A blank void filled with only what was absolutely necessary.
In this world, only Simon was the main character.
'I never thought I'd see this imagery plane again here.'
During battle, Simon could display extreme concentration and imitate this state at will. However, this cradle of concentration made using the Bahils curse or Serenes feathers was on another level.
All Simon could feel was his own body and the flow of the jet-black that was so vivid it gave him chills. The presence of Serene closely attached to his back also lingered.
[Shall we begin?]
A sweet voice echoed clearly. Simon raised his concentration and activated his core.
Threefold
Like a swollen river flooding the surroundings, the large amount of jet-black was damaging the body.
[You need to increase your control.]
He nudged it straight ahead instead of venting it. But because the core wouldnt stop, the volume of jet-black gradually increased, and control became very difficult.
[I'll make an outlet.]
Simon heard her voice and felt the jet-black draining from his body.
Now the balance felt right. Simon activated his core in relief.
His body felt hot.
His blood was boiling, and each cell was crying out for strength. He could feel a different level of vitality from the jet-black operation.
[Slowly now]
Now, the jet-black operation and discharge were performed simultaneously. An overflowing strength was inside him.
At that exact moment
Serene, who had been sticking to Simon with a hug, stepped back. Simon's world came back to normal.
"Serene?"
The nearby students were looking at Simon while exclaiming.
When Simon looked back at her in puzzlement, she smiled with her hands behind her back and pointed with her chin.
"!"
Drops of jet-black were falling from his body like sweat.
Not only did he successfully materialize the jet-black eruption, but he also mastered the discharge by accident.
The envious eyes of students were on him.
"Woah! That's a success, right?"
"He can already do that? Is he even human?"
"As expected from Special Admission No.1."
'No, I didn't do it alone.'
When Simon blankly looked back up, he saw Serene smiling like a spring flower.
"You owe me another one now. Are you okay with that?"
""
Simon chuckled.
"Right. Thanks."
She gracefully brushed back her white-blonde hair.
"I'll make a really grand wish after making you owe me ten debts, you got it?"
"Is this some kind of on-campus cafe coupon or something?"
"Ahaha!"
As the two of them were laughing and talking, there was a man and a woman who were raging with a volcanic fury.
Meilyn was glaring at Simon and Serene, who were laughing cheerfully.
'Ugh! It's so frustrating, I swear! Were my warnings just a waste of breath?! Avoid that woman no matter what! She's just using and manipulating you!'
Meilyn felt like she was going to go insane with how frustrating Simon was.
Why doesn't he understand her true color? Seeing him laughing foolishly after getting charmed by her appearances enraged Meilyn.
She wanted to rush in right away, grab the two of them by the head, and make them head-butt each other.
Tap.
And right next to her, Hector, a step ahead of Meilyn, was radiating anger like he was the physical manifestation of it.
'Simon Polentiaaaaaaaaaa!'
Hector gnashed his teeth.
'How long are you going to mock me!'
Hector, who had begun learning dark magic a few years earlier than Simon, was obviously capable of jet-black eruption.
However, Simon had mastered the skill that he had spent countless hours transcending life and death for in just one session during this class.
Whaaaaaaaap!
Sparks fired in the eyes of the two students looking at Simon. Some students around them pretended not to notice and resumed their training.
As their anger reached its peak, the twos eyes met.
"Hey, what are you looking at?"
Growled Meilyn.
"Is this bastard crazy? Look away."
The moment when the two of them were about to approach each other
"Meilyn! No!"
Camibarez jumped in fright and hugged Meilyn. Hector's lackeys also came running, holding him back.
The two shot daggers at each other but eventually turned their backs when they saw the assistant teachers approaching.
How was this a ball game!
The students were flooded with such thoughts, although a few nodded their heads as if expecting it.
"It seems fun, though."
"Yeah. We can't lose against Class C!"
"Professor!"
The questionator of Class AJamie Victoriastruck again, raising her hand.
"Can we use dark magic?"
"Yes. You may strengthen yourself, your teammates, or the ball with dark magic, but you shouldn't do anything to the opposing team's students. If you break these rules, you'll be eliminated immediately. Also, the 'Etherealization' spell, which transforms the body into a spirit, is prohibited. Just passing the ball won't put an end to the game, after all."
Cindy Vivace could be seen pouting at those words.
"Each side sends in a single team at a time. Best of 3. We'll provide a delicious meal to the class who wins. And the losing class"
She smiled wide.
"Have to fill their stomachs with a stamina drink while watching the winning team eat~"
At those words, sparks erupted in the eyes of every student.
Competition!
The air suddenly changed, and Kizen's unique competitive spirit began to flare up.
"Class A, gather up!"
"We can't lose this even if we die!"
"Class C, over here!"
"We're finally going to crush the bastards who struck rich getting the Vice-President!"
In the midst of everyone's competitive spirit, Simon also stood up.
"Hey, Simon."
Meilyn suddenly grabbed Simon's wrist. Simon looked at her in surprise.
"M-Meilyn?"
"The class president is looking for you. For Class As strategy meeting."
She walked alongside Simon.
When Simon looked back, Serene was waving with a relaxed smile. Soon, Class C students flocked around her.
"Where's Cami?"
""
"Meilyn?"
She snorted and turned her head away coldly.
Simon smiled bitterly. Why did she look so angry all of a sudden?
"Now, now. Simon! Welcome~"
With everyone in Class A gathered, Jamie Victoria was sitting in the center, and Rick was standing next to her.
When Jamie nodded her head, Rick cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"Yep! My name is Rick Hayward, the brain of Class A."
Booooo!
Playful booing was heard from everywhere, but Rick tactfully countered it by acting like a host of a show, saying thank you for the cheers.
"I'll explain on behalf of the class president. First of all, the teams have already been decided by the assistant teachers."
Rick took out a folding table from his subspacea very odd item to store in thereunfolded it, and laid down papers on it.
Students flocked to look at the list. Simon also came closer to check the roster, although he only checked the names of students he knew well.
'I'm on team 2, huh?'
Team 1: Meilyn, Rick, Toto,
Team 2: Simon, Hector,
Team 3: Cindy, Jamie, Camibarez.
'The balance isn't so bad.'
Thought Simon before turning his head slightly.
Arms crossed and frowning, Hector seemed very dissatisfied with the team distribution.
"Now, guys, please listen for a second."
Rick spoke again.
"Although the scope of the strategy has decreased a little, we can still decide which team to send in rounds 1, 2, and 3. This will put us in psychological warfare. When the strong team in Class C comes out, we make the weakest team go against them and wear them down. And it's ideal to take out the opponent's middle-strength team with our strong team."
Everyone nodded. Then, one student raised their hand.
"It's a best of 3 match. Wouldn't it be better to send out two strong teams in a row and win it in 2?"
"Obviously."
Rick grinned and continued.
"From Class C, they'd send out a strong team with Serene in at least one of the first two rounds, right? Unless theyre using a completely absurd strategy."
"Mm."
Everyone looked fed up when they heard the name 'Serene'.
Serene, a two-top of Kizen alongside Lorain from Class L, was definitely a threat.
This time it was Jamie who spoke.
"Then we should quickly decide on the strong team and the weak team."
"Uh The balance is pretty good for us, but if we had to pick one, then"
Ricks gaze moved to two people standing close to each other.
"I think Team 2, with Simon and Hector, is the strongest. Any objections?"