Eva was immediately taken aback.
Meanwhile, Julia had already stepped onto the host's platform and was being interviewed by the host, Judy.
Judy lavished the highest praise upon her performance in the duel, but Julia remained unmoved.
As Judy continued asking questions, she merely gave formulaic answers. However, when Judy asked whether she was confident about the next duel, she inevitably hesitated.
Because she truly had no confidence.
"Yes."
After answering Judy's final question with a single word, Julia returned to the Duelist Platform and quickly began discussing matters with the other contestants.
Next came the post-match analysis, followed by strategy time.
The time available for discussion was neither much nor little, but for Elven Spell Academy, every minute and second had to be put to use.
Setting aside, for the moment, what changes Eva Hurst might undergo after gaining the favor of a "Heroic Soul."
The highest priority now was deciding who should be sent out for the upcoming sixth duel.
Of the six lower-year main-roster contestants, only the fifth-ranked "Mountain Elf," Johnny Gaskell, remained. Ordinarily, there should have been nothing to discuss.
But the Orcs of War Totem Academy had proven unexpectedly strong, and Julia strongly suspected that their remaining Orc contestant was their "best horse."
Yet Elven Spell Academy had only a "worst horse" left. If they sent their worst horse against the opponent's best horse, victory would be virtually impossible unless fortune stood entirely on Elven Spell Academy's side.
That minuscule chance was the reason for Julia's anxiety. "What do we do?" an elf asked instinctively.
Although "Mountain Elf" Johnny Gaskell was sitting right beside him, he remained silent.
All the pressure had now fallen upon him, and he truly could not bear it.
Among the lower-year main-roster contestants, his strength could only be considered