Kays Translations

Chapter 49: Brainwashing or Unchanging Thoughts?

"Welcome back, Michela-san. Um... you won, right?"

Generally, when a player returns to the waiting room after a match, it means they have won.

Considering the slightly delayed return, it could be that the match dragged on, or perhaps they visited the treatment room.

"Yes, I won."

Despite declaring the victory, there was a slightly sullen expression on her face.

Naturally, seeing that expression, Phillip couldn't resist laughing.

"Hahaha! Hey, what's up with that pouty face? You won the match, didn't you?"

"Yes, indeed. I did win."

"...Did you struggle so much to become this grumpy?"

Phillip, having experienced Michela's strength firsthand, couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.

"Indeed, I did face some challenges. However, that doesn't matter at this point."

Even before meeting Ishud, Michela had never arrogantly believed she was the strongest!!!

Participating in the fierce tournament, she anticipated facing challenging battles multiple times.

"That guy, I'll definitely defeat him!!!"

After the match, she saw Ishud applauding with a genuinely good smile.

At that moment, Michela unconsciously wore a smile. However, upon further reflection, it was undeniable that her imperfect Air Step, leading to a collision with the Ice Floor, was also witnessed.

Michela's imagination hit the mark perfectly - that annoying, ill-tempered guy wouldn't miss the chance to burst into laughter seeing her in such a state.

When the match ended, Ishud had indeed applauded with admiration for Michela and Flura. However, when Michela crashed into the Ice Floor, he didn't show any concern whatsoever. Instead, he laughed heartily at her foolish appearance.

"I can kinda guess, but for now, you just have to keep winning the next one, right?"

"I understand without you telling me."

"Is that so?"

After the matches of the third-year students reached a suitable stopping point, there was a break for lunch. 

Thirty minutes after lunch, the third match was about to begin.

"...Gulf."

"Hmm? What's up, Phillip?"

"Don't break."

"…Yeah. Of course."

Sensing a slight hint of concern in Phillip's eyes, Gulf tightened the mental loincloth around his mind once again.

"I don't think there's any problem anymore. Just challenge without worrying about the voices around you."

"Thank you, Michela-san."

After Gulf headed from the waiting room to the ring, Phillip continued to emit an unusually heavy atmosphere.

"For you, it's an unusual expression."

"...Probably, but Gulf's opponent in the third match is Dimna."

"Dimna Kais... I see. I understand why you're worried about Gulf." 

Dimna Kais, a first-year student from Sambal Academy.

Like Michela, Dimna Kais also hailed from a marquisate, being one of the top performers at Sambal Academy.

(I believe my skills have improved since I started training with the Knot Gentlemen... by around forty percent. No, perhaps thirty-five percent.)

Dimna Kais was undeniably acknowledged by Michela as someone stronger than herself among their peers. 

Despite having sparred ten times and never losing, there was still no image of surpassing Dimna.

This sentiment wasn't exclusive to Michela but shared by Phillip as well.

(Additionally... among those who look down on commoners, Dimna exhibits a particularly strong tendency to do so.)

There were no stories of Dimna mistreating or tormenting powerless commoners or slaves behind the scenes. 

However, even when faced with commoners, there was an instant sense of being looked down upon or perhaps scorned.

Whether this was influenced by the aristocratic society or if it was a part of Dimna's own mentality remained unclear. 

In any case, in this tournament, there was no denying that Dimna was the opponent Gulf had the least favorable compatibility with.

(I got here first, huh?)

Gulf arrived at the ring ahead of time.

At this point, Gulf didn't feel much from the gazes and voices of the spectators. 

However, the voices of friends who had been cheering for him continuously reached his ears.

(If I win this match... it's the semifinals.)

He couldn't afford to lose.

This determination had been with him since the first match, but it now swelled even stronger.

(Huh!?)

From the corridor leading to the ring, the opponent student became visible. 

In the next moment... positionally, it appeared that Gulf was looking down.

Despite that, for some reason, he felt like he was the one being looked down upon.

Then, as Dimna Kais, Gulf's opponent for the third match, stepped into the ring and faced him directly... he felt it even more distinctly.

There was no doubt that the person in front of him was looking down on him.

"............"

Unlike previous opponents, as soon as they both entered the ring and their eyes met, there was no provocation or verbal abuse.

Still, Gulf instinctively understood.

The student in front of him... was looking down on him as if he were a lesser being.

(This feeling... is clearly different from the gazes I've faced before.)

While he thought the words about feeling conviction in being looked down upon might sound odd, Gulf felt that the eyes observing him were definitely different from those he had encountered before.

"...This is not a place for the likes of you."

"............"

There was a definite weight, a pressure in those words.

He wasn't activating any skills. 

However, there was a pressure directed towards the one he addressed, and an unseen force seemed to weigh on both shoulders.

"My friends have said this to others, but please convey this to Flaveld Academy. I have simply... fought with all my might."

"............"

Dimna Kais, a man who looked down on and scorned the existence of commoners.

A man who, from the perspective of a commoner, wanted to shout, "Damn it, you arrogant noble brat!!!" 

However, he was too foolish, almost inhuman, to comprehend the words Gulf had spoken. 

His thinking seemed so obstinate that it wouldn't change no matter what others said.

"I see. Then, let me make you regret participating in the Fierce Tournament."

"That's unfortunate. I've already won the first and second matches and made it to the third, so I don't have a shred of regret."

"............"

Not wanting to be overwhelmed by words alone, Gulf quickly came up with a clever response.

Watching his friend show an attitude of fearlessness against a formidable opponent, Ishud raised his cheering voice even more.

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