Chapter 131— A Quiet Rivalry

Chapter 125 — A Quiet Rivalry

The melody had barely faded when the audience hall erupted into conversation.

Kael remained seated at the piano for a moment, his fingers still resting lightly against the keys. The applause had caught him off guard. He hadn’t expected anyone to react that strongly.

In his previous life, playing the piano had been something he did alone.

It was never something he had performed for an audience.

Yet here he was, surrounded by hundreds of students who were staring at him as though he had just revealed an entirely different side of himself.

Kael slowly withdrew his hands from the piano.

"That was a beautiful piece, Kael Draven."

He looked up.

Sylvia Crest stood a few steps away from him, wearing the formal attire of the Student Council. Her expression carried the same composed smile she always seemed to wear, but there was genuine curiosity behind her eyes.

Kael stood.

"I thought only Sylvia could play music this beautifully, but you’re really surprising me."

Kael blinked.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Sylvia laughed softly.

"Of course."

Kael glanced at the piano.

"I’ve never played that particular piece here before."

"I gathered that."

Sylvia looked toward the instrument.

"You said earlier that this was your first time playing it?"

"First time playing this piano."

"That’s even more impressive."

Kael scratched the back of his head.

"I just got carried away."

A few students nearby were still whispering.

"I thought Kael only knew how to fight."

"Apparently not."

"First he becomes the top-ranked student, then he plays the piano like that?"

"Is there anything that guy can’t do?"

Kael heard them and immediately frowned.

"Please stop making me sound impressive. It’s embarrassing."

Sylvia covered a small smile with her hand.

"You really don’t like attention, do you?"

"Not particularly."

"That’s strange for someone who became the top-ranked student of the first year."

"That was an accident."

Several students immediately turned toward him.

Kael noticed their expressions.

"...A very complicated accident."

Sylvia laughed again.

Before she could say anything else, a familiar voice came from behind them.

"You’re attracting quite a crowd."

Kael turned.

Zion stood several meters away, dressed in a formal black suit. His hair was neatly arranged, though his expression remained as indifferent as ever.

Kael stared at him.

"You’re alive."

Zion raised an eyebrow.

"What exactly were you expecting?"

"You weren’t at the party earlier."

"I was training."

"Of course you were."

Kael sighed.

"Do you ever stop?"

"No."

"That’s unfortunate."

Zion walked closer, his gaze moving toward the piano.

"You played?"

"Apparently."

"You’ve never played before."

"Apparently."

Zion stared at him for a moment.

"You’ve been doing strange things lately."

"That’s rich coming from you."

Zion ignored the comment.

Sylvia smiled as she observed the brothers.

"You two seem quite close."

Kael and Zion looked at each other.

"No."

"Not particularly."

They answered simultaneously.

Sylvia’s smile widened.

"Interesting."

Kael immediately pointed at Zion.

"He copies me."

"I don’t."

"He does."

"I don’t."

"The training bands?"

Zion’s expression changed slightly.

Kael grinned.

"Got you."

Zion’s eyes narrowed.

"You noticed?"

"Of course I noticed."

Kael leaned closer.

"You’re using weighted bands."

"I’ve always trained with them."

"Not those ones."

Zion remained silent.

Kael smiled knowingly.

"You’ve increased the weight."

Zion looked away.

"I needed to."

"Trying to catch up?"

"No."

"Trying to beat me?"

"No."

Kael’s grin became wider.

"You’re trying to beat me."

"I said no."

"You’re a terrible liar."

Before Zion could answer, another voice interrupted them.

"Is this really what the two strongest students of the first year are discussing?"

Both turned.

Auriella approached with a drink in her hand.

Her expression remained calm, though her eyes carried a faint trace of amusement.

Kael sighed.

"Why does everyone keep coming over here?"

"Because you’re attracting attention," Auriella replied.

"I was happier when nobody knew I existed."

"That was never going to happen after the tournament."

Auriella glanced at Zion.

"You weren’t at the party earlier."

"I was training."

"I figured."

Kael looked between them.

"You two are surprisingly similar."

Auriella raised an eyebrow.

"In what way?"

"You both have no idea how to enjoy yourselves."

Zion shrugged.

Auriella simply looked at him.

Kael sighed.

"See?"

Auriella took a small sip from her glass.

"I came because the Student Council requested the presence of the top-ranked students."

Kael’s expression changed.

"Requested?"

"Yes."

"That sounds suspicious."

"It’s a party, Kael."

"Exactly. Why would the Student Council care whether we’re here?"

Auriella looked toward Sylvia.

"Perhaps you should ask her."

Kael turned.

Sylvia’s smile remained unchanged.

"The Student Council organizes the party."

"I thought it was a student tradition."

"It is."

"Then why does it sound like you’re taking credit?"

Sylvia laughed.

"We’re only maintaining the tradition."

"That’s what people who take credit say."

Sylvia shook her head.

"You really are difficult."

"Thank you."

"I wasn’t complimenting you."

"I’ll accept it anyway."

The atmosphere around them was relaxed, but Kael noticed something.

The Student Council members were beginning to gather on one side of the hall.

Across from them, members of the Disciplinary Committee had also started appearing.

Cairo entered first.

Behind him were Lynx, the two beast-kin twins, and Charlotte.

Charlotte immediately spotted Kael.

Her expression changed.

She crossed the hall.

"You."

Kael pointed at himself.

"Me?"

"Where have you been?"

"Enjoying the party."

"While I was doing your paperwork."

"That’s unfortunate."

Charlotte’s eye twitched.

"You are unbelievable."

Kael smiled.

"I know."

Cairo approached more calmly.

"Kael."

"Cairo."

"You’ve met the Student Council president?"

"Just now."

Sylvia stepped forward.

"Cairo."

"Sylvia."

The two exchanged polite smiles.

Their conversation was civil.

Almost too civil.

Kael looked between them.

"You two don’t like each other."

Both turned toward him.

"We have no issue with each other," Sylvia said.

"None whatsoever," Cairo added.

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"That sounded suspiciously rehearsed."

Charlotte sighed.

"Please don’t start something."

"I’m not starting anything."

"You usually do."

Cairo glanced toward Charlotte.

"And you’re Charlotte?"

Charlotte straightened.

"Yes."

"You’re Lynx’s protégé?"

"Yes."

"Then welcome officially to the committee."

"Thank you."

Lynx stood behind Cairo, looking half-asleep.

He gave Charlotte a lazy nod.

"Don’t make too much noise."

Charlotte blinked.

"That’s your advice?"

"Yes."

She stared at him.

"You’re strange."

"So I’ve been told."

One of the beast-kin twins laughed.

"He’s always like that."

The other nodded.

"Sometimes worse."

Kael looked between them.

"I still haven’t learned which one is which."

"We told you our names."

"You did?"

They stared at him.

Kael smiled awkwardly.

"I forgot."

Charlotte covered her face.

Cairo sighed.

Sylvia, however, seemed amused.

The Student Council and Disciplinary Committee members gradually began occupying opposite sides of the hall.

It wasn’t hostile.

Not yet.

But there was an unmistakable difference in the way they watched each other.

Kael noticed it.

"So this is a thing?"

Charlotte looked at him.

"What?"

"The rivalry."

"There isn’t one."

Cairo and Sylvia answered at almost exactly the same time.

Kael stared at them.

"Right."

Zion stepped beside him.

"There probably is."

Kael looked at him.

"You think so?"

"The Student Council represents the academy’s leadership."

Zion glanced toward Cairo.

"The Disciplinary Committee represents its authority."

Cairo heard him.

"Not a bad observation."

Sylvia smiled.

"And neither organization has anything to prove to the other."

Kael looked at both sides.

"That sounds exactly like something two organizations competing with each other would say."

Auriella quietly nodded.

"I agree."

Sylvia looked at Auriella.

"You’ve been spending too much time around Kael."

"I’ve noticed."

Kael placed a hand over his chest.

"That’s hurtful."

Charlotte rolled her eyes.

"You’ll survive."

For several minutes, the two groups simply continued talking.

No arguments.

No challenges.

No threats.

Just small comments.

A subtle competition hidden beneath polite smiles.

Who had stronger members?

Who had greater influence?

Who would perform better during the Interhigh tournament?

Eventually, Zion’s gaze shifted toward the Student Council members.

"Have you accepted your position yet?"

Auriella looked at him.

"Yes."

Zion nodded.

"I haven’t."

Kael glanced at him.

"Still considering the offers?"

"Yes."

Sylvia stepped closer.

"We would be glad to have you."

Zion looked at her.

"I’ll consider it."

Kael smiled.

"That’s probably the closest thing to a yes you’ll get from him."

Zion ignored him.

Auriella looked at Kael.

"And you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you joining the Student Council?"

Kael laughed.

"Absolutely not."

Sylvia smiled.

"I expected that answer."

"I’d rather work with Cairo."

Cairo raised an eyebrow.

"That’s quite the endorsement."

"Don’t get excited."

Charlotte laughed.

For the first time that evening, the tension between the two organizations seemed to loosen.

Kael looked around the hall.

Students were dancing.

Others were eating.

Some were arguing over games.

The dwarves were still arm wrestling.

A few third-years were telling stories about their dungeon missions.

It was strangely peaceful.

Kael smiled.

For a moment, he forgot about the game.

Forgot about the Velvet Gang.

Forgot about the Demon King candidates.

Forgot about the future waiting for him.

He was simply another student at the academy.

Then Sylvia’s voice reached him.

"Kael."

He turned.

"Yes?"

"Would you play another piece?"

Kael stared at the piano.

Then at the crowd.

He slowly shook his head.

"Not tonight."

Sylvia smiled.

"Perhaps another time."

"Perhaps."

Across the hall, Charlotte noticed someone watching them from the entrance.

Her expression changed slightly.

Cairo noticed.

"Something wrong?"

Charlotte shook her head.

"No."

She looked again.

The person had already disappeared into the crowd.

Charlotte frowned.

"Nothing."

Kael didn’t notice.

He was too busy arguing with Zion about whether weighted training bands were actually necessary during a party.

And for the moment, that was enough.

The semester was ending.

The next one would be different.

Everyone could feel it.

The Interhigh tournament was approaching.

The Velvet Gang was moving.

The Student Council was gathering its pieces.

The Disciplinary Committee was doing the same.

And somewhere beyond the academy’s walls, forces Kael had yet to encounter were beginning to move.

But tonight—

Nobody cared.

Tonight was simply a celebration.