Conquering The Novel

"...I thought you were still going to act like you didn't know about my feelings toward you," Livia said abruptly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

It was about time for me to confront her feelings as there was no point in pretending dense anymore.

"Well, Livia, I-"

But before I could say anything more, I felt the weight of Rose and Meira's stares through the rearview mirror.

!?

"A-Ahem, though I told you to treat me as if I am invisible, I didn't really mean it. I am getting embarrassed and jealous at the same time seeing my students confessing to each other in front of me," Roselia interrupted, putting a stop to my words.

"Ugh, you ruined the moment, Miss Roselia! I thought he was finally going to come clean about what he thinks of me," Livia exclaimed, turning her attention to the passing scenery outside the car window.

Despite the motion of the car, she watched the passing cars with a hint of disappointment, but deep down she felt relieved that Ares didn't respond. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if her confession would have been reciprocated.

'What if I had told him I love him? Would he have said it back?' she mused to herself.

As she knew that Ares was a catch and that many other girls in their special class were attracted to him. In fact, she could easily name more than half of the girls who had feelings for him, including that silly potato elf princess.

Livia didn't even want to think about the girls from other classes and outside the academy who might also be vying for Ares' attention, including his ex-fiancée Silvia.

It was only natural for everyone to like him, after all. Ares had everything a woman could want in a man - he was handsome, smart, strong, and rich.

Sometimes, Livia wished that Ares wasn't the way he is. If he were just a little less perfect, maybe not everyone would have fallen for him and she would have had a better chance to win his heart. But alas, Ares was too perfect, and Livia couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy and resignation.

Despite her confidence in her beauty, Livia couldn't help but feel insecure about Ares' feelings towards her. She knew that he had encountered many other women who were just as beautiful, if not more so than she was. In addition, she felt like she had nothing special to offer him. While she was among the strongest young combatants, she was aware that Ares had already surpassed her in strength.

Livia realized that if she were to confess her feelings to him now, he would likely reject her and possibly even put her in the friend zone. She didn't want to risk ruining their current dynamic, so she would rather not hear what Ares felt about her at all.

Livia's eyes glowed with determination as she thought, 'Until I'm confident that I'm worthy of you and can claim you only for myself, let's just stay as we currently are, Ares.'

She was willing to let Ares be with other girls for the time being, as long as she could become strong enough to win him back eventually. She knew that with enough hard work and determination, she could prove herself to be the only one who truly deserved Ares's heart.

"S-So, are you guys confident about winning the tournament?" Rose asked, Breaking the awkward silence.

!!

Livia snapped out of her thoughts and responded nonchalantly, "...I don't even see the point of this stupid tournament. Between Ares and me, we could beat every student into mashed potatoes." She yawned and rested her head on Ares's shoulder.

"Huh?" Rose turned to face Ares and Livia. "D-Don't tell me you guys didn't read the tournament rules and information?"

!?

"What information?" Ares and Livia asked in unison.

Although Ares had read about the tournament rules in the novel, he wondered if they had changed.

"...."

"Didn't you guys check your DMs?" Rose asked incredulously.

"DMs? I get thousands of those. Which DM are you talking about?" Ares asked.

"Same here. And I'm not really interested in chatting with anyone except Ares," Livia stated.

"I sent the details of the tournament in our class group as well as personally DM'ed every student individually. You two, don't tell me you left it unread," Rose inquired in an annoyed tone, staring at Ares and Livia.

Ares and Livia averted their gazes, feeling guilty for not checking their messages.

"Wow, the sky is red. It looks like a painting," Livia said suddenly, trying to change the topic.

Ares, understanding what Livia was trying to do, quickly chimed in, "Yeah, it's beautiful, right?"

Both Ares and Livia admired the red sky, ignoring Rose's frustrated stare.

"...."

Sigh—

"Alright, it's good that we can still catch up. Let me summarize the tournament instructions for you both," Rose said with a sigh of relief.

Ares and Livia turned their attention to Rose as she explained the rules.

"The tournament will take place in the VR world," Rose began.

—All fighters must wear a special VR suit, which will be provided to them before the tournament. The suit will track their movements and provide an immersive experience to the fighters.

—Every student's strength and mana will be adjusted equally, so it will be a fair competition.

—The content of each match will be chosen randomly, so you won't know what you're up against until the day of the tournament.

—Any use of forbidden techniques, spells, or items will result in immediate disqualification from the tournament.

—Also, there are restrictions on how many matches a single student can take part in, to avoid overexertion and ensure that everyone gets a fair chance.

...

...

—The winning academy will be determined by a points system, with points awarded for winning matches and performing well in each match.

She paused for a moment before continuing, "Oh, and one more thing. The winner of the tournament will receive a special prize, which will be announced at the end of the tournament."

As Ares listened to Rose, he realized that the instructions differed from what he had read in the novel. While there was a mention of the tournament taking place in the VR world, there was no mention of all students starting on equal footing, with their strength and mana levels adjusted accordingly.

"So It is reminiscent of a video game, where every player begins at Level 1 with the same stats," He muttered.

'However, despite the initial equalization, some students would inevitably rise above the rest due to their natural talent and experience. This would create a significant gap between those who knew how to wield their powers effectively and those who did not.

Ultimately, it would be the individuals who understood how to utilize their strengths to their fullest potential that would emerge victorious.' Ares mused to himself.

!?

Livia furrowed her brow as she glanced over the instructions on her phone.

"What's the point of adjusting everyone's strength and mana?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "Won't the person who knows how to control their powers properly always come out on top anyway?"

Ares was surprised to hear Livia's question as it was similar to what he was thinking.

Rose smiled, sensing Livia's confusion. "I understand your concern, But the reason they're adjusting everyone's strength and mana levels is to create a level playing field. In this way, every student starts with the same basic abilities, regardless of their natural talent or prior experience," she replied in a soothing tone.

"...But won't talent and experience still make a difference?" she asked, her voice now tinged with curiosity.

"Of course, they will," Rose replied, chuckling softly. "But by equalizing everyone's initial strengths, they're giving all students a fair chance to learn and grow. And it's not just about individual abilities. It's also about how well students can work together as a team and make the most of the resources available to them."

Livia nodded in understanding. "That makes sense," she murmured, her mind racing with new possibilities. "But what if some students still have an advantage due to access to better equipment?"

"That's a valid concern, Livia," she replied, her voice now tinged with empathy. "That's why we're committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to resources. We want to create an environment where every student can succeed based on their own merits, not just because of external factors beyond their control."

"I see," she whispered, "So it's not just about winning, but about personal growth and development as well?"

"Exactly!" Rose exclaimed, "Ultimately, success is not just about winning or coming out on top. It's about learning, growing, and pursuing your passions in a way that's meaningful to you.

And that's something that every student can achieve, regardless of their starting point or natural abilities."

"...."

As Ares overheard Livia and Rose's conversation, he couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief.

While he could appreciate some of the sentiment behind Rose's words, he knew all too well that real life didn't always work that way.

'There is no such thing as a level playing field in real life,' he thought bitterly.

Some people had more advantages than others, whether it was due to their natural abilities, their family connections, or just plain luck.

He watched as Livia nodded along eagerly, seemingly taken in by Rose's message of hope and possibility.

Ares couldn't help but feel sorry for her naivety and innocence.

"...She had yet to experience the harsh realities of the world, the disappointment and heartbreak that came with trying your hardest and still falling short," he whispered as he leaned back in his seat.

***