IT’S like I’m chasing after strength like Arius, but there was nothing I could do when those cleaners attacked us in the dungeon practical. I figure things like that are going to keep happening if I’m hanging out with nobles and royals, and I want to protect them when they’re in danger. That’s why I want to get stronger.
“Arius, do you think I can get stronger? People think girls are the ones who are supposed to be protected, but I don’t like that,” I’d mentioned casually to Arius when we went to that café and told each other we’d been reincarnated into this world.
“You’re serious about your studies, and you’re practicing on your own too. So, yeah, you can get stronger.” He sounded confident.
“How do you know I’m practicing on my own?”
“I can tell by how much you’re improving. In both our sword and magic classes, you’re the person who’s improved the most.”
So…he was paying attention to me? Not that that made me happy or anything.
“But if you’re aiming even higher, you need to make it so you can manipulate mana with precision. Mana manipulation is a foundational skill of combat,” he continued.
He then enthusiastically explained the general concept of mana manipulation and how to practice. He really did get obsessed when it came to talking about fighting.
Since he had bothered to explain it to me, I’d been diligently practicing mana manipulation every day, and he could tell that too. He always looked at you with this confident expression, like he knew everything. It’s really kind of annoying.
“Anyway, I’ll do my best,” I said before leaving for my match.
“I’m sure you can win,” Arius replied as he watched me head down to the ring.
My face felt hot. Even I could tell it was red. Arius believed in me, that I could win the match… It was his fault for saying something like that!
My first match was against a second-year student named Kamil Stefan. He was the second son of Viscount Stefan and, while he wasn’t as good-looking as a Love Academy love interest like Arius, people in school still said he was pretty cute.
“You’re Milia Rondo? Even my classmates talk about you. They say you’re talented with magic despite being a commoner. Please do try hard not to bore me,” he scoffed.
He was totally looking down on me and wasn’t even trying to hide his disparaging attitude toward commoners. Even if he were a bit cute, he didn’t even compare to Arius.
“Thank you, Master Stefan. I’ll do my best to live up to the rumors,” I replied coolly.
In the game, Milia had done well in the Combat Tournament. By “well,” I mean she gave her upperclassman opponent a run for his money but still lost in the end.
But I was more serious about my practice than Milia in the game had been. When I had time, I’d go into the Academy’s dungeon. I also learned about mana manipulation, so I had no intention of losing.
“Strengthen! Haste!”
I cast my support spells, then focused mana into my sword.
I remembered something Arius had said: “In order to manipulate mana well, you should keep practicing every day until you’re completely out of mana. But you can’t just blunder through it. You need to focus, feel the flow of mana throughout your body as you form a clear image in your mind of everything.”
Just like he’d instructed, I had practiced every day until I was spent. That’s why I could focus mana into my sword like it was no big deal.
“I don’t like junior classmen with an attitude,” Kamil said.
The moment the match started, he came straight at me. He wasn’t even using spells or skills. Kamil was fighting with this gaudy longsword made of gold and crusted with gemstones. His movements were flashy too. It was like he was dancing as he swung his sword at me, but because he was using such exaggerated motions, it wasn’t hard to dodge.
I approached him from his non-dominant hand and began my attack.
“Flashing Blade!”
An intermediate one-handed sword skill that sped up your blade for a series of attacks. I got him right in his completely undefended flank. My series of mana-infused sword attacks easily made him go into the three digits.
“Impossible! You got lucky!”
Kamil let his anger get the better of him as he rushed me to attack, but his movements got even more unrefined, making it only easier to dodge. I calmly evaluated his motions and hit him repeatedly until his Special Barrier broke with a snap.
“I lost…to a first year? A commoner? It’s not possible!” Even so, he didn’t accept his defeat and tried to attack me again, but one of the teachers stopped him.
“I won…”
Obviously, I had been aiming to win, but it was shockingly easy. It was kind of anticlimactic. I went back to the participant seats, where Arius welcomed me back.
“A perfect win, Milia. I expected that from you, but the other students seem surprised.”
With a look of triumph, Arius gestured for me to look around. I’d been so focused on my match that I hadn’t noticed, but the students in the spectator seats and participant seats were staring at me. Noelle and Sasha were standing among them, clapping for me, which made me feel a little awkward.
“You really are strong, Milia… That second year stood no chance against you,” awed Prince Vern, as happy as if it were his own victory.
“It’s thanks to Arius that I won. He taught me how to practice mana manipulation.”
“All I did was tell you how to do it. You got stronger because you were diligent about practicing.”
Of course, he would say something like that. Sure, it made me happy that he was acknowledging my hard work, but I’d really prefer it if he didn’t compliment me that much. He’s making me smile!
But I know that Arius thinks of me as just a friend.
“You were amazing, Milia. And good for you, getting a compliment from Arius.”
“Sophia! I-It’s not like getting a compliment from him makes me happy or anything.”
“No? You look happy to me,” she teased with a smile.
“My good friend, once the tournament is over, will you teach me about mana manipulation?” Prince Vern asked Arius as he tried to put an arm around his shoulders, but Arius avoided it, as expected.
“Stop being so clingy, Vern. I don’t mind teaching you, but you need to focus on your matches right now. You’ve come far enough that I don’t think you’ll lose easily,” Arius scolded.
“I plan to focus, of course. I’ll win until you and I are in a match against each other.”
He might act cold toward Prince Vern, but the two of them got on really well. It was a sort of guy friends thing, which honestly made me a bit jealous.
Arius had been talking a lot to Prince Zeke lately too. But Prince Zeke seemed to be a little standoffish still. He was sitting by himself watching the matches.
“Good luck, Prince Zeke. Sasha’s supporting you from the stands,” I told him.
“Yeah, I know. I can’t let her see me looking bad,” he said without joking. He seemed a little nervous.
“I think you’re supposed to make a joke saying, ‘Aren’t you supporting me too, Milia?’ Because you act all rough around the edges, but you’re really a good guy.”
“I’m not really…”
“Zeke, I’m supporting you,” Arius added.
“Arius…” Prince Zeke looked like he was taken off guard when Arius suddenly jumped into the conversation.
“I know for certain that you trying out various things is the right decision for getting stronger. I support you because you’re working hard. What’s more important than you being Eric’s brother is the fact that you are you, Zeke Stallion. Go out there and fight your way.”
“…You’re right. I’m not going to imitate my brother. I do what I can and give it everything I’ve got.” Zeke nodded, his expression determined. “And Milia, you better support me too.”
He strode off with dignity, his back straight as he went down to the arena.