So Now I'm Everyone's Problem Solver? Part 2

I grabbed his forearm and squeezed.

"And what if she's looking at me? Maybe she wants to marry me now? Huh, bastard? What do you say to that?"

He looked surprised.

I was provoking him. Honestly, I was having fun. When a big guy like him got all worked up over me? Hilarious.

Wants to test strength? Fine by me. It's not like I wanted his sister anyway.

I want to test my new skills on someone of his level.

"Excellent. You want to win her over? Then prove to me you can protect her!" his face lit up with a shark-like grin.

Idiot. I knew exactly who he was. The infamous Sylas Grimmveil.

His friends chuckled, as if I were digging my own grave.

"Let's fight in Mugen Wars!" he declared.

"Shit. Alright, let's go," I grinned.

He stepped back and adjusted his jacket.

"Fine. When the sun sets, be at the Fight Club."

They walked off like nothing happened, leaving me no room to back out.

I fixed my hair. Damn. Lost control. Maybe I should work on my temper.

After the next class, we signed the duel declaration. The announcement flashed instantly on the academy's news board. Within minutes, the whole academy was in an uproar—even Lirael.

"Absolutely not!" she barked, nose in the air, when I entered the room.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Do you think I'm too dumb to read the news? You're not going to tonight's match! I've heard all about your last fight. Saddler didn't even take you seriously. Against Sylas? You've got no chance!"

I scratched my head.

Her frustration turned into an openly threatening glare. Cute. I couldn't take her seriously.

"I-it's not like I'm worried about you or anything! Okay, maybe I am! You're still useful to me alive, got it? Don't make me use Control on you."

"What Control?" Serene asked, confused.

"Ah... I-I just mean to keep him obedient. Like a summon. Get it?"

"Oh, I see!" her friend clapped. "Wow, Lirael, you're really worried about your big brother!"

Lirael blushed.

I took my seat without saying a word.

"Did you hear me?"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say."

Most of the class heard us. Rumors spread like wildfire.

"He chickened out," some said.

"He's got a sister complex," others whispered.

Even the teachers caught wind of it.

I skipped the last class. Lirael, staring at my empty desk, was furious.

"That damn Atheron... I'm going to kill him!"

She stormed out after school. By then, students were already gathering at the Fight Club.

She pushed through the crowd, ignoring the queue.

"I don't have time for this, move! Damn it... where are you?"

Breaking through the swarm, she reached the entrance. Waiting for her was Dean Hellmaine himself.

"Lady Lirael, where are you rushing off to?" he asked with a sly smile.

"P-Professor Dean? I must go inside immediately."

"Oh? To stop your dear brother from fighting, perhaps? I'm afraid I can't allow that."

"W-what do you mean, Professor?"

Lirael tried to push past him, but Dean blocked the door with his tall frame.

"Why don't you want Atheron to fight?"

"He'll lose. Sylas will destroy him! You know how brutal his summon is. I can't let anything happen to my brother."

"Lady Lirael, it seems you're underestimating him. Very well, let's make a deal."

Dean offered her his hand.

"You'll watch from the balcony. If Atheron loses, I'll resign from this academy and forfeit all my mana."

"P-professor, you can't be serious!"

"But if he wins... I'll show you a full stat analysis of your brother. Deal?"

Stat analysis… Neither Lirael nor her family knew my true stats or mana reserves.

Dean's gaze was unwavering. Shivering slightly, Lirael finally agreed. She was curious what kind of power I was hiding.

An hour later, the sun had set. The arena was packed. On the balcony sat three professors—Dean, Memphis and Meihua. And next to them, in a chair, was Lirael.

She clenched her hands, worried about the fight's outcome.

"Welcome, everyone, to tonight's Mugen Wars! This match features the majestic mage Sylas Grimmveil and the academy's ultimate dark horse—Atheron il Ataraxia!"

The crowd roared in anticipation. The student council president continued:

"As you all know, Sylas' fights follow special rules—thanks to his unique summon, who spins a wheel to decide the duel's conditions! Thus, both fighters will face each other under pure RNG!"

The audience cheered. Even Salazar was among them.

Sylas took off his shirt, revealing his powerful muscles. Heh. I've beaten worse.

"We play by my rules," he declared, punching his fists together. "High Magic Entity, Summon!"

He summoned a glowing rune. From it emerged his familiar—a puppet shaped like an old barista, moving like a marionette.

"Ho-ho-ho-ho!" it cackled. "Finally summoned. I've been dying to begin the match!"

"Spin the wheel, Godwyn."

At his command, the puppet raised its arms, conjuring a massive spinning wheel. Twenty random battle conditions flickered on it.

"Three spins—three rules. Only those methods will be allowed!"

What a circus. A summon that chooses the rules for us? Interesting.

The wheel spun. When it stopped, the puppet shouted:

"High Magic allowed!"

The crowd erupted in applause. This was entertainment for them.

Second spin. Confetti exploded from the wheel.

"The Elements allowed!"

And the final spin.

POP!

"Only small summons allowed!"

Damn. That meant I couldn't summon Kagerou.

The student council set up a barrier around the ring.

"The rules have been chosen! Forbidden: melee combat, and summoning greater entities!"

Wait—melee is banned?

"All participants must strictly follow the rules!" the puppet announced, spreading its arms.

BOOM!

Suddenly, both Sylas and I felt a force crush us toward the ground. Our bodies were wrapped in glowing runes.

His Summon literally banned all opportunities for us to break the rules.

"Sylas is known for turning all his battles into a game of randomized rules! In his opinion, that's the only true path to a fair fight!" said the student council president.

The runes vanished—along with Godwyn.

Sylas cracked his knuckles.

"Let the game begin!"