.｡.:✧ Chapter 43 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Though I was asked to fight barehanded like Gerry, the two of them were different.

Ares, who played ‘Geldmea,’ and Althric, who took on the role of ‘Roben,’ were swordsmen, familiar with wielding swords.

“Hmm?”

Althric seemed awkward holding a sword. Despite his intellectual, handsome face and strong physique, which I had thought of as muscular.

“Ah, that stance is for spear handling.”

It seemed Althric’s main weapon was a spear. Although he must have used a sword, being a basic weapon, his handling was awkward.

In the end, Ares was the only one using his primary weapon here.

Whoosh!

Ares charged first.

His eyes showed a genuine determination to defeat me, and Professor Veritio seemed to think Ares had completely immersed himself in the role.

Following closely behind was Althric, his expression fully absorbed in the character of ‘Roben.’

“Yes, this is how it should be.”

This would at least make for some exercise.

Taking a deep breath, I recalled Gerry’s lines and actions I read today and clenched my fists.

This was not merely about knocking the two down but a play.

“If I were Gerry.”

The arena’s owner, who emerged to threaten the two heroes.

The ultimate villain and the strongest man in the drama.

Then what I needed to do was clear.

Thwack! Thud!

Ares’s wooden sword struck my shoulder, followed by Althric’s, hitting my side.

The accurate hits caused an outcry of alarm around us, and the professor, startled, attempted to halt the scene.

However, I, unfazed by the blows, grabbed both their necks and thrust them forward, planting them onto the dueling ground floor.

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

Both wanted to cry out, but being choked, they couldn’t even breathe properly.

I could have finished them with a ground pound, but instead,

“Sigh.”

I let go of their necks and slowly walked forward, hands pocketed.

At that moment, I was the arena’s owner, Gerry.

“Cough! Cough!”

“Eek!”

Unlike Althric, who held his throat, an infuriated Ares quickly got up and charged at me.

I had already shown the difference in our levels.

If I were Gerry, it was time to dominate.

I kicked directly into Ares’s abdomen as he charged. Despite the pain, he swung his sword at my face, but

I kicked and leaned back, avoiding the strike, my hand still in my pocket.

Looking down at Ares, clutching his abdomen in agony, I pulled out my right hand and swung a fist towards his temple, but he tightly shut his eyes.

Tap.

“If I hit you for real here, you’d be dead, buddy.”

I lightly tapped him, offering a mock punch, and smiled, checking on Professor Veritio.

Althric had already lost the will to fight from the start, suggesting it was time to end the duel.

Professor Veritio, who had been staring blankly, suddenly burst into tears.

“Ah, ah, aaaaah!”

“What’s with him?”

May muttered, but it seemed he didn’t hear her.

Rushing over dramatically, Professor Veritio grabbed my hands and screamed so loudly it hurt my ears.

“Gerry! Gerry was here just now! No, no, that’s not right! It was Daniel, just Daniel. Maybe we should change the character’s name to Daniel now…!”

“Please! I’m sorry, just stop!”

I was genuinely startled and tried to stop him.

Changing the character’s name to mine? Oh, shoot!

The mere thought made me cringe.

Although I managed to prevent Gerry’s name from being changed to Daniel, Professor Veritio’s emotion was not easily dissipated.

“It was perfect. Truly perfect. Geldmea and Roben might need a bit of practice, but not you. You were already Gerry.”

“Yes……”

I wasn’t sure if I should be happy about this, but I guess if it’s considered good, then it’s good.

Perhaps because I was too rough with the two, the other students seemed a bit terrified.

However, May and Rin were cheering happily.

“Are you two okay?”

“Oof, cough! Yes, we’re fine.”

“……”

Contrary to Althric, who was clutching his throat and coughing, Ares looked shocked, staring at the floor of the sparring ground.

“Ares?”

“Yes…… I’m fine.”

“Well, you must have had your fair share of spars like this at Aios Academy.”

It’s a place where students form teams and fight each other as a test. Such spars were commonplace.

Despite this, Ares looked somewhat dazed, but Professor Veritio began giving both of them acting advice anyway.

***

“Do you know that, Daniel? If you don’t exercise for just two days, the world seems more beautiful?”

I laughed and responded to Eve, who was enjoying her coffee loaded with chocolate.

“Do you know, Eve? Even if you exercise all day for two days, you won’t be able to burn off what you’re drinking now.”

“……”

Eve looked betrayed at her coffee, and Tana sighed and glared at me from the side.

“Eve is pretty, okay? Do you think having this figure is easy?”

“Um, Tana? It’s okay……”

“Let me explain! Hey, look at Eve’s chest. Do you think it’s easy to get it to look this nice and big?”

“Ta, Tanaaa!”

“Eh, just listen to me! And what about her hips? So plump and nicely rounded! She’s going to have an easy time giving birth!”

“Tanaaaaa!”

Eve started hitting Tana with a book she had, while Tana laughed, blocking with her hands.

“Sigh.”

Lately, being around those girls (Rin, May) it made me feel at ease only when I was with these two.

It feels like just yesterday we came together as loner friends, but now we’re best friends who always hang out together.

Of course, we haven’t been able to do so recently because of the play practice.

“But Daniel, hasn’t your hair gotten a bit long?”

“Right, it looks a bit unkempt.”

The two commented on my bangs, which were starting to poke my eyes. I was aware of it, so I curled my bangs with my fingers and replied.

“I want to cut it, but I can’t because of the play.”

“Hmm?”

“The play!”

Tana looked puzzled, but Eve, who was very interested in drama, urged me to tell her more with sparkling eyes.

“I’m playing the role of Gerry, and I was told to pull all my hair back and tie it up. So, they told me not to cut it.”

I asked if wearing a wig was an option, but it was rejected because it wouldn’t allow for vigorous movement.

Luckily, the character Gerry is based on me with black hair, so at least I didn’t have to dye it.

Althric, on the other hand, had to put a bridge in his hair.

“Really?”

Tana, suddenly interested, removed the hair tie she was wearing around her wrist and approached me.

“Don’t do it.”

“Oh, come on, let’s try it just once. I want to see!”

“Right! I’m curious about how it will look.”

As the two of them approached me bickering, I finally gave in, and they proceeded to gather up even my bangs, tying them back.

“I feel somewhat naked.”

In my previous life, as well, I wasn’t one to fuss over my appearance, so having my forehead fully exposed like this was a first for me.

After Tana tied my hair, Eve came forward to examine my face closely.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, it’s just that seeing you like this makes you look so… Daniel.”

“What does that even mean?”

“It means you look like Daniel.”

From their smiles, it seemed to be a compliment of some sort.

“Look at this! It totally gives off a gangster vibe, doesn’t it?”

Tana didn’t seem too impressed, but a gangster vibe probably suited Gerry just fine.

“Should I untie it?”

I couldn’t figure out how to untie it with both hands.

As I struggled, suddenly, gentle hands appeared from behind.

“Let me do it.”

Hayun approached and untied the hairband, placing it on the table where we were sitting.

“Hayun! Why have you been so busy lately?”

“Yeah, you look tired.”

“It’s because of the festival preparations.”

While I was engaged in the play, Hayun had become friendly with the two, naturally joining the conversation and sitting next to me.

“Doesn’t Class A run a café?”

“That’s true, but I’m preparing something else on the side. I plan to set up a stall to sell accessories and such.”

Hayun was struggling financially after being cut off by her family.

She used to have a cold beauty aura about her, but now she just seemed cold.

“You’re working hard.”

It was both admirable and sad to see her striving for independence at such a young age, so I patted her on the shoulder, prompting Hayun to glance at me.

“Then you should buy something.”

“I don’t need to wear accessories…”

I was about to refuse out of politeness but then a good idea struck me.

“How about visiting the costume team?”

“The costume team?”

“Yeah, they can’t make everything by hand, so they buy what they can. I’ll arrange a visit for you.”

Something sparked in the depths of Hayun’s calm eyes.

“Okay.”

Hayun stood up briskly.

Her determination resembled that of a warrior heading into battle.

“Stop by my room before you go to practice today. I’ll get ready.”

“Mm.”

Watching Hayun’s buoyant departure, I silently wished her wallet well.

Fighting, flower beggar girl.

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