Chapter 279: The Duel Against Varek.

I looked at myself in the mirror, seeing that perfect face one last time before leaving my room. I was in my battle outfit today because, after many gruesome months of suffering, today was the day of the duel between me and Varek.

As I walked downstairs, my mind kept wandering back to the events of the last few hectic days. It had been barely two days since my late-night visit to Varek and exactly two days since his soul had been replaced with Naga’s.

He had been ready to quietly withdraw from our duel, but I hadn’t let him. After all, this was a good chance to thoroughly humiliate Varek in front of everyone, even if his soul was currently rotting inside the Soul-Chasing Needle in my domain.

I wasn’t actually going to fight but him begging in front of the crowd he had gathered before, seemed like a nice sight to witness.

Downstairs, Bearlo was already there along with his little trap friend and his father. These strange bears were conspicuous enough that I should have had problems long ago but thankfully none of the academy staff had discovered them either.

Honestly, even if they were found, I had the backing of my mother-in-law, so I wasn’t too worried.

"Hey, Bearlo, Bearlina, and Semo."

I greeted them before taking my seat at the dining table.

"Hello, Benefactor!"

"Hello, my liege!"

They nodded once before Bearlo served me breakfast. I ate in peace, making the usual small talk until I was finished.

Only then did I get up but just as I was leaving, four uninvited guests barged into my living room without a hint of manners.

It was Viola and her gang of mafias—I mean friends but honestly, these days it felt like there wasn’t much difference.

As always, Viola carried her baseball bat in hand. Behind her stood that bastard Noah, looking like the group’s resident emo kid. Beside him was Sera with her usual hesitant expression, and finally there was Arza, who clearly looked as though Viola had dragged her here against her will.

Not a single thing about them was different from some up-and-coming biker gang in my opinion.

Arza walked over with quick steps before stopping behind me and tugging lightly on my cloak with a finger.

I immediately understood what that meant and pulled out a chocolate bar from my traitorous cloak, which had somehow entered its rebellious phase recently and had gone far too quiet as well.

I handed the chocolate bar to Arza, and she immediately began munching on it in silence. The poor girl had barely been allowed anywhere near me recently, especially at night whenever she tried sneaking into my dorm.

According to Sera, Viola had once again misunderstood something Arza had said and was keeping a close watch on her so that... we wouldn’t do something unholy.

I didn’t mind it for now, especially since... I needed some alone time as well. Besides, who knew what that psycho Yandere Spectator might do if she found Arza sleeping beside me?

Viola looked at me with narrowed eyes, scrutinizing my battle suit.

"You bastard, you still haven’t given up on fighting?"

She marched closer, gripping her bat as she tried to look intimidating. Sera attempted to stop her while Noah stood behind her, glaring at me.

"Why would I give up when I’m going to win?" I replied with my usual smirk. "Now, now, I know you have a lot of things to say, but let’s talk on the way. I’m already running late for the scheduled match."

Before she could say anything, I walked past her, with Arza following close behind. Viola shook her head in frustration before following after me.

***

After enduring her long and needlessly worried nagging all the way there, I finally arrived at the place where I was scheduled to fight Varek.

It was the Academy’s arena.

A large audience had already gathered. Most of them were second and third years, though a fair number of first years had shown up as well, hoping for my downfall ever since news of my engagement to Arza had leaked.

Even Alya was there, seated on a small throne in the front row.

She waved at me with a bright smile and I waved back. Even after all this time, she still hadn’t healed the eye she had lost during the Treasury Incident.

During one of my weekly reports about Noah and Arza, she had told me that it was a battle scar and that she had no intention of healing it.

Quite foolish, if you asked me.

Then again, who was I to judge? That was probably one of her most normal traits among her countless weird ones.

She was also constantly nagging me about when Noah would be joining the Student Council, but honestly, I didn’t know either.

That bastard, Noah, had practically gone mute whenever he was around me recently.

I figured that maybe, somewhere in the coldest corner of his heart, he felt guilty about not moving even when he could have during the Treasury Incident.

Not that I cared.

In fact, I was glad he hadn’t moved back then since it had kept Viola safe.

With those useless thoughts clouding my mind, I turned to walk forward when Viola suddenly grabbed my cloak.

"Rael... please think carefully one last time. H-he’s a second-year."

She bit her lip anxiously. Even Sera looked worried since I hadn’t shared my plans with her either.

"Don’t worry, Viola. Just watch with your eyes wide open." I flashed her a grin. "I will give you a great show."

With those words, I finally started walking toward the arena. However, after taking a few steps, I suddenly stopped and looked back at Arza.

She wore her usual cold expression as she quietly munched on her chocolate. Yet, for some reason, she had taken out her scythe and was gripping it tightly in her other hand.

"Also, Arza... you don’t need to kill Varek. I have everything under control, okay?"

She looked at me for a moment before nodding. The scythe, however, remained exactly where it was.

With a sigh, I continued walking forward nonetheless because I knew that, at the very least, Arza wouldn’t interfere unless I was genuinely in danger.

The moment I stepped onto the arena, the audience immediately erupted into boos. Most of those jealous pricks simply couldn’t endure my glorious presence, so I generously chose to ignore them like the man of honor I was.

Meanwhile, Naga finally arrived, wearing Varek’s body...

... But something about his expression was strange.