Childhood Friends? Not Needed

Childhood friends... not needed, right? Claiming the top spot at the Arcade Academy isn't a simple matter. Most ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the people gathered here are nobles, so you'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠think they'd all registered through their family connections, but that's not the case. Anyone who came here lightly will be dead in less than ten minutes. A cradle of geniuses. Among the overflowing talents, just one flower blooms. That's the meaning of taking the top spot at Arcade Academy, and snagging it is basically a game of pure luck befitting that prestige. Only those with skill, talent, and luck can claim the title of Arcade Academy's top student.

"So what should we do, Master?"

Rain stroked the hilt of her sword as she pondered ways to find the runes in this forest brimming with dense mana. Spreading mana widely to search for the mana stones would take too long, but she quickly stopped me from wasting it carelessly.

"What do you plan to do?"

Gazing at Rain's eyes—eyes that could kill on command if I ordered it—I answered.

"Ever heard of the term 'fisherman's profit'?"

This method was always useful. The key point when intervening mid-battle is that the opponents are already worn down, but you can also gauge their level. What attacks they use, what tactics they employ, how much stamina they have left. Once you've exposed their strategies completely, you slip in slyly.

"So you're saying we let them fight it out and then take down the exhausted survivors."

"Exactly. There might be other teams like us hiding and waiting to strike, but honestly, that's not a big deal, right?"

"Of course, Master."

I know comparing is a bad habit, but with her trusting and following me like this, how could I not? Her loyalty puts those girls who constantly spout nonsense about heroes and justice to shame.

"Speaking of which, they really are Arcade Academy students, huh... All the mages seem to be using nothing but third-circle spells or higher."

"Yeah."

Honestly, almost none of them got here purely on skill. Elixirs, artifacts, scrolls—there's a mountain of preparations they can make, and the families entering here have enough money to squander three generations of commoners' lifetimes on. Of course they'd spare no expense for the social buzz after enrollment and the chance to bond with future heroes.

"Some of them are real geniuses, though."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. Time to get moving."

By now, the girls I remembered would've already gathered enough mana stones to vie for top or second place. The saintess side might be tough to approach because of the church dispatched escorts, but the other one should make for an easy fight.

"We still have half the time left, after all."

I briefly burst my mana to scan the surroundings, and familiar mana flows came back as intel. Arian had picked off some decent prey and gathered a fair amount. Watching her betray in real-time? Yeah, enrollment's in the bag for her.

Soon after, I turned toward a direction pulsing with holiness and an even closer star-like brilliance.

"Found them."

I shot toward the star-like mana. Unlike the lightly sparkling mana around it, its inherent pressure made sweat bead unusually on Rain's forehead. I was used to it, but for Rain, who hadn't fully endured this weight yet, it was quite the ordeal.

"Four of them. I'll pin down two—you take out the other two first."

I pointed not at the green-haired one but the others, and Rain nodded.

"!!"

Without a word, Rain lunged, severing her opponent's wrist clean at the draw.

"As you commanded."

"Gaaahhh!!!"

The initial strike landed perfectly. It was two-on-one, but with one now swordless, it was effectively one-on-one. Rain could handle that solo.

"Ah..."

And I still had my targets. Ceres, not yet grasping the situation on Rain's side, turned emerald eyes full of goodwill toward me. Utterly repulsive.

"Miss!!"

A scream from that side made Minel pull Ceres behind her, raising her silver rapier to block my sword.

"What do you think you're doing, Lian Primal?"

"What do you mean? This is just legitimate combat."

"...Huh?"

Ceres stared at me blankly, still not comprehending, so I drew my sword personally to show her what I was about.

"Got a problem with me drawing for the academy exam?"

The rapier's tip flashed before my eyes in an instant.

"Finally lost your mind, have you?"

"I'm not crazy—harsh words."

With the whistle of wind, Minel thrust straight for my heart without hesitation.

Clang!!

I'd never been outright hostile with Minel before, so it felt a bit bittersweet. Seeing the sword that protected me even when that idiot childhood friend and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fiancée betrayed me now flying at me—it instantly doused my excitement.

Minel and I had always gotten along great. As the engagement with Ceres ran smoothly, I grew close to her ever-present guardian, and eventually, she became my sturdiest comrade and friend.

But not anymore. I aimed for Ceres, and Minel had to block as her knight.

Our blades clashed, crimson sparks flying.

"Consistent as ever."

A thrust maximizing the rapier's strengths, followed by a slash. And a dagger approaching silently like an assassin's.

"The opener's unchanged."

Simple enough that I'd have fallen for it back when I didn't know the pattern, but still threatening. The rapier's blinding speed draws the eye to it, perfectly timing the off-hand dagger.

"Impressive, but once you know it, countermeasures are easy."

I parried the rapier's flurry and smacked away the sneaking dagger. She scattered a prepared poison vial for threat, but Minel clicked her tongue and retreated.

"From there, shouldn't you at least throw the dagger instead of just backing off?"

Like this.

With a whoosh, my thrown dagger flew straight—nearly embedding in Minel's thigh, but she had the skill to deflect it and reset her thrust stance.

"...Teasing me?"

"You're not that dumb, are you?"

Minel wasn't a commoner. As a marquis's daughter, she'd had proper training and guidance—she'd understand my intent.

"I can't do this alone."

I needed help. Catching the Demon King was secondary; the events unfolding at this academy term were beyond even a regressor like me solo. Plus, my regression didn't perfectly rewind time to the exact same scenarios. One choice could alter the world, or someone influenced by me could spark chaos.

"I'd love for things to go my way... but from experience, my luck's too rotten to bank on."

I swiftly drew a rune with mana, conjuring a cyan scythe. Beside me, Ceres reached out—her magic still white-hot, unawakened. Seeing the superior cyan, Minel shuddered but steadied herself.

"Now, you know how I'll move, right?"

"Ngh!!!"

If you know an expert's moves, subtle muscle twitches and gaze shifts reveal them. Especially for Minel, whose dynamic vision and martial skill already surpassed this era's me in those areas.

I stepped back, sweeping the scythe wide horizontally. She knew a rapier's shorter reach was disadvantaged at range, so she closed in immediately. And another dagger.

"So predictable."

"Damn it!!"

I batted the incoming dagger with the scythe's haft—then Minel's third dagger closed in.

Thwack!!

"Guh... ack!?"

"Narrow field of view, huh? Holding a scythe doesn't mean I can't use body strikes."

A clean front kick doubled her over, clutching her gut. Too easy—no final struggle even.

"Don't slash with the dagger—throw it from range to exploit gaps. Way too straightforward for a knight's fight."

"All done over here, Master."

Anyway, that side was finished too—leaving one last.

"Ceres."

Calling her name, I roughly tore the pouch from her side with a brutish hand.

"Wha...?"

Opening the pilfered pouch revealed familiar rune-etched mana stones glowing vibrantly with stored mana. No need to bother handing them to Rain and back now.

"W-Wait..."

Minel, sprawled on the ground, legs trembling like a newborn giraffe's, barely propped herself with her scabbard and rose slowly, aiming her rapier at me.

Impressive... That kick wasn't recovery-level power, yet here she was.

Not unscathed, though. Legs shaking, breaths ragged enough to collapse any second—no one would call that "fine" unless they were a cold corpse.

"Just... leave her."

"What?"

Rain scowled fiercely at Minel. Aware her request was shameless, Minel flushed, released her quivering legs' tension, and knelt before me.

"I don't matter. Just... for your childhood friend—no, fiancée's sake, please?"

"This is a survival game. You know that, Minel."

"Then you know what happens to Miss Ceres's status if Lian... sir fails this exam too."

People say flunking one academy changes nothing, but for high nobles, it's spec. And when every high noble has that spec? It's like a medal or ornament flaunting your status. Arcade Academy enrollment isn't comparable to medals but still brag-worthy. Other academies are fine too, but Arcade's late ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exam means no transfer without hellish tests—so failing here means losing a "standard" noble spec.

"...Minel, you know this is a shameless ask."

"Of course."

"I'm Ceres's fiancé, but that's irrelevant here."

"Of course."

Face like she'd bolted on steel plating—no flicker.

"I won't help her just because she's my fiancée."

"...Understood."

Minel's voice dropped nicely. Why would I help the bitch who betrayed me for the prince?

"So I'll help you."

"What?"

But Minel was different.

"Your skill's top-notch. Unlike Ceres, who's still clueless, you're fighting properly, if a bit green."

She'd be useful. A asset on the battlefield, and mentally—she'd helped me countless times beyond that.

"So... consider this an investment."

I drew a light recovery rune with one hand, stuffing a few mana stones from the pouch into hers with the other.

"Climb to S-grade and help me."

Understanding, Minel let out a hollow laugh and gripped the stones.

"Usually, you'd help your own fiancée."

"Rationality trumps emotion."

Why did my conscience sting? Nah, just my imagination.