Chapter 50: Entrance Exam (8)
"Yo. Long time no see, Mia?"
Ren asked, his tone softening slightly. Mia lowered her hands a little, staring at Ren with trembling hands, her eyes starting to well up with tears.
"Re-Ren! Sniff!... Where have you been all this time!?" Mia asked, sobbing softly.
Ren quickly waved his hand, panicking slightly, "Hey! Don't cry here!"
Mia stomped her foot hard in anger. She pointed at him with her still-wet eyes. "This is all your fault!"
Ren flinched and stood still. His mouth twitched. He pointed at himself. "Me? Why is it my fault??"
Mia turned her head away, her arms crossed.
"Humph! I don't know. You're just mean!"
Ren rubbed his chin, thinking, then clicked his tongue. "Well, never mind. Now the important thing is that you have to fight."
Ren pointed to himself proudly, "Oh, and you know what?" He leaned forward slightly, "—If you can take the bell on my waist, then you get first place without having to fight each other."
Ren displayed the bell hanging on his waist. "See? Try to get it~"
This made Mia's and Kyle's eyes, who was next to her, widen. Then they said in unison.
""Really!?""
Ren nodded, then tilted his head innocently, looking at them. "Well, if you can, that is."
Kyle's lips twitched, "You..."
But before Kyle could say anything else, another person emerged from the bushes. They simultaneously turned their heads. There, a handsome black-haired boy walked slowly towards them: Noah.
His red eyes stared intensely at Ren. Ren returned Noah's gaze with a smile still at the corner of his lips. Noah opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of rustling grass was heard again.
Abel appeared with slow steps behind Mia and Kyle. She stared forward at Ren with a sharp look. But internally...
'I found him! I found him!! I found him!!! My Ren!!!'
Ren turned, spinning around to look at Abel with wide and astonished eyes. His mouth opened to speak, but he was interrupted by another voice.
"Well, well, look at this? The low-level humans are gathering." Lucius said to them.
In front of him, Maira Paradiss walked with graceful yet deadly steps. Her steps were slow, but they made the air bend.
"Quiet, Lucius," Maira said without turning, her gaze still fixed on Ren.
Ren bowed slightly, his soft hair swaying as he moved. "Greetings, Princess."
Then he straightened up again, looking at Maira, "You've grown strong, Maira?"
Maira said nothing and just stared. Umara, who was beside her, snapped at Ren.
"How dare you call her by name!"
Umara stepped forward to fight Ren but froze when Maira spoke. "Quiet."
Ren shrugged and looked towards Abel, who was standing next to Mia. Then with a gentle smile, he said.
"And you, Abel, you've become even more beautiful, haven't you?"
Ren leaned forward, tilting his head, "And your magic energy is so pure."
As for Abel, she froze and her breath caught in her throat. She looked at Ren with pleading eyes. She didn't hear what he said after Ren said she was "Beautiful."
'He said I was beautiful!'
Controlling her rapidly beating heart, Abel smiled back at Ren.
"Yes, it's been a long time, Ren." Abel rubbed her lips, "You've become more handsome too."
That made the air freeze, and everyone fell silent, especially Noah. He widened his eyes. As long as he had been with her, Abel had never given a compliment.
But look now, she was complimenting Ren with a teasing tone. Noah clenched his hands tightly until they turned white.
As for Ren, he almost stumbled, not expecting to be complimented, especially during the exam. He coughed slightly.
"Wow, what a sudden attack, you know?" Ren replied a little awkwardly.
Then he looked around. Now he was surrounded in all directions. Maira, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.
"So, if I defeat you, I will be the champion, right?"
Hearing that, Ren smirked. He looked at Maira casually, "That's right—" then he looked at all of them, "—but if you fight me as a group..."
Ren raised his hand, "Only one wins."
Noah finally spoke after holding back the emotions that threatened to surface. Ren also noticed Noah's killing intent but remained silent.
"First come, first served, right?" Noah asked sharply.
Ren nodded without answering. He stretched slightly and turned to Lucius. He stared at him, still smiling.
"And you, you're the one who said we were low-level humans, right?"
Lucius's brow furrowed instantly. He wanted to snap back, but Ren's voice interrupted him. The voice sent a shiver down their spines.
"Weak is weak. Don't be arrogant just because you are the son of a High Elf noble."
Ren looked at Lucius with a cruel smirk, "A weak person doesn't want to admit that they are weak."
Maira stared at Ren coldly, but internally, she was screaming with joy. 'C-Cool!'
Ren continued, placing his index finger on his lips, teasing. "If I'm wrong, prove it with action, not just words like a third-rate villain."
Lucius clenched his fist, restraining his rising anger. Ren spoke again, spreading his arms, ignoring him completely.
"Now! Go take my bell and become the champion!"
Lucius didn't think twice and immediately lunged towards Ren. His rapier was about to brutally stab Ren's chest, but Ren disappeared.
That made Lucius momentarily distracted, but that was all Ren needed. He reappeared in front of Lucius, punching his stomach.
Punch!
"Ouch!"
Lucius was thrown back several steps. As for Ren, he slowly shook his hand.
Lucius regained his momentum and yelled loudly.
"You! How dare you—!"
"I already told you, didn't I? Stop talking and come at me," Ren interrupted.
Instantly, the ground beneath him trembled and roots emerged from the ground. Ren dodged smoothly. But that wasn't enough; Noah appeared behind him and slashed.
The air split—Ren spun and parried the attack with a tree root he had pulled.
Whoosh!
Then with a quick move, he kicked Noah hard. It wasn't over. As Ren stepped on the ground, an arrow and a purple fireball shot towards him.
Ren instinctively ducked when he saw that.
Explosion!!
Abel and Mia also attacked Ren. They stared at the explosion site with sharp eyes. But before anyone could react, Ren appeared in front of Noah and grabbed his arm.
Noah flinched and intended to retreat, but it was too late. Ren bent his arm—causing his sword to drop.
Then came the final move. He pulled Noah's arm and punched his chin with his elbow.
Crack!
"Akhh!!"
The sound of something cracking was heard, then Ren threw Noah towards Kyle, who had already jumped to attack.
"Tsk!" Kyle cursed, as he stopped attacking to catch Noah.
Ren dusted off his clothes, which were already clean, and looked at all of them, his eyes cold but slightly teasing.
"Try harder, candidates."
Their lips twitched, and without any signal, they all attacked simultaneously.
Ren grinned widely, preparing to go all out, even though he was restricted.
.....
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