I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes - Chapter 79: The End of the Representative Battle

“Kyaaak!”

Phibian, shocked when her own spell backfired on her, fell backward in surprise.

“…?”

Blink.

Blink.

She remained seated, dazed for a while, then looking up at me, she asks.

“What… what did you just do…?”

After a moment of thought, I raised my right index finger in front of my face.

With the most meaningful smile I could muster, I said.

[Skill: Negator’s Dispel Lv.1 (Mythical)] (New)

“It’s a secret.”

***

“A secret, what do you mean by that—…!”

It was when Phibian was about to grill Ceylon, who deflected her queries.

“Winner, Ceylon!”

Corn raised his hand toward Ceylon in a gesture of victory.

“Eh!?”

Phibian looked at Corn in confusion.

“I haven’t lost yet!?”

Corn’s face took on a look as if he were dealing with a petulant child.

“You’re saying I lost?”

Nod.

“Why!?”

“Because…”

Corn’s voice trailed off with a troubled look.

That’s when Phibian snapped back to reality, realizing only then.

Her combat protective spells had been shattered.

“No way…”

She was so stunned that she could only blink her eyes.

In that brief moment.

To think not only had her green counterwind been destroyed, but she’d sustained that much damage?

It was a strike filled with a terrible force.

It wasn’t a technique that Ceylon, who was only at a 2-star level, could display.

“You! What on earth did you do!?”

“What do you mean, what I did—”

Ceylon attempted to raise his right index finger in front of his face.

“Don’t just say it’s a secret, tell me!!!”

“Hahaha, it seems Miss Phibian is quite interested in my secret. Isn’t that a bit embarrassing?”

“Stop saying disgusting things—”

Phibian was about to fall for Ceylon’s pace, totally swayed by him, ready to make him happy, when suddenly,

“Wowwwww!!!!”

Roars burst forth from the crowd.

“What was that just now?”

“He destroyed Leolalian’s protective spells with one blow, and even the combat defense spells too!?”

“He had such a trump card hidden away!?”

“What did you see?”

“No… we saw nothing…”

The new swordsmanship students cheered, expressing their marvel at how they interpreted Ceylon’s Dispel.

“Lies…”

“Did he really destroy Phibian’s arcane magic???”

“Not just any arcane magic, but Leolalian family’s, and with such damage…?”

“What on earth did he do?”

“We didn’t even sense any mana—”

Even the new magic students, despite the disgrace of their representative being defeated, could not hold back their admiration for Ceylon.

“Ceylon~~~!”

At that moment, as if she had been waiting just for this, Adella ran over and threw herself at Ceylon.

“Oops!”

Ceylon, a bit flustered, caught her nonetheless.

Squishy.

“Miss Adella, it’s dangerous, what’s the meaning of this—”

“But~ Ceylon looked so gallantly amazing that I just couldn’t help myself~”

Adella truly meant it.

Well, half-meant it.

Taking the chance, she embraced Ceylon, unleashing her own physical prowess without restraint.

“You were really amazing, Ceylon…”

With her eyes sparkling, Adella gazed up at Ceylon while she was wrapped in his embrace.

“Haha, thank you. Having someone like Miss Adella praise me so lavishly, I hardly know how to react.”

Ceylon expressed his heartfelt thanks.

Despite the seemingly peaceful demeanor he held, as if he was oblivious to the woman in his arms.

Adella, who understood the charm she had as a woman all too well, felt her pride wounded.

‘Is he really a man…?’

With a mix of doubt, she raised her finger.

With that long, slender finger wrapped in a white cloth glove, she pressed firmly against his chest.

‘Oh… what’s this…?’

Contrary to appearances, his chest was firm, almost solid to the touch.

And because of the intense duel they had just fought, there was a subtle moisture on his chest.

“…”

Enthralled, Adella pressed into his chest, tickled by the scent of that moisture that teased her nose.

It was an impulse not driven by intent – just pure sincerity.

“Miss Adella…?”

By now, even Ceylon could not help but feel a bit flustered, calling out her name at the moment when he did.

-Whooosh

A gust of wind blew from the side, striking Adella’s face directly.

“Ah!!!

Her golden curls, which had been neatly rolled, now stuck to her face, forcing her to pull away from Ceylon and fix her hair.

“Kekeke, idiot.”

Adryn, who had been clenching her teeth out of anticipation to step forward like Adella did, couldn’t help but smile at the satisfying scene.

“What in the world are you trying to do!?”

With that, an enraged Adella – without even a moment’s hesitation – confronted Phibian.

Phibian looked at both Adella and Ceylon with eyes full of disdain.

“You should compose yourself in front of everyone. Putting that silly man aside, you are, after all, supposedly a lady from House Espien—”

“…”

While certainly, the action of grabbing onto Ceylon was calculated, the enthusiasm that followed was not.

Embarrassed, Adella had nothing to retort and awkwardly turned her head.

Conversely, Ceylon had much he wanted to say.

“Wait, Miss Phibian… why include me too…”

“Hah! Think it over while touching your own chest!”

Phibian pointed her index finger at Ceylon’s chest.

“Er-”

As she envisioned Adella overlaying there, she felt a revulsion as if sensing Ceylon’s touch, hastily wiping her finger clean.

“Anyhow! Don’t start celebrating victory in such an unsightly way in front of everyone! It’s not over yet!”

She was infuriated.

Utterly and insanely so.

With her dream of an ideal victory shattered at the hands of this annoying man.

But it was too early to give up.

Now that it’s come to this, let’s win the representative battle.

Win the representative battle, and with the winner’s rights, make this irritating man submit to a humiliating demand and watch his smug expression crumble.

To lean on group strength for a victory after personal defeat, finding solace in what would seem a mental victory.

This was a petty act that the usual Phibian would never consider.

But for Phibian at that moment, it didn’t matter.

If she could just crush this annoying man’s far too high pride!? She was willing to be petty.

As it happened, the swordsmanship division was currently without both Drin Lebringer and Kasha Hanahan.

Under these circumstances, if the remaining matches were contested, the magic division stood a high chance of victory.

After all, the magic division had kept back one of their top contenders, planning ahead for a match against Kasha Hanahan.

‘Ugh-‘

Despite second thoughts, Phibian forcibly tucked away her pride and shouted.

“Let’s continue the match! Havila Tabalier!”

She called out urgently, as if she was being chased.

Then a woman stepped forward.

She was tall for a woman, but her hunched posture made her seem smaller somehow.

Her long school uniform sleeves were stretched out, and her lengthy bangs veiled her face like a curtain.

“Hee, heehee… If this is how it’s going to be, there’s no need to fight Hanahan, right…?”

A shadowy voice perfectly suited to her sinister appearance.

Despite the undesirable facade, she was a verified expert, none other than Havila Tabalier, who had secured the third place in the final grades of the magic department entrance exam.

“You! Hurry up and nominate the next competitor!”

“Is it just me, or do you seem a bit rushed, Phibian? Could it be that you have some urgent matter to attend to? Surely, it’s not that you, of esteemed position, want to conclude the match before Kasha arrives – such a petty thought wouldn’t be like you.”

“Eeek!!! Just stop it! You’re the one dragging the time, quickly nominate the next contestant!”

“Oh dear, seems like I’ve been found out.”

“We are saying the same thing! Can you not equate me with someone like you!?”

“Oh! That wasn’t the intent, but all the same, take note!”

The backlash from Phibian, who had lost the match, was no joke.

Ceylon felt both elation from teasing Phibian and a sense of nervousness.

‘Where has Kasha gone off to!?’

Just as Phibian had said, he was intentionally dragging out the time.

“Let’s see—”

With an inner nervousness contrary to his appearance, Ceylon slowly scanned around the swordsmanship camp with a deliberately leisurely demeanor.

“Ha! Since you’re going to lose anyway, why not send out anyone?”

That was when Phibian, feeling cocky about winning, had such a thought.

“Hmm…?”

Suddenly, a crow flew in and landed on Havila’s shoulder.

– Caw, caw!

The crow seemed to whisper something into Havila’s ear.

“Uh oh…”

Listening to the whispering crow, Havila spoke out.

“Phib… Phibian… I think it would be better if you pick quickly…”

A sense of urgency seeped through her characteristic shadowy voice, trailing off at the end.

“Choose someone already!!!”

Without wasting a moment, Phibian understood the situation and pressed Ceylon.

The problem was, Ceylon too noticed her expression and understood the situation immediately.

“Hmm~ then I’ll choose—”

Ceylon’s words came out slow and deliberate, his smile insufferably smug in Phibian’s eyes.

“I nominate Kasha Hanahan.”

“But Hanahan is—”

Not here right this moment!

Just as Phibian was about to say that, an unexpected chill rode the air currents towards them.

They reflexively looked in the direction from which the chill emanated.

There was Kasha Hanahan, sprinting with full force.

Her running figure exuded the savagery of a wolf’s chase, yet with an inherent elegance.

“Heave… heave…”

The dark blue wolf brought with her a chill as she arrived in front of Ceylon.

Without catching her breath, she immediately said,

“I’m sorry for being late…”

Everybody heard Kasha’s apology, yet they knew,

The apology that Kasha Hanahan uttered was solely meant for Ceylon.

Her attention was fixated solely on him.

Ceylon, seeing Kasha, smiled with relief.

“Not at all, you are not late. You came just at the right time.”

“Is that so…”

Something about just seeing Ceylon softened the usually icy expression on Kasha’s face.

“…?”

Everyone present doubted their eyes.

The Kasha Hanahan they knew did not match the Kasha Hanahan before them.

Even Ceylon doubted his eyes and cautiously asked Kasha.

“By the way, Miss Kasha— where did you go?”

Her expression became complex.

She carefully said,

“I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything… I needed some time to prepare myself in your absence…”

“Prepare yourself…?”

“I meant to calm down and return right back, but…”

Kasha’s voice trailed off, unable to continue as she looked at Ceylon.

“Do I really need to hear it…?”

If she really were a wolf, perhaps her ears would be drooping right now?

That was the expression she wore.

‘Why, why are you doing this.’

Ceylon was inwardly panicking like mad.

The Kasha he knew would have snapped in such a situation—

“It’s none of your concern, is it?”

She would have stared coldly and bitingly retorted like a superior.

Ceylon was extremely disconcerted.

What on earth happened during her absence to cause such a sudden change in her?

“Ah, no. If it’s uncomfortable for you, you don’t have to tell me.”

Ultimately, Ceylon, more flustered by her gentle demeanor than if she had glared and snapped, waved his hands dismissively.

Then, Kasha bowed her head and murmured so low that no one else could hear.

“You really do understand me…”

“Excuse me? What did you say?”

When Ceylon asked again, Kasha looked up at him.

“So, what should I do?”

“Excuse me? Oh! Could you, if you’re alright, please participate in this match—”

Without any hesitation, Kasha nodded vigorously.

The gesture so unlike her seemed overlaid with a large figure—a wolf, perhaps.

“Understood. I will secure the victory and dedicate it to you.”

Kasha’s eyes were as sharp as the teeth of a wolf.

However, as she looked at Ceylon, her gaze sparkled mercilessly.

Like a wolf that brings its prey to a partner, such was Kasha’s expression.

Then Kasha turned her body away from Ceylon and looked at Havila.

In an instant, the twinkling of her eyes froze over, scattering a stern chill.

Having returned to her usual bearing in a blink, Kasha glared at Havila.

In response to her chilling gaze, Havila immediately raised her long sleeves and with her distinct shadowy laugh, said,

“I surrender.”

“What!?”

Phibian looked at Havila in astonishment.

“Why!?”

“Heehee… Because it’s Hanahan. I intended to surrender if I was up against Hanahan from the start.”

“No— then you should have said so earlier!”

“I’m sorry, my bad…”

“What sort of person are you—”

Phibian’s mouth hung open as Havila, with no hint of actual apology, continued to chuckle in her peculiar shadowy manner.

“With the surrender of Havila Tabalier, winner Kasha Hanahan. And—”

Corn raised his hand towards the swordsmanship camp.

“With Kasha Hanahan’s victory, the swordsmanship division has reached 5 wins first. Therefore, by the rules of the best-of-five series, the final victor of the representative battle is the swordsmanship division!”

Corn announced with as much enthusiasm as he could muster, trying to lift the dispirited mood.

“Wowwwww!!!!”

Rousing cheers erupted from the swordsmanship camp in response.

Riding the cheer of the swordsmanship crowd, Ceylon looked at Phibian.

“Haha, this is unfortunate, Miss Phibian.”

He said, with his signature smirking demeanor that wasn’t the least bit regretful.

Corn took it from there.

“Now then, representative battle winner Ceylon. As per the privileges of the winner, please state your demand to the representative battle loser, Phibian Leolalian.”

At that, Ceylon gave Phibian a wickedly teasing smile.

“Shall I?”

“Ah…”

Phibian felt her consciousness blurring.