episode_0009

It was a habit she often displayed when she was scared, but to Lizley, it looked like Irha was burning with fighting spirit and trying to challenge her, which was unpleasant.

Lizley’s twisted possessiveness over Ras and her excessive self-esteem fueled her irritation and malice.

‘Hah… Just because Ras paid a little attention to her earlier, did she get arrogant? Why does she look like that?’

Of course, Irha wasn’t really thinking much about Lizley.

“Feet, mana in legs… approach… roll… pretend to be hurt…”

[Roll, just really roll. Give up on winning, just land one good hit. Even that much will get you good points from Professor Isera.]

Because down below, like the nagging of a nosy neighbor tasting food, Ras’s constant advice kept buzzing in her ears, distracting her.

“Alright then… begin.”

With Professor Isera’s signal to fight, a duel between two women, different in every way from start to finish, began.

*

I really dislike Lizley, but objectively, I think she’s quite a capable mage.

The Gracia family itself is a prestigious magical house that has quite often produced highly renowned mages.

That family isn’t like Blaber’s family, which I ruined, a type that developed one signature magic.

Rather, it’s a family that aims to be a Changer, proficiently and smoothly handling various versatile spells.

Their strength is a good sense for manipulating mana, and based on that, they cast quickly and precisely.

Just like Lizley now.

On the floor and ceiling, a frosty aura gathered, blooming dozens of beautiful, large roses.

One of Lizley’s specialties, flower shaping magic using the power of frost, is beautiful but quite deadly.

Each petal becomes a sharp, solid ice dagger, and she’s free to use the stems, thorns, and vines for encirclement attacks.

“Block it, or dodge it… Let’s see how well you do?”

“Hieek..!”

Since it’s magic cast with standard training equipment that suppresses power, not her personal gear, it’s probably much weaker than usual, but it’ll still hurt if it hits, right?

My minion, let’s see how well you do as instructed… And I’m looking forward to seeing if you can perhaps surpass that.

The rose petals flew simultaneously towards Irha, and at the same time, ice vines from the ground tried to ensnare Irha’s feet.

My minion was sweating profusely, dodging the petals and vines as if tap-dancing.

First, her body’s flexibility and instinctive vision are satisfactory, and her focus is also good.

More than ten rapidly flying petals were embedded in her body, causing her to bleed profusely, but she instinctively knew what was key.

Even if she got pricked by petals, she just needed to avoid vital spots. As long as her feet weren’t caught by the vines.

Against mages who pour out spells from a distance like that, the most important thing is, as expected, mobility.

To take them down, her feet absolutely couldn’t be tied down.

So far, she’s doing well as instructed, but can she take one more step forward?

I advised her to focus mana on her legs and feet, but I deliberately didn’t tell her the more important details.

If she’s the type to become a great fighter, she’ll instinctively take another step forward here.

“Squawk…!”

Making a strange, seagull-like cry, Irha flapped her arms.

The mana she’d infused into her legs, she sent to her soles, and the mana that had been spread widely across her entire soles, she concentrated only on her toes and big toe.

Then, as she expelled the mana,

“Rolling…!”

No, why on earth are you announcing what you’re going to do, you foolish woman…!

I should probably deduct about 20 points, but the parabola and speed of her roll at a 67.5-degree angle were absolutely perfect.

She’s really good at using her body, huh?

Irha’s roll was much faster and more graceful than I had expected.

Leaving murky bloodstains on the slick, polished ice floor, she charged right in front of Lizley’s nose.

Will she land a hit like this?

Bang!

“….!”

No way. Immediately after, she was hit squarely in the stomach by an ice fist Lizley quickly shaped.

Lizley is a nasty woman, but she’s not a pushover.

“Ow…! Ow…!!!!”

Irha, who had taken a strong hit, wailed as she rolled on the floor.

Seeing that pathetic sight, I couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

That idiot had been hit in the stomach, but was clutching her face and wailing.

It seemed the order I had given, ‘Pretend it hurts more than it does,’ had gotten twisted in her head.

But it’s fine. Irha is foolish, but Lizley has a personality disorder.

If she went to a battlefield, she’d die without even a mouse or bird knowing [a proverb about something happening without anyone knowing], without even realizing she was dead.

She had a strong tendency to boast and want to win splendidly, or be complacent, more than her skills warranted.

“Did that snap you back to your senses? If you have any sense, just back off. You know what I mean, right?”

She was speaking secretly and quietly enough that others couldn’t hear, but I, who was concentrating my senses in that direction, heard her clearly.

Her voice was filled with contempt and triumph, as if she were humiliating her.

I wondered why she was so malicious; it seemed my calling Irha my minion and chatting with her had bothered Lizley that much.

I could die laughing.

Honestly, she doesn’t even know what love is, and she’s just got this pathetic possessiveness over me, acting like a tyrant as if she were the lady of the house…

But what can I do?

She’s simple-minded, so your words probably aren’t even getting through to her right now. Lizley, for someone who should be maintaining distance, your position is too close.

The next moment, Irha, who had been repeatedly crying “Ow…ow…”, squeezed out all her mana with all her might.

As she exploded mana like a springing coil, and launched her body upwards, Irha shot towards Lizley.

Irha’s slightly foolish-looking head (and perhaps because of that, it looked even harder) heavily struck Lizley in the solar plexus.

“Kyaak…!”

Lizley let out a truly disgraceful, shrill scream as she flew and rolled on the floor.

Instead of the always elegant and haughty swan, seeing some donkey rolling around, I applauded inwardly.

Lizley de Gracia, 10 out of 10 for artistic impression…!

“Ugh… that vulgar creature…”

Soon after, Lizley gritted her teeth and stood up, letting out groans and curses.

From her tightly shut mouth, a stream of blood flowed out quite satisfyingly.

And our commendable but foolish minion…

“Squawk…..”

With a faint cry, as if she’d suffered mana exhaustion, she simply fainted.

“…Uh… Winner, Lizley. *Ahem*… Lizley, you should abandon your habit of being complacent. You did something strange in a situation where you didn’t need to approach. And…”

During Professor Isera’s continuing cold advice session, Lizley’s face rapidly soured.

Sweet revenge..! So this is what it feels like to win and still lose!!!

The savory taste spreading throughout my mouth made me happy.

Even the unconscious Irha’s expression somehow looked satisfied.

*

The combat magic class, where two rather tumultuous upsets occurred, had ended.

A delightful rebellion of the weak, so to speak?

Of course, Ras wasn’t objectively weak, so that was somewhat understandable, but what was truly surprising was Irha’s heavy blow.

It made Lizley, a prominent mage who was among the best in her year as much as she was haughty and beautiful, roll on the ground.

Although Irha was subtly ostracized by the other students, her desperate appearance and struggles left quite a deep impression on them.

Thanks to there being a lot to see, even after lunch, the students who had taken the combat magic class were blossoming into conversation about this topic.

For the record, the fainted Irha woke up perfectly fine, and while she was at it, she even got a meal from Professor Isera, making her very happy.

Of course, not all students gathered excitedly and engaged in lively conversation.

*

“……”

The academy rooftop is a perfect spot for couples to have a simple lunch.

On a clear day, after eating while enjoying a cool breeze, and watching the blue sky or white clouds, a short date is complete if you playfully tease each other.

However, today on the academy rooftop, despite the spotless clear sky, for some reason, gloomy gray clouds hung heavy.

This was because Lizley, who had taken a solid hit and received all sorts of advice from Professor Isera, was truly in a state of extreme low pressure.

The fact that it was Irha, whom she had openly disregarded, who had happened to hit her in the solar plexus, made Lizley’s irritation surge even more.

Right next to the scene of her bursting displeasure, Ras was trying to control his expression to avoid openly smirking.

Rather than being considerate of Lizley, it was because he knew too well that showing it too much was what amateur pranksters did.

In Ras’s experience, in such situations, it was most effective to gently go along while pretending not to know, then deliver a lightning-fast decisive blow that infuriated them.

“Lizley… today’s frost rose and vine magic… it was really pretty and cool… Irha was a bit underhanded. Right?”

Returning to his ‘pure’ and ‘kind’ way of speaking after a long time, Ras, who was speaking as if genuinely regretful, even had eyes filled with concern.

But Lizley, hearing Ras’s earnest tone, somehow felt her anger flare up even more and replied coldly.

“What’s ‘underhanded’ in a fight? I, was, too, dismissive of her, I guess.”

Ras, pretending to cautiously watch Lizley’s eyes as she spoke, her words clipped and unable to hide her anger, stammered.

He had sufficiently warmed her up, and now it was time for the decisive blow to infuriate her further.

“Um… by the way, Lizley… I don’t know if it’s okay to talk about this now… but about that ‘wish’ earlier…”

Mixing in ellipses appropriately to make her feel suffocated was a small detail.

Sure enough, as soon as the wish was mentioned, Lizley became greatly annoyed.

She knew full well it wasn’t the atmosphere to talk about it, and she really disliked Ras acting so nonchalant. What did he mean, he didn’t know?

But Ras, at Lizley’s irritation, questioned her back with a very wronged expression.

“Why get so annoyed..! Lizley, you seem too sensitive lately. And what do you mean, ‘that’s all you think about all day’?”

“Hinting to your girlfriend for skinship in this situation, isn’t that too inconsiderate?”

But this time, as if he truly had no idea, Ras replied to Lizley’s irritation with wide eyes.

“Skinship? I was just going to ask you to buy me a meal. How exactly do you see me? Did I try to even hold your hand today?”

“Wha… what?”

“The skinship you do with me… Is this the first or second time you’ve shown you’re uncomfortable with it? I’ve half-given up too. Right, I’m honestly not cool or manly, am I…? Like Leon or guys like that?”

At Ras’s words, specifically mentioning the Prince, Lizley’s heart instantly sank.

The anxiety about the uncertain truth felt like a heavy fist pressing against her solar plexus.

But soon, she strongly denied that possibility inwardly.

From her perspective, Ras, who was so devoted to her, couldn’t possibly act so nonchalantly even if he knew about her infidelity.

Yet, with a faint ‘what if’ feeling, she couldn’t meet his eyes. Just in case she might read the truth in his gaze.

It was at that moment, when a brief silence hung between the two of them.

“You two were having an interesting conversation. To think my name would be mentioned among the academy’s representative couple. In this case, is it a compliment, so I should take it sweetly?”

With an intrigued expression and voice, Prince Leon interjected between them.

This was a Prince who never approached someone, especially a commoner student, to speak first, almost never.

It was as if he had deliberately sought them out, this situation of him being alone on the rooftop felt too unfamiliar.

Lizley, feeling anxious about what this Prince, who was usually uninhibited and enjoyed thrills, would say, could barely turn her head.

“Ras. Your fight with Blaber was impressive. Your skills have improved more than I expected…. As if you’ve been to a battlefield.”

Contrary to Lizley’s anxieties, who was sweating coldly, the Prince addressed Ras with a surprisingly favorable and interested voice.

The fact that Ras had used his name, even a shortened version, didn’t seem to bother him much, surprisingly.

“Lately, I’ve been having sudden epiphanies quite often. Whether it’s magic, swordsmanship, or human relationships… I guess you could say that anything changes if you keep at it?”

To such a Prince, Ras smirked and spoke comfortably, and the Prince also smiled faintly, seeing him.

“Whatever epiphanies you’re having, they’re something to celebrate. More importantly, may I borrow Lizley for a moment? I have something I’d like to discuss privately.”

“Who am I to grant or deny permission? You two do as you please~ If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll just head down first. We’ll pick up our conversation later, Lizley?”

Ras, as if by magic, dropped the contentious expression he’d had with Lizley moments before, and lightly stood up.

Seeing Ras, who was so cool as if he had no lingering regrets about the conversation or time spent with Lizley, the Prince spoke with a calm smile.

“It’s not polite to interrupt a couple, but if I may offer a piece of advice based on my experience as someone with a partner… if there’s too little skinship, you’ll grow distant. It’s important for a man to be bold and take initiative.”

Ras turned to the Prince, grinned, then playfully spoke to Lizley.

“Thanks for the advice, Leon. Lizley, you heard that, right? He says skinship is important for couples~”

Ras, having said his piece, didn’t give Lizley a chance to reply, and swiftly disappeared.

Watching Ras’s retreating back, the Prince burst into laughter and spoke to Lizley as if it were nothing.

“Ras has become quite manly, somehow. He used to feel like a puppy always wagging his tail for you…. Indeed, they say shock turns a boy into a man, don’t they?”

However, compared to his nonchalant and light tone, the content of what he said was by no means light.

“Wha… what are you talking about? Shock? What happened to Ras…”

Sweating profusely, Lizley tried to question him, but the Prince firmly cut her off and replied.

“Ras seems to have found out about your infidelity, Lizley. Even who the other person is. So… what do you intend to do?”

The anxiety that had been like a heavy fist pressing against her, along with the Prince’s confirmation, struck Lizley hard in the solar plexus.

That terrible blow that struck her heart, was much more painful than the strike Irha had delivered with her naive head.