110

Among the bustling crowd of students, a red-haired teacher, Calvin, spoke in a booming voice.

"I'll give each class five minutes to find a sparring partner from another group."

At his words, the students began to look flustered one by one.

"Aren't you going to assign sparring partners yourself?"

"Hm?"

"It's our first time seeing these people. Wouldn't it be hard to choose a suitable partner?"

"Assessing your opponent's skills is an essential ability in combat. Stop making excuses and find a partner quickly."

One student, brimming with dissatisfaction, cautiously voiced their opinion, only to be firmly rejected.

Soon after, Calvin gave a sinister smile and addressed the students.

"If anyone fails to find a partner, I will personally spar with them. Keep that in mind."

His words sent the students scurrying as if their feet were on fire.

I, too, felt flustered.

The novel didn't describe this part in detail, so I had no idea I'd have to find a sparring partner myself.

'…Who should I go to?'

Even in college group projects, I couldn't find groupmates and ended up being paired by the professor.

There was no way I, of all people, could approach someone to request a sparring match first.

As I looked around in confusion, I felt someone staring at me.

Just as I turned my head toward the sharp gaze—

"Have you found a sparring partner?"

Another person suddenly approached and spoke, stealing my attention.

I turned to look at the owner of the voice, and my eyes widened in surprise.

Dark red hair, golden eyes,

and strikingly handsome features.

Even without asking, I immediately knew who it was.

…Robin.

The protagonist of The Indomitable Hero and the one who should have been the rightful owner of the holy sword.

He had asked me to spar.

…But why?

"Me…?"

I pointed at myself and asked, and Robin confidently nodded.

"Yes. I heard that you're a student specially recommended by the Director. I figured you wouldn't be ordinary. I wanted to test myself against you."

His words sounded quite competitive.

He was exactly like the Robin from the novel.

A protagonist unafraid of challenges, constantly striving to grow stronger.

'…Even without being chosen as a hero, he's still a protagonist through and through.'

After all, Robin's relentless determination to become stronger wasn't due to being chosen as a hero. It was because of his unwavering mindset, which hadn't changed, even without the holy sword in his grasp.

But still, for him to want to spar with me.

Wouldn't it be a better match if he sparred with Ariel instead?

When I turned to look for Ariel, I saw she had already approached Lily for a sparring match.

'…I guess Ariel wants to go up against the hero, too.'

As I hesitated to respond, Robin asked me again.

"Well? Will you accept my challenge?"

Well, I didn't see why not.

It's not like I could find another sparring partner easily, and I definitely didn't want to spar with Calvin.

In the novel, he was a violent teacher with an unyielding dedication to making his students stronger. He was infamous for wielding his disciplinary cane mercilessly.

If I had to spar with him, it'd be a nightmare.

Rather, I was just grateful that Robin approached me first.

I looked at him and nodded.

"Alright."

"That's great. My name is Robin."

He extended his hand for a handshake.

For a moment, my body flinched, but I managed to accept the handshake without revealing my hesitation.

"My name is Sera. Please take care of me."

***

"Lily! Let's spar together."

"…Ah."

Just as she was about to step away, she hesitated at my call and turned her head toward me. It was my friend, Lily.

For some reason, she hesitated briefly as she looked at me, and I pouted as I spoke to her.

"What's this? Don't tell me you think I'm not good enough as your opponent?"

"…No, Ariel."

"Then you'll spar with me, right?"

"Yeah, sure."

She closed her eyes for a moment, then smiled as she answered.

Her reaction made my heart race.

A sparring match with the Hero.

Even though I'd be fighting my friend, I couldn't help but feel excited.

This wasn't an opportunity one could easily experience.

Surely, this would be a chance for me to further refine my skills.

"Alright! Five minutes are up! Students who have chosen their sparring partners, pair up and gather here. Those who haven't decided yet, come to me."

At the professor's words, Lily and I moved to the designated area.

Afterward, the professor divided the groups and organized the sparring matches.

Lily and I were assigned to the first sparring group.

"Group 1, step into the center of the training grounds!"

At his command, Lily and I, along with more than ten other students, moved to the center of the training grounds.

The match with Lily came quicker than I'd expected.

We stood facing each other, holding training weapons.

"Alright! Begin the sparring match!"

My heart pounded even harder.

'I wonder how effective my magic will be against the Hero?'

Even though I was holding a training staff, it seemed capable of handling a decent level of magic output.

Surely, I could use magic that might work against Lily.

So, what should I use first?

Binding? Or perhaps a swift electric shock? Or maybe a powerful fire spell?

While I was pondering, Lily spoke to me.

"Ariel. Who is that over there?"

"Huh?"

I looked at Lily. She was staring intently at someone.

Following her gaze, I saw Sera and Iris sitting on a bench, watching us with bright, curious eyes.

'Who is she talking about?'

Since she's close to Iris, she probably isn't asking about her. Was she referring to Sera?

"Are you talking about Sera?"

"Sera?"

"Yeah. She transferred to the academy two days ago. I thought it was pretty well-known by now."

"A transfer student…"

After that, Lily seemed lost in deep thought, staring at Sera for a while.

The match had already started, yet she hadn't even paid attention to me.

'…Should I go first?'

Her attitude, as if I wasn't even there, made me a little annoyed.

I was one of the academy's promising talents, after all.

I felt like I had to make her more tense.

'Just a little spell for a warning.'

Still, Lily kept staring intensely at Sera.

I pointed my staff at her and chanted.

"Raidein."

Then, a brief light burst from my staff. Several streaks of lightning swiftly flew around Lily.

For a moment, just like that.

"…Ah."

Only when the lightning flew right in front of her did Lily finally tear her gaze away from Sera.

But it was already too late.

There was no way she could avoid the lightning that had reached so close.

'This is the price for ignoring me.'

I smiled faintly at her and spoke.

"I've toned down the power, so it'll just sting a lit—"

Slash—

"…What?"

What just happened?

I felt something sharp graze past my side.

Slowly turning my head, I saw a faint scratch on my neck.

Behind me, the massive scar left by the strike was etched into the training ground floor.

Gulp.

Instinctively, I swallowed dryly.

As I looked at the girl in front of me with trembling eyes, I saw Lily staring back with a chilling gaze.

"Sorry, Ariel. My mind was too distracted, and I couldn't focus."

"Hic."

The overwhelming power beyond reason surged through my body, filling me with fear.

I knew Lily was strong.

Of course, she was a hero. I'd heard countless stories about her exploits at the academy.

But I wasn't ordinary, either.

Among countless wizards hailed as geniuses, I had earned the title of the next Tower Master at a young age.

A prodigy among prodigies, I reached the 6th Circle at the youngest age, following the Great Sage and the Hero.

That's what people had always called me.

So, I thought I'd stand a chance.

Even if I couldn't win, I believed we could at least exchange a few blows.

No matter how great a hero she was, Lily was still a student of the same age as me.

I didn't think the difference in power would be so overwhelming.

And yet—

Facing the absolute strength before me, I was sure of one thing.

I couldn't do anything against her.

"I'm coming in."

She raised her wooden sword and looked at me.

It was just a wooden sword.

Yet it felt as if my life were dangling on the edge of a cliff, consumed by a chilling sensation.

This wasn't the friend I usually played with.

The quiet killing intent in her eyes and the ferocious pressure emanating from her sword—

She looked like an Asura.

"The… Great Wall!!"

Instinctively, I erected multiple layers of shields in front of me.

An unyielding barrier capable of easily withstanding a wyvern's breath.

Crack—

But that barrier was mercilessly shattered in a single strike from Lily's sword.

Through the collapsing shields, I saw Lily charging toward me.

"Ugh…!"

I unleashed every spell I could think of at her.

Even though my training staff shouldn't have allowed for such destructive magic, I poured it all out in my primal fear.

Yet, even as countless spells flew toward her, Lily dove in nonchalantly.

The lightning that struck her sword split apart like tofu, and with a single gesture, the fierce flames lost their direction and scattered into the void.

And finally—

Thud—

In an instant, it approached me, and a wooden sword was pressed against my neck.

"…I lost."

In the end, I had no choice but to declare my surrender.

Lily slowly lowered the wooden sword to the ground and extended her hand for a handshake.

"Impressive, Ariel. If it weren't for the goddess's blessing, I might have lost."

That was a lie.

I could instinctively tell.

It wasn't the goddess's power—Lily had effortlessly defeated me with her own pure strength.

She must have said that to comfort me.

As the duel ended, the fear I had felt toward Lily quickly dissipated, and a new emotion rose to the surface.

Frustration.

I wanted to have a good match with Lily.

But I was furious at my own incompetence for being unable to do anything.

Shame.

I had asked Sera to cheer me on, but losing so pathetically made me feel utterly humiliated.

'…Just you wait.'

One day, I'll surpass you.

"…Huh?"

I could only stare blankly at Lily, who had pressed the wooden sword against Ariel's neck.

…What did I just witness?