NOVPUBThe sky was a hazy gray, its fluffy clouds blocking the sunshine, and a damp, oppressive air hung heavily over the Knight College’s Arena.
In the distance, low rumbles of thunder echoed occasionally across the spacious battle stage.
Kuise took imposing strides toward Lanci.
Hyperion immediately stepped in front of Lanci, staring at Kuise warily. If Kuise had any intention to act unwarrantedly, she would disregard her duties as a student union member and fight him as an enemy.
Spotting Hyperion, Kuise temporarily halted his approach.
"What’s wrong? Your figure and body are quite attractive."
Kuise scanned Hyperion, who was standing protectively in front of Lanci, with unabashedly lewd eyes, and remarked intrusively.
"..."
The look in Hyperion’s eyes gradually grew colder.
"Ah, aren’t you Duke Migaya’s daughter?"
Kuise seemed to recall something and his tone became more disrespectful amidst his surprise,
"I don’t mind. You’re such a dirty good-for-nothing, no one wants you anyway. Why don’t you come back with me to Arolan Kingdom? I promise you’ll experience the power of a man."
He burst out in laughter after saying these words.
His derisive words seemed designed to provoke Hyperion into striking first.
That way, any counterattack or action he took wouldn’t be deemed his fault.
"Royal Arolan Academy sure has a star-studded team..."
Even the generally good-tempered Hyperion had veins popping on her forehead.
Phoenix, Carlen, Kuise - each one was more heavyweight than the last.
Compared to them, Adams actually seemed like an outlier, being the reasonable one.
Hyperion struggled to suppress her rage.
She was already used to others’ malice.
Right now, she needed to focus on protecting Lanci.
After Kuise finished speaking, both Lanci and Frey were momentarily silent.
They both generally had a high tolerance for taunting speech.
On the condition that the taunts were aimed at themselves.
They didn’t care about others’ opinions about themselves.
But Hyperion had done nothing wrong, she was the only person in the group who shouldn’t be attacked.
Finally.
"Hyperion, I think I now understand somewhat the importance of victory and defeat that you mentioned."
Lanci’s expression remained as serene as ever.
However, there seemed to be an unusual brilliance in his eyes.
He smiled softly as he looked at Kuise.
The intensity of his gaze made Kuise hesitate slightly.
He couldn’t quite tell what the seemingly non-threatening man, who was still in need of a woman’s protection, had changing in him.
"What are you blabbering about? You, who need a woman to protect you, are just like those fighters."
Kuise quickly regained his footing and resumed his approach, regardless of the other’s bluff. He had decided to try out this boy’s claim today!
"Don’t move any further."
The previously silent Frey now had his hand crossbow pointed at Kuise’s forehead in his left hand, and a Portable Magic Engine Bomb in his right, warning coldly.
"!"
Instantly, it wasn’t only Kuise who retreated instinctively, but also the fighters behind him.
"You bastard!!"
The fighters were able to gauge Frey’s strength.
If it were a close combat, they wouldn’t fear this Fifth-order man, but the thing in his hand was too dangerous. Without any rules to restrain him, he was basically a terrorist, nothing about him spoke of fairness or Spirit of Martial Combat!
It resulted in a standoff that lasted for several seconds.
"Tch, I’ll let you off today."
Kuise pointed at the battered knights of the Ichrite Academy on the ground, sneered,
"But wait till the day after tomorrow’s official public contest, we’ll see how you are gonna protect those weaklings."
He turned around, leading the other fighters toward the outside of the arena, striding away until their figures disappeared.
Heavy clouds churned in the sky. The icy wind rendered Knight College’s arena drearily cold, threatening to bring rain at any moment.
"Who the hell is that!"
Hyperion stomped her feet in annoyance, her mood completely soured.
Most students at Royal Arolan Academy were polite, but there were still obnoxious individuals like Kuise.
She looked at Lanci, envious of his cool exterior and calm demeanor. No matter how others mocked him, he always remained unflustered. Even now, she knew he would probably just comfort her with a smile and continue as if nothing happened.
"Calm down."
Lanci patted Hyperion on the head, then walked towards the wounded.
"?"
Hyperion stood rooted to the spot, raising her hand to touch her hair.
This was the first time as far as she could remember that Lanci had ever touched her.
In her memory, Lanci never allowed anyone to touch him easily.
In the empty field, Lanci halted before the fighters.
"Do any of you want to win?"
Clad in a well-tailored suit, Lanci looked at the dejected fighters sprawled on the ground and asked.
"...We can’t win, there is no hope."
"They’re right..."
"Without Cervini, we’re just useless trash!"
The burly men had lost their morale, their eyes devoid of glimmer. After two harsh blows, they finally faced reality.
"So, even if at that time, Cervini is going to be ganged up on, humiliated, and ultimately so seriously injured that she ends up in a hospital and cannot participate in the law exam, it won’t matter?"
Lanci’s words were calm, but they echoed like a curse in the fighters’ ears, refusing to dissipate.
"...!!"
They grit their teeth upon hearing this, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
They knelt, pounding the ground.
"When Kuise gets serious... Cervini is just a girl after all, what if she gets knocked down by Kuise but refuses to admit defeat... have you considered what would happen?"
Lanci’s words were as gentle as ever, as if recounting an unavoidable story,
"Can you imagine that? Do you want that scenario in your head to become reality?"
"...No!!!"
"No!!!"
Just those words alone were enough to spawn disturbing images in their minds, tearing their hearts apart, causing them to scream in utter horror.
Their eyes were filled with bloodsheds, as if they wanted to tear Kuise apart.
With that, Lanci ended his speech.
When their cries and wails finally subsided and their teary, bloodshot eyes all turned his way,
"If I can help you defeat Kuise on your own strength, at a slight cost, would you be willing?"
Lanci asked again.
"Yes!!"
"Even if it means you must experience death to be reborn, would you still be willing?"
"No matter the cost, we’re willing!! Help us, Lanci!!!"
Their hoarse voices echoed alongside their angry tears.
At last, Lanci showed a slight smile.
He bent down, showing his warmth by placing his hand on the deputy head of the team’s shoulder.
"Then, let me fulfill your wish."
Lanci whispered softly.
At his side, Hyperion’s eyes widened, watching Lanci who had come to understand the concept of win or lose, she had a growing sense of foreboding!
For her, Lanci was always reliable. She had no doubt that Lanci would stand up for her, but sometimes he was too reliable!
