Flames of the Room Duel
After hearing Mion's words, Enrique the dorm supervisor nodded.
"Good. Then we'll coordinate schedules with the other rooms where disputes broke out, just like this one. Until then, I want you two to avoid fighting as much as possible and stay in the same room. But pack your things in advance. You never know who'll win."
At Enrique's words, both Ashytara and Mion nodded.
The dorm erupted into sudden chaos from the unexpected turn of events.
"What's going on?"
"I heard Mion and Ashytara got into a fight! They're doing a room duel?"
"What!?"
"What's a room duel?"
"I'm not totally sure, but it's a rule where you duel for control of the room, and the loser gets kicked out."
"There's a rule like that?"
"Yeah. I didn't know either, but there was a fight in another room recently, and Enrique mentioned it then."
The commotion spread everywhere.
A room duel was already gossip-worthy on its own, but one between Ashytara and Mion was even more stimulating to the other students—especially the knight faculty students, who were hypersensitive to matters of rank and hierarchy.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Ashytara, obviously? She trained under Duke Leonard himself."
"Still, Mion's no pushover. She was on par with Ashytara during joint training."
"Wanna bet on it?"
"What kind?"
"Who wins."
"What's the stake?"
"Simple—one meal?"
"Deal!"
"Count me in!"
Even petty bets like these started popping up.
Mion hated every bit of this mess. She was always the one seizing control of any situation, steering it her way. But now, things weren't going according to her plan at all. That alone was humiliating enough for her.
And if she lost here, grabbing the reins in the future would be even harder.
In that case, I have to win this room duel no matter what. I can't take any more humiliation.
Her divine power came from the sea god, Mare. She could endure the heat from Solem's flames just fine.
She had a solid chance of victory. Plus, being skilled in saint laws herself, she figured she could beat Ashytara as long as she didn't get careless.
You'll regret crossing me, Ashytara.
Mion steeled her resolve for certain victory, gathered her things, and left the room. She wasn't thick-skinned enough to sleep in the same space as someone she loathed, so she planned to rent out the best inn in the shopping district until the duel ended.
Ashytara, meanwhile, didn't care what Mion did. Having achieved her original goal, she ignored Mion's fleeing figure and lay down on her own bed—without even packing.
She hadn't even considered the possibility of defeat from the start. She'd challenged Mion to the room duel with absolute confidence in victory.
I'll smash that arrogant face into the dirt, Mion Altis.
Her odds were more than solid—they overflowed.
Ever since realizing Mion and Eden harbored hostility toward Ludenberg Lavante, she'd been meticulously analyzing their strengths. During joint training afterward, she hadn't even gone all out, precisely to lull them into complacency.
Among the first-year knight faculty students, only Ludenberg could guarantee a win against the current Ashytara. Neither Mion nor even Eden could claim victory over her.
"Hope they schedule the room duel soon."
A faint smile played on her lips. Everything was finally moving in the direction she wanted.
Room Duel Schedule Notice
Tomorrow, Knight Faculty Training Grounds, just before sunset.
Participants: Mion Altis, Ashytara Solenute, Cletta Peliche…… (total 8)
Duels or disputes outside of room duels will not be tolerated. Students violating this will be immediately expelled from the dorm.
If spare rooms remain, they may be used solo.
— Solemnute Adem Girls' Dorm Supervisor Enrique
The next morning, Ashytara checked the newly posted notice on the dorm bulletin board right away and felt satisfied. The duel had been scheduled faster than expected.
All that was left was waiting.
The classroom was even noisier than usual today. Ludenberg wondered if it was about yesterday's incident with Cletta, but it turned out not to be.
The hot topic was Mion and Ashytara.
Ludenberg turned his gaze toward the Innocence students carrying on the conversation. Eden was there too, not just the other Innocences.
Eden glanced awkwardly and curiously at Ashytara and Mion, who sat glaring daggers at each other like a storm was brewing between them.
"Heard about it? Apparently Ashytara and Mion fought yesterday."
"No, first I'm hearing. Why'd they fight?"
Eden, wedged among the Innocences, asked the reason for their fight. Ludenberg, sitting farther away, perked up his ears to listen in.
"Word is Mion badmouthed Ludenberg Lavante, so Ashytara challenged her to a room duel over it."
"Ah……."
Eden clutched his face, headache brewing.
As Eden fell silent, the Innocences ignored him and kept chatting.
"Room duel? Didn't the boys' dorm do that too? Some guys were throwing punches."
"Yeah, that's the one. That's why it's such a big deal. Of all people, it's Ashytara and Mion fighting. I couldn't even believe Ashytara would pick a fight with anyone—she's been so quiet till now."
Ashytara fought Mion because of me?
Ludenberg was inwardly shocked after catching the gist. He'd been the cause of the fight.
It sparked endless questions in him.
Why, exactly?
House Altis was a prestigious family with considerable influence. Even the Solenute imperial family wouldn't pick a fight lightly.
Sure, Solemnute Adem ignored status, but relationships after graduation weren't guaranteed.
A rational Ashytara would surely consider that. Yet here she was, picking a fight with House Altis over him. It didn't seem like her.
Honestly, he wanted to ask why. Why go that far for him? The thing with Cletta, and now this with Mion badmouthing him.
A certain thought flickered, but Ludenberg pushed it down.
No way. Ashytara wouldn't still see me as a friend.
It was just his idle delusion, pointless wishful thinking.
Ludenberg decided to ignore it. In situations like this, getting his hopes up would only lead to disappointment. For all he knew, Ashytara might be plotting to undermine him as revenge—using this as a stepping stone.
In his view, she had plenty of reason to resent him. And given her cunning nature, she might well be sharpening her knife against the one who'd treated her so coldly.
Don't get involved. It's not my business.
Before long, classes ended for the day, and the time for the room duel finally arrived.
By then, rumors of knight faculty students dueling over rooms had spread thickly throughout Solemnute Adem.
Not just upperclassmen who'd been through it themselves, but even theology faculty students—who'd normally be holed up studying Principles of Theology—came out, treating it like entertaining spectacle.
Enrique, overseeing the duels, and professors who'd heard late but showed up with thrilled expressions didn't scold the spectators.
Room duels were already treated like a knight faculty tradition.
The knight faculty professors looked especially excited—probably because, as former knights themselves, their blood stirred at such combative annual events.
"Professor Hainkel, who do you think will win between Ashytara and Mion?"
"Ah, Professor Sione. Hard to say. They're both Innocences I teach directly, so picking one is tough. What do you think, Professor Sione?"
Hainkel neatly sidestepped the mischievous question from Ashytara's sister, Sione, and glanced toward Ashytara and Mion, who were donning armor and preparing.
"Me? Obviously Ashytara."
"Because she's your little sister, Professor?"
"No."
Sione gazed at Ashytara with slightly shadowed golden eyes. She could see her sister's heart right now.
If she had to describe it: raging flames. Flames truly worthy of Solem's name.
No—fiercer, dangerously hot.
Sione had never seen Ashytara burn with such anger toward anyone. She declared Ashytara's victory.
"Not because she's my sister. It's just objective fact. I've never seen her this furious in my life. A strong heart always brings intense results in reality."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I watched the knight faculty students train before—if it's no different from then, Ashytara has the edge. And…… one more thing to watch out for."
"What do you mean?"
"Just in case, we might need to prepare to intervene in their duel. If things go wrong, that girl Mion could get seriously hurt. Though, well, Ashytara might end up hurt too."
That's no ordinary anger. Probably because Mion poked at Ludenberg Lavante. Tsk. Of all things……
"……I'll prepare too."
As Sione inwardly clicked her tongue, Professor Hainkel also readied himself to jump in anytime, eyes fixed on the training grounds.
There, Mion was steeling her resolve, while Ashytara looked down on her with contempt, as if she were worthless.