Eating before the fourth round began, he was already on his tenth plate. After yesterday's fight, he had gone straight to get healed and then immediately ran to his room to analyze Lira's battle. He hadn't even had time to talk to anyone.
'Since Liang was unconscious, I just sent a thank-you letter for the fight.'
[Of course, you have to thank him because, thanks to that intense battle and circular breathing, your percentage increased by another percent.]
'I hope it's the same today.'
His match today would be one of the last in the morning, so he had more time to eat than yesterday and even managed to ask about some of the dishes they made in Vesparello.
'I wonder if the girls will like it?'
[You're going to make some food for them?]
'Yes, Yumeha already knows, but I want to see everyone's reactions when they eat... it's going to be so cute.'
[I want your food too.]
'Well, too bad, this food is for people with a special relationship with me.'
From one point of view, the system and Enrico had a special relationship like that of a boss who made his subordinate's life miserable just because he enjoyed watching his suffering—and that's exactly how the system began to describe it, as if it were the best thing that had ever happened to Enrico.
[…as your boss who cares so much about seeing his subordinate suffer, I'll repeat: if it weren't for us, you'd be dead, so I deserve rewards.]
'You eat my food almost every time I cook, that's more than enough of a reward.'
[You... you'll see, I won't give you any rewards in the next arc.]
As if that were possible. Apparently, the ones who gave rewards were the constellations—unless the system multiplied the food when he cooked for it… now that he thought about it, maybe that really did happen. Better not to risk getting on their bad side for now.
'How about this—I'll make an even better feast for you later.'
[Really?]
'Yes, it'll be the best food I've ever made in this world.'
[In that case, I take back what I said about the reward. You're lucky.]
Standing up, he took all the dishes to the cafeteria lady, who was surprised to see that the ten plates she had seen on the table had somehow turned into thirty. She clutched her chest at the thought of all the washing she'd have to do, but to her surprise again, Enrico began washing them himself—something he had started doing back in the Astrong Academy cafeteria whenever he ate there.
"Is he an angel or something?"
Seeing what a good person he was, she quickly looked at him with determined eyes, wanting to help the boy who hadn't made her job harder on his first day.
"You don't need to do that, kid, it's my job."
"I always do this. I like seeing the dishes I ate from clean, ready to be used again."
'He really is an angel.'
In truth, that was something from his past life as Saul. He had once worked doing exactly that and carried the habit with him. For him, it was satisfying to eat his food and then see the plates clean afterward. He just hadn't done it before because he had been too focused on improving his body's potential.
[What a good girl, please don't corrupt her.]
'Why do you talk as if I'm going to corrupt everyone?'
[Because you will.]
After finishing, Enrico said goodbye to the girl and left—it was time to go to the arena. All the matches from Group F, except his and Lira's, had already happened. In the broadcast, Liang raised an arm; there were still some signs of yesterday's battle, but he was fine and had managed to win his match against Sakura, who had managed to deal good damage to him but still lost.
'That girl seems to be evolving with every fight… Maybe I could give her a few tips.'
[Tsk, already thinking of corrupting another girl.]
'You're never going to stop, are you?'
Arriving at the arena, Enrico saw Lira standing with her arms crossed, eyes closed, waiting. Before stepping into the arena, Enrico took one last look at the Group F rankings.
Group F
First place: Lira Xuefeng — 27 points
Second place: Enrico Solcren Ferreira — 23 points
Third place: Liang Xuanwu — 16 points
Fourth place: Nicholas — 7 points
Fifth place: Sakura Himari — 2 points
Sixth place: Franchesco Giovanni — 0 points
If he managed to beat her, even with difficulty, he would take first place. But if he lost, there was a chance he could drop to third if something happened in tomorrow's battles and Liang won his.
Climbing into the arena, Enrico began stretching as everything around them transformed into a small city with destroyed houses. The guard, who was the referee this time, raised his hand.
"If you're ready, you may begin."
Immediately, several wind slashes surrounded Enrico from all directions. With a single finger, Lira pointed at him, and all those slashes increased in speed, hitting the area and spreading destruction through the streets of that false city.
'That must be her clone-swapping magic.'
When the smoke cleared, Enrico was nowhere to be seen, surprising the spectators, as it seemed faster than his battle with Liang. But while they were astonished, Lira was already looking behind her, seeing Enrico attempting a surprise attack.
'He must have sent his clone behind me the moment the fight started.'
Before Enrico could land a hit, a wind barrier around her pushed him away with great force. Landing and rolling to the side, he narrowly dodged a wind slash that erupted from the ground.
'Damn, breaking through that magic will be tough.'
The spell that protected Lira was called Protective Wind, which acted as an automatic defense whenever she was in danger—or when she activated it herself. In truth, that attack hadn't even been dangerous; she just wanted to show the difference between them to see Enrico's reaction.
'Looks like that crazy woman really has her eyes on me.'
"Mana Vessels... activate Fire Ring... Circular Breathing... and Arcane Collision."
Assuming a concentrated punching stance, Enrico stomped the ground with force, filling his hand with condensed mana. Not wanting to give her more time than necessary, he released the attack directly upward at Lira.
'Charged Flame Impact!'
The street in front of him was destroyed by his attack, and Lira's eyes opened slightly at the power of it.
"Spiritual Ki Magic — Slaying Art of the Celestial King!"
An aura emerged from Lira's body, taking the form of a warrior woman. Seeing the attack, the aura woman raised her right hand and made a downward slash, splitting the attack apart.
"Looks like I made you use one of your best spells."
Seeing that she had to use her second-best magic, her lips almost formed a slightly crazed smile, but she forced herself to stay calm, placing a hand on her face.
'Calm down, that's still not enough, Lira.'
Between her fingers, she looked at Enrico with a strange glimmer starting to form in her eyes.