CHAPTER 166: THE ROAD TO THE INTER-HIGH TOURNAMENT

Sylvia interrupted the fight between Kael and Cairo, much to the annoyance of both of them.

Kael lowered his blade, his expression filled with dissatisfaction.

"I feel that we should have been allowed to fight longer. I was going to win," Kael said with a convincing expression on his face.

Cairo slowly turned his head toward him.

For a moment, the second-year student simply stared at Kael.

Then his eyebrow twitched.

"You were going to win?"

Kael nodded seriously.

"Absolutely."

Cairo's expression became increasingly irritated, but before he could respond, Sylvia gave him a calm smile.

"Don't worry. You will get your chance to beat him up another day."

Cairo's expression immediately softened.

"I suppose you're right."

Kael stared at the two of them.

'They aren't even trying to hide it anymore.'

He looked between the Student Council President and the Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

'They are making it very obvious that they want to beat the shit out of me.'

Kael sighed internally.

'And here I thought they didn't even get along.'

He glanced at Sylvia and Cairo again.

'But when it comes to beating me, they are surprisingly cooperative.'

Kael then turned his attention toward the path Auriella had taken when she left the training grounds.

'Knowing her character, she's probably going to train even harder now.'

He wasn't particularly surprised.

Considering the brutal training Auriella had been subjected to throughout her childhood, training harder was probably the most natural reaction she could have.

'Although this might actually be a new experience for her.'

Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.

'A situation where she can't simply rely on her Eyes of Ruin.'

Before Kael could continue his thoughts, another voice interrupted him.

"Hello there, Kael. I really didn't expect someone in the first year to push Cairo to that extent."

Kael turned around.

Standing behind him was another member of the Disciplinary Committee.

Kael stared at him for several seconds.

He recognized the face.

He just couldn't remember the name.

"Hello there," Kael replied stiffly.

The student stared at him.

Then he burst out laughing.

"Don't tell me you don't actually know my name."

Kael's expression became awkward.

"Well, you can't really blame me. It's not like I was properly introduced to you guys. How do you expect me to remember everyone properly?"

Kael complained.

The student shook his head with an amused expression.

"Well, I don't really blame you. It's partially your fault, though."

"My fault?"

"You refuse to perform your duties as a member of the Disciplinary Committee, and you don't even attend our meetings."

Kael's expression stiffened.

The student continued.

"But for your sake, I hope you can remember the name of the Twin Beast Kin. Otherwise, I can't really tell whether you'll live to see the end of the semester."

A chill ran down Kael's spine.

'Why did I suddenly get the feeling that attending those meetings would have been safer?'

Kael slowly looked away.

He already regretted every decision that had led him to become a member of the Disciplinary Committee.

"But with that out of the way, my name is Jace," the student continued. "Cairo and I practice the same technique, so I'm surprised you survived this long."

Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yeah, I think I remember now. You're the one who uses short blades similar to the ones Cairo uses."

Jace nodded.

"So are you part of the Order too?"

Kael asked with obvious curiosity.

Jace shook his head.

"It's nothing as glamorous as that. Cairo and I were trained by the same master. We're aiming to join the Order eventually."

Kael's expression became thoughtful.

"I'm sure a noble like you wouldn't be too interested in stuff like that."

'I see.'

Kael glanced toward Cairo.

'I almost forgot about Cairo's relationship with the Order of Black Knights. Now it seems like he's not the only one.'

His eyes narrowed.

'If both of them were trained by the same master, then Cairo must have had some kind of dangerous encounter with demons.'

That would explain his hatred.

It also explained why Cairo had been so eager to fight him.

"Earth to Kael."

Jace waved his hand in front of Kael's face.

"Are you still with us?"

Kael immediately snapped back to reality.

"Oh, sorry. I was a bit lost in my thoughts. It tends to happen nowadays."

Jace gave him a strange look.

"But unlike what you presume, I am interested in the Order of Black Knights."

Kael's expression became serious.

"At this moment, they're one of the strongest resistances against the Demon Race."

Jace looked at Kael in surprise.

For the first time, his expression seemed to change.

"I guess you're not the Caged Black Butterfly everyone believes you to be."

Kael immediately felt like crying.

"I wish everyone could be like you and see me in a new light."

He fell dramatically to his knees.

"But my reputation has been in shambles ever since I took on the title of top-ranked first year. It's like the title itself became cursed."

Jace looked down at him.

'Well, if it's cursed, it's because you made it cursed.'

A small smile appeared on his face.

'I wonder how his future underclassmen are going to see him.'

Kael suddenly looked up.

"Don't wonder."

Jace froze.

Kael pointed accusingly at him.

"I already know they'll bring more ruin to my already ruined reputation."

Jace shrugged.

"Well, you said it, not me."

Kael's expression twisted.

Then he began sobbing dramatically on the floor.

Cairo approached the two of them.

"I see the two of you are getting along."

Jace looked toward him.

"Guess the Disciplinary Committee isn't as busy as it used to be."

"Come on, Cairo. You can't seriously expect me to stay cooped up in the disciplinary office or whatever it's called."

Jace retorted.

Cairo sighed.

"We're still going to participate in the upcoming tournament."

Jace's expression became slightly more serious.

"And your Vice President and protege are both terrible at following their duties. They would much rather sleep than actually do anything."

Jace glanced toward Cairo.

"I think you should watch the people you keep around you."

Cairo couldn't help but agree.

"I think I understand what you're saying."

He glanced toward Kael.

"From now on, I'll give Kael proper beatings."

Jace's expression twitched.

"Don't tell me I'll have to hold you back the same way I did during the assembly."

He sighed.

"You need to learn that violence isn't the only way."

Cairo nodded.

"Alright."

He smiled.

"Violence isn't the only way."

Kael, who had been listening from behind them, suddenly spoke.

"Alright, Jace. Why don't you come for a spar so I can give you a proper beating as your underclassman?"

Jace froze.

Cairo looked at him with a knowing expression.

Jace sighed.

"Like I was saying, violence isn't the only way."

He paused.

"But it is the solution."

A tick mark appeared near his face.

He turned toward Kael with a stiff smile.

"Why don't you come over here and let me properly introduce you to the academy?"

Kael immediately took a defensive stance.

Before the situation could escalate, Sylvia stepped forward.

"Alright, you guys shouldn't be fighting."

Everyone looked toward her.

"Training for today is already completed. We'll start the simulation matches tomorrow."

The students gradually relaxed.

Sylvia turned toward the first-year students.

"As you all know, the Inter-High Tournament will be taking place on an island that has experienced multiple dungeon breaks."

Her expression became serious.

"So aside from students from other academies, the monsters that have escaped from their dungeons should also be considered another threat."

Kael listened carefully.

Sylvia continued.

"I'm not sure whether your teachers have informed you yet, but you will also be going on another class assignment."

"Mostly dungeon raiding."

She looked across the students.

"You will have a fixed amount of merit points that you must obtain in order to pass."

The first years became slightly more serious.

"I'm sure I don't need to state the obvious."

Sylvia smiled.

"I expect all of you to pass."

She turned around.

"But for now, you are dismissed."

The first-year students began leaving the training grounds.

Cairo remained behind.

Sylvia turned toward him.

"What do you think, Cairo? Do you think we have a chance of winning this tournament?"

Cairo smiled.

"Why do you have to ask me?"

He glanced toward the direction Kael had disappeared.

"I sparred with one of the first years today. So I'm sure we stand a winning chance this year."

His expression suddenly changed.

"Provided I don't kill Kael before the day of the tournament."

Sylvia sighed.

"Yes, Kael."

She glanced toward the direction he had gone.

"Seeing the both of you spar, I couldn't help but want to spar with him myself."

She paused.

"But I should probably check the growth of my protege before she gets angry."

Sylvia then looked at Cairo.

"And you should probably keep your protege in check."

Cairo smiled.

"I'll try."

Sylvia reached into her pocket and brought out a glowing orb.

"It seems the Vice President of the Student Council is calling."

She glanced at the orb.

"I guess I've been away from the office for too long."

She turned away.

"I'll be going now."

Sylvia left the training grounds.

Jace suddenly approached Cairo from behind.

"Why didn't you go all out against Kael during your earlier spar?"

Cairo's expression became serious.

"Because I would have killed him."

Jace raised an eyebrow.

"That technique?"

Cairo nodded.

"And that technique is something I would only use against Sylvia because I'm sure she would survive it and fight back."

He paused.

"But even then, I rarely use it."

His gaze shifted toward the training grounds.

"I'd rather abstain from using that technique on a junior."

He looked at Jace.

"After all, the technique was made for demons."

Jace nodded.

"I understand."

He turned around.

"Alright. Let's get back to the office and wake up your lazy Vice President."

Cairo nodded.

"Agreed."

Meanwhile, Kael and Charlotte had already begun heading back toward the dormitory.

Or rather, Charlotte was following Kael back toward his dormitory.

Kael remained silent for several moments.

Then he glanced toward her.

"I've seen your growth, but I still don't really know how strong you are."

Charlotte smiled.

"Oh, if it's about that, I defeated the simulated version of Zion not too long ago."

Kael froze.

He slowly turned toward her.

"You... defeated Zion's simulation?"

Charlotte nodded casually.

Kael stared at her.

"So you've gotten faster."

"I guess you could say that."

Charlotte smiled.

"I did learn Mana Emphasization."

Kael's eyes widened slightly.

For the first time since they had left the training grounds, he looked genuinely surprised.

He had already known Charlotte was improving.

But defeating a simulated version of Zion was another matter entirely.

Zion was not someone who could simply be defeated through ordinary training.

Charlotte had clearly made significant progress.

Kael looked ahead again.

"I guess you really have grown strong."

Charlotte smiled.

"I'm not planning on staying behind."

The two continued walking toward the dormitory.

Kael glanced toward the path ahead.

The Inter-High Tournament was approaching.

And if the growth of the students around him was anything to go by, the upcoming tournament was going to be far more dangerous than he initially expected.

Kael's expression slowly became serious.

'Looks like everyone is getting stronger.'

He clenched his hand slightly.

'Then I can't afford to stop either.'

The road toward the tournament had officially begun.