KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

After the conversation, the referee signaled to start the duel, and both teams took their positions and ready to attack each other at any time.

"Aoto-sama, step back. This fight is between me, my teammate, and her," declared elminia.

Aoto's response was unexpected. "Okay, I will not interfere," he replied, seeming indifferent to the situation, everyone who was observed the duel shocked on his decision but they didn't know, Aoto had his own plan running.

With Aoto out of the equation, the opposing team saw an opportunity. 'Yes, now even the hero has retreated. Now we can beat her as much as we want, and no one can stop us,' they thought.

However, unexpectedly the barbarian student had a change of heart. He walked forward and approached Scarlett with confidence, like he was scheming something.

"Nova-san, no matter how hard I try, I just don't feel like raising my hand on a women," he confessed. "So how about this? We both join hands tightly and see who can bear the pain. After this, you will also know that you cannot defeat us."

Scarlett's mischievous grin widened, because that was aynar's biggest mistake. "Haha, you are so kind. I agree. Let's do this."

Both Scarlett and the barbarian student shook hands vigorously, prompting anticipatory murmurs from the crowd. Everyone expected to hear Asta's scream echoing through the ground any moment.

However, what transpired left everyone stunned, including the princess ingrassia and the chiyoko hiiro. Instead of Scarlett crying out in pain, it was the barbarian student who collapsed to his knees, screaming in agony as the sound of bones breaking reverberated through the arena.

The intensity of the pain was palpable in the air as the barbarian pleaded for mercy, but even the referee couldn't intervene, as the student himself had proposed the challenge.

"I accept defeat... I accept defeat," the student cried out, his words growing fainter as he descended into unconsciousness. Yet, Asta didn't relent until his opponent was completely incapacitated, leaving the audience in shock at the unexpected turn of events.

Elminia was shocked to witness Aynar's swift defeat. "Shit! That muscle head, good for nothing. Looks like I'll have to use my trump card from the beginning," she muttered under her breath.

With determination, Elminia unleashed her rare skill; imaginary pain. In an instant, Scarlett began to falter, wracked by intense agony coursing through her body but she didn't let a single word of pain came out of her mouth.

"Fufufu, can't bear this pain, can you?" Elminia taunted, her skill inflicting excruciating torment upon Scarlett. Known as imaginary pain, this rare skill induced intense suffering by manipulating the victim's mind to imagine pain, without any physical impact.

In this scenario, there was no visible effect on Scarlett's body, rendering interference from the referee impossible. Helpless, Scarlett endured the relentless onslaught of imaginary pain until she could bear it no longer and succumbed to defeat.

'As long as the person in front does not have another rare skill like pain nullification, I have won it. And on top of that, I don't think they even have a single skill or magic.'

"It's my complete victory, scarlett nova." Elminia declared.

But She did not know that Scarlett had endured months of torture and experiments and compare to that, this pain was next to nothing.

Scarlett pressed forward, closing in on Elminia, and seeing her walk with a face like she didn't even feeling any pain, her world trembled with uncertainty. She frantically unleashed a barrage of magical attacks—fire bolts, ice crystals, water thrusters—but none fazed Scarlett. She continued her relentless advance, undeterred by her futile attempts.

In desperation, Elminia resorted to her most potent weapon: lethal magic. With trembling hands, she began the incantation, invoking swirling winds and deadly bullets.

Let the swirling winds hover

And become the bullets to pierce through life

Releas the flutters and shoot forth

As the referee realized the gravity of the situation,but it was already too late, a sense of dread settled over the arena. Elminia's intermediate-level spell posed a grave threat.

With a final chant, Elminia unleashed her spell:

Fire bolt : barett!!

A massive ball of crimson flame erupted from her palms, hurtling towards Asta with unstoppable force. Upon impact, Scarlett's body was engulfed in flames, and the ground beneath them cracked as the fire spread rapidly.

Even Aoto, witnessing the devastating attack, was filled with concern for Scarlett's well-being, unsure of how she would withstand such overwhelming force.

As fire went down a little, Scarlett's smile emerged from the engulfing flames, a wave of astonishment swept through the spectators. Her body, resilient and determined, regenerated faster than the fire could consume her. Soon, the flames subsided, leaving Scarlett unscathed and undeterred.

Elminia, shaken to her core, retreated in disbelief as Scarlett advanced towards her. She struggled to comprehend the resilience and strength he displayed.

"I was wondering," Scarlett began, her voice cutting through the tense silence, "why do you possess the imaginary pain skill? You come from a prominent family, one rarely acquainted with injury, well who cares now i just want to beat a spoiled kid. His tone was calm, almost detached.

Elminia trembled, her breaths shallow and rapid, as she attempted to reason with Scarlett. "Nova-san, please reconsider. We are both girls; how can you resort to violence against a fellow girl? Let's talk this out."

"Fellow girl?" Scarlett's response was unwavering, her resolve unyielding. "Sorry, child, but I believe in gender equality."

Witnessing Scarlett's display of strength, the entire audience fell silent, captivated by the sheer force she exhibited.

Even the princess, normally composed and regal, rose from her seat in astonishment.

"Such power, she is a complete beast, now i know why succubus's are placed under devil's category".

Scarlett caught one of Elminia's legs and effortlessly hoisted her entire body, hurling her out of the dueling ground like throwing a ball. The impact was so forceful that even the protective barriers surrounding the arena collapsed, sending Elminia crashing through them and fell towards the audience.

Undeterred, Scarlett pursued Elminia, poised to deliver a final blow. Just as she prepared to strike, Aoto intervened, grasping Scarlett's hand firmly.

"That's enough, Nova. She's already defeated," Aoto declared, his voice firm but calm.

Despite Aoto's intervention, Scarlett's rage persisted. "At least let me break her jaw," she demanded, her anger palpable.

In response, Aoto swiftly twisted Scarlett's arm, bringing her to her knees. The onlookers watched in shock as Aoto effortlessly subdued Scarlett, showcasing his unexpected strength.

Seeing him, Suppressing Scarlett this easily, the whole audience shocked that how an level 1, hero is this strong.

As Scarlett's fury subsided, she bowed her head in apology. "I'm sorry, Master. I lost my composure," she admitted, acknowledging her lapse in control.

As Aoto gently kissed Elminia's hand, a warm flush crept up her cheeks, tinting them with a deep shade of crimson as embarrassment washed over her

"Don't worry elminia-san, I won't let anyone hurt you".His words resonated within her, stirring a mixture of emotions she had never experienced before.

"As for you Nova, don't you know that one should not raise his hand on a delicate lady?"

She realized that unlike everyone, Aoto saw her not as a child, but as a woman.

'Lady? He acknowledged me as a women. Up until now everyone only sees me as a child.' her face flushed with embracement and his cheeks burning red with embarrassment.

But they didn't know that they had hit two birds with one stone.Unbeknownst to them, their exchange had caught the attention of Princess Ingrassia, who observed from a distance.

Her heart raced a little ,She felt a twinge of discomfort as she realized that Aoto embodied the qualities she sought in a partner—a man who was strong, kind, and respected women.

"But I can't rush into feelings," the princess thought to herself, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "I need to test him a little more."

"Nova, let's go to our dorm, I think today I will have to give you a lecture on how to respect a fellow woman." Aoto ordered.

Both of them started going towards their dorm and the audience were still in shock, as that what just happened.

As they made their way back to their dorm, Aoto couldn't contain his joy, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he chuckled heartily. Entering the room, he embraced Scarlett, his laughter resonating within the space.

"Hahaha, did you see Elminia's reaction? She turned as red as a tomato with embarrassment. She's definitely fallen in love with me," Aoto exclaimed, his amusement evident.That was one hell of a acting, I think we should become acters".

Scarlett nodded in agreement, a smirk playing on his lips. "Yeah, we rehearsed for 1.5 hours for that moment."

"True, but it was my idea. I wasn't sure if you'd go along with it," Aoto admitted.

Scarlett grinned, patting his friend on the back. "I've said it before and I'll say it again: anything for a friend."

As they lounged on the bed, Aoto expressed his boredom with the evening ahead. Since the duel was ended too fast and they now had nothing to do.

"Let's take a tour of the academy," Scarlett suggested.

"Sure, why not," Aoto agreed.

As they opened the door and stepped out, they were greeted by someone standing before them.

"Yo! You must know me, I'm Chiyoko Hiiro. Nice to meet you," the person said.

"Then you must know us too," Aoto replied.

"Of course, almost all the students know you after that duel. I couldn't wait until tomorrow. How about we become friends from now on?" Chiyoko proposed.

"Okay, I don't have a problem with that, but did you come here just to say this?" Aoto inquired.

"Oh no, not at all. I actually came to invite you both to the hot spring bath," Chiyoko clarified.

"Bath?" Aoto echoed.

"Everyone has come here from far and wide to attend the academy, and most people didn't get time to bathe. So, everyone's heading to the hot spring now," Chiyoko explained.

"Okay, let's go then."