Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Lost Connection (5)
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Rafne walked down the corridor, humming a cheerful tune.
On the very day Ken proposed the duel bet, she stormed straight into the academy's administrative office and summoned the second-year homeroom professor to explain the situation.
"Eh? M-Miss Martinez. You mean a bet duel...?"
In the academy, contracts sealed with mana stamps could only be executed after a professor's approval.
Patriel, the second-year homeroom professor, initially refused Rafne's request.
The terms were far too impure.
"Professor, do you only want to teach at the academy until this year?"
"...Hiiik!"
But in the face of her student's bright-eyed, innocent threat, Patriel had no choice but to relent and agree to witness both the contract and the duel.
And so, the duel bet with Ken proceeded smoothly under Rafne's enthusiastic direction.
"Hmm~, hehehmm~."
Rafne was in high spirits.
These past few days, her mind had been a whirlwind of confusion, her chest tight with frustration.
Suddenly, everything felt crystal clear.
"Ken keeps... hehe, staying right by my side... ehehe."
Laughter bubbled up uncontrollably. She ducked her head, clapped a hand over her mouth, and giggled to herself.
Just one more day to endure, and his ownership would be hers.
Rafne didn't entertain even the tiniest possibility of losing—not a single grain of salt's worth.
She was the strongest in the academy, after all.
Others might call her first in the second year, but by her own measure, no one there could beat her in a straight fight.
With the bet locked in, Ken was as good as hers already.
They just hadn't drawn up the contract yet.
Back in her dorm room, Rafne sat at her desk and pondered what she'd do once Ken belonged to her.
"Hmm... First things first, we'd need a house, right? The dorms separate boys and girls..."
The Rafne who'd sworn never to look at him, to ignore him, to repeat that he was worthless—no trace of her remained.
Her mind brimmed with desire, crowded with thoughts of Ken alone.
Clutching her fluttering heart, Rafne spent the night in her dorm.
And the next day.
Rafne woke earlier than usual, her chest pounding from the moment her eyes opened. She hurried through her morning routine.
Heading to the academy early wouldn't start the duel any sooner.
Still, eager to get it underway, she left the dorm ahead of her normal schedule.
The front of the girls' dorm was quiet, deserted.
Save for one person.
Someone leaning against the silent dorm gate, arms crossed and waiting.
"Oh, you're out early. Hi, Rafne."
It was Ken Fine Stein.
As if he'd been waiting for her all along, he greeted her with easy naturalness.
"...Ke-Ken."
Just moments ago, she'd been beaming at the thought of owning him.
But running into him so unexpectedly left her flustered.
'Was he waiting for me...'?
Joy surged from the depths of her heart.
The person she longed to see had come to her himself. Her emotions threatened to spill across her face.
But Rafne steadied herself.
Or rather, she forcibly clamped down on them.
This was still before their duel, after all.
Her instincts wanted to wag her tail furiously, but cold reason ordered her to play it cool.
"Hmph. What are you doing here so early? You haven't come to back out of the duel bet, have you?"
She crossed her arms and shot him a sidelong, disdainful glance—the usual treatment.
"No way. That bet's important to me too."
But as he approached with that smile, her icy facade melted away like snow in spring.
"Th-then... what is it?"
"I have something for you."
Ken rummaged in his pocket and pulled something out.
"......A spear?"
In his hand gleamed a golden spear.
But it was so short, it barely qualified as one.
Even so, Rafne knew it was a spear.
She couldn't say why, but it felt utterly familiar.
As she stared at it blankly, Ken held it out to her.
"Here. For you."
She took it on reflex.
"Why... are you giving me this?"
The golden spear glowed in her grasp.
A mana stone was embedded just below the blade. Somehow, she sensed that channeling mana into it would let her reshape the spear however she liked.
Which only deepened her confusion.
"To use in the duel?"
"If you want. If not, that's fine too."
"Then why give it to me?"
Use it or don't—it didn't matter to him.
So why bother with a gift like this?
Ken stared at her silently for a beat.
Then he smiled and spoke.
"Because I like you, Rafne."
"......Eh?"
Because I like you, Rafne.
She'd heard him clearly.
Yet in that instant, Rafne couldn't process it. She gaped at him in disbelief.
And when understanding hit...
"L-Like... you like me?!"
She stammered, her face aflame.
His abrupt confession sent her mind spinning, glitching like a broken toy.
"I'll head out first then. See you later."
Oblivious—or perhaps not—Ken waved and walked off.
Still short-circuiting, Rafne stood frozen in front of the dorm, clutching the spear.
。 。 。
Because I like you, Rafne.
Even after reaching the academy, those words looped endlessly in her head.
'...He likes me? Me...'?
Her face burned as she slumped over her desk, drowning in confusion.
'But why now, all of a sudden...'
The timing was bizarre.
Yesterday, he'd been so provocative, even pushing for the duel bet.
This morning, he'd smiled so gently and confessed.
And then—a memory overlapped.
Not long ago, when she'd gone with him to the boys' dorm.
'I have someone I like.'
That day, he'd blurted it out just as abruptly.
Right in front of her.
'So the person he meant back then...'
Her thoughts stopped there as her face exploded red again.
Until morning, her head had been full of claiming ownership over Ken.
Now, his bewildering words left her anything but calm.
'Wait, so even the bet...'
Ken, who claimed to like her, had wagered his own ownership in a duel.
Meaning he was fine if she owned him.
So had he provoked her deliberately, because he liked her?
If Ken lost, he'd hand over ownership to Rafne.
If Ken won...
"One wish from him..."
She recalled the bet's terms.
It felt like puzzle pieces slotting into place.
She'd glossed over the details before, fixated on ownership.
Now, with his confession, it all clicked.
'So that wish has to be...'
Only one possibility came to mind.
'Go out with me, Rafne.'
Rafne let out a silent scream, kicking her legs wildly.
She wanted to shout, but the classroom held her back. She buried her face in her arms, willing her pounding heart to settle.
Rafne reached her verdict.
Ken's duel challenge yesterday? Laying the groundwork for a dating proposal.
And as time passed and classes ended...
The promised duel time arrived.
The venue was the training gymnasium.
Three people had gathered there.
Second-year homeroom professor Patriel, Rafne, and Ken.
"Th-then, you two. You're both certain about proceeding with the contract on those terms I just explained?"
"Yes."
"......Yes."
Ken answered boldly, while Rafne blushed and hesitated before speaking.
She couldn't tear her eyes from his face, which somehow looked delighted.
The bet conditions Patriel had outlined:
If Ken lost, he'd surrender ownership to Rafne.
If Rafne lost, she'd grant Ken one request, no matter what.
With mutual consent confirmed, Patriel summoned a single sheet of parchment into the air.
Infused with mana, it unfurled on its own, splitting into two copies that floated toward Ken and Rafne.
Each reached out a hand.
Their mana flowed forth, absorbed into the sheets, which then merged back into one.
"Alright, preparations complete. Please take your positions."
At Patriel's instruction, Rafne and Ken faced off at a suitable distance.
Beside Patriel stood two magic dolls bound by simplified contracts.
One for Ken, one for Rafne.
Identical to those used in the swordsmanship tournament Siegfried had entered.
Confirming they were set, Patriel thrust her hand forward.
"Begin!"
With her signal, the duel commenced.
'It'll be Miss Martinez's win anyway.'
That was Patriel's thought as she watched the pair with faint unease.
As second-year homeroom professor, she knew Rafne's prowess all too well.
And Rafne's unique skill: Nerve Acceleration.
In a physical showdown, it granted overwhelming advantage.
Rafne knew it better than anyone.
'...So what move is he planning?'
She eyed Ken closely.
In her hand was the spear he'd given her that morning.
The golden spear had extended to her desired length, just as she'd imagined.
Ken gripped a sword forged from bone.
'He wouldn't challenge me to a duel without confidence...'
Uncharacteristically cautious, Rafne held back.
Normally, she'd have charged in and flattened him by now.
But she didn't strike rashly.
Yet Ken just stood there, unmoving.
'Fine, if he won't budge...!'
No matter his plan, Rafne trusted her edge.
She struck first.
She wanted to beat him quick and claim ownership.
━Taat!
With a light kick off the ground, Rafne shot toward Ken in a flash.
"Haaap━!"
Her spear thrust sharply at his vital point.
A single clean hit, and the magic doll would burst—duel over.
In case he pulled something, she activated Nerve Acceleration, slowing her perception to track his every twitch.
And there was Ken's smile.
That familiar, gentle smile aimed right at her.
'Because I like you, Rafne.'
His morning confession flashed back unbidden.
Flustered, her face heated, hesitation crept into her thrust.
'Ah...! I missed...!'
Ken dodged with a casual tilt of his head.
Kwang!
What followed happened in a heartbeat.
Off-balance from her flubbed attack, Rafne found Ken hurling his sword aside and seizing her with both hands.
One gripped her arm; the other wrapped her neck.
He pinned her to the floor.
Careful not to hurt, restraining only her motion.
"So, what do you say? Surrender?"
He whispered into her ear.
"Y-you think this can hold me?!"
Child's play to break free.
Ken's strength, as she knew it, couldn't possibly contain her.
"Eh? Wha?"
Kkwaak.
But strain as she might, his grip held firm.
No pain, but she couldn't budge the full weight of him pinning her down.
'Why...?!'
Ken hadn't been this strong before.
"Can't move, can you?"
"Ugh...!"
Rafne flushed crimson, thrashing desperately.
No way she'd admit defeat and forfeit his ownership.
But she was stuck.
And worse.
'...Ah, Ken's scent.'
His arm looped her neck from behind in a close embrace, her skin alive with his warmth and aroma.
Her face burned hotter; her heart thundered.
A traitorous thought slipped in: Maybe just a little longer like this...
'Because I like you, Rafne.'
His morning words resurfaced.
'Uuuugh...!!'
Her struggles slowed, faltered.
Then Ken whispered into her ear once more.
"Rafne..."
"Uut! Wh-what?!"
His gentle voice turned sweetly pleading.
"Surrender, please."
He sounded so earnest, so hungry for victory.
Rafne fell silent for a moment.
'Right... the reason he started this duel.'
Her conclusion after obsessing over his confession all day.
Why Ken had challenged her.
To propose they date, obviously.
Confess his like first, then win and wish for her to be his girlfriend.
The thought sparked a whimsical Maybe losing wouldn't be so bad.
But ownership was too precious to yield, so she'd fought in earnest.
Now she was trapped, immobile.
Force wouldn't free her against his newfound strength.
'......If it's Ken... then maybe for me too...'
If he wanted to ask her out.
Then losing might be fine.
"Please... surrender, Rafne."
She felt his care—holding firm without hurting.
Blushing furiously, she bowed her head and nodded faintly.
"......Surrender."
Her voice was soft.
But in the empty gym with only three souls, it rang clear.
"Th-then, with Rafne's surrender, the duel is over."
Stunned by the unforeseen outcome, Patriel declared it ended.
The hovering contract parchment began to glow gold.
"Winner: Ken Fine Stein...!"
The bet duel concluded with Ken's victory.
As the result settled, Ken released her gently. Rafne scrambled up, awkward and flushed.
She furtively smoothed her hair and clothes.
Then spun to face him.
Too shy for eye contact, cheeks blazing, she asked,
"...So? What wish do you want from me, Ken?"
She knew full well, but played dumb.
Her heart raced, bracing for the dating proposal to come.
She stole a glance at his face.
He stared back, deadly serious.
His resolute expression startled her; she looked away fast.
"Rafne."
Ken called her name.
Squeeze.
In the charged air, Rafne clutched her own arm tight.
Her heart threatened to burst.
Her body burned; heat flooded her face.
One "yes" to his proposal, and their romance would begin.
Ken paused, then voiced his wish.
"As payback for tormenting me, Rafne—you're imprisoned in the tower."
His answer shattered all expectation. Rafne stared, dumbfounded.
"......Huh?"