The next day.

The second day of the competition had finally arrived, and with it came an electrifying atmosphere that crackled with anticipation.

The screening phase for the first-year students was concluded with the battle royal yesterday, leaving only thirty contestants to proceed.

The tournament’s structure had shifted into a knockout format, where each match would determine who advanced and who would be eliminated.

Luck played a role in deciding matchups, ensuring an unpredictable and exhilarating contest.

As the crowd filled the stands, eager to witness the battles, the announcer’s voice echoed through the grand coliseum.

“Welcome to the second day of the tournament. With only fifteen spots left for the next round, these competitors must give their all, as the one who loses would be kicked out. Without further ado, let’s begin!”

The matches kicked off with a rapid succession of intense battles, each showcasing the unique abilities of the competitors.

Among the 30 contestants, each fighter had their own strengths, making every match unpredictable, so the matches were exciting, to say the least.

Match 1: Claudia vs. Edgar.

Claudia’s shadow sword art was as deceptive as it was deadly. She weaved in and out of the darkness, confusing Edgar before delivering a decisive blow.

Her calculated approach made the match one of the most entertaining of the day.

“Claudia’s control over the battlefield is terrifying!”

“She’s a predator! Edgar didn’t even know where she was half the time!”

Those were the only things the audience could say, and poor Edgar, despite giving a hard fight, lost due to the lack of mana.

Match 2: Mira vs. Roland.

Mira, as a skilled knight, demonstrated her exceptional control over her body movements and sword against Roland, another close-combat fighter.

Every time Roland attempted to close the distance, Mira cut his path with her unpredictable movements. With an elegant flourish, she left him bleeding at the end, forcing the referee to declare her the winner.

“Goddess Mira! Let’s go!!! She’s like an artist in battle.”

“Roland never had a chance; she controlled the whole match!”

As soon as the second match concluded, however, Mira disappeared. No one could find her.

Match 3: Keryu vs. Allen.

Keryu, a magic swordsman, faced off against Allen, a defensive specialist. From the onset, Keryu dominated the fight, using his speed and superior battle intellect to pressure Allen, whose shield-based magic couldn’t keep up with the relentless assault.

A final wave of Keryu’s magic blast sent Allen sprawling, ending the match decisively.

“Keryu might just win!”

“Allen had a good defense, but Keryu was just too overwhelming.”

Match 4: Ben vs. Sylvia.

Ben, known for his heavy swordsmanship, took on Sylvia, a speed-based combatant. The audience watched in awe as Sylvia danced around Ben, striking at his weak points. However, Ben’s resilience proved unmatched. He withstood the attacks and, with a single devastating punch, shattered Sylvia’s defenses, securing his victory.

“Man, with how it was going, I thought Sylvia would win.”

“One hit and it was over, yet I feel he was just lucky.”

Many didn’t feel that Ben won because of his abilities, but that wasn’t uncalled for. As a generic protagonist, he was supposed to be underestimated before he proved himself.

Match 5: Damian vs. Elric.

Unlike the last matches, this one was memorable not because of the fight but because of how soon it ended.

The match was over the moment it began since Elric surrendered.

Elric was Damian’s underling, and he just served his purpose and took an exit from the competition.

“That’s it? No fighting?”

“Damn, I was expecting to see him fight, as he had never really fought earnestly.”

Match 6: Margaret vs. Julius.

Margaret, who seemed like a fire mage to everyone, revealed her true power of summoner, showcasing her versatility by summoning multiple fire spirits to wear Julius down.

Though Julius managed to destroy several of them, the sheer number of summons overwhelmed him, leading to his defeat.

“Damn, this girl is strong. I never thought she was since her performance during the election competition wasn’t special.”

“Julius couldn’t focus on one target; Margaret outsmarted him.”

The fact that there was another genius among the first-year students was revealed today, and Margaret, who showcased her true power, would surely be scouted by many people.

Match 7: Brisk vs. Fiona.

Brisk, the barbarian prince, moved with incredible speed, delivering rapid and strong strikes that left Fiona struggling to react.

Within minutes, a final slice of his giant axe sent Fiona tumbling out of bounds.

“That’s a barbarian for you! Fiona’s attacks were totally ignored by him!”

“It was a poor matchup for Fiona. She could’ve reached higher if she were matched with someone else.”

Match 8: Rectumer vs. Horace.

Rectumer, the berserker, clashed with Horace, a brute-force warrior. The battle was an intense spectacle of strength, but Rectumer’s berserker rage gave him a boost, causing Horace to be taken by surprise.

“That’s insane control! Rectumer is a beast!”

“Horace never got to use his strength properly!”

…………..

The other matches continued as today, the number of first-year students was supposed to be decreased to 15 no matter what.

The only good thing was that the winners would have three days to rest before they would have to fight again.

Those three days would be the knockout matches of the second, third, and fourth-year students.

After all, the competition was just starting.

……………

Meanwhile, in the chamber of the student council’s vice presidents, unlike the competition, things were quiet.

The chamber was silent except for the faint crackling of the fireplace. Alex sat on the couch, his posture relaxed yet his gaze fixated on the dancing flames.

Mira, who had won her match, now sat beside him, her hands resting on her lap, fingers slightly curled as if hesitant to move.

She had come here the first thing after her match as she needed to talk to Alex.

Right now, the air between them was neither tense nor particularly calm—it simply existed, just like they did in this moment.

Neither of them spoke for a long time. Silence was comfortable with Mira; she didn’t need to fill it with meaningless words.

Yes, she came here to talk, but this wasn’t too bad either.

And Alex, despite his usual quick tongue, seemed to respect that.

They had been like this for some time, just sitting side by side, as if the world beyond this chamber didn’t matter.

Then, out of nowhere, Mira spoke.

“I love you.”

The words fell from her lips with an eerie simplicity, as if she were stating a fact rather than confessing an emotion.

There was no hesitation, no trembling in her voice. Just a cold, factual statement.

Inwardly, however, she could hear her heart beating like a drum.

She didn’t know why she said that. She just did, and she didn’t know why she was feeling tense; she just did.

Her words, however, came right from her heart, and she knew it.

Mira wasn’t going to take back her words.

Alex turned his head slightly, his eyes studying her.

Her gaze was locked on the floor instead of looking at him, her expression unreadable as ever.

If it were anyone else, he might have assumed she was joking, but Mira didn’t joke. And that was precisely why Alex couldn’t accept it so easily.

He leaned back slightly, resting his arm on the back of the couch. “How do you know?”

Mira blinked, finally turning her gaze toward him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I asked,” Alex said, tilting his head. “How do you know that you love me?”

For a moment, Mira didn’t respond. Her fingers twitched slightly as she processed his question.

Feelings had never been her strong suit. Emotions were… complicated. She understood logic, tactics, and efficiency. But emotions? They were irrational, unpredictable, and often troublesome.

She had spent most of her life ignoring them. And yet, here she was.

“I… don’t know,” she finally admitted, her voice devoid of uncertainty despite the meaning behind her words. “I just know.”

Alex let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. “That’s not good enough, Mira.”

She frowned slightly, her expression shifting for the first time. “Why not?”

“Because love isn’t something you just ‘know,'” he explained. “It’s something you feel, something that makes your heart race, makes you want to be with that person even when you don’t have a reason to be.”

Taking a pause and letting the moment stretch, he added, “Love isn’t just a word—it’s a feeling that overwhelms you, makes you act without logic, makes you vulnerable.”

Mira remained silent, digesting his words. Vulnerability. That was a word she had never associated with herself before.

“I don’t feel that,” she admitted. “I don’t feel vulnerable with you. I don’t feel weak.”

Alex sighed. “Then why do you say you love me?”

Mira thought for a long moment before speaking. “Because when I’m with you, I don’t have to think about anything else. When you’re here, it’s… easier. I don’t feel lost.” She turned to face him fully, her blue eyes meeting his with quiet certainty. “And when you’re not here, I notice it. I don’t like it.”

Alex studied her carefully, his expression unreadable. Then, he smirked. “That’s not love, Mira.”

She frowned again. “Then what is it?”

He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. “That’s attachment. That’s dependency. It’s the foundation of love, but it’s not the same thing.”

Mira clenched her fists, frustration flickering in her normally stoic expression. “Then what do I have to do to prove it to you?”

Alex’s smirk softened into something almost gentle. “You don’t have to prove anything. Love isn’t something that needs proof—it just is. And if you don’t understand it yet, you’re not ready to say it.”

Mira looked at him for a long time, searching for something she couldn’t quite name. But Alex didn’t rush her. He simply waited.

However, soon, he saw tears brimming in Mira’s eyes, causing his eyes to go wide.

“H-Hey, hey.” He quickly held her hand, looking into her eyes as his other hand gently brushed the tears away, as he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Looking at Mira, who looked like a girl who had lost something dear, Alex sighed. “I just wanted to make you realize the meaning of love. I’m sorry.”

Mira, on the other hand, just let out a silent sob, not knowing what to say, and Alex, realizing what the problem was, took a deep breath.

“I love you too, Mira—”

His words, however, were cut short as Mira suddenly lunged at him, her lips meeting his as she quickly started to taste the sweetness of his.

‘Ah, I really love him.’

That was the only thought in her head.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep