The next morning, Nozomu arrived at the main room, rubbing his eyes. Hinen was right behind him, with Robert at his side, and both were yawning.
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When they sat down at Taisetsuna’s table, she asked, “Why are you guys so sleepy?”
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Nozomu grabbed Draiky by the head and sat him at the edge of the table. “Because of this guy. He kept us up all night. He was trying to choke Hinen in his sleep, and Robert and I had to grab him. When we fell asleep, thinking that he would be quiet, we woke up again to find Hinen screaming for help. Did you tell him to kill Hinen or what, Tresuria?”
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“No… This one didn’t do such a thing. But... maybe Draiky is still angry with Hinen because he was mocking Chuji and this one yesterday. He has a mind of his own, and sometimes he does things of his own accord. He is linked to this one, but he has a personality. Perhaps Hinen should be more careful with what he says. He might not wake up one day because of his big mouth.”
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Nozomu said, while still rubbing his eyes. “You heard that, Hinen? It was all your fault, moron! You need to learn how to shut up if you have nothing important to say. And even if you think you have, don’t!”
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As he was about to say something, Draiky grabbed a fork from the table and pointed at him, making Hinen close his mouth immediately.
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Nozomu took the fork and pointed it at Draiky’s half-opened mouth. “You be quiet! You don’t need to sleep, but I do! How the heck will I be awake during classes today?”
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Draiky tried to bite the fork, and Nozomu slapped his round head, almost losing his fingers from the next bite. “You are such a weird plant, Draiky!”
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Tresuria and Taisetsuna laughed, and then Chujitsuna arrived with a big smile on her face. “Good morning, Party members! How is everyone this fine morning?”
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They looked at her and jolted. She had her hair tied in a bun with two small metallic thin rods holding it in place. She was wearing a chest plate, metal gauntlets, a dark long shirt with her belt with buttons disguising poisoned daggers at her waist, and a round spiked ball attached to the tip of her tail.
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Taisetsuna asked, unable to stop staring at the spiked ball. “What the heck? You were still getting dressed when we left, but why are you like that?”
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“What else? I have a Dwarf to slay, that’s why. My metal ball is cute, right? It was a birthday present from my mother. It is a bit heavy, but I am used to it.”
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“But… You had nothing like that when we were in that cave with all those Goblins!”
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Chujitsuna winked. “Because at that time I wasn’t alone, and today I will be. I told you, I like to fool around and play a lot, but if I have to teach a lesson to someone, I can be pretty serious. That crazy lady won’t even know what hit her!”
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Taisetsuna was astonished. Chujitsuna always sounded like a crazy fool, but the way she was staring back at her so seriously was giving her the creeps.
…
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After breakfast, they all joined the Unicorns near the trees, and while Robert and Taisetsuna were giving them some Magic for them to eat, Mizukonta called for Nozomu to go to her.
He wondered what she wanted, but he still rushed to get near the wall of the Academy, in front of the open field.
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As soon as he got near her, she lowered her head and said, “I brought two bags full of gold for you, and I also talked with some Dragons on my way to my lair. There was not much damage from yesterday’s tremor, just some trees that fell and some people that got scared. The Dragons I talked to said they were going to have a look around and check things. It is better if you take care of the chocolates for us as fast as you can. Hinotsume is not worried, but I am. I have a bad feeling about these tremors.”
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“Do you think Raluth is going to arise soon?”
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“I don’t know, but the last time he did, I had this same feeling for days. It might be nothing, but it could be everything.”
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Nozomu sighed and said, “I was hoping I could have a peaceful life, but if Raluth surfaces, that won’t happen. I already sent a message about the chocolates, and I will have them soon. I hope your feeling doesn’t mean the chocolates will be needed, but I will be ready.”
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“I am sorry, Nozomu. I really wish you didn’t have to face such danger. Maybe these tremors are only Raluth’s moving in his sleep, and my feeling is just because I am afraid. Nevertheless, I will take care of our end and be sure the Dragons are ready. You do your part, and I will do mine. Hinotsume is trying not to get worried, but deep down, I know he is, especially because of what he did to your predecessor. If it comes to that, we will do our best to help you.”
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Nozomu caressed the big snout in front of him and sat on the ground next to her, and they both waited for the others in silence.
Taisetsuna noticed Nozomu hadn’t returned, and she called for Chujitsuna and the others to go to the open field and wait for Teacher Muse.
The rest of the students arrived, and they joined the Dragons near the wall of the Academy.
Chujitsuna went to the open field and waited while humming a tune. It didn’t take long for the Principal and the Teachers to arrive.
While the Principal waited near the Academy, Muse Sirel went to meet Chujitsuna with her frying pan in hand.
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She stopped five metres away and said, “I thought you were going to hide somewhere and not come here.”
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Chujitsuna answered while she leisurely took two poisoned daggers from her belt. “What? And waste all the time it took me this morning to get ready? But seriously, are you sure you want to use that as a weapon? You are at such a disadvantage that this fight will be ridiculous!”
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“Don’t think that your chest plate and that metallic ball scare me, kid. You can use as many poisoned daggers as you want, but you are no match for me.”
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“You know, you are the most stupid half-person I ever met. You really have no idea what I am capable of... “
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Muse Sirel clenched her teeth and asked, in a hoarse voice, “What… did you call me?”
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“You heard me, half-person, half-woman, half-Teacher. Shall I go on? Half-laugh, half-“
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Before the Principal even had time to tell them to get ready or to start, Muse Sirel ran straight at Chujitsuna with her frying pan in one hand and screaming in anger.
The grinning Snake-kind girl threw dagger after dagger in quick succession, but for as fast as she was throwing them, Muse was even faster at deflecting the daggers with her unorthodox weapon.
Dwarfs were outstanding fighters, despite their height. Their speed increased as they kept on fighting, but there was another thing that distinguished Dwarfs from other Races: when they got angry, they were faster and stronger. And Muse was pissed.
Chujitsuna kept on throwing, and Muse kept on running at her. Then, Chujitsuna tried to do a downward slash with her tail, and Muse jumped to the left, avoiding the metallic ball at the last second, but the power of the hit on the ground made her lose her balance for a split second, and Chujitsuna took that chance to throw her last dagger.
Even while trying not to fall, Muse deflected it, and by kicking the ground hard with her right foot, she jumped, aiming the frying pan at the surprised girl.
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Then, Chujitsuna mumbled, “Gotcha…”
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She stopped the frying pan with her left wrist, which was protected by the metallic gauntlet, and with lightning speed, she took one of the small metallic rods from her hair and hit the angry Muse Sirel several times in several places on her body at such a speed that Muse didn’t even notice that she got hit.
One powerful open palm on Muse’s chest pushed her away, and the still angry Teacher did a somersault back and landed on her feet.
Muse tried to run again, but her legs wouldn’t obey her. She blinked, wondering why her body was not responding, and she saw Chujitsuna smirking.
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She said, while rolling on her hand the small metallic rod that had a sharp edge, “I told you that you were no match for me. Insulting you, throwing my daggers, using my pretty spiked ball to disrupt your balance, all that was only a distraction. I knew you would go for a close hit. By the way, I learned how to fight Dwarfs with my uncle, a vicious Dwarf. Nighty, night, Teacher Muse!”
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Chujitsuna picked up all the scattered daggers that were all over the ground, put them in her belt, and slithered away, leaving on the ground the sleeping Dwarf woman. She went to Nozomu and received the bag with her earnings from the bet with Robert and her share of the side bet that Hinen made with the other students.
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She then went to the surprised Principal, and said, “May this serve as a warning to you and all your Teachers. Underestimating me or any other student is a terrible idea. I had my parents and my Dwarf uncle teaching me how to fight ever since I hatched from my egg so that I could be an Adventurer. I want to learn new styles and how to fight with different weapons, but holding grudges like Teacher Muse did, only because I defeated her and then tried to humiliate me in a fight, may very well end with one of you sleeping on the floor like she is right now.”
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Without waiting for a response, Chujitsuna returned to her friends, while the other students were congratulating her, and she remained serious and silent.
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The Principal rubbed his head and asked, in a low voice, “Now what? Is it my impression or has Muse lost the respect of the students?”
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Teacher Ruh de Mills answered with a slight smile, “I don’t think she did. They will probably think that she is easy to defeat and will probably get a nice wake-up call. Talking about waking up, she will be pissed about losing. It is probably better if you are the one that she sees first when she opens her eyes. Maybe you should also tell her to talk with Chujitsuna, at least for her to recognize that kid is a better fighter, or this will happen more often. I have met a lot of sneaky Snake-kind, but Chujitsuna wins by a long shot. She made it look like she was trying to hit Muse, but everything she did, the insults, the spike ball hitting the ground, the daggers she threw, was all a hoax to make Muse angry so that she got distracted. Her Dwarf uncle taught her well.”
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The Principal sighed and walked over to Teacher Muse, who was snoring on the ground. He took a vial of a Healing Potion from his pocket and made her drink it.
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When she blinked, he helped her seat and said, “See why I always tell you that you need to be calm at all times? You let a student make you angry, and you lost miserably. Don’t you look like that to me! This was all your fault! She won fair and square. Be a big girl and congratulate her on the fight.”
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“You must be joking! Do you expect me to congratulate her after she poisoned me for the third time?”
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“You either do that, or you will lose the students. They are young, but most of them have Adventurers in the family or know one. You lost, you congratulate your opponent, and you move on. Or you don’t do that, and you show them how not to be an honourable Adventurer.”
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Muse clenched her teeth and grumbled an answer. “Fine. She won both times, but I still don’t like losing! That stupid brat fooled me twice! How the heck did she do that? And she used that thing she had in her hair to poison me! How many hidden weapons does she have, anyway?”
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“That is something you can ask her. After apologizing for your crazy behaviour and recognizing her victory.”
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