Raphael frowned after seeing the result of the third-round match. It was not only because his academy lost but also because of the strength Kyouka showed in that fight. A hero's abilities were completely beyond his expectations.
"Amazing! I didn't expect a hero summoned from another world to be this strong. It looks like I have to correct my opinion about the strength of those heroes." Raphael said coldly and narrowed his eyes at Kyouka, then turned to Hikaru and Sintaro at the edge of the battle arena.
The guests from the human region were also surprised by Kyouka's victory. They were happy because Piqmentia Grand Academy had won twice and once again they would win the friendly match.
Apart from Raphael and the people from the human realm, the people who were the most shocked at the outcome of the battle were the heroes. They never knew when Kyouka could become that strong. She even almost opened seven magic circles and became a Magic King.
"Is Kyouka this strong?" Prince Fritz muttered in admiration after seeing the fight that Kyouka was showing in the battle arena.
"I don't know. However, since the incident in the Cirlus Kingdom, Kyouka has often disappeared suddenly. I think this has something to do with her rapidly increasing strength." Hikaru answered Prince Fritz's question.
Hikaru wasn't sure about that answer. He was also confused by Kyouka's drastic growth in strength. The four heroes are almost always together and know each other's activities. But Hikaru didn't know when and how Kyouka increased her power.
"Hmm... it is possible. Since that incident, I also feel that Kyouka has changed. She becomes more silent when we are together, and it seems her mind is not in her at the time. I feel like she's not the Kyouka I know." Prince pensively rubbed his chin and then gave his opinion to Hikaru.
"I think what you have said is true. At first, I thought there was nothing wrong with Kyouka's attitude. But if you feel it too, it means that Kyouka has indeed changed, and it might be because she is having a problem or maybe there is something she is thinking about." Hikaru agreed with Prince Fritz's words.
"Or maybe it has something to do with the incident in the Circus Kingdom?" Prince Fritz gave a guess about Kyouka's matter.
"Why do you think like that?" Hikaru asked back.
"I think Kyouka is burdened with the title of hero attached to her." Prince Fritz answered Hikaru's question heavily.
"Ah, I understand that feeling because I also feel the same way with him. I felt helpless and couldn't do much during that incident." Hikaru sighed and was silent for a while to calm his mind. Then he spoke again to Prince Fritz.
"At that time, I thought I was weak and just a burden. I feel ashamed for being constantly protected. I am a hero, and I am the one who should protect others." Hikaru smiled helplessly.
"You don't have to think about that. You are heroes who are still growing, and your turn to protect will come in the future. The only thing you have to do is become stronger, just like Kyouka did." Prince Fritz tapped Hikaru's shoulder to encourage him.
When Hikaru and Prince Fritz were speculating about the reason for Kyouka's change, Sintaro gritted his teeth while tightly clenching his fists.
(Since when did Kyouka become that strong! Wouldn't the distance between her and me get wider if her strength increased that much!)
Sintaro has affection for Kyouka, and their friends are aware of it. He dared to approach Kyouka because his strength was above Kyouka and almost on par with Hikaru. But if Kyouka becomes stronger than him, Sintaro will feel inferior and lose his confidence. Because of that, the distance between Sintaro and Kyouka would be even greater.
(No! I don't want that to happen! Even though Kyouka is close to becoming a Magic King, her combat power is still below mine!)
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Sintaro tried to convince himself that he was still stronger than Kyouka when it came to a real fight. Even though he thought that way, Kyouka's rapidly increasing strength was still a knot in his heart.
(I have to become stronger! I will do whatever it takes to increase my strength rapidly and surpass Kyouka! That's the only way I can get closer to Kyouka!)
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Sintaro was determined in his mind. He felt that becoming stronger was an urgent thing for him to do at this time. He had to find a way to increase his strength rapidly.
Not long after, the barrier opened, and Kyouka walked slowly out of the battle arena. Her face was pale, and she looked like she was in pain. Even though Kyouka had healed her minor injuries, her serious injuries took time to heal completely.
On the other hand, Princess Evelyn was taken by Prince Ozkar out of place to get treatment immediately because she seemed to have suffered more serious injuries.
When Kyouka got off the battle arena, she was greeted by worried faces from Sintaro and Hikaru.
"Are you okay, Kyouka?" Sintaro asked first. He wanted Kyouka to see his worried and caring face for her. Sintaro doesn't want to give that chance to others, especially Hikaru.
"I'm fine. I will go to Megumi's place to heal my wounds." Kyouka answered weakly.
"Then I'll take you there! Besides, you look very weak, and it's hard to walk." Sintaro offered his help as he felt this was another chance to show his concern for Kyouka.
"You don't have to because I can still walk to Megumi's place by myself. After all, you still have to see the next round and prepare for your match." Kyouka answered flatly and walked away, leaving Sintaro and the others.
Sintaro could only grit his teeth after hearing Kyouka's refusal. He couldn't force Kyouka because doing so would make Kyouka hate him. Sintaro was speechless and could only see Kyouka slowly disappearing from his sight.
Sintaro clicked his tongue and turned his gaze back to the battle arena. As he waited for the next round to begin, Sintaro kept thinking about how to increase his strength rapidly in a short time.
At the treatment center for the injured participants of the Arcuz Grand Academy, Princess Evelyn was lying unconscious on a bed. The healing mage put on a serious face as he examined Princess Evelyn's wounds.
"How is my sister's condition now?" Prince Ozkar asked anxiously.
"Your sister's condition is critical." The healer sighed heavily and answered Prince Ozkar's question. Then he explained about Princess Evelyn's badly damaged internal organs.
"What have you said!? Did the opponent's attack make my sister like this?" Prince Ozkar asked coldly. He had already judged Kyouka as the cause of his sister's condition.
"I don't think that's the reason, prince. Princess Evelyn became like this because…" The healer wanted to say the real cause of Princess Evelyn's condition, but a voice in his mind made him stop his words.
(Let Ozkar think like that, and don't let him find out the real reason behind Evelyn's condition)
The voice within the healer's mind was the telepathy of King Regulus. The healers quickly recognized the voice.
(But...)
The healer didn't dare lie to Prince Ozkar.
(This is an order! You don't have to ask and just obey what I have said!)
King Regulus said in an absolute tone without allowing any rebuttal from the healer.
(I...I understand, Your Majesty!)
The healer answered in a frightened voice, and the telepathic connection was cut off.
"So what exactly caused my sister's condition to be like this!?" Prince Ozkar became impatient after the healer stopped his speech and ignored his words.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Prince. I rechecked Princess Evelyn's condition, and it seems that the cause was indeed due to her opponent's attack." The healer couldn't help but tell a lie about Princess Evelyn's condition to Prince Ozkar.
"Damn it!" Prince Ozkar roared furiously and subconsciously released his power at that spot. The shockwave from his power blew away the healer. The people in the place turned their attention to Prince Ozkar, who was enveloped in a dark brown light.
"Good, heroes! Good, people from the human academy! At first, I only intended to teach the hero boy a lesson. but since you guys dared to hurt my sister like this, don't blame me for being cruel, especially the hero girl who hurt my sister!" Prince Ozkar clenched his fists and stared with killing intent in the direction Kyouka was in.
Prince Ozkar loved and pampered his sister, Princess Evelyn. That's why he was furious after seeing his little sister lying in a gravely injured state due to Kyouka's attack.
"Please provide any possible treatment for my sister at this time and treat her until her condition is stable. I will ask father to find a way to cure her after this match is over." Prince Ozkar gave the order to the healer and left the place for the battle arena.
"I understand, prince!" The healer answered tremblingly. After seeing that Prince Ozkar had disappeared from his sight, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Haa... I don't know if what I have done is right or wrong." The healer smiled bitterly and shook his head. Then he again cast his healing spell on Princess Evelyn and tried to stabilize her condition.
In the seating area for the people of Piqmentia Grand Academy, Ziel frowned upon seeing the power released by Kyouka. While Ziel was thinking about something, Clara suddenly stood up from her chair.
"I have to go and see Kyouka's condition!" Clara said with a worried face.
"You can't, my lady. Guests are prohibited from entering the area. She will be fine since Miss Megumi is there to heal her." Ziel quickly caught Clara's hand and stopped her.
"But…I'm worried about Kyouka's condition. You know she got a lot of injuries in the previous fight, right?" Clara was still worried about Kyouka and stubbornly wanted to see her.
"I understand how you feel, my lady. But you still can't go there. I can guarantee that Kyouka will be fine." Ziel tried to calm Clara's anxiety.
"Is what you said true??" Clara doubted what Ziel had said.
"He's right, Clara. Ziel won't lie to you. You better sit back and watch the match in the next round." Lilith tries to help Ziel convince Clara.
Clara fell silent after hearing Lilith's words. She finally realized that she was on the verge of committing an act that might be detrimental to the people of the human academy. Clara also felt guilty for having doubted Ziel's words with her question.
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"I understand. I'm sorry that I almost acted rashly because of my worries. I'm also sorry for doubting what you said, Ken." Clara said apologetically to Ziel. Then she sat back in her chair and took a deep breath.
Ziel sighed after seeing Clara had returned to her seat. Then he looked in the direction Kyouka had left. Ziel could only shake his head. During the match in the third round, Ziel could feel the presence of Shiori that he had sealed within Kyouka.
Ziel knew that not only Kyouka but Clara and Princess Iris had also tried to break the seal. Among the three girls, only Kyouka succeeded. Princess Iris might as well be able to break the seal, but it would take her a little longer. In contrast, Clara looks still having trouble opening the seal.
Ziel had warned them to be themselves in this age and not be Shiori. If they merged with Shiori's memories, they might gain many benefits, but it would also change their personality.
It happened because they would be carried away by Shiori's nature and feelings from those memories. Ziel could feel that the atmosphere around Kyouka was starting to change and mixed with Shiori's presence.
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"Haa..." Ziel sighed once more after thinking about the possibility that Princess Iris and Clara would suffer the same fate as Kyouka. But he will not stop them because it is their decision. Besides, Ziel had warned them once before, and that was enough.
Ziel looked at the battle arena after seeing Jourelio ready to start the match in the fourth round.
"For participants who get number four, please enter the battle arena! We will start the next round!" Jourelio summoned the students from the two academies who would fight in the fourth round. His face looked disappointed after Princess Evelyn's defeat in the previous battle.
Azalia and Hikaru quickly entered the battle arena after hearing Jourelio's words.
Hikaru looked serious and filled with fighting intent because he knew that his opponent was not a weak girl. It was because Hikaru felt overwhelmed by the pressure Azalia released despite their distance.
In contrast, Azalia wore a lazy and indifferent face. She didn't seem to care about the outcome of this battle. If it weren't for her having other goals within the academy and maintaining her disguise, she would have refused to participate in that useless match.
"Are you ready?" Jourelio asked the two participants in the battle arena.
"I am ready!" Hikaru answered firmly while Azalia just nodded her head.
"In that case, the fourth round of the friendly match between Piqmentia Grand Academy and Arcuz Grand Academy begins!" Jourelio signaled the start of the fight between Hikaru and Azalia.