"Let's have a duel, Arlon!" Mirek declared, his voice brimming with confidence.
For a brief second, silence fell over the group. Then, as if synchronized, nearly everyone had the same thought:
There's no way Arlon will accept.
It wasn't that they doubted his strength—on the contrary, Arlon had already proven himself to be one of the most formidable individuals in the academy.
But accepting a challenge like this? From a priest? Over what was clearly a love rivalry, even if Arlon himself didn't realize it?
It just didn't seem like something he'd bother with.
But then...
"Sure."
Arlon's answer was short and direct, delivered with his usual calm.
A stunned silence followed.
"Is tomorrow alright?" he added nonchalantly. "I have things to do today."
Mirek blinked. "Wait... you accept?"
Now everyone was staring.
Mei nearly dropped her spoon.
Leafa, mid-drink, almost choked.
Sia's smirk widened as if she had just been given front-row tickets to the greatest show of the year.
Even Zack, who normally thrived in chaotic situations, looked taken aback.
"You're actually going to fight him?" Zack asked, incredulous.
Arlon gave a small shrug. "He asked."
The sheer casualness of his response made the moment even more surreal.
Mirek had expected Arlon to refuse, maybe brush him off with indifference or some cryptic statement. But accepting just like that? Without hesitation?
Mirek felt his confidence waver for the briefest moment. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
Then, realizing the opportunity, his smirk returned. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, during lunch."
Around the cafeteria, whispers spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear? Arlon and Mirek are dueling tomorrow!"
"Mirek challenged Arlon? Is he insane?"
"I mean... he is in the top five. Maybe he has a plan?"
"No way. This is about Mei. He just wants to prove himself."
"Wait—does this mean Arlon is interested in Mei?!"
"Obviously! Why else would he accept so easily?"
And just like that, a new rumor had already taken root.
Mei, still frozen in shock, suddenly snapped out of it. "Wait. Wait!" She pointed at Arlon. "Why did you accept?"
Arlon turned to her, his expression as neutral as ever. "Why not?"
Mei opened her mouth, then closed it. That... didn't answer her question at all.
"Are you doing this because of—" she hesitated, catching herself before finishing the sentence.
Because of me?
She didn't dare say it out loud.
Arlon, as always, was impossible to read.
To most of the onlookers, this duel was obviously about Mei.
But inside Arlon's head...
Fighting a strong priest should be interesting.
That was it.
Unfortunately, since he never actually said that out loud, the rumor continued to grow out of control.
Mirek, feeling as though his challenge had now gained some real weight, stood up from the bench, grinning. "Then I'll see you tomorrow, Arlon."
Arlon merely nodded and continued eating.
Mei groaned, dropping her head onto the table.
This was going to be a disaster.
---
In the evening, as expected, the players retreated to their assigned rooms and logged out, vanishing from Trion one by one.
Arlon, however, did not sleep.
With the advantage of Zeno, he had no need for rest, allowing him to spend the quiet hours refining his swordsmanship and delving deeper into spatial magic.
He was close.
The principles of spatial magic were starting to make sense. The subtle interactions between space, mana, and perception were becoming clearer with each passing moment.
If he could just push a little further, he knew he could grasp something significant.
Hours passed in silence, his focus unwavering.
And just like that, morning arrived.
At Cardon Academy, the first half of the day was always reserved for theoretical lessons.
There were several reasons for this, but the most important one was injury prevention.
If students were hurt during practical lessons, they might be unable to attend theoretical classes.
To ensure that no one fell behind, lectures and structured study came first, before any combat training or physical tests.
By the time the players logged back in, the academy was already bustling.
For the first time, they didn't need a guide to find their way. Their time at Cardon had made them more familiar with the layout, and they confidently moved toward their classrooms.
But something was different.
The moment they stepped into the hallways, they felt eyes on them.
Their fame had spread throughout the entire academy overnight.
Wherever they went, whispers followed.
"That's them—those guest students who broke the record."
"One hour and twenty-seven minutes… how is that even possible?"
"Did you hear? Arlon has a duel today with Mirek!"
"Seriously? A duel between Arlon and the fifth-ranked student?"
"Doesn't that mean this is about Mei?"
"So it's true that Arlon likes her?"
"Is he actually stronger than Mirek?"
The murmurs carried excitement, speculation, and even a hint of jealousy.
The players, though slightly amused, were getting used to the attention. Zack, in particular, seemed to enjoy it, walking a little taller as if the conversations were about him instead.
Arlon, as always, didn't care.
Without acknowledging the buzz around him, he walked straight to the classroom.
As soon as he stepped inside, he noticed something strange.
Mei was waving at him.
That in itself wasn't unusual—she had been friendly with him since the forest lesson.
The real issue was who was sitting next to her.
Mirek.
And judging by the satisfied look on his face, he had decided on that seat all by himself.
Arlon said nothing and took his seat, but even without reacting, he could already tell—
Today was going to be annoying.
"Carole," Arlon said, looking directly at her.
Carole blinked, startled. This was probably the first time Arlon had spoken to her without any real reason.
"Y-yes?" she asked, caught off guard.
"Watch today's match carefully. I believe it will help you more than you think."
"Huh? Sure, I was going to watch anyway."
"No, that's not what I mean." Arlon's tone remained steady. "You'll find the answer to your exam mission in today's match. After it's over, talk to Mirek about it."
Carole frowned slightly. "Hmm… if you say so, but… talking to Mirek is a bit..."
She hesitated. It wasn't that she hated the guy, but his energy could be overwhelming.
"Why are you hesitating?" Arlon asked. "I'm not telling you to be best friends with him. Just ask about your class. I believe he'll help you."
Carole sighed, still reluctant. "I guess... but still, Mirek..."
Arlon didn't say anything else. He had already made up his mind.
To him, Mirek wasn't a bad person—just overenthusiastic.