Chapter 104: The End of Life

May 7th, Friday.

29 minutes and 11 seconds left until the duel begins.

A sunny afternoon, the warmth of spring sunlight.

In contrast, the atmosphere inside the room was tense and chilling.

The room at the entrance of the Arena.

Here, black leather sofas and a glass table were arranged, the spacious area occupied by four students and a teacher snoring on the sofa.

This was the room for selecting the duel mode, where the players’ participation contracts and identity verification were also completed.

“What do you mean by that?”

Bried glared at the man before her with a face like stone, her orange ponytail almost rising in anger.

Cliff crossed his arms, replying impatiently.

“Duel mode—choose Real.”

In the duels of the National Explorers Academy, both participants could select either ‘Simulation’ or ‘Real’ as the form of combat.

In ‘Simulation’, attacks were affected by field magic, preventing fatal injuries, though the pain could still cause physical shock.

‘Real’ was true combat—life and death at stake. Death meant death. Both parties signed a death contract in advance, choosing fire or water burial, or perhaps preparing a fine coffin.

“This isn’t what was said before, right? ‘Safe format’ should mean Simulation, shouldn’t it?”

“Right, but as long as one side dies, isn’t the other side completely safe? You’re the one who misunderstood my words.”

Cliff sneered.

A drop of cold sweat slid down Bried’s cheek.

Fighting a person and fighting a monster were different concepts.

She could feel the overflowing and uncontrollable magic from him—his power might surpass all three of them… and the killing intent around him was strong.

He truly might kill them without hesitation.

Bried often sparred with people.

She knew well that taking a life was no difficult matter.

A touch more killing intent, a touch less mercy—life would end.

She wasn’t so much afraid of killing this scumbag Cliff as she was of Cliff being able to kill her and her friends with full justification.

“Well, Cass? Are you in or out? Or do you want to hurry up and surrender? Don’t waste my time.”

Cliff looked past Bried, turning his gaze to Cass.

“I’m fine with it.”

Kersey spoke, clutching Bried’s clothes tightly, her voice trembling.

“Kersey…”

Bried was a bit surprised at her friend’s courage.

“If I can’t overcome this, I’ll always regret it later. I’d rather just settle it all at once.”

Kersey hid behind Bried, but her words were strong.

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

Cass agreed readily.

“Cass, this isn’t a joke.”

“It’s okay. As long as we win, that’s all that matters.”

Cass showed a calm, serene smile.

A relaxed and natural expression, as if she were heading to the supermarket instead of a life-or-death battle.

Is that confidence in your own strength?

With things as they were, Bried didn’t say more.

“Good answer.”

Cliff nodded in approval, the contract displayed on the terminal screen.

He pressed his handprint and moved to the red side Rest Room.

“That, the latest map of the third floor…”

“Ah.”

If Kersey hadn’t mentioned it, Cass and Bried would’ve forgotten about it—the reward Cliff promised if they beat him.

But now that the Rest Room door had closed, it felt weird to ask Cliff about it.

“We can ask after the duel. With Principal Priest as our witness, he won’t go back on his word.”

“Eh…ah…are you done talking? Once you’ve signed, go get ready. Duel starts at 12:30.”

Principal Priest woke on the leather sofa, rubbing drool from his mouth.

The three signed the contract and headed for the blue side Rest Room.

“It’s fine. If you work with me, nothing will happen.”

Cass reassured them.

“The plan you mentioned yesterday…?”

Bried lowered her eyes, then opened them again, resolve shining within.

“Fine. It’s not our first time betting our lives anyway. When we went into the Dungeon, we were already walking with death. This time, the only difference is that the enemy is human.”

After finishing, Bried and Kersey headed to the girls’ Preparation Room.

Cass waved to them, preparing to head to the boys’ Preparation Room.

“Cass… It’s fine if you lose. If you can’t win, surrender. It’s not shameful. Only the living have the right to speak…”

Principal Priest’s lazy tone echoed from behind.

Cass smiled bitterly.

“Thank you for the reminder, Principal Priest. It’s not just for Bried, Kersey, or everyone in the class. I don’t want to lose—I never liked losing.”

Cass entered the Preparation Room without hesitation.

“Oh… Just like your mom… Haa.”

Principal Priest supported his back, heading for the stands, unable to shirk the teacher’s duty of witnessing the duel.

Inside the Preparation Room.

Cass washed her face and changed into her Combat Suit.

She intended to oil and sharpen Wraithblade, but was sternly warned by Hertanid.

21 minutes and 34 seconds remaining.

***

Siloque wandered around the campus, inside and out.

He looked like he was idling, but was actually checking for any tricks Cliff might pull—like hiding allies, prepping special items, or whether any Evil Demon Society members were lurking.

He searched carefully, confirming everything was safe.

He arrived at Cass’s Rest Room, performing a final check on Cass’s state—and, if needed, offering psychological counseling.

“Siloque? Come in.”

After getting permission, the automatic door slid open and Siloque entered.

The room was tidy, a faint fragrance lingering in the air.

Cass was stretching, warming up.

“Cass, you look in good shape.”

“Haha… more or less.”

Siloque himself used to get nervous even giving speeches, but Cass was betting his life to fight a minotaur—and yet seemed calm…

Or was he?

Siloque tried to ignore it, but noticed Cass’s hand trembling slightly.

“Cass, being afraid is normal. Deep breaths. Calm yourself. A little tension isn’t a bad thing.”

“It’s not that, Siloque. It feels strange to me too, but look.”

Cass stood and met Siloque’s gaze.

“I’m not afraid. I’m… excited. To fight a strong foe, to go all out, to defeat them—it’s thrilling.”

Cass showed a fearless smile, utterly different from his usual gentle self.

His eyes brimmed with anticipation and thirst for challenge.

Now that he thought about it, this guy always changed when it came to combat.

Are you really Cass?

Siloque sweated.

The Cass before him wasn’t the hot-blooded warrior of the first loop, nor the cold, decisive Cass of the second.

But quickly, perhaps noticing Siloque’s confusion, Cass lowered his head, gathering his thoughts.

“Anyway, I’m fine. And Siloque, thank you for all your help this month.”

Cass offered sincere gratitude.

“No matter the outcome, I made it this far because you helped me.”

“Heh, just remember that, you can never forget my great deeds.”

Siloque accepted it matter-of-factly.

Cass smiled wryly, but didn’t forget to remind him.

“By the way, don’t forget our promise.”

“Huh? Oh, that… Of course not. We’ll talk if you win.”

A guy always talking about promises—how weird.

Siloque didn’t say it aloud, not wanting to make things awkward.

As for going out to have fun…

He’d been thinking about it, but seeing Cass like this, he couldn’t refuse.

He could just take him to KFC or something and call it a day.

“That’s good, then.”

Cass pressed a hand to his chest.

“When this duel is over, Siloque, go out with me.”

“Hey, don’t set up death flags or twist my words!”

***

5 minutes and 11 seconds remaining.

The Arena resembled a ‘Crow’s Nest’ stadium Siloque had seen in his past life—tiered spectator seats circling the central battle platform.

The school had three such large buildings.

Siloque reached the stands; more than half of Class F was already present.

Strangely, all the girls were there, but few boys.

At the very front, in the best viewing spot, Principal Priest occupied three seats, sleeping.

Apparently, Cass’s reputation—no, his valiant display last month—had earned him a lot of points.

Not a single person from Class C was present. It seemed Cliff had little authority in his own class.

Other than Class F, the vast stands were sparsely filled—no more than fifty people, roughly.

He spotted a figure with purple hair, sitting across from Class F.

Lorin from B Class.

Siloque made sure not to be seen by her.

Being too well-known in his class, he found a distant, empty corner seat to avoid awkwardness.

“Isn’t that Beiren?”

On the outer edge of the arena floor, inside a room, he saw a large rectangular Observation Window.

Inside sat Beiren and an older woman, both dressed as school medics.

Siloque waved vigorously at Beiren, and a moment later a message arrived on his ring terminal:

—Don’t jump around, you’ll fall—

So Siloque sat obediently.

He rested his arms, eyes on the countdown screen.

“Cass, it’s up to you. Shine like a protagonist.”

He’d done all he could.

Would a month’s efforts be wasted?

Could he reach a happy ending, leading everyone to a bright future?

Siloque brushed his hair aside, took out a bottle of cola from his ring terminal, and took a big swig to steady his nerves.

***

3 minutes and 4 seconds.

The broadcast summoned Cliff.

He responded, stepping out of the Preparation Room.

Passing through the dim corridor, he ascended the battle stage under the gaze of the few spectators.

No cheers awaited him.

Their shouts were for Cass and the others emerging from the blue side Preparation Room.

Four students stepped onto the battle ring.

“You’re really popular, Cass.”

Cliff glanced at the stands, but didn’t spot Siloque.

Final 60 seconds.

Red glowing numbers appeared above the center of the battle stage, counting down.

At the same time, a barrier dome formed, protecting the audience.

Cass said nothing.

He drew a strange pink sword from his scabbard.

Bried and Kersey wore their usual Dungeon gear, standing far from Cass, nearly pressed against the ring’s edge.

It didn’t matter.

Cliff had already decided how to crush them.

It would end soon.

Cass’s stance was odd.

His body tilted, waist twisted, even his spine turned.

He held the sword in his right hand alone.

The blade extended past his side, almost to his back, while his left hand gripped the blade near the guard.

Though the sword lacked a sheath, his pose resembled an iai slash.

The key was the left hand holding the blade.

The right hand holding the grip pushed, the left hand on the blade pulled.

Three seconds.

Cliff didn’t care.

His right hand, wearing the Experienced Battle Gauntlets, pressed against his left, cracking his knuckles.

Level difference was already an overwhelming advantage—what could Cass’s little tricks do?

These three were merely appetizers before the real feast.

When he claimed a glorious victory, it would become a legendary tale for years.

One second—

At the center, the words ‘STAR FIGHT’ flashed with sound effects.

The duel began.

You and your companions—I’ll make sure you become tributes for Lord Izabilis.

Cliff unleashed his magic, roots spreading beneath him, activating the maximum domain of —

The Memory of Latour ended there.

Everything happened too fast—like someone had yanked out the TV plug.

After that, only the deep, unknown abyss remained.

Before his consciousness was lost to darkness, he saw—

A world turning upside down, a male body with a narrow base and wide top, a fountain of blood spraying from the neck.

His own body.

Cass stood behind him, frozen in the follow-through of a sword swing.

The sword’s guard cracked open, a golden slit pupil gazing at him—like observing a crushed breadcrumb.