Reincarnated with an SSS-rank Tamer System: My Harem of Villainesses-Chapter 43 – Mini Tournament (Part 2)

Adam was sitting beside Evelyne in the stands now that Piers had gone down for his match.

Adam had hoped his friend’s fight would be scheduled for the following day, but apparently the draw had not been so generous. Third round, against the original protagonist of this damned world.

Adam watched as his training partner made his way toward the battlefield, trying to appear confident, though he couldn’t completely hide his nervousness.

On the other hand, the silence between him and Evelyne was uncomfortable, as it had been all day. She still refused to look at him directly, keeping her gaze fixed ahead with that serious expression that made it clear she was still upset.

Adam decided to try.

He turned slightly toward her and opened his mouth to speak. "Eve—"

"What do you want?" she cut in sharply without even looking at him.

Adam swallowed, feeling the tension between them become almost tangible. It took him a second to steady himself before responding more calmly. "Uh... I wanted to talk about the trip. When you helped me after the ambush."

Evelyne finally turned her head slightly toward him, though her expression remained neutral. "And?"

"I wanted to pay you back for your help during those days," Adam explained as he took out the pouch of coins Dorian had given him. "I know you spent money on the clothes, the inn, all of that. It’s only fair."

There was a silence that stretched on for several seconds before Evelyne replied in a softer, yet still distant tone. "Do whatever you want."

Then she muttered something under her breath, though Adam heard it clearly. "I told you it was better to have a favor from you than the money."

Adam was about to respond to that when Headmistress Acelina’s voice interrupted any further conversation.

"Third match: Piers Hawke versus Ansel Stone."

The murmur in the stands immediately grew at the announcement. Everyone knew who Ansel Stone was: the commoner who had somehow managed to enter the most prestigious academy in the kingdom. His mere presence had been a topic of conversation for days.

Adam watched as Piers was already on the battlefield, holding his sword with both hands in a guard Adam had taught him during their training sessions.

Ansel appeared from the other side of the coliseum, walking calmly and confidently. His red eyes showed his determination. He didn’t seem nervous at all, despite being a commoner surrounded by nobles who looked at him with disdain.

"Begin," the headmistress ordered.

What followed was... painful to watch.

Piers immediately lunged forward, trying to apply the same strategy they had practiced.

Ansel simply moved to the side with almost insulting ease, dodging the attack without even raising his sword.

Piers tried again, this time with a horizontal slash aimed at Ansel’s torso.

But Ansel blocked the strike with a minimal movement of his own weapon, using only the necessary force to deflect the attack before counterattacking with a blow that Piers barely managed to block by raising his sword in time.

The impact forced Piers to stumble back several steps, his arms visibly trembling from the strength of the counter.

’Damn,’ Adam thought as he watched. ’The difference in level is too great.’

Piers was trying, he truly was. He used everything Adam had taught him: changes in direction to avoid being predictable, feints before attacking.

But Ansel read it all.

Every movement Piers made was anticipated with an ease that was almost frustrating. When he attacked high, Ansel was already lowering his guard to block without hurry. When he attempted a low sweep, the other simply jumped back, as if he knew exactly what was coming.

It wasn’t just skill.

’He has real combat experience,’ Adam acknowledged with some bitterness. ’Not just training. He’s fought for his life before.’ He thought with a hint of disbelief; that hadn’t appeared in the novel either...

The fight continued, but it became increasingly obvious that it wasn’t truly a match. It was an exhibition.

Ansel wasn’t attacking with his full strength. He wasn’t trying to end the fight quickly. He was simply... playing with Piers like a cat with a mouse. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He blocked attacks with minimal movements. He dodged with small steps that barely took him away from the edge of Piers’s blade. He counterattacked with strikes that connected, but were clearly restrained so as not to cause real damage.

It was humiliating.

"Poor Piers," Evelyne murmured; her earlier annoyance temporarily forgotten as she watched the fight with a compassionate expression.

Adam let out a short chuckle under his breath. "He’s doing well."

Evelyne glanced at him incredulously. "Well? He’s being humiliated down there."

"He’s applying everything I taught him without panicking," Adam replied, still watching. "That’s already better than I expected against someone like Ansel."

On the battlefield, Piers attempted one last desperate combination: a high feint, a low slash, and then spinning to attack from the side.

Ansel blocked the feint without moving, dodged the low slash with a step back, and when Piers turned for the third strike, he found Ansel’s sword already pressed against his neck.

There was no final blow. No unnecessary violence.

Just the tip of a sword lightly touching Piers’s throat with the precision of someone who knew exactly where and how to strike.

"Yield," Ansel said in a calm but firm voice.

Piers froze for several seconds, his breathing ragged as he processed that he had lost. Finally, he lowered his sword with a defeated expression.

"I yield."

The headmistress immediately raised her hand. "Winner: Ansel Stone."

The applause was... mixed. Some students clapped, genuinely impressed by the display of skill. Others remained silent, clearly irritated that a commoner had so easily defeated a noble.

Adam watched as Piers left the field with slumped shoulders and a downcast expression. The boy had given everything he had, and it still hadn’t been enough.

’Welcome to the real world,’ Adam thought with a trace of empathy. ’Effort isn’t always enough against natural talent and experience.’

Ansel, on the other hand, simply nodded toward where the headmistress stood before leaving the field with the same calm he had entered with. There was no arrogance in his posture, no mockery. Just... an acceptance that this had been the inevitable outcome.

’He’s changed...’ Adam thought as he watched Ansel disappear through the coliseum doors. ’He won without even trying too hard. I wonder what happened to make him become... this strong.’

Evelyne sighed softly beside him. "Do you think Piers will be okay?"

"He’ll be fine," Adam replied as he leaned back against his seat. "He’s stronger than he thinks. He just needs time to process the defeat."

There was a brief silence between them before Evelyne finally spoke again in a softer tone than before. "Do you really think he did well?"

Adam nodded without hesitation. "Yes. He didn’t win, but he didn’t give up early or panic when he realized he was losing. That counts for something."

Evelyne looked at him for a moment longer before turning her attention back to the battlefield, where they were already preparing to announce the next match.

They said nothing more after that, but Adam noticed that the tension between them had lessened slightly.

Maybe they weren’t okay yet, but at least it was a start.