Chapter 415: She Couldn't Walk Any Farther!
His consciousness gradually faded.
The referee's voice seemed to echo beside his ears, but it was too faint and distant for him to understand.
Shinomiya Amane and Nameless Glory had been defeated.
'So this power… could be overcome so easily.'
'Heh. Ouma was right. Luke really is terrifying.'
Amane lay on the ground. Even though Luke's sword had only struck his illusion form, he was still about to lose consciousness.
Even now, he found it difficult to believe that the power he had always considered invincible could not withstand a single strike.
Luke had remained completely unharmed from beginning to end and had barely used any of his true strength.
'Was my entire life taken from me… by something this insignificant?'
...
After the match ended, Luke left the arena immediately.
Only one match remained after his. Once that concluded, the entire second round would be finished.
By then, it would also be around lunchtime.
Luke did not reunite with Stella and the others. Instead, he chose to find somewhere to eat alone.
He also needed to bring food back for a certain exhausted Valkyrie who was still resting in her room, which would be difficult to explain to everyone else.
Edelweiss was a wanted criminal and directly connected to Akatsuki Academy, which had caused all this trouble.
Explaining her presence would be extremely troublesome and would probably create an even larger commotion.
So Luke decided to remain discreet.
However…
"I avoided Ikki and the others, only to be followed by a stalker."
"I am not a stalker. Please refer to me as an artist."
The person Luke eventually caught following him was none other than Sara Bloodlily.
"After everything that happened last night, you still haven't given up?"
"...I-It doesn't matter. A little shame is a small price to pay for art. I-I'd even offer my body as payment if it meant you'd..."
"If Edelweiss heard you say that, she'd probably cut you down… No, she'd likely cut me down too."
"Edelweiss-sama would certainly be difficult to handle, but countermeasures aren't impossible."
"…You're seriously thinking of a strategy?!"
Luke became helpless when he saw Sara walking beside him with her head lowered in serious thought.
After hesitating, he decided it would be better to interrupt her.
Whether her plan could succeed or not, it would undoubtedly cause trouble if she actually devised one.
"Why can't you paint me in normal clothes? If you only need an ordinary portrait, I wouldn't mind posing once."
"No, the theme is a religious painting about the Savior, so I can't have you wearing clothes."
"A religious painting…"
Luke raised an eyebrow.
He had little experience with religion and no particular interest in it, so he could not offer much judgment.
Still…
"Edelweiss told me Mario Rosso was an artist with an extremely broad range of styles."
"You've worked with portraits, landscapes, realism, abstraction, religion, and many other subjects."
"Why are you so determined to use me as your model?"
Mario Rosso was the professional name Sara used as a painter and artist—essentially her pen name or stage name.
That name was extraordinarily famous. Even if it was not known in every household, it was not far from that level.
Despite arriving in this world only recently, even Luke had heard of it.
Without Edelweiss confirming Sara's identity, he would have struggled to believe that a globally renowned artist was a member of Rebellion.
Sara was among the finest painters in the world, and one of her works could sell for nearly a billion dollars.
She was also famous for being reclusive and eccentric, never revealing her true appearance.
That trait certainly suited a member of Rebellion.
The organization probably handled the sale of all her paintings. Luke wondered whether her artwork was also one of Rebellion's sources of funding.
Sara remained silent for a moment before answering quietly.
"I must complete this painting, no matter what."
"My father devoted his entire life to it, yet he still failed to complete his depiction of the Messiah saving the world."
"Your assistance is essential if I'm going to finish it."
"You should understand, shouldn't you?"
"On your path toward greater strength, you're always pursuing the summit and striving for a higher realm."
"This painting is just as important to me."
"I refuse to compromise or settle for something merely acceptable."
"I want to devote everything I have and use the finest, most perfect elements to complete it."
"And you are the most perfect model I discovered after searching the entire world."
Sara did not speak loudly, nor did her tone fluctuate much.
However, the determination and will contained in her words could not be underestimated.
Sensing that pure resolve, Luke could no longer bring himself to discourage her.
He had always possessed a certain fondness for people who pursued something with such sincerity.
Still, if she wanted him to become her model…
"Discuss it with Edelweiss. If she has no objections, then I won't say anything more."
The instant Luke finished speaking, Sara abruptly stopped walking.
"…You aren't planning to find Edelweiss and ask her right now, are you?"
Luke was now completely helpless.
He stared at Sara, momentarily unsure what he should even say.
Unexpectedly, Sara silently shook her head.
"If you aren't going to speak with Edelweiss, why did you stop?"
"…Have you finally reconsidered and decided to stop following me?"
Sara shook her head again.
Now Luke was confused.
He looked at Sara, then surveyed their surroundings. Even after thinking carefully, he could not find an answer.
So he asked curiously,
"Why did you stop?"
"I can't walk any farther."
"…"
"…"
"So you're simply tired and want to rest?"
"Yes."
Luke examined Sara carefully from head to toe, disbelief filling his eyes.
This was Akatsuki Academy's ace—the Sara whom Edelweiss had said might provide Luke with an interesting battle.
Yet she became exhausted after walking such a short distance?
Luke had never closely observed her before.
At a glance, he could tell she was not a Blazer who specialized in physical ability.
But now that he studied her carefully, he realized something was seriously wrong.
Saying she merely lacked physical strength was far too generous.
Sara's body was astonishingly weak. Forget comparing her to other Blazers—she was sickly even by the standards of an ordinary person.
…
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