No More Pain For This Villain.

Chapter 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.

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.

"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.

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