I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

Now, a duel between 3 freshmen who had completed the first week of regular education physical fitness test, and 30 student guidance squad leaders selected from the best of the second-year students.

Unlike what the freshmen thought, this absurd duel quickly spread and became an open secret known to students, instructors, and staff alike.

Though no one spoke of it openly, everyone whispered about them as they passed by.

Those gazes contained both hostility and sympathy, but the predominant look was one of interest.

“There’s no way those outstanding entrance exam performers would have accepted such a duel without thinking.”

“Right. They must have something they believe in.”

“W-will the general students’ initiation ceremony also disappear if the outstanding students’ initiation disappears?”

Because the content was so absurd, reactions were divided and emotions heated up. Logically, without some hidden advantage, no one would propose or accept such an unreasonable duel.

Additionally, since the harsh treatment disguised as an initiation ceremony didn’t apply only to academic high-achievers, everyone had sufficient reason to be invested.

Naturally, this duel formed a competitive structure between those for and those against the initiation ceremony.

Thanks to this, students everywhere were only talking about the initiation ceremony.

“It’s strange. I thought everyone would be against it, but it seems almost half and half.”

“It’s probably a difference in perspective. Some people think, ‘Why should we get rid of it when after enduring it just once, I can do it to new freshmen next time?'”

“That’s not wrong, but… I still don’t think it’s good. Why should I be hurt? Why should I hurt others?”

Lunara groaned after hearing Erich’s answer and then shook her head. Since this issue wasn’t easily resolved even in the kingdom’s military units, Erich didn’t give a clear answer and just smiled bitterly.

“What do you think? We started this because we oppose the initiation, but public opinion is about evenly split.”

Erich threw this topic to Kiina, who was quietly eating the ice cream he had bought.

“If this was a matter to be decided by such petty public opinion, I wouldn’t have started it in the first place. There’s no guarantee that the choice of the majority is the right answer.”

Kiina’s response was cynical as usual. She didn’t mind others’ opinions. If she truly believed something was necessary, she spoke without hesitation and took action.

“But people might dislike you.”

“There’s no need to be loved by everyone.”

The final words were the perfect finishing touch. Erich stuck out his tongue and stopped probing Kiina. Her enormous ego, impossible to hide, revealed its presence without needing to be tested.

“Are you really okay for tomorrow?”

“That’s what I should be asking. Is it really possible? Fifteen people?”

He tried to change the subject with another question, but Kiina, putting down her spoon, countered. Normally he would have laughed it off, but Erich flinched and was left speechless.

* * *

‘I’ll manage somehow, but I don’t need to see that uneasy sight.’

Late at night. Though all the lights were out, I was sitting quietly on my dormitory bed, not sleeping.

I was checking the mana I had increased in my body through one of the secret techniques that doesn’t exist in this world—a breathing method—and also checking the pathways I had established in my heart and blood vessels using another non-existent technique—the blood vessel method.

This was the final preparation for the duel that would begin tomorrow morning. Though it’s a duel where I need to control my strength to avoid killing opponents, it’s still combat. No matter how trivial, combat requires giving your best.

That was the experience engraved in my soul from directly witnessing countless people die due to momentary carelessness.

[Protagonist’s Heart Index: Lunara (30%), Deina (5%), Kiina (65%), Karin (0%)

Reader Evaluation Index: Lunara (50%), Deina (0%), Kiina (50%), Karin (0%)]

Checking the status window briefly, I noticed changes in the heroine scores.

Since I separated from Erich and Lunara while they trained together, both my protagonist heart index and reader evaluation index decreased slightly.

‘Even though I want to ignore it.’

In the end, my clear mind was disturbed and I bit my lip. I wanted to cleanly ignore this, questioning why I should play along with such nonsense, but being human, that was impossible.

I still hadn’t decided what to do with these scores.

‘I’d better just sleep.’

Before the important event tomorrow, I decided it was best to sleep rather than letting my mind become more confused.

Lying on the soft bed, neatly covered with a soft blanket, I fell asleep and woke up again the next morning at my usual time.

“Actually, I didn’t expect much, but if anyone here has been spreading rumors about this duel, you should be ashamed. Such loose lips.”

The weekend, when one could enjoy free time more leisurely than on weekdays. On this golden weekend, when we went to find our seniors, Eric, who could be considered the leader of the second-year students, appeared before us.

Eric was scolding his peers. It was because of the widely spread rumors. He seemed to think that so many people showing interest damaged the authority and achievement of the duel.

“You’ve all arrived. Preparations will be done soon. Warm up.”

Soon he noticed us and grinned. The numerous students standing in front of him were the second-year student guidance squad leaders we would face today.

‘They’re already on guard.’

Their gazes, which they didn’t particularly try to hide, were quite sharp. Well, the duel was unilaterally decided by us, Eric, and the influential Raines.

The 30 second-year squad leaders who received the notification would now have to lynch us three in succession, so their pride must be hurt a lot, very much so.

Because of this, they would undoubtedly want to crush at least the three of us harshly and completely.

“Go and wait. It won’t be long.”

Noticing the atmosphere, Eric soothed his peers and pushed them into the waiting room on the opposite side. We three also headed to the waiting room in front of the dueling arena.

“They’ve built it well.”

During this process, I quietly admired the dueling arena. It resembled a colosseum. The arena in the center, about half the size of a training field, was completely isolated from the outside, protected by double and triple protective spells.

Surrounding it were spectator seats of varying heights. Currently, they were empty since this was officially a private duel, but this structure was natural in a world that viewed duels as a kind of qualification or sport.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen that expression from you. How can you smile in a situation like this?”

Having noticed my appearance, Lunara opened her mouth, looking at me with eyes that said I was amazing. Her uniquely pure eyes made me chuckle.

“I like this place and its system. A place where you can prove your qualification by your strength alone and take all the glory and honor. It’s a place that embodies the principles of the world, so I can’t dislike it.”

“The principles of the world? Dueling?”

“The struggle and competition for survival. It intensifies in a chaotic world. Human society, for its maintenance, can embrace the weak when there’s abundance, but when chaos deepens, the weak find it hard to be cared for, and the strong naturally monopolize everything.”

I told her what I had realized from observing and experiencing. Though there are genre differences, this world’s fundamentals didn’t seem much different from the world I first possessed.

Looking at the petite Lunara, who was like a cute younger sister, these words flowed more easily than expected.

“At the same time, chaos creates far more opportunities than order. If what you desire is up there, chaos is rather an opportunity. With strength, you can easily obtain things that would be impossible under order.”

“Is the preparation done? Number 1! Come out!”

Just as I finished speaking, I heard a voice calling me from the opposite side.

“Good luck.”

Hearing Erich and Lunara’s encouragement, I picked up the spear from the rack and climbed onto the dueling arena. Both of them, even Erich who must have experienced even worse situations, couldn’t hide their tension, their bodies stiff.

My first opponent was an unnamed female student holding a sword.

“Second-year Arisa. I don’t need your introduction, arrogant freshman.”

“…”

Full of anger, she raised her sword and was just waiting for the starting signal. Having been suddenly cursed at and feeling no value in responding, I too silently raised my spear.

“Haaah!”

And right after, as soon as the starting signal sounded, Arisa charged at me with fierce momentum.

Was it the effect of her clouded judgment due to emotions, or was her ability originally this poor? Her posture and timing were extremely terrible.

‘Controlling my strength is more annoying in this case.’

For a moment, the fatal openings visible to my eyes were so numerous that I actually hesitated about where to strike to subdue her.