179 – Doubt (9)
The sparring evaluation is conducted simultaneously at five sparring venues. Most of the students from the Combat Department and the Magic Department were being evaluated, and since there were so many of them, there was a division into those that were of great interest and those that were not.
The sparring between me and Ruscus was not an event of great priority to other students.
A few incidents drew attention to me, but that was because they happened in a far away country that did not reach Eternia, and my skills themselves were not expected to attract attention.
Of course, there were quite a few people who showed interest in my match. It was mainly the seniors in the art department, the group that went with Trisha, classmates from the Principality, and some professors.
However, among the first-year students, the people who received the most attention were none other than Shion and Luna.
Shion was matched up against a student named Barion, a third-year member of the Combat Club, and Luna was matched up with Fabella, a second-year student from the Magic Department and my senior in the Art Department.
As they were students representing the first year, their classmates cheered them on regardless of their closeness, and the seniors were paying attention to the evaluation of the sparring, embracing the primal fun of watching the fight and, on the other hand, a strange sense of anxiety about the officially approved lower class.
Early morning on the day of the sparring evaluation.
I was moving to Dalian to watch the Dalian evaluation with members of the art department.
“Newbie, what did you just say?”
Xenia, vice-president of the art department, asked back with an expression of bewilderment.
“I asked if I could get on top of her and punch her.”
“When I look at you as a newbie, it seems like there is a part of you that hits you hard sometimes. Would that work? “That’s a dog fight.”
“I’m just curious. Don’t you have to overcome your opponent somehow? “If the power boils over, it could end up in a fist fight.”
“It’s not banned, but it would be a moral problem if you did that. What would happen if you beat up one of your seniors and juniors like a crazy person? Uh? Uh?”
Xenia nudged my side like a tile.
Would it be a problem if I touched someone with whom I had no grudge on the surface?
“… “I’m not saying I’m going to do that.”
Hayley, head of the art department, sneaked up next to me and joined the conversation.
“Are you going to have a fist fight with Ruscus? “I also want to stop him as much as possible.”
“….”
“Ruscus has a gentle and sad side, so he has a group of followers. He is also an excellent student and is trusted by his professors. I know our new recruit is talented, but it’s not good to just beat him up in front of everyone without any justification. “I don’t know if I get beat up from behind.”
A person who is recklessly violent towards her fiancee maintains the reputation of a model student to the outside world. Humans are beings that cannot be judged just by looking at the outside.
“What I mean to do is….”
“But I also want to beat up that bastard. They haven’t done anything wrong, but there’s something wrong with people who act like they’re sincere, clean, and flawless. “I guess you could say it’s a woman’s instinct.”
Xenia gently criticized Haley.
“Don’t believe it. “What kind of woman’s instincts do you have, wearing a woman’s mask?”
Hayley closed his eyes tightly and opened them in response to the sudden attack.
“Newbie, it’s okay for Ruscus, but it’s okay for that b*tch. “I will take responsibility.”
Xenia had already run away.
***
I thought it was quite early, but Dalian was already crowded with students who came to watch.
Not only the Ministry of Magic and the Combat Department, but also students from other faculties unrelated to the sparring evaluation also filled the seats for a rare spectacle.
And among the five sparring halls where the evaluation was taking place, onlookers were gathered in one place in particular.
That was the infamous Zion sparring location.
“Newbie, do you want to see that too?”
Haley grabbed my forearm and moved me to the best place to view.
But all that effort was worthless and Dalian ended in the blink of an eye after we arrived.
Just as I was about to settle down and take a look, Zion’s magic sword split the ground where the opponent was standing. To the point where I feel like it’s a bit too much.
“aaah!”
Sion’s opponent, Barion, screamed like a girl and slapped his butt behind him.
As if an earthquake had occurred, the sparring hall was torn in two and an eerie blue light shone from the cracks.
Yes. You shouldn’t expect to build friendship with Sion by joining forces with the sword.
“Oooh….”
And then a sound of admiration or astonishment rang out from the audience. A fearsome sword that can cut down even a giant planter with a single sword. I don’t know much about swords, but I know that the magic sword is the pinnacle weapon among all types of swords. There’s no way a single academy student could deal with something like that.
Seeing as how Shion didn’t break a drop of sweat, it seems like it hasn’t even been that long since it started.
Barion gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit absurd to bring a magic sword from the beginning?”
Shion coldly looked down at his senior and threw all his swords in front of him.
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Her magic sword radiated a blue glow while covered in her dust.
“Then you grab it and deal with me.”
A way of speaking that is arrogant and shows no respect for the other person.
Barion’s face was covered with humiliation and embarrassment.
He did not willingly pick up the magic sword. That’s probably because he knows he wouldn’t be able to afford it even if he picked it up. Instead, he grabbed his sword and stood up again.
“Come at us again, fight properly on equal terms.”
Shion shook her head and took out her second sword.
Immediately, her artifact activated and ran like lightning.
Chaeng!
Her opponent’s sword was blown away with one slash from her. In one breath, he narrowed the distance to ten steps and struck.
The sword that flew all the way to the audience hit the magic barrier and fell helplessly to the floor.
The teaching assistant broke into the sparring room and the evaluation ended like that. However, Shion did not come out of the sparring room and left her words.
“I’ll tell you what you’re lacking. Not only do I not have the tolerance to combine with a magic sword, I have no understanding of defensive swordsmanship, and I am not good at striking swordsmanship either. “There are too many gaps and the response is slow.”
Sion poured out everything that needed to be fixed in front of the devastated Baryon. And that too to a third-year senior.
She is a cruel woman.
Haley, who was watching from the side, frowned.
“My skills are flawless… “I hate him.”
“… “Hardly anyone will like him.”
There were many cases of men admiring Shion, who was like a lone wolf in addition to her cold and pretty appearance, but it was rare for a girl to look favorably at Shion.
“What do you think a new person who receives the princess’s trust looks like?”
“I don’t want to deal with Shion either.”
This is sincere. Even if she could do everything I could, Shion was a very difficult opponent.
“I thought there was at least some potential for being a freshman among first-year students, but it’s a shame.”
“Among your seniors, how many of you have the skills to beat Zion?”
Haley sighed.
“It’s difficult to say for sure, but even during the third year… There is one guy like that. Because he also trained under a sword master. Rather, newbie, when do you take the sparring evaluation?”
“It is organized as Article 21 of the 3rd Couplet… “I don’t know exactly when.”
Hayley asked, his eyes wide and confused.
“Wait a minute, this is the next one… “Is it okay for you to stay here like this?”
“… Yes?”
***
Ruscus is a special glove and armband to protect the skin from freezing magic. He put on the armor made of frost crocodile skin that he had brought in from the northern region and thought for a moment.
Damian.
The fact that he was drawn as a sparring opponent was probably like an opportunity given by God.
The goal that Ruscus wanted to achieve the most in his life was to be recognized by Princess Vivi.
I also entered Eternia.
He trained to the point of becoming a special type of magic swordsman.
The reason why tribute was paid to the Grand Duke’s family for such a long period of time.
He did not consider Olivia to be her real fiancee, but used her as a tool.
It was to stand next to the princess.
He pictured in his mind the fascinating appearance of Princess Vivi, whom he had met for a brief moment.
“Princess… Princess Bibi….”
The recent rumors surrounding Damian came as a great shock to me because I have lived with this as my lifelong goal.
Not only did he do crazy things like refuse the princess’s escort duties, he made profane remarks to Princess Vivi the first time they met, and said that she was unruly and that her skills were unclear. However, after the princess’s disappearance, I could not understand why she was suddenly favored and the intermediate steps were skipped.
But that didn’t matter now.
Ruscus just had to beat Damian.
If the game was decided so overwhelmingly that it could not be overlooked, the attention focused on Damian would immediately return to Ruscus.
As I clenched my fists and strengthened my resolve, someone came into the waiting tent.
It was Olivia, her fiancee. She spoke with her eyes downcast, as if he were her servant.
“The ambassador of the principality came as an observer for this evaluation. “I don’t know what purpose I’m here for, but I’m sure I’ll be watching your sparring.”
“… “Heaven is giving me a chance.”
“….”
***
Haley, head of the art department, came to the sparring hall first and looked at Damian, who was sitting quietly.
Regardless of win or loss, just by having a close game, you have done everything a freshman can do. It’s rare for a rookie to beat an upperclassman, but I had a vague feeling that Damian would be able to accomplish something.
Neria, a fourth-year student, approached and sat down next to her, who was alone.
“You still care about your juniors, Hayley.”
“If you don’t do this, everyone will run away. “Are you really here to spy on our new recruit?”
“No, I came to see Ruskers because of the selection issue for the exchange match, but it is an interesting match in its own way. “Because the juniors recommended by each brother and sister will compete against each other.”
“Ha, I guess that bastard nominated Ruscus?”
Haley sneered. She had a twin brother in her same grade, but few people on Eternia knew about it. She kept it a secret because no matter what she accomplished, she would be compared to her twin brother.
Neria shrugged her shoulders and looked down at the sparring hall.
Ruscus was walking across from Damian.
Haley asked Neria.
“Who do you think will win?”
Neria answered without hesitation.
“Ruscus.”
***
“The next students whose names are called should come to the front of the sparring hall. Ruscus, Damien.”
Ruscus stood at the starting position of the sparring arena. When he saw Damian nearby, his fighting spirit seemed to boil over. Immediately following the teaching assistant’s instructions, I came forward and shook Damian’s hand.
“Thank you very much. “Senior Ruskus.”
Ruscus greeted Damian rather seriously.
“Nice to meet you. I heard a rumor that you are favored by the princess. “Is that true?”
Damian watched Ruskus with static eyes, as if trying to read his thoughts. And then he said something provocatively.
“It’s more than just favor.”
Immediately, laughter burst out. It was obvious nonsense, but it was enough to arouse Ruscus’ jealousy.
“The rumor that he was cocky was correct. “I wonder how your neck is still attached with such a habit of speaking.”
Damian said with a grin.
“You will be even more surprised if you find out what happened with the princess.”
Thanks to his clever provocation, Ruskus’s tone became colder.
“Let me see for myself whether you really deserve it.”
Then he turned around and walked back to his original position.