[Author's Note: Hey guys, a new chapter here! Hooray! I know I've promised more chapters, and I know many hoped to see more chapters being released since it's Spring Break and all. I've got no excuses. However, don't worry, I expect I'll finish and post 3-5 chapters before Spring Break ends (including this chapter of course). Anyways, if you all don't mind, I'd like to ask you all, if you've enjoyed my work, to take the time to leave a comment, power stone or review.
Writing this series brings me a lot of joy and it's my pleasure to share it with you all. However, the lack of response from readers is a little disheartening. Yes, I know I don't get a lot of views, power stones and feedback due to my slow updates. Even if it's criticism, I'd still like feedback on what I can improve so I can make it more enjoyable for people to read and use it as a reference for future projects/works. (They're definitely coming soon.) I don't get paid to write this to make sure it's free for everyone to enjoy. I only hope my small request for support or feedback can be granted. Anyway, that's enough from me. Enjoy the chapter!]
[Several Days Earlier, prior to Prologue]
"Sharon! I challenge you to a group battle!"
Another one? That makes it the fourth one this week!
Hey, at least I'm racking up Bab points. They're not much since I keep beating small fries like First-Circle Mages, but points are points. Every little bit counts.
"Alright, I'll accept your challenge."
"I can't wait to crush you."
The student who challenged me, sneered and left.
Seriously? Can't she have come up with something more original? The last few times someone said those lines, they found themselves on the ground, beaten to a pulp.
However, I can't help but feel something amiss. Meh, I'm sure it'll work out like the previous matches.
A couple of minutes later. In the Arena, I found out why I felt something was off.
Standing across from me was the nasty-eyed student, and she wasn't alone. Beside her are several of her girlfriends who all had less than friendly looks on their faces.
...
Well, sh*t. I should pay more attention to what others say.
One or two First-Circle mages I can handle without breaking a sweat. Three is doable, but five!?
Even if they aren't on the level of a Second-Circle mage like Florence, I'll still take a beating from the barrage of spells coming my way!
As if reading my thoughts, the leader of the group. The classmate who challenged me, a curly-haired brunette with an annoying face and nasty eyes drawled.
"What's wrong, Sharon? Getting cold feet?
Damn it! How shameless can she be!? How am I the coward when this battle is five vs one in your favour!?
But I highly doubt my reasonable complaints will make it through anyone's skull. Let's face the music, everyone hates my guts. Meaning, that if I refuse, everyone will label me a coward. If I lost the duel, then I'd be labelled weak.
Guess there's no choice but to face them head-on and win. Man, I wish I tried persuading Sir Charles harder to let me keep my mithril armour. At least he allowed me to keep the Adamantine longsword as a reward for beating Florence. [Author's Note: Forgot what kind of sword it was, pls remind me in comments if you know.]
After the duel (more like a one-sided group battle), the rest of the day played out as normal.
I attended Miss Emily's classes. When everyone witnessed how I flayed Florence within an inch of her life, they stopped with the harassment. This didn't mean they wouldn't talk behind my back though, not like I cared.
Aside from Helen, I've had no close relations with anyone else. Well, besides Sherry I suppose. She's an awfully nice girl. No one seems to feel disgusted by her association with me. In fact, her interaction with me may have elevated her status as the nicest girl in our class.
Well, I'm not complaining, it's better to form a group with someone nice rather than a hater like Albert or Florence.
On the topic of frien-
Actually, can Helen and Shelly be considered friends? I don't really know since I never had any myself. Should it be on the topic of acquaintances then? Dangit, I think the old man's rambling might be contagious.
The hours dragged on, and eventually, class ended. The students packed their belongings away and left.
They all went various ways.
Some hung out with their friends to discuss today's latest gossip.
Some hit the books in the library to work on their assignments.
Others went about their club activities.
As for me, I went to train. Five hundred reps with a bar weighing in at two hundred kilograms, at least a thousand push-ups with a stone weighing fifty
I'm not sure why, but I've found physical exercises much easier to do than ever before.
Anyways, I wouldn't be training at the gym Charles built for me on the outskirts of the Academy. Not at least for a week. He got chewed up by Miss Emily for not having a license.
While he's getting the license.
Fun fact, the building license usually takes at least three months to get, thanks to the Headmaster's favouritism, the time's been cut down by more than two and a half months. I have no clue what she sees in that moustache-obsessed old man. Sure, he's got a decent face for his age, great figure, charisma, manners,
Damnit! I need to stop thinking about this! Otherwise, I'm going to go nuts! I need to find some way to vent!
I briskly left the main building and headed to an abandoned warehouse behind the campus.
Then I heard some yelling.
I couldn't hear what they were saying. Curious, I sneaked toward the noises' source.
I was speechless by what I saw.
The very same group of girls I fought in the duel this morning, led by the very same nasty-eyed brunette, are beating someone.
The lot all had a sadistic gleam in their eyes as
"Oi! What do you think you're doing?"
Miss Nasty Eyes looked up, annoyed at having her fun interrupted and yelled.
"Eh? Who the hell's there!? Can't you see we're busy? Do you want to get the same treatment as her!?"
When she finally realized who it was (me of course), her face turned pale and her expression curdled.
"Sharon! What are you doing here!?"
I responded with a haughty tone.
"Just a light stroll. What about you? Why are all of you here?"
One of Miss Nasty Eyes's friends responded with a hint of nervousness, recalling the trauma she suffered at my hands. If I remember correctly, she's the one whose arm I broke, or is it dislocated? Everything happened far too quickly and it's been some hours
"W-we were on a light stroll as well!"
*Smack!*
"Idiot! What sort of excuse is that!?! Anybody with half a brain can see through it!"
"Oh? See-through what?"
"None of your business!"
"Damnit! I won't forget this Sharon! Just you wait!"
After leaving behind such a cliche threat. I turn my attention to the poor victim.
Dangit! What should I say?
"Um, hey, are you alright!"
"Stay back!"
Woah! What's with her attitude!? I save her from getting flayed and this is how she expresses her gratitude?
Well, it's not like I can't sympathize with her. I'd been on the receiving end of similar situations myself. I'm not some miser who thinks they're the most miserable person in the world and nobody can possibly understand them.
The poor girl must have been through a lot
Abruptly, she got up and fled. At quite a fast pace might I add. Akin to a lion chasing its prey.
I'm not far off with that analogy.
As she ran, I managed to catch a brief glimpse of a fluffy silver tail and a pair of furry lupine ears.
The next day went as usual. I spent the majority of the classes.
Everything was normal until the lunch period.
When I went on my way to the cafeteria while being given death stares by more than half the
Occasionally I'd eat with Helen
All of a sudden, I had a nagging feeling someone's been following or spying on me. I turned around and saw no one. Except for a familiar furry silver tail peaking out behind a column.
...
First off, she needs to improve her stealth skills. Secondly, how on Lunara did she even find me? Does she have the nose of a bloodhound?
Okay, seeing the tail and considering her race, that might be plausible, but what does she even want?
Guess I'm going to have to figure it out for myself.
"Hey!"
The tail twitched and stood up straight in shock in a comedic way.
I took only a few steps before she suddenly fled.
Weird, maybe she's the shy type?
After she fled, I went back on my way to the cafeteria, barely two or three minutes in, I felt the same nagging "I'm being followed sensation."
I turn around, finding a similar scene to what I just saw two minutes ago. Rather than hiding behind a column (with her tail sticking out). This time, she hid behind a potted plant, peaking out of it was not just her tail, but a pair of cute, fluffy ears I'd love to stroke for hours on end.
For a second time, I tried making contact with her. However, the moment I took a single step, just like last time, she fled. It's almost like she has a sixth sense or something. Actually, it might have something to do with her ears, but seriously. Her reaction speed, or rather, escape capability is ridiculous.
If you expect me to chase after her, you'd be wrong. Firstly, I don't even know her, I can't just chase her and demand what she wants. Way too brusque. I might be a tomboy, but I'm not some rude musclehead who gets things done with pigheaded force.
Secondly, if she doesn't want to talk, then I push it. Partly because I am a believer in personal space, and partly because my social skills are on par with a hermit crab's whenever I talk to strangers/new people.
So, I just went back on my way to the cafe-
Then the same feeling struck again for the third time.
When I looked around to find her this time, I saw her hiding around the corner of a wall. Besides her fluffy tails and ears, part of her face was exposed, revealing a cute face and wild amber eyes.
Okay, you know what? Forget what I said earlier. I'm fed up with this.
Using Reinforcement on my legs, I sped across the corridor.
The silver-haired Beastgirl threw a glance over her shoulder. Her eyes widened in shock as she witnessed me hot on her tail. In the figurative sense of course.
In this moment of shock, her pace slightly slowed. Using this to my advantage, I poured extra mana into my legs. With a single hard dash, catching up to her.
Before the Beastgirl could process what happened, I grabbed her by the shoulder and pinned her against the wall, demanding.
"Why are you following me?"
The Beastgirl stammered, and her face flushed for some unusual reason.
"I-I-I..."
Yes, go on.
"I'd like to join your team for the Grand Chaos Tournament!"
...
I did not expect this.
[This one's short, I know, I'll try to make it up by adding the fight scene sometime soon alongside other chapters.]