Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The competition between us and the Three Great Houses was over. But Professor Kwan's class continued.

Like I said before, this was a tactics and duty class. More thinking than doing. More strategy than sweat.

After the match ended, we had to sit down and dissect what happened. What each side planned. How they played it out. Why one side won. Why the other lost.

"Anyone could see Team B from the Three Great Houses had better composition," Professor Kwan began his lecture again.

Right. Even though we beat the Three Great Houses, I should still pay attention. This knowledge would help me survive in the G.O.A.T TRICKS game world.

"Despite having superior elements, Team B lost easily. Do you know why?"

Hmm. First, because Asuka as defender could play perfect defense. Second, because the other side worried too much about me. They underestimated Shambo's attacking ability.

Something like that.

"Exactly! That's because putting toothpaste back in the tube is hard!!"

"Are we still not done with this toothpaste thing?!"

I accidentally responded to his joke again. But with this toothpaste business, it probably didn't matter.

Professor Kwan pressed the remote and played the idol girl stuffing toothpaste back into the tube video again.

"Enough already!" I shouted.

But complaining was pointless. The idol video had to finish before the professor would continue teaching.

"To put it correctly, Team B led by William focused too much on knowing the enemy's strength instead of knowing their own. In the end, they got toothpaste splashed in their eyes. Got beaten by unknown power."

Hmm. Why was this starting to sound reasonable? Maybe the professor actually had substance this time.

"William, why did you, a forward, fall back to midfield and let Claris Rose, a midfielder, play forward instead?" Professor Kwan asked.

"...Because my marking skills are better than Claris's. I thought it would tighten our defense enough to stop Assarun," William answered through gritted teeth, clearly still hurt from the defeat.

"Adjusting your plan to handle a skilled player is understandable. But like I said, putting toothpaste back in the tube is hard. The reason you lost is because you misjudged the other side's strength. You underestimated Assarun."

I think they overestimated me, I thought silently.

"You saw Assarun as such a skilled forward that you had to do everything to stop him. But you saw too little. From today's match, we learned that Assarun isn't just a skilled forward. He's also a master of planning and deceiving enemies!!"

"Really?!"

"Amazing!"

"Of course, that's our Assarun!"

The students began cheering loudly for my genius.

I covered my mouth. This looked like it would go on for a while.

"As I've emphasized repeatedly, always prioritize knowing your own strength first. Assarun understood this principle well. He knew he was SST. He knew he was the team's most skilled forward. So it wasn't hard to guess the opposing team would focus their defense on him. And Assarun had prepared a solution before the game started - by switching himself to midfield."

There we go! I knew it! The professor's rambling again!

"Wow! That's why you let me play forward, bro. At first I thought it was because you were in a slump, losing confidence, so you let me play instead. I'm so stupid for doubting you. Sorry, bro."

Don't apologize, Shambo. What you thought was almost a hundred percent right.

"When Assarun moved to midfield, William's defensive setup moved further from goal. When it came time to counter-attack, the defense clustered around Assarun alone. This let his teammates play comfortably. Just two passes and Shambo broke through alone. Plus, Assarun running forward with an angry expression distracted Curtis. In the end, Shambo scored easily. Even without the ball, he helped create the goal. This is what we call genius."

"Wow! Assarun really is extraordinary."

"Before this, he only shot goals himself. But this time he lowered his ego and passed to others. He's developed to another level."

"My bro! My bro!"

Students in the room cheered and praised loudly.

Professor, do you know the word 'fluke'? That's what happened here.

The angry expression that distracted Curtis? That was because I was mad at Shambo for just standing there daydreaming instead of shooting.

"Oh, I forgot to mention something. Do you know why Assarun let that frail-looking girl Asuka, who seemed like she couldn't beat anyone, play defense instead of playing there himself?"

Because I wanted Asuka as far from the opponent's goal as possible. So she wouldn't transform into a demon from surging NEX power.

But Professor Kwan couldn't know this.

What would he make up now?

Professor, please stop. My trust in you is almost gone.

"Because he believes in the love he has for his bride! He believes the power of love will make his bride strong enough to overcome her frail body and defend against the other side's attacks perfectly!!"

And the professor's delusion power just reduced my trust to absolute zero...

"Haha... haha..."

Asuka started covering her mouth and giggling.

The professor's wild fantasies made her unable to hold back laughter.

"Don't think this is funny. As you saw, just one kick from Asuka sent Claris flying into the sky. This is a perfect example of 'a woman with love becomes stronger.' And the love she has for Assarun is so great it gives her superhuman power."

Not at all. A third-chapter sub-boss like Asuka was naturally better than first-chapter small fries. Plus, Asuka having superhuman power wasn't strange - she was a demon.

"Haha! Hahaha!! Hahahaha!!!"

Hey, Asuka, you're laughing too hard.

Control yourself. If you say 'not at all, you're talking nonsense' out loud, the professor will lose face badly.

If he had to be embarrassed in front of hundreds of students, he'd probably quit teaching and sell toothpaste instead.

I should help calm Asuka down. But exhaustion from the match made my legs weak and I lost balance.

I ended up stumbling and hugging her instead.

"A-Assarun!" Asuka cried out.

"Ah, sorry. I lost my balance," I said.

"Oh... it's okay..."

Asuka smiled slightly and looked down, avoiding my eyes.

It seemed she was embarrassed enough that her laughter subsided.

She probably wouldn't burst out laughing anymore.

Lucky for you, Professor Kwan. You don't have to quit teaching to sell toothpaste.

"See! Asuka's love is so strong it makes Assarun stumble in love!!"

"That joke's too old, Professor!" I shouted.

"Haha! Hahaha!! Not at all..." Asuka started to slip.

No... Asuka!

In the end, I managed to stop Asuka in time. The class ended well.

We beat the Three Great Houses. No exile. No slavery.

Professor Kwan didn't have to quit teaching to sell toothpaste.

Today we survived without getting hurt, without any deadly moves fired at us.

Time to go home. Wait... I was starting to see a problem floating in from the distance.

Suddenly married like this... how do I tell my family?