Chapter 138


    There were no objections. Everyone silently nodded at Rick''s words.


    Simon scratched his head in a little bit of embarrassment, and Hector didn''t respond.


    "And the weakest team is"


    Rick nced at Meilyn to check her countenance and said,


    "I guess it''s Team 1, with you and me, right?"


    "Hey! Why are we the weakest?!"


    Meilynined, face red in shame.


    "Meilyn, do you know any enhancement dark spells?"


    "Uh, hm. A few small ones, I guess?"


    "Unless you''re nning to burn all the people in ss C with a Dark me, it''ll be a bit difficult to y an active part in a game like this."


    Smallughter broke loose from everywhere. Meilyn''s face went even redder.


    Ignoring Meilyn''s status, Rick continued his exnation.


    "While Team 1 is focused on Meilyn, Team 3 has a solid breadth of strategies."


    ss As Ace of Necromancy, Cindy Vivace.


    ss As Ace of Curses, Jamie Victoria.


    ss As Ace of Summoning, Pierre Berkeley


    ss As Ace of Poisonous Alchemy, udia Menzies.


    Those who scored in the 90s for their preferred subjects written assessment were all concentrated in Team 3.


    Despite Simon and Hectors overwhelming performances, some felt that Team 3 was actually the strongest with their higher grades.


    On the other hand, Meilyn, who was supposed to be the best of Team 1, didn''t possess such specialized dark magic that''d be useful in this game.


    "That''s why our teams are the weakest, strongest, and mildly strong. We must put the weakest, Meilyn''s Team 1, against Serene''s team at all costs.


    "You won''t get away with this."


    After ring at Rick for a moment, Meilyn crossed her arms and turned around. As she let her thoughts fester, her fighting spirit only burned brighter.


    Watching this, Rick furtively grinned.


    In addition to what he said, he believed that Meilyn would somehow fight harder if she was versing Serene.


    A cold voice split the lively atmosphere of the ss.


    "Youre bbering bullshit thinking youre such a big shot! Bastard."


    Hector intervened, his eyes gleaming with something strange.


    "Stop dragging it on and cut to the damn chase."


    "Ah, you''re so impatient~ Just wait a little bit."


    Sighed Rick, his hands in his pockets.


    ''Acting so high and mighty just because Simon Polentia is behind him.''


    But Hector didn''t go any further.


    There was no reason to worry about a small fry like Rick. Hectors one target was already taking his everything.


    "I got it."


    Suddenly, an unknown males voice was heard in the air. As everyone was looking around for its source, the air melted, and a student with sses appeared next to Rick.


    It was Camouge, a skill that hides the user''s body.


    "Could you please tell us?"


    Rick smirked.


    * * *


    "Now then, students. Get ready for the match."


    Grumbled Brett, who took the role of a referee. Students rushed to the front of the court.


    ''Ugh, this is pissing me off.''


    Hong Feng and the other assistant teachers immediately left, saying they''d be preparing meals, leaving Brett and the two other senior assistant teachers to act as referees and deal with the students.


    Of course, those seniors also left everything to Brett and went off somewhere.


    ''I''m gonna go insane! Am I really in a position to be treated like this?''


    Brett violently pulled at his hair.


    ''After the incident with Simon, I feel like Professor Hong Feng is neglecting me! The other assistant teachers are also somewhat ignoring me! Dammit! Dammit! I''m sure everyone knows already! Maybe that bastard Simon spread the rumor?''


    Of course, it was only Brett''s own victim mentality.


    ''Simon Polentia!''


    Besides, something more irritating happened a while back.


    Simon brought in a girl named Camibarez.


    "<em>Assistant teacher. Cami seems to be showing slight anemic symptoms, so she needs some medicine."</em>


    <em>Brett bluntly replied that there was no such medicine and told her to endure it.</em>


    <em>At that time, what Simon said with a cold smile was ridiculous.</em>


    "<em>A student is sick. Looks like your job as an assistant teacher isplete if you just say no, huh?</em>"


    It made his stomach sink.


    An unspoken threat to tell Hong Feng all his secrets and make him resign from his position as a Kizen assistant teacher!


    Since Simon had something on him, Brett had no choice but to run to Hong Feng''s hut and bring the medicine.


    ''Ahhhhhh! It''s annoying! That bastard keeps on acting up!''


    Bretts legs trembled in anger. He resented not being able to resist Simon.


    ''How will I survive the 3 years until he graduates? Maybe he won''t take up the Combat Dark Magic sses in the second semester!''


    There was no way. Professor Hong Feng was putting so much effort into him, and he had a strong talent for the subject.


    What worried him more than anything else was that when Simon seeded in a Jet-ck Eruption earlier, Professor Hong Feng, a distance away, looked like shed been given the world.


    He had never seen such a face in the five years he had served the professor.


    ''Kugh!''


    Brett felt like his head was going to explode with jealousy, anger, and misery. He tore at his hair once more.


    He was still a young man in his mid-20s, but his hair was already falling out with stress. At this rate, he''ll be just like his father


    "Teacher."


    Brett opened his eyes at the voice.


    Jamie was standing at attention in front of him.


    "Both ss A and C have gathered."


    "Ahem."


    Brett slowly stood up from his seat.


    "Then let''s start the game. The chosen teams for ss A and ss C, please step forward."


    From ss A, Team 1with Meilyn and Rickmoved forward.


    And from ss C


    * * *


    * * *


    "Serene! It''s Serene!"


    "Serene is first out!"


    "Wooooooo!"


    ss A cheered and celebrated.


    On the other hand, the ss C students looking at Simon and Hector groaned in disappointment once they realized that neither were heading out.


    It was the most ideal move from ss A''s perspective. They seeded in making their weakest card face the opponent''s winning card.


    "It''s he worth wasting Serene''s team with that team."


    "The others will probably do something about the rest."


    Students from ss A already took their defeat in round 1 for granted.


    "Don''t be so happy about it, you crazy bastards!"


    Looking back at the ss A students, Meilyn shouted,


    "We''re gonna win!"


    The ss A students gave a weak cheer. Of course, they didn''t believe in her.


    Meilyn quickly turned away, wondering how often she had felt this gut-wrenching feeling today.


    <em>Flutter.</em>


    On the opposite side, Serene wore a white coat over her school uniform, waving and smiling at Meilyn. Meilyn shot daggers at her with her eyes.


    ''You''re done for. I mean it.''


    A total of twenty students entered the court.


    Off the court, a passionate cheering battle took ce in each ss.


    While the students who entered the court were waiting with a burning desire to win, Brett yawned and wearily blew the whistle hung around his neck.


    "Silence! Representatives of both teams, pleasee forward."


    Meilyn and Serene walked out. Brett took a silver coin out of his pocket.


    "Heads or tails, which will you choose?"


    "Heads, no matter what!!"


    Said Meilyn, pumped up.


    "Then I''ll go for tails~"


    Replied Serene in a soft voice. Brett messily tossed the coin and barely caught it.


    "Heads. ss A will start with the ball."


    "Yes!"


    Meilyn clenched her fists. Serene turned around, her hair swishing behind her.


    "How cute~ Did you want to win at <em>something</em>, even if its just a little coin flip?"


    "I''m so happy because I''ll get to destroy your pretty little face first!"


    The two were like fire and water. They turned their backs and walked back to their teams. In the middle of that, Serene was still giggling.


    Brett tossed the ball to ss A.


    "You may begin."


    <em>Fweet!</em>


    He blew the whistle. Meilyn quickly passed the ball to Rick.


    "Hey, Enchanter, make it fast."


    "Alright, alright~ As you wish."


    As Rick was enchanting the ball, Meilyn was forming a magic circle. Taking a nce at what she was doing, he said,


    "You know that you''ll be disqualified if you use offensive magic on the opponents, right?"


    "I know!"


    After drawing the magic circle, she took a few steps back. You could hear the enthusiastic cheering of ss A students.


    "Send them a good first hit!"


    "Take one down and do ''that'' pose, please!"


    She blushed and turned away.


    "Ah, you guys are so noisy! Shut up!!"


    Meilyn, silencing the mocking ss A students, took a deep breath to calm herself.


    Afterpleting the enchantment, Rick gestured upward and shrugged. She nodded.


    "Here you go."


    Rick threw the enchanted ball high as though serving it. Meilyn ran behind it and leaped as high as she could, even activating Jet-ck Operation.


    <em>Whish!</em>


    She flew like a butterfly and went to spike the ball.


    Just before the ball touched her palm, the magic circle drawn on the back of her hand spewed dark mes.


    <em>Fwooooooooosh!</em>


    mes gushed out like an explosion, and she hit the ball with all her might.


    <em>Bang!!</em>


    The ballunched through the air and struck the face of a male student in ss C. He couldn''t even react.


    <em>Tap.</em>


    <em>Roll.</em>


    The ball fell off his face, and Meilynnded effortlessly, letting out the breath she had been holding back.


    "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"


    "Nice, Meilyn!"


    Cheers broke loose everywhere.


    "You saw that?"


    Meilyn straightened her back and looked at Rick.


    "I can win even without my own enchantments!"


    "Oh my, of course~ You''re always the best."


    After kicking the insidious Rick''s butt, she turned her head.


    She saw Simon, watching with other students, smiling broadly and pping. A bit of pride bubbled up inside her.


    Brett, up on the referee''s table, prompted while stroking his chin.


    "Faster, faster. Next, ss C''s attack."


    From ss C, a girl with pigtails walked to the front. Meilyn gave an order.


    "Tanks! Get to the front!"


    Meilyn, the main striker, and some students stepped back. The big boys came forward, all aspirants of Combat Dark Magic or students who had defensive dark spells.


    The girl with pigtails nced at the formation of ss A and threw the ball awkwardly. It was heading out of court.


    "Hah! Wheres that supposed to?"


    Just then, the ball going out of the court twisted and hit a student from the formation right in the chest.


    This time, cheers poured out from ss C.


    "You dumbass! You saw it changing direction when the professor did a demonstration earlier! Everyone, don''t let your guards down!"


    Meilyn red up. The student hit by the ball scratched his head awkwardly and left the court.


    "Rick! Same as before!"


    Meilyn served as ss A''s main cannon. Everyone in ss A passed the ball to her when it came to them.


    Indeed, her attack power was outstanding. 100% of her attacks hit. None could escape.


    On the other hand, in ss C, various students took turns leading the attack. In fact, Serene was standing in the corner of the court, not attacking, and was nonchntly trimming her nails. The other ss C students didn''t dare push her to attack and just asionally checked in on her.


    <em>Thud!</em>


    A student from ss A was out of y when he tried to catch the ball and it bumped into his arm.


    Simon, watching from outside the court, let out a wry smile.


    ''To be honest, most of the attacks are sessful.''


    In this match, the offensive side had an overwhelming advantage. Of course, first-years also tended to belittle defense, so that was a huge factor.


    In the first year, the power of each curse was quite something, so there was a tendency for the win rate of those who shot a curse or attacked first in the Duel Evaluation to rise.


    Each sides fundamentals werecking, so the first strike would often be thest.


    Moreover, the protective suits and Kizen uniforms providing defense even in actualbat only encouraged that thought.


    Of course, the importance of defense naturally increased as one went up to the senior and professor level.


    <em>Swipe!</em>


    "Woooaaah!"


    At that moment, cheers erupted from both sses.


    In this game where the offense almost always won, the impressive y was the defense, no matter what anyone said.


    One of ss C''s attacks was blocked by a Combat Dark Magic student from ss A for the first time. Liquid jet-ck was dripping from his body.


    ''So he used Jet-ck Eruption.''


    An aspirant who has studied in advance. He immediately fired back, and a ss C student was taken down.


    This volley was worth double because not only did the attack seed, he also nullified an opponent''s attack. Everyone in Team 1 flocked to him and high-fived him.


    The key to this match was a student who knew defensive spells or had a strong Combat Dark Magic talent.


    ''Defense, huh?''


    Simon''s eyes lit up.


    Using just a simple ball game, Hong Feng was throwing a new subject at the students.