Chapter 21 - [Bonus ] Extreme Risk

The match is arm wrestling. No need for preparation time.

To gauge how much Virena should handicap herself, the two of them tried a mock battle.

However, when both of them were seated down, facing each other across the prepared dining table, Virena hesitated and asked.

"We should battle wrist to wrist."

She suggested. They don't know specific types of arm wrestling in a professional competition but what they are doing is not professionally. Instead of clasping both hands, they will just push each other's front wrists was what Virena wanted to say.

"Eh? Sure, I don't see any problem." Joren said, not understanding the reason for Virena's suggestion. But the same could not be said to Ness.

"What's wrong with holding hands? Didn't you hold his hand earlier?"

"Principal... but there's no other choice back then."

Realizing what they were talking about, Joren just laughed it off and said.

"There's no worry, Ness. It's not like Virena is shy or anything."

"True."

"This is the first time you agreed to him... but okay, I guess." Ness just nonchalantly let it go even though she had other things in her mind.

Placing both arms on the table. The contrast between the two was striking. Joren rolled up his sleeve to not let it obstruct the inflation of his muscles later on. Furthermore, he got comfortable with it but his clothes, albeit not dirty because it was practically washed earlier, it was messy due to a lot of things that happened. He didn't mind further crumpling his clothes. Due to this, his bulging biceps and triceps could be seen. Meanwhile, Virena has a slender arm with pale white skin very much like a beautiful maiden would have.

If a random person saw this, they would think that Joren is abusing the pretty redhead girl.

Ness then hosted the fight by putting their hands together while she crouched atop the dining table on the left side. While their other hands were placed under the table. Joren put his left hand on the same direction Ness was sitting on while Virena on the opposite side.

This made Joren remember how a simple push from Ness would've killed him if not for Virena.

'I guess she's really the principal.'

Once Ness propped them against each other, she then said like an announcer.

"Mock battle. Contestant Virena will only use a maximum of half of her strength for this one. If she uses pass that even though it's just a mock battle, she will lose. The objective is to gauge Contestant Joren's strength and find the perfect handicap for Contestant Virena."

"Huh? But if she loses right away because of that, I will not be able to prove a-"

"Don't interrupt the Principal."

"Okay, ready in 3... 2... 1... Go!" Ness then removed her hand holding the two with a smile.

At once, both arms trembled as forces clashed against one another. All Joren needs to do was give everything he got. His reddened and vein-popping face revealed that he was doing that. Meanwhile, Virena was indifferent as if she was just a spectator.

"12%"

"S-seriously!?" Joren's eyes widened upon hearing what percentage of strength Virena was only using.

"13%"

After revealing her strength, her arm naturally wavered to her winning side. However, Joren didn't stop fighting and pushed her back again.

"14%"

Thud*

Joren felt his muscle snap before his knuckle hid the table.

Ness whistled the end of the mock battle using her two fingers.

"Joren's full strength is equalled to 13% of Virena's strength."

"Now that you're an undead, you've become weaker, aren't you?" Virena said in response to this.

"Yeah, I'm aware."

"Now then, we will have three official matches as suggested by Contestant Joren. In the first match, he will use a fourth of his skill by... pulling his pants on the first-quarter level of his legs... Joren, it's not too late to back up and say that you're really a pervert, you know. If you apologize now, we will forgive you. But you will just embarrass yourself if you still continue."

"No, I want to prove that my skill is the real deal. I've revealed all my strength earlier, right? As long as I get Virena to use 20% of her strength then you two will believe I'm not pulling my pants for no reason, right?"

"That's a promise." Ness said and then continued, "So what are you going to bet on? You said something big, right?"

"Actually... I haven't thought of it yet..."

"Huh?"

"I mean, I don't really hold a valuable possession. But even if I bet my hand, I think it's going to grow back, right?" Joren said even though he found his own words unbelievable.

"You will go that far? But I don't like the idea of cutting your hand though."

"I know a big risk to you." Virena finally spoke.

Both Joren and Ness looked at her with anticipation.

"Expulsion."

'Eh? But that's a bit too-"

"Bring it on!" Joren accepted the challenge.

"You seem to accept it too fast."

"That's how determined I am on this."

"Or maybe, it's okay for you to be expelled. From what I know, the academy just forcefully took you in."

"Hm, that's true. But if I got expelled, I wouldn't be able to save Scarlett so that's a big risk to me."

"Not enough. Also, bringing an undead back to the common world is unacceptable to the academy's rules."

Ness nodded to Virena's explanation.

"Wait, so if I get expelled, where would I go?"

"That's where the second condition comes in."

"I'm not scared, say it." Joren attentively said.

"You will officially form a contract with me and you will live here as a slave who will work for the rest of his life for us."

Ness didn't seem to have a problem with this and even added, "Oh, if that happens, he can play here all he wants!"

But Joren posed a question.

"Aren't I basically your servant right now?"

"Yes, but you are just forcefully dragged to becoming one. Therefore, as long as you have a strong will, you can disobey me. Signing a contract is a different matter. Once you signed on your own volition even if I tell you to kill yourself you would do it without a second thought." Virena explained which slightly surprised Joren, "I think that's the most risk you can bet, right? What do you think?"

"Virena... I think that's too mu-"

"No, Ness, this is not a sure loss for me." Joren said and added, "But it's not fair that I only get a punishment. I say we shout place our bets equally."

"True, however, the difference of you being my slave and me being your slave is worlds apart. My value is much more even if there's twenty of you."

Virena said not to boast but to say the truth. Joren didn't rebuke but instead suggested.

"Okay, but asking you to be my slave didn't even come up in my mind in the first place. If I win, you will do anything to help me turn back into a human."

"Turning you back into a human is virtually impossible." Virena rejected.

"Then..." Joren didn't know if he should say it or not but after a moment of hesitation, he chose not to. He wanted to say that she should help him turn him into a vampire however, thinking of forcing himself to a girl is something even he couldn't do.

"No, I'm not asking you to turn me into a human. I'm asking you to help me. If you did everything you can but I am still undead, I wouldn't blame you for it." Joren said which Virena finally nodded.

"But now that this is a more serious match, can I change the rules of the match?" he continued.

"As long as it's not ridiculous, fine."

Ness said so Joren said what he wanted to do.

"One match, use 20% of your strength from the get-go and I will use 100% of my skill."

Joren didn't calculate this. He just went with what his guts told him. If he strictly calculated the percentage of strength he can beat Virena on, he wouldn't feel he deserve his win.

"Sure"

Virena agreed without any hesitation.

"Then let me prepare it." Joren dropped his pants without warning.

[Sagging Pants Activated:

Agility: 47 -> 07

Strength: 42 -> 66

Toughness: 61 -> 85]

"Kyah-!" Ness covered her eyes while Virena frowned as she looked to the side.

Only when Joren sat back down did they look at him again.

"I'm ready."

"If your skill is true, that's a very inconvenient skill."

"I know..."

"But don't you want to rest first?"

"I'm fine."

"Okay"

Virena placed her elbow on the table and held Joren's hand.

"For a formal match." she casually explained.

Joren nodded and clasped her hand tightly.

Seeing that both of them are ready, Ness held then hands and said the same thing.

"Ready in 3..."

This time, she didn't wear her smile as this match has consequences.

"2..."

Just from how they played with Joren, Ness could tell that he's a good guy, therefore, she didn't want him to lose either.

"1..."

However, that doesn't mean she wants nor believes Virena will lose.

"Go!"

She removed her hand and at the same time, the table trembled as Virena's eyes shone red. Her arm immediately pushed Joren's arm down with just 20% of her strength.

Without any surprise, Ness immediately announced.

"The winner, Contestant Vire-"

"Wait"

Virena stopped her.

"Huh?" Ness paused and looked carefully to see that there's still a gap between Joren's arm and the surface of the table.

"He had yet to lose."

Ness then looked at Joren who had a serious yet stretched face.

"HA! V-virena's right!" he shouted as he began to slightly push Virena's arm up.