// A Challenger has appeared. //

I knew something like this would happen...
I expected myself to be in that spot but it ended up one of the girls being in that arena.

『Tori, don't hold back now...
Kick her ass!』

That voice was undoubtedly Talie...
Looks like Tori is in the arena, she was giving off a troubled expression.

"Ho...
One of the black rose family is in the arena."

Reid's voice said as he openly said to my side.

"Is she going to be fine?
That person he is up against is one of the skilled flowers of Wallace's family."

Reid retort in reply.

"Though I heard her fiance dumped her due to her scars from the incident."

Baster sighed.
[Why the heck are these two following me like dogs?
Also, that woman who is in front of Tori right now is supposedly a deceased character in the story.

Analise Wallace.

Originally regarded as a flower of her house.
Her servant who was supposedly adopted by her family as the Otome main character.

Known as Reavis Wallace.

After her death, that was supposed to have happened.

Ah, how the heck was I suppose to see this coming!?

Even if my ingame knowledge the start of the story got so screwed up!
That even dead ones are showing up!]

The purple-haired lady then cried out to her.

"Because of you,
I was cast away by my own fiance...
These scar's and burns were all your family's fault!

Prepare yourself!
I'll make you pay for everything your family has done!"

Baster thought then...

[Uwah...
She's totally angry.

I know Tori is good with magic,
No...

Her magic is beyond amazing.

I wonder how she fares in actual battle.
Talie seems confident she can win.

These two damn characters are absolute cheats that ruined the whole story!]

"So, Baster.
I've heard your sister were talented children.
 who managed to enter this academy at the age of 12.

Are the rumors of it true?"

Art asked with analyzing eyes.

I soon replied to him.
"It's better for you two to see it for yourselves.
Though I highly doubt you would believe me,
even if I did tell you that those two are unnaturally talented."

His eyes grew with interest as he then said.

"Then the explanation in the incident
Wasn't a complete lie then..."

[Ofcourse the explanation regarding the incident is not a lie!]

At this point, Reis then clapped his hands as he then said.

"How about this then...
Send one of your siblings as my mistress in exchange for my assistance against the pirates."

My eyes went wide with shock as he said those words.

I deeply sighed then gave him a twitching smile.
"Those two aren't for sale," I replied in anger.

"If you want their hand as future wives then you got to have their approval first."

I reply to the two without provoking them.

But Art retorted to Reis.

"I don't think that is a very wise decision.
Your parents would be quite angry about it."

As Reis was about to say.

"Why-" While Reis made a dumb question to Art.

Tori's fight had begun with the cry of their professor.

-"START"-

________________________________________________________________________________

The Analise carried the rapier as she performed skillful and swift stabs.
Her purple hair fluttered as her face was similar to a demon whose anger was preying on a tiny bird(Tori) much younger than her...

As for Tori herself...

She was calm and composed, reading her every movement.
However, Tori's arms were shorter than her and aware that she won't be able to reach her if she pursues to perform an attack.

It was two short blades attached to both her arms its length was shortened and altered to fit the strength of her arm which they have already measured...

The suit they wore allowed equipping such weapons.
But Tori herself chose it because it was much more comfortable than holding the weapon itself.

"So...
Baster who do you think will win?
Looks like lady Ana has the upper hand due to her height and arm length."

 Art said as he analyzed the situation.

But Baster swiftly replied.

"Tori."

Reis raised a brow and asked him.

"What makes you so sure about that?
She looks like she's  quite cornered..."

[Because Tori is a former dragon?

No...
The answer is simply due to experience.

Tori once told me how she had fought countless battles during her past life.
That I shouldn't worry about her during this test.

If I were right, she is just waiting for a moment for her to slip up.]

As Baster observed their fight he then grinned at Reis with a confident smile.

"Because she's the best sister I could possibly have..." I boasted to him.

He gave me a face that simply said. "Are you a sis-con!?"

Where I grinned at him in reply...

[Tori and Talie are basically my step-siblings.
After my mother died from an incident regarding the pirates.
My father soon re-married the sister of the BlackRose family.

He and my stepmother sent me to their house to keep me away from the pirates constantly attacking our home.

My current step-mother was quite a cheerful woman who taught me how to use a rifle when I was eager to learn it.

She was supportive of my growth when I asked her to teach me to train me on how to properly fight like my father.

I am glad, she even sent me the pieces for the vehicle to fly towards the nearby island.

Though, even if the BlackRose family power was stripped off from their name.
The forces sent out from their territory where my family wasn't completely taken away.

Due to the importance of the territory he manages,
It would quite dangerous if a vital trade route were to suddenly become vulnerable.]

Seriously...
Baster's life sucks.
I'm surprised he survived as a merchant in the story, despite how dark it is...

Now that I think about it.
There were scenes where he hid underneath the table whenever one of the otome characters arrives to pester him.

It doesn't look so funny now that I am in his body.

I soon turned my gaze towards Tori's fight...

And in the single heat of the moment, The purple-haired lass continued her swift and agile piercing movement.

It looked like two girls were dancing except with swords and the other is oddly taller than the other.

Looks like her patience has grown thin as she swung her rapier in desperate attempt to hit her...
But Tori danced in the stage, constantly parrying and deflecting her attacks.

At an opportune moment, her opponent slipped a bit but she did not ignore it.

She found a gap as she reaches her blades towards her body.

During this moment...

Analise stomped her feet as she took a step back as Tori advanced with her small arm blade reaching for her vitals...

But in the middle of that Tori backed away.

An earth spike rose underneath in between them, breaking Tori's advance.

*Huff* *Huff*

Analise displayed a show of shock...
She probably expected the fight to end in a one-sided manner.
But the person in front of her was extremely skilled despite her childish appearance.

"What...
WHAT ARE YOU!" she shouted at Tori in frustration.

「Eh? am I doing something wrong?」she innocently tilted her head.

"There's no way!

*Huff*

A novice and a child-like you could possibly avoid all those attacks!"

「But I just did?
Are you trying to say it didn't?」Tori wasn't panting in exhaustion.
Her breathing and movement were precise without any kind of wasted movement.

"Of course not!
Who taught you how to fight like this?" she asked her.

「I was taught by my father.」-She looked away as she lied again.-

*huff* *Huff*

"I give you my praise for struggling this far...
But it's time for you to pay!" Analise said.

As she raised her rapier and drew symbols of magic as she danced with grace.
Tori could swiftly determine what it was and swiftly conjured her own.

「Can't we just call this a draw?」Tori asked with a wry smile.

"Like Hell, I'd accept that!" she retorts.

Tori sighed then thought.
[Ofcourse she didn't want to be shamed by a.

12 years old by calling it a draw.

But I suppose pushing for a draw here should scare a few of the students from challenging me.
While drawing the line of preventing any kind of abuse while we were knocked out.]

Analise completes her spell and poured all her strength in it.

"Tear my foe apart!"

『Wind Fang!』

A gust of green wind the shape of a large beast appeared.
It carved the earth as its bits of stone flew around the arena.
The moment it was close enough, I shouted.

「Break their dreams!」

「Shatter the illusion!」

『Dispel!』

Tori, as she shouted the spells name, swung her two blades in an X as it dispersed before it reached her.

The result was none of them was harmed.
Her face was full of shock as she gazed at the green-haired girl as she politely once again asked her.

「Please, let's just call this a draw.

*Huff*

I don't think...
Neither of us can handle this anymore.

*huff*」

As Tori then kneeled in exhaustion as she then thought.
[If she persists, I have no choice but to use this ark-seal and restore my own stamina.
It will end in my win, but she's just being reckless at that point.]

Revitalize ark-seal was ready in the back of her hand ready to turn the odds.

Analise herself was showing an exhausted expression herself as she slumped down to the ground while coughing.

She then bit her lips at this moment.

But her expression changed as she made a smile towards her.

"Ve-very well...
Let's continue this the next time."

...

...

...

A few moments pass by...

Tori's Pov:

[Baster told me to not put my spells into ark seals recklessly.
Spells made by our own hands are classified as our own art and secrets.

Many of them apparently pretend they aren't compatible with the ark-seals.

As they are afraid their own magic will be used against them.
He had a point but doesn't this seem like boasting my ability?

Dispel originally was a spell I created to replace my scales from breaking every time I had to deal with magic, it was quite efficient in dealing with a powerful spell but its main flaw is I needed to time it properly to break my opponent's magic.

And unfortunately doesn't work against certain spells.]

Though as I turned towards my surroundings as I give a deep sigh.

Everyone had a gaping expression.
Talie, on the other hand, had a cheerful smile as she shouted.

『Good work!』she cheerfully said.

[Seriously, I'll punish her for this later...]

I smiled at her with every ounce of my stress.

________________________________________________________________________________

Talie's Pov:

The students and professors were shocked and puzzled in amazement.

A-12 years old.
Equally fighting an older student.

One of the famous house known as Wallice that boasted their swordsmanship and magic.
Tori fought with patience and composure while her opponent was not showing any signs of holding back.

Every swing she made was swift and precise but Tori danced to her attacks as if she was able to read her next move, even performing a graceful counter-attack as she was forced to defend herself using magic.

"How is this possible?" one of the professors asked.

"Is she really 12 years old?
Those movements...

It's almost as though I'm looking at a skilled fighter."

Talie who overheard those words could only think.

[She wasn't regarded as the Goddess of the demi for nothing.

Magic is her specialty but her ability for combat was something she learned during her times of adventures and while commanding her people.

After constantly being harrassed by bandits there was a moment where she was worried that her opponents would do something unfair that would prevent her from using magic.

She then started learning a multitude of weapons just to know how it feels to not use magic.

Her grandfather who was her teacher and master ended up regretting it...

*Did I turn my daughter into a battle maniac?*

He was a dragon himself but...
His daughter became his greatest source of pride and also fear.

Every time she had come to challenge him during her life as a dragon.

She had a cheerful smile on her face that says...

"Let's go train a new type of weapon for today!"

Her grandfather could only give her a wry smile as she had begun to surpassed him in terms of combat prowess.
Every time he reached his limit.
Tori healed him with her own magic to continue their training without end.
Because her magic power is limitless at that time it was like torture for him.

But Tori herself didn't notice it and enjoyed their moment together.

And during this time...

Her teacher and master who was coughing in terror as she constantly dragged him to duel as she enjoyed good training with him while his life was put to the test with every clash.

Because of this, Tori grew an awareness in close combat where she was vulnerable the most.]

While thinking of this, the student's eyes then turned towards me.

"She's her sibling right?
Which one is the girl who was able to use magic when she was 9?"

Both Tori and Talie had a similar appearance.
They were unable to approach nor comprehend the difference between them.

One of the professors then cried out.

"The Battle is a draw...
Nice fight you two!?"

But then asked.

"Uhh...
May I ask which amongst the two sisters are you?"

He asked tori.

Tori retorts. 「Talie...」she replies in annoyance.

Talie flinches as she said her name.
It was at this point Talie wanted to retorts her face twitched a bit.

As she sighed.
『Well, whatever...』 she mumbled...

[Tori was always a person who dislikes attention,
but does she even realize this will draw even more attention...]

"Ta-talie?
So not only are you skilled in magic but also in combat?" the professor asked.

『There it is...』Talie grins as she watches her go and have a flustered face.

「No, I'm To-Toori!」she desperately tries to correct herself.

"Ah...
Right, and that spell you used was..."

「That's a family secret...」she said to him with a displeased expression.

[The spell tori used was a simple dispel magic.
Born and created imitating the power of her scales in her life as a dragon.

The power to dispel magic.

It's efficient in destroying and resisting magic but...
Particularly terrible against specific kind of magic since it only lasts for a few seconds.

It's neither flashy nor powerful.
But it breaks even the strongest magic when properly implemented.]

The professor flinched as she said those words and pry no further.

It is against academy rules to try to learn of the student magic spells without any of their consent.

It is to prevent any of their magic new kinds of ark-seals spells from leaking and claiming the spell as their own to be sold for their selfish desires.

Spells are similar to a creation born of their own ingenuity it is how most sorcerers are named after...

The professor then said to change the topic.
"But still, it looked as though you cut through magic with your weapon."

Tori calmly replies with a suspicious gaze.

「Because that's exactly what I did... 」

"Can you at least explain to us, how you did such a thing?"

「No.」She said to him as she turned and left the arena.

_______________________________________________________________________________

The other professor who saw him was also curious.
As they soon discussed it, while watching the recording of her fight...

"I've seen many fighters and sorcerers try to do the same thing as she did...
But this is the first time it was so masterfully done."

Twin Fangs was one of the known powerful wind spell technique of the Wallace family.

Was repelled by the daughter of the black rose family who had no records of any magic except for their exceptional history of deep trust, defending their kingdom as the second close to the king.

Fallen from grace a new talent has risen under special circumstances.

"Shall we investigate more?" another asked.

But a young man retorted.

"We already have most of their historical records,
But none of them had any records of a known and skillful sorcerer teaching any of their children.

Looks like their children are going to be quite troublesome in the future."

...

...

...

________________________________________________________________________________

Next up on the arena is Talie.

But the one who challenged her was Baster.

『How hard should I kick your ass?』

"Do your worst..." he said

『Be sure you won't regret that...』

It is possible to avoid challenging another person by tackling someone you know.

In the first place, the plan was to have Baster fight those who challenged us.
But the professors were eager to have us fight the Wallace family daughter.

Tori was extremely annoyed because of this...

But because of Tori's fight,
Baster and I are now in the arena about to perform a short presentation.

Baster's Pov:

How should I tackle this?
I've fought monsters up til now...

Talie right now was wearing the same arm blade which Tori wore.
Was she also extremely capable like her?

It's also possible as I slowly approached her with caution.

We never practiced before it was my first time with her.
All I did was tell them how my weapons functioned and how to properly tune and fix it up.

I first pulled out my rifle as Talie was already aware of its function.
Swiftly made her moved and rushed to approach me.

Of course, it was armed.
 I fired without hesitation.

*Bang*

A direct hit to her chest?
No...
It's...

An illusion as I saw the image slowly distort and fade right in front of me.

Realizing the danger I swiftly pulled out a grenade and threw it on the ground as the burst of smoke filled the air. It was then I saw her smoke-like figure as she approached me with her blade aiming for my neck.

「Talie is much more cunning and devious compared to me...」 was Tori's words about her.

Forget about being devious and cunning.
She's an absolute monster even for a child!

I swiftly recalled the day she visited me in the night.
Those scary hands reaching in the darkness and the impending death I felt by her presence alone.

Her smile that threatened me with darkened green eyes with the full intent to kill.
As she swings her blade as the smoke revealed her figure, I guarded with my rifle.

*Clang* as the sound of metal resounded in the Arena.

『Well done...
I expected this fight to end quickly.

Looks like your experience in the forest really did improve your grit...』

She said with a cheerful smile as she grinded her weapon in my rifle and slipped away inside the smoke.

At this point, I pulled out my shield and blade.

"Aren't you taking this way too seriously?" I retorted to her.

『If I held back, it would be troublesome if someone challenged me, while I'm taking a break.

This will be a good example for them and a good lesson for you who needs to be aware of your own surroundings.』

The sound was still and silent
As the smoke slowly fades...

I analyzed my situation:
The bright light of the arena should disable her ability to use shadow magic.
For what I recall she claimed her shadow is vulnerable to light.

But still, how is she hiding like this!?

She was completely invisible to the naked eye.
Is it a type of magic?

But there was one fact I realized in that encounter.
She wasn't able to completely hide the sound of her foot steps.

I sharpened my senses of my ears.

As I heard steps from my sides.

I swung my arm towards that direction.

*Clang*

*KSSSHH*

The sound of my blade clashing with her own.
Along with my shield able to block her second sword as my blade grinded with her.

『This is quite interesting...
Though, it also a shame.』

I didn't understand what she meant by that...
But, I soon felt a piercing sensation around my chest.

It was then I realized my mistake.

A Black Tendril pierced my chest straight to my heart,
it was coming from her own shadow as it was aligned towards my direction.

"Guh..."

『You did quite well,
but I did guess you thought shadow magic is limited by the light of our surroundings.

In actual fact, that is only limited to shadow magic created in the shade.
Real shadow magic comes from the shadows of its own caster.』

As I heard her words I dropped to the ground, as I lost my subconscious.
The arena should have kept my body safe but it felt as though I truly was stabbed by her magic.

Dying is truly painful...
(*Was what I deeply thought before losing concioussness.*)

________________________________________________________________________________

Baster's final thoughts regarding the twins:

THOSE TWINS ARE COMPLETE CHEATS!