I Was Summoned as the Academy’s Janitor… But I Accidentally Became the Most Overpowered Harem Protagonist?! -
Chapter 38: The Maidening Match — Zephyr vs. Rosalia
Location: Grand Arena – Center Stage, Late Afternoon
The crowd’s roar died down as Zephyr Arclight and Rosalia de Glorieux stood opposite each other in the arena’s center. Their mops—his sleek, rune-engraved staff and her shining, gem-embedded cleaning spear—tipped lightly on the polished floor. Above them, the enchanted sky dome shifted hues from gold to amber as the sun prepared to set.
Arwen Galehart, perched on the royal box’s edge, crossed her arms. “This match is going to be… interesting,” she murmured to Drakynia Flameheart.
Drakynia smirked, arms folded. “Rosalia’s form is more ritualistic. Zephyr’s ‘sweep-as-you-go’ style might break her heart before this match even begins.”
Selena Frostveil leaned over her clipboard in the judges’ pavilion. Her glasses glinted, eyes bright with data patterns. “Score predictions: Zephyr, 87.4% efficiency; Rosalia, 92.1% purity rating. Round Three should reveal new variables.”
Rosalia took a deep breath, slipping into a brief prayer beneath her breath. She adjusted her holy fleece cloak, the sun’s last rays catching the golden embroidery of his name on her sash. “Lady Maidening King… forgive me.” She bowed her head to Zephyr.
He inclined his own mop in acknowledgment. “Don’t hold back, Rosalia.”
Bell Rings.
Round One: Synod of Purification
The announcer orb’s voice echoed: “Cleanse and Protect! First to purify all four purity pylons without losing their own progress wins!”
Four towering stone pylons glowed with corrupted runes at each corner of the arena. Each competitor would sprint from pylon to pylon—sweeping away dark sigils and reactivating the purity lights.
Zephyr dashed forward, his mop’s bristles igniting with soft white glow. With one fluid motion, he swept the base of the first pylon. The runes shattered like glass, and the entire pylon bathed in radiant blue.
Simultaneously, Rosalia summoned a halo of divine fire around her cleaning spear. She knelt, tracing holy sigils with the spear tip; each stroke caused a ripple of warmth through the stone, purifying it completely.
The crowd gasped in unison. Two perfect purifications in under three seconds.
Rosalia leaped upright, running toward the second pylon, eyes fierce with determination. Zephyr pivoted and slid across the floor, his mop sweeping a whirl of light that danced across the pylon, repelling darkness.
Arwen leaned forward, whispering to Drakynia: “He’s using his ‘Kingmaker Aura.’ It’s stabilizing the corrupted stone faster than her divine flame.”
Drakynia scowled. “He’s like a walking clean-everything spell.”
Returning to the center, the duo sprinted toward the third and fourth pylons, every step a perfect calculation of timing and ritual. By the time a single bell of the judge’s chime rang, both pylons stood purified—Rosalia’s work glowing with holy embers, Zephyr’s with serene white light.
Bell Rings.
The announcer chimed: “Tie—60 seconds each! Moving on to Round Two!”
Short Break
Zephyr bent down to catch his breath, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. Rosalia knelt, praying for strength. Around them, onlookers whispered and calculated fervently.
Selena Frostveil scribbled new notations. “Incredible. Neither lost advantage. Round Two must test decorative skill and mindset.”
Drakynia Flameheart clapped slowly. “They’re evenly matched. But watch Rosalia’s farewell prayer—it invokes arcane reinforcement.”
Arwen Galehart simply frowned. “He’s still… unnervingly calm.”
Rosalia rose, her breathing steady. “I will not falter.” She approached Zephyr, handing him a single rose from her bouquet—petals white as moonlight. “For luck.”
Zephyr touched the petals with a gentle smile. “Thank you.”
Rosalia’s cheeks flushed. “No… purpose. Now, the final round awaits.”
Round Two: The Divine Mosaic
A vast blank section of arena floor glowed under a magical outline: a single intricate tapestry pattern depicting phoenix and dragon entwined. Competitors must fill the mosaic by purifying colored dust—each color representing an element—they must collect and distribute it with their mops. The goal: perfect pattern completion without stray dust crossing border lines.
Zephyr studied the design: phoenix red, dragon gold, background ash-gray. He closed his eyes, centering himself. With swift steps, he swept across the central basin, drawing up scattered colored dust into his mop that had been adapted with micro-channel nets.
He glided across the mosaic, tracing phoenix feathers with red, shading the dragon’s scales with gold, and stabilizing the gray background. Each sweep tightened the lines, each motion precise to the millimeter. His mop bristles released the dust exactly where needed, guided by his innate “Purification Intuition.”
Meanwhile, Rosalia summoned four spectral familiars—phoenix sparks, miniature holy birds—each carrying vials of colored dust. She directed them with calm gestures, ensuring each color fell at exactly the right pace. With her cleaning spear’s tip, she guided final touches of gold and red, leaving the fringe lines pure.
The crowd watched in awe: two artists at work, one channeling raw divine magic through lifeforces, the other channeling balanced technique through instinct.
Selena Frostveil scribbled frantically. “Zephyr’s precision is off by 0.002 meters—barely noticeable. Rosalia’s homing familiars are on a 99.9% accuracy rate…”
Drakynia stayed rooted to the ground. “Don’t blink.”
At the final moment, both masterpieces shone with a radiant glow—Zephyr’s pattern radiating serene white light, Rosalia’s ablaze with holy embers.
Bell Rings.
The announcer’s voice boomed: “Another tie! This match shall be decided by the Final Challenge: Heart of the Mop—a test of true custodial compassion.”
Final Challenge: Heart of the Mop
In the center of the arena, a single pedestal held The Heart of Janitorial Honor—a glowing crystal shaped like a mop head. Competitors must approach in turn, speak a vow of sincere intent, and place their mop atop it. The crystal will bond with the one who speaks from the heart.
Zephyr stepped forward first. He knelt, touching the crystal with his bare hand, mop gleaming in the sunlight. He closed his eyes and spoke softly:
“I vow to serve with humble hands, to cleanse not only floors but hearts, to protect and preserve peace with every sweep. May this mop remind me that true purification comes from compassion.”
The crystal pulsed. A wave of soft, white light washed over the arena, calming the crowd.
Next, Rosalia approached, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She knelt before the crystal, clutching her cleaning spear:
“I vow to uphold the sacred bond of service—to protect, to uplift, and to spread light. May my heart remain pure, my hands steady, my loyalty unwavering. Let this bond strengthen my path as a beacon of hope.”
The crystal flared with golden light. A warm radiance enveloped Rosalia for a moment before settling back to its previous glow.
The crowd watched breathlessly as the two rivals—and dear friends—awaited the final verdict.
Selena Frostveil stepped forward as judge. She calibrated her wand, measuring the emotional resonance of each vow.
After a tense moment, she raised her wand to the sky.
“This round shall end as a draw—for both possess hearts of unshakable purity and devotion. The Grand Mop Tournament’s Champion Custodian title is shared between Zephyr Arclight and Rosalia de Glorieux!”
The arena erupted. Banners unfurled. Fans cheered. The announcer’s orb crackled with joy.
Zephyr and Rosalia embraced in the center, bows exchanged, and the crowd applauded the unity of their spirits.
Arwen Galehart smiled softly. “Even in competition, they honor each other.”
Drakynia Flameheart raised her fist. “They’re impossible—but I respect it.”
Selena Frostveil closed her notebook, a rare gentle smile gracing her lips. “Balance achieved.”
Location: Winners’ Podium, Sunset
Zephyr and Rosalia stood side by side on the podium, twin trophies—shaped like golden mops—held aloft. The sun sank below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the arena.
They turned to each other, breathless.
Rosalia’s smile was radiant. “We did it… together.”
Zephyr nodded, his usual calm replaced by quiet warmth. “Together.”
They dipped their mops into a shared basin of purified water, symbolically washing away any trace of rivalry—and celebrating their newfound bond.
The crowd roared as confetti of white and gold fluttered down.
Selena whispered to Arwen, “I think he’s still more surprised than any judge.”
Arwen touched Zephyr’s shoulder. “They both earned it.”
Drakynia nodded solemnly. “I’ll never challenge him—but I’ll never forget this.”
End of Chapter 38
Next Teaser: Chapter 39: Candlelight Confessions — When Shadows Fall and Hearts Speak
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