I'll guide the Villainess's happiness

Vol. 1 Chapter-10

Choice.

As we arrived in the academy's practice grounds, Teacher Loupe stood in front of the class as he always does.

"Okay! Today we'll be practicing your teamwork with your groups!" Teacher Loupe says in his usual over energetic tone.

Ahhh, it's "that" huh. The first time around, no one could beat this challenge.

"I should probably explain what we're going to be doing now." as he said that, Teacher Loupe drew a circle with a stick on the grass, enclosing himself in a small space.

"So, each group gets five minutes. You could attack anyway you want, the objective is to simply get me to take a step outside of my circle." he says pointing to the small circle underneath him. It was so small that he barely had room to move in it.

"Ah! Before I forget, I won't be attacking I'll only be defending and countering your attacks, but attacks of my own won't be made." he says with a smile.

"Now! That explanation was easy enough, yes? Which group wants to go first!?" Teacher Loupe says excitedly, but was met with a dull crowd.

In the other students minds it's basically "Fight the strongest person in the kingdom."

Out of all the groups, Lady Catherine proudly raised her hand. Last time around, she was also the one to raise her hand.

Teacher Loupe gave a quick nod and did a hand motion, as if saying "The stage is yours."

"Whenever you're ready." Teacher Loupe says. Although his hands were behind his back, there was no crack in his armour to be found.

Giving a quick look at Lady Catherine, her face was very serious tackling a challenge like this head on, I wanted to make a joke but it was clearly not the time.

Slightly turning her head, Lady Catherine looked at us and said...

"I won't forgive anyone who drags me down." and with that, Lady Catherine snaped her fingers and seven spears of flame appeared right behind her.

In the last test, she couldn't use her strengths properly, because it was only power measurements. But Lady Catherine's true strength relies on her quick and continuous attacks.

"I, Catherine Bellerose, shall take this challenge wholeheartedly!" she announces to Teacher Loupe, in which he only responded with a nod.

"Burn!" Lady Catherine's spears all launched at high speeds, but was quickly countered by Teacher Loupe. Teacher Loupe summoned spears made out of water that extinguished Lady Catherine's spears.

Paying it no mind, Lady Catherine summoned more spears and continued attacking.

Laura, Prince Leon, and Sophia were all frozen in place just watching Lady Catherine and Teacher Loupe.

"If you guys aren't going to move, then I will!" I dashed in towards Teacher Loupe and summoned my Katana.

I aimed for Teacher Loupe's eyes, but that was quickly countered as expected. Tsk, I'm still too slow...

Shrouding myself in wind magic, I blurred my image. Because of the fog that was being created from Lady Catherine's onslaught being countered I'm camouflaged well. Teacher Loupe raised an eyebrow and smiled.

I also enhanced my whole body with wind magic to boost my speed up. I aimed for Teacher Loupe's eyes, shoulders, legs, body. But was being countered easily.

Finally snapping out of it, our kingdom's first magic user finally made her move. Pft, or should I say the only move she knows?

"Light of the world, heed my call! Spear of judgement!" a spear of light was formed and is now heading towards Teacher Loupe from his other side that wasn't being attacked. The spear moved at a speed where to current me wouldn't even be able to dodge, nonetheless, Teacher Loupe blocked the spear of light with an earth wall spell.

"This isn't going to work..." I thought to myself as Teacher Loupe was deflecting and dodging my attacks easily. The gap is this big... You wouldn't even think of me being the past kingdom's number one. The techniques that I used back then are so sloppy now.

My breathing was getting ragged, and my mana was getting depleted. Looks like I can't even use magic to boost myself for a few minutes.

"!?"

All of a sudden, my knees buckled, and the magic coating me faded off as I fell to the ground.

Teacher Loupe noticed, but didn't do anything because first and for most this is a challenge.

Damn, no, no, no, not now! My injuries from my visit at the dungeon are taking its toll on me!

"Light of the world! Heed my call! Spear of judgement!" Sophia, this time, summons two spears of light. One not brighter than the other.

The spears launched at a blinding speed, but Teacher Loupe simply deflected the spears with his bare hands, making them ricochet.

One spear was heading for Lady Catherine, and the other was heading for Sophia.

A weakness for Lady Catherine is... Her defense is not the best.

"Lady Catherine!!!!!" Before I noticed it, I was off the ground, running towards Lady Catherine.

One moment I was at Teacher Loupe's feet, the other I was racing against light itself.

Right before the spear hit Lady Catherine, I managed to jump in and push her out of the way.

"Kyahhh!?"

The stray spear of light that was about to hit Lady Catherine was now heading straight for the crowd, but was stopped by a barrier that was made by Teacher Loupe.

A loud bang could be heard as it clashed with the barrier. Loud voices of surprise were heard before the spear collided with the barrier.

And the other spear hit Sophia, but she was fine because a barrier was also made by Teacher Loupe, protecting her.

"And that's time! That was enjoyable! Good job everyone!" Teacher Loupe clapped his hands.

"C-commoner! Just how long are you going to stay like this!?" Lady Catherine's sweet voice rang in my ears.

As I looked at the situation... Lady Catherine was underneath me, it looked like I was pushing her down. Her face was so close, her deep blue irises were right in front of me... I caught myself being captivated by the sight.

"I-I'm sorry, I'll be getting off now." I tried getting up but ended up falling again. Now, I was sitting down on the ground.

"Ah." I couldn't stand... My knees were too tired and sore.

"Sophia! Are you okay!?" Prince Leon ran up to Sophia as he held her hands to check for injuries.

We were fairly far away from them, the prince actually shouted out that loud to the point we could hear him.

"Eh... Prince Leon...?" Lady Catherine said in a weak voice, almost fading even.

Lady Catherine's face displayed not anger, but... Sadness. No, no, please, don't make that kind of face... I...

"Lad-" As I was going to call her name, Lady Catherine simply turned and walked away.

At first she was just walking, then she went faster and faster, till she started running...

Lady Catherine... Even now? Am I unable to do anything for you?

No! I promised myself! Call it self-satisfaction, but I will guide the happiness of the person I love.

As I gathered my resolve, using wind magic to support myself, I stood up, not minding the pain in my knees, and started to run after the blonde noble.