Peace Hunter

After successfully striking Elaina decisively, Irene immediately replaced her rapier at her waist.

"I admit your skills are extraordinary, Sword Princess. If I had fought you when I first entered this academy, I probably would have lost because I was too weak. But now it's different; I've grown stronger through my frequent training with Rid. But of course, this strength isn't enough to defeat 'That Dragon'," Irene said.

Elaina didn't move again after the attack, seemingly down for real this time. Mr. Elgin, seeing this, immediately announced the results.

"The daily match between Irene Emerald San Lucia and Elaina Stabile, the winner is... Irene Emerald San Lucia," said the proctor, Elgin.

The first-year students who heard this fell silent. They were also shocked by the announcement.

"The Sword Princess has fallen? This can't be possible, right?"

"Although I don't want to believe it, it's true. Miss Elaina has fallen, her front body frozen in an 'X' shape."

"The Ice Princess is terrifying! She even defeated the Sword Princess with ease."

"The Sword Princess is ranked first in our year, but she couldn't even hurt the Ice Princess," the students said.

Meanwhile, Chloe, Leandra, Lily, and the others were clapping and cheering for Irene.

-

In a certain seat where senior Vanina, senior Nadine, and Princess Amelia were seated.

"It looks like Irene has gotten stronger. She hasn't even used her full power yet. She looks like she'll be a tough opponent in this year's academy tournament. Don't you think so, Nadine, Amelia?" asked senior Vanina.

"That's right. It seems like ever since she lost to me in the daily match a year ago, she's been training hard to become stronger. But, it's not just her who training hard; I'm doing the same, especially after she defeated me in the previous academy tournament. In this year's academy tournament, I will avenge my defeat," said Princess Amelia.

"You're not the only one who thinks that way, Princess Amelia. I also want to defeat Irene to avenge my defeat in the previous academy tournament," said senior Nadine.

"Ahaha, it's funny to see the two of you who were defeated by Irene in the previous tournament, now both want revenge on Irene," said senior Vanina.

-

Meanwhile, in the seats where Rid, Charles, Chloe, and the others were sitting.

"The way Irene defeated Elaina earlier, wasn't it the same way senior Gretta defeated Irene in the previous academy tournament? They both used the mist," said Chloe.

"That's true. But it's a little different from Senior Gretta's method. Senior Gretta doesn't just use the mist to obscure her opponent's vision, but also uses it to attack them. Unlike Irene, who only uses the mist to obscure her opponent's vision, she attacks using techniques unrelated to the mist."

"Actually, Irene can use the mist to attack as well, as it's related to her ice magic. But perhaps she doesn't yet know how to use it to attack. Well, she can gradually learn how. She still has a long way to go to grow stronger," I said.

Then I looked at Irene, who was still in the arena.

"I guess I was too worried about her and thought she might lose. I've been training her this far, especially during the month-long break. I trained her longer each day than usual. So I know very well that Irene has improved significantly compared to when she first arrived at this academy. Judging by her current strength, I'm pretty sure Irene is the strongest female student in the academy right now,"

"Maybe I should treat her to something as an apology for thinking she might lose to the Sword Princess, as if I underestimated her strength," I thought.

"But I didn't expect Elaina to be defeated so easily by Irene. I've sparred with her often, but I never thought Irene would be this strong," Chloe said.

"You must have gotten stronger too, Chloe. You said that you and Charles always lost when sparring with the Sword Princess. But now, if you and Charles were to face the Sword Princess, I'm sure you two could win," I said.

"I see. If you say so, I guess I'll have to try fighting him," Chloe said.

-

Back to the arena.

Irene was still looking at the still-unconscious Elaina.

"Since you've lost, you have to keep your promise to join Elevrad immediately and never think about dating Rid again. But I wouldn't mind if you wanted to get close and intimate with Rid, as senior and junior, of course,"

"Hmm, even if I say this, it seems you won't be able to hear me," Irene said.

Then Irene turned and walked back to the audience seats, while Elaina remained unconscious in the arena, her front half frozen. This situation made Mr. Elgin panic a little, and he approached Elaina's body. He noticed that Elaina's body couldn't be separated from the ice block that was also fused to the arena floor. To melt the ice, someone who could use fire magic would be needed. Mr. Elgin then asked the students watching in the audience seats.

"Are any of you able to use fire magic? This student needs to be taken to the infirmary because I fear her condition is serious, but she can't be taken right now because the ice on her front half is also fused to the arena floor. For that, I need someone who can use fire magic to melt this ice," said Mr. Elgin.

Of the many students in the audience, not a single one was willing to melt the ice. It seemed they were afraid they would injure the Sword Princess with their fire magic while trying to melt the ice.

"It seems they don't have the courage to melt the ice, so I'll do it," said Chloe.

But, I immediately stood up after Chloe said that.

"You stay here, Chloe. Let me melt the ice," I said.

"Okay," Chloe said.

Then I immediately jumped from the spectator seats into the arena. I landed right next to Irene, who was still in the arena. She seemed worried because her attack on Elaina had caused panic among the crowd.

"Congratulations on winning the match, Irene," I said.

Irene immediately turned to me in surprise.

"Rid?!," Irene said.

"You don't need to worry, I'll handle it," I said.

I immediately walked over to Elaina and Mr. Elgin, who were beside her.

"Mr. Elgin, let me melt the ice," I said.

"Ok, go ahead, Rid," Mr. Elgin said.

I then approached Elaina's frozen body.

"Mr. Elgin said that the sword princess needs to be taken to the infirmary to check on her condition, as she's worried it's serious. Then let me heal her and melt the ice on her body," I thought.

I then pointed my right hand at Elaina.

~Fire Magic: Healing Fire Blanket~

I released a fire magic from my right hand. The flames immediately enveloped Elaina's body. The students who saw this were shocked.

"What is Rid Archie doing?"

"Is he going to burn the sword princess?" the students asked.

Then the ice on Elaina's body began to melt. The ice continued to melt until finally all the ice on Elaina's body and on the arena floor had completely melted. The wounds on Elaina's body also slowly began to heal.

"Not only did it melt the ice, but the fire also healed the wounds," thought Mr. Elgin, shocked.

After the wounds on her entire body had healed, the flames that had enveloped her body disappeared. After that, Elaina slowly regained consciousness.

"Ughh, what happened to me?" Elaina said, looking confused.

"You were unconscious earlier after being hit by Irene and lost," I said.

"I see, so I lost to Senior Irene. By the way, why are you here, Senior Rid?" Elaina asked.

"I'm here to help heal you. After you were attacked by Irene, you could say your condition is a bit worrying. That's why I came to heal you," I said.

"I see, thank you, Senior Rid," Elaina said.

"You're welcome," I said.

Irene also came over to us while we were chatting. Elaina looked at Irene who came over to her.

"Since I lost against you, I'll keep my promise, Senior Irene. I'll immediately join Elevrad and won't even think about dating Senior Rid again," Elaina said.

"It's good that you kept your promise," Irene said.

"Tomorrow, after class at the academy is over, come to the Elevrad room on the 7th floor of the academy's central building. We'll wait for you there," I said.

"Ok, Senior Rid," Elaina said.

Irene and I immediately left Elaina and returned to the audience seats.

Elaina then examined her body to check for any remaining wounds. But all of them had disappeared, having been healed by Rid. Then Elaina looked at Rid, who was chatting with Irene.

"He can even use healing magic, huh? I lost so easily to Senior Irene, and it surprised me because I didn't know Senior Irene was that strong. She didn't even seem to be using her full strength. But Senior Irene said that in their year, Senior Rid had never lost, which means Senior Irene couldn't defeat Senior Rid either. If Senior Irene even that strong couldn't defeat Rid, how strong is Senior Rid?

"I know Senior Rid is very strong because I saw him defeat Javier with just one throw to the ground while I was taking a morning walk around the academy lobby a few days ago. However, at that time, I was sure Senior Rid hadn't used his full strength. So, how strong would he be if he did?

"Maybe this is just my guess, but I'm sure Senior Rid is stronger than my brother right now. And it's not impossible that one day, he will become someone stronger than my father, the Sword King," Elaina thought.

-To be continued