episode_0181

Chapter 181 – Ignition

Meanwhile, at that time, Deborah and Roxana, conscious of each other, created an awkward yet overly cordial atmosphere.

“Deborah, would you like to try this?”

“Huh? Ah! …It’s so delicious! Teacher-nim, you should try this too.”

The two went back and forth, continuously feeding each other food.

In the end, both their cheeks puffed up like a hamster’s.

Such a sight of a pure maiden and a decadent beauty naturally captivated the gazes of those around them, making them smile warmly.

The two belatedly realized each other’s state and stopped offering food.

The two, who had been quietly facing each other, only spoke after swallowing all the food.

“Deborah. It seems we’ve eaten enough, shall we get up now?”

“Yes, Teacher-nim. Let’s go somewhere else.”

The two, whose interests aligned, finished their payment and quickly exited the booth.

“Deborah. Where shall we go next?”

“Let’s go wherever Teacher-nim wants to go!”

“Huh? No. It’s fine. You should go wherever you want to go.”

“No! I’ve already looked around everywhere, so it’s fine.”

Just when it seemed like the excessive consideration would subside, it was activated again when deciding the next destination.

As they passed the choice back and forth, continuing their peaceful bickering, just then a couple passed by.

“Oppa. Shall we go watch the tournament?”

“Tournament? Now that you mention it, the main event was supposed to be held now, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. Want to go?”

“Let’s. We don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

The couple walked off arm in arm, amicably.

Roxana, who had been staring at their retreating figures, rolled her eyes and smirked.

“Deborah. Shall we go watch the tournament too?”

“Huh? The tournament?”

“Yeah. Since even mages are participating, won’t it be an opportunity to broaden your horizons? You’ll also be able to digest the enlightenment you recently gained more quickly.”

A short while ago, Deborah reached the 6th rank.

It was such a great achievement that it was hard to believe she accomplished it at 20.

However, perhaps because she achieved such rapid growth in too short a time, she couldn’t fully exert her power as a 6th-rank mage.

What’s needed at times like this is simply a lot of experience to break down unnecessary fixed ideas or prejudices.

Deborah also understood Roxana’s intentions.

“Understood. Let’s go watch the tournament.”

“Good. That’s a good idea. Let’s go.”

The master and disciple, who had moved to the tournament arena, coincidentally ran into Ruan.

“Ah! Ru-Ruan?”

“Oh? Deborah’s friend, isn’t he?”

There was a surprised Deborah, whose expression showed she never expected to run into him here, and Roxana, who seemed somewhat calm, as if she had expected it to some extent.

Ruan, who had just entered the tournament arena with his companions, glanced at Roxana.

“Deborah? And… you’re the Gray Magic Tower Lord-nim. Did you come to watch the tournament?”

“Yes. Ruan, did you come to watch the tournament too?”

“…Yes. These are my friends. They are Yas and Abel, respectively.”

“I’m Abel. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m Yas! You’re incredibly beautiful!”

“Hehe! Thank you. I’m Roxana Sprause. You can call me Roxana.”

The companions introduced themselves.

Abel, as always, politely followed the standard, while Yas didn’t forget to flirt.

And Roxana showed a friendly attitude, just as she had with Ruan initially.

However, her social standing still did not allow for true comfort.

After Roxana exchanged greetings with the companions, she spoke to Ruan.

“Since we’re here, shall we look around together?”

“Together?”

“Yes. There’s no need to look separately, is there? You don’t have to worry about people gathering. I’ve already cast an illusion spell.”

Currently, Roxana was disguised with a different appearance, just like when she met Ruan.

If it weren’t for that, this area would already be swarming with countless people, making it a chaotic scene where it would be difficult to take even a single step.

Ruan and his companions gave their answer after a brief discussion.

“Then let’s do that. We’re fine with it.”

“Oh? That’s a relief. Deborah. You’re fine with it too, right?”

“Huh? Ah, well…”

Deborah glanced at Ruan.

The sight she witnessed yesterday at lunch still hasn’t faded from her mind.

Although she had decided to use their goodwill without giving up, she wasn’t yet ready to act on it in front of them.

That’s why she had refused to go to the maid café together today.

As she hesitated, Roxana asked.

“By any chance, do you dislike it?”

“Ah, no! I’m fine too. Let’s… go together.”

“Good. Then let’s go in!”

As the startled Deborah made her decision, Roxana led everyone into the arena.

***

The arena was packed with people.

Tens of thousands of seats were full, so finding an empty seat was incredibly difficult.

In the end, we decided to split into two groups.

“Abel and I will go. Will you stay with the two of them?”

“What? Me?”

“Yes. If we’re going to split up now that we’ve come together, what’s the point of splitting up again? You take care of them. We just met today, didn’t we?”

“That’s true. Understood. See you at the entrance later.”

Yas waved his hand casually and disappeared into the distance with Abel.

As if she had been waiting, Roxana stuck close to him.

“What should I do, I feel so bad? I suggested we go together for no reason. You’re separated from your friends, are you alright?”

“Yes. Well, it doesn’t matter. More importantly, I see three seats over there. Let’s hurry.”

“Hehe! Thank you for saying that. Deborah, let’s go.”

Unintentionally, I ended up walking with the beautiful master and disciple on either side of me.

It was then.

“Oh my!”

Some jerk must have done it, for Roxana slipped on some ice cream that had fallen on the floor.

“Ah! Teacher-nim!”

Deborah tried to quickly support her, but similarly lost her balance. As they were about to fall together, I quickly reached out and pulled them.

“Gasp!”

“O-oh my?”

The master and disciple fell into my arms at once.

Deborah screamed in surprise at the sudden shift in her center of gravity, while Roxana’s eyes widened as if the sensation of being embraced was unfamiliar.

The slender waistline felt through my hands, and the soft sensation pressing against both sides of my chest.

Although they were master and disciple, their vastly different scents filled my nostrils, making my heart pound.

Exchanging glances with the two women, I gently let go of their waists and stepped back.

“I apologize. I was in a hurry and acted impolitely.”

In fact, if it were Roxana, she would have immediately devised a countermeasure using magic as an improvisation.

As I lowered my head, wondering if I had done something unnecessary, Roxana noticeably flustered and waved her hand.

“Huh, huh? Ah, no! Thanks to you, I didn’t fall. Thank you.”

“Th-thank you, Ruan! For catching us…”

Deborah also chimed in.

Both their faces were flushed.

It seems they were very surprised by the sudden situation.

It was a little funny how the master and disciple reacted the same way, side by side.

“Then let’s proceed carefully, because we don’t know what might be on the ground.”

“Uh, yeah. Let’s do that.”

“Yes. Understood.”

We maintained a certain distance and carefully headed toward the marked seats.

Finally, seated, we let out a sigh of relief.

Roxana, who had been silent until then, as if she had finally regained her composure, subtly played a prank.

“But earlier, it was really amazing. How did you react so quickly? Surely you weren’t constantly watching this old lady, were you? Huh?”

She brought her face close, as if to whisper.

Although she referred to herself as an ‘auntie’, Roxana boasted a beauty stunning enough to put any woman in her twenties to shame.

Anyway, considering how surprised she was earlier, for her to act so composed now…

This couldn’t be overlooked.

“Yes. You’re so beautiful, my gaze naturally went to you. It’s a relief you weren’t hurt.”

I, with a cheesy line, gave a gentle smile.

Roxana’s eyes widened again like a rabbit’s.

“Wh-what? Ah, ahaha! Isn’t that prank a bit too much? It’ll be a big problem if you say such things to an old lady!”

“But I’m serious?”

“Huh, huh?”

As I replied seriously to her, while she was laughing and slapping her arm, Roxana’s expression stiffened.

She glanced at Deborah beyond my back.

I don’t know what expression Deborah was making now, but judging by Roxana’s reaction, it must have been quite something to behold.

I, who had been sending a fervent gaze to Roxana, suddenly let out a snicker.

“Hahaha! It’s a joke.”

“Huh? J-joke?”

“Yes. Teacher-nim Roxana played a prank first, didn’t you? So, let’s call it even. How about that?”

“You, you…!”

Roxana’s eyes blazed.

She huffed, as if wanting to say something, but couldn’t easily open her mouth.

Just then, a booming voice echoed through the arena.

[Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. The 782nd Solias Academy Tournament Main Event now begins!]

—Cheers!

Looking at the arena, a host had already appeared.

He quickly finished the proceedings and immediately began introducing the players.

In the afternoon, they had to finish a total of 16 matches, combining the round of 16, first-years, and second-years, so they had to hurry.

[Now, for the first match! It’s a match between Felicia Belmore, the hot topic from the pictorials, and Carino Exeter from the prestigious swordsmanship family, Viscount Exeter’s house. Both of you, please come up!]

As soon as the host finished speaking, two people emerged from the passages on both sides.

—Ooooooh!

Immediately, cheers erupted from the men.

That’s because Felicia was wearing the bunny girl outfit she wore in the pictorials.

Her formidable explosive breasts seemed as if they would burst through the breast covering and pop out at any moment.

At this moment, everyone was cheering for the opponent.

‘Please, get rid of that breast covering!’

It didn’t matter if she won or lost; they just hoped that by some accidental mistake, the front of her outfit would be touched and removed.

Whether he knew such expectations or not, Carino Exeter strode confidently onto the stage.

[Both of you! You’re brimming with motivation! Would you like to say a word about your resolve?]

The host brought the microphone to Felicia.

Then she obnoxiously swept back her roll-bun hairstyle and seized the moment to deliver a promotional message.

[Ohhohoho! Everyone! My pictorial is currently being sold at the first-year class 4 booth! If you’re interested, please hurry and buy it! There aren’t many copies left!]

—Cheers! Felicia Belmore is the best!

Not only the men who had already enjoyed her pictorials, but also those who hadn’t known such valuable information, without exception, showed fervent support.

Some even thought they should go buy it right away, and were leaving the arena.

It seemed they figured it would be impossible to see Felicia’s exposed explosive breasts during this match, so they might as well salvage the pictorial.

Anyway, after Felicia’s turn passed and after Carino Exeter’s interview was also finished, the match began.

[Both of you, get ready! …Match start!]

“Haaah!”

“Iyaah!”

Clang!

As soon as the host finished speaking, the two collided with battle cries.

—Cheers!

The arena’s excitement instantly reached its peak.

Because the match had officially begun? No. That wasn’t important at all.

What was important was that as their weapons clashed, Felicia’s explosive breasts were wildly dancing from the impact.

At this rate, her explosive breasts might pop out at any moment, and her nipples become visible.

—Whoa! Whoa! Ughhh!

Every time a round of offense and defense passed, the men twitched.

At the same time, their little friends must have been twitching too.

I, too, observed the lively movements of Felicia’s explosive breasts with admiration.

‘Amazing.’

It was indeed a good idea to come watch the tournament.