I don't know what happened, but it seems I was thrown when I hit Lukas's body. At that moment, I could feel his body harden and heat up.
"Damn, I'm tired. And this hurts," I thought.
Fatigue took over my body. The Arkium I used was drained significantly to execute the Avalanche Assault Barrage and Avalanche Impact while suppressing my exhaustion.
I think I was thrown far and rolled uncontrollably.
But this was a good fight. It reminded me of when I was still the Dark Saber. My friends and I often had brutal sparring sessions. If I lost, I would challenge again, and if I won, my friend would challenge me again.
I often fought strong human enemies too. If my enemy was stronger, I would be cornered, pushing me to release all my potential until I managed to kill my them.
However, I wasn't always weak. Throughout my journey, I grew stronger and stronger until only a few could make me serious. Maybe some, but that was close to my death. And my enemies were not humans but some damn alien creatures.
And I guess the situation where I am cornered is now, as a new individual, Edward. I was very tired and then challenged by Lukas, the guy rejected by my girlfriend. I mean, my fake girlfriend, Ishma. I accepted the challenge despite being tired, also because of myself, not because of Ishma. I wasn't used to refusing a challenge.
Well, but this challenge was fun. I could exert everything because I was tired. If I wasn't tired, maybe I wouldn't have been thrown so easily.
Then I heard Lukas's voice.
"Miss Bahraeel! Didn't you see? He's not worthy of you!"
The voice was loud enough and said in an annoying tone. Again, he decided my choice. Honestly, it was annoying. Well, I guess that's the youth's vibe. But...still annoying.
"Young Master Ziegler, didn't Edward already tell you? Who are you to decide my choices and his?"
This time, Ishma replied with her characteristic flat tone. She defended me and herself. Thank you, I'm flattered even though we are fake lovers.
I then managed to move my body again by exerting Arkium.
(Master, I advise you to rest and not force yourself. Your body's exhaustion has reached its limit, and your Arkium is at a low point.)
I ignored Anetta and stood up. It had been a while since I felt a serious fight like this. I only lost in circumstances and strength.
When I stood up, I saw Professor Brigitte crouching down. Her gaze towards me was strange. She looked at me as if seeing a ghost.
"Yes, Lukas. Who gave you the right to decide my choice and Ishma's?" I asked with a condescending expression.
Ishma, who was standing in front of me, turned towards me with a faint smile. Then I saw Lukas, whose body was enveloped in a red flame aura.
'Blessing from the Fire Spirit, huh? No wonder I was thrown.'
I stood still with my eyes closed, focusing on maximizing the little Arkium I had left. The ground near me trembled, and blue electric effects emerged from my Gauntlet. Quickly, an electric field was created in both my hands through the triboelectric effect between intense metal atoms, aided by Arkium and Quantumorph Artisan.
Positive and negative charges formed from the wild friction of metal atoms, creating an electric field around my hands, storing electrical energy that could be released.
And when I opened my eyes, I used my Arrogant Aristocrat Trait again, looking at Lukas arrogantly. The effect spread around me. Maybe Professor Brigitte and Ishma were also affected. And Lukas, my target, gasped a little.
Realizing this, Professor Brigitte moved away while calling me. I didn't know what she was doing here. And when did she get here?
"Edward! Stop!"
I intended to end this duel with Hammerbolt Hit. Honestly, I was tired, but I still wanted to continue this duel. After all, I hadn't lost yet.
Then, Ishma's face appeared in my view without expression.
"What are you doing?" Ishma asked in a flat tone.
"Of course, continuing this duel. I will win," I replied.
Ishma then sighed and smiled a little. She then looked at me.
"Your smile and expression are like a scary villain. And your aura is gripping. Calm down. The duel is over. You lost, dear." Ishma replied, tapping my forehead.
Ignoring Ishma's fake affectionate call, I was a little surprised. My Arrogant Aristocrat trait subsided, and Hammerbolt Hit was canceled. At that moment, I looked at Ishma in confusion. Then I looked at the others, Professor Brigitte and Professor Alzor, who smiled contentedly. I tilted my head as if saying 'really?'. And they both nodded.
I looked at Ishma again.
'What did she say? Scary smile and expression?' I thought.
My question was then answered by Anetta.
(Yes, Master. It's the crazy expression you showed when fighting me that awakened her emotions during the simulation battle.)
'That smile again? And did I really lose?' I thought.
(You stepped out of the duel area. You lost, Master.)
Hearing that, I felt a bit regretful. But what could I do? I lost according to the rules, and the duel was over. If I continued it again, it would be a problem.
'If I continued it again, could I win?' I asked Anetta.
Honestly, I knew the answer. I couldn't win. I wasted the use of Arkium to relieve my fatigue for fighting while strengthening my body.
(Because of your non-prime condition and accumulated fatigue, your chance of winning when Lukas doesn't activate his Blessing Trait is 62%. And when Lukas activates his Blessing Trait, your chance of winning is 27%.)
'Well, a strong Trait definitely influences the outcome of the battle.'
As soon as Anetta answered, Lukas planted his sword into the ground and deactivated his Trait. He was back to normal.
"You lost, Edward! This shows you are not worthy of Miss Bahraeel!" Lukas said firmly.
Ishma's fake beautiful smile that was looking at me disappeared, and her eyeballs rolled. I could hear her clicking her tongue. Well, she looked annoyed.
I was actually a bit annoyed too, although in my heart, I respected Lukas for fighting well. He fought me in a tired state, but he rekindled my competitive spirit besides Anetta, who fought me in a simulation battle. His attitude made me sigh.
I also glanced at Professor Brigitte, her flat gaze directed at Lukas. Well, it seems even Professor Brigitte was puzzled by your behavior, Lukas.
Suddenly, Ishma, who was in front of me, grabbed my left arm. Ishma and I linked arms. Then Ishma rested her head on my shoulder with a flat expression.
I was a little startled by her action this time. And as soon as I noticed her flat expression but with a small smile on her face, I couldn't help but wonder.
'Couldn't you use another more convincing expression?' I thought.
Not long after I thought that, Ishma quickly adjusted her face to have a bright expression.
Noticing how her expressions could change quickly and convincingly, I could only think...
'Okay, my fake girlfriend is scary.'
With her fake expression, Ishma said in an expressive tone, "Young Master Ziegler. Please don't say things like that. I chose Edward. I love him."
'Uwaaahh... This acting...'
While monologuing internally, I looked around. We seemed to be showing a clichéd romantic drama in front of many people. However, I showed no expression.
"Isn't that right, dear?" Ishma continued, clinging closer to me.
I could feel something soft pressing against my upper arm. And...well, even though I am the Dark Saber, I am in a teenage body. Normally, in my previous life, such physical interactions weren't enough to make me 'excited'. However, the hormones in this teenage body were hard to fight. I gritted my teeth as if doing a mewing.
I had to use my little Arkium to fight against trivial things like this. Once this matter was quickly resolved, I immediately adjusted my expression and replied to Ishma. I looked at her face and made an expression as if looking at someone I loved.
"You speak as if only you love me. I love you too, dear," I said, holding Ishma's hand that was linking with mine with my right hand. This was embarrassing.
'Good Lord, kill me!' I thought.
The responses to our actions were varied. Professor Brigitte looked at us strangely. While Professor Alzor nodded with a satisfied smile as before.
The male students looked annoyed, although some responded normally, indifferently. Maybe those who looked annoyed were the ones without girlfriends. Some looked embarrassed and disgusted.
As for the girls, they seemed like they were watching a romantic drama. Their eyes sparkled. Of course, some were indifferent. That was normal.
"Honestly, I can't watch this," said Zephyr, covering his eyes with his hand and turning away.
"They are disgusting! Damn it!" Rosaire clicked her tongue.
"Ahhh!!! This..." For Giselle, her face turned red, covered by her hands, occasionally peeking through her fingers. This girl seemed quite innocent.
As for Lukas, well, his face twitched, looking like he was holding back anger and embarrassment.
And so, after a while, the class ended with Professor Balzaq arriving with a female healer. Well, you were late. And for the reason why Professor Brigitte was in the training ground, she announced that in two weeks, there would be a ranking battle for the first-year Hero Department.
...
After class, at 2 PM on the edge of the Hero Department training ground.
I was currently lying down comfortably under a tree. I wasn't alone; Ishma was with me. My head rested on her lap. My eyes were closed, and Ishma's hand was gently stroking my hair.
Since we had dragged our fake romantic drama to the point of flaunting it in front of many people, after class, Ishma suggested we stay together until most people had left. She also said it was better to rest because I was exhausted.
Even though our relationship is fake, this kind of treatment felt foreign to me. In my previous life as a mercenary, I rarely engaged in romantic relationships. I didn't have a girlfriend or a wife due to my dangerous job. As for Edward, he was the type who toyed with women, so there were no genuine feelings for women in his memories.
"It's normal to take care of an exhausted boyfriend, huh?" I muttered with my eyes closed.
"What's the matter? Are you bothered?" Ishma asked, playing with my hair. Her tone was as flat as usual.
"Not really. But it's a bit embarrassing," I replied.
Ishma responded in the same flat tone, "This is the result of you taking advantage of me first."
I then fell silent. I felt at peace at that moment. The gentle breeze added to my comfort. The fatigue that enveloped me slowly subsided.
In my previous life, I, Dark Saber, died after about 10 years of fighting those strange aliens. And just when I thought I would rest forever, I woke up in the body of a scoundrel that have tragic fate in the future. Not only that, but this scoundrel was also involved in a murder plot as a victim.
This feeling of calm wouldn't last long. Many things weighed on my mind. My murder, Mia, Yolina being sent to a dangerous place, ranking battle and Edward's fate to die in the third year.
I had to prepare. First, I think tomorrow I will start by finding the Aegis Sentinel ring. Hopefully, my fatigue will be completely gone, and my Arkium will be fully recovered by tomorrow. But before that...
'I guess relaxing like this for a bit isn't so bad either.'