## Chapter 163 – Collusion (8)
The waiting room, now that I had returned, felt different, a palpable shift in the atmosphere. I, No. 25, felt a slight pressure from the gazes that now held a distinct change. It wasn’t intentional, but my performance in the first match had drawn too much attention, instantly making me the most-watched and wary opponent among the participants.
Unaccustomed to such attention, I lowered my head, hoping no one would speak to me. But my wish went unfulfilled. As if not allowing even a moment’s rest, people soon began to gather around me. The louder the murmurs grew, the more psychological pressure I felt.
“Right?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
They probably thought they were whispering, but to my overly sensitive ears, it sounded as clear as if they were talking right next to me. Being gossiped about right in front of me wasn’t a pleasant feeling. I wanted to jump up and leave this place immediately. But why should someone who hasn’t done anything wrong have to leave? I hated that fact.
Once again, Saruk was the one to offer a helping hand.
“Even if we’re all participants, isn’t it a bit much to gossip so openly?”
He stood in front of me and spoke in a low voice to the women, and their complaints quickly subsided. The students who saw Saruk clicked their tongues and muttered their dissatisfaction.
“Tch, let’s go.”
“Who does he think he is, interfering?”
“Hey! Just stop it and let’s go.”
Saruk glared at them with his arms crossed, and they soon turned tail and moved away from me. While Saruk was competing, I was having fun with Charlotte, so I didn’t know, but Saruk was also one of the central figures in the tournament. He was being praised for having everything: overwhelming defense reminiscent of a fortress, monstrous strength from his large frame, and speed that didn’t seem to match his size.
Everyone wondered why such a talent hadn’t been mentioned until now.
Of course, they didn’t know.
They didn’t know how much Saruk had devoted himself to bone-grinding effort since that day’s attack, driven by the single-minded desire to never see anyone hurt again, and that the power he had built up was finally shining.
After settling the situation, Saruk slapped me on the back with a loud thwack with his large hand, grinning to reveal his teeth.
“You won, so why do you look so down?”
At Saruk’s question, I rubbed the back of my neck and gave an awkward smile.
“I’m not really down, just a bit…”
I had just felt a bit tired because people had been gossiping around me as soon as I entered the waiting room.
“Oh, by the way, I watched your match for a bit, and it was amazing! I thought I had gotten stronger after that incident too, but…”
I nonchalantly scratched my head and replied.
“Really? Was he that strong?”
The spirit I felt was decent, but he didn’t seem that strong. I thought that even if someone else had faced him, the outcome would have been the same. But Saruk had a different opinion.
“Of course. Most of the guys in this academy have made a name for themselves to some extent, right? Putting skill aside, just because of their rarity.”
I agreed to some extent. I had also experienced unwanted fame and the trouble it caused. I didn’t really like these topics, so I asked Saruk a question to change the subject.
“How did you do?”
At my question, Saruk puffed out his chest and answered in a very proud voice. Judging by his expression, I could already guess the result before hearing the answer.
“Of course, I won.”
“Really? That’s good.”
Is it good? I realized that if Saruk kept winning, we would eventually have to face each other. I didn’t really like fighting friends. I felt bad for Saruk, but wouldn’t it be better if he met a strong opponent and lost in the middle? I had that thought for a moment. Of course, I quickly dismissed the thought, thinking that it was right to wish for my friend’s success.
While I was lost in trivial thoughts, Saruk clapped his hands and spoke again.
“Ah, that’s not the important thing. I almost forgot.
I tilted my head and asked.
“What is it?”
“Someone wants to talk to you for a bit.”
“Me?”
I felt uneasy, but since Saruk brought them, they probably weren’t suspicious. I nodded, and Saruk left, telling me to wait here for a moment. He soon reappeared, waving his hand.
Walking slowly beside him was a woman I knew well.
“Long time no see?”
I stood up without realizing it and awkwardly bowed my head in greeting.
Claire approached me with her usual confident posture and powerful voice. Her slightly pinkish white hair held a mysterious aura as always, and her eyes shone blue as ever. I was speechless at Claire’s sudden appearance.
“I was surprised when you ignored my offer and suddenly disappeared. I thought I had put too much pressure on you.”
I shook my head in embarrassment.
“Ah, no. It’s definitely not for that reason…!”
Claire raised her hand to stop me and nodded as if she understood.
“Ah, it’s okay. You must have your reasons, right? You don’t have to explain it to me.”
“But what brings you here?”
If Claire came all the way here, it probably wasn’t a trivial matter. I swallowed hard and watched her lips. I vowed not to be surprised no matter what she said.
“Oh, I wanted to say hello in advance.”
“Hello?”
“Yeah, surely you’ve checked it by now, right?”
I couldn’t understand what Claire was saying. She came next to me, pointed to the bracket with her finger, and gave a meaningful smile.
“I don’t think you’ll be stopped here. We’ll meet soon.”
Claire said what she had to say and disappeared immediately. I was left with only questions and checked the bracket that Claire had pointed to again. My finger scanned the names on the bracket one by one, stopping at one spot.
It was located at the very bottom of Claire’s name. If I continued to win, I would meet her in the semi-finals, that is, before the finals. Saruk, who hadn’t checked yet, checked the bracket and had a shocked expression.
“Wow… this is a big deal.”
But I couldn’t understand Claire’s confident words.
“But isn’t it possible that I could meet a strong person in the middle and lose? Either me or that person.”
Saruk widened his eyes in disbelief and shook his head.
“You really don’t know anything, do you?”
“What?”
“Do you think Claire is maintaining her current position just because of her eloquence, charisma, or personality? The only reason she continues to hold the position of president in this academy, where only skill matters, is because she has the power to back it up. No student has ever surpassed her.”
“That senior is that strong?”
“Probably everyone except you knows, right?”
“I see.”
I wanted to talk more with Saruk, but it was time.
I could tell even while in the waiting room. The sound of them calling me was getting louder, and the heat was increasing.
“I’ll go now.”
I lightly greeted Saruk, who was sending me his support from behind, and headed back to the arena. As I stepped onto the stage, the host’s enthusiastic cheers reached me so loudly that I could feel them on my skin.
“The protagonist of this tournament’s upset! I can already hear several demon lords eyeing him! I wonder if he will be able to show us a match that will satisfy us this time as well.”
I gave an awkward smile and waved to the audience who were cheering for me. It was the first time I had received such treatment. The pressure to live up to expectations crept in, and my hands began to sweat.
The host’s voice, which had been so loud, was no longer audible, and I simply lowered my head and repeatedly took deep breaths.
Then, the host approached me and carefully touched my shoulder, speaking to me.
“Um… Mr. Ryu? Please prepare for the match.”
I raised my head at his words, and a student who seemed slightly displeased was standing in front of me.
Her vertical pupils and sharp claws, characteristic of cat beastkin, were impressive. She spoke to me in a sharp voice.
“Focus on your opponent. It’s not polite.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Her tone was scolding, so I had no choice but to apologize to her in a subdued manner.
“Hmph.”
After ending the less-than-pleasant first meeting, the two of us naturally took our positions.
“Alright, get ready!”
As soon as the host’s “Start!” was announced, the opponent rushed at me. A direct attack filled with emotion, probably because she didn’t like what had happened earlier.
It was fast, but I had experienced faster opponents before. Of course, I knew better than anyone how to deal with them.
The match ended in an instant with just a simple punch placed in her path.
With a crackling sound, the opponent convulsed as if electricity was running through her body, and soon became unable to control herself. I slowly laid her down on the floor so she wouldn’t fall and offered a half-hearted apology.
“S-Sorry. You suddenly rushed at me.”
The match, which ended so anticlimactically that it was almost embarrassing to have been told to focus on my opponent, didn’t generate the same buzz as before, which was fortunate for me. Of course, there were about three people who were internally cheering even after seeing the bland match.
Asel wanted to run down to the arena and hug me tightly right away if she could. Rahart saw Asel and asked a question.
“You’ve been watching that boy’s matches with such interest… are you perhaps acquainted?”
Asel was flustered, as if she hadn’t imagined Rahart would ask her a question, and answered in a trembling voice.
“Huh? Ah, no!”
“Really? So you’re not acquainted?”
“It’s not that we’re not acquainted… um, how should I put it.”
Asel hesitated and couldn’t give a proper answer. She couldn’t figure out Rahart’s intentions at all. She had an ominous feeling. Then, Row, who had been staring intently at Asel and Rahart, casually threw out a word.
“…Rahart.”
Rahart gave a good-natured smile at Row’s words and turned his gaze away.
“I understand.”
Asel breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Row’s face, which she couldn’t understand what he was thinking. The only thing she could read in Row’s gaze as he looked at me with his pipe in his mouth was endless affection, that was all.
Something was happening in this tournament with me at the center. Even Asel, who was usually oblivious, could tell that for sure.
