17 - Tension Rising

Leon got everyone's attention with his performance in his duel.

And he shifted it all to me when he pointed at me!

'Dick move, Leon!'

I exclaimed in my head.

"Why is he pointing at Raye?"

Then someone in the crowd asked.

"Idiot, they had a pretty big fight at the end of the semester."

"Yeah, everybody knows that."

Some idiots chimed in and answered them.

"So, are they gonna fight now?"

But when I heard that next question, my face tensed up!

'Oh god, I hope not.'

I thought.

Then following that, conversations like that continued throughout the room.

Looking at Leon...

"..."

He didn't seem to care. He just focused on me.

'Fucker, what do you want?!'

The tension was rising, so to clear things up...

"What?"

I asked him that, looking up at the arena platform.

'Ugh...'

There was a bright light coming from his direction, making it look like I was frowning at Leon...

"He's glaring back at Leon!"

"He's brave, I'll give him that."

Which only stirred up the tension even more.

Anyway, at my question...

"Next week."

Leon simply said that.

But I knew exactly what he was talking about...

It was our duel next week that I accidentally accepted when I came to this world!

'I know nothing back then! I thought Leon was just a weird kid, that's why I said sure to make him go away!'

I grumbled in my head.

But immediately accepting what's done is done...

I focused back on Leon who was waiting for my response.

'Ugh, fuck it!'

I cursed inside.

It was meant to happen in the game anyway, and it's not like I'm gonna die.

So to make Leon stop with this stunt of his.

I shrugged my shoulders, acting unfazed by his glare...

"Sure, whatever."

Then I answered the same way as I did back then!

"Woah, it's a match."

"It's gonna be a boring one. Leon is sure to win."

"Yeah, I saw Leon's stats, he's a monster."

"Meanwhile, Raye? He barely has average stats."

I heard from the crowd as I responded to Leon.

They're right so I just ignored them.

I waited for Leon's reaction, and soon...

"Hmph."

He finally turned his attention away from me and walked down the arena.

"Good job."

Professor Sariel told him as he did.

Jonas was carried by the standby healers in the corner of the room.

Leon also needed healing after dislocating his left shoulder during his last exchange with Jonas, he had a few bruises from the fight too.

And with that...

"Haaaa..."

The tension finally died down.

"What was that?"

Someone in the crowd asked.

And believe me, I don't know too.

Moving on...

"Let's continue."

Professor Sariel said, and the duels resumed.

...

...

"Good work, both of you."

"Thank you, Professor!"

The two students responded in unison.

After Leon and Jonas' duel, the following matches became boring for us.

"..."

I wasn't even watching anymore.

"Lena Dravenhart."

But when I heard that name, my ears perked up.

"Hmm?"

I looked toward the arena, and there, I saw Lena.

She picked up a staff almost as tall as her.

Her whole vibe and appearance is shouting that she's one of the main characters.

Then, looking at her opponent...

'Her opponent is a nobody.'

It was just a plain-looking guy.

Obviously an extra who didn't appear in the game.

So, considering all that...

"She's gonna win this easily."

I already knew the outcome of the match before it even started.

*****

Raye's prediction was right...

"Start."

Immediately after Professor Sariel started the match.

"[Splash Shot]"

Swish—

Lena immediately launched a spell!

SPLAT!

"KEUB!!!"

It hit her opponent straight in the chest...

Bam!

Thud—

"..."

Then he flew outside the arena and lost consciousness!

It didn't even last for 10 seconds!

"Wha..."

"The hell?"

It ended so quickly that the students were dumbfounded.

But soon...

"WOAAAHHHH!!!"

"SHE'S REALLY UNDEFEATED!"

"LENA IS THE COOLEST!"

They started cheering for Lena.

All they knew was that Lena finished the fight as soon as it started. She completely dominated the fight, and that was more than enough for them to be riled up!

Only a few knew what really happened there...

"Her mana control is crazy, what a cheat."

And one of them was Raye!

He saw it.

Immediately after Sariel started the match...

'Lena cast [Splash Shot], a fast water spell suited for knocking back opponents.'

It was just a simple water ball. It's weaker but faster.

But the kicker was...

'Lena concentrated more mana than needed. She sped up the spell even more.'

So when it hit her opponent's chest, the speed made the impact stronger, robbing him of consciousness and sending him flying in the air!

It might sound simple, but it's not.

'This spell is so fast that controlling its trajectory is a difficult task. It's rarely used because it often misses its target.'

But not only did Lena accurately hit her opponent's chest, she did it with the faster version of the spell. That's why Raye thought Lena's mana control was a cheat!

"Good job."

Professor Sariel told Lena.

Lena simply bowed her head and quietly walked down the arena.

And as she did, the students admired her prowess and her appearance.

"Lena's really cool."

"And strong."

"And beautiful too!"

Lena was like an idol for them.

Anyway, moving on...

"Garin Lothar."

Professor Sariel called out another name.

'I don't know him, an extra.'

Raye thought as he casually looked at who it was.

But to his surprise...

"...!"

It was the young noble from earlier, slowly climbing up the arena with an arrogant smirk on his face.

Upon seeing him, Raye clenched his hands tightly into fists...

"..."

Then he walked toward the arena.

And soon enough...

"Raye Alvah."

His name was called.

*****

(Lena's POV)

"Raye Alvah."

I heard Professor Sariel call as I went down the arena.

'So it's his turn, huh.'

I thought.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious about how he would fight. But seeing his stats, I didn't really expect much.

'While his growth rate is impressive, his stats aren't.'

So I shrugged it off.

Then, making my way down the arena...

"Hmm?"

I noticed a weird tension from the crowd.

"..."

They were strangely quiet all of a sudden. Not just that, they started moving slightly as if they were avoiding something.

Wait, no...

'They're making a way for someone...?'

I watched curiously as the crowd split and a path appeared from the back all the way to the arena.

At the end of it...

Tap—Tap—Tap—

I saw Raye, quietly making his way toward my direction.

Tap—

Tap—

Tap—

The sound of his footsteps got louder and louder.

And soon enough, he reached me.

"What are you playing at?"

I asked him, raising an eyebrow.

Tap—

"...!"

But he just walked past me...

As he did so, I noticed his face...

'It looks like he was about to explode.'

I'm pretty sure he didn't even notice me.

Looking up at the arena...

There, I saw Raye standing.

His opponent was already holding a wooden sword.

So Raye walked toward the training weapons and picked his own weapon.

"Huh?"

But I think he picked the wrong one.

"What's with him?"

"Erm... What?"

"Is he nuts?"

Not just me, the others were confused as well.

Instead of taking a wand, Raye, a magic course student...

"A bow...?"

Picked up a bow as his weapon.