"Congratulations on your victory!"
The moment Haruki Aizawa and Julis exited the arena after their match, they were greeted by Kirin Toudou and Claudia Enfield. Having successfully navigated a match that could hardly be called a "struggle," Haruki and Julis had broken into the Top 8 and were now headed for the crucial Semi-Finals.
They were just one step away from the grand finale.
"Princess! Haruki-oniisan! You were both so amazing!" Flora, the young maid, cheered with a bright smile, practically leaping toward them. "It was so cool! Flora is so excited!"
The girl's cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling as she waved her arms enthusiastically. It was clearly her first time seeing such a high-level duel, and she was still riding the adrenaline high.
Julis's feelings, however, were far more complicated. In her eyes, she hadn't really "performed" at all. Haruki had dismantled the Li twins almost entirely on his own, leaving her with little to do but maintain her guard. While having such a powerful partner meant a guaranteed victory, Julis wasn't the type to be satisfied with being carried to the podium. Winning the crown without contributing felt wrong to her.
Of course, that was a "luxury" problem. Most people were simply stunned by Haruki's raw power. The Seidokan camp was buzzing with hope; the odds of taking the championship had just skyrocketed.
"By the way, Haruki-kun... are you actually a sorcerer?" Claudia asked, her gaze searching. "I've never seen you use elemental power like that before."
"I'm not a sorcerer," Haruki replied flatly.
It was an answer no one in the room believed. After witnessing him incinerate the Dragon Gate's top disciples with a white-hot firestorm, they assumed he was just being secretive about his secondary abilities. Haruki didn't bother explaining further; he never cared about the opinions of others.
"Haruki-oniisan is so strong! How do you do it? Can Flora be that strong too?"
Looking at the eager girl, Haruki didn't sugarcoat his words. "The prerequisite for strength is a heart that puts growth above everything else. If you are easily tempted or let your resolve waver for minor distractions, you will never reach the peak."
"I see! Then, then... please let Flora train too!"
"Sure," Haruki nodded.
"Like hell you will!" Julis interjected, looking horrified. She grabbed Flora and pulled her away as if Haruki were a dangerous virus. "Flora, you must never, ever learn from Haruki! He'll turn you into a battle-maniac!"
Despite Julis's frantic reaction, Haruki remained expressionless. "See, Flora? This is a typical example. She rejects the correct path and scoffs at the methods of the strong. No wonder Julis hasn't reached the next level yet."
"I—I...!" Julis sputtered, nearly driven to tears by his bluntness.
Because Haruki was undeniably the strongest person they knew, his words carried an authority she couldn't argue against. It only made her feel like a "clown" for trying to maintain a normal social perspective. Flora, meanwhile, looked even more impressed by Haruki's stoic philosophy.
"Um, Flora-chan, why don't you learn some basic kendo from me instead?" Kirin offered with a gentle smile. "Haruki-san's level is a bit too high for a beginner. My style is also advanced, but I can teach you the fundamentals of movement."
"Really?!" Flora's eyes lit up.
Julis exhaled a breath of pure relief. In her mind, while both were "sword maniacs," Kirin was ten thousand times more normal than Haruki. She could trust Flora with her.
While the group relaxed, Claudia remained serious. Even with Haruki and Julis in the final four, she wasn't satisfied. Her goal as Student Council President was to end Seidokan's long losing streak and bring home the trophy.
"Ahem. Well, Haruki-kun, Julis-san... first, let me congratulate you on making the Semi-Finals. As the representative for Seidokan, I offer you my deepest thanks."
"No thanks necessary," Julis said, looking a bit awkward. "I'm fighting for my own wish, after all."
"That may be, but your performance is doing wonders for my resume," Claudia teased with a smile. "It's been years since we've had a pair in the Top 4. You've done us a great service."
"But we aren't the only ones from Seidokan who made it," Haruki noted.
"True. Ayato Amagiri and Saya Sasamiya have also advanced," Claudia confirmed. "I've already spoken with them; they're in excellent condition. This means we have two Seidokan teams in the semi-finals. Our chances are better than ever."
"I wanted to introduce the two teams properly, but Haruki-kun was busy training at Dragon Gate, and Ayato-kun needs to prepare for his match tomorrow. For now, you'll have to fight your own separate battles to reach the finals."
Chapter 181 – Flora is Missing
"Ayato Amagiri and Saya Sasamiya..."
Haruki had heard the names often, but he had never actually met his classmates. He didn't really care about them; to him, an opponent was an opponent, regardless of what school they attended.
"By the way, has the draw for the Semi-Finals been announced?" Julis asked.
Due to the tight schedule, the brackets were decided almost immediately after the Quarter-Finals ended.
"Actually, I just got the results," Claudia said, her expression turning grave. "That's why I came to find you. I need to brief you on your next opponents."
"Who are they?"
"The two autonomous puppets from Alakant Academy," Claudia said. "Based on the combat data we've gathered, their combat logic and raw output are terrifyingly high. Even for a pair like you two, I can't guarantee a victory."
"Even Haruki and Julis aren't a sure win?" Kirin asked, surprised.
"The issue isn't Haruki-kun," Claudia clarified. "His individual strength likely exceeds either of the puppets. The problem is the two-on-one synergy. If both units focus on him, it's a massive burden. And Julis-san..."
Claudia trailed off, but her meaning was clear. The intensity of the tournament had reached a point where Julis's standard fire magic was becoming a secondary factor. Against Alakant's high-tech defenses, she was becoming a liability.
"I..." Julis bit her lip. She couldn't argue. She felt the gap between her and the top-tier monsters widening with every round.
"It's not your fault, Julis-san," Claudia said gently. "Raw power can't be changed overnight. But logically... if we could swap Julis-san for Kirin-chan right now, our win probability would double."
"..."
The room fell into a heavy, awkward silence. Julis felt a surge of self-loathing, while Kirin looked conflicted, wishing she had met Haruki first so she could have been his partner from the start.
Haruki, however, didn't look bothered at all.
"It doesn't matter," Haruki said, his voice cutting through the tension. "No matter who the enemy is, I will win. That's all there is to it."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out. He had no interest in team logistics; he had more forms to polish.
The day of the Semi-Finals arrived. The schedule was relentless.
"It seems Ayato-kun's match is already over," Claudia reported as she met Haruki and Julis. "They defeated St. Gallardworth and have secured their place in the finals."
Haruki and Julis were scheduled for the afternoon slot against Alakant.
"Our turn next," Julis said, her eyes determined. She had spent the last twenty-four hours mentally steadying herself. She wasn't as strong as Kirin or Haruki, but she was a witch—she had tools that a pure swordsman didn't. She had decided to stop worrying about her rank and focus on what she could do.
Haruki nodded, acknowledging her resolve.
However, as they prepared to head to the waiting room, Claudia and Kirin came running toward them, their faces pale.
"Pardon the interruption, but have either of you seen Flora?!" Claudia asked, her voice tight with panic.
"Not since yesterday," Julis said, blinking. "I thought she was staying with you. I've been too busy with prep to check in."
"She was supposed to meet me this morning for a tour of the city," Claudia said, shaking her head. "She never showed up. I checked her hotel, and the staff said she never returned last night."
"What?!" Julis's worry flared instantly.
"Is her phone off?" Haruki asked, his eyes narrowing.
"I've tried a dozen times," Claudia said. "I've checked every place she might have gone. She's nowhere."
"Could she just be lost?" Julis suggested, though her hand was already hovering over the emergency contact for the guard force.
At that exact moment, Julis's phone rang. The caller ID displayed Flora's name.
"It's her! That girl, honestly..." Julis exhaled in relief, but her expression soured as she swiped to answer. "Flora! Where on earth are you? Do you have any idea how worried—"
Julis stopped mid-sentence. Her face went from red with irritation to a deathly, chalky white. The voice on the other end wasn't a child's.
It was a cold, distorted mechanical voice.
"If you want the girl back, you will follow our instructions perfectly... Princess."
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