The Villian Who Broke The Story

Chapter 83

The cheers that followed Kael’s victory gradually died down as the medical staff entered the arena.

Rykor Ashfang, the Rank Five Tigerkin, was carefully carried away while the arena maintenance team immediately got to work. Earth mages repaired the cracked stone floor, wind mages cleared away the dust, and water mages washed away the bloodstains left behind by the battle.

Within minutes, the arena looked as pristine as it had before the fight.

The audience, however, remained anything but calm.

Everywhere throughout the stadium, discussions erupted.

”Did he really defeat Rank Five with a pocket knife?”

”I thought he was bluffing when he entered the arena.”

”He even finished the fight using the Celestial Star Style.”

”He copied Zion’s entire battle...”

”No...”

”He improved it.”

Even the second and third-year students who had initially dismissed the first-year tournament wore solemn expressions.

The first years this year...

...were monsters.

High above the arena, where only the academy’s upper management could stand, two figures quietly observed the bustling stadium.

The first was the Student Council President, dressed in the elegant black-and-gold uniform that symbolized her authority. Unlike earlier in the tournament, she wasn’t surrounded by the rest of the Student Council. They were scattered throughout the stadium, ensuring the event proceeded without incident.

Standing beside her was a young man with blazing crimson hair wearing the black uniform of the Disciplinary Committee.

A silver emblem rested on his shoulder, identifying him as its current Head.

His name was Cairo Valerius.

He watched Kael disappear into the waiting room before letting out a low whistle.

”Well...”

”The first years seem like excellent prospects.”

”If they continue growing at this pace, we might actually have a chance during this year’s Inter-High Competition.”

The Student Council President nodded.

”They’ve exceeded expectations.”

”Most of them have.”

Her gaze lingered on the waiting room entrance.

”But...”

”...I’m especially curious about Kael Draven.”

Cairo chuckled.

”I had a feeling you’d say that.”

”He really is the biggest surprise of this tournament.”

”I’ll keep observing him.”

”He could become one of our greatest assets during the Inter-High Competition.”

The Student Council President folded her arms.

”Assuming today’s performance wasn’t simply a burst of inspiration.”

Cairo laughed.

”Do you honestly believe someone can copy Zion Crawford’s battle...”

”...then reproduce it almost perfectly...”

”...through inspiration alone?”

She remained silent.

The answer was obvious.

No.

Kael had entered the arena carrying nothing more than a pocket knife.

He deliberately challenged a Rank Five Tigerkin using the same handicap Zion had imposed upon himself.

Even more absurd...

He finished the battle using the very technique Zion had displayed moments earlier.

”First Form...”

”Guiding Light.”

The image replayed vividly inside both of their minds.

Cairo shook his head.

”That ability of his...”

”...it’s terrifying.”

”I’ve never seen anyone learn another person’s swordsmanship so quickly.”

The Student Council President quietly added,

”And he isn’t merely copying movements.”

”He’s understanding them.”

Cairo slowly nodded.

”Exactly.”

”That’s the frightening part.”

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Their attention remained fixed on the waiting room where Kael had disappeared.

Finally, Cairo broke the silence.

”There is still one thing bothering me.”

The Student Council President looked toward him.

”What?”

”I don’t remember seeing him during the academy entrance examination.”

She blinked before staring at him as though he had asked the most ridiculous question imaginable.

”...You’re serious?”

”What?”

”It’s practically common knowledge.”

”Kael Draven never participated in the entrance examination.”

”He bought his way into the academy.”

Cairo’s eyes widened.

”...What?”

”You mean someone was wealthy enough to simply buy admission into the Academy?”

She nodded once.

”Exactly.”

Cairo scratched the back of his head before laughing.

”Now that’s ridiculous.”

”How rich is the Draven family?”

”It’s almost like they’re royalty.”

The Student Council President sighed.

”I’m honestly surprised.”

”I’m an elf...”

”...and somehow I know more about human noble families than you do.”

Cairo placed a hand over his chest in exaggerated disbelief.

”Now you’ve wounded my pride.”

”I’m the Head of the Disciplinary Committee, not a scholar of human nobility.”

The Student Council President raised an eyebrow.

”That excuse doesn’t work.”

”We both know every major race constantly keeps an eye on the others.”

”If not for the Demon Invasion forcing everyone into an uneasy alliance, the continent would probably still be at war.”

Cairo’s playful smile gradually faded.

”...You’re right.”

”There would’ve been another continental war sooner or later.”

He rested both arms on the stone railing overlooking the arena below.

The cheers from Kael’s victory had finally settled into quiet conversations among the spectators.

”My reason for enrolling in this academy isn’t the same as most noble elves,” the Student Council President said calmly.

”I believe this academy represents something far greater than simple education.”

”It proves that humans, elves, beastkin, dwarves, and every other race can fight alongside one another.”

”If we cannot trust each other here...”

”...then we’ll never defeat the demons outside these walls.”

Cairo turned to look at her.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

”I hope all that talk about unity helps us win the Inter-High Tournament this year.”

She looked back at him without changing her expression.

”Have you trained for the upcoming Inter-High Tournament?” Cairo asked

The both stood in silence for a few minutes before the Student Council President decided to break the silence

”I was hoping it was rhetorical.”

She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.

”If you’re that curious...”

”...challenge me to a duel and find out yourself.”

”Number Two.” She said coldly glaring at Cairo.

Who dramatically clutched his chest.

”Ouch.”

”That actually hurt.”

”You really know where to strike.”

The Student Council President simply rolled her eyes before turning back toward the arena.

Before either of them could continue, a familiar voice interrupted from behind.

”It seems the two of you are getting along much better than your predecessors.”

Both immediately turned around.

Walking toward them with his usual carefree smile was the Principal, accompanied by his ever-faithful secretary.

Both Cairo and the Student Council President straightened respectfully.

”Principal.”

The old man waved dismissively.

”Relax.”

”I’m only here to enjoy the tournament.”

His gaze naturally drifted toward the waiting room where Kael had disappeared moments earlier.

For several seconds, he simply watched the entrance.

Finally, he spoke.

”I still have a feeling...”

”...that boy was trying to test the limits of my Domain during yesterday’s preliminary rounds.”

The secretary adjusted his glasses.

”You must be joking.”

”No first-year student should even know the Domain belongs to you.”

”And besides...”

”How could Kael have discovered something like that?”

The Principal rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

”Perhaps.”

”But think about his actions.”

”He continuously attempted to deliver fatal attacks.”

”Every other student subconsciously held back once they realized they wouldn’t truly die.”

”But Kael...”

”...acted as though he wanted to verify exactly how far the Domain could protect its participants.”

The secretary frowned.

”That sounds like a stretch.”

”It could simply be confidence.”

The Principal chuckled softly.

”Maybe.”

”I may simply be overthinking things.”

He looked down at the arena once more before smiling.

”Either way...”

”...he’s certainly an interesting child.”

The secretary followed his gaze.

”I suppose that’s true.”

The Principal suddenly glanced toward Cairo and the Student Council President.

”I must say...”

”...I’m glad to see this year’s Head of the Disciplinary Committee and Student Council President getting along.”

The secretary smiled warmly.

”They’re certainly doing better than the previous generation.”

The Principal’s eyes suddenly became watery.

”I’m so proud of my children.”

The secretary sighed.

”You do realize they aren’t actually your children.”

The Principal ignored him completely.

”They’re growing up so fast...”

Cairo couldn’t help laughing.

The Student Council President merely sighed before returning her attention to the arena.

Far below, the tournament staff had already begun preparing the battlefield for the next match.

Meanwhile, inside the waiting room, Kael sat quietly with a bottle of water in his hand, completely unaware that so many influential figures had begun paying close attention to him.

Whether it was the Principal...

...the Student Council...

...the Disciplinary Committee...

...or the powerful guests seated in the VIP section...

One thing had become undeniably clear.

Kael Draven was no longer just another first-year student.

He had become the center of everyone’s attention.

The atmosphere inside the stadium gradually settled once more.

Although Kael’s battle had ended several minutes ago, the spectators were still discussing what they had witnessed. Every conversation eventually drifted back to the same topic.

The first-year known as Kael Draven.

Some believed he was merely an exceptionally gifted genius.

Others argued that no amount of talent should allow someone to reproduce another person’s swordsmanship after seeing it only once.

Among the instructors, opinions were equally divided.

”He copies techniques.”

”No,” another instructor replied. ”He understands them first. That’s what makes it frightening.”

The instructor beside him slowly nodded.

”Copying movements is one thing. Replicating their timing, rhythm, and intent is something entirely different.”

Not far away, several first-year students who had been eliminated during the preliminary rounds quietly watched the repaired arena.

Many of them had entered the academy dreaming of becoming one of its strongest students.

Now they realized just how enormous the gap truly was.

Between ordinary students...

...and monsters like Zion Crawford, Aurella Voss, and Kael Draven.

Back in the waiting area, tournament officials quickly finalized the order for the upcoming matches.

Medical personnel confirmed that every injured participant had recovered thanks to the academy’s restoration magic before allowing the tournament schedule to continue without delay.

Outside, the repaired arena gleamed beneath the afternoon sunlight as the barrier surrounding it shimmered faintly, ready for the next battle.

The announcer stepped back to the center of the stadium, his amplified voice echoing throughout the academy.

”Ladies and gentlemen...”

”The tournament will now proceed to the next match.”

At once, the conversations throughout the stadium ceased, and thousands of eyes turned back toward the arena, eager to witness what surprises this extraordinary generation of first years would reveal next.