Ian, upon seeing the poster for the Lion King’s Birthday Celebration Event, unconsciously crumpled it up. The poster announced that Gilbert Lion Heart would be taking on the role of the Lion King this year.

Ian had always believed Gilbert was beneath him. He thought that whenever he decided to stretch and rise from his hidden position, the roles would instantly reverse. After all, the protagonist always wins in the stories.

But when he finally stood up during the competition, the result was a crushing defeat. Despite giving it his all, he couldn’t reach Gilbert. Even with his characteristic skill at its peak and drawing upon vast amounts of mana, defeating Gilbert’s Colossal Mech was impossible.

Ultimately, he had to concede the competition’s victory to Gilbert, admitting something he had been reluctant to accept: he had been completely defeated by the rival he had set for himself.

For Ian, who was proud and lived in his own world, this was an unusual turn of thought. The first complete defeat he had ever experienced became a wake-up call for his arrogant mindset.

“Respectable, yet hateful enemy…”

Recalling Gilbert in his room, Ian wrote down what he thought was a good quote in his Book of Quotes. Although he already had several volumes, he believed it was still not enough for the future.

Numerous quotes still came to mind, but he decided to write them down later. There was something else he needed to do now.

Putting aside the quote-writing, he began to revisit the final match with Gilbert. He had admitted his defeat, but he wanted to identify any overlooked aspects.

However, no matter how he changed his battle style, he couldn’t defeat Gilbert even in his imagination. Trying to keep up with Gilbert’s movements with his reaction speed felt like a nightmare.

Ian’s expression twisted.

He had always believed he was the protagonist of this world. Not just in thought, but with valid reasons.

His family, his talent, his handsome appearance—all of it proved he was the world’s protagonist.

Yet, he had lost to Gilbert without being able to do anything. He had been defeated in the Colossal Mech Piloting Technique, which he prided himself on being the best at.

Ian couldn’t easily accept this. He had innate talent in piloting and a characteristic skill that had awakened as if the gods had given him wings. With these two advantages, losing didn’t make sense.

Of course, considering his growing mana levels, he thought he might be overwhelmed by sheer mana. Among the academy cadets, Seraphina was one who could do that.

But Gilbert wasn’t like that. Compared to Ian, Gilbert’s mana levels were absolutely lacking. So, Ian thought he couldn’t lose, but the result was different. Ian couldn’t defeat Gilbert.

This meant only one thing: Gilbert’s talent surpassed Ian’s, even without a characteristic skill. That was all.

The world’s protagonist, me, inferior to Gilbert?

Ian gritted his teeth. His pride, which had stood tall and firm like a tower, crumbled.

Even for someone as egotistical as Ian, he acknowledged that he couldn’t be good at everything. There were things even he couldn’t do skillfully.

But when it came to Colossal Mechs, it was absolutely not the case. He couldn’t accept that he was inferior to Gilbert’s piloting skills.

“Whatever. That can’t be. My rival is just a step ahead. In the end, I’ll be the one to reach the finish line.”

Though his chest still burned, he closed his eyes and calmed his mind. He had no intention of being crushed by this defeat like a petty person.

After some time, he opened his eyes from meditation. Perhaps this defeat was a good trial for him. He had been complacent because there had been no walls blocking his way. That complacency led to a bitter defeat at the hands of his rival.

He opened the first page of his Book of Quotes and recited the first sentence for the first time in a long time.

“Heroes are born from hardship.”

To not lose the初心 (初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心:初心: