"I wonder if she's okay."
I was walking quickly.
Having heard Rie's words, I couldn't just ignore them.
It was Yuni who had suggested the bet, but I too had a responsibility since I had accepted it.
I didn't want to see Yuni fall apart.
The best Yuni was just being Yuni.
"If that's the case, why didn't you tell me sooner..."
Had I known, I wouldn't have agreed to the bet.
There was no need to overcome any pain right now, no matter what it was.
It was important for Yuni to maintain her condition, as her performance would directly affect her grades.
Feeling guilty for putting her in the worst condition in such a situation was inevitable.
"Now, the next student, please!"
The announcer's voice rang out, and I arrived at the corridor where Yuni was.
I saw Yuni up ahead, trembling.
It was an unfamiliar sight.
Yuni was usually a strong-hearted and indifferent person.
Seeing such a person trembling made me sigh.
It seemed like my fault somehow...
"First year student and the second princess of the empire! Yuni Von Ristonia!"
It was Yuni's turn to go out.
She was supposed to walk down the corridor as per the proceedings, but she couldn't move forward.
Her legs weren't moving, as she tapped them with her fists.
Though she wasn't saying anything, I could almost hear her shouting at her legs to move.
I slowly approached Yuni.
"You can do this... Yuni Von Ristonia... You can do this..."
She was muttering to herself in a trembling voice.
I placed my hand on her head.
"Yes, you can do it."
"...?"
Yuni turned around with a puzzled look.
Her eyes were glistening.
It seemed like she was on the verge of crying.
"What are you doing here?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"Ru, Rudy?"
Surprise was evident on Yuni's face.
I raised both my hands.
I gently grasped Yuni's cheeks.
I pulled her cheeks recklessly.
"Huh??? What are you doing..."
"You're clumsy."
Yuni's eyes widened as I spoke firmly.
"What?"
Yuni flared up while I still held her cheeks.
Ignoring her reaction, I continued.
"But that's only when compared to second years like Rie and me."
I pointed outside.
"Compared to those outside, you are extraordinary."
"That's..."
"You're a princess. Of high status. You are incomparable. Plus, you're ranked second in the first year. You achieved that while helping out in Gracie's lab."
"No, what are you suddenly talking about?"
I patted Yuni's back hard.
And I laughed.
"Don't be nervous."
"Yuni student! Please come out!"
The announcer called out.
"Hey, they're calling you. Hurry up."
"Uh, wait! Senior!"
"Save what you want to say for after."
As I pushed her back as if to hurry her, Yuni walked out with a puzzled look.
"Why did he suddenly come here?"
Yuni touched her still-tingling cheek, utterly bewildered.
It was strange for someone, her opponent at that, to show up just to recite her strengths.
His actions left her puzzled.
After spouting some odd remarks, pinching her cheeks, and then pushing her out, she felt completely disoriented.
"Hmm?"
However, her tension eased a bit.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})She wasn't in perfect condition, but there was definitely an improvement.
'...Is this the effect of the candy?'
Yuni rolled the candy in her mouth.
Luna had mentioned its pain-relieving effects, but like most medicines, it could have other effects too.
'Could it be a sedative effect?'
Yuni sighed in relief.
Anyway, this was good.
Now that she had calmed down, it was best to finish quickly.
"Yuni student, please start whenever you're ready," the announcer's voice came.
"Whew..."
Yuni exhaled deeply.
She recalled Rudy's words.
These people in front of her knew nothing.
She was different from her past self.
In the past, those in front of her had been superior, but not now.
In terms of skills, potential, or status, she was not inferior.
'Just watch my superior self.'
Yuni smiled and began.
"Yuni Von Ristonia. I'll start now."
She closed her eyes.
Mana began to flow.
'Just do as I've always done.'
Crackle─
A small spark flickered above Yuni's head.
'Just as the professor taught me.'
Yuni extended her finger towards the scarecrow in front of her.
Electricity began to swirl around.
Small static charges caused her hair to stand on end.
Yuni had spent her time in Gracie's lab during the first semester and the holidays.
She did odd jobs and assisted with research, experiencing significant growth in a short period.
She had progressed in magic, now able to use intermediate spells.
But staying in Gracie's lab meant she had no one to teach her intermediate magic.
That's when Gracie caught her eye.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})As a professor, Gracie's teaching skills were beyond doubt, and being there daily meant Yuni could ask questions directly.
Of course, she wasn't without other options.
She could have learned from another professor using her princess status.
But with Gracie there daily, she saw no reason to seek lessons elsewhere.
The intermediate magic Yuni learned was Gracie's lightning magic.
"Scatter mana around..."
Yuni murmured softly, raising her finger towards the sky.
"Strike down...!"
"Lightning Strike!"
The mana surrounding Yuni converged on her fingertip.
The mana transformed into static electricity, swirling around her finger.
As Yuni slashed her finger towards the scarecrow, the gathered electricity shot out.
It formed a strong electrical charge, whipping out like a lash.
Crackle-Zap─
The electricity from Yuni's hand perfectly struck the scarecrow.
Just like she had practiced.
Exactly as she had prepared.
A direct hit.
The scarecrow was precisely hit by Yuni's technique, currents of electricity coursing through it.
Yuni stared blankly at the scene.
"It worked, it's done."
She didn't know what score she might receive, but the corners of her mouth lifted in satisfaction for executing as planned.
But only for a moment.
"Wow!!!"
"Lightning magic? I didn't know the princess could use such magic."
"This is impressive..."
Voices from the crowd reached her.
"Ah..."
Hearing those voices, the same feeling from earlier began to return.
"I, I need the bathroom..."
She couldn't stay here any longer.
"Yuni student?"
Yuni quickly turned around.
And started running.
If she stayed here... she might make a mistake.
A disaster could ensue.
"Yu, Yuni student! Your score hasn't been announced yet, where are you going!!"
Yuni ignored the announcer's words and ran towards the bathroom.
"I did quite well."
I smiled contentedly, looking at the first-year score chart.
Yuni had boldly secured second place for herself, just narrowly behind Diark in first.
If her condition had been a bit better, she could have easily taken the top spot.
Though Yuni was the one evaluated, I felt a pang of disappointment.
Still, second place was good enough to aim for the top in the joint assessment.
"Anyway."
I shifted my gaze.
"Isn't it time to start?"
As I spoke, the announcer's voice echoed.
"We will now begin the second-year individual assessments."
The evaluation wasn't just for first years.
Second years had to be assessed too.
And the first candidate was...
"Rudy Astria, please wait in the corridor."
It was me.
I had already checked the order and was waiting in the corridor, monitoring the first-year scores.
"Yuni did well, and now..."
It was my turn to perform.
I had a goal.
I wanted to surpass Astina's score when she was a second-year.
This time, I realized something.
Astina was even more impressive than I had thought.
Despite only a year's difference, I felt a significant gap.
The gap felt more tangible after fighting her directly.
But it wasn't unreachable.
I had set my sights on a target.
Catching up to Astina right now was impossible.
So, I planned to slowly reach that goal, starting by catching up to Astina as she was in her second year.
"Rudy Astria, the second son of the Astria family and top student in the second year! He showed a shocking performance as a first year, and now we are excited to see what he will bring this time!"
I walked out slowly into the corridor.
Many faces were visible outside.
"It's been a while since I've been here..."
I hadn't been able to look around leisurely like this when I was a first-year.
I was too tense and focused on what I had to do.
But now, it was different.
My condition was at its peak.
Between student council work, lab duties, and sparring with Astina...
A few days of rest from these demanding tasks made me feel restless, eager to move.
'I want to start moving right away.'
"Rudy student, just let us know when you're ready."
"Yes, I'll start right away."
I responded promptly to the announcer.
Eager to move, I gathered my mana and looked up.
At the end, Astina was looking at me indifferently.
Seeing her, I couldn't help but smile.
I fiddled with my gloves.
The mana stone on the back of the glove reacted to my mana, emitting a small light.
'It's 40,000 points.'
I recalled Astina's score from her second year.
With that thought, I let out a smile.
"It's easy enough."
I dashed forward.
The wind brushed through my hair, giving a pleasant sensation.
Mana gathered in my gloves, sending a tingling sensation from my hands up my arms.
As I sprinted forward, the scarecrow came into view. I pulled my arm back.
Twisting my waist like hitting a punching machine, I drew my arm as far back as possible.
"Inhale!"
Then with all my might.
With the greatest strength.
Boom!
I slammed the scarecrow to the ground.
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