still. That's why the Principality of Lakmer holds a very crucial position on note only this continent, but they are one of the most important nations when it comes to the world level.

'And today is the day we will have to show everything we have.'

The winners will be decided by the the grand judges and the judgement will be fair for every participant that took part in this competition and have their absolute best, and beyond.

The winner might not even be someone that had reached the sixth roun of the third day, but they are always someone that people know are a winning candidate.

And, right now, there are only a few winning candidates, most of whom have already made it to the fifth round.

'The chances that the winner of the competition will be someone that reaches the last round and gives their absolute best. And that's why we had to be one of those people.'

We, as a group, had to be one of the spots that makes it to the last round of the cometation that would start shortly after the first round of today ends.

"Everyone…"

We were in the grand arena where less than hundred groups or individuals had remained. And, this number won't even be thirty by the next round of the cometation.

"Following few hours ahead of us are going to be tough."

My team, my friends, my teammates… they all had gathered around me, were looking at me with the same fire that they had yesterday, as well as the day before yesterday.

"Our opponents aren't people holding titles of masters and grandmasters."

I looked around at a few people, a few old people that were undoubtedly going to be a very challenging opponent to face in this round of the cometation.

"Our opponents aren't geniuses who have been acknowledged by these very people."

Then I looked at some individuals like the lady who had accompanied prince Charles, the winner of last year's competition who was expected to receive the title of master during these two rounds, and the other teams from our school who were doing much better than we had predicted.

"Our opponents aren't going to be those who have far longer experience than us, know much more than we do even with our special knowledge, and have been doing these things longer than any of us…"

The tension in the atmosphere was solid. The audience was eerily quiet and anxious. And there were ruthless judges who had eliminated even those who had done extraordinary in the last rounds. 

There were many things that were standing in our path to victory right now, however, these people at the very least, were not our opponents.

"Our opponents are time, the mistakes we will make during the creation process today, and the unexpected situations that will arise during both of the creation processes. They are the biggest obstacles standing in our way today."

In the last two rounds, one can make anything they want. Like, anything at all. 

No topic, no outline, no special method, no nothing.

'The last two rounds are given to the artists to go run wild with their art and their creativity, and that is exactly what we all are going to do.'

Some might have things that they have already thought about while some might be completely blank right now, every artist have a different way to prepare themselves before they start the creation of the best pieces of art they are to create with their life's experience.

'Some of them succeed, some fail to reach the level they want to, while some of them forfeit midway when nothing comes to their mind or what they might have thought of creating is ruined completely in some process.'

Nearly half of the people in both of today's round won't be able to finish the art pieces they want, the kind of alchemical product that they can call one of their best works, and that will upset them greatly.

But still, this competition would be more of a battle against the uncontrollable factors like the time and the circumstances instead of one another.

'We were even given special rooms this time that had a time control magic so that we can have a near complete creative freedom so, when every one of us are done, these rooms will vanish and the judges will test the end products.'

We will have to do our very best… I will have to do my very best.

"We will have time, however, not so much that we can fool around even for a second. 

We will have resources but not all that we might require so, we will have to keep in mind what we have and what we would need depending on the situation, and we will definitely face challenges since I myself do not know yet what we are going to make, but we will know it by the time the competition starts and when it done, I want you all to competently trust me."

They would mostly only be my helper and I would be the one doing most of the processing, creating and doing. However, their roles would be more crucial than my own since a mistake from their side would mean we would have to restart the entire thing or change what we were going to do midway through the process.

And that would be a very difficult situation. 

"I know it might be difficult right now, but, yesterday, we ate with two people who have crossed that same impossible path many times, had broken the stereotypes of the society and despite their young age, have taken a position in this world that one might never believe is even possible."

They were amazing, and everyone liked them one way or another. Something one doesn't see everyday in this rank based society.

They were amazing to do that.

And we are amazing enough to achieve an impossible like them.

"I do not know if we will actually win or not, however, I know one thing for certain."

I looked at them, my team, and my friends right in the eye.

"We are going to give everything we have out there."

"Yesssss~!"

Yes!"

"Of course captain! We are going to give at least two percent more than what we have!"

"Hahaha."

This was my first time in this competition as a team, and, I love this far more than participating alone. 

Especially since it is with these specific bunch.

They are the best.

[ "Alright everyone! The time you all have been waiting for has finally arrived~! The fifth round of the third day of the competition will start shortly!" ]

"Then, let's go burn the stage everyone."

"YES~!"

We were prepared.

We were confident.

We had faith in our teachings, we were going to do our best.

'However, I never would have thought they would take burning the stage thing so seriously…'