The Duel Addict's Battle Stance
Creak—crunch—
A dark office room steeped in an antique atmosphere. Light flickered into the communication crystal orb placed squarely in the center of the desk. The man seated in the office chair adjusted his glasses before slowly lifting the orb.
Crackle—
"Hey, come on, you're so picky. And do we really have to use numbers between us? Orben."
A laid-back voice drifted from beyond the communication orb. Orben's eyebrow twitched faintly.
"It's necessary for security. Comply."
Crunch!Crackle—
Orben replied calmly. "Ignore it. The leader is having 'dinner' in the next room."
"Get to the point. The longer this call drags on, the worse it is for us. Number 48."
"Sure, sure. So, spill the details on what went down."
"...Very well."
Orben frowned and tapped the desk with his index finger. The tapping grew rougher.
"The early hours of the previous day, around 1:48 a.m. The western branch in Calrod was raided. All 42 organization members dead or in critical condition."
The tapping on the desk intensified. "And the executive, Earth Worker, went missing."
"Analysis of the traces at the scene suggests that's the most likely scenario."
"Even if it had been you there, the outcome wouldn't have been much different."
"It looks like the Secret Society made their move."
"From the traces, the 'Thief' seems to have cleaned up the members, and Earth Worker was hunted by her personally."
Struck by the double blow, Number 48 let out a low whistle in understanding.
"…"
Instead of answering, Orben tapped the desk. Fine cracks spiderwebbed across the wooden surface with each tap of his fingertip. It was understandable.
The Inquisition's raid on the academy had led to two possessors being captured alive. The kingdom and academy were now even more wary of the Reverse Star Clan. And now one of their executives, Earth Worker, had fallen too. Group Master's core had been safely extracted by Number 48, but the other losses were immense. Their academy operation had ground to a halt.
"The Inquisition will crack those two heads open for info if they have to. The Secret Society won't play nice either. Most of our existing plans are scrapped."
"Yes. Pull out the low-rank members planted in the academy before tails catch on—or dispose of them if necessary."
"Yes. Your intel is top secret. We tampered with Earth Worker's head too, so nothing about you should leak."
One of the Reverse Star Clan's two long-term projects: Operation 'Fake Hero.' Even fellow executive Earth Worker was just a single component in the blueprint compared to Number 48, the core of that plan.
"Just don't forget your role."
The mood chilled the instant Number 48 got excited. "Your mission is to ride the main story's flow without drawing too much attention. And to steer the heroines' actions."
"Good that you know."
"One more thing."
"Be cautious. We don't know where the Secret Society's forces are hiding."
"That's not the vague answer I'm looking for. No anomalies in the top class?"
Number 48 trailed off there. Orben's eyes narrowed.
"What is it."
Number 48 recalled her. The frail girl surrounded by inquisitors at the entrance ceremony, undergoing inspection by a Black Star holder—yet unflinching, mysteriously steering the situation.
======
A new morning dawned. But I wasn't in the dormitory room.
The private hospital room where I'd woken after blacking out during the group battle exam. After being brought back here yesterday, I'd ended up spending the entire day in this room.
According to the infirmary teacher, the headmaster herself had assigned this as my dedicated room. Considering the notoriety of Mana Discord, it was an extraordinarily generous measure.
Was the academy actually concerned about me? It was ambiguous whether to be happy or wary.
Well, for someone who'd been half-dead and come back to life, it was something to be grateful for, at least.
Of course, what I had wasn't Mana Discord. It was similar, but closer to something far worse. My body was rapidly crumbling from the inside out, roughly speaking. I had countermeasures to suppress it normally, but yesterday they'd briefly loosened.
The academy's treatments alone wouldn't cut it to resolve this.
'Noctia, thanks so much for yesterday. You're the best.'
[Heh, praise me more.]
Noctia had shone here. She'd slipped out when the room was empty to fetch my meds bit by bit, leaving my body much lighter now. In exchange, I'd had to explain in minute detail everything that happened while she slept.
Cheap trade, all things considered.
Ah, not the time for this.
"Shall we get ready?"
I checked the time and slowly roused my languid body. I took off the patient gown, hung it aside, and changed into the off-shoulder uniform I'd laid out. Gratefully, Runes had brought it yesterday. She'd looked shocked learning about my Mana Discord.
I'd have to comfort her properly when we met today. With that resolve, I slowly headed for the room's door.
"What, you leaving?"
...Then a voice popped up from the side.
"You scared me. You were awake?"
"Woke up when you were rustling around. But you don't look startled at all."
The cot in the corner of the room. The woman lying there yawned widely and crossed her legs.
Wrinked white gown. Frizzy hair. Heavy dark circles. She looked like she could pass for a patient right then, but she was this academy's infirmary teacher.
"How about skipping morning classes? I can write you an excuse."
"I'll pass. As you know, teacher, I'm in better shape than it seems."
Besides, I had reasons not to miss class. Beyond the grade rewards, Kalsea Academy held the world's highest concentration of goddess-hidden pieces. One unlocked via perfect early class attendance from day one—I didn't want to blow that chance.
Hearing my answer, the infirmary teacher's shoulders slumped.
"Fine... I'm finally getting a break since I'm on your dedicated duty. Boo-hoo."
"You look like the type who slacks off a ton anyway."
"Kekeke, brutally honest despite the looks? You hit the nail on the head."
She chuckled, got up from the bed, and rummaged in a drawer. She handed over several small vials, as if prepared in advance.
"Still, something tells me we'll see each other plenty, so I won't hold you back."
"Is that a curse? Quite the problematic thing for an infirmary teacher to say."
Her skills alone made her a top-tier healer and doctor. The issue was her personality being half-unhinged.
Half-joking, perhaps—she smirked soon enough.
"Sorry, sorry. Take one of those meds before bed each night."
"Got it."
I took the meds and opened the room door.
"See you soon, then. Thanks again."
"...Haha, yeah. Leave it to me."
Leaving the infirmary teacher looking exasperated, I stepped out with light footsteps.
Current time: 8:35 a.m. Twenty-five minutes before my first class at the academy.
Having left early, I had plenty of time. My location was the first floor of the main academy building. Today's first class, 'Monster Response Tactics', was in a second-floor lecture hall in the main building.
Thud. Thud.
Up the stairs like this. Around the corner. Straight down the hallway, and I'd be there soon.
...Or so I thought.
The bathroom on the second-floor hallway. My eyes met a blonde girl's just as she emerged.
More like, they locked because I couldn't avoid it.
She was the last person I wanted to run into alone.
Her eyes widened, then narrowed slyly. As if I'd bolt, she strode over quickly, blocking my path.
With a you've been caught expression. Lips slightly chewed, body trembling with uncontained excitement.
"Oh my, who might this be? Harne Astel, isn't it?"
"Yes. It's been a while since the group battle."
She was the one I'd utterly judged-victorious over in the group battle. And the one who'd glared daggers at me during gaps at the entrance ceremony.
Lady Kane Swara.
According to Skala, after the group exam, she'd screamed my name at the top of her lungs in a frenzy. So, now that she'd spotted her target, her next move was obvious.
"Didn't expect to run into you here."
And as predicted, Kane immediately picked a fight.
"Well, this is where the top-class students have lessons, so of course. Quite the surprise, but you somehow got assigned here."
She curled her lip in a mocking sneer.
"Despite being so feeble, cowardly, and pathetic."
"…"
"Do you really think someone like you fits in this top-class group?"
Hmm. As expected from a meritocracy noble house—she hurled a brutal fastball without any elegant circumlocution.
Maybe because I wasn't the real Harne Astel, the personal attacks just bounced off.
Of course, I had no intention of standing there as a silent punching bag.
I looked up at the yapping Kane and quietly spoke.
"But Kane's martial rank is 10th, while mine's 9th."
"…"
A plain, simple line. Kane Swara's mouth fell slightly open, freezing stiff.
Indeed. In the group battle, Kane hadn't scored well due to Runes' solo rampage. Plus, after going wild against me, she couldn't have been at full strength for the individual matches.
Her final enrollment rank: 10th in martial arts. Barely scraping into the 20 spots of the top class.
You're next after 10th in martial arts. I'm 9th.
"The world runs on results."
"!!!"
Kane was sunk in one shot. A confirmation kill, apparently.
Her face flushed red-hot. But the problem was, her rage didn't end there.
Her whole body shuddered like an earthquake. She reached out with her left hand, slowly grasping her right.
A white glove embroidered with gold thread. Fitting for the heir of a duel-addict house—Kane's cherished duel challenge glove.
It was roughly yanked off.
And aimed straight at me.
Oh, crap.