Free Web NovelChapter 105: Search For Xander
The fourth round started.
Like in the previous rounds, Lily managed to secure a win against her opponents.
Now, even more and more people began to bet on either her or Sylvia to win it all. Thus, the matches not involving either one of them seemed rather unappealing to them.
However, they changed their mind during a match between a red-class and a silver-class student.
The guests knew beforehand about the differences in classes and the meaning behind their uniforms. Therefore, it would not be surprising for them if the student in the superior class would win.
And yet, they were all witnesses of a silver-class student almost causing an upset.
It was a girl from the silver class, who was actually fighting on equal footing with a boy from the red class.
With her being a fire mage, she had an additional elemental advantage over the boy, who wielded ice magic.
Everyone’s attention was focused on that particular match, leaving the other three simultaneous matches in hindsight.
And even after the three matches concluded, that match was still ongoing.
It was not until the final minute stroke that the favor shifted towards a student.
A winner was decided.
The crowd was cheering for both participants out of respect.
For them, it was most likely the most exciting match yet.
The announcer grabbed his magic tool, from which he made his announcements.
The winner of that match was the red-class student.
"She will be promoted to the red class." Ophelia stated calmly.
"But didn’t she lose?" Sara asked.
"That’s true, but most students take part in the tournament to show off their skills in the hope that the teachers recognize them and promote them to a higher class."
"Being able to almost beat a red-class student as a silver-class student fulfills the criteria. Look, the jury is also talking among themselves now."
Ophelia signaled with a diagonal head movement to the jury outside.
The jury, consisting of the first-year teachers, had an area just for themselves in the midst of the crowd at the east side of the arena.
"..."
Mika narrowed his eyes as he watched the participants.
"Did you also notice, Mika?" Olivia asked, sounding stern.
"I don’t know if we’re talking about the same thing but in my eyes, those participants appear pretty exhausted... Even more than usual..." Mika replied in thought.
"..."
He turned his head to Olivia.
Silent, she kept on staring at the students.
It was his first time, seeing her so stern and focused on something.
Then, she suddenly stood up from her seat.
"Ophelia, who’s in charge of the security?"
"That must be the current captain of the disciplinary committee. His name is Xander Maystra. Why are you asking?" freewēbnoveℓ.com
"I want him to tighten the security around the arena. I have a bad feeling about all of this."
All eyes in the room shifted to her in a stern manner.
Olivia was about to exit the lounge when Elsa and Lereon stopped her. freewebnøvel.com
"We can’t let you out." Lereon said.
"You’re a VIP guest here. You would only cause a commotion with your status." Elsa added.
Olivia’s gaze turned threatening.
"Do you think you can st-"
"Then, how about me? As much as I hate talking to that person, I can relay your message to him." Mika suggested.
Despite his feelings for him, he had to cast them aside for that moment if it was for everyone’s best.
"..."
Olivia stared at him for a second.
"Fine. I’ll entrust you with that task. Tell him what I just said, Mika."
"Yes."
"I will tag along, too." Ophelia said determinedly as she stood up.
"You can stay here. It’s only a delivery so I alone will suffice." Mika replied with a carefree smile.
"..."
She may be still worried, but she trusted him.
"Take care then." she said quietly.
The Tiam siblings looked rather concerned as Mika was about to leave.
"Thanks." Olivia muttered when Mika passed by her.
Thus, he left the lounge.
But as soon as he exited the lounge and descended the stairs, he turned around.
"?"
The one, who tilted her head, was Lisa Vonder.
She was guarding the stairs.
"Do you know where Xander is?"
"What do you intend to do with that information?"
She sharpened her gaze, knowing of the hostility Mika was harboring towards him.
"I have to deliver a message from the queen of Rostanta. It’s urgent." he replied sternly.
"What?!"
"So do you know his whereabouts?"
"..."
She put her finger on her chin as she pondered.
"Sorry, I haven’t seen him yet nor did I hear anything."
"I see... Thanks, though!" Mika said before he sprinted away.
He ran aimlessly around. He checked the inner floors of the arena. He checked the entrances.
But there were no traces of Xander.
"Where the heck is that bastard...?"
At the same time, dozens of people emerged from the arena.
He did not realize it yet but the fourth round was over, indicating the start of the break.
"Hm?"
"Uff..."
Mika accidentally bumped into someone.
"I’m sorry! I was in a hurry and wasn’t looking!" Mika apologized quickly.
He looked at the person.
"Oh, it’s fine. None of us got harmed after all."
The gentle and motherly voice belonged to a middle-aged woman.
Her blonde hair was tied into a bun with bangs covering her forehead. Her gentle round eyes were red, hinting at her ability to use magic. Despite her voice, which would make one believe that she was middle-aged, she looked rather young, stunningly attractive and there were no wrinkles on her face or body.
She wore a long brown skirt and a loose white sweater with a turtleneck. Furthermore, she wore a golden necklace around her neck with a golden pendant hanging from it and a golden ring on her finger.
"Nonetheless I’m sorry!"
"It’s fine. Really." the woman repeated, waving her hand.
Mika took another look at the woman.
"Have we met before...?" he asked.
"Oh my. Are you perhaps trying to pick me up?" the woman replied jokingly.
Replaying his words in his mind, Mika blushed at the realization that he had come off wrongly.
"S-s-sorry! I didn’t mean it like that!"
He was wildly waving his hands, hiding his embarrassment.
"So you’re saying I don’t charm you?"
She was playing with him.
"N-no, you’re a very attractive w-woman!"
"Hm~"
She smirked playfully.
"A-anyways, I-I have to go now!"
Mika chose to flee from the situation.
At the same time, he heard a familiar voice calling that woman ’Mom’.
But at that time, he was primarily focused on escaping.
Thus, he resumed his search for Xander.
After searching in the arena, Mika looked outside the arena.
However, he was not there either, so he expanded his search to the capital and its main street, where the most people were.
It was afternoon now, however, the main streets were still visited by a lot of people, making it even harder to find a single person.
But then, something white entered his field of vision.
He looked closer and found a person wearing the academy’s white uniform. And on top of that, there was the armband for the disciplinary committee.
Mika approached said person and as the number of people got fewer, he could take a look at the person’s face.
"Found you...!"
Standing in front of a food stall was Xander.
"What do you want?" Xander asked, annoyed by the sight of Mika.
"I’m here on the order of the queen of Rostanta..." Mika said exhaustedly.
Xander sharpened his gaze and turned stern.
"What is it?"
Mika proceeded to relay Olivia’s message to him.
"I see. I will take care of that. You can go back now." Xander responded pensively.
Without him telling him that, Mika was about to head back.
"!"
However, he stopped when he noticed something strange.
"What now?"
Mika did not face Xander but the man he was previously talking to. The owner of the stall.
"M-may I help you...?" the middle-aged man asked nervously.
Without a word, Mika was leaning closer to him.
"..."
He did not notice it but Xander was looking at him intimidatingly.
"I don’t know why... But I recognize this smell..." Mika said with a distorted expression.
For him, it was an unpleasant smell.
"S-sorry, it must be my sweat..." the man replied, still forcing a smile.
"No... This smell..."
Xander slowly raised his hand.
"Was it from back then? During the mission at the Desolated Fortress...?" Mika wondered.
The middle-aged man broke into a cold sweat.
"Ah!"
Then, Mika remembered as he widened his eyes.
With one hand, he slammed against the counter and with the other hand he pulled the man towards him.
"This smell belongs to a demon...!" Mika stated sharply with threatening eyes.
"Heh." Xander huffed.
"Thanks for confirming it. You really are one of them." he added.
"?"
Mika was about to twist his neck, however, he felt something striking his neck.
And then, he slowly lost consciousness.
"Now then... What should I do with you?"
