Isekai Journey Of The Magic Archer
Chapter 709 - 709: Before the last round

[Mia's POV: ]

It has been a while since I got my title and they announced the winners of that round of the competition. And, yes we got through this one.

'Huuuuu…'

It was difficult.

I was exhausted in those last moments. I won't even know how I was able to handle myself back then.

'Perhaps the heavens blessed me with greater strength or perhaps someone watching us right now prayed for us. Whatever it was, we managed to make it successfully.

And the loudest cheers that erupted after the entitlement finished, resonated with all our hearts.

'A thrilling feeling it was, certainly.'

I can hear them saying our names, my name. And they were cheering for me, clapping, screaming at the rear sight they got to see.

'It was magical for me…'

And I can tell for certain that it was a magical experience for the audience as well.

'The last time someone became a master in this arena was around the time I was three years old or something. So around eighteen years ago or something?'

Captain and vice captain, most of the students with me as a matter of fact hadn't even been born back then.

There were many young people watching me right now so this was their first time seeing something so magical, something that they could only read in books or see in photos.

And for the older ones who had seen this kind of spectacle before as well, this was nostalgic for them.

They were joyous when we were announced to have passed the fifth round.

And of course, we were as well…

The announcements and cheers were well received, the joy was celebrated, and the atmosphere was flowery now.

Even on the ground where only the last round participants had remedied, there was a unique festive atmosphere.

'My house members including me were being approached by the people that others spent a fortune or a long time to get an appointment with.'

Some of the masters and others who had been impressed by the techniques and skills of my housemates even invited them to an individual meeting. Most probably to talk about an apprenticeship or to work alongside them.

These house members of mine had a special set of skills that would be coveted by any alchemist who understood their worth and their potential, so Miss Grandbell, Sir Fang and Kuro and even Ball, especially Ball, were surrounded by those old men who were asking them for a meeting.

'They saw the value of their skills and they knew since their skills were still in the development stages and they could improve them better than what they could do on their own in the academy.'

They understood the value of youth the most, so if not right now, even if they had to wait till we graduate, they were ready to do it later if it meant they could have them, and their talents.

They knew just how special these guys were… but the fact that the one who showed them the true values of their skills was our vice captain would not change in any circumstances.

'They were surrounded by them even right now. And, it was not fine since this is break time. They have worked hard, so they definitely deserve a break.'

And I would have been the same if it had not been for the entitlement process, but after I received the title, all my fatigue was gone and I was back to the top physical condition.

For a matter of fact, I was feeling better than ever before. And thanks to the title I just received, I could now use my unique skill even more proficiently.

Or at least, that was the feeling I was getting when focusing deep inside of me.

'I would have to test my skills to see just how much I have improved-'

"Excuse me? Miss Mia Silver?"

"Hmm?"

I was lost in my own thoughts as I sat in a corner, away from all the commotion going on right now.

And since it was a little unnoticeable place, thought I wouldn't be approached by anyone.

However, it looks like I was wrong this time.

"Yes? How my I help you miss…"

"Oh! Apologies. Where are my manners."

Someone spotted me even in this shadowy place and it was the person I was expecting to greet the least.

"I greet thee, the new master of Alchemy, master Mia, the alchemist of Silver.

I'm called Ëthereal. And it is a pleasure to be the first person to greet the newest master alchemist of this world."

Her greeting was… quite sincere. And she was as elegant with her way of bowing and showing her genuine curiosity towards me as a high class noble or royal lady.

I would even say it was comparable to some pillars of high society.

She was unexpectedly good…

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Ëthereal. And it is actually an honour to be greeted by the toughest opponent standing in our way to victory.

Personally though, I respect you miss Ëthereal.

And it's not only because of the talent you have shown in this competition until now, but also because you are perhaps the only person that shows me how big of a difference between a prodigy and a true genuine actually is in this field.

You are simply amazing."

She was someone that started this competition with crown prince Charles. However, starting the second day's third round, the two of them continued individually.

And, when they did, people started seeing just how truly amazing this person before me actually was.

'Not only her methods were unconventionally genius, the way she always created her works was just too gorgeous for one to ignore.'

I was amazed the first time I saw her creation process videos playbacks yesterday, and I was amazed until I saw both rounds six times straight before suddenly falling asleep.

She… was a gale of freedom. The way she enjoyed creating her own versions of simple yet utterly stunning things, doing some foolery while doing so, laughing and enjoying herself was something too captivating for me.

Unexpectedly so as well.

It was just too fun.

'And I wished to become like her. Daring, free, unfazed even before the toughest of challenges.'

She was perhaps the very trigger that gave me the inspiration to create the Powder of innate growth.

"Huhuhu. You sure are a funny girl to say good and bad things together like that."

She was laughing, and even that was attractive.

'A perfect laugh that hides the true emotions of one so well even the best experts would get fooled by it.

She's just too good with all that she does.'

Can a human really be that good with all these things? Like, it would be different if we are talking about the special ones like Young master Axion and Lady Reinelle, but, they are completely different from her.

'They have a special air to them that this person before me does not possess.'

Instead of a fresh, attractive, and perfect feeling, she was mysterious. Her actions were refined, however, it seemed like they weren't entirely her, as if she did not actually learn them from anyone.

It was the same as seeing someone that can learn anything just from one look at something and make it their own.

It was mysterious, and since I knew practically nothing about this person aside from the fact that she was someone special enough to be accompanied by His highness, aside from her admiration for her talent and prowess, I didn't have any opinion of this person yet.

But, since she was here, before me, at this moment, it must mean she had something to talk about, right?

"Anyways… I was here to ask you something important, but seeing as you don't have any personal opinion of myself, let us postpone that conversation for later.

And it looks like one of your companions has managed to break free from the grasp of those old men. So, I will take my leave for now.

Let's talk about the last round, and I wish you bad luck. Please mess things up so that I can have this one time chance of seeing how it feels to win the 'grand alchemy combination' of this world. Huhuhu."

She bowed again respectfully and… walked away?

"Ummm? Miss Ëthereal?"

"Later darling~."

Yes. She just walked away.

…

'What the hack?'

I thought she was here to talk about something. And what was that about her knowing me not having an opinion of her?!

'Did she read my thoughts or something? And what did she mean by someone managed to break free from the oldies?'

I don't see anyone here-

"Huuuuu. That was difficult."

"Kyaaaaaa! You…! Ball! Why are you here?!"

This bastard!

He startled me!

"Hmmm? Captain? What happened?"

"How did you appear here out of nowhere?!"

I might have been focused somewhere else but I knew my senses were sharp enough to detect someone that gets this close to me!

And if not me, at least my detection skill would know it for certain!

How did this bastard get all the way here without anyone noticing him anyway!

"Hmm? Calm down captain.

I just used my skill to absorb all my surrounding presence and made myself invisible to everything… or something like that. Though, in the process, even I didn't know where I was going until I found myself here."

'This bastard…'

He still has his easy going and clueless attitude even after almost killing me with that sudden appearance.

And what did he mean he made himself invisible?

How did absorbing his presence-… wait.

"Oy, Ball. Come here."

He had managed to free himself from the grasp of those old men who wanted him as an apprentice or as a slice, or anything. Some were even offering to adopt him despite his relentless refusal.

They knew just how valuable this bastard was and from the crowd he had gathered, I didn't think there would be any chance of him getting out of that crowd anytime soon.

'They were masters and grand masters of their fields. No way a simple human like him could get out of their encirclement that easily.'

Even the best of the stealth technique would be useless against some of them, so… if he was saying he absorbed all the presence around him, he definitely meant it literally.

"Hmmm? Captain?"

"Come here and sit down. And tell me exactly what you did and what you saw…"

"What…?"

If what he just said was what I think he said, then his value in this entire world would skyrocket exponentially.

He would be the sole mortal existence in the world to be able to do something like that naturally…

And if I understand it a little as well, perhaps… it would not be impossible to weaponise what he had just done.