“The match will be held tomorrow at noon.  The Noitral Dragon Knight Order will be overseeing it.  However, there will be a few changes from the class competition.  First, the flags.  Simply stated, they’ve become smaller.”
Roger held out the two flags he had hanging at his waist.  The shafts were simple, made from the legs of broken chairs.  Attached to their tips were strips of blue cloth and yellow cloth.  Gold probably hadn’t been available.  The La Baia Military Academy crest, however, was properly embroidered on both of them.

“Excuse the shoddy make, but even if the ones from the class competition are useable, they are currently buried under rubble.  However, as you can see, the school crest has properly been embroidered on them.  Sewn into the cloth here is a spell for detecting mana, courtesy of the Noitral Dragon Knight Order, meaning these are not ordinary flags.  For this match, breaking the flag means victory, the same as with the crest for students.  Ah, the crests for students will also be provided in the form of armbands, also by the Noitral Dragon Knight Order, and they will be distributed on the day of the match.”
Roger fastened the flags back onto his waist.

“This time, dragons will be prohibited for both sides.  Magical beasts will be prohibited as well.  As for weapons, you are free to bring two so long as they can be wielded in one hand without using mana.  This includes magical tools.  Weapons that come as a set for both hands such as knuckles will count as one weapon.  These will be inspected before the match, so if you’re uncertain, bring a few options.  For everyone else, we can provide long swords, spears, bows, and axes. They’re the same ones you’ve practice with in the academy’s training, so you should be used to handling them.  There is no need to worry even if you don’t bring anything.”

“Now then,” Roger pointed his index finger to the ground after a brief pause.
“The venue will be the entire academy building.  In other words, this will be a ruins battle.  Destroying the place some will only serve to help with the cleanup, so it’s two birds, one stone.  The area around the dorms will be used as the spectator seats.  Well, on the day of, the Noitral Dragon Knight Order-sama will be protecting the space and wards will be set up.  There is no need to worry, feel free to go wild.  Incidentally, during the match, dragon knights will also act as judges while flying on their dragons, but you do not need to worry about them either.”

Jill also knew that Elynsia had gotten worked up, declaring that anyone brought down by a student’s spell would be demoted.

“Next, instructors will not be participating in the match.  This is only natural, of course.”
“I wish to have a match with His Majesty!”
“I’d rather not.”
“—This is the consideration of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor.”

The students all together exhaled a sigh of relief.  Jill pouted with a huff.

“His Majesty is al—ways like this.  It’s fine, but this is so the students can make memories.  If my students defeat His Majesty, there will be no holding grudges!”
“I won’t hold a grudge, but I’m meeting almost all of these kids today for the first time, and I only have today to make a plan.  You don’t need to get so fired up.”
“Not having enough time to make a plan applies to me too.  And my relationship with the students is, well… I won’t hold back!”

“Is this a proxy war for a marital spat…?”
“Shh, they’ll hear you!  Forget Jill-sensei, the Dragon Emperor is here…!”
“The Gold Dragon Class guys… they look like their souls have left their bodies…”
“Eeh, I wanted to get to know His Majesty be—tter”  (girl)
“N-now, now, let’s just enjoy it, yeah?”
“No way that’s happening, right?”

“Alright, put some spirit into it, you all!”
The students of Blue Dragon Class, who were whispering among themselves, stood at attention all at once as they were addressed.
“Just because you won last time doesn’t mean arrogance will be allowed!  Understand!?”

“Understood,” they gave a firm reply.  That being the case, a strategy needs to be made, immediately.

“Alright then, Your Majesty!  We are enemies for today and tomorrow.  I will be spending this day with the students, so you cannot approach me!  You understand, right!?”
“Yeah, the two of us decided on that last night.”
“You really do understand, right!?  You’re not sulking in secret, right!?  You’re not plotting anything, right!?  You won’t change your mind later, right!?”
“I won’t.  My only dissatisfaction comes from being ignored for two months.”

He seems intent on sticking with that.  Thinking him persistent, Jill let it pass with a single sigh.

“You can only say things like this for now.  Your Majesty, surely, once you lose to me, you will be so frustrated you won’t be able to sleep!”
“Even if I lose to you, I don’t think I’d be frustrated at all.”
“You will so—!”

Hades was laughing, but Jill was serious.  She thrusted her index finger at him.

“Your Majesty, you must also fight without holding back!  I won’t accept any excuses if you lose!”
“I know.  If I held back in something like this, you’d definitely get angry.  Go easy on me, Jill-sensei.”

Sensing at least some earnestness in the title directed at her, Jill lowered her finger. There was no point in arguing there.  She would show him not with words, but with action.  Specifically, she would thrash the Gold Dragon Class and the Dragon Emperor who led them. “Alright,” she steeled herself and turned her back to Hades.

“Eh, you’re leaving already?”
“I already told you we’re enemies now.  Your Majesty, properly do your part too!”

Furthermore, the Blue Dragon Class, having been thoroughly retrained by Jill, was waited for her with straight backs.  They were unlike those of the Gold Dragon Class who could not hide their unease at suddenly having a new instructor.  She felt just a little proud.

“Ah,” Hades called out to her from behind.

“It’s been cold lately, so don’t go kicking off your blankets.”
“You don’t need to say things like that!”

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