chapter 42

Livermorny Academy, Atrium

It was afternoon, and although Livermorny Academy was filled with warmth, the atrium stood as a serene contrast. Surrounded by lush trees, it exuded a sense of coolness, offering a refreshing escape from the bustling academy grounds.

Erend and Kane walked side by side along the tree-lined promenade. At first glance, they looked like siblings with a close bond, the atmosphere between them calm and harmonious.

However, for those who observed more closely, Kane's demeanor seemed slightly off. She walked beside Erend with evident shyness, her steps hesitant, her fingers fidgeting. Every so often, she would steal glances at Erend's expression, only to quickly look away, her face turning red.

Erend, either unaware or pretending not to notice, continued forward with a steady pace, leading Kane toward a quiet corner of the atrium.

It was a secluded spot with few visitors, home to a small pavilion that Erend had recently taken a liking to.

Whenever he practiced swordplay in the morning or went for a run, this was the place he would frequent. It was remote enough to avoid unwanted attention and quiet enough for deep concentration.

Upon reaching their destination, Erend stepped into the pavilion and gestured to the stone bench beside him.

"Come, sit down."

Kane hesitated for a moment before nervously taking a seat beside him. Her back remained unnaturally straight, emphasizing the curve of her chest.

"..."

Erend caught sight of this and immediately regretted inviting her to sit so close.

Too close.

How was he supposed to ignore it?!

"Senior?"

Kane tilted her head, puzzled. She had noticed the sudden shift in Erend's composed demeanor, his previous calm now replaced with a slight stiffness.

"Ahem." Erend coughed, attempting to cover up his momentary lapse. He forced a natural smile and addressed Kane, "Although this may be a bit late to say, I want to thank you."

Kane blinked in surprise.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Kane."

Kane immediately shook her head, waving her hands in panic.

"N-No, please don't say that, Senior!" she said hurriedly. "I should be the one thanking you! Thank you for inviting me and for choosing me as your partner!"

After saying that, she hesitated, then stood up and bowed deeply.

For her, Erend's invitation wasn't just an ordinary request—it was a lifeline.

She had always told herself that if she followed her uncle Lee's orders, she could eventually rescue her father. However, the path was long and uncertain. Lee had set an almost impossible goal for her: not just to become the best in school, but to achieve an unprecedented level of excellence that would be remembered in history.

The pressure was overwhelming.

For the longest time, Kane had seen no clear future, no definite endpoint to her struggle. She didn't know how much effort was enough or how long she had to keep pushing forward.

But now, Erend's invitation had given her something invaluable—hope.

How could she not feel immense gratitude?

"I-I will do my best not to drag you down, Senior!" Kane stammered.

Erend chuckled. "You don't have to worry about that." He smiled reassuringly. "I wouldn't have invited you if I thought you'd hold me back."

Why had he chosen Kane?

Because she was strong.

Ranked first in Beauxbaton Academy, she even surpassed the male protagonist from the original work in swordsmanship and had once defeated him. Among the potential partners, she was undoubtedly one of the best choices.

And so, when Erend decided to participate in the Phoenix Star Martial Festival, his first choice was Kane.

"If we've decided to enter the Phoenix Star Martial Festival, we have to win," he said firmly.

Only victory would make this first experience truly exciting and fulfilling.

"Yes!" Kane responded, her voice brimming with determination. However, after a moment, her expression turned hesitant. "But… what should we do, Senior?"

The confidence Erend had given her in the lounge earlier had encouraged her, but deep down, she knew winning wouldn't be easy.

"The Phoenix Star Martial Festival won't have any unbeatable warriors, but with such an enticing reward, strong opponents from different academies will definitely be drawn in," Erend explained.

"If nothing unexpected happens, the highest-ranked students from each academy won't participate, but we still need to watch out for the top twelve fighters from each school."

"In particular, we need to pay attention to Rewolf Black Academy and Durmstrang Academy. The top three fighters from these academies are strong contenders for the championship."

"The same goes for St. Galedovas Academy and Alecante Academy. The former is likely to send a team of skilled swordsmen, while the latter is known for producing dark horses. They even took the championship in the last Phoenix Star Martial Festival, so there could be some unexpected threats from their side."

If the events played out like the original story, then Erend's most dangerous opponents would likely come from Rewolf Black Academy and Alecante Academy.

St. Galedovas Academy and Durmstrang Academy posed less of a threat. Their strongest warriors wouldn't be participating this time.

As for Matrix Academy…

Hmm… they'd probably just send a few cute girls to make an appearance.

Nothing to worry about. Just defeat them quickly and move on.

Then…

"The strongest opponents we'll face won't be from another academy, though."

Erend's tone grew serious, making Kane tense up.

"Who are they?" she asked cautiously.

Erend's answer was unexpected.

"Butler and Jenni Ortega."

Kane's eyes widened in shock.

"Butler-senpai and Ortega-senpai?"

"That's right." Erend nodded. "Unless something changes, they'll be our biggest obstacles to winning the championship."

After all, they were the actual winners in the original story—the true protagonists.

"In order to defeat them, we need to start training immediately," Erend continued. "Starting tomorrow, we'll work on improving our coordination. There's only a month until the Phoenix Star Martial Festival begins—not a lot of time, but enough if we work hard. The championship is within our reach."

"Yes! Okay!" Kane's enthusiasm surged, her previous doubts replaced with excitement. "I'll do my best, Erend—"

She abruptly stopped, her face flushing a deep red.

After a moment's hesitation, she looked directly at Erend, summoning all her courage.

"I'll work hard, Senior Erend!"

Erend blinked, then let out a hearty laugh.

"Let's work hard together, Kane."

Kane's lips curved into a bright, radiant smile.

That smile was… adorable.

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