Chapter 83

Seron Parmia.

When she appeared, Ban and I stopped our fight and stared at her in silence.

“…Seron?”

As Ban called her name, Seron flinched slightly.

“I-I’m not Seron!”

If you’re going to hide, at least do it properly! That gleaming forehead beneath the mask was unmistakably Seron.

“Seron, what are you doing?”

Lina recognized her too and shouted. It was a baffling situation—why was she on their side?

Seron looked even more flustered, but she bit her lip, gripping two axes tightly.

“I don’t know! Just come at me!”

Seron showed her hostility toward Isabel’s group.

“What is she talking about? Do you even know what’s happening right now?”

Lina reacted incredulously.

“She’s not Seron!”

In that moment, Ban unleashed a menacing blade of his sword.

It was a chilling menace that even made Seron flinch.

“Anyone blocking my way will be cut down!”

Ban declared his intent to break through anyone.

But Seron didn’t back down; she held her axes high.

“…Bring it on!”

The honey badger standing before the lion bared its ferocious teeth.

I found myself in a rather absurd situation. I never expected Seron to pop up like this.

‘Has she been watching this whole time?’

It seemed she came out thinking I was in danger. While I appreciated the sentiment, it meant Seron would also get dragged into this mess.

Just as I raised my hand to stop her, she declared:

“I-I came here of my own will!”

A strong will emanated from her tightly pursed lips.

She came here of her own accord. As I watched her back, I lowered my hand.

“Can you stop Ban?”

“Of course!”

Seron clashed her axes together, showing her fighting spirit.

Good. I’ll leave Ban to her.

What was left was—

Kuguguguuuuuu—

In that moment, flames began to swirl around us.

I turned my gaze toward the one conjuring the flames.

The contractor of the highest Fire Spirit and the top spirit scholar, Beakiring Monem.

She summoned the highest fire spirit, which started to unleash fiery breath.

The massive lizard-like spirit flicked its tongue.

Even someone like me, who was resistant to heat, could feel the rising temperature.

Moreover, the spirit’s eyes were entirely focused on me.

‘Does it feel the fire’s remnants?’

I was the one harboring the corpse of the Fire Spirit Sovereign. It was highly likely that the highest fire spirit felt something.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but.”

Beakiring waved her hand as if to say she had been waiting a long time for this.

“Sharine and Ring are here, and they’re feeling pretty cocky.”

Sharine, who stood beside Beakiring, glared at me disapprovingly.

Then she sighed and lifted her staff.

“You’ll get a bit of a sting from Senior Bickamon.”

Sharine came here at Isabel’s request.

So she had no intention of holding back.

We were about to face off against the top spirit mage and the Magic Arts Top Student.

Not to mention, Isabel wouldn’t just stand around watching any longer.

Just when I expected a tough battle—

Whoooosh!

A gust of wind swept through, pushing the flames aside.

“Huh?”

An astonished reaction grew from Beakiring’s side.

As she hastily lifted her head, a massive aquamarine bird descended from the sky.

The giant bird was so immense it could be felt in the gaze of a person as it spread its translucent wings.

With every flap, it caused the air to shudder around us.

“Is that the Spirit Sovereign?”

Beakiring’s voice trembled in surprise.

The bird was indeed the Spirit Sovereign—contracted by Poara Silin.

Thud!

A boy riding the wind landed next to me.

“Whoa!”

He touched down awkwardly, stumbling a bit before standing upright.

Then he adjusted his glasses perched atop the mask.

“I, I’ve come to provide support!”

“Poara Silin, what are you doing here?”

In response to Beakiring’s question, Poara shook her head vigorously, flustered.

“I’m not Poara! I’m just a passing Spirit Mage!”

“What does that even mean?”

Beakiring’s expression turned incredulous, then narrowed her eyes as if to say, “Are you making a fool of me?”

‘Looks like she’s feeling the spirit’s power.’

I could guess why Poara randomly showed up here.

She had come to act as a member of the boycotting group after sensing the power of the highest spirit.

“I’ll handle the spirit.”

Poara averted her gaze, as if Beakiring’s stare was too much to bear.

Good.

This was looking like quite the contest now.

“As I mentioned before.”

I raised my fist toward Isabel’s group.

“This area is off-limits to anyone not involved!”

***

The clash between the highest spirit and the Spirit Sovereign sent shockwaves throughout the area.

Caught up in the unexpected chaos, regular students were tossed around.

In the midst of such turmoil, Seron and Ban collided, creating a mess of entangled limbs.

Seron’s desperate fight skills had clearly improved, surprising even Ban.

Flashes of magic lit the air around them.

Each time Sharine’s light magic fell, the area turned to shambles.

It was essentially a meteor shower.

Thud!

In that moment, Lina, Isabel’s friend, emerged from the afterimages of light.

She attempted to corner me with her skilled swordplay.

However, I had dueled on equal terms with Ban.

My enhanced spatial awareness allowed me to evade each strike aimed at me.

“Why is a mage so fast?!”

Lina gasped, panting heavily, in disbelief.

Sorry, but I’m not a mage.

I feigned a retreat, slipping away from her strike while leaning forward.

In an instant, I closed the gap between us.

Seizing the opportunity, I punched her wrist.

Thud!

An explosive magic unleashed from my elbow propelled my fist forward.

Crack!

“Gah!”

Lina couldn’t respond in time and took the hit directly on her grip.

As her hold loosened, I sent a weak electric current coursing through the blade’s surface.

When the bolt from my hand surged out, she flinched and dropped her sword.

She had seen how the paladin, Pasen, suffered earlier.

No wonder she let go the moment she felt the electric jolt.

Clang!

I viciously kicked her weapon away.

With that, Lina was disarmed.

But Lina wasn’t the real worry here.

Whoosh!

From the smoke billowing where the light shot down, Isabel appeared.

Her scarlet eyes were wild with animalistic fervor.

Her sword charged straight for my neck in an instant.

There was no way to avoid this.

I immediately raised my hand to parry.

Clang!

I blocked the attack with my wrist, vanishing into the smoke with Isabel.

In the midst of the hazy dust, I quietly heightened my senses.

Breath held, I could soon make out Isabel’s figure.

Before her silhouette materialized, her sword burst through the mist.

Clang! Clang!

Without hesitation, my hand sliced through the air, repeatedly clashing against Isabel’s sword.

The blade had life behind it.

‘Just maintaining sharpness means she’s above average.’

I suddenly realized just how long Isabel had trained.

Come to think of it, this was my first time fighting her.

I hadn’t expected to finally face off in this predicament.

I really need to give it my all.

As I dodged the next strike, I realized—

Thud!

I unexpectedly found my back against a wall.

Oops.

Too transfixed on Isabel’s blade, I had neglected my rear.

Thus, just as another sword extended toward my chest, I swung both arms in unison.

My fingers jabbed into the incoming sword aimed at my chest.

The same tactic I had used against Ban.

The Sword Breaker.

Crack!

As I shattered Isabel’s sword, I saw a flash of light out of the corner of my eye.

There lay another sword rising up.

Isabel, instead of chasing after her old sword, was now wielding Lina’s sword.

She had anticipated my use of the Sword Breaker after witnessing it against Ban before.

That’s why she had long intended to switch to Lina’s sword from the start.

Isabel’s scarlet eyes glinted with determination.

She was willing to go to any lengths to defeat me.

I couldn’t help but grin.

That’s how the main heroine should act!

Suddenly, a glow erupted from the magic seal on my back.

Isabel noticed it, but it was already too late.

KWA-HA-HA-HA-ANG!

With a deafening roar, the wall collapsed in its entirety.

“You!”

I heard Isabel’s voice, but I rolled quickly, escaping the debris.

Then I kicked off the ground and dashed forward.

I had bought enough time, so that was sufficient.

I now held onto the Lightning Caller.

Unleashing the remaining electric charge with a flick of my wrist, I hurled it toward Ban and Seron without hesitation.

Recognizing the danger, Ban pulled back from his assault on Seron.

“Gah!?”

Seron was startled as Ban dodged, and I seized the moment to grab her waist.

“Gah!”

This time, Seron shrieked for an entirely different reason.

Holding the flustered Seron, I shouted:

“Poara, retreat!”

“W-what? Yes, yes!”

Poara paused her battle with Beakiring and withdrew.

“Stay right there! You can’t just make Ring like this!”

Beakiring shouted at Poara, but she couldn’t chase after her.

No matter how powerful the spirit contractor was, the Spirit Sovereign had its limits.

Beakiring gritted her teeth in frustration at the chaotic scene.

I suspected Poara would face some backlash for this later.

As I sprinted, I spotted Sharine in the distance.

She glared at me with what seemed like mild displeasure.

Her expression said, “You could have mentioned this would happen.”

I’d have to apologize to her later.

For now, it was time to make a clean getaway.

***

After running for a while, I noticed that Isabel’s group had stopped pursuing us.

While Isabel might not have, their main objective was to mediate the chaos caused by the boycott group at the Academy.

There was no reason for them to chase after me.

Once I evaded them and ducked into a building to catch my breath, I realized that even with Aisha’s hellish endurance training, I was worn out after such a chase.

KWAANG, BANG!

In the meantime, I still saw the student council members and boycotting group trading blows in battle.

They were a good distance away, but everyone was fighting desperately.

“Oh.”

At that moment, Seron spoke up.

Having completely forgotten about her, I let her down.

Seron gazed wide-eyed at the window, not looking at me.

“Seron?”

As I called her name, she bit her lip.

“Prince, no, Senior Bickamon.”

So she finally figured it out.

Amidst all the chaos, Bickamon’s name had been called out repeatedly.

There was no way she could not know by now.

As I smirked, Seron lowered her head.

“This mess, it’s because of Senior Nikita, right?”

Bickamon had a crush on Nikita.

In his attempts to impress her, he’d crossed the line and ended up expelled.

I realized her face may not have been unfamiliar to Seron, but the story would likely be something she had heard.

This was practically a rejection for her.

“It’s okay. I would have felt the same way.”

Seron spoke softly, voice filled with a tinge of regret.

Seeing Seron’s faint, tear-filled smile, I was at a loss for words.

“But helping ends here.”

Seron’s gaze remained fixed outside the window.

“My friend who’s close to me but a bit lacking is part of the student council.”

I finally realized what Seron had noticed outside the window.

There, I spotted Hania under the guise of Hanon.

“I can’t betray my friend any longer. She’s the only precious friend I have.”

Seron said with faint laughter.

“Though she can be a bit of a brat.”

My fist clenched tightly.

Seron turned her body around.

“Because of you, Senior Bickamon, I thought I wouldn’t be completely unhappy that day.”

She relayed her honest feelings.

“Thank you.”

With that, Seron turned to leave.

Staring at her retreating figure, I bit down hard on my lip.

I had lost my love due to the veil of mysteries.

But I understood well the meaning of the friendship that Seron had shown me.

I am friends with Seron.

That’s true now and will be in the future.

How long can I keep deceiving such a friend?

With such misunderstandings, will I be able to reveal my true self to Seron?

My instincts told me that now was my only chance.

“Tomato hit!”

This was, without a doubt, my impulsive action.

I was an outsider in this world.

But even so, I was treated genuinely as a friend by Seron.

And yet, this impulsive act didn’t matter.

I wanted to freshen up this frustrating world just once.

So I put a big smile on my face.

Along with that, I called out the nickname I had once given Seron and pressed the veil tightly.

Under the moonlight streaming through the window, my figure suddenly transformed into Hanon.

The pendant Seron had thought I gave to Bickamon was now clasped onto me.

With that pendant tightly gripped, I held it high above my head.

“Huh?”

Seron, who turned around, was caught off guard.

She seemed to struggle to understand what was happening, her eyes widening in surprise.

I looked at her with the same goofy grin I had and smiled brightly.

“Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

With that, I bolted away.

I wasn’t quite clear yet, but I acted on impulse.

The solution would be left to my future self.

Once again, I ask for your help, tomorrow me.

**【Act 4, Chapter 1 ‘Boycott Chaos’ concludes.】**