He turned his gaze toward Althea.
She hadn't gotten far.
Wind flared under his boots—Arthur launched.
"Where do you think you're going, bunny?"
Althea turned just in ti to see him descending from above, like a predator diving on helpless prey.
He crashed into her with controlled force, knocking her down and pinning her under him, sword at her throat.
"I-I didn't think it'd be you..." she muttered, wincing beneath him, her cheeks slightly flushed from the surprise.
"You thought wrong."
"You won't kill ... right? We're 'friends' after all," she offered with an awkward smile, trying to appeal to his softer side.
Arthur chuckled, "Though it pains my heart to kill such a beauty... rules are rules."
Her eye twitched. "What? Don't look at like that," he added with a smirk. "It's not like I'm killing you for real. It's just a simulation."
He leaned in slightly, voice smooth. "Now don't make it hard… and don't make commit a sin. Why don't you just gently swipe your neck across this sword, hmm?"
Althea glared, puffing her cheeks in frustration. 'What does he take for? An idiot?'
"You dare humiliate a knight of the holy church?"
Her adrenaline surged, power awakening from deep within as she parried his blade and leapt back, eyes blazing with resolve.
Arthur gave her a tired look, "Sigh… you're so stubborn."
With a snap of his fingers, multiple fireballs shimred into existence around him. "Fine then," he said nonchalantly, "Let's see how well you dodge."
He hurled the first one casually. Althea barely ducked in ti, the searing orb grazing past her, singeing a lock of her hair. The second followed, and then another.
From an outside perspective, it looked more like Arthur was giving her a dodging lesson than trying to defeat her.
But each near miss left a visible toll. One blast caught her shoulder—burning through her sleeve. Another grazed her thigh, shredding her skirt halfway up. Fabric tore, smoke trailed, and scorched marks exposed long stretches of smooth, flushed skin underneath.
"W-Wait! Are you aiming for my clothes?!" Althea shouted, face red as she darted behind a tree, half her uniform in tatters. The remains barely clung to her body—her white undergarnts peeking through the shredded fabric, one strap having snapped, letting her chest bounce loosely beneath her scorched top.
Arthur tilted his head. "Oh? Didn't realize." He smirked, clearly enjoying the view. "But you're dodging so cutely, I might start aiming even lower."
"P-pervert!" she shrieked, hugging her chest as best she could with one arm, her other hand holding a half-burned sword.
"Co now," Arthur walked forward, fireballs dancing lazily around him. "You call yourself a knight, but look at you—red-faced, trembling, barely covered. What kind of holy warrior can't even handle a little heat?"
Althea growled through her teeth, struggling to maintain a stance while her thighs quivered, her uniform clinging in the worst places, wet with sweat and ash.
Arthur sighed, amused. "You really should have taken my advice and slit your neck on my sword. Would've saved you all this… exposure."
She glared, panting. "Just shut up and fight, bastard."
"Heh," Arthur raised his blade. "As you wish, Miss Holy Knight. But don't bla if your last remaining strap accidentally catches fire."
Althea gritted her teeth, swaying on her feet. Her sword trembled in her grasp, her breath shallow.
Arthur smirked, conjuring a massive fireball above his palm. "Co on now, don't drag this out. Let's end it on a bang." The orb of fire grew, pulsing with heat. "And hey—don't take it personally."
He hurled it toward her. Althea's eyes widened, but her limbs refused to move. She was spent.
'Shit... this is it—'
Just then, a radiant golden barrier snapped up around her. The fireball exploded against it with a thunderous crash, but Althea stood untouched inside.
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Tch…"
Standing a short distance away, hand still outstretched and glowing, was Eveline.
She didn't look pleased.
A radiant blast of light magic erupted toward Arthur. He leapt back, barely avoiding it as the ground he'd just stood on turned to scorched glass.
"Annoying," he muttered.
Althea coughed, barely staying upright, blinking in disbelief at the turn of events.
"You're too reckless," Eveline said, her tone calm but firm. "What did I say about fighting Arthur alone?"
"S-Sorry, Saintess..." Althea murmured, head bowed.
"Don't beat yourself up." Eveline's voice softened. "You're not weak. He's just too damn overpowered."
"Aw, stop. You'll make blush," Arthur called from across the clearing, waving mockingly.
Althea stepped forward, his gaze locked on Arthur. "We won't win if we take him head-on. Not alone."
Eveline nodded. "Exactly. From now on—we fight smart."
Althea limped over to Eveline, her armor scorched and torn, skin peeking through the gaps of her burned uniform. "I'm not exactly in fighting shape…"
"Leave that to ." Eveline pressed a hand on her back. A divine glow radiated outward, her magic surging.
Althea gasped, feeling her pain lt away. Bruises vanished. Her mana returned in waves. Even her uniform repaired itself—mostly. Though a few tears stubbornly remained in very inconvenient places.
"C-Couldn't the healing magic fix all of it?" Althea asked, tugging at the hem that barely covered her thigh.
"It's a miracle spell, not a tailor's kit," Eveline said flatly.
From across the field, Arthur let out an exaggerated sigh. "Are you two done with your little spa day?"
He vanished from view.
Wind blasted past.
A chill ran down their spines.
Then—his voice, smooth and cocky, echoed behind them.
"Because class is back in session."
A sharp crack echoed through the air as Arthur vanished from his spot.
Eveline's breath hitched.
'Fast—!'
Before she could react, a sudden gust of wind howled past her. Her instincts scread at her, but it was already too late—
CLANG!
Althea barely managed to block. Her great sword trembled as it t Arthur's sword, the impact forcing her to skid backward.
'Shit—!'
Light exploded beneath Eveline's feet as she launched herself forward, her body twisting mid-air. She conjured a jagged light spear in her hand and hurled it at Arthur's head.
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