"What—what was that?! What was that explosion?!"
"Is that... Cyan? Why is he here...?"
"Ugh... gah... g-gh...!"
The sudden explosion and the sight of someone tumbling into the arena left Yugo and Neries, both unaware of the situation, in a state of utter shock.
In the midst of the confusion, Cyan, groaning and writhing in pain, managed to drag himself upright. The moment his eyes landed on Neries, a fresh wave of selfish fury ignited within him.
"Neries... Neriesssss!!"
"Eh? What?!"
If only she had stayed a shut-in... If only she hadn't started looking forward and acting so happy... he never would have ended up in this mess.
If only she had just broken and faded away like some villain in a "Banished and Vindicated-style" story... Swelling with resentment, Cyan spat out his hatred in a scream as he lunged toward her.
Yugo moved to intercept Cyan before he could attack her with his weapon, but it soon became clear that his help wasn't needed.
"Stay back!"
"Bebuh?!"
The damage from the magic blast and the fall had clearly taken their toll; Cyan's movements were sluggish, slow enough for even Neries to handle easily.
Without Yugo needing to intervene, Neries stepped forward and swung her heavy staff in a clean arc, slamming it into Cyan’s face and cutting his rampage short.
"Whoa, nice swing! ...Wait, no! What the hell is going on here?!"
Yugo praised her form for a split second before snapping back to reality and shouting at himself.
He was on the verge of total confusion as the incomprehensible developments continued to pile up, but then Misery’s voice rang out from the control room window.
"Master Yugo! Neries-san! It’s him! He’s the one behind everything!!"
"Eh...?"
"Huh? ...Oh, I get it now."
The anomalies following the Mail Beetle’s appearance, the explosion in the control room, and Cyan being blown out of it—Yugo connected the dots. Seeing Cyan’s hate-filled glare toward Neries, he understood the whole picture and glared back.
"D-Dammit...! Curse you...!"
"I see. I think I’ve got the gist of it. You went way too far, you piece of trash."
"Shut up! I... I’m the Protagonist! I’m—!"
Cyan snapped back at Yugo, who had spoken in a calm but murderous tone.
Suddenly noticing a black shadow looming over him, Cyan looked up in shock. Misery was hurtling down toward him from the control room.
"Neries-san! Enhancement Magic!"
"Y-Yes!"
Startled by the sudden order, Neries nonetheless obeyed.
As she cast the spell to boost Attack Power and imbue the Thunder Attribute, bolts of lightning began to crackle around the tip of the needle Misery held ready.
"Thunder Sting Strike!!"
"Ugyaaaaaaaaah?!"
The velocity of the fall, a full-power left straight, the Enhancement Magic, and the Thunder Attribute—all combined into one.
The strike from above with the electric needle—a perfect combination move between Misery and Neries—shattered the spear Cyan had raised in a desperate defense and slammed into his body.
He tumbled across the dirt once more. As he tried to claw his way up, Yugo seized him by the collar.
"Let go...! Let me goooooo!"
"...Neries, is there anything you want to say to this guy while I’m holding him?"
"Yes. Just one thing."
Yugo asked the question without looking back, pinning the struggling Cyan in place.
Hearing him, Neries took a deep breath and looked Cyan in the eye.
"I haven't said it properly yet. Cyan-san—!"
She paused for a heartbeat, drawing in a long breath.
Staring directly at him, she shouted with every bit of strength in her voice.
"I am... resigning from your party!"
"Haha...! You hear that, Cyan?"
"You bastarrrrrrd! Don't you dare... don't you dare mock meeeeeee!"
Completely devoid of any composure or thought for the future, Cyan could do nothing but scream his rage at the girl who had finally defied him.
Yugo, still holding him by the scruff of his neck, pushed him back slightly to open up his stance and wound up his other fist, clenching it until it shook.
"Take this, Cyan. This is—!"
"!!!"
Losing his balance from the sudden shove, Cyan gasped as he saw the fist flying toward him.
As the punch connected with his cheek and sent him spinning through the air, he heard Yugo’s voice one last time.
"This is Neries’s physical Notice of Withdrawal!"
"Hebuh?!"
Cyan let out a pathetic squeal as he was slammed into the wall.
He tried to lift his swollen face to say something, but Uno Castle slowly approached him and spoke first.
"I believe I told you. If you stepped out of line again, I would show no mercy... Knowing that, and seeing that you still chose to commit these acts, I assume you are prepared for what comes next?"
"A-Ah, uu..."
"I shall take that silence as your resolve. Look forward to the disposition that will be handed down, Fail."
"U-Ugh..."
Confronted with the reality of his situation, Cyan’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
And so, despite the unprecedented chaos, Neries’s practical exam came to a safe conclusion—and at the same time, Cyan Fail’s judgment was about to begin.