The Mysterious Black Magician

Almina's win caused thunderous applause from all the audience. That fight has not been easy for her. This was everyone's notion based on what they saw. Although she eventually won, traces of a fight can be seen that can be described as a close fight. She also has less than half the points of life left inside her health bar.

Thanks to her unparalleled focus that can be noticed on her when she was in the fight. This was one of the things that Yman admires about Almina. Almina's concentration is high when she's in combat and she rarely makes beginner's mistake movements which almost all of them inevitably do. 

That's why most of the trainees admire her the most. There is no doubt that Almina's experience is high compared to everyone else. It was what most of the people around her thought of her. However, only Almina knew about it.

Although she was expressing a happy and satisfied expression on her face, deep inside she seemed not so satisfied with her result.

When Almina returned to the waiting area, "M-Miss Ice?!" Almina exclaimed in surprise.

"Hehe, good job for the win! That was a very challenging fight," Ice winked and sent a thumbs up. But Almina slightly frowned.

Ice, who noticed it, immediately threw herself to Almina. "Geez! Why do you look so unsatisfied even though it's your win!" Ice came to embrace her to cheer her which caused Almina to turn into a body pillow with a nonchalant face.

"Besides, you have all the right to celebrate for this win and reflect whatever shortcomings you think you have in that fight. Then, improve later!" As expected of the Ace, she could give radical advice like it was normal to her.

Kiko was having a gawking face on the side, seeing his crush being embraced by another beauty. In his eyes, Almina was exuding all the charm he was looking for in a person of the opposite gender. That's why he could not give up on her even though she rejected him already. 

Hah~

Almina sighed. The thing she was so downed about was that she felt the match wasn't so satisfying. She had no idea how the others felt about it, but Almina herself felt so lacking in her performance. She was way below compared to her brother in his time.

Regardless, Ice was right.

"Cheer up! Cheer up!" Ice continued while rubbing her face between Almina's bosoms! 

"Eh?!"

"....."

Almina turned like a statue. She knew Ice was just trying to improve her mood but isn't it too much?! Especially in the presence of other people! 

She believed so.

Regardless, she looked around her and failed to find the people her eyes wished to see. She saw Kiko giving his sweetest smile at her and said, "That was a good performance, Almina Amulet. I know you can win it," he said while showing off his white teeth.

"Mhm," Almina just slightly nodded her head and smiled slightly. She said, "Thanks."

She noticed Kiko wasn't so down even though she rejected his confession a while ago. Well, that's good because she didn't want to be bothered by it.

Almina frowned when she couldn't find Yman and Maena inside the waiting area. She was so looking forward to what they would be going to say about her match.

Perhaps Maena was still resting and Yman, where is he? Hmph! Almina pouted inwardly. Perhaps he didn't watch her match. At that moment, with Ice still clinging onto her, they heard some footsteps coming closer and closer.

Almina glanced in haste. She saw Yman approaching them. In his hands, she noticed canned bottles of drinks. Perhaps he went out to buy them at the nearest vending machine.

"It wasn't so much but it might be a good replenisher to recover from fatigue," he said as he tossed a bottle towards Almina. She easily brushed away the clinging academy's ace and caught the canned drink.

"What an incredible power of love!" Ice exclaimed under her breath. Though it seemed Almina and the rest did not hear her.

With a bright, happy face, she said, "Thanks!"

"Heh~ so my younger sister can smile like that just in the presence of a person," Ice sounded like she wanted to retort.

"Eh? W-what are you saying Big Sister Ice?!" Almina stammered embarrassingly and with a slight reddening face.

"?"

Yman approached Ice and handed her the other can bottle. "Thanks, Yman. So you are this thoughtful. No wonder Almina became even more infatuated with you. Hmm," He just smiled and nodded slightly at her.

"..."

Yman didn't know what Miss Ice was saying.

Tsk!

Kiko clicked his tongue upon seeing Yman scoring a point by giving a drink to the girls. Though, it wasn't Yman's attention, actually.

'Enjoy your remaining seconds in the city, bastard,' Kiko thought with narrowed, pissed eyes. No one knew what he was thinking at the moment. Well, since no one was paying attention to him.

Yman said, "Actually I went to check on her and saw a vending machine on my way back. I decided to grab some—" 

"You didn't have to explain, you know," Ice said as she moved closer to him.

"Eh! R-really?" Yman blinked his eyes in wonder. He wasn't actually explaining to them because he was guilty of something. He just wanted to tell them out of his own volition.

<I think she's right, partner.>

Sistela, who was just awoken from her hibernation, chimed in their conversation. She flew and landed on his shoulder.

"I see."

"Oh, good day, Miss Deity!" Ice greeted her.

<Yes, good day.>

Yman thought Sistela sounded like a granny. Regardless, he looked at the monitor. There were only four of them left, huh.

"By the way, Yman," he looked at Almina who said this. "You said you came to visit Maena, right?" She asked. Yman responded with a nod. "How is she? Will she be able to fight the next matches?"

"Yes, don't worry. She was just resting for a little."

"I see, thank god." Yman noticed Almina sighed in relief.

While they were conversing, the announcer Mora Liz was announcing the current stats of the competition.

"Now we're down to the last four contestants. These four are undoubtedly the greatest! The coming matches will surely shake heaven and earth when these four come up on stage in the race for the championship title…!"

Although it was an overstatement, no one denied that the remaining four were undoubtedly the strongest students in the Zone 7 academy.

From her words, the audiences threw their fist into the air as they shouted the names of their favored contestants.

"It looks like Miss Mora Liz really knows how to hype the crowd. No wonder she's very famous in that department," Bob commented in admiration.

"I never thought that Yman would be one of those four contestants."

"Right right! Me too," Bob agreed to Chloe.. Well, since at the beginning of the month Yman was deemed to be the weakest trainee.