Chapter 16: We Meet Again

"I challenge you, Silvie Savelievna, for the right to take your ID card!"

"...What kind of school is this?"

Hannah's doubts were currently filling the entire cafe as a group of students suddenly barged inside, the looks in their eyes completely hostile as they all stared at Silvie. And considering Hannah recognizes most of them, they were probably from her class.

"What do you think you're doing?" Hannah cracked her neck as she stepped forward, "We're no longer in the training-slash-combat hall; you can't just challenge anyone you want."

"We were just told otherwise by the staff of the mall!" The short, but muscular young man that demanded Silvie's ID card, also stepped forward, "And aren't you in my class!? Why are you with them? You traitor!"

A small crackle in the air then drummed in the air as the young man's skin slowly changed color, transforming into some sort of bronze-like consistency.

"...What?" Hannah could not help but blink a couple of times as she looked at Riley and the others, her face obviously filled with confusion, "This is a school, not some 90s trading card game, you poop-looking shit! Why are you going around asking people for a duel!"

"Ehem!"

And as Hannah's voice was getting louder and louder, Charlotte stepped away from the counter and stood between the two seemingly opposing groups, "Since I am the nearest available campus staff, I shall be the one officiating this duel."

"Wait, this is really happening right now?" Hannah finally realized that her classmate's claims were legitimate.

"It's… not in the handbook," Silvie, who was once again scanning her handbook for anything related to duels, could only shake her head as she approached Charlotte, "Is it possible to refuse the challenge?"

"Yes, but you will be giving him 100 points."

"Wait, what!?" Hannah once again raised her voice, "How is that even fair? Won't everyone just keep on challenging her, then?"

"Well, since Ms. Savelievna here is the one that was challenged, she could choose any modes of duel she wants; and besides the right to take her opponent's ID card, she also has the right to take one more thing from the challenger if she wins," Charlotte raised her finger as she explained everything with a smile on her face.

"Let's go, Silvie. You have unlimited MP anyway, just give them the 100 and don't bother with them--"

"I accept."

Before Hannah could pull Silvie away, Silvie stepped in front of the challenger, "I accept your challenge."

"Ha!"

The young man with bronze for muscles could not help but slightly let out an excited chuckle as soon as Silvie accepted. His group of friends as well were starting to snicker from behind.

"You know, you didn't have to go with their bullshit."

"Yeah sis, I agree with Hannah banana," Gary also let out a sigh, "They're just going to waste your time."

"It's alright," Silvie let out a small smile as she turned her head towards the two, "What Scarlet Mage and the other instructors said earlier really struck me. With my somewhat close match with Hannah earlier, I think people are starting to underestimate me...

...I want to correct that. I accept your challenge," Silvie then said as she turned her gaze back to the challenger, "and since you seem to be confident in your durability, why don't we have a boxing match?"

"I won't have it any other way," the bronze man once again chuckled.

"It is decided then, please follow me!" Charlotte then suddenly blew on a whistle as soon as she stepped outside, gathering all the attention of the people that were nearby. However, it would seem that it wasn't for them, but for the mall's staff.

The cleaners, the guards, and even some of the people that were tending on the hotdog stand all rushed to gesture or push the students away; and without even any warning, the floor opened up-- revealing some sort of platform slowly rising from it.

"...This is ridiculous," Hannah muttered as soon as she saw it, "Just how much budget did the government put into this place? Is this where all of our taxes go?"

"You don't really pay legitimate taxes yet, sister," Riley muttered as he looked at the rising platform, but after a few seconds, he suddenly walked away.

"Wait, where are you going? Aren't you going to watch Silvie's match!?"

Hearing his sister's question, Riley only glanced at Silvie, before proceeding to walk away again, "She will win, I see no point in watching feces getting stepped on by a goliath-- it's disgusting."

"That's…"

"Thank you, Riley," Silvie finally let out a giggle from Riley's words. She was still confused if Riley was joking or not, but does it really matter? The only joke here…

...is her opponent.

"...Is your brother going to be fine going alone like that?" Gary whispered to Hannah, "Do you want me to follow him?"

"I think he'll be fine," Hannah sighed, "He's always preferred to be alone. It's honestly already quite a surprise he's coming with us for this long. I guess… he is starting to learn how to socialize?"

***

Not even a few minutes after Riley separated from the group, he could already hear an ugly scream coming from their direction. No doubt, Silvie had already made quick work of the bronze man.

It is quite pathetic, Riley thought. For the Academy to set up something like a Duel system amongst the students, just what were they really trying to achieve? But at least he learned something.

Initially, he thought the ID card had a chip implanted on them that tells their specific location in real-time inside the Academy; but if it could be stolen or won through a duel, then they wouldn't place it there. Was it perhaps implanted into them without them knowing?

It was impossible for them not to have anything tracking their movement… unless of course, the whole Academy truly was filled with cameras. The mall was already full of cameras, and there was for sure a lot more hiding.

Gary was right, this felt more like a prison if anything. If it was like this, then how?

How was Riley going to scratch the itch that was slowly growing inside of him?

Why? Why did he enroll in this place?

He shouldn't have retired.

Mega Woman.

He shouldn't have defeated Mega Woman. If he didn't, then they would still be fighting right now, bathing in the blood of the destruction they were causing.

"...Mega Woman," Riley slightly raised both his trembling hands in the air, moving his fingers into an arc as if he was strangling someone's neck with it, "This world... is meaningless without you. You're from another planet, right? Where... where is--"

"Mr. Ross?"

And before Riley could finish his monologue, a very familiar voice resounded through his ears. With his hands still slightly in the air, Riley slowly turned his head towards the owner of the voice-- with a smile still lingering on his face.

"Are you... okay? Do you need me to call someone?"

"We seem to be meeting a lot lately, Scarlet Mage," Riley then said.

"...I am your class' supervisor. We really would be meeting a lot from now on," Scarlet Mage let out a small chuckle, but as soon as she remembered what Riley did earlier in the morning, it quickly faded away, "Anyway, where are your sister and friends? Shouldn't you be with them?"

"Oh," Riley slowly dropped his arms as he fully turned towards Scarlet Mage, "In truth...

...I prefer to be with you, Scarlet Mage."