As soon as my spar with Ares concluded, I returned to my original spot.
Mastering Fighting Spirit couldn't be achieved overnight.
Lingering any longer would only waste time and potentially inconvenience other students.
As I sat down, a groan involuntarily escaped my lips.
“...Couldn't he have gone a little easier?”
[Hmph, wasn't this all your doing?]
Samuel muttered, seemingly dumbfounded by my complaint.
I wanted to retort, but no words came to mind.
It was true that Ares had shown mercy.
This humiliation…
I will never forget it.
‘…I need to master Fighting Spirit quickly.’
I had boldly declared to Ares that I would master Fighting Spirit by today.
I was confident, but there was always a chance of failure.
‘Maybe it was all my arrogance.’
Well, if that were the case, I had no choice but to use every means at my disposal.
I had to secure first place in the finals this time.
As I was making this resolution…
“Adel, don't push yourself too hard.”
Luna approached and spoke.
I turned my gaze to her.
Her face was etched with worry.
“I seem to have caused you concern.”
“Of course, I can’t help but worry. But why provoke Instructor Ares? What if you had gotten hurt even worse…”
“There was no other way to learn Fighting Spirit from the instructor.”
It was unavoidable.
Who else but Ares, who could control his strength while wielding Fighting Spirit, could have helped me?
I needed to see Fighting Spirit in action again, and ultimately, things hadn't turned out badly.
In fact, the situation was unfolding exactly as I'd hoped.
However, Luna still seemed worried about me.
“Was there really no one else but the instructor? It looked so dangerous.”
“Well, there is one other person. But as you know, he’s not a Demon who can control his strength.”
“Who?”
“You know, the one who narrowly missed out on first place.”
“Ah…”
Ares was definitely the better choice.
Luna seemed to understand, nodding her head with a hint of resignation.
Perhaps it was his notoriety.
Baltan's 'infamy' was widely known in Sytan.
Baltan never backed down from a challenge.
Not that the indifferent weaklings would dare to challenge him in the first place, intimidated by his aura.
In any case,
There was one incident.
‘…It was said that he stabbed one of the Seven Deadly Sins' children with a spear, almost killing him.’
It was most likely Guwar.
Baltan had mentioned that when he summoned Fron and me to the conference room to discuss the invasion of the human realm, he had taught a lesson to a class president who dared to challenge him.
And among the students of the Seven Deadly Sins, the only one audacious enough to challenge Baltan would be Guwar.
Therefore, it was said that Guwar was nearly killed by Baltan.
Having learned the truth behind the rumor, I made a resolution.
Never challenge Baltan before mastering Fighting Spirit.
Even if I won, it would be a problem.
He would continue to challenge me.
Until he won.
So, I decided that sparring with Ares was a much better option.
Luna, seemingly understanding my intentions, only pouted slightly.
“Don’t get hurt next time…”
“I understand.”
She then quietly cast a healing spell on me.
The energy released from Luna's hand enveloped my body, focusing on my neck and hands.
Saaah—.
The wounds began to heal.
Thanks to Luna's treatment, the stinging pain completely subsided.
I expressed my gratitude to her.
“Thank you, as always.”
“...If you know that, then don’t get hurt. I’m really not going to heal you next time.”
“That would be a bit difficult…”
Luna puffed out her cheeks, seemingly displeased that I still didn't seem to value my own body.
The sight of her puffed-up cheeks made me want to poke them, but just then…
[You two, enough playing around. Focus.]
At Samuel's words, Luna and I turned to each other.
Fron had walked out and it was her turn to spar with Ares.
Ares, his face grim, asked Fron, who was standing stiffly,
“Are you going to use your sword this time?”
“…….”
At his question, Fron fidgeted with her scabbard but ultimately couldn't bring herself to draw her sword. Instead, she raised both hands.
A preparatory motion for casting her Charm Magic.
Ares clicked his tongue at her stance.
“I don't know the reason, but it won't do you any good to hold back like that. If you keep using your sword only during re-examinations, I'll have no choice but to raise the bar even higher.”
“…….”
“There's a limit to my leniency.”
Despite Ares’s warning, Fron remained silent.
Or rather, she couldn't speak.
Her mana control was no match for Ares's.
He resisted her Charm with ease and lightly swung his sword.
“…….”
Fron merely maintained a cold expression as Ares’s sword pointed at her neck.
Ares sheathed his sword and said,
“Go back.”
She had no choice but to return to her spot.
Ares then turned his gaze away from Fron and addressed the students.
“Next.”
A male student walked up.
As a new battle was about to begin, I was about to look away when…
“Adel, will Fron be alright?”
“...She’ll be fine, at least for now.”
I replied to Luna in a low voice.
She seemed fine for the time being.
Well, even if she wasn't, there was nothing I could do about it.
For now, I had to figure out how to create Fighting Spirit through murderous intent.
Time passed…
Clang—.
The bell signaling the end of the exam rang.
Instructor Ares was facing the last student.
As soon as he struck down the student, Ares turned to us and said,
“...This concludes my weapons skills examination.”
As Ares dismissed us, the students, rubbing their arms and legs, headed off somewhere.
…Probably to the infirmary. It seemed like the medical instructor was in for another long day.
For some reason, I could vividly picture the exhausted medical instructor.
I let out a chuckle of sympathy and started walking.
My destination was Ares.
“Don't forget about tonight. Let's meet at the training grounds before curfew.”
“...Alright. What if you haven't mastered Fighting Spirit by then?”
“If I haven’t learned it, then I haven’t learned it.”
“……?”
Ares blinked at my words, looking bewildered.
He then gritted his teeth, perhaps thinking I was mocking him.
But my words held no falsehood.
“Am I wrong? Besides myself, are there any other first-year students who can demonstrate a technique more powerful than what I showed you, excluding the other two?”
“…….”
Ares couldn't answer and just roughly ran his hand over his face.
But he couldn’t refute my words.
I had practically proven my skills with the Black Rose alone.
Even considering the raised standards for the re-examination, it was still true.
It was slightly weaker than a strike imbued with Fighting Spirit, but even so, it easily surpassed the power of the Sword Lacquer.
“...Do as you please.”
In the end, Ares nodded as if he agreed.
With that, I made the appointment with Ares and left.
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