Conquering The Novel

I left the infirmary after a few seconds of recuperation, followed by Ziona and Kevin.

We spent half of our class time in the infirmary.

"...."

At the very least, we were able to walk as our injuries were not severe because we were wearing protective gear, but our bodies were still in some ache.

As we entered our classroom, we once again became the focus of attention due to our injuries.

"Why are only we injured after every training session with our advisor?" Kevin grumbled.

But Ziona and I chose to disregard his whining because it was mostly true, especially since Bianca was training us more intensively.

However, we aren't complaining because her training has been beneficial to us and we are growing substantially under her supervision.

While I was thinking, I noticed Ayla run up to us...almost it's was like a déjà vu.

"Why are you continuously getting hurt, Ziona?" Ayla wondered as she began to treat some tiny scratches on Ziona's body.

Despite the fact that we had just returned from the infirmary after our injuries had been treated, Ayla was treating unnoticeable scrapes on Ziona's body.

"...."

"You should take care of your skin, Ziona; tiny scratches will become hideous if left untreated."

Though it appeared to be a best friend's concern, I knew long ago that Ayla is a sneaky one, and I believe she is only trying to encourage Ziona to join Lucas' faction.

"These minor scratches aren't even noticeable," Ziona stated.

"Huh-Ah, no way, girls should take care of their skin, and the way you portray yourself, you need someone to look after you, someone like this big sis of yours," Ayla said, pointing to herself.

"Big sister? She appears to have had her meals stolen on a frequent basis as she grew up," Irethiel commented telepathically seeing Ayla's petite figure.

"...."

I'm not sure where she's sitting and watching this all happen.

Ayla came up to me after treating Ziona and was about to heal my minor scratches as well.

"I'm forming my own faction," I declared my gaze fixed on Ayla.

The classroom fell silent as soon as I said it, and Ayla came to a halt and stopped treating,

Everything Ayla does has a purpose, even the slightest detail, that's what I learned about her in the story, don't be misled by her innocent face.

Ayla slowly raised her head till our gazes locked.

Everyone was staring at me with their eyes wide open, including Ziona, who was now smiling broadly.

They had apparently already joined another faction and were worried about having to face me now.

Faced with their stares, I merely kept a smile on my face.

I then turned my sight to Livia's seat, ...but I couldn't spot her;

'Had she not yet returned from her advisor training class?' I thought to myself.

"Are you looking for Livia? She hasn't been to the academy since you left," Ziona stated.

"Hm? Did something happen to her?," I inquired Ziona with a raised eyebrow, ignoring Ayla who was still staring at me as though someone had deduced her motives.

"I don't think so; she just shows up whenever she wants to just check if you're back, and if she doesn't find you, she leaves without attending any classes," Ziona explained.

"So, you're a womanizer, huh? How many girls did you fool with your looks?" Irethiel remarked telepathically.

"...."

Hearing Irethiel, veins popped out on my forehead as I was rather annoyed hearing her repeated remarks,

She seemed to be enjoying everything as if she were watching a drama and all she needed was popcorn and beverages.

While I was thinking, I heard a classroom door open and saw the lecturer enter the classroom.

Seeing him, everyone returned to their seats, including me, and he soon began his lecture.

"What am I even doing in this class anyway?" I wondered, my expression bored and drowsy.

I don't think I need to listen to his tedious lecture about monsters, because I already knew all he was teaching and could just flip through some books if I wanted to learn more.

But it was rather compulsory to attend this class for every student so I couldn't do anything about it.

And soon the bell rang to mark the end of the lecture and the professor exited.

Consequently, I made the decision to grab a coffee at the cafe.

But as soon as I stood up, I heard the classroom door open again.

As I concentrated my attention on it, I noticed a blue-haired girl with a gloomy expression enter the classroom and looked unfocused at my seat, then exit the classroom, closing the classroom door.

"...."

'What in the world just happened?' Still focused on the classroom entrance, I thought to myself.

Thud—

The classroom door was rapidly opened again this time, and the blue-haired girl entered once again and gazed at me in joy and surprise.

"A-Ares!" She muttered and ran up to me, jumping into my arms and hugging me.

The entire class was focused on us, as Livia hugged me,

And given that Livia hasn't joined anyone yet, some students' faces showed fear as they anticipated her joining my faction.

I didn't pay attention to them and instead turned to look at Ayla while gently consoling Livia.

Ayla's face was expressionless as she simply stared at us.

"What did you do to her to make her so obsessed with you?" Irethiel inquired telepathically.

"...Beat her to a pulp," I replied.

"...."

"Really?" Irethiel expressed dumbfounded.

***

In a cafe, I was sipping my coffee while Livia ate her favorite sandwich next to me.

"I've decided to take part in the upcoming tournament," I said as I sipped my coffee and waited for Livia's response.

"hmm? What caused you to change your mind? But I don't think it's worth our time," Livia replied as she ate her sandwich.

"Yeah, but I have my circumstances, and I will also be forming my own faction as well to represent the Academy in this tournament," I explained.

"Faction? Why would you need that? aren't we both enough to deal with some potato students?" Livia stated with her mouth filled with a sandwich.

"Huh? I had assumed you wouldn't want to take part in this tournament." I inquired in wonder.

"Of course, I'll participate as well; what am I gonna do if you show up with some potatoes, and lose the tournament? I never want to see you lose," Livia stated.

Hearing her, a bright smile formed on my face.

"...."

'...Wait, By potatoes, she meant students, right?' As I watched Livia finish her sandwiches, I thought to myself.

She looked toward me and smiled as she caught my stare.

"Would you like some?" she asked, offering me her half-eaten sandwich.

"...No, I'm fine," I respectfully declined with a smile.

"She consumes more than her body can handle, How is she still so slender?" Irethiel commented.

I decided to ignore Irethiel's increasingly brazen remarks.

"The tournament won't be something that we can win individually, so I want all the first-year students to join me," I stated to Livia.

"Let's just beat them up and force them to join you," Livia suggested.

"Wow, Birds of a feather flock together," Irethiel said hearing Livia's suggestion.

"Yeah, I had the same thought, but first let's just appropriately ask them to join us before making our move, and if it doesn't work, let's proceed with my plan...," I remarked, explaining my plan to Livia.

And after a few moments of my explanation,

"Yup, it's easy peasy," Livia answered, nodding numerous times in agreement.

"Let's begin the eradication of factions right away, Shall we?" I declared with a broad grin.

***