Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

"Begin!"

The fight between Amelie, Rank 31 of her class, and Liana, Rank 41 of her class begins at the signal of the referee.

Liana Astrea has a dual profession — Ice Mage and Ice Enhancer — which perfectly complements each other because the skills of the Ice Mage which specializes in Ice Attribute attacks can be further strengthened through the skills of the Ice Enhancer.

Ice Enhancer is a pure support-type profession — the complete opposite of Ice Mage — and its most remarkable skill is the ability to grant Ice Attribute to other people's weapons or skills, a bane for Dungeon Towers that has a fire environment which can only mean fire-type monsters inhabitants.

[Activating Skill: Ice Shield]

As Liana activated the skill, a bluish and whitish barrier resembling ice and snow enveloped her body.

[Activating Skill: Ice Mist]

And with the activation of the Ice Mist skill, a fog of snow seemed to appear from nothing as it became like a cloud started following Liana's body, overlapping the Ice Shield, forming another line of defense after line of defense.

It was the same skill that Rika, from Rumia's group in the Virtual War, Professor Murak's activity, had used.

[Activating Skill: Ice Enhance]

[Your skills has already in the realm of Ice Attribute]

[Your skills have not been granted Ice Attribute, but instead have been strengthened.]

The Ice Shield became thicker, and the Ice Mist seemed to proliferate that cannot be seen by the naked eye as the fog almost cover the entire arena which causes another myriad of reactions from the spectators.

...

[Activating Skill: Eye of Night]

[You have peeked into the Hidden Nature of the 'Target']

[The target's Hidden Nature: Emotionally Tired, Wanted to be Free.]

'What a poor soul.'

Russell — who just made a small gamble against Riya, one of the recruiters from the Starlight Guild — used his Eye-related skill that peeks into the nature of a person, and in this case, he used it to Amelie's opponent in the arena.

Although the visibility of the arena became less and less with the Ice Mist skill that even everyone basically has an eagle-like vision as eye diseases or deterioration doesn't exist anymore, and some of them couldn't still see through the fog of snow.

Seeing the intense support that Amelie's opponent was garnering, Russell vaguely guess about her predicament as such situations often happen in novels with young masters and whatnots.

'She's tired of people expecting something from her... And she must be the highest rank in her class.'

Students with Rank 41 to 480 were randomly thrown into different classes which means that even a Rank 42 wouldn't necessarily be in the A-2 class but rather in A-12.

After pondering a little, Russell wanted to do a favor for Liana as he began to communicate with Amelie who is standing in the arena.

<Amelie, beat her up badly.>

...

<Amelie, beat her up badly.>

Amelie was first confused by Russell's words that rang in her head. Although she did intend to win and protect her position to stay in the A-1 class in the first place, Russell's words were out of place and seemed like an unnecessary reminder.

The curious Amelie asked, dodging a long-range Ice Blast at the same time that Liana fired.

<Is something the matter?>

<She wanted to be free from expectations.>

With Russell's casual words, she vaguely understand Liana's predicament as she asked another question before considering her next course of action.

<Russell, what is the activation condition of our Nihility trait?>

<Hmm... when we use any Chaos-related skills.>

He answered with certainty as if he tested it countless times already.

<Okay, thank you.>

...

[Activating Skill: Shade Transformation]

[Your Nihility trait has completely concealed your surroundings.]

Amelie's pink hair and red eyes turned deep black. Her now deep black hair started to flutter while her deep black eyes seemed to resemble the deepness of a black hole. A black aura started emanating from her body, but with the help of Ice Mist which greatly reduced the spectators' visibility, as well as the concealment of the Nihility trait, she basically cannot be detected.

'I'm just following orders... No, I decided it for myself.'

Amelie was someone who was used to following orders, but when she began to be Russell's companion, she felt an exaggerated gladness because she could voice her opinions unlike when she was serving a certain person in the Thorn of Rose, Dark Tears drug business.

...

"Hey."

A solemn voice entered Liana's ears causing chills to suddenly ran down her spine. Without looking behind from where the voice came from, although this was only a Ranking of Exchange, she felt as though there was an illusory scythe hanging below her neck, ready to cull her head at any given moment.

Various questions surfaced in her mind such as: how did she get behind her almost instantly and what's with tremendous pressure she was exuding as if she wasn't human... But her opponent's next words within that few seconds that felt like an eternity caused her heart to beat faster, not because of fear, but as if her soul was breaking into pieces like fragments of broken glass.

"You want to lose, right?"

Amelie — who was standing behind Liana, pointing her Black Staff at her neck — asked, but her tone wasn't of pity, but rather slight admiration. Liana didn't answer her opponent's question which was a sign of giving up, cueing Amelie to do what was necessary at this moment.

...

A woman who wanted to be free from other people's expectations. The kind of reality that one could guess based on the bearing that the person in question shows in public and if the observer was used to experiential learning.

"What an admirable woman."

Bam-!

Amelie said solemnly as she smashed the Black Staff to Liana's shoulder, causing her body to be smacked to the ground with her face on the floor.

"Argh-!"

Liana's groan entered Amelie's sense of hearing, she then proceeds to kick her side, and smash her Black Staff repeatedly until the Ice Mist and Ice Shield that surrounds Liana gradually dissipated, revealing the view of what was supposed to be a foggy arena.

"W-what happened?"

"L-Liana's down..."

"Ha... Haha! I thought she was strong."

"Yeah, I thought so, too! I guess it's no use to s*ck up to her. Bah. Hahaha!"

"She's just rich, did her parents buy her Rank here or something? Haha!"

Amelie glanced for two seconds at the seats designated for A-2 students and saw some of them — both men and women — who cheered her in the beginning now had a looked of contempt towards Liana.

"Liana, right? You're now free from fake people. Be careful who you befriend. Live your life the way you want, F*ck everybody else."

Amelie seriously said, looking down at Liana's body slumping on the arena grounds, Amelie then saw Liana's lips curled up.

"Sleep well, dear."

Amelie deals the final blow, knocking her opponent out.

...

"Amelie wins!"

After a few seconds of confirming the situation, the referee announced the winner of the match with various reactions; cheering and contempt, as well as the desire to recruit or befriend Amelie blooms in everyone's hearts.

"Thank you for the money."

Russell casually said after he received the 50,000 Obel without looking back at Riya from the Starlight Guild whose expression was certainly painted with confusion about what just happened, her chatty demeanor gone as though it was swept by the wind.

"Let's go. She's waiting."

He looked at his younger sister whose lips slightly curled up which also meant 'Treat me later, Oppa'.

...

"Hey, Alex. Can you tell me what just happened?"

'Here she is again.'

Alex — the Guild Scouter assigned for appraising students' Status Windows for potential recruits — thought about Riya's usual behavior as he pondered for a moment before giving her an answer.

"You lose, that's all. Nothing more."

"Oi! Stop joking around! You said her opponent was a Battle Mage that specializes in close combat, and she is an Ice Mage, and also an Ice Enhancer at that. How the f*ck did she lose huh? You know my eyes didn't even see a thing! Do you know what the hell it implies!?"

'Stop nagging me, f*cking...!'

But on second thought, Riya was right that whatever just happened didn't make any sense because Riya has an Eye-related skill called Thermal Eye which allows her to check the body signatures of a person when activated. It was like an infrared vision that could pierce even a foggy environment that's why she was considered a great asset in the Starlight Guild when it comes to raiding a Dungeon Tower which nature is lowering one's visibility.

"I don't know okay? But what do you mean you didn't see a thing? Those participants are at E ranks, and you're an A+ rank. Are you saying those students have a skill that can block your vision? Check your head, you must be becoming crazy for losing that 50,000 on a kid."

Alex wasn't talkative when it comes to other people, but when it was with a guild co-worker, with whom he had been working for a long time, he then can voice his opinions.

Riya pondered a little at hearing Alex's words before answering in a dazed, her right thumb and index finger massaging her chin while her eyes darting around, trying to find the student who just won the Ranking of Exchange.

"Nothing... I saw nothing..."

...

"Let's grab lunch, my treat. Anyway, congrats Amelie, you know there are rewards when you managed to win, defend your Rank, and remain in the A-1 class."

Russell said casually, not too happy but definitely not feeling down about what happened in Amelie's fight just now with concern for Liana's situation.

"Oppa, you know I feel like we're in a dream, before Mom and Dad struggled so hard to make money just to make ends meet, but now you just gambled and won a fine sum. Whatever."

Freya sighed, seemingly lost in thoughts after she said what she felt about the whole ridiculous financial situation.

"Russell, was it alright?"

Amelie asked somewhat feeling gloomy as she walked beside Freya while looking down on the cafeteria floor where they arrived just now.

"It's fine, she will probably come back with her own two feet."

Russell said seriously as if an old man was speaking, but Amelie's next words made him feel embarrassed.

"No, no, not that, I'm talking if the way I beat her up was alright or was still lacking."

Russell's mouth was slightly agape, momentarily at a loss for words as he looked at Amelie who was scratching her head.

'Don't you feel sympathy!?'

He almost blurted out but restrained himself to do so because based on Amelie's performance and the look on her face before she beat up Liana, he knew that she was admiring Liana's resolve to change... just like herself just a few weeks ago who turned over a new leaf.

"The usual please, two servings."

Russell didn't respond to the ludicrous words that came out of Amelie's mouth instead he proceed to order the meals he and his younger sister usually eats. This action caused Amelie to feel more embarrassed as if she wanted to bury herself six feet under.

After a quick grab of their meals, they proceeded to watch the next match of the Ranking of Exchange, but this time, he was only with Freya because Amelie went somewhere else for some reason.

...

Room 02, Gaia Building

A man with blonde hair and deep blue eyes was sitting on a high-back chair with admirable, intricate designs. Standing beside him were two people; on his left was a woman whose hair and eyes were dyed crimson, and on his right was a man with short blonde hair and reddish eyes. In the front of the three, a woman genuflecting, not daring to look at what's in front of her.

After an unknown period of time, the man sitting on a high-back chair, Arthur Wolfson, the Student Council President spoke arrogantly with a grin on his face as if he caught a big fish.

"Welcome to the Weaver Faction, Amelie Rose Merveil."