-1300- The nearing match
"Ugh..."
In response to Rozen's words, Stella stopped her retort in astonishment.
After all, Stella knew very well that what Rozen said was correct.
Even if Stella's strength surpassed that of many formal Mage-Knights, she, as a student knight, was not suited for capturing criminals.
Perhaps, in a moment of recklessness, a criminal that could have been captured would escape due to Stella's carelessness or lack of experience. This might even cause the criminal to go berserk and attack the citizens on the street, which would make Stella gravely responsible.
So, to become an excellent Mage-Knight, having strength alone is not enough; one must also accumulate various types of knowledge and experience.
Otherwise, everything would be in vain.
"I... I understand."
For now, Stella could only mutter in a low voice.
Seeing this, Rozen nonchalantly turned to Shizuku.
"Don't mess around either, Kurogane's sister."
Rozen also issued a warning to Shizuku.
"Don't lump me together with that impulsive princess over there. I never planned to catch any criminals. Although I have no good feelings toward the Rebellion, I also have no interest in humans. Basically, except for my Onii-sama, everyone else is equally ugly in my eyes."
Shizuku said this with an unchanged expression, making her attitude sharply clear.
Although her words had many points worth refuting, Shizuku was probably being honest. To her, besides Ikki, no one else was worth mentioning.
Thus, even when they first met, Shizuku had a bad attitude toward Rozen and Stella and often quarreled with Stella. This wasn't without reason.
One can't help but wonder...
(How did such an eccentric girl become a hopeless brocon?)
Rozen mentally grumbled.
However, as long as Stella and Shizuku were prevented from interfering, it was good enough for Rozen.
No matter how reasonable his arguments, Rozen still felt guilty.
After all, although the shopping center was indeed invaded by the Rebellion, Rozen had already sent them to repent in hell. The one who destroyed the shopping center was not the terrorists from the Rebellion but Rozen himself.
If Stella and Shizuku tried to find the Rebellion terrorists, it would be a futile effort.
And if they aimed to find the culprit behind the destruction of the shopping center, Rozen couldn't let them go.
After all, the real culprit was Rozen, who was sitting right in front of these two girls.
Of course, Rozen had genuinely held back a lot.
Otherwise, if he had summoned his Beast Vassal, it wouldn't just be a shopping center; even this Far Eastern island nation could be sunk into the sea with one strike if Rozen used his full power.
If that happened, people would realize how much Rozen had restrained himself last night. Sacrificing a shopping center to keep the island nation safe was already extremely fortunate.
Perhaps Shinguji Kurono and Saikyo Nene thought this, which is why they didn't report the truth.
Or maybe Shinguji Kurono and Saikyo Nene had reported everything that happened last night, including Rozen and Edelweiss, but the higher-ups didn't dare provoke the two strongest beings in the world, deciding not to let the media report the truth.
This shows how much others feared Rozen's existence.
However, people still didn't know that the world's strongest Blazer was now at Hagun Academy and just a new student.
After finishing breakfast, Rozen, Stella, and Shizuku headed to their classes.
During the selection battles, Hagun Academy students still needed to attend classes, but only in the morning. The afternoon and evening were reserved for the selection battles. Yesterday was the grand opening, so the whole day was dedicated to the battles. Stella and Shizuku, who were particularly eye-catching participants, competed on the first day to stir up excitement.
But starting today, students needed to attend classes in the morning, and the selection battles began in the afternoon, allowing students to freely choose which matches to watch.
And today, there was a highly anticipated match.
That was the match between Ikki Kurogane and Shizuya Kirihara.
On one side was an F-rank knight, ridiculed and underestimated by the academy, known as the Worst One, and a first-year student who had repeated a year.
On the other side was the top new student from last year, who qualified for the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival in his first year, representing Hagun Academy with the title of Hunter.
Such a match naturally attracted attention.
And this match was scheduled for 1:30 PM.
In other words, everything would be decided in today's match.
Time passed swiftly.
Before long, the morning classes ended, ushering in the afternoon's selection battles.
Hagun Academy, Fourth Training Field.
This was the venue for the match between Ikki Kurogane and Shizuya Kirihara.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, students began to gather in groups, heading towards the field.
Moreover, snippets of conversation could be heard.
"A C-rank knight versus an F-rank knight?"
"Not worth watching, right?"
"The opponent is the 'Hunter,' after all. How could the 'Worst One' possibly win?"
"He can't."
"But it's still worth watching."
"At least we can see how badly the 'Worst One' gets beaten by the 'Hunter.'"
"That's true."
"Hehe."
"Haha."
People talked and laughed as they walked into the Fourth Training Field.
At the entrance, Rozen and his group were standing, clearly hearing these conversations.
"…Irritating."
Shizuku stood there with a grim face, exuding a chilling aura that made her look terrifying.
"Don't impulsively manifest your Device and attack those people, okay?"
Stella, worried, cautioned her, indicating what had happened earlier.
"Well, people are just realistic like that. They worship those they can't reach and trample on those they can, because they can't stand to see others rise above them. It only makes them feel incompetent."
Rozen shrugged and said.
The three of them waited there for Ikki, planning to greet him as soon as he returned.
However...
"The match is about to start. Why isn't he here yet?"
Stella voiced the concern in everyone's hearts.