Chapter 11: Re-entry

“Onee-chan, please open the door.”

“Leave me alone!”

Cepharis had locked herself inside her room in the dormitory, but the main problem was, this was also my room.

There were students in the school who would let me stay with them if I asked, so I didn’t have to worry about where to sleep.

“Let’s go running.”

For a long time, Cepharis had always protected me in some way. Whether it was a mischievous boy or a fierce wild dog, my sister should always have thought she had to be stronger than me.

The final match today must have been an unacceptable reality. I hope we could somehow overcome it.

“Hang in there, Onee-chan.” I whispered as I left to run.

****

While running through the city at night, I remembered what happened after the final match. After Jill-sensei declared me the victor, Princess Lizteles came down to where we were.

“Congratulations on your victory, Tremina-san. The final match was also wonderful.”

“I think the final match was the worst.”

While returning the greeting, I couldn’t help but notice the woman standing next to the princess. This person had an incredible amount of mana. I could tell that she was trying to keep it hidden; still, I could feel something extraordinary from the mana that leaked out slightly. It was on a different level from the other knights.

She was about twenty years old. She had purple eyes and a shoulder-length golden hair. Something unusual could be felt from the depths of her eyes.

As I continued to stare, she immediately focused her attention on me.

“You can tell my power? Kid, you’re something else.”

I was caught searching for resonance.

Then, Princess Lizteles chuckled.

“Let me introduce you. She is the leader of the Cornell Knights, Commander Lezeille.”

‘So this person is the original monster after all. Jill-Sensei has much more mana than I do, but I bet she’s far above that.’ 

“By the way, Sensei, didn’t you call Commander Lezeille a pervert?

“Yes, without a doubt, Lezeille is a pervert.”

‘Oh, another mana resonance. It was a special ability for people in this class. But is it okay to say something so clearly in front of the person herself? Commander Lezeille might get angry… Wait, what? She’s not here.’

Commander Lezeille, who should have been next to the princess, was now in front of Jill-sensei.

‘Did she use high-speed movement with mana? Is there any point in using it here?’

“You are terrible, Jill-chan. Are we not friends who devoured a divine beast together?”

“Don’t say things that might cause misunderstandings. I and the other knights bring them back and cook them. Only a fool like you would eat them raw on the spot… *sighs*. Tremina-san, you’ll understand eventually too. How perverted this woman is.”

‘No, I think I understand enough now.’

“Both of you, that’s enough. Let’s honor Tremina-san’s glory here.”

Princess Lizteres, who had walked over steadily, smiled as she looked at my face.

I had a really bad feeling about it. It might be better to wrap things up early.

“I haven’t done anything worthy of being honored. I just knocked out my older sister. I’ll take this and go home then. Thanks for everything.”

“Wait a minute. Don’t you think the matches today were a bit unsatisfactory for Tremina-san?”

“No, that’s not the case. Every match was a fierce battle for more than five seconds.”

“Well, I have a proposal. How about participating in the fourth year division’s tournament to be held the day after tomorrow?”

“… I decline.”

“All fourth year students are skilled in combat, and there are also many talented people. So it would be difficult for even you to win. What do you think, Lezeille?”

“I agree. After all, those who will become knights next month are in this year, but I’m sure you could do it if you tried, Tremina-san.”

And so it seems that it was already decided. My end of year tournament begins again.