Fantasy Libary 38

Title: Be My Partner

“The battle is over. The winner is Ark.”

As the mechanical voice announcing the result echoed across the stage, none of the audience could immediately react.

“...Huh?”

Kirin stood frozen in place, her face filled with confusion, unable to process what had just happened.

“...I lost?”

“Lightning Blade... lost?”

“Impossible...”

The audience exchanged disbelieving glances, struggling to accept the sudden outcome.

Meanwhile, Ark calmly sheathed Ser-Veresta, returning it to its inactive state, and spoke.

“With this, I’ve fulfilled my promise, haven’t I?”

These words snapped Kirin out of her daze.

“So that’s how it is...”

As she stared at the boy in front of her, Kirin smiled bitterly.

“At the last moment, you didn’t use the hot wind to accelerate yourself, did you?”

That explained why she hadn’t felt the heat and failed to react in time.

“There was no other way.” Ark shrugged. “Because I knew the heat around me would always make my opponent wary before I could get close, using it continuously would only waste Prana.”

“It might work against someone like Arcadi Finken, but against a perceptive and highly reactive opponent like you, it’s a glaring weakness.”

“I have to thank you for helping me realize the flaw in that technique.”

If it weren’t for Kirin, Ark might never have discovered the major weakness in his strategy of using hot wind for acceleration. His gratitude was genuine.

Seeing this, Kirin could only respond with a wry smile. However, soon after, she seemed relieved, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“Congratulations, Senpai, for becoming the top-ranked student at Seidoukan Academy.”

Even though she had lost and all her previous efforts had come to nothing, Kirin was surprised to find that she wasn’t angry at all. Instead, she felt as if she had been freed from invisible shackles.

Because of this, her expression became much brighter.

Then—

“That’s the expression I was hoping to see.” Ark suddenly said.

“Huh?”

Kirin blinked in surprise.

Ark chuckled and continued, “Your expression now is much better than when I first met you.”

Hearing this, memories of their first meeting flashed through Kirin’s mind.

Back then, her expression must have been heavy and anxious—bad enough for Ark to comment on it like this.

“A gloomy face like that really doesn’t suit you.” Ark said, his gaze fixed on her. “Especially when I know how heavy the burden you’re carrying is.”

As someone who understood her backstory, Ark had known from the beginning what burden Kirin was bearing.

When he first saw the sad face of the young girl, it had been impossible for him to ignore it.

Even when she won the duel, she didn’t feel happy.

Even as the top-ranked student at the academy, she couldn’t feel pride or joy.

Thinking of this, Ark spoke those words to her as they were about to part.

Was it sympathy? Or pity?

Ark wasn’t sure, and he didn’t want to overthink it.

He just wanted to test the strength of the academy’s strongest student and create the most exciting experience for himself. Challenging Kirin was something he would have done sooner or later, with or without this special situation.

So, without hesitation, he voiced his thoughts.

“Seeing your expression now makes me feel at ease too.” Ark said with a smile. “So, congratulations to you as well, Toudou-san.”

Hearing this, tears glistened in the corners of Kirin’s eyes.

She didn’t know how to describe the emotions surging within her at that moment.

“Senpai, I—“

Just as Kirin was about to say something, Ark cut her off.

“And now, I have an official invitation to make.”

In front of everyone present, standing on the grandest stage of Seidoukan Academy, Ark stared intently at the girl before him.

“Be my partner, Toudou Kirin.”

These words left not only Kirin but the entire audience stunned.

When they realized what Ark was doing, almost everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

“Partner...?”

Kirin stammered, confused and disbelieving.

If she wasn’t mistaken, Ark was...

“That’s right, it’s exactly what you’re thinking.” Ark confirmed, as if reading her mind.

“This season’s Phoenix Festa is about to begin. There’s still about a month left until the festival, which is held every summer for first-year students.”

“I intend to participate in this Phoenix Festa.”

“And for that, I need a partner.”

The Phoenix Festa is a doubles tournament participated in by two people. To participate or even register, the first requirement is to form a team of two.

If Ark wanted to make his life in this world as vibrant and extraordinary as possible, then the Phoenix Festa was an event he couldn’t miss.

From the beginning, his decision to approach Kirin was based on his intention to invite her to form a team with him.

“You want to save your father, don’t you?” Ark said seriously, speaking to the stunned Kirin. “If we work together and win the Phoenix Festa, that would be the fastest way to achieve your goal, wouldn’t it?”

After all, anyone who wins any Festa can make a wish to the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, which will help fulfill it.

With the power of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, which nearly dominates the world, helping Kirin save her imprisoned father would be a trivial task for them.

Of course, the prerequisite is achieving victory.

“I know, it won’t be easy.” Ark said, though his face showed a fearless smile.

“But I’m confident that with your strength and mine, we have what it takes to make it happen. Don’t you agree?”

One is the current top-ranked student at Seidoukan Academy. The other has just defeated her and is about to become the next top-ranked student.

For these two individuals to cooperate and form a partnership, their strength as a duo needs no further explanation.

“So, will you join me?”

Ark extended his hand toward Kirin.

The entire arena fell silent. No one dared to breathe too loudly, watching the event unfold with excitement and anticipation.

“Don’t you dare agree, Kirin...!”

In one corner of the audience, a faint and desperate voice seemed to protest.

But it was in vain—no one paid attention, especially Kirin herself.

The girl stared at the hand extended before her, her expression nervous and hesitant.

She had thought about participating in the Phoenix Festa before.

As Ark had pointed out, with the promise from the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, any Genestella qualified to compete in the Festa but with an unfulfilled wish would see winning the Phoenix Festa as the fastest way to achieve that wish.

Kirin had also dreamed of competing, winning, and asking the Foundation to free her father.

But she knew all too well how difficult it would be for her to claim victory at the Phoenix Festa.

This is a competition that brings students from all Six Academies to the same stage!

Even if she was the number one at Seidoukan Academy, weren’t there number ones at other academies too?

Facing opponents like that, Kirin could never guarantee she would emerge victorious.

That’s why she always felt she could only follow her uncle’s advice.

But now...

“If it’s with Senpai...”

A wave of emotions surged in Kirin’s heart like a raging tide.

Before she realized it, her hand was slowly reaching forward.

Then, carefully, she placed her hand in Ark’s.

“WOOOOO!!!”

A long-delayed cheer erupted throughout the multipurpose arena.

Today was destined to make waves.