Chapter 644: A Mother’s Care?

After Riley’s match, he stayed in the waiting area, leaning against the wall as he watched the screen.

Seo’s fight came right after his, and honestly, he already knew how it would end even before she stepped onto the stage.

And sure enough—

SWIISHHH!

Click!

“Winner, Seo Gyeoul!”

Her match didn’t even last a minute.

The crowd screamed, cheered, and some even straight–up shouted her name with star-struck voices.

Much like Riley’s, her match ended fast—only a tiny bit slower than his.

Her swordsmanship was still as sharp and clean as ever.

Everyone watching could see that.

Even the announcer sounded excited trying to keep up.

Since their next battles were scheduled for tomorrow—against whoever won in Sector B—they had more than enough free time for the rest of the day.

With that, the two decided to go check out the other sectors, specifically Snow and Rose’s matches, which were spread out across the arena grounds.

“Riley, is Alice joining us later?” Seo asked, walking beside him.

“Yeah… though she said she’ll spend a bit more time with Lorraine first. Apparently, there was some small incident, so she wants to look after her for a while.”

“I see…” Seo nodded quietly, eyes shifting to him for a moment. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked, “Since Rose’s match is around noon… is it okay if we get some ramen first?”

“Hm? Were you hungry?”

“…Yes.”

Riley couldn’t help letting out a small laugh. “Is that so? Then let’s go. Snow’s in Sector C so we can pick her up first, and Rose will probably join us if I call her—”

“No.”

“…No?”

Seo looked away, her expression stiff—too stiff for someone pretending she wasn’t flustered. “Just the two of us… let’s go… just us.”

A faint blush climbed up her ears, betraying her calm tone

Riley smiled gently.

“Alright.”

It was the first time Seo ever requested something this… cute.

Something this straightforward. And because it came from her, of all people, he wasn’t going to say no.

He figured the other girls would understand anyway.

’I noticed Alice using her authority earlier… I should probably ask her about it later.’

…

Meanwhile, among the sea of audience watching the matches in Sector B, Hajey Gyeoul bit his lip, his face twisting with irritation.

Fuck…

He clicked his tongue, the annoyance boiling in him as the scenes from the last two matches replayed in his head.

He knew—that half-breed sister of his was a monster of a genius, someone who didn’t even need to try to reach heights other people bled for.

But seeing it again, seeing her cut down an opponent like it was nothing… it stung more than he wanted to admit.

Hajey could only grimace, remembering how he’d tried to go after Seo back in the team battle a few days ago—how half-hearted that plan was compared to the level she was actually standing on.

Her skill had already reached the zenith of the martial realm.

He knew she’d mastered the hidden blade technique, but watching it live, watching the precision in her movement… it reminded him just how massive the gap between them truly was.

“Damn it…!” he muttered, fists lightly tightening.

“Now~ now~, Haje, don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Cristo, his best friend, said around a mouthful of popcorn. He didn’t even look away from the match happening below.

“They say comparison is the killer of joy, you know? Or… something like that.”

He shrugged casually, like Hajey’s entire identity crisis was just another passing breeze.

Hajey glared at him. Cristo didn’t even notice.

He then closed his eyes, letting out a long, controlled breath as the irritation slowly drained from his face.

“…You’re right.”

“Hmm? That was fast.” Cristo raised a brow, hand still halfway to his mouth with a popcorn kernel pinched between his fingers. “I honestly thought you’d start arguing again. Has my little Hajey finally grown up?”

“Shut it.” Hajey clicked his tongue but didn’t snap back as harshly as before. “Even if I’m pissed off about that freak, I can’t deny it. Seo… she’s a monster. That much is true. But that doesn’t mean I should just let her be.”

Cristo chewed quietly, wisely keeping the thought ’you definitely could just leave her be…’ to himself. No point adding fuel to the fire.

“But what can we even do now?” Cristo continued instead. “Even if we follow your plan, I doubt it’ll work. You saw what she did earlier—and don’t forget Riley. You saw that too. I really doubt he’d sit around and ignore everything once he notices something’s off.”

Hajey fell silent for a moment, brows knitted, the gears in his mind turning. Then he nodded to himself, expression sharpening with a grim sort of resolve.

“Even if I’m not sure how Riley will react… I can tell he won’t do anything.”

Cristo stared. “…How the hell do you figure that?”

“He trusts her too much,” Hajey muttered. “And our plan starts on the stage. If he interferes… then that would only prove something to that shameless brat.”

His fists tightened on his lap, knuckles pale.

“That he doesn’t trust her at all.”

“Hmmm… I get the logic,” Cristo muttered, scratching the side of his cheek with his pinky, “but I really don’t think Riley would risk Seo’s safety just because he trusts her too much. Pride or no pride, he’s not the kind of guy who’d sit still if she’s actually in danger… you know that.”

He threw another popcorn in his mouth before adding, “And honestly… that item Mistress Aera gave us? I don’t trust it. Last time it didn’t even protect us from Princess Stacia. What more someone like Lady Seo? She practically breathes swordsmanship.”

“This and that are different,” Hajey shot back, eyes sharp. “This time we got full permission to use the codes on those runes without restrictions. If we prepare ahead, it will work. No—” he clenched his fist, jaw tight, “—it must work.”

Cristo stared at him for a moment, watching the intensity burning behind his eyes… then let out a small dramatic sigh and raised both hands.

“Alright, alright… if you say so. I’ll support you till the end, oh best friend and master of mine~”

He joked, but the uneasy feeling in his stomach didn’t fade.

Because honestly… he had doubts.

A lot of doubts.

The only information, they have on Riley even up to now was those weird rumors recently…

Yeah, the ancient runes would probably give good buffs—maybe some boosted strength, better reflexes, tougher skin for a bit… but affecting Seo? Stopping her?

Cristo wasn’t convinced.

He remembered her match clearly—how she moved like a blade given life, how her strikes felt too clean, too heavy, too fast. Even the crowd went silent.

Something told him… if those runes did anything, it would probably only be on their bodies. Maybe make Hajey hit harder before getting crushed anyway.

Cristo quietly glanced at Hajey, who stood there with that stubborn, fiery expression.

…Yeah. This was definitely going to be one of those “life lessons learned the hard way.”

Still, he nodded to himself.

Well, Seo wouldn’t kill him. Probably.

And the academy does guarantee contestant safety…

So, it might be fine.

Probably.

He popped another kernel of popcorn into his mouth and sighed deeply.

Sometimes supporting your bestfriend meant watching them run headfirst into a wall… and being there to drag them back out.

This will probably my first failed mission.

…

Inside a certain ramen shop tucked inside the commercial district of the academy, a weird kind of tension brewed in the air.

Not the dangerous kind.

Not the serious kind.

Just… pure confusion.

“Here, ahh~ it’s delicious, right?”

Seo quietly chewed the warm dumpling Aera had placed into her mouth.

Her usually blank expression wavered just a little as she stared at the beautiful woman sitting across from her.

Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her skirt while she glanced between Aera and Riley, silently asking him what was going on.

Riley, sitting beside her, looked just as confused.

Aera, completely clueless to the storm of confusion she’d caused, smiled warmly at Seo.

“Look at you… growing prettier every time I see you. And the way you dress now—much better. I was honestly worried you wouldn’t adapt to the outside world because of our family’s strict rules. I’m happy I was wrong.”

As she spoke, she gently patted Seo’s head like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Seo didn’t understand a thing that was happening… but she couldn’t deny Aera’s touch was warm. Comforting, even.

Meanwhile, Riley finally reached the limit of his patience. He looked straight at Aera, his eyes narrowing.

“What exactly are you doing here, Lady Aera?”

Aera glanced at him with a sly little smirk, her half-closed eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Fufu~ whatever do you mean? Is a mother not allowed to spend time with her daughter?”

Riley stared at her.

What the hell is this woman talking about…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep