Chapter 126

“Alright! Let’s push forward!”

Brett shouted, gripping his sword tightly.

Even as the leader, he was now at the front, fighting with all his might.

This showed how critical the situation was.

But it wasn’t unfavorable.

In fact, they had pushed the first-years all the way down the hill.

“Damn it, we can’t retreat any further! We must hold this position!”

Grey shouted at the top of his lungs.

If they were pushed onto flat ground, the second-years would lose the advantage of the high ground.

Being outnumbered, they could quickly be surrounded and overwhelmed.

That’s why it was crucial to hold the last line.

“…Hang in there, Camian.”

Annette said in a tired voice.

She was exhausted, but she encouraged Camian to give him some strength.

“Yeah, I’ll survive till the very end.”

Camian’s eyes were still full of life.

In the past, this would have been impossible for him.

But now, after gaining so much life-and-death battle experience with Max, he had the strength and mental fortitude to endure even extreme situations.

A heroic fight.

He didn’t know why he suddenly thought of that.

Camian felt a sense of solemn determination, like he was a protagonist in a novel.

He was filled with the thought of fighting a fierce and heroic battle, burning everything he had.

It didn’t matter if it was lacking or pathetic.

What mattered was his resolve.

“I won’t break!”

With a powerful roar, Camian launched a fierce attack.

* * *

“Huff, huff…”

Even though he was exhausted to the point of breathlessness, Brett was smiling.

“…We won.”

They had finally taken down all the fiercely resisting first-years.

It had been a tough battle, but they had shown that sheer numbers could prevail.

“…”

Camian, who had been fighting like a mad horse but was now lying flat on the ground, thought.

Reality is harsh.

‘The path to catching up to that person is still far away.’

Max, who had made a tremendous impact on the mock battle.

That was what a heroic performance looked like.

Compared to that…

‘No, I am me, and he is him.’

It had been a lacking fight, but he had given it his all.

So there were no regrets.

But.

‘Even if I lose, the first-years must not lose.’

While most were blinded by individual performances, Camian saw the essence.

In a mock battle, just like in war, nothing was more important than the victory of one’s side.

But.

The atmosphere was unsettling.

“Huff… Everyone, we should rest and regroup for now.”

“Huff, huff… Yeah, let’s do that.”

“Let’s rest for now…”

The second-years, too exhausted to fully enjoy their victory, sat down to rest haphazardly.

‘Their numbers have decreased. But these are Royals. We can’t let them recover their strength. Damn, at this rate…’

Camian bit his lip with a dark expression.

Princess Oscar, Alfred, Leon, Slane…

The first-year Royals had many key figures.

But they were not here now.

Why had it come to this?

Because of that person’s brilliant strategy?

Of course, that played a big part, but the bigger reason was that they had split into three groups.

‘This can’t go on.’

They were students.

It was ridiculous to think they were playing faction games.

A real leader was needed.

Not a puppet leader like Grey, but a true leader who could unite and lead them.

‘Huff, whatever happens, this fight…’

As Camian was having negative thoughts.

“Huh…? What’s that?”

“Enemy! Everyone, get up!”

“Damn it.”

Suddenly, the second-years’ voices were filled with confusion.

‘Who’s coming?’

Camian’s expression wavered.

It wasn’t a small number.

The sound of many footsteps was approaching.

At least thirty people.

‘No way?’

There was only one answer.

The only remaining force of the first-years.

And they were intact.

‘The Common Class!’

Was this just an incredible coincidence?

Or had that person simply not paid attention to the Common Class?

It didn’t matter now.

What mattered was that the first-years had another chance to win this fight.

Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t be a match, but the second-year Royals were exhausted, and their numbers had decreased.

The first-year Common Class seemed to realize this as they shouted with high spirits.

“Let’s go!”

“We’ll finish this war!”

And so, the final clash began.

* * *

Scribble, scribble.

Someone was writing quickly with a pen.

A girl with glasses.

It was Diana, the third-year head of the newspaper club.

“Hmm, this is pretty good.”

Diana smiled in satisfaction as she looked at the draft of the article that would be published in the newspaper.

[…Despite the incredible performance of the second-years that exceeded everyone’s expectations, victory did not come to them.

Exhausted, they ultimately collapsed helplessly in the final battle against the first-year Common Class.

Thus, the glory of victory in the most intense mock battle ever went to the first-years…]

After quickly scanning the last part, Diana muttered to herself.

“What a shame, what a shame. If the second-years had won, it would have been an even bigger story.”

The victory of an underdog is always shocking.

Especially with such a difference in power.

“Well, we still got two big stories.”

Diana grinned.

In front of her were two more article drafts.

[Shock! For the first time in academy history, the best student is selected from the losing grade! A miracle by just three votes!

The honored student was once the worst troublemaker? An in-depth look! Has this student really reformed?]

“Haha, that’s how you make a headline.”

Diana looked at the next article draft with a satisfied expression.

[Another genius magician in the second year?

The sensational girl who shone in the mock battle! Her surprising identity as a frail beauty?]

“Even if you don’t know much, just go for it.”

That was Diana’s philosophy.

The best time to strike is when the topic is hot.

Whatever it is, you have to go for it right away.

You can always follow up with more detailed information in subsequent articles.

After all, there was no falsehood in the articles.

She had confirmed the facts and identities before writing.

“This will get a good response even outside.”

Diana smiled brightly.

One characteristic of the newspaper published by the Lepheria Academy’s newspaper club.

It wasn’t just read within the academy.

They printed enough copies for external readers as well.

The external response was quite good.

People were always interested in academy news, and despite being an amateur publication, it had a decent structure and quality.

That reaction was a source of pride for the traditional newspaper club.

“Alright, let’s print it!”

Diana said to her club members.

[Achievement Unlocked]

– You have appeared on the main page of the academy newspaper for the first time.

– Your presence and fame have increased.

– You have met one of the conditions for becoming a celebrity.

I chuckled at the sudden message window.

“That was fast.”

It had only been a day.

Well, speed is the essence of the news.

“What is?”

Riviera asked.

“Oh, it seems we’ve become famous.”

I said as I set the tableware.

We were in the courtyard of our hideout.

It was for an afterparty.

It was the first time I had such a private afterparty with my peers.

It felt like going back to my college days.

There’s a certain charm to campus life here too.

I chuckled as I placed the meat on the grill.

Of course, it was beef.

“That’s true. People have been staring at us nonstop.”

Riviera nodded.

Sudden attention could be overwhelming, but she seemed unfazed, likely due to her strong mentality.

“Ugh, I don’t feel that at all…”

Allen looked down at the ground with a gloomy expression.

He had done what he could, but his level of attention was like that of a background character.

But it couldn’t be helped.

The other three had such standout performances that he was overshadowed.

“Raise your head, Allen. You did your part. Getting hit by the wooden sword thrown by the Princess and flying dozens of meters is not a disgrace.”

“That’s right. Getting hit by the wooden sword thrown by that monster junior and flying dozens of meters is not a disgrace.”

“Ugh, why is everyone picking on me?”

Allen whined as the jokes poured in.

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean…”

Elaine said with an awkward face.

“Come on, since the leader personally grilled this beef, let’s eat and let go of any regrets.”

I finally placed the beef on the table.

The aroma was mouth-watering.

Gulp.

Allen, who had been whining, licked his lips.

Elaine and Riviera’s eyes were also fixed on the meat.

“Everyone, eat up. This is my way of thanking you for all your hard work.”

As soon as I said that, three pieces of meat disappeared from the table.

Chomp, chomp.

“Hmm, delicious.”

Riviera gave a thumbs up.

“Wow.”

Allen expressed his satisfaction with a strange exclamation.

“It melts in your mouth.”

Elaine looked like she had discovered a new world.

As the host, their reactions made me happy.

I chuckled and started setting up the drinks.

A refreshing sparkling wine.

Since Elaine couldn’t handle alcohol, she got apple juice.

I brought the drinks to the table.

“Thanks.”

Elaine expressed her gratitude.

“Heh, no problem. I’m the one who should be thankful for hanging out with a guy like me.”

“Oh, no, that’s…”

Elaine blushed.

In this mock battle.

She had slipped away without a word, but no one held it against her.

Her reputation had always been good, and everyone knew she had acted with the intent to win the mock battle.

But.

There were some curious whispers.

People speculated that Elaine and Max seemed unusually close.

Were they secretly dating?

…Things like that.

So, her reaction to my words was understandable.

I had said it as a joke, expecting her reaction.

“By the way, congratulations on being selected as the best student in the mock battle.”

Elaine quickly changed the subject.

Even she, once immune to men, seemed to have improved her coping skills.

“Oh, that. It’s because I’m amazing.”

Ending it here would make me just a conceited jerk.

“But it’s also thanks to everyone here.”

Ending it like this made me a considerate person.

Elaine smiled softly.

I spoke again.

“Honestly, no one likes losing. But looking back, that was the best strategy I could come up with. So, I have to be satisfied with the result.”

Regardless of feelings, it might have been the better outcome.

If the result of such a significant event as the mock battle had deviated too much, it could have had far-reaching effects on the future.

By securing what needed to be secured and losing the mock battle as originally intended, I felt this was the best outcome.

“Yeah, I see. I also felt like something was missing to beat the first-years.”

Elaine said, looking into the distance.

Having lost to the Princess in a 2-on-1 fight, she must have realized something.

A wall, perhaps.

How she dealt with that wall was up to her.

Some people become stagnant or even regress when faced with a wall, while others use it as motivation to continue growing.

I wasn’t worried.

She was Elaine, after all.

“I’ll chew up that monster junior someday.”

Riviera said bluntly.

She seemed fired up after facing a truly strong opponent for the first time in a while.

Calling the Princess a monster junior.

Only Riviera could call the Princess that in the academy.

I chuckled in disbelief.

“Anyway, great job, everyone. Take a good rest for now. The festival is coming up soon.”

Yes, the festival.

The academy’s founding anniversary festival, known as the “Changsung Festival.”

With a thousand-year history, the Saint Lepheria Academy’s festival was grand.

High-ranking officials, including the Cardinal, attended and gave speeches.

And naturally, when you think of festivals, you think of another thing.

A social event between men and women.

Of course, there was one.

And it was grand and splendid.

It was called the Changsung Ball, often referred to as the highlight of the festival.

‘There will be many tears again.’

I chuckled.

It was called a ball, but it was more like a survival game tougher than the jungle.

Male students could ask a female student to dance only once, and if accepted, it was a happy ending.

But if rejected, there was no second chance; they had to leave immediately.

The mental shock of being rejected by someone they liked and being forced to leave was immense.

But this wasn’t just a problem for the male students.

Female students who didn’t receive a single dance request by the end of the ball had their self-esteem plummet.

Despite the enormous risk, attendance at the Changsung Ball was high.

The unique atmosphere of a once-a-year special ball, the natural interest in the opposite sex at that age, and the desire to show off their dressed-up, attractive selves provided more than enough motivation to attend.

‘Who should I choose?’

Honestly, I wasn’t worried about being rejected.

I was confident I could get at least a few to accept.

Ah, the dilemmas of being popular.

…I shouldn’t become a conceited jerk, but why do I keep doing this?

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat.

‘Now that I think about it, Max got beaten up by the protagonist for hitting on Annette at the games festival.’

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Now, he was in a completely different position for this year’s festival.

He was even contemplating multiple girls for the Changsung Ball.

‘Well, I’ll decide later.’

I returned to enjoying the afterparty.

And the festival approached.