Chapter 116

The next afternoon.

While waiting for the match in the waiting room, I playfully poke Seoli’s chubby cheeks.

“Awuu?”

Seoli, nestled in Nisia’s arms, looks at me with a grin while enjoying the sensation on her cheeks.

As we are spending such a soft moment, a voice flows out from the speaker in the corner of the waiting room.

[ Edu Nimbusday student, Edu Nimbusday student. We are about to start the finals match against Arkell Dayan. Please wait. ]

“It looks like it’s starting now.”

After petting Seoli’s head once, I prepare to head into the match.

“Then, Edu, have a good time!”

“Ta-da!”

Now, it seems Seoli has gotten quite used to me being away for a bit, as she waves her hand and smiles instead of crying.

“Okay, I’ll be back. Let’s go, Bungbungi.”

[ Beep. /⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝]

Waving to the two of them, I ride Bungbungi toward the arena.

Before long, the friendly match is nearing its end.

In truth, only the first-year matches are concluding, and the other grades’ matches will start afterward. But it doesn’t matter since I won’t be participating in those matches either.

Ah, it looks like this will be the end of the experience points that are almost free and the stat bonuses too.

As I sort out those thoughts, I feel a bit regretful.

Arriving at the arena, I hear the now-familiar voice of the female announcer.

[ Alright! The heated first-year friendly match is already coming to an end! Who will be the participants in the finals? ]

Her lively voice resonates, filled with energy.

The audience, filling the arena, responds to her words, whistling and shouting, sharing the excitement together.

[ Then, let me introduce the two skilled participants on the final stage! The slender girl who has achieved an undefeated victory, writing a new history in the friendly match! Edu Nimbusday! ]

Cheers erupt from the audience.

Not knowing what else to do, I give a small wave to the people, which only makes the cheers grow louder.

As I turn away from that sound and enter the dome, I see my opponent across the way.

– [ Facing her is the opponent! The dark horse of this friendly match! The pride of Room 11, Arkell Dayan! ]

“…So we meet again.”

Arkell greets me with a shy wave of his hand.

“Yeah, it’s the first time since that day, right?”

As I return the greeting, Arkell nods, his cheeks slightly flushed.

So his name is Arkell Dayan.

He was the male student who was grumbling about the female students who had shown interest in me during the gathering that took place before the friendly match.

Short black hair and brown eyes.

He doesn’t stand out in physique, but he doesn’t appear to be lacking either.

“Then let’s do our best.”

“…Yeah.”

After our final conversation, I pick up my gear.

““Gear Release.””

Voices ring out simultaneously, with neither of us waiting for the other.

The announcer’s voice echoes loudly within the dome.

[ Alright! Now, we will begin the last match of the first-year friendly match!! The finals between Edu Nimbusday and Arkell Dayan!! ]

As her voice cuts off, Arkell disappears immediately.

In the next moment, Arkell transforms into light and charges at me with a speed that rivals Nisia’s.

‘Oh?’

I am impressed by Arkell’s actions that surpass my expectations.

He seems determined not to give me a chance to summon my familiar after watching the matches so far.

“Ugh!!”

It appears that he is pushing himself quite hard, perhaps because he hasn’t fully mastered his powers, yet Arkell does not stop.

Flashes of light traverse across the dome.

Even if I were to summon my familiar now, it would be hard to match the timing.

But that applies only to summoning.

I reach out my hand toward Arkell and quietly say,

“Collection Release.”

A streak of pure white light extends from my body.

A large chariot appears in the sky where Arkell was heading.

Saber, falling with gravity.

“Ugh!?”

Arkell notices it too, but his ability, already accelerated to its limit, actually restricts his movement.

Boom!

The Saber descends and covers Arkell’s body before landing on the ground.

Seizing that opportunity, I summon my familiar.

“Summon, Hand Glider. Arm with COMP-A1(S).”

A new glider formation appears behind me.

“Humanoid Summon, Marionette. Arm with KM16A1 5.56mm assault rifle, micro KUZI, infantry set.”

Twenty Marionettes, ten on each side, appear and point their rifles at Saber.

But this isn’t the end.

Finally, I stretch out my hand toward the air and declare confidently.

“Armored Summon, Colossus. Type is Firepower Module!”

A mana sphere transforms, and a six-meter giant clad in dark armor stands behind me.

By now, a glimmer of light shines from the gap beneath Saber.

Boom!

The ground erupts with dust and dirt as Arkell stands back on the surface.

“Huff, huff.”

Arkell catches his breath in harsh gasps.

After a brief moment to recover, a look of defeat crosses his face as he realizes he has fallen behind.

“Collection Use.”

Meanwhile, I retrieve Saber, leaving Arkell all alone.

“…This isn’t working either, that monstrous guy.”

Arkell grumbles.

But that tone is more akin to a child’s whining rather than genuine contempt.

“Heh, Arkell. A fight is always about hiding your trump cards.”

I clear my throat to build confidence and raise my arm.

“Well then, good luck!”

I press my hand down.

On that signal, the glider flies toward Arkell, and simultaneously, the Marionettes unleash a barrage.

Boom, clank.

The turret of Colossus points toward Arkell.

With a great explosion, the shelling rains down, engulfing the spot where Arkell stood in a dark conflagration.

A moment later, as smoke and dust clear, Arkell’s form is revealed.

Lying face down on the ground, his expression reflects both displeasure and a sense of relief.

The barrier enveloping Arkell’s body has already turned red.

The announcer’s voice reverberates outside the dome as she confirms this.

– [ Ah!! It has been decided in an instant!! Edu’s victory, who used her trump card against Arkell, who sought to prevent any chance to summon! ]

Cheers erupt as soon as the declaration is made.

It feels like it ended a bit too quickly, but even so, it would be a disservice to treat such a match casually.

I assure you, I’m not just unleashing unrestrained firepower for experience points and stat bonuses.

“…Hey.”

As I lose myself in those thoughts, I hear Arkell’s voice.

“Yeah? What is it?”

“…How are you so strong?”

Arkell suddenly questions me as he springs up from the ground.

“Even if you ask that, I’ve just been doing my part and working hard.”

Of course, the direction of my efforts has strayed from ordinary effort, but it’s true that I put in hard work.

“…I see.”

Arkell nods, coming to an understanding of something.

Brushing off the dust, Arkell approaches me.

He extends his hand.

“I’m sorry for saying something that seemed dismissive before.”

Arkell sincerely apologizes.

Seeing that, my playful instincts kick in.

“Well, it wasn’t just dismissing, was it?”

“Ugh.”

Arkell glances away at my precise jab.

Still, since he has honestly apologized, I don’t tease him too much.

“I’m just joking.”

Saying that, I grab Arkell’s hand and try to shake it up and down, but— it doesn’t move.

Ah, cursed STR status!

As I turn my head back to look at me again, Arkell speaks.

“…Thank you.”

“No need for this much, but there won’t be a second round, okay?”

“Okay.”

Arkell nods obediently.

At that moment, the announcer’s voice can be heard from outside the dome.

– [ Ah! It’s so warm! The two students shake hands after their fierce battle! Please give applause to Edu and Arkell for showing such a great match!! ]

The sound of applause fills the arena.

I can also hear whistling sounds.

Hearing that, Arkell’s cheeks turn red.

“I-I won’t lose this easily next time!”

“Okay, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

…

On the other side of the screen, the two kids shake hands.

A gentle smile blossoms on the face of a man in his thirties, who has been quietly staring at the scene while sitting at a desk.

It’s not a facade or a formal smile, but a genuine smile that contains care for the children.

However, that action begins to shake the gaze of the secretary, who has been watching the man from a step back.

It is a fundamental fear that arises from facing something incomprehensible.

Of course, she does not think it’s strange for a person to smile.

The sight of the children on the screen holds something that tickles her heart.

But the problem lies elsewhere.

‘How on earth…?’

One can smile at a child.

That’s a part she understands.

But why is that man able to look at the person he had ordered to kill and smile with such warmth?

“Hmm, Mea. Do you not understand my actions?”

The sudden calling startles the secretary, Mea.

She hurriedly responds to his question.

“N-No, Your Excellency.”

“Hahaha, you don’t have to lie.”

His tone is light and ordinary.

But the words that follow are far from ordinary.

“And don’t worry, I have no intention of killing you or doing anything to you, so you don’t have to be that tense.”

Like viewing human life as a toy.

Or as if he possesses the power to carry out such actions.

The man jokes casually as he winks at her.

“….”

Hearing that, Mea is left speechless in horror, unsure how to react.

A brief silence.

The man, who had been staring directly at her, opens his mouth again.

“You seem quite tense. So you don’t have to respond if you don’t wish to.”

The man nods.

“Actually, I can roughly predict how a normal person like you would see me.”

His words sound as if he understands her.

However, to Mea’s ears, his voice has turned into something chilling.

A being who has a human form but possesses a monstrous mind that regular people cannot comprehend.

The man, who speaks as if to toy with his prey, looks back at the holographic screen.

“Edu Nimbusday, seeing that all limbs are intact, it seems this plan has failed.”

He wears a smiling face.

While genuinely finding Edu’s cute face and long silver hair beautiful, the man’s heart remains unchanged.

A presence that cannot be understood by ordinary reasoning.

“Then I’ll have to devise the next plan. Shall we aim to kill for certain this time?”

With a tone that sounds playful yet devoid of malice, he expresses pure intentions.

The teeth of a monster disguised in human skin slowly move toward Edu.