254 Why walk down?

[Ren Hilton's POV]

"...eh?"Confusion tugged at the edges of my mind, muddling my thoughts as if I'd been thrown into a puzzling game without the rules. The method of using chits to determine the final contenders felt like an unexpected turn in this high-stakes competition. A wave of bewilderment crashed over me—why resort to such arbitrary selection methods in a contest of this magnitude?

Glancing sideways at Helga, I found her visage mirroring my own perplexity, a shared confusion etched upon her features. The abrupt change in the lineup, positioning us as the last match, cast an eerie silence over the arena. Despite the professor's beckoning call, no one seemed eager to step forward, leaving an unsettling hush hanging in the air.

My gaze fixed on Stormborne, seeking answers in the depths of his eyes. But instead of warmth or explanation, his response was devoid of emotion, a detached inquiry slicing through the air like a chilling wind.

"Headmaster!" My voice cut through the silence, seeking clarification amidst this enigmatic turn of events.

His brow furrowed momentarily before he rose, the air around him thick with an austere aura. "What is it?" he inquired, his tone cold and devoid of any semblance of enthusiasm.

"It would be more appropriate for me to face this opponent," I gestured towards Erik, a young man seemingly caught off guard by the mention of his name.

But before I could delve into my reasoning, Stormborne interrupted with a pointed question, his words carrying a weighty significance despite the distance between us.

"Why do you think that?" His voice was clear and crisp, demanding an explanation.

The same question lingered in my mind, an unspoken query echoing in the collective thoughts of those present. What truly justified this rearrangement, especially when Erik's capabilities remained shrouded in mystery?

"Because—" I started to step forward, ready to articulate my reasoning, but Stormborne interjected with an abrupt shift in focus.

"You, What's your name again?" His tone betrayed a hint of forgetfulness.

"Ren Hilton, headmaster," I replied, my words hanging in the charged atmosphere.

"Ah, you're him..." Stormborne's voice trailed off, a tinge of recognition coloring his expression. "We have a plan in place. Don't concern yourself with the match arrangements," he declared firmly, an air of finality in his words. "Or do you believe Erik Weller, this boy here, is inferior to you and easily defeated?"

The immediacy of my response seemed to catch Stormborne off guard, a subtle widening of his eyes betraying his surprise.

However, as I turned to address the unfolding situation, a familiar tap diverted my attention. Helga was already ascending the stage.

Was she truly fine with this unexpected turn of events?

Caught in the crosswinds of conflicting objectives, I found myself in a perplexing predicament. On one hand, I aimed to secure the Gambit's prize without disturbing the carefully woven threads of fate. Yet, Helga's absence would irrevocably alter the dynamics, her participation pivotal for the challenges designed to foster her growth and recognition by the church as a potential saint candidate.

Amidst my quest for the Oceanic Pulses, I grappled with a daunting decision.

"Are you forfeiting?" inquired the professor, snapping me back to the present moment.

I looked at Stormborne; he had that serene expression on his face. What was going through his mind was a mystery, to be honest.

"Princess, I think you should forfeit. We can get Pulses by stealing too... like there has to be a way," Blaze said.

Stealing the Oceanic Pulses... sounds like a plan to me. But—

"I didn't mean any disrespect to you," I looked at Erik, whose face changed about three to four expressions in a single glance.

"N-no! I get it... but I think you should decide or—" he eyed towards the silent Arena.

I walked towards the stage, the mace in my hand dragged on the ground, leaving a trail on the soil. I'll just put it back in the inventory as I don't need it.

The Oceanic Pulses can be stolen just like Blaze said. It won't affect the Gambit... It's going to be hard, but maybe it'll just help me keep things in check.

In check... It makes me laugh because whenever I tried to keep things in check from my side, it was always something new popping up and brushing off whatever I knew all along like it was nothing in this world.

Throwing the mace in the inventory box... whatever it was.

I heard someone chuckle. Yeah, it's funny, and I don't blame—wait.

I raised my gaze and looked at the stage, and the one who was laughing was none other than Helga.

What is she laughing about? I am leaving the ground so she could win and get into the competition, and she has the gall to laugh about it.

"Hm?"I turned my gaze and saw it—the faces... a lot of them—smiles that looked down on me. There was no fear in them, which was fine, but what wasn't fine was the mocking smiles they had plastered all over their faces.

I blinked, and it didn't change; it was there... They seemed like they had done something great and are making someone else's achievements theirs.

Like I am not even lost yet, and this gives them this much happiness.

This scene reminded me of something.

It's a very old memory... my first underground fight... it was weird. I don't remember much of it, just the haunting smiles and mocking laughs of adults who bet on my loss while I was getting my bones broken.

Isn't it the same as then? Looking down on me.

"HEY! IF YOU'RE GONNA PISS YA PANTS!! JUST DO IT AND WALK DOWN!!!" Shouted someone from the left.

'I noted his face, don't worry,' said Blaze in my mind.

The laughter was now evident... they liked his joke, huh?

They liked to make fun of someone who's trying to be considerate enough to go out of their way to make sure everything seems and remains normal.

Tap*

"Hey, you should walk down now; we don't have the whole day," said the grey-haired professor.

I looked over his shoulders towards Helga, who stared at me directly. Her eyes didn't waver, unlike before—she's looking at me directly.

Where does she get this confidence? Like she believes that she can one-up me easily, it's in her eyes... isn't it written all over her face on how she thinks she's superior to me.

'Hey Princess! Calm down, what's happening dude—' Blaze said. I am calm.

I am calm; it's just— I don't like it. I don't like being looked...down on, not like this- at all.

"Walk down why? I need some things to clear up." I removed the professor's hand from my shoulder and walked into the middle of the Arena.