Chapter 282: The Final Candidate
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 282: The Final Candidate
"Yay! Liya! You made it too!"
Ariel’s sudden, excited cry jolted Liya from her brief daze. The strange ripple of emotion she’d felt moments ago dissipated, replaced by a surge of genuine joy.
She had been chosen!
It was only the first step, but she had successfully taken it.
Though Ariel had tried to comfort her earlier by saying there were other ways, Liya knew that if she had failed even this, she wouldn't have had the heart to return to the Holy City.
That was close.
Liya let out a long sigh of relief, instinctively patting her majestic bosom. The movement sent a sudden ripple through her ample curves.
At the same time, she couldn't help but steal another glance to the side.
The blond man still wore that clean, gentle smile, clapping softly in congratulation.
Muen Campbell, you...
"Honestly! You just got picked and you're already showing off, you big cow!"
Ariel, oblivious to Liya’s subtle glance, wiggled her fingers like claws and flashed a wicked grin. She lunged forward to play-fight with Liya, intending to finally sneak the feel she’d restrained herself from earlier that morning.
But just as her "evil claws" were about to reach their target...
"Wait—hold on."
Liya’s cheeks flushed slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest and took a half-step back. "Everyone is watching."
Ariel froze.
Only then did her excitement cool enough for her to notice the gazes directed their way. It made sense; with two candidates standing in the same spot, more than half the assembly hall was staring at them.
"S-sorry, I got a bit carried away."
Ariel scratched her head sheepishly, but then she immediately pulled Liya into a tight embrace and glared defiantly at the surrounding crowd.
"What are you looking at?! Is there something on our faces? Haven't you ever seen a genius beauty before?!"
Liya belonged to her. She wasn't about to let these filthy, stinking men ogle her.
Disappointed sighs drifted through the air as the crowd realized they wouldn't be seeing the show they’d hoped for, and the gazes quickly shifted away.
The once-scorned illegitimate daughter of a Count was now famous throughout the Academy. Moreover, she had recently jumped several ranks to crush a fifth-year senior in combat, ruthlessly slapping the faces of those who sought to humiliate her. Naturally, few were willing to provoke her now.
Seeing the unpleasant stares vanish, Ariel scanned the room like a victorious rooster. Finally, sensing something, her gaze landed nearby.
"And you, Muen Campbell! What are you looking at?"
Ariel’s brow furrowed. "Avert your filthy eyes this instant!"
"Uh... was I looking?"
Muen’s clapping hands stiffened. He blinked his clear, innocent eyes. "I was just offering my congratulations. I didn't mean anything by it."
"We don't need your congratulations! Are you even that close with Liya?" Ariel huffed.
In her memory, Muen Campbell and Liya had almost no interaction, yet he seemed to find every excuse to strike up a conversation with her. If he didn't have some ulterior motive, who would believe it?
"Alright, alright, Ariel. You're being too sensitive," Liya said, giving Ariel a gentle nudge. "It’s not that big of a deal. A few looks won't hurt me."
"Sigh, Liya, you're just too kind for your own good."
Ariel grumbled, shaking her head helplessly.
Kindness, cuteness, purity—these were the dazzling traits that made Liya so enchanting. But these traits were like gemstones; they would always attract the greed of others.
Because of that, Ariel felt she had to work even harder to protect the Liya that belonged only to her!
Especially from a guy like Muen Campbell!
Everyone else was fooled by him, but she was the only one who had seen his true colors in the past. She knew exactly how vile he could be!
Still... at least Liya is going to the Holy City with me.
As for you, Muen Campbell—a Duke’s son who has nothing going for him but his family name and his stinking money...
You can stay cooped up in Belland forever, playing the role of a pampered playboy...
"The final candidate..."
Suddenly, Professor Prang’s deep, solemn voice rang in Ariel’s ears.
"Second year... Muen Campbell!"
"Wha—"
Ariel gasped, the sound escaping her instinctively.
She wasn't the only one. After a brief, stunned silence, the entire assembly hall erupted into a cacophony of noise.
"Who?"
"Muen Campbell?"
"Which Muen Campbell?"
After the initial shock wore off, reality set in. There was, of course, only one Muen Campbell in the Academy.
But why?
The previous candidates were all top-tier elites famous throughout the school. When their names were announced, most people simply sighed in admiration without much surprise.
But Muen Campbell...
Granted, his reputation and behavior had changed drastically this semester. His feat of raising his Magic Basic Theory score to an 80 in just one month had been a hot topic for a while.
However, these selections were supposed to be based primarily on overall strength.
Even if Muen Campbell was no longer that obnoxious playboy, what strength did he actually have?
His record this semester consisted of defeating one second-year student in a martial arts class, and—
Streaking?
Sure, streaking in front of a monster was pretty badass, and his physique was impressive, but considering he was the Academy’s most famous bottom-tier student just last semester, how much could his strength have grown in such a short time?
Besides, he had mysteriously disappeared for a while...
Yet he had been selected for the list. Could it be...
"Muen Campbell! Did you... did you pull strings?!" Ariel demanded, glaring at the man before her in outrage. "That is absolutely shameful!"
How could Muen Campbell possibly have the strength to be chosen?
To be certain, she had even specifically asked her mentor about him.
"A second-tier peak martial artist."
"Mana... still pitifully low."
See? He couldn't use magic, and his martial arts realm hadn't even broken into the third tier. In terms of raw power, he was leagues behind the others!
No matter how you looked at it, it was impossible for him to be selected!
If he was, then what had all her hard work been for?
She had worked so hard, struggled so much, and spent so much money...
Meanwhile, every time she ran into Muen Campbell, he was either sleeping or slacking off!
"Dammit..."
The thought of having to travel to the Holy City with a guy like this made her...
"They actually put me on the official list? I thought they’d find some other excuse to let me tag along," Muen muttered, also looking a bit surprised by Professor Prang’s announcement.
However, he quickly gave Ariel a nonchalant shrug.
"Believe it or not, I actually wanted to pull strings—to find a way not to go."
He noticed the stinging glares from the crowd but didn't pay them much mind. At most, those people could only glare; they couldn't actually do anything to him.
It was just a bit of a shame. The reputation he’d worked so hard to rebuild was probably about to tank again...
"One more thing," Professor Prang’s voice cut through the noise at the perfect moment.
"Since the selection criteria were not made public, there may be some doubts regarding the qualifications of certain candidates. St. Maria Academy has always upheld the principles of equality and fairness, therefore..."
Hmm?
Muen saw the corner of the stern Professor Prang’s mouth twitch into a sudden smirk. He had a very bad feeling about this.
Wait, Professor Prang, you honest-looking old man, you wouldn't...
"Therefore, until Departure Day in seven days, any student who meets the criteria may... challenge the selected candidates."
"Furthermore..."
Professor Prang paused, his gaze seemingly drifting toward Muen.
"I swear upon the name of the Academy that during these seven days of challenges, status and rank will play no part. There will be no subsequent retaliation of any kind."
"Dammit..."
The moment the words left the professor's mouth, Muen’s expression stiffened.
He could clearly feel the surrounding gazes shift from mere resentment to sharp, predatory intent. It was as if they had just seen a majestic lion suddenly turn into a clawless sheep.
Beside him, Ariel didn't even try to hide her delight, clapping her hands and laughing loudly.
"Haha! Muen Campbell, you're dead meat!"