Part XVIII Tag Team

Lazuro yawned, still unaccustomed to waking at six despite his healed wound and a full day's rest. He headed to the front yard for gym class, where students were already gathered in groups. Tristan and Aicelia joined the nobles, while Lazuro chose a corner to practice with the control ball Djuana had given him.

"I guess my school life is no different from the other world." Lazuro tried to make the ball red.

Enjoying the morning air, Lazuro overheard students discussing the previous night's commotion. He tried to appear calm, hoping to avoid attention. Unfortunately, Julian, Aaron, and two unfamiliar children approached him, Julian's expression disapproving.

"How was your day off, Rustic?" Julian asked, his expression disdainful.

"That…" Lazuro lowered his head.

“Skipping the second day of school is a real risk, you Rustic.” Julian crouched down in front of Lazuro.

“That’s why I hate losers. You should answer when someone asks you a question.” Aaron pulled Lazuro’s hair until they were level with Julian.

“Will you all stop nodding, please? If I did anything to offend you, I apologize,” Lazuro said.

“Listen,” Julian grabbed Lazuro’s cheek. “Princess Fiore belongs to my brother. Stop approaching her, or I’ll have your skinny body covered in bruises.”

“Who wins? Your brother’s!”

Fiore’s shout brought everyone’s attention to Lazuro.

“Ah, Princess Fiore. Have you been here long?” Julian’s expression became very friendly.

“Long enough to hear all your boasting,” Fiore pushed Julian away and stood in front of Lazuro. “Why don’t you fight him, Leaf Boy? I think you can beat this brat easily.”

“Beats me; please don't joke around this early in the morning.” Julian glanced at his followers and made them all laugh.

“Why don’t you try? Are you scared?” 

“Fiore, don’t joke around.” Lazuro stood up.

Everyone stared at Lazuro, surprised by his address. Feeling awkward, Lazuro finally cleared his throat and began speaking again.

“I’m sorry, Princess Fiore; what Julian said is true. I’m still not on par with Lord Julian.” Lazuro lowered his head.

“That’s right, Fiore. How could this loser defeat my sister?”

Trion suddenly appeared and grabbed both Fiore and Lazuro by the shoulders. Trion alternately smiled at Fiore and gave her an intimidating glare, gripping Lazuro’s shoulder tightly.

“What are you doing, Trion, Mavis? Realize your position!”

Fiore’s glare made him release his grip on her.

“W-why are you so scary? Aren’t we fellow student council members?”

"My friend, you entered the student council because of your status. No one dared to put themselves forward, except the noble children, who weren't interested. Do you think you're capable enough to befriend me? One more thing, get your filthy hands off the leaf boy?"

Trion finally walked away with his sister. Fiore immediately took Lazuro's hand and sat on the ground.

"Please let me rest." Lazuro's face looked tired.

"What do you mean, leaf boy? You were so great last night, and now you're letting yourself be bullied?" Fiore gently hit Lazuro's arm.

"Forget it. Anyway, why are you second-years here?" Lazuro asked curiously.

"So you don't know. I almost forgot you're a first-year leaf boy. You'll find out soon enough."

Not long after, Djuana arrived, wearing a t-shirt, and started jogging with the students. Just like the first time she took the exam, Lazuro only lasted four laps before collapsing. After resting for a few minutes, Lazuro forced himself to run again. However, he ultimately fell in the second lap, while his teammates were exhausted by the twentieth.

"Morning exercise is the best. My original goal was to have you complete fifty laps. But… because there are first-years, I'll give you a little leniency. Come to the training room after you've rested for ten minutes."

Everyone sat down exhausted except for Lazuro, who lay limp, looking as if near death. Staring at the sky, Lazuro tried to catch his breath. The bright blue sky was suddenly replaced by Fiore, her cheeks puffed out.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I never thought you'd be so useless, you leaf boy. What was that all about? You're already exhausted after just a few rounds?"

"You think too highly of me, Princess Fiore," Lazuro said, breathing raggedly.

"Yes, you think too highly of her," Julian interrupted. "A loser like her doesn't deserve your attention."

"Shut up, Julian! You'll see what this girl is capable of later."

After the ten-minute break was over, the students flocked to the training hall. The Mythbreaker students were already lined up, and Djuana was already standing in the arena. "Alright, the hunt will begin in two months, and you can't do it alone. That's why I want to see how you all work together. This training will be useful when you form a party for the hunt. Okay, the first names are Lazuro, Julian, and Selene. You three, go up to the arena."

Lazuro gaped in disbelief at having to go up to the arena with two people who hated him. Reluctantly, Lazuro took his cursed staff and climbed into the arena.

"I never thought I'd be on the same team as two losers," Julian spat.

"Shut up, Julian! Even if what you say is true, I don't like you either. I'll kill you if you're just a burden," Selene said, pointing her V-shield in front of her.

Julian took a mythbreaker from his hip, which piqued Lazuro's interest. Julian's mythbreakers were two pistols with a pointed katana design.

"Aren't those pistols?"

"I commend you, loser, for knowing the name of this thing. This is the Maven family's greatest invention, and I'm the first to try it." Julian bit his left thumb and smeared it on the gun he was holding.

Lazuro took out his mythbreaker, bit his thumb, and prepared himself.

"You brought a stick. Do you want to play?" Julian asked in a high-pitched voice.

“Really, are you looking down on us? As I thought, a commoner is just a commoner. You should be ashamed for befriending a flamebreaker heir.”

“Enough, you two! The thing that kid brought is indeed a mythbreaker,” Djuana said.

“What!” Selene and Julian shouted.

Selene and Julian were amazed to see the transformation in Lazuro’s mythbreaker. Even the students who had been muttering now fell silent, as this was the first time a plant-type mythbreaker had been seen.

“Are you going to continue staring like that or continue this class?” Djuana asked.

Septhi drew her sword from her shield and readied herself after making a blood pledge. Julian also prepared himself after smearing blood on one of his pistols.

“Okay, I’ll be your tank. You two have to find your own opening!” Selene ordered.

“Don’t order me around, you jerk.” Julian spun his pistol around.

“This is bad; this is like an RPG.” Lazuro looked intrigued.

Selene lunged at Djuana. Djuana lowered her body slightly.

“Wind Claw!”

A slash of air flew toward Selene. Despite attempting to block it with her shield, Selene was still knocked back. Lazuro swallowed, realizing that Djuana had now used her mythbreaker. Selene charged toward Djuana again. At that moment, Lazuro could see Julian also move behind Selene, then appear from the side and fire two energy bullets from his pistol. Djuana appeared relaxed, blocking Julian's energy pistol with her mythbreaker claws, which resembled saber-tooth fangs.

"Don't just stand there, you loser. Hurry and help us!"

Lazuro moved beside Djuana, preparing to attack by drawing his sword back. Selene also lunged forward with her shield. Djuana took advantage of Selene and Lazuro and leaped into the air, causing Lazuro's sword to clash with Selene's shield.

"This is why I hate ordinary people," Selene grumbled.

Djuana landed gracefully on the ground. Julian saw his opportunity and fired five energy bullets from his pistol. Djuana weaved, spinning, and blocked Julian's attack with her mythbreaker.

"Shouldn't you guys be better than this?" Djuana tried to provoke.

"Don't underestimate me. Full cartridge, gun style, lighthead barrage."

Electricity radiated from Julian's body, making his uniform vibrate. In an instant, Julian moved incredibly fast from the side of the arena, firing a barrage of electric bullets. Djuana simply smiled as she watched dozens of electric bullets shoot at her.

"This is insane; how could anyone survive an attack like that?" Julian asked.

Djuana jumped up and did a spin. As soon as her feet were in the air, she created a foothold out of the wind that immediately sent her flying. She spun again and slammed her feet into the ground. Upon landing, a shockwave was created, sending Lazuro, Selene, and Julian out of the arena.

"Okay, you lose. Now let's start with the next name."

Lazuro sat down, frustrated at his quick defeat. Seeing Lazuro's upset face, Fiore finally walked away from the second-year line and sat next to him.

"Your gaze is much better now, leaf boy," Fiore whispered.

"What do you mean?" Lazuro asked sharply.

"The first time you fought Mrs. Djuana, I saw you lacked any resolve. Now, I can see you're deeply upset at being defeated. With your passion and skill, you'll surely succeed in your first hunt." Fiore smiled, melting the hearts of all the students watching her.