I’m reporting the results of the competition. Regarding the fourth match between Principal Art and Boss Shin, both sides have forfeited… and it has been declared a draw! Considering this outcome, and looking back at the previous match records, we have one win, one loss, and two draws for each side! This means that the fate of the Versus Match will be carried over to the fifth and final match! Wow, who could have predicted that the competition would be so evenly matched, back and forth like this?! Everyone, be sure to pay close attention to the final match! Now, over to you, Instructor Milky!
Yes, I will now announce the final matchup. For the fifth match, the representative of Lumiest will be Kuromel Celsius. The representative of the Adventurer Guild will be Kelvin Celsius.
Oh my! They have the same family name!? What in the world is going on!?
The broadcast within the academy was becoming incredibly fervent. It was enthusiastically detailing the familial relationship between Kelvin and Kuromel, the contestants for the fifth match. It went on to explain Kelvin’s achievements as an S-Rank Adventurer and how accomplished a student his daughter, Kuromel, was, all presented in a no-holds-barred manner.
“Sigh, the time has finally come. And to think my opponent is Papa… I don’t think I have any chance of winning at all…”
Hearing the broadcast, Kuromel, who had just left the restroom, let out another deep sigh, the number of which she had lost count. She had understood from the start that her skills were inferior to those of her teammates. Even so, she had intended to do her best. However, it was precisely at this crucial moment that her match had arrived. Because of this, Kuromel had been in a state of extreme tension.
“Ah, Lady Kuromel, so you were here.”
“Huh?”
It was Paul, the bodyguard dispatched by Kelvin, who spoke to Kuromel. Beside him stood Shinjir, striking a pose. For some reason, he was holding a mountain of street food, likely bought from a stall.
“Paul and Shinjir? Um, what’s with all this food…?”
“I thought Lady Kuromel might be nervous. So, thoughtful me, I brought you some delicious food. It should restore your energy, right? Yep, eating something tasty is a good way to forget your worries.”
“Uh, thank you? …But, um, eating before a match might be a little difficult…”
“Wh-what!? But Lady Mel, no matter the situation, as long as she had food, she’d completely recover and even go easy on training for a little while afterward!”
“No, that’s only for her. Just because she’s your beloved daughter doesn’t mean you have to treat them the same way…”
It was a valid point.
“Um, what are you two doing here? Are you touring the academy?”
“Nah, we ain’t interested in that. Master instructed us to escort the young lady. That’s why we’re here.”
“Master Kelvin is extremely doting on his daughter. Now, Lady Kuromel! Leave the journey to the stage and your protection to us. We will surely escort you to Master!”
“Huh? Oh, yes?”
Kuromel, unable to fully grasp the situation, decided to accept their escort. After all, it was a reasonable course of action, and she had no reason to refuse.
“My goodness, the strategy of grabbing her stomach has failed unimaginably. But, with the current flow, your tension should have eased somewhat, right? Yes, that was my true plan all along!”
“Sheesh, you’re as self-serving as ever. By the way, young lady, which way is the stage? We’ve been running around looking for you, and frankly, we’re a little lost.”
“Lost?”
“This academy is unreasonably wide, you see. It’s understandable that we’d get lost. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“…Heh, perhaps you’re right.”
Seeing Paul and Shinjir’s impromptu comedy routine, Kuromel seemed to have regained her smile.
“To get to the venue, just go straight down this passage—”
“—Young lady, stop. Don’t go any further.”
“Huh?”
As Kuromel started to walk, pointing the way to the venue, Paul suddenly stopped her. Shinjir then stepped in front of her, as if to protect her from something.
“W-what’s wrong?”
“Well, we just sensed a rather unpleasant presence. If there’s someone hiding there, why don’t you come out? We know you’re there.”
“…I see, you’ve noticed me.”
A voice emerged from the shadows of the passage, followed by the appearance of a large figure. And this figure was someone Kuromel knew well.
“In-Instructor Horas?”
“Instructor? Who’s that?”
“Um, he’s one of the teachers at Lumiest. He’s also the head of Marl Dormitory.”
“Huh, so he’s in a position of some responsibility. And what business does that big shot have with our young lady? With such obvious hostility?”
Regardless of whether the other party was an academy instructor, Paul’s words were devoid of any hesitation. However, it was understandable, as Paul had just mentioned, Horas clearly harbored hostility.
“Hostility? Oh, what are you talking about? I merely came to pick up first-year student Kuromel. As was announced on the broadcast, first-year student Kuromel will be participating in the next match. However, she was absent from the waiting room for a bit longer than usual, so a few instructors were looking for her. This area is under my patrol, and I happened to find first-year student Kuromel. I don’t see anything strange about that, do you?”
“Hmph, I’d advise you not to tell such clumsy lies. If that’s the case, there’s no need to hide over there, is there? Although, if you’re going to lie or hide, you should suppress your killing intent a little more. Don’t underestimate our senses, honed to death by Lady Ange! Seriously! I’m not kidding! We were trained to death!”
Shinjir’s words were filled with an unusual intensity.
“…I was merely observing the situation as a student was being approached by suspicious men— But, I suppose I can’t keep this up any longer. I must admit, A-Rank Adventurers have improved somewhat, haven’t they? I apologize for having underestimated you.”
Horas began to bow deeply towards Paul and Shinjir. *Did the misunderstanding clear up?* Kuromel wondered, but Paul and Shinjir remained wary. In fact, they began to ready their weapons, their vigilance intensifying.
“Therefore, I will have to resort to some rather drastic measures from here on.”
“!”
Looking up, Kuromel saw a glossy black halo appear above Horas’s head, followed by wings of the same color forming on his back. He looked just like a Fallen Angel.
“Oi oi oi oi, what the hell is going on?! I just came to escort the young lady!”
“Escort is an impolite term. It should be… never mind. Well, what should we do?”
The pressure emanating from Horas was no longer comparable to before, and even Kuromel could feel the killing intent. And Paul and Shinjir, having been trained rigorously under Kelvin, instinctively recognized the power of the being before them. This was undoubtedly a superior enemy, meaning—
*Interesting, I’ll crush him!*
*A valuable strong opponent, I shall defeat her!*
—a worthy opponent to fight. The side effect of their Battle Maniac training had manifested.
“In-Instructor Horas, what exactly is your objective…?”
Amidst this peculiar outbreak of battle-crazed individuals, Kuromel, who maintained a semblance of rational thought, posed a perfectly reasonable question. Horas smiled slightly at Kuromel and replied,
“I believe I told you at the beginning. First-year student Kuromel, no, Fallen Angel Kuromel. I came to welcome you. As fellow Fallen Angels.”
