Unexpected Power and the Relentless Abs Hunt

Ashy and Adria's fight had an obvious outcome.

"Ugh... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my back..."

"Adria said it was that time of the month, so I went easy on you."

Adria emerged, rubbing her wrecked back. She naturally pulled out wet wipes and a handkerchief from my priest robes, wiping her face clean. The supervising professor approached.

"Good work, everyone. Take an hour's break, then we'll proceed to the next round right away."

"But it's down to three again. What do we do?"

"The third round will proceed with three. Think of it as 1 vs. 1 vs. 1."

Oh... so that means Jenella, me, and Ashy?

What the hell? Feels like I'm about to get ganged up on...

Hey, kids. That's not fair, right? I went easy on you guys. Didn't I?

The fainted Princess Banasi woke up and staggered out with the professor's support.

Dust-covered, she glared at me and spat,

"If you lose, you're dead."

"Why me? More importantly, where's Yahan?"

"No idea. Probably embarrassed after eating a few hits from you and bailed. He didn't need to show up anyway."

First-round dropouts: Andeman, Yahan, Bulria, and the glasses girl. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Four in total.

Since their scores were already out, they didn't have to participate if they didn't want to.

Now, second-round dropouts Adria and Princess Banasi could leave too if they chose.

"...I'm going to wash up."

"Bye~"

Princess Banasi dipped out, but surprisingly, Adria—who seemed like she'd bail first—stayed put. She shot me an incredulous look at my gaze.

"Obviously I'm sticking around to wash up too. You think I'd let you go alone?"

"Thought you were sulking over Ashy."

"Am I a kid? I lost 'cause I'm not good enough. What can I do? Anyway, Eodukshini. You're out."

-What?! Why!

"Thought about it. You're a guy."

-No, I'm hermaphroditic...

"Want me to neuter you then?"

-That's too much!!

I turned away from the bickering human and slime. In the corner, Ashy and Jenella were having a hushed chat.

I focused my hearing. Just in case they were plotting to double-team me.

"...Actually, I know why you're avoiding Eugene."

"!!"

"Too bad. I'm already ■■ing him first. And word's already spreading about me?"

Did they both piss in my bed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or something? Jenella's stiff voice followed.

"...I won't lose."

"Give it your best shot."

What the hell was that about?

At least no gang-up worries now.

The exam kicked off, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠instead of coming for me, Ashy and Jenella clashed immediately.

"Seal! Whirl! Strike down!"

"Too slow!"

BOOM!!

But weren't you two buddy-buddy? Last time at the hospital visit, you were all sweet as honey.

Now honey's turning to blood.

Every sword swing from Ashy sliced through magic, every chant from Jenella spewed fire and lightning.

Whoa.

They're good.

But I'm not even on your radar?

"Jenella! You okay?! That must hurt!"

"...I'm fine! Eugene's thing is flowing inside me! Overflowing, even!"

"Watch your words! That's misleading!!"

"What!! It's true!"

"Seriously!!"

"What! Ignite!"

Lewd demons, begone.

"Hah, hah, hah..."

"Huff, huff, huff..."

After minutes of clashing, they panted heavily. Ashy's hem was singed, Jenella's skirt shredded.

"Ah, not over yet. Strike..."

"Opening!"

"Kyaa!"

Sword flew at chanting Jenella. She cut off her spell, diving sideways.

Right toward me.

Standing there dumbfounded since I didn't get why they were fighting so hard, I tried dodging the incoming Jenella.

-No can do.

"?!"

Thud.

Somehow caught her. But Jenella, ruled critically injured, was eliminated.

Jenella vanished smoothly. Even as she faded, she glared at me. Hey, I didn't do shit.

"...!"

My nape tingled.

I turned. Ashy, face twisted like a demon from hell, pointed her sword at me.

Mana erupted from her as she snarled,

"...I gave you my body and heart!!"

"Your wording's misleading. And 'gave'? What'd you give?"

"How could you do this to me!"

"No. Are you my girlfriend or something?"

"Die!!"

No! Listen! For fuck's sake!

Slash—

"Argh! You really trying to kill me!!"

"Just die!!"

"Oh, that's what happened? Should've said so earlier."

"..."

Ashy, who tried to kill me with her sword, calmed right down once I explained.

"Thought you were cheating for real."

"Cheating my ass. Anyone'd think we were dating."

"Heh."

Ashy stuck out her tongue, reset her stance.

"Anyway, shall we do this properly now?"

"You won't throw it this time, right?"

"Obviously. If I forfeit again, I'll drop to Class A?"

Can't have that.

I faced her, stance ready. We charged simultaneously.

Clang!

Our swords met. Push harder here...

KABOOM!!

"...?"

What?

Ashy's body flew back. Just before slamming the wall, she righted herself midair.

But even she looked baffled.

"...Huh? What was that?"

"No clue."

"How do you not know your own power?"

"Let's go again."

We clashed anew. Swords met—hers bounced off.

"!!!"

I aimed at her throat. Ashy raised both hands, blinking.

"...What the hell?"

"Beats me."

"Gotta see for myself. Eugene! Strip now!"

"What?"

"Hurry!"

Ashy lunged to undress me. Before she could, the system halted the exam, judging her defeated.

At the same time, Ashy yelled,

"Quick, strip Eugene now!"

"...What?"

"You suddenly got way stronger! We have a right to see!"

"Right my ass... No, you guys say something,"

I flinched involuntarily.

Gazes looking down at me.

Not on my side. Hell, they looked eager.

"..."

"...Just the abs. Deal? You've seen mine plenty."

"What? You flashed your abs at some random guy?"

"Sis, shut it?"

"...Eugene, you've seen mine too, right?"

Hard not to when you're tossing and turning in my bed.

I backed away slowly.

"...Eodukshini."

-On standby. No anomalies!

"Run!"

-Run!

Flee!!

After hours of chase, they caught me in my room.

"Wait! I'll strip myself."

"Fine."

"Should've done that sooner. We're worried about your body."

"Shouldn't you send me to a hospital then?"

"You hate hospitals."

"True."

I eyed Princess Banasi sneaking in.

"You. Out."

"Why me?"

"No outsiders allowed."

"They aren't outsiders?!"

She protested indignantly, but it fell on deaf ears.

"Can you sleep in my bed?"

"...No?"

"Sure you won't report me if my abs show while sleeping?"

"...No?"

"Can you openly use the bathroom..."

"Nope. I'm out."

Princess Banasi backed out with a disgusted face.

Before fully leaving, she peeked back.

"...Polygamy's illegal unless you're nobility. Got it?"

"Not even thinking it. Now scram."

I shoved her out quietly. As she got pushed, she yelled at Adria.

"Hey! You! Adria! Keep throwing yourself at random guys and...!"

"Butt out, sis!!"

SLAM!

Finally peace... nah. Beastly gazes on me. Ashy patted the bed, grinning.

"Come on! Sit."

Sigh. Don't wanna. I stripped off my priest robes and shirt, sat on the bed.

"Hmm..."

"Doesn't match your face at all."

"Whatever."

I grumbled curtly. Adria poked my abs curiously.

Ashy knelt seriously before me.

Jenella?

"..."

Hiding her face again, won't even look.

-Master. Don't worry! I'll handle it!

Eodukshini on Jenella's shoulder thumbs-upped.

I grabbed a nearby milk carton and chucked it.

"Just fuck off."

-Argh!

SPLAT!

Milk-slime hybrid writhed on the floor.

I shook my head, looked at kneeling Ashy.

She poked my abs seriously.

"No beer gut at all."

"You kidding?"

"Dead serious. Know how hard I work to avoid one?"

Ashy pouted, slid her hand slowly over my abs. Up to chest, throat.

Her mana scanned me.

She'd checked me before, found nothing odd.

"No flab, muscles feel tighter, firmer... Power control good?"

"Duh. Didn't you see the milk toss?"

"Yeah. Hmm. Weird. Why the boost?"

Ashy couldn't figure it either.

Eh, whatever. Stronger is good!

Thinking it's all good, but Ashy's hand didn't stop.

"...What're you doing? Hands off."

"Just a bit more."

"Off."

"Me too!"

I got stern.

"All out."

"Aww!"

"No tantrums!"

Exams over, but classes went on as usual.

Friday.

I headed to school with pounding heart. Exams just ended, next day's Friday—surely a break?

"Good work on the exams, everyone. Scores good or bad, you all tried. Minor incidents during, but..."

So we're off, right?

"Our faculty realized our incompetence from this."

Off, right?

"We're here to teach and protect you. We failed, so we'll improve."

I mentally applauded. Wow! Awesome! So we're off. Horror flick?

"But slacking on you to reflect is nonsense. You've all felt your limits briefly. No repeats."

Bad vibes.

...No way, right?

"Books out."

"T-Teacher. Class changes..."

"No changes here. One seat empty, but no one hit S-Class cutoff. Class as usual."

"..."

"..."

All students flipped pages with dead eyes. Me too.

...Wanna go home.