Sky Drop Victory and Budding Rivalries
The princess couldn't hide her shock.
'Jumping from there?'
It was an insanely high drop, obvious at a glance. If your eyes were only on the battlefield below, you'd never notice it. That was why even some spectators only spotted them after Zeke and the trio of romance novel male leads had already leaped.
The problem was…
KABOOOOM——!!
They'd landed right in the rear of the second-year team.
Sudden enemies popping up in the back lines was dangerous enough, but these were no ordinary foes. The trio of romance leads—no, the Crown Prince, Jetua, and Darssen—might have been overshadowed by Aren's arrival, but they were still frontrunners of the Golden Generation, famous from the start. And that Zeke guy from the martial arts department…
'He just looks strong!'
Those rippling muscles were no joke. And his hair, sparkling in the sunlight? It was so blinding you might lose your vision for a second.
'How does someone even think of that…!'
The princess shot Aren a bizarre look. He was probably the madman behind this whole plan.
Sure enough, the two teams that had been locked in a stalemate suddenly saw the tide turn after the aerial assault—toward a second-year front-half defeat.
At this point, the princess just gave up.
'We're done for.'
The second-year rep team was crumbling. Some players panicked at the sudden rear attackers, losing their heads; others just dropped from the fighting. And it was common knowledge that mages sucked in close quarters. Most who'd let enemies close in that fast were already retired.
Sara Clement and Rudolph Adel Adler were holding out, but…
"…Hah, we're totally screwed."
It was obvious they'd fall eventually. No matter how strong they were, they hadn't reached absolute mastery yet—numbers overwhelmed them.
Now the princess started wondering about something else.
"What the hell were those things you rode in on up there? No way they were real wyverns."
"Curious, Your Highness?"
"Very."
Aren eyed her teasingly, like he might tell or might not. Just as a vein was about to pop on her forehead—
"Spirits."
"…What?"
"Everything floating up there—they're all spirits."
"…You serious?"
…Spirits?
'…Okay, looking closer, they do kinda look like spirits.'
Finally, she properly registered their forms hovering in the sky.
"…They really are spirits. You mad bastard."
Using spirits like that? And getting humans on their backs to fly?
"Are you insane?"
"Winning's what matters, right?"
Aren muttered under his breath, "There's no law saying you can't ride spirits with humans on their backs." The princess was dumbfounded.
"…You really are a mad bastard…"
Whether she was stunned or not, the battle raged on until Veronica's final spell slammed into the second-years' base camp, ending it.
With the first-years occupying their headquarters…
"““WOOOOOAH———!!!”””
The crowd's roaring cheers sealed the front-half victory.
Veronica took a slow, deep breath and stared down at her hands.
'…We really won.'
A victory she'd earned herself. Against stronger second-years, without Aren—purely her own doing.
Sure, Aren's strategy played a huge role, but a plan was worthless without competent execution.
In that sense, this win was hers. She'd snatched it in a way no one expected, after being dismissed for so long.
"““WOoooAH———!!!”””
The massive cheers echoed even from afar. A thrilling rush surged from deep in her chest, and she snapped her head up.
She locked eyes on the Adel Adler Duke and Duchess somewhere in the stands.
'…Just watch.'
She'd prove herself once and for all in the second half.
As she steeled her resolve, Aren approached.
"Great work, Veronica."
"…Yeah."
"You won beautifully."
She flashed a faint smile.
'………'
It hit her—this was the first genuine smile she'd given in ages, faint as it was.
He stared at it, entranced for a moment, then smiled back.
Whoosh—
"……?"
Suddenly pulled into his arms, she panicked.
"…Let go."
Lots of spectators watching, plus Lydia, Adelia, and other first-years around. Eyes naturally focused on the abrupt hug.
Her face flushed as she tried to push him away.
"No."
"…Why."
"'Cause you're cute, Veronica?"
"……Eek."
She flinched.
"So cute, Veronica."
"…Shut up. Everyone can hear you."
And they could. The students, drunk on victory for a second, were now watching Aren and her with rapt interest.
Girls—noble or common—squealed "Kyaa!" regardless.
Aren was hot, Veronica was pretty, and the timing was perfect for some dramatic romance scene.
"What can I do? You are cute."
"……"
She finally hung her head. Too embarrassing.
But…
She slyly reached out and gripped his shirt hem.
……
In other words, hugging back.
Aren's eyes widened slightly, then he gently stroked her hair.
As they created this sweet moment, Lydia puffed her cheeks and approached from the side.
"Aren."
"Hm?"
"Hug me too."
Lydia glanced at Veronica and spread her arms wide.
Tons of spectators and students watching? Didn't matter right now.
'Love is something you seize.'
To her, love meant claiming it boldly. No complacency just because they were already connected—she needed to push harder.
Lydia saw Veronica as her one true friend… but right now, she was a rival to conquer first.
"Come on."
That instant, Veronica and Lydia's eyes met.
"……"
"……"
They exchanged glares.
In that moment, they recognized each other as true rivals.
(Veronica was still mostly subconscious about it… but it'd surface soon enough.)
Aren patted Veronica once more, then hugged Lydia.
Even in his arms, Lydia kept eye contact with Veronica.
While rivals were emerging somewhere amid the budding enmity… the stands were a whirlwind of chaos and ecstasy.
Astonishment at the aerial assault.
Debate on the aerial assault's viability. And the birth of bombing—a new tactic unknown to this world.
Some blushed over Aren's affection.
And overlooking it all were two people.
"……"
"…Say something."
The Adel Adler Duke and Duchess.
The duchess bit her lip and glared at the duke.
"I came to see my son, and I have to watch that girl's face even here? Why haven't you dragged her back to the family yet?"
"……"
The duke stayed silent, staring toward Veronica with inscrutable eyes.
"Say something!"
The duchess snapped sharply at him.
Twenty-one years into their political marriage. She'd once loved the duke, but not anymore.
"You're always like this. Never listen to others, just do whatever you want."
"……"
He said nothing.
Finally, the duchess irritably turned away.
And glared toward Veronica.
She'd come to see her 'one and only' son—and ended up seeing Veronica.
Even watching her son lose to Veronica.
Soon, the duchess fanned open her fan to cover her mouth.
Her eyes darkened.