Ch.167167. Week 2 Evaluation (3)

“Winner, Junon!”

The victory flag pointed in my direction.

As soon as the match ended, I gave a brief greeting and returned to my original seat.

And now, for the feedback.

The mana shield will gradually disappear.

That’s why I tried this as a test. To see how far I could progress in combat without using the mana shield.

‘It doesn’t seem impossible.’

My reliance on mana is still somewhat high, but the situation is completely different from before.

Back then, I depended solely on my innate magic, so even when I had mana, I couldn’t use it properly because I didn’t know the correct methods.

Even when I tried to continue my studies belatedly, the battlefield never gave me that time.

How about now?

Even if the mana shield disappears, I have a backup plan.

For attacks using spell formulas, I can do just as I did today, and unlike the past when I only had a shield, now I also possess a magic weapon.

‘Good. This should be enough.’

It was quite a satisfactory result.

“Contestant Junon? Aren’t you coming up?”

“Huh?”

Oh right, the individual matches start with league matches, so there’s still a long way to go…

…But do I really need to participate in all of this?

“Contestant Junon? That sign… are you serious?”

“Yes. I’m withdrawing.”

Lana and Ethan are already showing an upward trend from the league matches, so my performance is sufficient.

Besides, I don’t know what additional points might come tomorrow.

If I stand out here and get a high score, I might end up in the same class as the Tembris members, which would be a headache.

‘I don’t want that, so I’ll just withdraw appropriately.’

But I didn’t know at the time.

That this action would actually draw more attention.

***

Junon’s first match has ended.

It was a perfect victory, not showing any openings to his opponent, striding forward confidently and subduing them.

Watching him, people ask:

What technique did he use?

Most people in the arena, not understanding what happened, blink or rub their eyes, wondering if they saw correctly.

Some even argued that there should be an inspection or search.

To this, the referee of the match steps forward and states:

─There was no problem with the match.

The referee’s clear statement quells the controversy.

He was so clean that there was nothing to find fault with.

‘Of course! How upright a person my senior is.’

Renias’s lips curl up into a smile.

She even shrugs her shoulders despite it not being her business. That’s how valuable this victory is, and how happy it makes her.

Why is she so happy? As always, Junon’s achievements have gone unrecognized.

The checkpoint incident where inferior students almost went berserk.

The rescue of peers during the end-of-term evaluation.

The infiltration operation at Count Kutelli’s mansion.

There’s no evidence left of these incidents, and they can’t be proven, but Renias knows clearly.

The fact that Junon was involved in all three incidents.

Because of this, she was always displeased with how undervalued he was, and although the trend had been decreasing lately, she still couldn’t overlook the persistent negative perception.

Just when things seemed to calm down, relationships would worsen again in unpleasant ways, and his shadow was followed by negative modifiers like leeches.

But finally, an opportunity has arrived.

Today is truly the chance for all those things to fall away.

‘Just keep going like this, Senior.’

Renias, who was the first to recognize his true worth, was cheering for Junon with an excited heart.

But, the excitement only lasted until now.

─…withdraw.

“…Huh?”

Did I hear that wrong?

Did he just say he’s withdrawing?

No, that can’t be. It can’t be.

The match hasn’t even started yet, so why would he withdraw?

Besides, he just did so well in the first match, why would he throw that away with his own hands?

‘Right. I… I must have heard wrong.’

Renias shook her head, thinking her ears had deceived her.

But even if her ears were wrong, her eyes couldn’t be.

The senior she had been cheering for with such excitement was standing up and clearly expressing his intention to withdraw.

The head referee and assistant referee nodded, acknowledging his withdrawal and marking the win and loss counts on the bracket.

“Why, why?”

She wanted to run over and ask him right away.

“Senior, why are you doing this…?”

Unable to comprehend this ironic decision, Renias stood up abruptly.

Then she began to deny what she was seeing, wondering if this too might be part of his plan.

“Right. He might be doing this on purpose…?”

Senior had done something like this before.

Back then, Senior Junon had said that if he intervened, it would only hinder Uncle Muniher.

‘This time too… it must be some kind of plan… to avoid revealing his strategy?’

Yes. So he won’t do it next time.

Next time… Senior definitely won’t withdraw and will step forward.

Believing there must be a rational reason behind this withdrawal, Renias blankly waits for the next match.

But,

─I withdraw.

“…”

Once again, Junon stood up and raised his hand.

After that, time in the arena seemed to flow unnaturally fast.

-I withdraw.

-Yes, I’m withdrawing.

-Withdraw─

-With──

“…”

Everything except the first match was a withdrawal.

‘Why… just why?’

He’s a person with such skill.

With that skill, he could have elevated himself.

Victory. Recognition. Praise. Respect. Awe.

In this faction battle where he could have grasped all these things, he was letting go of everything one by one.

“Why on earth…”

Something indescribable welled up in her eyes.

Her voice was already moist.

A dryness like a drought spread throughout her body.

Character. Personality. Skill.

Junon was flawless in every aspect.

He was someone who deserved to enjoy the rights he had never received. So, what Renias expected was the sight of Junon being recognized by everyone.

With just one step left until that scene could be realized, watching him reject those rights himself doubled her distress.

The sight of Junon letting go of everything and returning to his place.

Continuing to watch this was too painful for Renias.

Her dress was all crumpled from her tight grip, but she didn’t even notice.

Unable to bear watching the remaining matches, Renias had to leave immediately.

Renias gave up on watching the remaining matches and left her seat.

“Idiot… Senior is an idiot…”

Thoroughly upset, her lips pursed.

Feeling filled with something stifling inside, Renias immediately wanted to relieve this strange thirst.

She left the arena.

Past the lounge, past the entrance.

She entered through an open door in the adjacent building and climbed the stairs leading to the upper floor.

“Lady Renias? The faction battle isn’t over yet, what brings you…”

“Maria. Please go downstairs for a while.”

“…Yes, my lady. Please call if you need anything.”

“…”

What she needed now was not people, but alcohol to quench this thirst.

***

“Ah, easy, so easy.”

The faction battle was over.

Unlike the bland mid-term evaluation, there were some who fought desperately this time, but they were no match for his group.

Even if it took two days instead of just one, such an overwhelming difference in power would make anyone lose their fighting spirit.

For that reason, Demian mercilessly beat all the contestants paired with him in the individual matches.

There were no defeats. The victory of the Mirpark faction was practically confirmed.

“Still, there was something disappointing.”

Junon.

He couldn’t have a match with that guy.

Because of the rule that students registered from Road School would find it difficult to overcome the gap with Levrant students.

So he only met people he had encountered during the mid-term evaluation, but things didn’t work out well there either.

“I never thought both people he taught would be eliminated.”

Lana and Ethan fought hard, but that was it.

The top players from the league matches advanced directly to the tournament, but as their weaknesses were revealed, they were eliminated in the round of 16 and 8 respectively.

“Weak bastards. How am I supposed to complete my mission like this?”

His brow furrowed involuntarily, thinking he might get an earful from the headmaster of Mirpark Road School.

But his furrowed brow soon smoothed out.

“Still, today I’m the protagonist.”

Demian checks his appearance in the mirror.

After finishing his inspection, he straightens his shoulders arrogantly and climbs the stairs.

Although the faction battle isn’t over, a small party is being held to respect and learn from each other.

What is a party fundamentally for?

Basically, it’s to celebrate something or to build friendships. In such a setting, it’s not strange to meet people and get closer.

According to rumors, Levrant’s jewel, Renias, is at this party.

And he confirmed with his own eyes that this was true.

‘Oh, oh…!’

Her presence is extraordinary from the start.

She truly is a woman who shines like a jewel, just as they say.

Gulp.

If he had remained at that time, he wouldn’t have been able to approach her from this distance.

‘But I’m different now.’

He won the final victory in the individual matches and is the strongest among the contestants participating as Road School students.

Don’t women naturally gravitate toward the strong?

Demian was convinced that the empty seat next to Renias was sufficient for him to sit in, and he strode forward.

“Damn. Why are there so many people?”

He was closer than before, but there were too many people.

But that doesn’t matter.

“Whoa! Why are you suddenly doing this?!”

“What, punk. Got a problem?”

“…”

How dare they block his path to Renias.

Demian created a path by pushing away the interfering humans with his arms.

But those present were only participants in this faction battle.

They had no choice but to gradually retreat, unable to make a sound against Demian’s strength.

With a vile smile, Demian finally reached the table where Renias was sitting.

‘She’s even prettier up close.’

She’s the perfect candidate for a bride.

Now that he’s come this far, what should he do? He needs to clear away the onlookers and make this woman his.

However, with so many eyes watching, he can’t cause trouble. That would only squander his opportunity.

He needs to create an atmosphere that seems natural enough for anyone to accept.

But then, a strange smell wafted to his nostrils.

Sniff, sniff.

‘This… smells like alcohol?’

It wasn’t that someone had spilled alcohol nearby.

The source of this smell was emanating strongly from someone. And who could that be, the closest person?

“Mmm…”

It was Renias, who was nodding off after drinking so much.

‘Aha. Is that so? This… things will be easier than I thought.’

Demian clears his throat with a “Ahem, ahem.”

Even the strong need manners. A man with gentlemanly manners has more charm than one without.

If he plays his cards right, this beautiful woman might recognize his hidden charm today.

“My, my. I should escort her. Don’t you all agree?”

“”…””

It’s an action full of obvious self-interest, but no one responds.

More precisely, they can’t do anything about it. They can’t confront Demian, who just forced his way through by waving his hands around.

It would be nice if there was someone here to stop him, but sadly, the absence of such a person also contributes to the bystander effect.

They can’t win in a fight.

In this faction battle’s individual matches, he crushed all his opponents to the point where some even voluntarily withdrew.

Demian never lets go until his opponent is down. He just beats them until they pass out. The head referee had to run over several times to tell him to take it easy.

Everyone present knew what state the contestants who had matches with him left the arena in.

It was impossible for them to stop those vile hands that might defile everyone’s idol.

Because they couldn’t bear the retaliation.

But.

Thud.

“You. Where do you think your hand is going?”

“What, which fearless bastard…”

As if unconcerned about such retaliation, someone stepped forward.

The hand full of dirty intentions could not get any closer to Renias.

“Ugh! Let go, man. Won’t you let go?! Do you want to die?!”

The power received from the sacred emperor strengthened not only mana but also physical strength.

Therefore, Demian had the mindset that he could break free from this mere hand holding his arm with brute force.

However, his other arm was also grabbed, and soon both arms were twisted behind his back, fixing his upper body so he couldn’t move an inch.

After struggling a few times, he was pushed in the opposite direction.

With a large footprint on the back of his dressed-up clothes, Demian overturned a table with his body and rolled onto the carpeted floor.

The table collapsed with a thud.

Food spilling onto the floor, glass cups shattering, and drinks splashing.

Clothes and appearance in disarray as he rolled on the carpet stained with food and drinks.

Demian’s eyes immediately rolled back in rage.

“You bastard… are you crazy to die? Do you really want to become a bloody mess?!”

“I think you’re the crazy one, with your hand going toward a drunk girl’s waist.”

“Huh…”

This familiar voice finally registers.

Demian, sitting up with one hand on the carpet, glares at the person who knocked him down.

Black hair reflects in the light of the chandelier.

“Junon…!”

His veins pop out.

The person he so despised was looking down at him.