"Nngh, Ah!"
"WA!"
I woke up with a fright. I thought I had fallen into a deep, never-ending pit. This didn't happen the first time. Since I woke up after the yell, the world in that dream shattered, if you call that a dream at all.
"You surprised me; what the heck!
I suddenly heard a person beside me say, Oh yeah, there was someone who yelled at me.
When I turned my head to look there, he was Mr. BK; no wonder it was familiar; it was him.
"Sorry about that; I just had a nightmare."
'Well, I've experienced that falling into a dream is kind of like a nightmare.'
"Heh, I guess having a nightmare shows that you did something and karma is catching up, huh?"
'Yup, he is interpreting things his way again, huh?'
"Wait, that means that I lost consciousness because you cheated! That's right! Ah Ow that hurst... But I think my guess is right. Right cheater?"
He jumped excitedly as he brags about his amazingness in proving my bad deeds.
'Now he is accusing me of cheating. Why is this guy like this? Also, he is still feeling the
after-effects of the last attack I made, huh?'
"Hmph, just wait! My victory shall be announced right in your face. Just watch!"
"Ahaha I guess so."
I really don't have the will to tell how the battle ended after he lost consciousness, which I followed after.
"You don't believe me after I knocked you unconscious with my last attack?"
'Eh? Does he think I was knocked unconscious by his previous attack?'
Well, I guess it kind of makes sense if he thinks that way since that was his last memory before losing consciousness.
Still, using Mind Acceleration is truly harsh. My brain and nerves were almost fried. Thank goodness it healed fast, although I somehow felt a bit of the aftereffect.
Tap tap
Footsteps can be heard as we were talking, or more like him proving his point.
"Oh good, you guys are awake."
"Mr. Tim." "Miss Ria."
We both exclaimed as our combat instructor came in to visit us.
"The exam for this month is finished since this is the last one. The result will be announced in a week. So I look forward to it."
"Mis Gale is right. Also, the result of our match only had one difference."
"Oh, that means we won, right, Mr. Tim?"
Then the place turned cold.
What is with that menacing glare? It's a good thing it wasn't directed at me.
"No, on the contrary, we lost."
"What and where did I think all of us worked hard for this? I guess a great majority of us were slacking, huh?"
'It got even colder. What the heck?'
"Yes, and you were one of those slackers."
"Huh? How can that be? I defeated this. Right?"
'Hey, he's treating me like a thing now!'
"No, you lost, and in a pathetic way at that. Come here, you and your classmates are going to have more intense training."
He said this as he dragged him out.
'Is that alright? I thought he was still healing.'
"You come with me as well, and we're going to have a feast. And it's on him."
Ms. Ria beckons me to follow her as she points at Mr. Vandel, who is paying for our feast.
Hearing that, I got out of bed and checked how my body was doing, and somehow it was doing okay.
'I guess the backlash from using mind acceleration at a strong intensity and for a long duration was healed, huh?'
"What are you waiting for? Let's go!"
She said this as she dangled her arms over my shoulder and dragged me out.
~~~~~~~~~
"Mr. Tim, what do you mean I'm one of the slackers?"
"It's like what I said—you lost."
"Huh!? But I was sure I hit him with my last attack. So instead of losing, it should at least be a draw, right?"
"I don't know how to explain it myself, but before you could hit him, you were knocked down by something unexpected."
"Did he cheat? That means that I should have won. Right?"
"No, he didn't. It was kind of a miracle, really."
"Then how did I lose? I can't accept it if I lose just because of a fluke."
"Then you just have to live with it because you lost to a fluke. Now stop yapping and follow me. This is already annoying because I lost a bet, so please don't keep going and make me angry."
Not knowing what happened, Richard just followed Mr. Vandel. It wasn't that he was dense; he already felt anger earlier, but his rationality couldn't accept that outcome.
'I don't know how it happened, but mark my words, next time we face each other on the stage, I won't let my guard down and beat you with all I got right at the start.'
A flame was then ignited inside him, a grudge and a promise that would be fulfilled at an unexpected stage.
~~~~~~~~
"Yeah, we won!"
"That was amazing, guys!"
"You almost lost it there."
"Shut up, I won, right?"
As I got out of the infirmary with Ms. Ria, I saw my classmates having fun.
"It looks like they're excited."
"Yeah, I guess he is the MVP, huh?"
"Not Likely."
"What do you mean?"
"Although it is an exam for individual students, they can pair up or be with a group and request a group test."
'Oh yeah, I kind of read that, and I didn't get to any groups for obvious reasons.'
"Right, and there is also a clause there where they could ask one of their classmates to be a helper."
"There was something like that?"
"Yeah, there is, and they could only assist once."
"They could do that? Wait, so B– I mean, Richard can also join a group and act as a helper while also being able to take an individual test?"
"Yes, so the real MVP is you."
'Wow, I didn't know about that, or maybe it is an unwritten rule that can only work when you have friends. How sad.'
"But that doesn't change the fact that they won with their own effort. Plus, they will definitely deny it."
"You really are–."
"Hey Ms. Ria! Let's go already!"
"Yeah, let's celebrate, as you promised."
"Alright, Alright I'll be there. Let's go."
"Uh yeah."
~~~~~~~~~
Matches at the Coliseum have ended, marking the end of this month's preliminary exam.
"Sir. These are papers with the record of the test results and performances of students'."
"Good, so are there any suspicious movements around?"
"None at the moment."
"Is that so? I guess they don't want to create any seams in their work. So they didn't take any out-of-the ordinary actions."
"Hmm, speaking of out of the ordinary, something like that did happen earlier."
"Really, who's responsible?"
"Well, it is a battle between the Berserker Knight, Sir Richard, and the student you said to provide some attention and protection."
"Cole Anglos?"
"Yes sir."
"What happened? Did he get injured in his battle against young Richard?"
"No, sir, on the contrary, he won."
"What? He won. How?"
"Well, that's the thing which was out of the ordinary."
The secretary then explained the outcome and how it happened, hearing that the Principal was amazed.
"To think that was possible?"
"Well, with a little practice, high-ranking individuals can do that."
"Yes, but they need a strong calculative mind to get the timing right, and a great deal of luck to do it."
"I see. Then there's got to be a problem with this student, right?"
"No, there is no problem with this student. I can vouch for that."
"What do you mean, sir? Is there something special about this student?"
"Well, he is kind of a disciple of my Father's disciple, so yeah, that's the only thing special about him."
"So it is true he got here through special admission?"
"We both know that it's not possible that he got here with his own abilities."
"Then that's good."
"Is there anything else?"
"Oh yeah, here is this request form."
She then handed out a paper containing a request to amass some materials.
"This is?"
"A request for her research."
"Haah, I'll approve of it after all; the effects are quite useful and could save more lives."
"That is all for me."
"You can leave then."
After getting his approval, his assistant left the room.
Looking at the pile of papers on his desk, he felt his work would never end.
"Yeah, this is going nowhere. But I am glad about her motives; if that magic tool is made, then turning the tides of war would be an understatement."
He then stood and looked out the window.
"Let's take a break first. It's almost dinner time, and since I just approved of her work, having a small family get-together won't be bad."
As he was about to leave the place, a piece of paper fell from the stock of papers piled up.
"This is a wonderful situation. I really can't underestimate their bloodline; even with all his complications, he can still shine."
"Haah." He sighed as he looked at the paper again.
"I wonder if you will rise from the ashes and become a phoenix, or if you will just be forgotten dust."
He put the paper back on as we walked out of the room.