a dumbass gets isekai'd: the novella

30. it's about drive it's about power

- i want to write a ghost marriage event chapter but idk what role yuu's gonna have in it, like them getting kidnapped could be a thing but i can't think of a good reason for that to happen 🥲 if u guys have any ideas pls share my brain is going bankrupt

Those stupid droplet noises were back. And Yuu thought they were free of them this time. Great, they were having another weird dream too.

It's dark. Where am I now?

"Enter, you pretty little princess." a voice demanded. Yuu saw a old woman with the torso of an octopus,
beckoning the redhead mermaid Yuu saw in their last dream. With a mix of fear and curiosity, the mermaid swam into the dark cave. Shriveled heads emerged from the bottom of the cave, making incoherent mumbles. The mermaid shivered and swam upwards to avoid them, trying not to look at the ghastly faces.

"You've come to see me because you have fallen in love with a human? It's a deal."

Two eels swam up to the octopus lady. They hovered around her as they observed the new client.

"I'll give you a potion that will turn you human for three days." The woman explained, petting her eels. "The prince must fall in love with you. There's just one more important thing to discuss, dear. Your payment."

She took out a glowing contract that illuminated the cave. It looked like a larger version of the contracts Azul had.

"What I want is that voice of yours. Now, sign your name on this contract!"

Girl don't do it, the odds seem very slim.

The mermaid took the pen, and while looking away from the glaring light, signed the contract with big letters.

...Ah.

Bubbles swirled around them as the contract glowed brighter.

"I will save your poor unfortunate soul!"

____________________________________

"Wakey wakey, it's time for school." Ruggie called, entering the room. Yuu opened their eyes to sunlight pouring through the balcony.

Grim stirred, mumbling incoherently. "Morning already? But it's only 6 A.M...."

"Savanaclaw does morning training for the Magift tournament. Since you're staying here, you guys are gonna have to do it too."

"Eh? Morning training?"

"We've been doing it after this year's tournament."

Yuu attempted to pull the covers over their head, but Ruggie pulled the blankets away. They glared at his smug expression.

"You're so noisy." Leona grumbled, about to fall back asleep. Ruggie marched over and snatched the covers off. He then proceeded to drag his dorm leader by the foot.

"Come on Leona! Don't go back to sleep too!"

Yuu lazily slid off of their bed and slunk to the bathroom to change. Today marked day one of the contract. They racked their brain with ideas as they smoothed out their unfolded gym clothes.

Three more days until the end of Azul's contract. This was gonna be a rollercoaster, they knew that for sure.

____________________________________

Jack looked up to see Ruggie and Leona approach the Magift stadium. He saw Yuu and Grim arrive right after.

"Oh, you guys are joining morning practice?"

Grim rubbed his eyes. "I wanted to sleep in, but Ruggie dragged me here..."

"Hey, since we're all here why don't we have a little game?" Ruggie side glanced at Yuu. "Let's make the first years work up a sweat."

Leona yawned and scratched behind his ears. "I'm gonna fall asleep just standing here. We should get started already."

____________________________________

Everyone worked up a pretty good sweat. Yuu flopped onto the ground, and Grim danced around them.

"Moving your body in the morning feels better than I thought!"

"Right? I wake up an hour earlier and go jogging by myself."

Grim blinked at Jack in surprise. "That's...that's overdoing it a bit, don't you think?"

"Geez, no wonder you're fast." Yuu said, sitting up and wiping their brow. "You were miles ahead of us during the game. So you guys are already training for the next tournament, huh?"

"Oh yeah, you don't know yet. Every May of every year, a tournament bigger than the intra-dorm tournament is held." Ruggie elaborated. 

"Wha!? There's an even bigger tournament?"

"It's an interschool competition." 

"Interschool competition?" Yuu parroted Leona. "So there's a bunch of schools competing?"

Ruggie nodded. "Yup. Just as the name suggests, it's a magical shift tournament held by multiple schools." 

"Our school competes with Royal Sword Academy every year."

"I think I've heard of that name before."

"There's multiple magic schools here in Twisted Wonderland, but among these schools Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy are prestigious enough to be considered 'the two powerhouses.'"

Grim nodded at Ruggie's words. "What kind of school is Royal Sword Academy?"

Leona snorted. "It's a school full of pompous, pampered little princes."

"Shishihshi, you took the words right out my mouth! Their school buildings and even uniforms are needlessly flashy. White uniforms stand out when they get dirty, y'know?"

"Is the building you're referring to the large white castle on the other side of the island? I saw it on a map the principal gave me. It's so bright compared to the rest of the place." said Yuu.

Leona sighed. "Yes, it's obnoxious to look at. You should see the uniforms too. Those things absolutely blind you in broad daylight. They better stay on that side of the fucking island." 

"I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those outfits." Ruggie cringed. "No matter how prestigious they are, I wouldn't go there even if they asked."

Jack, who hadn't talked much for the majority of the conversation, spoke up, as if to humble the two a little. "Hasn't Night Raven College lost to Royal Sword Academy in the interschool competition for 100 years straight?"

Their pride was indeed wounded a little more than they'd like to admit. 

"Wh-!? Hey, we've only lost 99 times! This is our hundredth year, and we'll definitely win this time!"

"From what I saw on TV, those guys from RSA played very well. Their team plays were executed perfectly."

"Savanaclaw won't be the only team playing right? Since it's an interschool game, will other dorms be involved?

"Yeah. Each dorm will have their representatives for the selection team. A lot of people fought over it last year so there was a huge ruckus before the match."

Grim pumped a fist in the air with great vigor. "That's how it should be done!  You gotta fight for your position, yanno! I promise ya I'm gonna get chosen for the selection team!"

Jack grinned. "I guess I'll have to start training to at least qualifying in the selection."

"The international competition is given more coverage and scouts, so it's a good opportunity to show off your skills."

"You all better think of ways to get chosen for the selection team."

"Wish you all luck." Yuu chuckled.

Royal Sword Academy...that's Che'nya's school isn't it? Guess I'll ask him more about RSA.

-MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THOSE WHO CELEBRATE!!