62
Kalen Snowwhite.
A second-year student in the Knight Department, ranked 68th in the year.
Given the characteristic of the Knight Department, which has hundreds of students per year, being in the top ranks is impressive, but not to the extent of receiving various privileges.
However, she, no, he had been receiving tremendous attention from the Knight Department recently.
The reason was the finale of the midterm exams that took place earlier.
Defeating the 2nd-year top student ‘Friend of 999 Lebin’ and achieving a difficult 5-game winning streak that even outstanding students found challenging.
Moreover, in the incident at the Athletic Festival, it was revealed that he had a connection with Lumen Reibens, the representative of the Knight Department and the eternal star, or rather, ‘Lizelirias’ Princess.
It is said that he also participated in battles with Ebnis, the outstanding top student of the 1st year and the successor of the ‘Raphaelhite’ family, and Erann, the 2nd year top student.
And even a neutral appearance and voice that both men and women would turn to look at.
Naturally, he could not help but become a hot potato in the Knight Department, and there were people who tried to attach themselves to him or observe his daily life.
He comes from an insignificant noble family in the northern region.
They dared to approach those whom they couldn’t even speak to, wondering how they could develop a relationship to the point of exchanging greetings and small talk.
However, those who had approached Kalen with the determination to receive something from her naturally drifted away after a day or two, or a week had passed.
Even though she was at the center of attention, she, or rather he, continued with the usual daily routine.
Early morning footwork.
Morning training.
Sparring at lunch.
And even in the evening… more training.
After the training hall closed, the last to leave after tidying up.
Training, meals, lectures, sparring.
Devoted to training all day long, except for receiving swordsmanship instruction in between.
The question of how such a model student could associate with those celebrities lingered.
However, those who had been observing him persistently were astonished to learn that a new training session had been added to her schedule recently.
There was a meaning of ‘adding more?’ and also a meaning of ‘being with this person?’
“Look, Kalen. Your posture gets disrupted when you receive the opponent’s attack. This keeps happening. You need to step like this and push forward. It seems that Kalen is not yet accustomed to this movement.”
“Ah…”
“It’s, how should I put it, yes. It seems there’s a wavering in the heart. It’s like being captivated by the feeling that one must definitely accomplish something. That feeling is evident in the posture itself.”
In response to the continued advice, Kalen bowed deeply.
The woman with white hair and red eyes gently smiled and placed her hand on Kalen’s shoulder.
“Still, your basics are truly excellent, and with a sincere mindset, you will soon be able to do it properly, Kalen.”
Swordsmanship instruction.
And not just from any senior student, but from the representative of the Knight Department, Princess Lizerillias’s exclusive instructor.
“Thank you.”
“Well then, I have a representative meeting… um, it might be too much for tomorrow, so let’s meet at this time and place the day after tomorrow.”
As she walked away, Kalen bowed his head.
Kalen himself knew that it was an overwhelming honor to receive instruction from the top student of the Knight Department.
But he had personally visited the representative office of the Knight Department and Princess Lizerillias had readily accepted.
He knew.
The relationship between Princess Lizerillias and Adrian.
Adrian intends to establish Princess Lizerillias as the Empress of this country.
There are far too many royal descendants in this country.
There are even royal descendants connected to his hometown in the north.
And Adrian even wants to become the next emperor himself.
Inevitably, there will be a great conflict with his younger sister, Ebenis Sofuji, and in the future, there will be a tremendous upheaval.
It may seem like a story from a distant world compared to Kalen, but when you think about it, it’s not that different.
“…”
Returning to the corner of the training hall, Kalen quietly strapped on the shield alone.
Shield training.
A shield large enough to cover half of the body.
In the future, he will have to wield an even larger one, and in the opposite hand, he will have to wield a sword.
And…
There will be ‘that person’ behind her shield.
Clap!
Kalene slapped her cheeks with both palms.
I have to protect.
If ‘that person’ falls because of her own mistake, how can she face other people?
So she must not be lazy.
But…
It’s difficult.
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She can’t feel it.
Maybe it’s because she has only trained with a sword since she was young, but the movements when she holds a shield feel awkward even to herself.
She is slow in deciding whether to swing or block.
She often makes mistakes during practice.
As a result, she has been losing in all recent practice matches.
I can do it. No, I have to do it.
But she won’t give up.
No, she can’t give up at this point.
Someone gave her the shield, and she has to defend against all attacks in front of that person in the future.
She can’t give up here.
Never.
Kalene, who was leaning against the training ground wall, stood up again.
There is no giving up.
That’s what her dictionary says.
But…
“……Huh?”
Her already broken spirit couldn’t follow her strong will.
“Why?”
Her arm didn’t have any strength.
* * *
Lately, Kalene Snowhite’s condition has been strange.
Even when she returns to her room, she just exchanges a few words with a tired expression on her face and falls asleep.
It has been going on for almost three days.
When asked what’s wrong, she avoids the question, saying, “No, it’s just because of my own lack of will….”
“Hmm.”
It seems like ‘that time’ has come.
It must have been about three months since Kalene Snowhite obtained the shield and started training in shield techniques.
If she had been training shield techniques without a break every day, it would naturally lead to this ‘event.’
Kalene Snowhite is not someone who slacks off in training and practice, so it matches perfectly with my calculations.
“I should go check on her.”
After all, final exams are just around the corner.
He would be in serious trouble if his academic performance suffered as he wandered.
Back then, when he was heading to the Knight Department.
“……”
Someone was walking towards this direction from far away, with familiar light blue hair, a sword and shield on their back, and gym clothes.
“Kalen.”
“Ah… Ah.”
As I called out, the guy, who was walking absentmindedly, lifted his head to look at me.
“…What’s the matter?”
“Ah, it’s nothing… really.”
He said so, bowing his head deeply.
Well… I already know.
“Is the shield not fitting in your hand?”
“…Huh?”
“I heard that you’ve been receiving personal training from Princess Rezilias recently. Yet, with that kind of face… It seems like the shield doesn’t fit in your hand, causing confusion. Even in the midst of that, the final exams are imminent, so you can’t afford to give up. That’s why you’re making such a complicated expression.”
Kalen looked at me with round eyes.
“H-How did you know so accurately…?”
What.
How many times do you think I’ve seen you and raised you?
Certainly, I know you better than you do.
The current wandering is, in a way, because of me.
That’s why.
“If you have any hesitation, follow me.”
As I’ve decided to take this guy all the way, I must take responsibility as well.
Kalen Snowhite’s ‘Trial’ event.
And the Kalen Snowhite who overcomes this trial will grow into a perfect Tier 1 Tanker.
The condition for overcoming the trial is simple.
‘In a one-on-one battle, break him with a significantly weak weapon before he touches you, imprinting that the player is stronger than him.’
Well.
That’s my area of expertise, isn’t it.
* * *
Leaving the guy who followed me in the open field, I loosened my shoulders.
“S-So… you mean, a duel?”
“That’s right. Let’s fight sincerely, and end it before it touches our bodies.”
I roughly drew the dagger given by the assassination organization’s twins from my bosom.
He hesitated without drawing out a weapon.
“It’s… not appropriate. I have no protective magic, and I need to protect Adrian…”
“Draw it out. Draw your weapon right now and duel with me. If you don’t, I will be very disappointed in you.”
“Why would you give me such a trial… But if I have no choice but to do it…”
After muttering something with closed eyes, he drew his sword and held the shield with the other hand.
So, here’s the translated text:
That’s the way it should be.
“Come at me with all your heart.”
“…Yes.”
He said so and swung his sword.
A pathetic swordsmanship with a clear trajectory.
Anticipating that I was the opponent, I lightly held a dagger in reverse grip, let the sword slide, and flicked his chin with my left elbow.
“Ugh?”
“Don’t play around.”
Strike, let it slide, counterattack.
Whenever he hesitated to attack from the other side, I went in deeper.
The dagger passed by Kalen’s eyes, and a few strands of his watery hair were cut and scattered.
He seemed to realize that I was attacking in earnest, and his eyes shook slightly.
“Are you still going to just play around?”
“N-no… I’m not.”
As if he had made up his mind, now the attacks were coming in properly.
I dodged, blocked, and even counterattacked with the sword.
The opponent had a long sword and an iron shield.
On this side, there was only a short dagger.
Even considering the pure difference in abilities, this side was at a significant disadvantage.
One.
“I’ll come in from the left, then turn to the right and aim for the lower part. And then aim for my face with the opposite shield.”
I have a skill that surpasses even the abilities set by the world.
The experience accumulated beyond time has now become my strength.
“Then I’ll attack the left first and make him lose his balance by hitting his shoulder.”
Like that.
I lightly bounced his sword with the tip of the dagger, tripped him, and brought the dagger to Kalen’s neck.
“…Ah.”
A faint sigh.
“Have you understood?”
The reason this guy can’t get a grip and is wandering is simple.
Right now, he is trapped by the compulsion to ‘block’.
Someone behind him, in other words, ‘me’, is so caught up in the thought that he must protect ‘me’ at all costs that he can’t concentrate on himself.
“Kalen Snowwhite.”
“…”
“I am not so weak that you must protect me unconditionally.”
“…”
“I didn’t wish for unconditional protection from you. My life won’t disappear from a single attack you failed to block. Protecting others in battle is important, but it’s meaningless if you can’t focus on yourself due to that protection. Do you understand, Kalen Snowwhite?”
“…”
“If you understand, nod your head.”
He nodded slightly, and I took a step back.
“Wow, you’re being really annoying.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“So, how about now? Did you find your own answer?”
I asked.
He held up his shield and sword, and with a slightly brighter face, he nodded and said, “Yes.”
“Are you going back to your room? If so, I’ll go with you.”
I took the first step, but he didn’t follow.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“…I’m sorry. Can I practice a little more and then come?”
“It’s up to you. Do you have a reason to ask me?”
I said.
He hurriedly gathered his things, bowed to me, and then ran back towards the Knights’ Academy.
Seeing his steps,
I couldn’t help but smile.
“What a foolish guy.”
[Kallen Snowhite has successfully completed the ‘Trial’!]
[Kallen Snowhite’s ‘Shield Magic: Beginner’ is changed to ‘Frozen Shield Magic: Beginner.’]
It’s done.
Now all the preparations for the final exam are complete.