Chapter 211
No matter where she looked around Rikeion, there was no sign of Arha.
Not in her dormitory, not in the dining hall, not in the park.
Nowhere to be found.
“Where could she have gone without even playing the semifinals?!”
Student Council President Edina was growing frantic.
The match may have ended, but having a student go missing was simply unacceptable.
She had mobilized all available personnel to search for this mischievous girl who had mysteriously vanished.
For a moment, she seemed to forget her dignified status as president as she dashed up and down the long hallway.
Her splendid blonde hair flailed about, and she made a raucous noise with her clicking heels as she searched for any clues of mana, but she couldn’t find even a tiny trace.
It felt almost as if everything had been deliberately erased.
Otherwise, there was no way for her to disappear so completely.
“Could it be… she’s hiding because she found the quarterfinal match too shameful?”
Before the match, Arha had boasted about how she would toy with Alicia.
But when the match actually happened, it turned into a fierce battle, and Arha had sustained quite a few injuries.
Perhaps her once unshakable genius pride had shattered at the reality of experiencing a ‘difference in talent.’
Edina, who had witnessed Arha realizing that ‘talent gap,’ could somewhat sympathize with her feelings.
The sensation of slipping from pain into despair.
The unpleasantness of being enveloped in a thick, choking smoke that seemed to pull at her body.
If Arha had felt such emotions… it wouldn’t be too surprising for her to act out unexpectedly.
“…No, could Arha actually do that? Wouldn’t she act the opposite instead?”
Edina paused her frantic running and contemplated.
Thinking of Arha’s usual behavior, it seemed more likely she’d throw a tantrum and refuse to show up for the semifinals.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange. The fact that she’s completely hidden… Could she have gotten caught up in something?”
As the Student Council President, Edina was puzzled by the fact that heroes had flocked to the Central Church. The lack of explanation only heightened her curiosity.
It was possible that something unknown was unfolding at Rikeion right now.
Just when her thoughts reached that point, a familiar figure approached.
It was Jeraman, the Vice Student Council President.
“President. So you were here.”
“Yeah. Just searching… Did you find out anything?”
“Unfortunately, I still haven’t figured it out. And one more thing…”
“What is it?”
“I hope it’s just a coincidence, but Erlich is also missing.”
“What…? Erlich?”
Spirit Summoner Erlich.
She had been eliminated in the round of 32 and had already dropped out of the tournament, but now she had vanished along with Arha.
She who had descended from the tree vanished together with Arha.
There was no response from the familiar that could communicate.
Jeraman mentioned that he had set the current student council members to pair up in twos for safety and was on his way to report this to the chancellor.
As the situation worsened, Edina rested her head in her hands, her lovely expression crumpled.
“It’s not like Erlich would pull out just because she doesn’t want to search… What in the world is happening?”
“I don’t know. However, even if the finals are postponed, we will need to officially inform everyone to widen the search area.”
“Having to rely on the Academia… It can’t be helped. We’ll delay the finals and only request support from the professors at the Academia. All students must gather with their teams to confirm their numbers and be strictly controlled against acting individually.”
“Understood.”
“We have no idea how this will play out, so we need to be a bit excessive in our response.”
“That’s correct. Should we halt the ongoing semifinals then?”
“The semifinals…”
The first match concluded with Vargan’s victory by default, and soon the second match would begin.
It was Arterion versus Gaba.
Edina mentally calculated and shook her head.
“Let’s proceed for now. Nothing’s been confirmed yet, so there’s no need to create unnecessary panic. Announce that the finals’ schedule is postponed and that we’re practicing emergency response through team gatherings… Yeah, let’s do that for now. Got it?”
“Understood.”
Edina swiftly presented her response plan and quickly took her leave.
As she ran off, she instructed the familiar to communicate any needs or peculiarities that arose during her search.
“……”
Jeraman observed Edina’s retreating figure for a moment with a peculiar expression before moving on.
—Second Match! Arterion of the Academia! Gaba of Rikeion! The clash of these two men is about to begin!
The announcer’s elevated voice was heard through the broadcast along with mechanical static.
* * *
Grrr—!
The red aura clashed with the blue protector of the well-trained martial artist, scraping against it.
The red force, capable of cutting through anything, found it hard to overcome the blue light. Whenever it seemed like it might cut, the martial artist would swiftly evade.
Arterion and Gaba were clashing with great fervor.
It had been 10 minutes since the match started.
The direction of victory remained uncertain.
Gaba had thoroughly researched Arterion, being aware of his habits and basic behavioral patterns.
His senses were sharp, and with his keen insight, he could prepare at the slightest indication of movement.
His experiences while wandering the world taught him that most victories are decided not during the match itself but before it begins.
Only those who prepare thoroughly can survive and grow stronger.
Gaba understood this.
Crash—!
Gaba swung his fist against the blade, sending the red aura rebounding, causing cracks in his protector but creating an opening.
Quickly turning his opposite leg, he aimed a kick at Arterion’s lower body.
If he lost his balance, it would be easy to overpower him.
But just as he aimed to kick…
“……!”
Gaba sensed danger with instinctual awareness.
Quickly halting his strike, he instead created distance.
If he had attacked now, the match would have ended.
“Ahhh… that was close. I almost lost a leg.”
Gaba limped around, shaking his leg dramatically.
In the meantime, he took a breather and recovered his Protector.
The Golden Knight Arterion adjusted the ratio of mana spread throughout his body and infused strength into his red aura.
Gaba saw this as the only moment they could converse and opened his mouth.
“Aren’t you curious about the opponent who just disappeared from the semifinals?”
“…Not really.”
“Typical. You show zero interest in any woman except Alicia, huh?”
“…….”
The red aura fluttered for a moment.
Even while consistently receiving a set amount of mana during combat, the instant Alicia’s name popped up, it was over-supplied.
Appearing cold, the prince was surprisingly easy to read.
Gaba grinned, showing his white teeth, and readied himself again.
“Sorry, but in the end, I’m the one who’s going to win Alicia’s heart. I’ve cleaned up my romantic life, so as long as I win the tournament, there won’t be any distractions.”
Gaba stood proudly.
Arterion calmly absorbed his energy and suddenly asked,
“I’ve wanted to ask you something for a while.”
“Huh? You? Sure. You answered my question, so I’ll tell you one. What is it?”
“You called out Alicia’s name when you challenged me last time.”
“Ah, right. So what about it?”
“What does she have to do with our fight?”
“…What?”
“I see you have feelings for her, but I don’t understand what connection you have with me.”
Arterion’s statement didn’t sound like a joke.
He genuinely seemed confused, and Gaba was momentarily lost for words.
It didn’t make sense that someone who had been thoroughly trained in the royal education since childhood wouldn’t understand something so simple.
No, rather…
“Is it because you’re a greenhouse flower…? Or maybe you have no romantic experience? Should I really say this out loud?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s because you’re a competitor who also harbors feelings for Alicia, just like me. Why do you ask such an obvious question?”
This time, Arterion was the one who was baffled.
His beautiful eyes, which seemed to contain chunks of gold, momentarily lost focus, and he felt as if the noise of the world had vanished.
And then came Gaba’s follow-up words.
Finally regaining his composure, Arterion drew his sword.
“…After I beat you, a much stronger foe awaits in the finals. Of course, I will never lose, though.”
“…Feelings. Feelings, huh.”
“Clueless prince. Let’s set aside your worries for now and settle this with me. My main goal is Alicia, but I also want to see how I fare against you as a warrior.”
“I’m not sure about that. But…”
Arterion’s red aura began to transform.
Gaba hadn’t made any move, yet Arterion’s aura started to crack and fragment.
Simultaneously, a feeling of immense pressure enveloped him.
He instinctively sensed the powerful force.
“Haha… what? You know this well. What do you mean you don’t understand? You’re even pulling out hidden techniques.”
An advanced form of red aura.
Arterion’s unique manifestation.
With his adrenaline pumping, Gaba couldn’t help but feel ignited by the display of power.
The red aura shattered like glass and dispersed in all directions, rising into the air as if each shard had its own will, multiplying in accordance with the mana he provided.
Mana increased proportionally.
The eyes of the solitary Arterion stood out even in that one picture reminiscent of a ruby jewel box.
“… I don’t want to lose.”
The two resumed their clash.
* * *
The decisive reason for the fight between the two men.
Alicia lay in bed in the infirmary, unable to watch the match.
Beside her, Liam and Emily were standing and chatting.
“Liam, I’m glad you’re being discharged early.”
Liam, recovering in the bed next to hers, was now capable of daily activities thanks to Rikeion’s medicine and magic, along with his trained body.
“Thanks. I hope you recover soon too, Alicia.”
“I think I might be discharged tomorrow. The doctor said so.”
“Oh, really? That’s great! Ah! Ugh…”
“Liam! You’re not completely healed, so be careful! Rest is the priority!”
Emily helped Liam stand up, and he smiled sheepishly.
With an anxious air, Emily looked at Alicia while wishing for her quick recovery as well.
“You were really amazing in the quarter-finals.”
“…Yes. Thank you. Even though I ended up losing.”
“But it was still such a shame to lose. You even used your red aura. There are probably very few first-years who can match you now!”
“You’re overly flattering me.”
Compliments were exchanged between them.
Liam regretted not being able to watch Alicia’s match since he was in the infirmary.
As the conversation continued, Emily brought up the schedule after the final exam that would end today.
“Liam, didn’t they say there would be a social gathering along with the closing ceremony during your stay in Rikeion?”
“Yeah. I think they’re planning it as a party.”
“A party…! I’m excited!”
Alicia’s eyes sparkled.
Except for when she entered the Academia, she had never experienced a party in her life, so just hearing about it thrilled her.
Emily said with a mischievous expression, “Of course, if you want to enjoy the party, you need to get better soon, right?”
“Don’t worry! The doctor also said I could be discharged tomorrow… Ah, ugh…”
“Just like Liam. What are you two doing?”
Laughter filled the room, creating a warm atmosphere.
After a while, Liam and Emily left the infirmary.
The room fell silent in an instant.
Alicia looked at the ceiling, feeling a bit lonely.
‘I wonder what the Young Master is doing right now?’
It was as natural as breathing for Alicia to think of Vargan.
Recalling the praise he gave her after the quarter-finals caused her to blush, and she covered half her face with the blanket.
Although the curtains were drawn, and no one could see her, it felt unnecessary to do so.
—Creak.
At that moment, the door to the infirmary opened, and footsteps could be heard.
Someone approached without hesitation.
‘Liam? Did you leave something behind?’
Alicia thought the approaching figure was Liam, but soon dismissed the idea.
The sounds of the footsteps and stride were different.
Who could it be…? The sound was unfamiliar.
And then….
Thud—.
A shadow stopped in front of Alicia’s bed.
As someone was cast in silhouette by the curtains, Alicia tensed up.
‘They’re gathering mana.’
This mysterious person clearly approached with a purpose.
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