"Let's begin."
As the backup lights on the scoreboard came on, Shirone began counting in his head.
'3, 2, 1.'
When the red light flashed, the sequence began to unfold at an incredible speed.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The photon output spread in a 360-degree radius, hitting the target ten times per second, while Iruki's spirit zone moved like a swarm of bees, creating a chain reaction.
"They're both so fast! They exploded right from the start!"
Mark couldn't hide his excitement. The targets disappeared in an instant as both Shirone and Iruki reached the second and third levels.
By the time they reached level 6, the two were tied.
Seriel clenched her fist.
"If we keep going like this, we won't win."
Both Shirone and Iruki reached level 10 almost at the same time, taking a brief moment to catch their breath.
Now, the real fight begins.
At level 11, the number of targets increased to 20, and the path became more complicated.
Shirone was slightly ahead with 239 points, while Iruki had 237.
Good! Shirone's in top condition. Iruki's pushing hard, but Shirone's keeping up.
Even one small mistake could drastically lower their final score, but both were maintaining perfect photon output.
Iruki's spirit zone moved faster, using logarithms to enhance the sequence.
377 points vs. 377 points.
At the 30-second mark, when Iruki caught up to him, Shirone pushed the sequence into overdrive.
More, faster.
He was in perfect condition.
As Shirone moved past the other contestants, the world seemed to blur in a flash.
The students erupted in excitement.
"Shirone's ahead by 4 points again!"
Iruki started to feel the pressure.
Unlike during practice, he was now fully focused on hitting his targets.
Why am I still lagging behind? Is it my calculation speed?
He couldn't understand it.
Just three days ago, he had been way ahead of Shirone. What kind of magic had Shirone worked in such a short time?
Shirone held his concentration with everything he had.
Breaking the limitations of modularity.
Until now, he had been processing the 100 numbers evenly. But now, he was letting the numbers come in more randomly.
187, 293, 378, 423…
It was like walking a tightrope, where even a small mistake could cause the entire sequence to collapse. His focus was sharper than ever before.
469 points vs. 432 points.
When Shirone made his move, the students leaped to their feet, cheering.
Even Etella couldn't look away, completely caught up in the tension of the moment.
Iruki realized what Shirone had done.
You've broken the calculation routine. It's like mental doping. You're determined to win.
A smirk appeared on his face.
Do you know how long I've been waiting for this?
Now, with an opponent he could truly challenge, Iruki prepared himself for a high-stakes match.
My gamble is on a different level than yours.
The change came quickly, and the students squinted in confusion.
Iruki's rhythm shifted, adding another layer to the fast-moving sequence.
"Huh? What's happening?"
542 points vs. 558 points.
Not only had Iruki caught up, but he had surpassed Shirone's score at an incredible speed.
Mark turned to Seriel, asking, "Senior Seriel, what happened? Did Shirone make a mistake…?"
"No," Seriel replied. "Shirone's speed is increasing too. But Iruki's speed is just faster."
"But! He jumped 100 points in an instant! Can that even happen?"
Seriel bit her lip, uncertain.
It didn't seem possible, yet there was no other explanation.
"If that's true…"
"…he has two spirit zones."
At Seriel's words, the juniors narrowed their eyes, staring more closely at the image zone.
Even though it was blurry, they could see two afterimages, each moving in a different direction.
"Oh, really?"
Seriel's face grew serious.
It wasn't just about the showdown—it was because someone with a rare ability had just emerged at the school.
Thoughts on Iruki's Ability
I knew he was great, but a double spirit zone?
A split-brain technique—something only those with rare, deviant abilities could perform.
Even the most skilled in escape magic couldn't do this. It was an advanced technique reserved for a select few.
This is the first time I've seen it. Right now, Iruki is the only person at the school, including the graduates, who can do this.
Despite his mind being split between two tasks,
His speed never faltered.
How was he doing this? Performing two sequences at once. Was this even possible for the human mind?
Iruki was proving that it was possible—using two logarithmic sequences simultaneously.
This isn't just talent. It's a mutation.
Iruki's true power became clear on the scoreboard.
692 points vs. 845 points.
The gap was more than 100 points, and Iruki had climbed several levels ahead.
"It's over. It's decided," most students thought.
But Shirone didn't give up.
Tie the numbers together! More, more numbers!
The numbers Shirone was processing now exceeded a thousand on average.
732 points vs. 911 points.
Shirone broke his own personal record.
But Iruki wasn't slowing down either. It looked like he was about to break not only his own personal record, but even Amy's.
The students were stunned.
"Iruki… is truly amazing. If this continues, he'll rewrite Class Five's history."
Meanwhile, Shirone's mind was focused on one thing.
It can't be done through calculation alone.
He had to surpass it.
Can I do it?
Was this truly a human ability?
Though no one answered, Shirone felt as if he had heard the answer.
Transcend the numbers!
The calculations were speeding up.
But Shirone's goal was something that couldn't be reached through a sequence alone.
It was beyond numbers.
Infinity.
The limitations that once bound his calculations in hundreds or thousands were slowly disappearing…
Further.
It felt as though all the numbers in the world were collapsing into a single point.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions of the targets were increasing rapidly, and everyone's attention turned to Shirone.
Two flashes of light were flashing simultaneously.
"Shirone-senpai, you're using doubles! But... it might be too late, right? There's still some time left…"
"No, it's not doubles."
Seriel couldn't believe her eyes.
The flashes kept doubling, until they started to collide with each other.
Shirone felt a strange sense of liberation.
"Ah..."
He felt as if she were leaving the world behind.
It was as though all the senses that made up him being were merging with everything around him, and even his own sense of self was fading away.
The flashes of light, spreading in all directions, converged into a massive curtain that filled the space.
The moment the target appeared, it exploded, and the speed gun's level kept rising.
Shirone couldn't stop crying.
Ahhh... Aahhh!
He was being forgotten.
His name, existence & everything that defined him was fading from the world.
Meanwhile, Iruki focused on his own performance.
"Ugh!"
He saw that Shirone's score was catching up, but he didn't worry.
No matter how fast Shirone went, he just needed to go faster.
There's no limit to a Servant's calculations! I'll calculate everything! I'll show you the end of the numbers that exist in this world!
Iruki's Double Spirit Zone exploded with such force that even the afterimages vanished.
I win! I can win! Only 1 second left! 0.9 seconds! 0.85 seconds! Damn it, why is time moving so slowly!
Beep—!
The minute that felt like an eternity had ended.
As the target vanished into a hologram, Shirone and Iruki both collapsed to the ground.
"Haa... Haa..."
Unlike Iruki, who was panting for air, Shirone was motionless, his head down.
He had already lost consciousness.
"Phew."
Iruki checked his score.
1,247 points.
It was an unprecedented record in the history of the Advanced Class, surpassing Amy's best record by 260 points.
Not bad. Did I win? But why can't I hear anything? What's Shirone doing?
When Iruki turned to look at Shirone, he was still, his face buried in his chest, breathing faintly but somehow not truly alive.
What?
Iruki checked Shirone's scoreboard.
1,253 points.
Mark, who had been comparing their scores, spoke with surprise.
"Hey, senior. Senior Shirone…"
"Shirone won!"
Seriel, who had been running excitedly, hugged Mark and rushed to Shirone, followed by the rest of the juniors.
"Shirone-senpai! Congratulations! That was amazing! Huh? Senpai?"
No matter how much they shook him, Shirone showed no signs of waking. But then, he suddenly lifted his head.
"Huh!"
As if reborn, he took in a deep breath.
His scattered mind slowly started to reassemble, following the threads of reason.
"Uh…"
She looked around and saw Seriel and the others gathered around him.
"Shirone, are you okay? It's me, Seriel."
Shirone, now fully aware and with his memories returning, smiled faintly.
"Yes, I'm fine."
At that moment, the juniors and classmates around her cheered.
"That was incredible! As expected, you're the best, Shirone!"
Everyone praised her, but Iruki sat by himself, deep in thought.
"…"
Someone approached him and touched his shoulder. It was Neid.
"We lost. But it was still a great match."
"Not really. Competitions are about winning, not just looking cool."
Neid smiled at Iruki's response and glanced at Shirone.
He's really something.
As his friend, Neid silently gave Shirone a thumbs-up in his heart.
Congratulations, Shirone.
While the students were still buzzing with excitement, Ethela wore a serious expression.
The difference between Shirone and Iruki's scores was just six points, but when factoring in the speed of thought, the gap was enormous.
Iruki was trying to reach the end of the line. Literally, the limit. But surpassing it means…
There's a concept known as infinity.
The greatest axiom, beyond numbers, something that can never truly be reached.
Some call it God. Some call it everything.
Humans can't reach infinity. But… humans can reach infinity.
The emotion in this contradiction was the sadness Shirone felt the night before.
How long has he known?
Realizing the finite barrier of numbers, Shirone had expanded his mind into the realm of infinity.
Indeed, humans had reached infinity, but from that point on, they were no longer human...
Was she really thinking of leaving?
Wizards call this the "immortal function."
Ethela knew another name for it, one that monks called it.
Nirvana.
It's not a level ordinary people can reach, nor should they even try.
Tears welled up in Ethela's eyes.
No, Shirone. Humans shouldn't casually embrace infinity. No matter how bright or magnificent it may seem, once you enter Nirvana, you will simply…
Disappear.
The great monks who reached this state, after years of intense asceticism, left everything behind and entered Nirvana. But Shirone was still just a seventeen-year-old boy.
The idea of infinity was too dangerous for him, someone with such a bright future ahead.
Yes, it wasn't perfect—he fainted in the end. But if he truly reached Nirvana…
Ethela didn't know what would happen next.
The only thing she knew was that if Shirone had passed away, she would spend the rest of her life in regret.
Unlike the first-place winner, Shirone had a sad expression, lost in thought.
Ethela knew this wasn't a coincidence.
"Shirone, you…"
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I wanted to win. I didn't realize how dangerous it was."
"Since when?"
"I went on a very long... trip."
All the emotions Shirone had felt were captured in those words, almost like a Zen riddle and answer.
"Don't worry, teacher. I understand now. I won't make the same mistake again."
Ethela knew Shirone didn't need advice anymore. Shirone had come to this realization on his own, and it was important for him to make her own choices.
"Yes. Please take care of yourself. The teacher cares deeply for you, Shirone."
As a monk, not a wizard, Ethela's concern for Shirone's well-being was sincere.
"Yes. I will remember."
At that moment, some students from Class Five, as well as juniors, gathered around.
"I love you too, teacher!"
If it were Siana, Ethela might have scolded her, but instead, she gently patted each student on the head.
"Alright, I love you all. Now, let's finish this test."
Class Five had gathered at the training grounds.
Everyone appeared relieved, regardless of the results, since they had all done their best.
"You worked hard. It's good to finish early on test days, right? Rest up, and let's come back ready to practice again next time. Great work, everyone."
As Ethela performed a monk's ritual, the students followed her, both playfully and respectfully.
"Thank you for your hard work, teacher!"
Even after Ethela had left the mountain, the students lingered, caught in the mood of the moment.
"Shirone, you did great! Amy will definitely be happy too. Wait, is she upset because her record was broken? Of course not! Her boyfriend won! Hohoho!"
Listening to Seriel's chatter, Shirone's face showed signs of exhaustion.
I just want to rest.
Whether it was because of the prayer or not, a tense silence fell over the training grounds as Iruki approached.
"Oh."
The students watched, curious about how the proud genius would react to Shirone's victory.
Contrary to expectations, Iruki's words were clear and direct.
"I lost. It was a complete defeat."
"No, I don't think so."
"You don't have to be humble right now. Especially after I've declared my own defeat."
"I don't really feel like I won. This test was designed for a specific evaluation. But the magic I cast at the end took over the whole space."
"Haha, this is really annoying. Anyway, that's just the nature of the test. You eliminated the target at the same time. You won, so don't feel bad about it."
Shirone paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before speaking.
"Then admit it. It's not idealism. It's wrong to study magic that's dangerous enough to destroy a city while ignoring the human values that come with it."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry."
Shirone was surprised by how quickly he admitted it.
It seemed like the only thing Iruki could admit, even if he didn't like it, was that he was a person obsessed with mathematical results.
"...Are you serious?"
"Shirone, you're misunderstanding. Explosions aren't violence. Violence is the will to harm someone. That's human nature. Explosions don't have a will. They're just energy, much stronger than human standards."
"But just because it doesn't have a will doesn't mean it can't hurt people. That energy is controlled by humans."
"Ugh. That's why I define explosions as uncontrollable energy. But what if you could control it? An explosion powerful enough to destroy a city could also provide energy to feed 100,000 people."
Shirone blinked in surprise.
"A new era would open. There would be fewer fights over limited resources, and many people could live in abundance. Of course, I don't have such lofty beliefs. But if it's possible, shouldn't we try? That's how I want to use my abilities."
"Uh..."
Shirone's mind was in turmoil, but he could hear Iruki's words clearly this time.
"It would have been better if you'd said that from the beginning. You wouldn't have had these unnecessary feelings."
Iruki chuckled.
"That's why you're pure. Even if you can control energy, if you can't control the people using it, it will become a force that could destroy the world. But Shirone, I'll do it. I can't stop because I'm afraid of that. Even if I become one of the victims."
"...What if we can't control it? If that happens, no one will be able to take responsibility."
"Haha! Exactly. That's why it's a risk."
Iruki sat down with a thud and stared at the sky.
"Maybe I should just quit here. I'll stay in Class Five and, if that gets boring, I'll dig up a dungeon and live there. I can't stop thinking like that. Maybe it's better for someone as dangerous as me to stay out of the world."
The students were stunned.
In the end, didn't this mean that Iruki had stayed in Class Five because he was afraid of his own talent?
Shirone was also confused.
What's going on with this guy? Is he idealistic or realistic?
Or is he just a weirdo?
"Therefore..."
Iruki held out his hand. Shirone grabbed it and pulled him up, and he stood.
"From now on, you're responsible for me."
"Huh? Responsibility?"
"I've never thought I could lose to anyone in my life. So maybe you're the only one who's ever defeated me. If my methods ever lead to tragedy in the future, you'll stop me. If you think I'm not worthy of being human, I won't hold it against you—even if you kill me."
Shirone was taken aback.
"But let's give it some more time..."
Iruki cut him off.
"If you don't do it, I won't take a single step from here. No, I won't move at all."
Shirone stared deeply into Iruki's eyes.
It wasn't sarcasm, boasting, or exaggeration. It was pure truth and sincerity.
"Okay."
If he refused now, his words would be nothing but idealism.
"I'll definitely stop you. No, I will never let you make that mistake again."
The students stood, silent and confused.
What are they? Do they really think they can do this? This is Class Five.
There were many hurdles for today's conversation to become a reality. But unlike the other students, Neid was impressed by their sincerity.
"Wow! You guys are amazing! As expected from my friends! Let's keep working hard!"
As Neid hugged Shirone, both Shirone and Iruki smiled at each other.
Maybe... he could be a good guy.
As they thought similar things, Shirone recalled his confrontation with Iruki.
He was a really strong guy.
Maybe he wouldn't make it in the next match, but Shirone didn't care.
Because he knew that he was the only one who could stop Iruki.
I will definitely stop him.
Because the only thing that can stop the extreme speed of light is the great infinity.