Chapter 14
Sigrin stored her weapon case at the storage facility.
Living in a tent made her extra cautious about theft. Last night, someone had targeted her case.
If Apple, sleeping under the bed, hadn’t been there, she wouldn’t have noticed.
Still, she’d grabbed the small essentials, so it was fine.
At the arched stone entrance to Lemaos’s teleportation circle, it was usually quiet, but today it was oddly crowded with students.
“But is a fight really happening today?”
“For sure! The rumor’s everywhere.”
“Is the Lemaos Boss Battle finally happening?!”
Hmm? What’s going on?
From afar, she overheard students buzzing near the Lemaos entrance.
Something special seemed to be happening in Lemaos today.
As she approached, students spotted her and jumped excitedly.
“W-Where are you headed right now?”
“Huh? To Lemaos.”
“Gasp! It’s now! It’s happening, right?”
“What?”
Asking if I’m going home?
“Yes.”
“Got it!”
The students quickly spread the word that Sigrin was heading to Lemaos.
“Just asked where she’s going—she said Lemaos!! She’s going to fight!!”
“The Boss Battle’s starting!”
“Hey!! Gather everyone!! The mafia miss is going to crush Luca Drümuel!!”
“For real?”
“Totally!!”
Holding an apple from the fruit shop, Sigrin stood before the Lemaos teleportation circle.
Crunch.
Munching, she glanced at the swarm of Panoplia students keeping their distance.
“….”
“….”
“….”
“….”
A silent staring contest ensued between Sigrin and the onlookers.
What? Why’re they staring?
“Want to use the teleportation circle first?”
“…!!”
Is she telling us to go set the stage?
Her desire to show off was impressive. But it also meant she had the strength to back it up.
Oblivious to their misunderstanding, Sigrin kindly stepped aside.
‘For a smooth school life, it’s important to seem friendly.’
With a gentle smile, she let a group go first.
As a mafia heiress, she had to be extra kind to avoid trouble.
‘Looked friendly enough, right?’
Sadly, not at all.
Regardless, Sigrin, feeling smug, stepped onto the teleportation circle.
✦ ✦ ✦
Whoosh.
After classes, Luca returned home, watering his vegetable garden with a hose, one leg propped up.
He flung his long tie over his shoulder, one hand in his pocket, and yawned.
‘Why’s it taking so long to prepare?’
He’d expected a fight the same day he issued the challenge.
Days passed, yet no word.
‘Living in a tent village, unaffiliated, I thought she’d come armed right away.’
Well, the weather was nice, so maybe she was taking it slow.
A rain or thunderstorm flipping her tent might prompt her to charge at him with a wrench.
He’d wait another week. If nothing, he’d just throw a weapon first.
He wanted to get close fast.
A fight would reveal their strengths, and maybe he could help her.
Exciting.
She wouldn’t ignore an offer to help, right?
He recalled their earlier conversation.
[You’re as aloof as you look. Don’t wanna talk to me, huh.]
[A bit.]
If he won, how would he restore that haughty girl’s crushed pride?
Hurt her, and she’d probably never acknowledge him.
“Luca Drümuel!! A newbie’s coming to fight you right now!!”
“….”
Turning, he saw students from various villages swarming the library.
Lemaos had never seen such a crowd, leaving Luca stunned.
Oh.
Now he understood what she was preparing.
She’d gathered a massive audience.
It was Wednesday.
Wednesdays ended early for team dungeon raids to hunt beasts, but with no raids early in the semester, students were free.
‘…Wow, she’s confident.’
Luca shut off the hose and gripped his mirror sword.
At the library’s fence entrance, he could see the hill below.
‘Fought mafias twice, right?’
He’d clashed with lowlifes while living on the streets after escaping Kembelin’s education facility.
Even grunts were core users, skilled from battle experience.
And she was a candidate for a core mafia family’s heir.
No wonder classmates and teachers were in a frenzy.
“Luca Drümuel! Your opponent’s here!”
Far off, a girl led a massive student crowd.
Pale green-white hair, unreadable green eyes.
A relaxed demeanor.
He’d never been nervous facing an opponent, but now cold sweat trickled, and his heart raced.
Thump, thump, thump.
She held no weapon, just casually munching an apple as she climbed.
Right.
She’d left her weapon for dramatic effect.
Luca’s heart pounded.
‘She’s no joke.’
Her striking appearance was overshadowed by the tension.
His shallow urge to flirt vanished.
✦ ✦ ✦
Luca thought Sigrin led the crowd, but she was just mixed in, there to watch his fight.
‘Something fun’s happening in Lemaos today.’
The crowd was heading toward the library, where a battle was set.
Overhearing, it seemed Luca had picked another fight.
The Lemaos Boss Battle to decide the leader was happening now.
‘This’ll be fun.’
That was one thought.
‘Since Luca might change his mind and challenge me, I’ll watch and gather more info with the Eye of Ether.’
That was another.
Excited, Sigrin climbed the library hill.
“She’s coming, she’s coming!”
The fight seemed bigger than expected, with students buzzing.
Perfect timing.
She could loiter near the library while watching.
Had the fight not started yet?
Luca, arms crossed, looked down at her.
Students formed a circle around him.
‘I’ll stand outside the circle to watch.’
As Sigrin approached, students parted, then closed in behind her, completing the circle.
More students joined, sealing the circle tight.
No escape.
‘Huh?’
Sigrin found herself face-to-face with Luca Drümuel inside the circle.
A blond boy with sharp eyes stared at her.
His gaze was charged with exhilaration.
“Mafia!! Crush Luca!”
People pushed her back. Sigrin’s wide eyes scanned the crowd. Everyone was staring at her and Luca.
“Sigrin Ebenkera, heir candidate of the Ebenkera Family, versus the undefeated legend of Haret, Luca Drümuel!!”
“Woooow!!”
The impromptu emcee’s cheesy opening hit her ears, and Sigrin finally grasped the situation.
Oh. I’m Luca’s opponent!
…
…
…Wait, why?