The first match of the next day was Freya Holy Academy versus Agate Knights Academy.
Annan had barely settled into the stands when several guards came and took him away.
Vice Dean Boris, who had been talking with a noble beside him, turned to find Annan gone and anxiously asked what had happened.
"Taken away again," Alice said, unconcerned.
Meanwhile, Annan arrived at the room from yesterday and found the same two officials from the Ceremonial Affairs Department.
"Jenny!" Annan put on a show of surprise.
"You should call me Ms. Jenny." The female official deliberately pulled a stern face, though her eyes crinkled with amusement.
"Ahem..." The male official reminded them that this was no banquet. "Annan, we told you yesterday—"
"I haven't even competed yet!" Annan interrupted.
"Let me remind you about your Cloak..."
"My Cloak doesn't affect the fairness of the matches!"
"But you turned a highly anticipated competition into a plaything for money!"
"You're scaring poor Mr. Annan." Jenny chided her colleague for being too stern. "You should know we're not the ones giving you trouble. It's our superior..."
"All right..."
Annan, who did not even have a fief yet, could not afford to cross an important figure in the Imperial Capital. He complied—mainly because the Gem Star Jewelry Store and Steve's Magic Shop had already paid him in full.
Downcast, Annan lost all interest in talking, leaving Janice feeling as though she had done something wrong...
"I'll keep an eye on him. You go tell the Minister."
"Why me?"
"Could you bring yourself to scold Annan?"
Jenny reached the Legendary Magic Barrier and entered the protected seating area after the Royal Guard checked her.
With her eyes slightly lowered, she glanced across the seats. Fewer than half were occupied, but compared with yesterday, there were