Chapter 81

### Chapter 81: The Health Teacher's Appearance (3)

"Student Lee Hoyeon?"

The professor of Class B looked at me with a surprised expression.

I guess they didn't expect me to raise my hand.

"I want to participate too."

At that moment, Ellis, who was behind me, also raised her hand.

No, why is she doing this? Don't interfere.

"I want to participate too!"

Even Kim Young-han, who had been quiet, raised his hand.

"I want to participate too!"

"How often do we get a chance to spar with second-year students?!"

"…?"

About one-tenth of the students raised their hands. This isn't what I planned.

I just wanted to come down and deal with that guy, but I can't tell everyone to back off just because I want to beat him.

"Uh… there are quite a few volunteers. What should we do?"

"Let's just have everyone do it at once?"

"Huh? Ah, Professor Park. How so?"

While the female professor was pondering, a male professor, who was the second-year teacher, suddenly appeared behind her.

He scratched his head, looking annoyed, and looked at us.

"We can have one person from each rank come out and do a round-robin tournament. We'll make sure everyone in the first year gets to spar at least once, and those who want more can use the extra sparring grounds we've set up."

"Ah… that's not a bad idea. But the first-year students haven't taken their exams yet, so we don't have their rankings."

"That's fine. I'll go and organize the second-year students by rank."

"Okay, got it."

The two professors discussed and came to a conclusion.

The rules the female professor explained were simple.

One student from the first year and one from the second year will face off one-on-one. The loser leaves the sparring ground, and the winner stays.

Since there are over 200 students in each year, they decided to divide them into five teams.

The second-year students were divided by rank, and we were divided based on our impressions so far.

I was naturally in the top tier. I might not have been re-evaluated, but I wasn't considered weak.

I had also beaten that weakling who used to cause trouble.

Incidentally, Do Jin-hyuk and his cronies were mostly in the top tier as well.

It was nice and convenient that they didn't approach me as much after that day. People do need to be taught a lesson.

"Can I go first?"

I asked for the understanding of about 40 students.

My goal is that weakling, and I don't know when he'll come out.

What can I do? I'll just have to keep knocking people down until he shows up.

"Sure, go ahead."

Ellis had the strongest voice among the top-tier first-year students.

Of course, Nam Da-eun is stronger in terms of physical power, but she rarely expresses her opinions.

"From the second year, they'll come out in order of rank, right? Is that okay?"

This is Kim Young-han.

He was naturally in the top tier.

I didn't pay much attention to him because he's a guy, but he seems to be really strong.

"How do you know that?"

"There are ways. There are ways."

"… Then, do you know what rank that weakling senior is?"

"You mean Senior Yun Hyun-gyu? He's 8th. And isn't he in the same student council as you? Why don't you know?"

"I didn't really care."

Finally, Kim Young-han was providing the information I needed.

It's worth it to have him around! I'm proud!

'If he's 8th, I just need to beat the top 8, right?'

Actually, knowing he's 8th, it would be nice to time my appearance to face him. Should I suggest that?

"Hey! Saintess!"

While I was thinking about what to do, a word I couldn't ignore reached my ears.

I quickly turned my head toward the source of the voice.

A beautiful woman entered through the main door of the auditorium.

Even though she had left the association, she was still dressed in office attire.

Her black hair, which reached her waist, her porcelain skin, and her blue eyes drew everyone's attention.

Her knee-length skirt and white blouse perfectly fit the image of an office lady.

Baek Ah-young seemed uncomfortable with the attention of so many people and turned her head around, meeting my eyes.

"Ah…."

★ Heroine Status Window

- [Affection: 84] (+0.2)

- [Lust: 69]

- [Hunger: 30]

- [Fatigue: 35]

Current Status: Found you…

Baek Ah-young let out a gasp and started to approach me.

"Y-You're the Saintess?!"

I sent a strong signal to Baek Ah-young not to come closer.

When I called her "Saintess," she seemed to regain her composure and stepped back.

The professor standing behind her approached Baek Ah-young and asked why she was there.

"Ah, I came to prepare for any accidents that might happen during the sparring as part of the health teacher's first task."

"Ah… I see. There are some professors gathered over there, so let's go together."

"No, I'll just watch the students from here."

"Okay, got it."

The male professor tried to take Baek Ah-young away, but he gave up and stepped back when she was firm.

The students were surprised to see Baek Ah-young at the academy and kept looking at her, but no one approached to talk to her.

It seems they all received a notice from the principal through the professors.

They didn't want to risk upsetting Baek Ah-young.

But leaving her alone like this isn't good either.

She must feel awkward since she's new and doesn't know anyone. Maybe I should go and talk to her?

★ Heroine Status Window

- [Affection: 84] (+0.2)

- [Lust: 69]

- [Hunger: 30]

- [Fatigue: 35]

Current Status: She came all this way, when will she come to see me?

Checking the status window, it seems I don't need to worry.

What awkwardness? She's not paying attention to her surroundings at all.

Is she really okay? In the original story, she didn't leave the association, but it's a bit much to leave it because of me, isn't it?

Whatever.

If I was going to care about the original story, I should have done so earlier.

The moment I decided to go for the harem route, the original story was bound to be twisted.

The important thing is how to overcome it.

"Have you all decided the order?"

Professor Kim Jin-hyuk, who was going to referee the top-tier sparring between the first and second years, approached us.

"Uh, hold on! Hoyeon. Are you going first?"

"Actually, I only need to face the 8th rank, so it doesn't really matter."

"Then, how about we go in order of rank? First, Nam Da-eun. Then, Ellis. Third, Lee Hoyeon…."

I don't really mind… but if Nam Da-eun and Ellis go all out, they could beat all 40 people, not just the 8th rank.

Especially Nam Da-eun, who is a real cheat character. I can't even imagine how strong she is at this point.

"Is there any complaint? After all, the top student, the top excellent student, and the top handsome student of the first year are going. It's only natural."

What's with the "top handsome student"? I've done everything, from slaying ogres to controlling minds.

Now that I think about it, he's also contributing to the wrong image of me.

"Is this going to affect our grades?"

Nam Da-eun, who had been quiet, approached Professor Kim Jin-hyuk and asked.

"It's a friendly sparring, so it won't affect your grades."

"Understood."

Seeing her, it seems Nam Da-eun doesn't plan to try hard.

Then, I just need to talk to Ellis.

"Ellis, I really want to face the 8th rank from the second year. Can you only beat up to the 7th rank and then forfeit?"

"… Why should I?"

Her reaction is negative.

★ Heroine Status Window

- [Affection: 35]

- [Lust: 25]

- [Hunger: 30]

- [Fatigue: 40]

Current Status: Thinking about the times I had to act cute for Dad because of her… ugh.

Hmm. She even acted cute to Dad to do me a favor.

Thinking about how a usually cold person acted cute makes me want to see her.

"Are you still upset because of the bet?"

"Damn it. What do you think I am? No, I'm not."

Ellis frowned and ran away from me.

She might do it… but will she?

I didn't care much about the order of the remaining first-year students, so I let them decide and watched Nam Da-eun's sparring.

Nam Da-eun and the top-ranked second-year student faced each other on the sparring ground.

"Please do your best."

"Uh-huh. Do your best."

Nam Da-eun, despite her appearance, is polite in public. She only said that much, though.

"Then, start!"

At Professor Kim Jin-hyuk's signal, Nam Da-eun moved.

Bang!

Using her unique ability to control space, she accelerated and moved instantly.

Even though the top-ranked second-year student stepped back at the start, he still allowed Nam Da-eun's attack.

"Kuh-!"

It's really commendable that he raised his sword to block Nam Da-eun's fast attack, but he still couldn't withstand the force and took several steps back.

"If the top-ranked second-year student is this level… I can just use a little bit."

Nam Da-eun muttered something incomprehensible and suddenly raised her hand.

"I forfeit."

"Hey!"

The top-ranked second-year student, seemingly hurt by Nam Da-eun's sudden forfeiture, grabbed her.

"How can you end it like this! I haven't even started yet!"

"I'm sorry. It doesn't seem like it will help my training."

"…."

Wow… that must really hurt his pride.

It's even sadder because she's being polite. She really doesn't think it will help.

The top-ranked second-year student stood there, dazed, as Nam Da-eun walked out of the sparring ground and left the auditorium.

"Um, the winner is the second-year student Han Seo-ryul, due to the first-year student's forfeiture. Han Seo-ryul stays, and the next first-year student should come out."

Next is Ellis.

Ellis also started the sparring with a polite bow.

"That doesn't seem like a first-year student at all."

"Yeah. Nam Da-eun is just incredibly strong, but Ellis's technique and mana control are unbelievable, making her even more impressive."

"Frankly, her talent and ability are a cheat. She was born with a talent that consumes a lot of mana, but she also has a lot of mana."

The surrounding students were evaluating Ellis.

Most of the comments were positive, but Ellis has a secret that only a few close friends know.

It's a congenital mana disorder.

A condition where her mana is extremely low compared to others.

Her innate talents in swordsmanship and magic are limited by her mana capacity.

Therefore, Ellis needs mana stones to use her powers. To balance her two talents, she needs to forcibly replenish her mana.

So, she absorbs mana stones into her body daily using expensive equipment.

It only increases her mana capacity, not doping, so it's officially allowed at Victoria Academy.

Of course, if she wasn't the daughter of the Iris Guild, it's uncertain if it would have been allowed. That's how the world works.

Sizzle-

Every time Ellis's sword touches Han Seo-ryul, a hot heat rises.

"Kuh…."

Unlike the sparring with Nam Da-eun, Han Seo-ryul didn't get knocked out in one hit, but he was gradually being pushed back.

It looked like he would lose soon.

Clang!

Han Seo-ryul, who had been pushed back by Ellis, couldn't take it anymore and charged at her.

Swish-

Han Seo-ryul pushed off the ground and summoned mana.

Suddenly, his sword split into four, each aiming for Ellis's limbs.

"Block it if you can!"

Seeing the technique that looked like a last resort, Ellis lightly moved her arms.

She blocked the swords coming at her with her own sword, caught the one aiming for her right leg with vines that sprouted from the ground, and deflected the one aiming for her left side with a force magic, making it miss her body.

"Kuh!"

After the brief exchange, Han Seo-ryul had lost his sword, and Ellis was still standing.

A perfect victory.

The second-year students shook their heads at the sight of their top-ranked student being defeated so thoroughly, while the first-year students cheered.

"Senior, I learned a lot. I forfeit."

And Ellis forfeited.

"…?"

"What did you say?"

Han Seo-ryul, who had been making a face like "I lost but fought well…!" suddenly looked up in surprise, and Professor Kim Jin-hyuk also asked if he had heard correctly.

"Senior, you're different. I learned a lot from you."

Ellis bowed respectfully and showed a polite attitude.

Why is she doing this?

★ Heroine Status Window

- [Affection: 35]

- [Lust: 25]

- [Hunger: 30]

- [Fatigue: 40]

Current Status: With this level of skill, it's worth testing.

'Aha… you want to test me.'

It was clear that she intended to test my skills, who was next in line.

I didn't mind. The more practical experience, the better, and it would be nice to clear the "weakling" label at this opportunity.

If I'm going to show something, I'll show it impressively.

I confidently stepped onto the sparring ground.

In front of me stood the top-ranked second-year student, his face red with anger.

"How dare you treat a senior like this and make me look so pathetic…!"

No, did I treat you with disrespect?

"Senior, please do your best."

"… This time, I'll win."

Han Seo-ryul swallowed his anger and greeted me.

What did this person do to lose to a junior three times?

For the first time, I felt sorry for the second-year student.