Episode
14 Freshman Competition (1)
Two weeks have passed since the new students arrived.
Ahead of tomorrow’s freshman competition, a meeting by professors was in progress in the main building of the academy.
“It looks like the weather will be clear tomorrow, so it seems like we can hold the competition at the first training center like usual years.”
“What is the match order this year?”
“In the morning, we will have a match of 3 yellow and 4 green, and then in the afternoon we will have a match of 2 blue and 5 white. The final match will be a red class 1 match and a black class 6 match.”
“I think the first match will be just normal… I am most looking forward to the second match.”
“Yes. This is because two people, ‘Prodigy’ and ‘Youngjae (英才)’, who have been famous since childhood, collide.”
“A prodigy in blue and a gifted in white… You will be able to see a high-level match that is not like a freshman!”
What the professors were most looking forward to was the second match between the blue class 2 and the white class 5 clash.
This is because the successors of the 6th great swordsmanship masters, who have been famous since childhood, are the representatives.
Everyone was wondering who would win this match.
“How about the third match?”
“Um, the Black Six… It’s a class with a senior and a second seat in the entrance exam.”
“The entrance exam includes written test scores, so getting the top or second place doesn’t mean you’re the best.”
“Especially, the daughter of the Bastian family, who took the lead, is not from the 6th generation of swordsmiths, and her rank is a bit lower.”
“It doesn’t seem like a big deal since he said that he also handed over the position of representative to the second seat.”
“The child of the Landsstein family, who is in second place… Even though he was from the 6th generation of swordsmiths, there were a lot of bad things about him. To be honest, I am a little skeptical.”
When the black class 6 talk came out, there were a lot of excessively demeaning remarks.
This was because he noticed Professor Calleon Ignias sitting here.
“On the other hand, one and a half red… Rufus Ignias was the president.”
“Rupus-kun is a very talented student. I will not lose to the heirs of the Landsstein family.”
“He has so much charisma that he has already conquered all the students in Red 1st class. It is said that all students have returned their holidays and are focusing on training.”
“In this third match, Rufus’ Red First Class will win!”
A smile appeared on Calleon’s lips as the words of praise for his son Rufus came out one after another.
He was a man who had no doubts that his son would surpass the successors of the other six great swordsmiths and rise to the top.
“I do not know. I think it’s hard to say that.”
However, at that time, there were voices that denied the opinions of other professors.
A middle-aged professor with a scar on his right cheek… It was the dragon sword Yols Calesius.
“After two weeks of watching, Serine Bastian was a student worthy of admission to the top.”
“Yo, Professor Yols, do you see it that way?”
“Yeah, I’ve been teaching white class 5 students, but… I felt that Serine Bastian was as talented as the ‘gifted’ of the White 5th class.”
“… … !”
“In my opinion, Serine Bastian was underestimated because she wasn’t from the 6th master swordsmanship.”
Yols is not from a very good family, but for his achievements on the battlefield, he is a great swordsman who even received the title of ‘Sword Dragon Sword’ by the emperor.
It was an evaluation that Yoles made by seeing it himself, so it had to be highly reliable.
“And on the side of the second seat, Ernas Landsstein… He was a fun kid.”
“A funny kid? What does that mean?”
“The overall skill seems to be inferior to Serine Bastian. But in the actual match, he won against Serine Bastian… They seem to have a very good sense of humor.”
“Go, sense?”
“I would call it the sense of smell of victory. I also watched him fight other students, but he won with a trick that outwitted the opponent.”
Yoles said, stroking his chin.
“I haven’t seen Rufus Ignias in Red Class 1 in person, so it’s hard to say which one has the upper hand… There will be no chance of being unilaterally defeated by the Red 1st class.”
“Oh oh… … !”
At Yols’ evaluation, there was a burst of outcry here and there.
Even the professors who had previously disparaged the Black Class 6 had an interesting expression on their faces.
Only Calleon Ignias was grimacing and expressing displeasure.
* * *
Red Class 1 training ground.
There, Rufus Ignias was meeting and listening to the instructor.
“According to Professor Kaleon, it seems that Professor Yols is highly valuing the Black Class 6 class.”
“is it?”
“Yes, I think it would be better to be on the lookout for Serine Bastian and Ernas Landsstein.”
Originally, it is a principle to maintain neutrality, but this instructor is Caleon’s number one.
So, I have been passing information on to Rufus.
“Heh, I don’t know if it’s Serine Bastian, but why are you so wary of Ernas Landsstein?”
“Rupus-sama, according to Professor Yols’ review… … .”
“I had a chance to fight Ernas before.”
“Oh, did you?”
“Yeah, was it about three years ago?”
Rufus said with a snort.
“He canceled the match because he injured his finger when the teacup broke! It was really outrageous!”
“Am I really hurt?”
“Is that possible! You’re making excuses because you’re afraid to fight me!”
Rufus continued with a look of contempt.
“Among the heirs of the master swordsman, no one has ever faced him in person, right? He never quarrels with someone who seems a little bit talented! Sometimes there were rumors that he had won a match, but there were always things that were not clear!”
“no way… … .”
“I wasted money or power! He really is a coward!”
Shouting like that, Rufus shrugged.
“Professor Yols is very likely to have been deceived by him. He is very mean and cunning.”
“Um, then… … .”
“But, as long as you’re facing me in a match like this… That kind of trick won’t work.”
In the meantime, Ernas has used money and power to hide her true abilities, but this time it will be difficult.
Rufus was planning to crush Ernas and reveal his identity.
“With my sword, take off his mask… The Landsstein family will prove that they are not even reaching the toes of the Ignias family.”
“yes… … .”
“So, all I care about is Serine Bastian. Maybe that girl’s fight is the most important thing.”
After saying that, Rufus looked into the instructor’s face.
“By the way, have you checked what kind of strategy the Black Squad 6 is planning?”
“I heard from my classmates who go in and out of that island, and they seem to be just doing normal training.”
“okay?”
“Yeah, they didn’t even seem to know what the stadium was like.”
“They are unprepared.”
Rufus has already obtained a detailed map of the stadium.
Based on that, I thoroughly trained the students of Red 1st class.
“We’ve trained enough to be able to change formations with our eyes closed.”
“The arena is a rugged island with lots of rocks. It would be embarrassing to step in without prior information.”
“Yeah, all you have to do is trample those unprepared ones.”
Red 1 and a half have already been prepared.
Without any prior information, the black class 6, who will appear in the arena peacefully… will be thoroughly crushed.
* * *
on the day of the fight.
Black Class 6 had been engulfed in tension since morning.
“Finally, we have left this island.”
“Are you going to an island used for a game?”
“There must be a match between the yellow 3 and the green 4 by now.”
“Then we have a match between the blue class 2 and the white class 5, and are we the last ones?”
“One and a half red… It wouldn’t be that hard.”
In the meantime, I’ve been confined to a small island and only trained.
It was the first time I went out of the island and faced another class, so I had no choice but to be nervous.
“Everyone is gathering.”
“Yeah, it’s all put together.”
I went in front of the students with Chloe.
The eyes of the students who were shouting were focused on me.
“Everyone has worked very hard to prepare for the battle. I want to apologize for not being able to properly participate in the preparations for the competition despite being the class representative.”
When he suddenly apologized, everyone looked surprised.
But I didn’t care and kept talking.
“The reason I couldn’t be with you all this time and entrusted it to Serena and Schmidt was because I had to plan a plan.”
“Operations… … ?”
“First, I want you to look at the map of the stadium.”
“… … !”
Chloe opened the map she was holding and showed it to the other students.
It was a map I drew myself based on the description in the novel.
“As you can see, the competition is held on a rocky island. The terrain is rough, so the roads that people can pass are limited.”
I pointed to the red and black dots marked on the map.
“The red mark to the northwest here is the starting point of the first half of the red line. The black mark to the southeast is the starting point of the Black Six. We wait here, and then we move when the match starts.”
“Come on, wait a minute!”
Then one of the students raised his hand.
“Are you sure about that information? Where the hell did you get that information… And why do you only tell me on match day? If you had informed me in advance, I would have been able to train based on that… … .”
“I’m sure it would have helped the training if I had known this information in advance.”
I explained in a calm voice.
“But, in that case… The fact that we are planning an operation based on this information can flow into the Red 1st class.”
“… … !”
“We are locked up on this island, but the instructors and transporters keep going in and out of the island. If information flows into the Red 1st class through those people, the other side will devise a new strategy based on that.”
Rufus is spying on our side with the power of the Ignias family.
I didn’t want to let Rufus know that I even had this kind of information.
“That’s why we didn’t talk until the day of the match. Please understand.”
“yes… … .”
“Then let me continue with the explanation.”
I said, pointing to the symbol marked on the map.
“The Red 1st Team will launch an offensive while advancing on relatively gentle terrain. But Rufus Ignias is most likely not moving from the first spot. I will be waiting with a few close friends.”
“Why?”
“It’s because of his personality.”
Recalling the description of Rufus in the novel, he responded.
“Rufus is one of his subordinates… No, I’ll leave the students to attack. When they want to run out of strength while fighting with the Black Six, I plan to show up coolly and play a heroic role.”
“What kind of… … .”
“You mean it’s not because of a tactical advantage, it’s just to show off?”
“That is a human named Rufus Ignias. They want to show off their skills.”
If you’re in a situation where you’re going to win without you, you won’t even come forward.
I prefer the composition of winning with one’s own strength in a dangerous situation.
“We’re going to use that psychology of Rufus.”
“The mind… … ?”
“Yeah, you use your psychology to dig traps.”
It is the role of the black class 6 students in front of me right now to decorate the trap.
How they should move, I was going to explain from now on.
“If we can trap Rufus, this fight will end with a black 6th victory.”
“… … !”
Of course, just because you fall into a trap doesn’t mean it’s over.
It is also necessary to end the breathing of the prey that has fallen into the trap.
Only one person can do that… There is only the black 6th representative, Ernas Landsstein.