Chapter 77 - Academy Tournament Part 4
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"Um..." I raised both my hands in capitulation. "Is there anything you want with me?"
I started to think of a way on how to talk it out with him, but I can't seem to be able to think any. You know, I've been minding my own business to the Academy—hoping that Sai Crimsonheart's past will gradually cease, but I guess it won't be that easy.
While I'm pondering, I noticed Jett scowling as he fiercely glares at me. Now what...?
"Kuh..." Jett gritted his teeth, looking frustrated. "You even look so handsome... Unforgivable."
"...Huh?" Everyone displayed a nonplussed response to his weirdly out of context reaction. That's really just like him... Even with an impressive strength, everyone seems to be scared to him. His gangster appearance aside, he always leaves a terrifying first impression that no one really wants to befriend him—especially the girls who finds him very scary. That's why he's always frustrated to the other guys whose looking handsome.
"You..." The black-haired guy who was beside him, wearing a jacket and some kind of headset facepalmed as he sighed in exasperation. "Anyways, you're Sai Crimsonheart, right? Looks like you've been doing quite a ruckus and were here to stop you."
"Wait! I-is there some kind of misunderstanding here—"
"No more talking!"
"?!"
Without giving me any moment of preparation, Jett threw a 『Glaive』 and immediately plunge at me after. I immediately responded by flicking his 『Glaive』 away using my skill ⟨⟨Battōjutsu⟩⟩ but I won't be able to create a next attack—let alone dodge it...!
"Die!" Jett voiced out his victory as he was about to stab me with a 『Shinobi Blade』.
But to his surprise, a tip of a scabbard was already about to hit him. Jett forcefully kick the ground to instantly stop his movement—successfully able to dodge the scabbard attack. It was Luna who intercept Jett by thrusting her 『Gleam Sword』 inside the scabbard.
Jett thinks he managed to back-out successfully until he felt his instincts tinged which he kicks the ground to back away. After a millisecond and the area where he stopped for a brief moment earlier has been stormed with a round of arrows, bullets, the most dangerous of all, the beam. He felt relieved that he followed his instinct or else he won't be able to return without an injury.
"Hoh... As expected, I won't be able to deal with you with these many monsters around you." Jett admitted, grinning.
"Jett!" The guy wearing a headset shouted as he concernedly approached Jett. "Didn't I tell you not to engage immediately?!"
"My bad, I can't help it."
"You mean the reason that he is handsome?" The guy looks at him in pity. "I didn't think you're envious of him that much..."
"No! It's not that!" Jett turned dork but immediately was changed into a face of anger. "I will never forgive a person who just hurt anybody whenever they like."
"Can you at least hear us? We—"
"Really big words for someone who just came and attacked us out of nowhere." Lily who cut my words furiously complained, aiming her bow towards Jett. "I felt scared on you earlier, but I really want to beat you right now."
"W-wait...! Aren't we—"
"I'm sorry Sai, but I don't think we'll come into a good agreement with this guy." Astra exclaimed, also pointing his sword towards them. "That's really unfortunate..."
"Aren't we getting ahead of—"
"Don't worry Master, we'll protect you!" My words were halted once again by Luna who went in front of me as if to protect me.
Goddamnit! Why don't they listen to me?! Hell, this thing is getting out of hand! But wait...! For some reason, Jett was looking at me in both surprise and bewildered. Did he finally realize it? Come on...! Come on...!
"Hm..." Jett showed an expression of deep in thoughts, still looking at me fiercely. After a moment and he walked away. "Let's go, we're causing quite a ruckus ourselves so let's stop this for now."
"For now, you say..." I displayed a complicated expression in response.
But before they walk away, Jett suddenly stops from his tracks.
"We're not done yet you bastard." Jett exclaimed, pointing his finger at me. "I'll promise that I will stop you from your sins...!"
Jett then started to walk away, leaving us pondering for questions. Man, I'm really grateful that the fight ended right away... If worst come to shove, some of us wouldn't be able to leave here without an injure.
I breathe out an exasperated sight. "Shall we head home then?"
And thus, we decided to leave the Arena and head back into our respective home. No dares to talk about what happened since just thinking about it is giving us a headache.
* * *
(The Next Day)
It's the Second Cour of the event where the remaining participants will fight their way until the sole competitor wins the tournament. Today, Rina-san together with the Mini-Dryad decided to join us to watch the ongoing tournament.
And to our surprise, the Arena seems to be more crowded than yesterday. Perhaps some audiences invited their friends to watch someone and is expecting something... No, that's got to be it!
When I was outside buying some snacks, I accidentally heard some guys who invited their friends to watch Luna and the others because of you know, boys' things. Of course, they probably came here for the girls. Sigh...
In any case, we didn't encounter any problem which I'm grateful about. I was expecting of being attacked by Jett and his gangs but knowing his fair attitude, I know that he won't ever plan on doing that.
10 Minutes before the tournament was about to start, a giant hologram projecting the list of the participants against their opponents was shown at the center. Fortunately, our opponent wasn't us but the opponents whom we didn't have any relations with. It would feel crushing if one of us had to fight each other so early in the tournament.
"Looks like I'm on the first match again." I mentioned.
"Looks like it." Sora responded, then breathe a sigh of relief. "Well, I'm really glad we didn't have to fight each other though."
"S-so cute...!"
Aedan and the girls were playing with the Mini-Dryad in pure adoration. Especially Asta who surprisingly were pretty fond of very cute things.
They were in a state of extreme shock when they knew that we fought the 『Dryad』 which is one of the Four Elementals and survived.
"H-how did you even survive those... Man, just thinking about it feels so scary..." Astra said.
"Wow...! I didn't think I would find someone who can defeat one of the Four Elementals... Amazing." Aedan replied, his eyes were glittering in excitement.
They were storming us with questions that we can't help but laugh in capitulation.
"When I first met you, I really thought you were some delusional idiot. But right now, I'm starting to see it as a reality." Sora confessed, utterly impressed. "I won't lose though."
"Try your best then." I competitively replied, then rose into my seat. "I'll got to go now."
I left the place and went into the waiting room. After 10 minutes and the event were once again has started. Thunderous cheers and applause surrounded the whole Arena in extreme excitement—I guess we got to do our best then.
After a long ass introduction and hyping the audience, I and my next opponent steps up into the Centerstage at the announcer's response. But...
"BOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"E-eh...?"
I was booed the moment my face was seen at the Centerstage. It was very surprising, but it didn't really affect me. However, the others from the audience weren't. I gestured them that I'm really okay, but it looked like It made them more furious.
Anyways, looks like my opponent right now is a Green-haired Female 『Mage』, she was wearing a mixed of green and white robe which fits on her very well thanks to the same color of her hair.
It was very surprising to see a 『Mage』 In this world since only a handful of people took the 『Mage』 as their Class as the existence of 『Mana Essence』 hasn't still discovered to this day.
Green hair huh... She's probably a "Nymph Race". I heard that their race are one of the races that's often discriminated due to lack of their population. I guess it's no wonder why compared to the others who fought against me, she's still the only one who hasn't said anything...Or maybe, that's not it.
She looks so tense and anxious as she looked at me. I can sense a faint determination coming from her, but I wonder why? It feels like, she's very bothered by something...
While I'm pondering, the announcer has finally started the match. The Mage girl who didn't waste any second immediately too out her staff and shot me without hesitation.
What shot through me was an electric projectile that's cracking to where its moving. I see, her weapon is called the 『Electric Discharge』, a Magic weapon that shoots a lightning bolt. She probably found in on the ruins of the 『Dessert』.
Unfortunately, the projectile wasn't very fast, so I managed to dodge it with ease. After a 3-shots from her staff which I easily dodge, she starts to distance herself from me to recharge her Mana.
Yeah, that's the reason why a very few little people took Mage as their class. They can only be able to shoot 2-3 shots and it will instantly drain their Mana. Hell, she didn't even bring a [Mana Potion] with her!
"You know it's impossible to win in your situation, right? But the look on your face... What are you even fighting for in this hopeless situation?" I sneered.
"I'm sorry but it's more important to me than you think." The Mage girl replied.
Man, her visible determination on her face as she fights in an unwinnable fight makes me really feel bad for her—It can't be helped.
"Hey green hair," I called the Mage girl while I dodge her electric shots. "Don't instantly drain your Mana by shooting it immediately. Instead, try to put a gap between your shots."
The Mage girl was surprised at my unusual instruction. But she nodded firmly and stop from her tracks and point her Staff at me. This time, just like I've instructed, she put a gap between her shots and to her surprise, it looks like she has unlimited mana as she attacks me.
"Your Mana instantly fills-up after it noticed that you're not using your magic anymore. By having a gap at your attacks, the Mana regeneration will think that you've stopped draining it and thus, regenerating the remaining Mana you've drained just earlier."
It was never actually a cheat in the game as you can immediately raise your Mana when the night comes. So that minor feature was actually useless but, in this world, where 『Mana Essence』 hasn't still been discovered, this method is perfect.
Though of course, thanks to me teaching her, dodging her projectiles became a bit harder. But it's not really something that I'm having a hard time of.
"I'm sorry but, even with this method, you know you still can't win against me, right?" I pointed out, then added. "What are going to do?"
The green-haired girl gritted his teeth in frustration. "I don't have a choice, okay! This is the only way I can get a large money to buy the cure to my sister's disease!"
Her eyes started to wet in frustration. I see, medicine huh... I don't know how much that cost but considering the exaggerated price she mentioned, it's probably a scam. Because a medicine of any cure will never reach even a gold coin.
"Can I know your sister's disease?" I asked.
"I have no reason to tell you." She exclaimed. "It's not like you can cure her or anything, so why bother?"
"Just tell me."
I asked once again but this time, in a serious demeanor. She paused a bit before she continued to speak. And Hell! Can't you stop attacking me?! I'm starting to feel tired here!
"She's been violently coughing lately. It didn't really that worse before but right now, it looks like it's starting to kill her... The physicist said that they can't find the reason but that's bullshit!" She paused for a brief moment before she continued. "Then one day, someone told me that I can buy her cure to someone for a platinum... So, I have no choice, okay?!"
So, she's one of the victims huh...
"I'm sorry but, you're being scammed." I curtly replied, then I noticed the audiences were starting to get bored so I ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ through her. "Looks like it's time."
She was surprised and got agitated to my speed that she tried to hit me with his staff panicky. I dodge her desperate attack and pull her arms and sway his feet. I catch her before she falls into the ground and put the blade on her neck.
"I'm really sorry..." I apologized.
"Winner! Sai Crimsonheart!!"
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"Die, you bastard!!"
A series of booing had struck the whole Arena after my winning announcement. Sheesh! I'm really popular am I...? J-just not in a good way unfortunately.
And thus, the two of us left the centerstage separately. When I shot a look at her, I can see her devastated expression.
"..."
* * *
(On the Waiting Room)
The Mage girl was walking aimlessly as if her hopes have been crushed entirely. After a brief moment and tears can be seen falling off her face...
"Uhh... Sob! Sob! Guuuh..."
The Mage girl started to weep. Hopelessly sobbing as she slowly walks her way towards the exit. Then suddenly...
"Hey, green-haired girl!"
She was startled a bit when she heard someone behind her. When she turned around, the person behind him suddenly put some kind of [Potion] in her hands.
"It's the cure for your sister's disease." The red-haired guy who was in front of her said. "Let her drink it and she'll be cure in no time."
The girl was stunned in response to his remark. She was nonplussed on what to react into a sudden situation. Cure? So fast? What happened? Where did he get something like this? The girl's mind was in shambles.
"Uhm...! What about—"
"Just take it, it's free." The guy interrupted and started to walk away. "Next time, be careful with frauds, alright?"
And thus, the girl was left with many questions. But such thoughts were unnecessary as she now currently possessed the [Potion] to finally cure her sister. Without any further ado, the girl sprinted at the exit with only a thought of curing her sister.
(Thank you, Sai Crimsonheart) is what she thought from the bottom of her heart.