Chapter 35: Win the Battle, I'll Treat You to Ice Cream!

In the instant the meteor-like giant fist descended from the sky, Headmaster Lucius, seated at the highest point of the grandstand, raised his hand slightly and cast a translucent magical barrier over the spectator seats.

Along with the mountainous giant's attack, a powerful hurricane swept through the entire arena. Countless large and small rocks scattered, each carrying tremendous kinetic energy. One moment of inattention, and the students would be affected.

Rolling smoke and dust lingered for a long time before gradually dissipating.

A deep pit-like fist imprint appeared on the ground, and the surrounding area sank in large patches. Cracks resembling spiderwebs deeply embedded into the earth, causing the entire arena to become uneven and spreading out in all directions.

Char had unknowingly retreated to the edge of the arena, silently gazing at the rugged terrain ahead.

Facing the attacks of the mountainous giant, he felt like a small boat in the midst of a raging storm at sea, swaying unsteadily. With the slightest carelessness, he would be shattered by the colossal waves.

At this stage of the battle, many people had already made their decision in their hearts.

This had far surpassed the level of combat that students could endure. When facing such a gigantic creature, the Empire would often dispatch entire squads of knight members to hunt them down, and even then, there was no guarantee of no casualties.

"Do you, duelist Char, choose to surrender?"

At that moment, a hurried inquiry came from the adjudicator in the arena passage.

The situation had developed beyond their expectations.

With the slightest carelessness, Char would meet a fate worse than death.

Yet, they did not condemn Angelica's despicable actions because she possessed an ancient artifact of such magnitude and had forcibly summoned the mountainous giant at a great cost, without violating the rules of the duel.

"..."

Char paid no attention.

His gaze shifted towards the distance, fixed on that majestic figure slowly approaching him with heavy steps.

The ground trembled distinctly, and the debris quivered.

A Transcendent Knight?

A two-star or three-star?

With his current strength alone, it would be difficult to defeat the opponent.

Char pondered silently in his mind.

He was waiting for an opportunity.

.....

"Where are you going?"

Sylvasta watched as Dahlia suddenly stood up, asking with surprise in her eyes.

Dahlia took a deep breath, clenched her fist, and spoke slowly, "I'm going to cheer for the young master. He shouldn't bear this situation alone."

With that, she turned and ran towards the stairs of the aisle, heading downward.

"Oh, wait for me!"

Sylvasta stomped her foot anxiously, glanced around, then pulled up the black cloak behind her, covering her delicate and pretty face, and hurriedly chased after Dahlia's figure.

Ignoring the dissuasion of the staff, the two of them arrived one after the other at the lower level of the arena's participant passage.

Looking ahead, the destructive power caused by the mountainous giant was even more visually apparent in front of the two girls. Sylvasta, who was walking behind, couldn't help but cover her mouth.

"There's no way to win..."

"That's not true. I believe in the young master."

Dahlia turned her head and flashed a bright smile at Sylvasta.

Then, she took a step forward and reached the edge of the arena passage.

Her gaze looked towards Char in the distance, and she cupped her hands around her mouth, shouting loudly, "Young Master!"

"?"

The young man in the arena turned his head upon hearing the voice, locking eyes with the smiling maid.

He frowned and waved his hand as if to say, "It's dangerous here. You should leave quickly."

But Dahlia ignored his warning, reaching out to untie the hair tie from her ponytail. Her long black hair flowed freely in the wind, gently swaying.

"Young Master, if you defeat that woman, I'll reward you tonight!" She gazed at Char with sparkling eyes, resting her hands on her knees and slightly leaning forward. Her rosy tongue lightly licked her lips. "How about I wear white silk and treat you to ice cream"

"!!"

Sylvasta, standing by the side, blushed intensely, her face turning red in an instant.

So, they have that kind of relationship.

A slight sense of disappointment inexplicably arose in her heart.

"Miss Sylvasta, you too!"

Just as she lowered her head with a dim expression, Sylvasta suddenly felt her hand being gently held.

"Eh, eh? Should I wear it too?"

Upon hearing this, Sylvia raised her head again, feeling a bit flustered.

She did have many white silk items—short socks, knee-high socks, thigh-high socks, tights, ankle socks... She just didn't know which type Char preferred.

Seeing a faint blush appear on the Sylvasta face of the cloaked girl, Deidre waved her hand. "What I meant was for Miss Sylvasta to also cheer for the young master."

"..."

Sylvasta's face became even redder, her hands intertwined and lightly resting on her chest.

So, she had overthought things.

Encouraged by Dahlia's gaze, Sylvasta took two steps forward, imitating her earlier actions. She adjusted her cloak to further conceal her face, making sure that people in the stands wouldn't recognize her.

After all, she was a member of the Althia family, openly supporting the opposing side in a public event. She would surely face criticism when she returned.

She gazed at the figure in the arena, took a deep breath, and felt her heart pounding.

Being a well-behaved girl her whole life, this was the first time she had done something so exhilarating.

"Ch-Char classmate!" She shyly raised her small hand, slightly raising her voice to ensure that Char could hear her. "If you win this duel, I-I will... I will..."

"Boom!!"

In the distance, the resounding noise of the mountainous giant's second punch drowned out the words she was about to say.

.....

"Char !" After witnessing Dahlia and the cloaked girl's actions, and accompanied by the rumble of the mountainous giant's punch, Tyrus, whose blood was already boiling, suddenly stood up. With a voice that could be heard by everyone around, he shouted, "We've come this far, you must win!!!"

"If you win the duel, I'll show you my secret journal that I've cherished for ten years!!!"

He excitedly clenched his fist and took a few steps back and forth.

After saying these words, people around him glanced at him with strange looks.

They couldn't help but feel that this guy was living in a different dimension than them.

They all sensed the chuunibyou aura emanating from Tyrus.

"Interesting, interesting!" Just at that moment, a girl in a purple dress sitting in the back row suddenly clapped her hands with a suppressed laughter. "It would be so amusing to see that woman fail!"

"Since that's the case, I'll join in the fun too."

Amidst the shocked gazes of the members of the Blood Rose Society, Ceridith adjusted her dress and put on high heels, quickly walking to the edge of the railing in the stands.

She gripped the railing with both hands, leaned forward, and through the rolling dust and haze, she faintly locked onto Char's position.

Her dark eyes spun around twice. She extended her small hand to shade her forehead, assuming a gazing posture, and called out in a charming voice, "Viscount Adelaide!"

"Do you want to go on a date with me? If you win against Angelica, I'll accompany you for three days and three nights, okay!"

Her bold and explicit statement shocked everyone around her. They instinctively wanted to cast their gaze, but upon remembering her identity, they forcibly stopped themselves, sweating profusely.

She was truly a woman who could dig pits for others at any given moment.

She was ruthless.

Even if Char won this duel, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of the Fifth Prince.

After all, his fiancée had openly uttered such words in front of everyone. Even if it had nothing to do with Char, would that esteemed Prince really not care about it?

As they looked at the smile on Sally's lips, the people around shuddered involuntarily.

When it came to pranks and tricks, Angelica was far inferior to the eldest daughter of the Violet family.

If she had taken an interest, Char could only rely on his own luck.

...

"It's the essence of youth."

Sitar on the stands crossed his arms and chuckled with a touch of nostalgia.

Clad in silver armor, Judge Rode frowned. "Aren't you planning to intervene and save that kid?"

Sitar shook his head. "Let's wait a little longer. I have a feeling that the kid's current state is not like he's just barely hanging on."

"Of course, it's also possible that I'm overthinking it. Because logically speaking, a knight is absolutely incapable of single-handedly defeating such a colossal monster across ranks."

However, Char had already brought him too many surprises today.

Why couldn't he slightly anticipate something this time?

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, then stood up amidst Rode's astonished gaze and took a deep breath. "You brat, listen up!"

His resounding voice echoed throughout the arena.

"The mountainous giant's fatal weakness is its lone eye, provided that you can inflict damage comparable to that of a transcendent knight!"

"You must be out of your mind," Rode shook his head. "Even if he's a Five-Star Knight, you should know how far he is from being a transcendent knight."

Sitar laughed heartily. "Just consider me crazy."

After all, even he himself didn't hold much hope.

It was just a whimsical idea, an unintended suggestion.

But what neither of them could have ever expected was this.

As the dust gradually settled, in the midst of Sitar's astonished gaze, Char, who had his back turned towards them, seemed to have heard his hint. He raised his right hand high and gave a thumbs-up.

It was as if he was saying--

Received!