[Ariel PoV]
Four days had passed since Brian and I fought that horrific monster. Yet, I still haven't uncovered the true identity of the student who saved us.
There are only two male seniors with white hair in this academy: Senior Baldwin and Senior Luis. However, I've already questioned both of them, and neither had any clue about the masked figure I described.
"Hey, is it true those two are the students who defeated a level 5 monster?"
"According to the disciplinary committee members who witnessed it, yes."
"How is it possible for second-year students who are only supposed to handle level 2 monsters to take down a level 5!?"
I could hear them whispering about us.
Not long after the mysterious man saved us, members of the disciplinary committee arrived at the scene. I explained to them that we weren't the ones who killed the monster, but I couldn't provide a logical explanation for how it actually died.
In the end, they reported to the academy that it was Brian, Roland, and I who had slain the beast.
This has made our classmates curious, constantly pestering us to tell the story of how we defeated it. I remained silent, while Brian enthusiastically described exactly how he "slashed" the opponent at the time.
"Ariel, let's go to the Duel Arena to train!" Brian invited, looking eager.
Train, huh? Usually, whenever Brian asked me to train with him, I always refused. Constant training exhausts me, often to the point where it's difficult to move my body.
"Alright, I'll go with you, Brian."
But this time was different. After the encounter with that monster, I finally realized just how weak I truly am.
Since I was a child, I wanted to be a Priestess who helps those in need. Healing every disease and easing the suffering of others.
I despise violence. It always surfaces when humans are consumed by their own emotions. Violence causes pain, and pain caused by others breeds resentment and mutual hatred.
That is why I became a Priestess; so I could save lives without resorting to violence.
I am also deeply grateful to Goddess Diana for blessing me with Divine magic, allowing me to become the person I've always dreamed of being.
When we arrived at the duel arena, I saw a dozen students lying on the ground. Their bodies were covered in wounds. Judging by the red ribbons on their uniforms, these students were members of the disciplinary committee.
"What actually happened to you all?" I asked, kneeling in front of one of the fallen students.
"Ughh... T-this is because of our training session..." he said weakly.
I didn't understand what kind of "training" he was talking about. Regardless, I had to heal them first. "Brian, go find other healers! I'll start treating them now."
"Alright, Ariel."
I began healing them one by one. Most of their injuries were on their arms and legs. Truly, what kind of training leaves their bodies battered like this?
Shortly after, Brian returned with two other healers.
After several minutes of the healing magic ritual, all the students were finally recovered. I wiped the sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief.
This is quite exhausting...
"Who gave you permission to heal them?"
I heard a cold, intimidating voice.
Standing before us was a black-haired man walking toward us. It was Raul de Garcia—the man infamously known as the "Rotten Noble."
"I asked them to heal these students because their bodies were covered in wounds," I answered, standing up to face Raul.
"I left them for a few minutes to rest during the disciplinary committee's routine training session," Raul said, staring at me sharply.
"Isn't this a bit much?" I said, my voice rising. "Look! They couldn't even stand up because of the pain throughout their bodies."
"That's good. Pain helps the body learn faster and remember the consequences of making the same mistakes," he replied flatly. His words held no mercy whatsoever.
"Why does it have to be like this? Isn't there a better way?" My emotions began to peak; I couldn't stand seeing violence and oppression happen right before my eyes.
"Maybe you're right, there might be other ways. However, this is the only way they can grow stronger quickly," Raul said. For some reason, his gaze wasn't as sharp as before.
"What's the rush to get stronger? They can do it gradually without sacrificing their bodies!" I wanted to challenge this mindset. I couldn't accept that violence was the only solution to a problem.
"But the reality of the world won't be kind enough to wait for you to get strong," Raul countered, his tone now slightly melancholic. "You never know when danger will strike, you never know when death will draw near, and you never know when those closest to us will be in peril."
Hearing Raul's words reminded me of the fight with that monster. At that time, Brian and Roland were defeated, leaving me alone to protect them.
I could only tremble in fear, hoping someone would save us. If only we had been stronger, perhaps we wouldn't have been in that position.
If I remember correctly, the student who died in the monster attack was Raul's servant. Could he be saying this because of that event?
I clenched my fists tightly, holding back the surging emotions in my chest. Before I knew it, my cheeks were wet with tears.
It's so frustrating... I couldn't refute his words. It was because I had experienced exactly what Raul just described.
No, violence is wrong. I don't want to admit that violence is the answer.
In the end, I could only cry with my head bowed, unable to respond. I truly felt pathetic.
— Bam!
The sound of a punch startled me.
Brian had just struck Raul's face, sending him sprawling to the ground. A smear of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"How dare you make Ariel cry!" Brian shouted, his face flushed with rage.
Raul stood up and spat out the blood in his mouth. He smiled at Brian, as if mocking him.
"You talk a lot for someone I knocked unconscious recently," Raul said, sounding provocative.
"What did you say!" Brian stepped toward Raul until they were face-to-face.
"Raul de Garcia! I challenge you to a duel, with my honor as the stake!" Brian declared.
"N-no, Brian! Why would you stake your honor over something like this?" I pleaded with Brian over his reckless decision.
If a Knight stakes their honor in a duel and loses, they lose the right to be a Knight for the rest of their lives. That meant if Brian lost this duel, his dream of becoming a Knight would vanish over such a small matter.
"Ariel! To me, your tears are not a small matter," Brian said, trying to reassure me. "I'm going to beat him and make him apologize for making you cry!"
Hearing Brian's words moved me; it felt like no one had ever cared for me this much until now.
"Brian... I—"
"Fine! I accept your challenge, Brian!" Raul agreed. "If I win, you stop being a Knight. And if I lose, I will apologize to Ariel for making her cry! The duel will take place tomorrow after classes."
After saying that, Raul turned and left the Arena.
***
[Raul PoV]
Walking out of the Arena, I felt relieved that my plan was working.
With this, I can awaken Brian's Blessing during our duel tomorrow. I also broke down Ariel's naive outlook to trigger the awakening of her own Blessing later.
However, I didn't expect that seeing Ariel cry like that would hurt my heart so much that I failed to react to Brian's punch. I guess I'm still not used to the lingering emotions of the original Raul within this body.
Passing through the main gate, I finally exited the Duel Arena.
"You always cause trouble wherever you go, don't you, Raul?"
I heard a familiar voice beside me.
I turned and saw an elegant blonde woman leaning against the Arena gate. It seemed she had witnessed everything that happened inside.
"What are you doing here, President?"
President Elena walked toward me.
"Well... as the person who recommended you for this position, I had to see how your first day as the new head of the disciplinary committee went," she answered with a smile. "But as expected of Raul the bastard noble, you always find a way to make people hate you."
This woman... did she come here just to rub salt in my wounds? Seriously, I think I messed up her personality settings when I was testing the game back then.
I swear, if I ever return to my world, I'll make Elena marry the cruel version of Raul de Garcia and make her head-over-heels in love with him in the game. We'll see if her attitude remains the same then. Your life is going to be full of misery in the game, Elena.
"What is it? Why are you looking at me so strangely?" the President asked, hugging herself as if facing a perverted criminal.
I just sighed at her behavior. "We should hurry back to discuss the preparations for the survival exam next month, President."
"Hey, don't be in such a rush. I still want to tease you, you know."
I pretended not to hear her and started walking toward the Academy Student Committee office.
Survival exam preparations....
This exam is the first major event of this early chapter. It's crucial for the academy students because the points awarded are massive.
I must get Ariel and Brian to awaken their Blessings before that event starts. I can't guarantee I'll be able to stop all the professional assassins that will attack them later on my own.