Chapter 52 : you deserve a master like her

Isabella stood frozen for a moment as Yuna casually walked past her.

Her mind went completely blank.

’Wait... what is she doing here?’

This was not the first time Isabella had met Yuna Akatsuki.

She knew her very well.

After all, Yuna was a close friend of her mother, Ravina Crown.

Which meant Isabella had encountered her many times since childhood.

And every single time had been... memorable.

Just as Yuna passed her, Isabella finally managed to finish the thought stuck in her mind.

She turned toward Arthur.

Arthur, meanwhile, looked extremely pleased with himself, as if he had just taken the greatest photograph of his life and was admiring his own work.

Isabella pointed at Yuna and shouted loudly,

"Is she the one who’s going to train you?"

Arthur glanced at her and shrugged casually.

"Yes."

Then he tilted his head slightly.

"Why? Do you have a problem with her?"

Yuna slowly turned her head toward Isabella.

A mischievous smirk appeared on her lips.

"Yes, Bella," Yuna said calmly. "Do you have a problem with me?"

Isabella instinctively took a small step back.

A chill ran down her spine.

"Nope. No problem at all. Absolutely none."

Seeing this reaction, Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"It looks like you two know each other."

At that moment, Yuna suddenly burst out laughing.

"Oh yes," she said between laughs. "We know each other very well."

She casually wrapped one arm around Isabella’s shoulders.

Isabella immediately stiffened like a statue.

Yuna continued happily,

"This arrogant brat once came running up to me while I was visiting her house to talk about something with her mother."

Arthur leaned forward slightly, clearly interested.

Yuna continued,

"She challenged me to a duel."

Arthur blinked.

"Oh?"

Yuna nodded dramatically.

"Yes."

She mimicked Isabella’s confident voice.

"She kept bragging about how swordsmanship was superior to martial arts and hand-to-hand combat."

Arthur struggled to contain his laughter.

Yuna continued the story.

"At that time, she was a D-ranker."

"So I suppressed my strength down to D-rank as well and accepted her challenge."

Yuna shrugged.

"But even then, it still felt unfair."

"So I gave her an extra handicap."

Arthur’s grin widened.

"What kind of handicap?"

Yuna raised one finger.

"I fought with only one arm."

Then she raised another finger.

"And I didn’t even move from my spot."

Arthur’s smile grew wider.

"Tell me more."

Isabella immediately shot him a glare.

Arthur’s smile widened even further.

Yuna noticed the exchange and smirked.

She looked directly into Isabella’s eyes.

Isabella immediately flinched.

Yuna spoke slowly.

"Why don’t you tell him the rest?"

Isabella’s face stiffened.

She spoke quietly.

"She knocked me out..."

Her voice dropped even lower.

"...with a single flick of her finger before I could even land a hit."

For a moment—

Silence filled the room.

Then—

Arthur exploded into laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

He nearly fell to the floor laughing.

"Oh my God!"

He held his stomach.

"That sounds exactly like her!"

Arthur wiped tears from his eyes.

"What happened next?"

Yuna smiled mischievously.

"After losing that badly..."

"She asked me to teach her martial arts."

Arthur looked impressed.

"Oh?"

Yuna nodded.

"So I told her I would teach her..."

"...if she managed to survive two days of my training regime."

Isabella’s face turned red.

She quickly stepped forward.

"That’s enough."

She glared at Yuna.

"There is no need to tell him more."

Yuna tilted her head.

"What? The story was just starting to get fun."

Isabella spoke through clenched teeth.

"Please don’t tell him."

Arthur suddenly stood up dramatically.

"Preposterous!"

Both women turned to look at him.

Arthur placed a hand on his chest like a philosopher.

"How can you be afraid of the past that is holding you back?"

He pointed at Isabella.

"Tell me exactly what happened so you can move on!"

The next second—

BAM.

A punch landed directly in Arthur’s stomach.

All the air left his lungs instantly.

"GHHK—!"

Arthur bent forward, clutching his stomach.

"Not again..."

Isabella glared at him dangerously.

"If you ask what happened one more time..."

"I will make sure you will never be able to open that mouth of yours again."

Arthur slowly raised a weak hand.

"Duly noted... ma’am."

Yuna watched the two of them quietly for a moment.

A small smile appeared on her face as she crossed her arms.

"Alright, Arthur," she said calmly. "That’s enough playing around. It’s time to move."

Arthur stretched his shoulders lazily.

"Alright, let’s go."

But just as they were about to leave—

Isabella suddenly spoke.

"Wait."

Both of them turned to look at her.

She looked directly at Yuna.

"Are you really going to train him?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"He doesn’t have anything special."

"So why did you choose him?"

Yuna looked at her calmly.

Then she smirked.

"You haven’t seen anything yet, girl."

"My eyes don’t deceive me."

She glanced at Arthur.

"If I say he has talent... then he has talent."

Arthur immediately grinned.

"See?"

He placed a hand on his chest proudly.

"At least someone recognizes greatness when they see it."

Isabella’s mouth twitched.

’This idiot...’

She crossed her arms.

"You know what?"

"You deserve a master like her."

Arthur frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Isabella smiled mysteriously.

"You’ll find out soon enough."

A chill suddenly ran down Arthur’s spine.

’Why does that sound ominous...?’

A few minutes later—

The three of them exited the hotel and stepped outside.

The afternoon breeze brushed against them as people walked along the street.

Yuna turned toward Isabella.

"Are you coming too?"

Isabella reacted immediately.

"No way in hell."

She shook her head firmly.

"I’m never going back to that place again in my life."

"My only path is swordsmanship."

Arthur blinked.

"What place is she talking about?"

Yuna only smirked.

"You’ll find out soon enough."

Arthur felt another chill run down his spine.

’Why do I keep getting this bad feeling...?’

’Whatever. I’m sure it’s nothing serious.’

Yuna casually stretched.

"Wait here."

"I’ll bring the car."

With that, she walked away toward the parking area.

The moment she disappeared—

Isabella immediately turned toward Arthur.

Her expression became serious.

"Are you insane?!"

Arthur blinked.

"What?"

"Of all the people in the world, you had to choose her as your master?"

Arthur scratched his cheek.

"Yeah, yeah. I know she’s a little loose in the head."

He shrugged.

"But you have to admit..."

"She’s one of the strongest Awakeners alive."

Isabella sighed.

"Whatever."

She pointed a finger at him.

"Don’t call me for help when you’re dying from her training."

Arthur waved his hand casually.

"Relax."

"It won’t be that bad."

Isabella smirked.

"Yeah... that’s exactly what I thought too."

Arthur frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Isabella crossed her arms.

"I almost died several times while she was trying to train me."

Arthur’s eyes widened slightly.

"Seriously?"

Isabella nodded.

"If I hadn’t managed to contact Mala..."

"She would have continued."

"Mala literally had to drag me away."

As Isabella remembered those days—

Her body trembled slightly.

"I still get nightmares about it."

Arthur swallowed hard.

"Now you’re scaring me."

Isabella shrugged.

"Good."

"It will help you in the future."

Then her tone suddenly softened.

"The reason I came to meet you today..."

Arthur looked at her curiously.

"What reason?"

She looked away slightly.

"I was going to ask you to train with me."

"You seem to have some talent for swordsmanship too."

Arthur blinked.

"Really?"

"But forget it now," Isabella continued.

"Just answer one thing."

Arthur nodded.

"What is it?"

"In a few months... the entrance exam for Celestia Academy will take place."

"You know it’s the best academy in the world."

Arthur shrugged.

"So?"

Isabella twirled a strand of her platinum hair around her finger.

"I was thinking..."

"Maybe the two of us could take the exam together."

"After you finish your training."

Arthur thought for a moment.

"Well... I was planning to take the exam eventually anyway."

"The academy looks like a great place to learn new things."

"And compete with strong people."

Inside his mind he added quietly.

’Besides... most of the system users are likely inside that academy.’

’That place will be a treasure trove for someone like me.’

A bright smile appeared on Isabella’s face.

"Alright then."

"It’s settled."

"After both of us finish our training... we’ll meet again. It’s a promise."

She extended her hand.

Arthur shook it firmly.

"It’s a promise."

At that exact moment—

HONK!

A loud horn echoed from the street.

They both turned.

A sleek black Lamborghini stopped near the entrance of the hotel.

The window rolled down.

Yuna leaned out slightly.

"Arthur."

"Get inside."

Arthur turned back toward Isabella.

He grinned.

"Goodbye, Miss Golden Spoon."

A vein popped on Isabella’s forehead.

"Goodbye, Mr. Beggar."

She crossed her arms.

"Good luck breaking rocks."

Arthur’s eye twitched.

"What the hell does that mean...?"

But before he could ask—

Yuna honked again impatiently.

Arthur sighed and walked toward the car.

He got inside and sat beside Yuna.

Behind them—

Isabella waved.

"Goodbye!"

The Lamborghini engine roared softly.

Then the car drove away.

Inside the car, the ride remained surprisingly quiet.

Arthur didn’t ask many questions.

Yuna simply focused on driving.

Soon—

They arrived at the airport.

Arthur followed Yuna through a private terminal.

Then he suddenly stopped.

His eyes widened.

A sleek private jet was parked on the runway.

Arthur’s eyes gleamed.

"Wow..."

He pointed at it.

"Is that yours?"

Yuna smiled smugly.

"It certainly is."

Arthur whistled softly.

"So... where are we going?"

Yuna walked toward the jet.

"To a private island."

She glanced back at him.

"A place far away from everything."

Her smile widened slightly.

"Where you can focus only on your training."

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A/N:

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