Belica's Duel (4)
"Hold on, this is gonna hurt."
Belica Simoni said that as she yanked the stiletto out of Adelia Spencer's hand. Adelia let out a groan laced with pain.
"Ngh…"
Belica glanced toward the referee, but there was no sign of the match being called yet. By the rules, the fight only ended when one of the students verbally surrendered. Only in limited cases like going out of bounds or losing consciousness could the officials step in and declare a winner.
That said, they had some discretion. 'Ugh… of all the slowpokes, why'd they pick that teacher as referee?'
Belica looked back down at Adelia and whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
"Sorry it had to end like this… but you're the one with the problem, Adelia? You didn't have to go this far. Just challenging me to a duel out of nowhere. You like me that much?"
"Of course. We are friends bound by our families' ties, close companions. As your close friend, I cannot stand by and watch you associate with a loser like Ilsea Alerzar."
"Aha… calling him a loser. He'd be pretty hurt if he heard that."
Belica shot a quick glance toward where Ilsea stood, flashing an awkward smile.
"It's not like it's his fault he ended up that way, right? No need to hate him so much."
"Yes, because that is our families' decision."
"Ehehe~? But you used to like Ilsea back in the day~?"
Belica whispered slyly, and Adelia's face flushed bright red. She stammered out excuses.
"Th-that was all in the past!"
"But when we were kids, you were super jealous of me~ We were engaged just between us, you said. You wanted in too~?"
"I wasn't jealous…! An engagement between all three of us? That's ridiculous!"
"Your voice is too loud~ Everyone below can hear. Ilsea's down there too, y'know?"
"Ngh…!"
"See? You got jealous 'cause we were so close without you, right? Right~?"
"That's not…!"
Adelia whipped her head away.
"Admit it and I'll forgive you~"
"…"
After a pause, Adelia hesitantly spoke up.
"…Maybe back then. But things are different now."
"Different how~?"
Then Adelia's eyes met Belica's again. They were shockingly cold—dark, even—to Belica.
"You cannot be with Ilsea Alerzar. Not now. Not ever."
"…"
"You still haven't accepted it. That's why I had to make you see. It's time to end the childhood games."
Adelia said in a low voice.
"You must abandon Ilsea."
"…"
A lonely smile crossed Belica's face.
"…People say that sometimes. Just like you are now. They spell out the obvious. But obvious doesn't always mean blunt."
"It can't be helped. If it's the natural order, it must be followed."
"Does it have to be right now, though?"
Belica said.
"I know. All the great houses cut ties with Ilsea's family. That's why we broke off our engagement. It's not something we can undo… We'll never be…"
Belica bit her lip there. But she pressed on steadily.
"It won't be long before things go the way you and your families want. So until then, can't you just leave me be?"
But Adelia countered.
"…When that time comes, will you be able to let go?"
Belica had no answer.
"…"
So she chose not to reply. Belica grinned instead.
"Heehee… Then should I just wish for that thing from earlier? What do you think~?"
"No! Absolutely not…! The fi—"
Belica cut off Adelia's frantic words.
"Hehehe. Quiet down! I won, remember? I get one wish now. No one can stop me~?"
Belica set down the stiletto and side-sword, grabbed Adelia's arm, and started dragging her toward the edge of the arena platform for a ring-out ruling.
But her feet wouldn't budge.
"…?"
"I told you."
Frozen blood had already crusted around Belica's feet. And Adelia's arm grabbed her back.
"I wouldn't let you do that."
This was Adelia's final hidden card. By the time Belica realized it, it was too late.
A crimson spear erupted from the pool of blood Adelia had created, surging toward Belica's vital points.
This one's unavoidable.
……
But the blood spear didn't pierce Belica in the next instant.
-Piiing!
A pale flash shot in from somewhere, shattering the blood spear. Frozen blood crystals scattered between Belica and Adelia.
"…!"
Belica and Adelia—everyone on and below the platform—fell into chaos.
Clear external interference. Amid the confusion below, the officiating teachers rushed up onto the platform. They declared the match halted and ended the bout on stage one.
The injured Adelia was carted off for treatment, while Belica stumbled down from the platform.
"Bel! You okay…!?"
Ronari Sharino rushed over, threw her arms around Belica's shoulders, and checked her body all over for injuries.
"Ahaha~ I'm fine, fine. Can't you see? Didn't get hit once. But… where's Ilsea?"
Belica looked around as she said it. Gideon answered.
"Dunno. He vanished once it looked like things wrapped up. Anyway, what the hell was that at the end?"
Belica had her suspicions but didn't voice them lightly. Ronari seemed to know something too but stayed silent.
Then the teacher's announcement came.
-Second-year Belica Simoni of the main academy track, please remain in your seat.
The Grand Arena was still in disarray from the unprecedented incident. Belica sat on the bench next to Ronari, waiting.
But even after the ranking tournament schedule ended and most students had left, the faculty showed no special movement.
It was quite a while later when a few teachers finally approached. They led Belica somewhere. Ronari followed, but had to stop at the staff room door.
"Sigh~ What's all this about? Looks like it'll take a while, missy. You head back first."
"Bel…"
"I'm good."
Belica disappeared into the staff room.
In the interview room at the back of the staff room, waiting for Belica were Adelia and Professor Ruda Riplir.
"Eek…"
"You make that noise every time you see me. Next time, I'll punch you for it."
At Ruda's threat, Belica mumbled excuses in a shrinking voice.
"Ahaha… It's just a habit of mine… Couldn't you take it as an expression of respect and fear…?"
"Shut up and sit. One second late and…"
Belica sat across from Ruda at lightning speed. She glanced at Adelia, seated beside her.
Academy healing magic had fixed her up, no doubt. But no time to change, apparently—the hole Belica had stabbed in her uniform sleeve was still there.
Well, after a fight like that, Belica wasn't one to hold grudges.
Then Ruda spoke up.
"First off, you both probably guessed it… There was external interference in your ranking match. No decision yet on the result or a rematch. We'll discuss that with you present…"
Ruda paused slightly, then continued.
"But more importantly, it's about what really happened."
Ruda raised her voice a bit, as if for the next room to hear.
"Hey, you done in there?"
No reply—just the sound of the next room's door opening. Then he appeared in the interview room.
I opened the door and stepped into the interview room.
"I'm here."
Belica didn't seem surprised, as expected. Adelia averted her eyes and clicked her tongue briefly.
No empty seats, so I stood by the desk where they faced each other. Not like I deserved the sofa anyway.
Ruda nodded at me to speak. I did.
"I caused the external interference in today's ranking match between Belica Simoni and Adelia Spencer."
"How?"
"I fired a basic spell, mana shard, and shot down Adelia Spencer's final attack."
"Why?"
"It looked dangerous. That's it. No prior planning or collusion with anyone."
"…That's the claim from this ragamuffin Ilsea Alerzar standing here. Any questions?"
Adelia spoke up immediately.
"I understand that a student interfering in another student's ranking match is a serious violation of academy rules."
"It is. We're reviewing appropriate sanctions, of course."
But Adelia was firmer.
"He should be brought to trial."
"Trial."
"Yes. This isn't something to end with simple discipline. We can't fully trust his claims regarding accomplices or masterminds."
Ruda crossed her arms and sank into the sofa.
"Honestly, we didn't want to escalate it that far…"
Ruda's sharp gaze flicked over me for a moment.
"But if the person involved insists, we can't ignore it. Still, Adelia—any willingness to show Ilsea Alerzar leniency?"
"None."
"…Got it. We'll discuss with the other professors. You're dismissed for now."
As Ruda stood to leave, Adelia shot up too. She fumed.
"Letting the culprit who caused this go free? Unacceptable! Lock him up now…"
But Ruda said,
"Where's the culprit?"
"What…?"
"No trial's started. Ilsea Alerzar's just a witness right now. Not even a suspect, and he confessed voluntarily—no flight risk. No reason to detain him."
Ruda left the room like that—and didn't forget to kick my shin on the way out.
"Ow…"
"Idiot."
We followed Ruda out of the staff room. Belica had been clutching my sleeve the whole time.
"…"
The moment we stepped out, Adelia turned to me.
"Well, I suppose I should say thanks, Ilsea Alerzar. Thanks to you stirring this up, I can easily pry you away from Belica."
"Adelia."
"Begging for mercy won't help. I won't stay quiet. I'll make sure you're expelled from the academy. Even the principal can't protect you this time!"
With that, Adelia stormed off down the opposite hall.
I turned to Belica. She still gripped my sleeve, using her other hand to pinch my cheek.
"Jeez~ I can't live with you like this. What were you thinking jumping in? I could've dodged it easy! Didn't trust me?"
I chuckled dryly.
"I trusted you, that's why. If you won, you'd get your wish. Who knows what you'd ask for."
"Whoa… Little Ilsea Alerzar pulling sneaky tricks now. You've grown up, huh?"
"Still growing. Puberty. So let's eat. I'm hungry."
I started toward the cafeteria. But I barely took a few steps before stopping.
Two arms reached from behind and hugged me. Belica suddenly shoved me into an empty lecture hall.
"Hey… wait."
"…"
Ignoring my protest, she shut the door with one hand.
"…What now."
Belica said nothing, just buried her face in my chest.