No More Pain For This Villain.

Man, I never expected this kind of response from Raven. At most, I thought she'd be wary, maybe even upset, after what she saw, but this... This was completely unexpected.

"Why do you always have to do this kind of troublesome stuff?" She grumbled in a small voice.

"Always?" I asked. I don't think I've done something similar to this in front of her... I didn't, right?

She got startled, her eyes darting around, her hand halting its bandaging. "...I-i m-meant! Yes! You always do stuff like going out at night and doing things that'll trouble yourself and me! Yes, you came to my roo—mff!!!!"

Before she could say anything, I grabbed her mouth to silence her—someone might hear.

"Shh! At least look around before you speak." I pulled her closer to my face, flicking her forehead.

"Ouch!" She winced, rubbing her temples, continuing the bandaging. Still, her murmurs didn't cease as she kept complaining about me. It was honestly funny to watch.

After the first aid was done, she looked at me and asked, "Do you need one more healing potion?"

"... I'll need a different potion to help me digest all this then," I replied.

She blinked before her expression changed, almost pouting, and then she hit me with her bag on the arm.

"Hey! Don't hurt me! I just got out of the battle; the wound is fresh!" I complained playfully.

"If you have the strength to joke around, then you can easily handle this much. Hmph!" She crossed her arms.

"Vexa Velcrow and Mary Kleine!"

This took me out of the fun I was having with Raven. This was the most unexpected match-up, to be honest.

A girl I never knew about versus a girl I try to keep out of my sight all the time.

I had it in the back of my mind that this might happen, but when the announcement was made, I was... a bit shocked too.

Anyways, I looked at the— I saw a professor looking at me; our eyes met, and she gestured for me to get back into the arena.

"Haa, I guess I'll get down now," I sighed, turning towards Raven, who—was eyeing me from top to bottom like I was some kind of statue on display.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, just wanted to congratulate you," she smiled a bit, a half-smile, not the one she gives when she's happy or having fun.

She must've had her expectations before they were crushed in her duel against Mary.

"Thank you," I smiled back at her, raising my hand and—

"Huh?" She looked at me, confused, when I placed my hand over her head and said, "It means a lot, you being there to support me." I patted her head a few times.

"W-wha-what!" She panicked a bit before her face turned a bit red and flushed.

With a light-hearted chuckle, I leaped back into the arena, a place where anticipation crackled in the air like static electricity.

As I navigated through the crowd, my eyes fixated on the two girls heading resolutely towards the arena stage, the epicenter of the imminent clash.

Vexa and Mary, two forces converging with striking similarities in their elemental prowess and weapon mastery.

Both wielded the water element with finesse, complemented by the mastery of a sword as their chosen weapon.

Oddly enough, Vexa entered the arena unarmed, devoid of her usual weapon, while Mary clutched hers, emanating an air of preparedness and determination.

Their ascent onto the stage was almost ceremonial, each step echoing the gravity of the forthcoming confrontation. As they squared off, facing each other in silent acknowledgment of the impending duel, I maneuvered to my designated spot, settling down beside Erik.

"Wanna bet?" I casually proposed to Erik, seeking a spark of amusement amidst the charged atmosphere.

"... I don't have anything to bet with," he responded, his tone tinged with a sense of reluctance.

"How about that lizard of yours—my cat eats reptiles—" I playfully suggested, aiming to inject some levity into the tense atmosphere.

"No! Not my Baby!!" Erik's protest rang out, reminiscent of a child guarding his prized possession.

"Haha, I was just kidding, dude. Relax." My hand landed firmly on his back, a light-hearted gesture to diffuse the tension and quell his momentary panic.

This moment signified the culmination of an arduous journey through the mundane and monotonous three-day-long selection process. The activities offered new experiences, yet the real allure lay beyond these preliminaries—the thrill and unpredictability that awaited in the subsequent events.

"Start!" The command echoed through the arena, signaling the commencement of the much-awaited match.

I couldn't gauge Vexa's true strength. While Mary's prowess was evident, Vexa never showcased her full potential. In her last match, she swiftly dispatched her opponent in mere seconds, a feat that seemed all too effortless for her.

But that doesn't imply Mary is weak in any sense.

I immediately infused mana into my eyes and simultaneously activated both mana and elemental vision. Their faces blurred, leaving only their distinct mana imprints visible amidst the sea of onlookers.

"Dun dun dun," Blaze added the background sound effects, for reasons only known to him.

Now, I could discern their signatures without having to focus on their faces; their mana imprints told me everything.

From Vexa's mana core, a stream of energy flowed through her veins, reinforcing her physique. Her body appeared lined with an unusual abundance of mana veins, enhancing her silhouette. On the other hand, Mary's core connected to her sword, channeling energy through her right hand. Her stance suggested a calculated preservation of her mana reserves, a smart tactical move.

The elements stirred around Vexa, while Mary refrained from initiating a spell, instead assuming a poised stance, analyzing for openings or awaiting Vexa's first move.

And then...

"....Okay," I sensed this was the sole match deserving of the term 'neck and neck'.

The suspense lingered in the charged atmosphere, teeming with anticipation for the clash between Vexa and Mary.