Chapter 284: Challenge

"Looks like there’s no way I can just stroll back leisurely today."

On his way toward the dorms, Muen suddenly stopped, turned, and looked around.

Birds skimmed across the sky.

Bare branches were stirred by the north wind.

All around was very quiet.

But within that quiet, before he knew it, things had suddenly become a bit lively.

One figure after another appeared at the edges of his vision, silently casting over glances laden with hard-to-read meaning.

"So fast..."

Out of the corner of his eye, Muen glanced at those oddly shaped birds flying in the winter sun:

"That senior from the News Club, Mingot, is really impatient."

"Sorry."

At his side, Senior Fanny let out a helpless sigh:

"I won’t be able to see you safely back to the dorm, Classmate Muen."

"No, thank you, Senior Fanny."

Muen turned and gave Senior Fanny a smile of thanks.

"It actually isn’t necessary."

Muen understood what Senior Fanny meant by accompanying him.

Roughly, it was to use her status as the third-year’s top student to help cow those who wanted to challenge him.

Because if it’s a challenge, then there’s a very obvious loophole to exploit.

——That is, as long as Muen doesn’t accept, or just hides, the challenge doesn’t成立 at all.

So Fanny’s thought was to escort Muen into the dorm and have him hole up there until departure day. Naturally nothing would happen—after all, no matter what, the Academy would never allow battles to break out in the dorms.

Only, she wasn’t the only one who’d thought of that.

"Muen Campbell, I thought you’d gone to the office to bawl and beg Professor Prang to take back those words."

Not far ahead of Muen, a man slowly stepped out of the shadows.

His build was much more robust than an ordinary student’s; through the taut uniform you could clearly see how powerful his muscles were.

Beneath that steady face was a striking ring of whiskers like a lion’s mane, which only made the man look far more mature than his peers.

"Lion! Orze!"

Fanny’s expression suddenly tightened.

"You’re going to stick your hand in this too?"

"Naturally. As a devout believer of the Goddess, how could I pass up the chance to go to the Holy City on pilgrimage?"

Orze took out a small statue of the Goddess, touched it lightly to his forehead, murmured something, then solemnly put the figurine away.

His oppressive gaze swept past Fanny, sank a shade, and fell on Muen:

"What, since you couldn’t sway the professor, you’re choosing to hide behind a woman? You never disappoint, Muen Campbell."

"Hm?"

Muen didn’t bother with Orze’s veiled jab. He glanced at Orze’s beard and couldn’t help but lift a brow.

That title, and that look.

It felt like something had been stolen from him—a little annoying.

"Orze, a third-year bullying a second-year—what’s the big deal? If you’ve got the guts, then face m—"

Fanny was about to block Orze for Muen when she noticed Muen suddenly take a step forward, placing himself in front of her.

"It’s all right, Senior Fanny."

Muen looked back with a smile:

"Thanks for the help, but please trust me—I can handle this..."

"You..."

Fanny hesitated, words on the tip of her tongue.

To be honest, she was one of those who didn’t believe Muen could get through this on his own; otherwise she wouldn’t have come to help him specifically.

But then she thought of the miracle he’d once created...

"Fine."

Fanny breathed a soft sigh and took a few steps back.

"But be careful. This so-called Lion Orze is no good person. His strength is top-five even among third-years, and he’s notorious for vicious strikes and cruel moves. I’ve suffered plenty at his hands. Whatever you do, don’t meet him head-on..."

"I got it."

"Ugh, you..."

Seeing Muen’s complete indifference, Fanny couldn’t help another sigh.

No matter what, this wasn’t the time to take anyone lightly.

"Finally not hiding behind a woman?"

Seeing Muen step out, Orze flexed his powerful muscles and showed a cruel smile,

"Though facing a duke’s son gets me excited, let me give you one piece of advice... you’d better hand over that spot voluntarily!"

"Oh?"

Muen asked:

"Why?"

"Ha, can’t tell if you’re really stupid or faking it. You think you’ll walk away so easily if you don’t yield the spot? I’m only the first gate."

Orze turned his body slightly, showing him the restless silhouettes waiting behind.

"Rons!"

"Bronki!"

"Doranmus!"

Fanny’s increasingly grave exclamations rang one after another by Muen’s ear:

"You all came?"

You couldn’t blame Fanny for feeling heavy.

She was the third-year’s top student, and precisely because of that, she knew how troublesome these people were.

They were all standouts among the third-years, and their backgrounds were anything but simple. They didn’t match Muen’s status, but what they had behind them were some formidable great nobles.

A full year’s gap—aside from monsters like Ariel Bugaard, how could it be so easily erased?

Let alone Muen Campbell, who’d been at the bottom of the grade last semester.

"Truly lively."

Muen’s gaze swept across those faces wearing the expression of big bad wolves eyeing a little lamb, yet his demeanor remained utterly casual.

"And..."

Muen looked around again and couldn’t help clicking his tongue.

There were way too many onlookers.

Do they all want to see me eat dirt that badly?

A pity—he wasn’t much good at putting on airs.

Otherwise, this would be a perfect venue for posturing and face-slapping.

With that thought, Muen stepped toward Orze, who had issued the challenge.

......

......

"Oh, is it starting?"

In the News Club classroom, Mingot, who was seeing everything clearly through the eyes of the birds, flailed about in excitement.

"Didn’t expect to open with a hell-difficulty boss fight! What headline should I use? Major Crisis! Son of the Lion King faces the New-Era Lion?

No, no, the article can wait. Most important now—open a book: how many moves can Muen Campbell last under Orze!

Hahaha, I’m definitely raking it in this time!"

......

"Wow, I just got back to the Academy and it’s already this lively."

At a corridor window, Veil looked out at the two facing off in the distance, gloating:

"Even I’ve heard of that Lion Orze’s name. Muen Campbell’s going to take a big loss this time, right, President?"

"..."

Beside her, Celicia remained expressionless, her cool gaze locked on that figure, saying not a word.

......

"Damn it, that bastard Orze beat us to it!"

Rons smashed a fist into the wall, fuming:

"That all-muscle brute—this is the only time he’s this quick on the uptake!"

"Get ready to intercept Orze. Knowing him, he might hide right after beating Muen Campbell and not give us a chance to challenge."

Bronki quietly shifted position, already moving to cut off Orze’s retreat.

"No matter. A full seven days—he can’t hide that long."

Doranmus looked far more steady, but he didn’t spare Muen a glance either, instead faintly focusing on those by his side as he said meaningfully,

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The one who laughs last in this game is the winner."

......

"Oh? Choosing to initiate the attack?"

Watching Muen step by ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) step toward him, Orze couldn’t help curling his lip.

This guy was even more overconfident than he’d imagined.

Worlds apart from that legendary Lion King.

Orze recalled again his first glimpse of that Lion King—how magnificent, how domineering. When his eyes opened and closed, it was as if there was arrogance and majesty enough to grind everything into dust.

Unlike the Muen Campbell before him, who had nothing going for him but a pretty face.

Fortunately, Muen Campbell was not like that Lion King.

Just as Father had said: in Belrand—no, among the Blood of Glory—there must never appear a second Lion King!

A second Lion King whose name alone would make those filthy people of base blood willingly follow!

So...

Even if the rumors say you, Muen Campbell, have truly turned over a new leaf—even if you’ve started striving again...

I will absolutely not allow it.

In front of everyone, I will thoroughly, completely, mercilessly crush Muen Campbell—make him cry, make him suffer, make him kneel and beg before me, make him fall into disgrace once more.

I’ll grind him into the mud again, before all eyes!

Never to rise!

As Muen kept coming closer, Orze’s smile grew more and more ferocious.

All right—what method would best achieve that effect?

Ah, right—let Muen Campbell make the first move.

Only then could the real difference in strength be shown, only then could Muen Campbell truly despair, only then could everyone see that he was still the same piece of trash.

Yes, that’s it!

Orze drew taut all over, every muscle gathering power.

The more it came to moments like this, the less he would show mercy.

He would let Muen Campbell launch the attack, and then with absolute strength, demonstrate to the crowd Muen Campbell’s frailty!

Come on, Muen Campbell!

Orze grew more and more excited. He stared hard at Muen—at Muen’s steadily approaching steps, at Muen’s hands hanging naturally at his sides.

Come on, come on!

Let me see—what kind of attack will you—

Eh?

Orze suddenly froze.

Because Muen hadn’t attacked.

He simply came closer, closer, and then... brushed past him...

Huh?

What the hell?

He’s not going to strike?

......

"Let’s go."

Celicia suddenly lost interest, turned, and left.

"Eh—eh—eh?"

Behind her, Veil let out a cry:

"President, you’re not going to watch to the end?"

"To the end?"

Celicia’s eyes flickered as she said:

"It’s already over."

......

"Wait, Muen Campbell—are you going to run?"

Orze glared at Muen’s back and barked:

"Do you truly not care about the name of House Campbell..."

"Run?"

Muen looked back, puzzled. "When did I run?"

"You don’t even dare to make a move—if that’s not running, what is?"

"Make a move?"

Muen’s lips curved, his smile teasing:

"I already made my move. You didn’t notice?"

Eh?

Orze was stunned.

Already made a move?

Impossible, I didn’t feel—

In an instant, Orze felt a chill.

As if roasted by blazing sun and then thrown onto a frozen plain, he shuddered violently.

Stiffly, he lowered his head, eyes filling with terror and disbelief as he watched his beautiful, handsome, pride-and-joy, trademark... ring of beard, strand by strand, drift down like autumn’s withered leaves.

"I won’t target beards, but I hate that you keep that ring beard. I also hate your ‘Lion’ title."

"You’re unworthy."

Muen toyed with a pure-white blade that had appeared in his hand at some point and asked gently:

"From now on, I’ll call you Mr. Hairless Cat. Any objections?"

"I..."

Feeling at his neck a lethal cold that could have killed him a hundred times over, Orze slowly collapsed, stench leaking out.

"Very good—seems there are no objections.

In that case..."

Muen turned again and looked at the orioles who, shocked by this incomprehensible scene, couldn’t even make a sound. He showed an impeccable aristocratic smile and said:

"Gentlemen, I’m in a hurry. If you don’t mind—next... you may all come at once."