Clash with the Five Idiots(4)

When Leon was just about to begin the duel, a loud voice suddenly called out from behind him:

"Leon!"

He turned sharply, only to see Olivia running toward him at full speed. Behind her, following with a clearly worried expression, was Angelica.

Leon noticed the tension in Angelica's eyes, but before he could properly make out her expression, Olivia had already come to a stop in front of him, lowering her gaze slightly in embarrassment.

"Um… I'm afraid I won't be able to help you, Leon… but… I'll be cheering for you!" she said with heartfelt warmth in her voice.

Leon couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in his heart. He smiled and, seizing the moment, decided to make her an interesting offer:

"Thanks, Livia! Did you place a bet on my victory? If you did, I promise—you'll be getting a nice little fortune!"

Olivia blinked, tilting her head slightly. Then, a strange yet endearing look of confusion appeared on her face.

"Eh? But… I didn't place any bets… I think that's wrong…"

"Ohhh… I see…" Leon drawled, watching her closely. The longer he looked, the more he found himself amazed—she was unbelievably adorable! Her big, innocent eyes shone with sincerity, and her cheeks… Ah, those cheeks! They looked so soft that he could barely resist the urge to poke them.

But his moment of contemplation was abruptly interrupted—Angelica grabbed his ear and yanked him to the side.

"Ow-ow-ow-ow!" he yelped in pain. "Lady Angelica, what was that for?!"

"First of all, just Angelica is fine," she said sternly, her grip unrelenting. "And second… where is your armor?! After all your big talk, you didn't even bother to prepare?!"

Leon grinned reluctantly, rubbing his ear, which was still burning from the sudden "attack." Then, with a smirk, he replied:

"You'll see. Just wait," he said calmly and confidently made his way toward the arena.

As he stepped through the entrance, he suddenly noticed that the stands were already packed with students. There were so many of them—the entire spectator section looked like a living sea of faces, eyes, and emotions. And the moment he appeared, the audience erupted in shouts.

Most of those present greeted him with outright hostility. Some jumped from their seats, others laughed mockingly, but nearly all of them hurled insults without restraint.

"Don't stall, Bartfort! Lose quickly so I can collect my winnings!"

"How dare you side with Angelica instead of the prince?!"

"I hope after losing, you'll finally understand your place and stop trying to stand out!"

Their words were accompanied by whistles, jeers, and even a few objects being thrown down toward the arena. It seemed like the entire crowd was against him.

But amidst the general uproar, there were those who supported him. They were fewer in number, but their voices rang out just as strong.

"Show them your strength, Hero-Savior!" someone shouted from the back rows.

"Prove that all your feats weren't just empty boasts!"

Though their support was limited, it was still there. Many barons and viscounts wanted to back Leon, but they couldn't do so openly. Politics was a cruel game—most nobles chose to stand with the prince and his entourage, as opposing them could hurt their own standing.

Leon carefully scanned the stands, noticing the occasional approving gaze amid the crowd. That only strengthened his resolve—this fight was worth it.

Gathering his thoughts, he strode confidently toward the center of the arena, where the prince and his close allies were already waiting. Behind them loomed massive battle armors—their metallic frames gleaming in the sunlight, radiating both fear and admiration.

At that moment, the spectators began murmuring among themselves, noticing an obvious detail: Leon's armor was nowhere to be seen.

Laughter and taunts rippled through the arena.

"Hahaha! Turns out, he's just a coward!"

"What did you expect? He's supposed to fight the prince—the future viscount! Of course, he's not stupid enough to actually challenge royalty."

"Easy money, gentlemen!"

The crowd roared with mockery, and some were already celebrating the prince's inevitable victory.

But then, as if the heavens themselves had decided to intervene in this spectacle, a deafening crash echoed across the arena.

From the sky, leaving behind a trail of smoke, an enormous container plummeted down, shaking the ground so violently that for a moment, the spectators froze in shock.

Silence fell over the arena.

With a metallic clang, the massive doors of the container swung open, revealing nothing but darkness within.

And then, it stepped out.

A black, towering battle armor, gleaming ominously in the sunlight, took several steps forward. The entire crowd held its breath.

But the most astonishing thing happened next.

Without a pilot, as if moved by its own will, the mechanical giant approached Leon, carefully lifted him with its massive metal hand, and gently placed him inside the cockpit.

The arena was completely silent.

A moment ago, they had laughed at him… but now? Now, even the loudest mockers couldn't utter a single word.