ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 73 - Before The Fight

[LADIES AND GENTLEMEEEN! GATHER YOUR FRIENDS, GATHER YOUR FAMILY, HELL, GATHER THE PERSON STANDING NEXT TO YOU AND COME TO EVERGREEN PARK WHERE YOU WILL HAVE A FRONT ROW AT WITNESSING THE MIGHT OF OUR FUTURE LEADERS; KIANA AND MAXWELL, JR. DOROTHYYYY!!!]

"What the hell do those two idiots think they’re doing?!"

Emelie and Kurt were on their way to meet the Dorothy twins when they all of a sudden came across a lively announcer riding a horse and screaming along the street about their fight, which was about to happen at Evergreen Park.

"Hold on now, Emy. Don’t shoot the messenger. Poor guy’s just doing his job." Kurt held her back from storming off and attacking the announcer.

"Do you really want this to become a big deal–!"

[IN EXACTLY TEN MINUTES, THE DOROTHY TWINS WILL TAKE ON THE CRIMINAL WHO HAD ASSAULTED OUR PRINCE! AND THAT’S NOT ALL, THIS CRIMINAL HAS DECIDED TO TEAM UP WITH NONE OTHER THAN "THE BEST" THE ONE AND ONLYYYYY... EMELIE HEEEERRST!!!]

"... Emelie Herst is teaming up with a criminal?"

"... Why would she?"

"... I heard from my son at Future Academy that Princess Kiana and Emelie don’t particularly like each other..."

"... Who cares about the why! I just wanna see Emelie whoop some ass!"

"You know Emy," Kurt nudged her lightly, "You still haven’t told me what made you so famous towards all these people. There are people that faint when they hear your name and others that go absolutely crazy."

"There are people that faint? The fuck?"

"Well, I’m only exaggerating but it sure feels that way. Even the weapons store owner knew about you. Plus, if there’s a fan club that’s dedicated to you, I bet Dominik and Darwin are part of it."

"I don’t care about some ’fan club’ as long as people respect my privacy. As for why I’m so famous... it probably has something to do with the entrance exams." Emelie sighed and speed walked past the announcer without doing anything to him.

"Entrance exam? You mean for Future Academy?" Kurt caught up to her and asked.

"The very one. I don’t know if you know this, but during the exam, all first years are sent into a monster infested forest and are told to survive for one week. While all this is happening, we are each scored by a point system based on how many and what type of monsters we clear out."

"Hmm?" Kurt suddenly has a thought. "I remember Diana telling me something about this while we were stuck on that island. Guess she was talking about this exam, huh. So, you became famous during this exam?"

"Yes. Basically... I... I solo’d it." She frowned.

"Why the long look though?"

"Because that’s when..." Emelie bit her lip as she tried to get out her next words. "That’s the starting point of my regressions... Every time I fail and die, I’m brought right back to right when we’re about to enter that forest and start the exam.

It’s a blessing and a curse really. On one hand," She looked down and squeezed her right fist. "I realise that once again I couldn’t change a single thing."

"On the other hand," She looked at and squeezed her left fist. "I can use whatever I’ve learned during that cycle to not only become stronger, but also, take advantage of the exams given to me and do some much needed stress relieving."

She then unballed her fists and relaxed her shoulders as she calmed down a bit from thinking about the past. "Basically, I went into the forest, cleaned out the most monsters and took out some students who tried to get in my way. Including the Dorothy twins.

Because of whom they are, they were expected to easily come out on top. Even the king was watching which only invited even more of the press and journalists. Imagine to their surprise when an unknown student comes in and cleans house. Worst of all I came out unscathed."

"Daaamn. Quite the little disrupter you were to the chain of power." Kurt admired.

"That’s not all. After the exams, everybody at Future Academy wanted to see if my strength was real or not. This led to me beating them all down. From the 1st year students all the way to the 7th year students."

"If that’s what happened then I understand how you got your notoriety. But why didn’t you refuse those fights? I didn’t take you for the type who would involve herself in petty squabbles. Especially given your accumulated experience and knowledge."

"I gave up caring about those things long ago. Besides, they make for pretty good benchmarks. My strength resets with each regression so I use them to see how much quicker and stronger I’ve gotten during a new cycle."

They both took a right when finally, the entrance gate to Evergreen Park came into view.

"Whoa. I can already see people lining up just to get inside. Just how far did the news spread, I wonder?" Kurt squinted as he held his hand on his forehead to look ahead.

"Is that Amy I see?" Emelie jogged forward when she saw someone she recognised.

"Emy, hi!" Amy got out from behind a booth that read ’1 Silver entrance fee’. "You finally made it! That means the fight is about to begin soon, yeah?"

"Are you seriously monetising this clown show?!" She pinched Amy’s ear.

"Ow ow ow! It wasn’t my idea!"

"Then whose was it?!"

"President Amber! It was her idea! She’s right over there managing the betting booth!" Amy pointed beyond the gate where Amber was stationed at.

When the two of them saw each other, Amber waved at Emelie as if none of what was happening was a big deal.

"This is so ridiculous." She let go of Amy’s ear.

"Hi Amy." Kurt greeted.

"K-Kurt! It’s been so long! Nice to see you again. Y-You’re looking extra cool today~" She fiddled with her pink braids and tried to make herself look pretty.

"What are you doing?" Emelie looked at her with a straight face. "Do you still have feelings for him–"

"WAAAAH EMY! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!" She jumped and held her hands to cover Emelie’s mouth. "I-Ignore what she just said, Kurt. Ahaha..."

"I didn’t even hear what she said." Kurt acted clueless.

"That’s great! She’s always been soft spoken, so people often misinterpreted what she says, isn’t that right Emy?" Amy glared at her.

"Right..." Emelie freed herself. "C’mon Kurt. Let’s get this over with."

"W-Wait Emy! How’d you even get involved in this? What’s the real story behind this fight?"

"Sorry. That’s not my place to tell. As for how I’m involved. Let’s just say I was at the wrong place at the right time."

"She basically got dragged into my affairs." Kurt summerised.

"Wait, but Kurt, how’d you get involved with the Dorothy twins?"

"Ergh, it’s none of your business Amy. Kurt! We need to get this over with so hurry up!" Emelie yelled as she turned back to him.

"Alright alright! It was nice seeing you again Amy. Oh and I love the hotel you recommended. Thanks again for that." Kurt smiled at her one last time before leaving.

"N-No problem! I’m glad you like it!.... Hehehe" She giggled and blushed as she watched his back.

"That’s weird." A deep voice resounded next to her.

"Whoa! Aren’t you from Emy’s class? Errrmmm..."

"Gary. My name’s Gary. Here’s two silver coins for the entrance. My friend Austin should be arriving soon."

"Oh right, Gary! You’re a representative, that right! By the way, what did you mean by ’weird’."

"I mean those two. Emelie and that man. Kurt, was it?"

"Yes... Is there something weird between them?"

"I don’t know about Kurt. Emelie, however, can’t seem to stop talking about him during classes. I’ve even seen them walking around the street a couple times. Now they’re teaming up to take on the Dorothy twins? Yep, definitely weird. I wonder if they’re... dating?" Gary asked innocently.

"W-What? ... Da..ting?"

"Hey Gevin! There you are! Why’d you run ahead without me!"

"Haha. Sorry about that Austin. Just got a little excited, that’s all."

"Hmph! ’Excited’ my ass. I bet you wanted to kill– Oh! Hi Amy, haha!"

"... Hi? I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced for you to know my name"

"Oh, that’s b-because Emelie talks about you all the time, haha..."

"Emy talks about me... to you?"

"N-No! That’s not what I meant to say. What I’m trying to say is–"

"Is that everyone in our class knows you’re the only one Emelie talks to. Except, of course, when she talks about Kurt."

"Kurt?" Austin looked at him strangely. "Why’re you bringing him up–"

"Let’s get moving, Austin." Gary dragged him by the arm before he could speak. "I want to get a good view on this fight."

"H-Hey! Stop dragging me, Grimball! I can walk by myself."

"... Emy and Kurt are... dating? Is that why she’s always telling me to give up on him?" Amy looked into the crowd with a pained expression as she thought about what Gary said.