On one side, Arias who's listening to Regis and Manaria, she turns pale and became worried when she saw the look on Regis' face. It's the first time she saw him like that—a cold expression full of killing intent. A feeling Arias can put her fingers into. She felt it in the past but she didn't know where and when she encountered it.
Arias slowly moved closer to Regis and hold his hand with hers. She quietly tried to inquire him with the details.
"H-hey Regis, What's happening? What are you two talking about? Neh, please tell me about it."
With Arias anxiously asking him, Regis' expression immediately returned to his usual quiet and gentle self and with a small sigh.
"I guess I need to tell this to you, after all, you're my partner and my family. As I told you last night, they are the one responsible for attacking my village. Those remaining members of forbidden-magic practitioners, they had already infiltrated this academy and their present targets might be the participants for the magic festival." Regis said with a pensive look on his face.
He already filled in Arias about the things he did for the past years he was traveling. The only few things he didn't mention are the things about being a past Magnus level mage and becoming a Magic King, and the real story about Reena that he's planning to tell her after the two become closer.
"Those guys again? But why here in our academy?"
Manaria sensed that Regis already speak with Arias about the things she needs to know so she told Arias the truth, judging that it is best to let the princess know everything.
"Long story short, they are targeting the yearly Magic Festival in the aim of gathering a very large amount of mana by converting everyone in the premises into pure mana. Just like what they did ten years ago at Regis' village."
"And I will never let that happen for a second time. I'll definitely get my revenge on them! I'll break them all." Regis claims with a cold look on his face. Everything he did in the past is for this very important goal.
In front of Regis' firm resolve, the pure-hearted maiden inside Arias can't help but blush because right now, she thinking along the lines of "Kyaa~! Regis so cool!" and "Regis so manly~!" but after mustering her self-control, Arias was able to prevent herself on bursting out like that in their current serious atmosphere and say—
"D-Don't worry! I'll protect you, Regis! I won't let you experience that for a second time. This time you have me and our classmates." Arias told him resolutely which made Regis look at her dumbfounded. This sudden outburst of Arias, coupled with Regis' dumbfounded look, Manaria can't help but snicker.
"Fufufu… How lucky you are Regis, your little girlfriend is more courageous than yourself. But to make her protect you, if I were you, I'll be too shameful of myself."
This comment made Regis came back into his senses. With Manaria teasing him, his mood suddenly plummeted.
"Shut up Manaria! Like hell I'm gonna let that happen! Of all the people here, I am the one who doesn't need protection the most. And Arias, they are my prey so I'll personally deal with them alone. There's no need for you to stain your hands."
Grasping Arias' hands, Regis firmly look into her eyes and directly convey his resolve which made Arias once again blush furiously.
"I-If that's what you want…"
"Thank you, Arias, you really understand me the most." A grateful expression from Regis was reflected on Arias' eyes when he tells her that.
"N-No… A-As your lover, this is something normal for me to do."
"Hehe, I'm really lucky to have you… That's why I love you the most, Arias."
These words from Regis' mouth seeped gently and slowly to Arias' ears then carefully being processed by her brain, then
"….. . …. .. L-L-Love me the most?! I-I... Regis...*poof!* Unyaa~"
With a *poof!* sound, Arias collapsed on the sofa with her face redder than a tomato, faint steam can also be seen coming out from her head. Regis quickly supported her body.
Regis later found out that Arias collapsed because it exceeded her happiness threshold. After all, this is the first time he said those words to her since 8 years ago. It was one of the words Arias greatly yearns for.
"*Ahem!* I almost got sick of too much sweetness of you two's interaction. And it also turned out that you're surprisingly a good womanizer, Regis. Really, you grew up the opposite way I want you to."
Once again, Regis was assaulted by Manaria's painful remarks. After he laid down Arias on the sofa with her head on his lap, he regained his serious demeanor and resumed his serious talk.
"We wandered off the real topic a bit but let's continue. It's only a few months before the Magic Festival starts and the students from the senior level will return soon. I forgot to ask this earlier but assuming that they will participate in the magic festival, how many participants are allowed to join?"
"For each academy, from any year level, they can only have five pairs of participants. Those five pairs will be selected from their battle ranking because only the top students are allowed to join the festival. A battle ranking tournament will be held starting next month for the selection of the best five."
Without changing his expression, Regis began pondering about the incoming elimination tournament.
"Hmmm… As Arias mentioned during lunch, there will be an elimination battle and only the five pairs will be selected. The selection is easier than I thought."
"And I'm expecting you to take the first spot, which is the top 1."
"Haha. Don't be foolish, Manaria. I'll be the one who'll win this whole Magic Festival. And while at it, I'm going to erase the entire existence of those bastard practitioners from the face of this land!"
"I wonder about that—well, if you fought with them, I think they will give you a hard time. After all, even the current you might reach the limits of your 'body' while in the battle."
"I know about that. Most of them are very capable mages and able to use some high ranked magic. But that won't mean that they can overpower me just because I'm in this body."
After saying that, Regis gently lift up Arias to carry her before making his way to the door. Manipulating mana on the atmosphere, he opened the door but before stepping outside he turned back once more and said to Manaria,
"Spread the word to every people around the continent. Tell them that in this incoming Magic Festival, the Magic King will finally show himself to the crowd. That way, those fools will surely come and participate."
'And that will be for the second time, I'm gonna go out of control…'
After that, he once again manipulated some mana to close the door and he finally left. He still needs to find Reena and pacify her.
Few minutes after that, left alone in her office, Manaria stood up and returned to her director's seat. After seating, her shoulders began shaking—shaking because she was trying her best on containing her laugh.
"Fufufu… Oh my, Regis... You're really eager to finish your revenge. It's been a while since I will witness something like this. I'm looking forward to this silly play of your's…"