Chapter 80 Rumors Are Always Against Me

"Wow, this weapon feels really nice," I said while spinning the staff in my hand. It was so lightweight and easy to handle. At first, it felt a bit slippery, but I quickly got the hang of it and had a good grip.

[<It came at the right moment. You are going to use it this evening, right?>]

Cleenah asked

"Yeah, I am," I replied. Tonight was the friendly fight between me and Ronald. After some provocation, that idiot finally agreed to face me. We found a random professor to set up the fight, and it was on.

Word had already spread throughout the academy like wildfire. A fight between two high-ranking nobles – one was the son of a chancellor, while the other was the son of a duke. As I walked, I could hear the whispers of guys all around me.

It seemed like the arena where we were going to fight was going to be packed. It was going to be tough, especially since I had lost my blessing just yesterday and felt weaker. But strangely, I felt comfortable.

I wouldn't have accepted to fight Ronald if I didn't think I had a chance to win. And the main reason I was confident was my new weapon. I smirked and put it away in my space ring.

This guy is probably already celebrating his win and preparing his speech to make Layla in love with him. Unfortunately, I will beat him up in front of his beloved Layla and the latter will consequently cast him away.

Oh, such a nice scenario!

Finally, it was a good idea!

I am eager to see Ronald's face warped in shame and disbelief!

Lost in thought, I arrived at one of the stadiums in the Eden Academy's northern area. It was a closed stadium, but the arena was floating.

"Yes, floating," I said to myself. It was the stadium reserved for the Skyball club. I was going to take part this afternoon, though it wasn't mandatory. I wanted to see the action for myself.

I scanned my card and ignored the security.

I could already hear my clubmates working out as I made my way to the field. It had been two weeks since I had registered, and we had already had a few practice sessions, and I was actually doing pretty well. I was having trouble controlling the boots, but everything is now fine. I wasn't a pro at flying, but it was enough to get me through the game. Jayden and Tyler, on the other hand, were doing a fantastic job. They seemed to be born to play that sport…

I went to the locker room and changed into more comfortable clothes. After all, I wasn't going to practice in a blazer. The Skyball's tracksuit was in a sky blue color with gold linings in the arms and pants. On the chest of the uniform, there was a winged-ball engraving, which was the Skyball club's symbol.

As I put on my clothes, I made my way to the field. The ground was covered in artificial grass, which was soft enough to prevent any serious injuries if someone lost control of their bracers or boots.

I soon spotted Professor Julia, who was in charge of overseeing the Skyball club. She was talking to someone, probably about the club. Her colleagues were either floating on small playing fields, observing and arbitrating the friendly match, or on the ground helping and advising the other club members.

The club was really lively, with almost a hundred members, including second- and third-year students. Though there weren't many considering there were over seven hundred students at the academy.

"Edward, you're here!" Jayden appeared and joined me.

"You took your time with the daughter of Duke Tarmias…" He teased me.

"What are you talking about? She's madly in love with that stupid prince."

"Shhht. Someone might hear you," Jayden said as he scanned our surroundings.

"By the way...I heard you challenged Ronald for Lady Layla's affection..."

"Yeah, I also wanted to smash his simp face bu-"

Hold on! What did he just say?

"What did you say?" I asked, unsure if I had misheard him.

"Hm? That you challenged-"

"Not that...what did you say at the end there?" I asked again Jayden, feeling confused and angry.

"For Lady Layla's affection," he repeated, looking a bit uncomfortable.

What the hell?!

I couldn't believe it. Who would spread such a ridiculous rumor?

"Who said that?" I asked, squeezing his shoulders tightly.

"I don't know, I heard it from some other club members," he replied, looking away.

I felt my blood boil. This was absurd. I had no intention of fighting Ronald for Layla's affection. In fact, I barely knew the girl.

As I looked around the field, I noticed that other students were whispering and casting furtive glances in my direction. It seemed like the rumor had spread beyond just the Skyball club.

I let out a frustrated sigh. How was I going to put an end to this?

Why would I fight that fucker for Layla?!

[<Well, you are fighting him because of her in the end.>]

Yeah! But not for her affection!

I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath.

I should be used to that now.

Rumors were always against me.

"Let's forget about it and move on," I said, trying to shake off my frustration. Jayden nodded, clearly unsure of what was going on with me.

As we walked, I noticed Tyler talking to Lea, Miranda's best friend. It was odd that Tyler wasn't his usual loud self, but what really caught my attention was that he was talking to Lea.

"What's Tyler doing?" I muttered under my breath, confused.

"Oh, he's just talking to Lea," Jayden replied casually.

"I know that, but since when are they so chummy?" I asked, feeling a bit uneasy.

It was strange because in the game, Tyler was Jayden's rival and had a comedic role to help strengthen the bond between the protagonist and the heroes. He wasn't supposed to get close to any girls, so seeing him with Lea felt off to me.

But right now…

"H-Hey, Lea, how do you find my new haircut?"

Tyler pulled up his brown hair like an actor, but he was doing it awkwardly, so it was just pathetic.

"N-Not bad. I think it suits you well, Tyler."

Lea played with her hair shyly.

Her type of dude was really far-fetched from the common womenfolk. Or maybe she fell for his stupidity? What a pair of weirdos…

"I-I see! I mean I asked the barber to make a haircut that would complement well with my muscles and he did w-well, I guess…"

Is he stupid?!

I was dumbfoundedly staring at Tyler, who was averting his red face.

Lea giggled at Tyler's obvious dumb answer.

What the hell is happening?!

"Ah that. It's been some time now, Edward, you didn't notice?"

"No…since when?"

I mean, until now, I was doing my best to avoid Tyler since he was causing me too much trouble with his loud voice; that must be the reason.

Jayden smiled, "It's been about two weeks, I think. You remember when you told Tyler that Lea had called?"

I nodded.

I said that just to get rid of him.

"Well, it turns out that Lea didn't actually call him, but they started talking and hit it off. Tyler was pretty excited about it," Jayden explained with a grin.

"..."

Is that a joke?

It's because of me that they are so close?

[<Amazing…Without even trying you are hooking up people around…>]

No way!

"Once he learned that you were going to fight for Lady Layla's affection, Tyler became excited and said that he wouldn't lose to you. That's why he is talking to Lea now."

That muscle-brain!

Don't use my name to justify your clowning around!

"...Whatever."

I took another deep breath and went to see Professor Julia.

"Oh, Edward? You are late again. When will you behave like a noble?"

As usual, she scolded me for being late and questioned my behavior as a noble.

"I left the Falkona house," I explained.

The professor sighed in exasperation. "If I remember correctly, your mother is from a great noble house in Sancta Vedelia, isn't she?"

"Yeah, that's right."

I realized that I didn't know much about my mother's family history or her reasons for leaving Sancta Vedelia. All I knew was that the island was considered the most sacred in the world because of the Sacred Tree of Eden.

According to legend, it was one of Eden's three Holy Treasures, along with the Garden of Eden and the Monolithe. It was thanks to that tree that I now possessed a powerful weapon.

Mom…

Why did she leave that island to live here?

Was she that much in love with that shitty father?

It would have been preferable if they had both lived in Sancta Vedelia. Everyone on the island was arrogant, but given how blessed that island was, I would be as well.

[<Sancta Vedelia? I feel like you talked to me about that…>]

Cleenah spoke in wonder.

'Yeah, it's because the Second Game will be held in Sancta Vedelia…'

Damn…

Memories of the Second Game story flashed through my mind and I couldn't help but worry.

It was an important game for me because I was the [Main Antagonist] of that game. In the First Game, I was just a Major antagonist, but in the Second one, I will go through a drastic change in appearance and personality.

Sancta Vedelia…

That island was known for being the birthplace of the greatest Heroes as well as the most powerful location on the sea.

But…in my madness, I destroyed and annihilated three-quarters of the island and burned the majority of its inhabitants alive.

You bet the Protagonists and Heroines killed me…

No.

I shook my head immediately.

It wasn't me.