Chapter 63
After finishing all the classes of the day and heading to the training hall to practice swordsmanship, Prince Artellion of the Oselle Kingdom.
In the opposite direction, the lively conversation of two male students running down the corridor reached Artellion.
“Class 2’s Tigres and Class 1’s Alicia are going to have a proper match!”
Considering it mere background noise, he half-listened with one ear and let the rest flow out.
Pause.
Artellion rewound.
“Class 2’s Tigres and Class 1’s ‘Alicia’ are going to have a proper match!”
When it comes to Alicia, it’s undoubtedly the name of the girl who is the pride of Vargan. She expressed her beliefs without yielding to force, clashing swords with him in class battles.
“….”
Tigres of Class 2 was a dark mage like Artellion. His academic rank was 28th. The youngest son of a viscount from the Lavant Kingdom. He was a malicious fellow who enjoyed tormenting others while flaunting his status.
Artellion had almost no good impression of him. He treated common women as objects and approached those with exceptional looks with lust.
It was said that he had already received two warnings and if he received one more, he would be expelled.
The only thing worth noting about such a hopeless case was his ability to skillfully ‘dodge’ the opponent’s attacks with his sword. Using his innate sense, he predicted the opponent’s movements and skillfully avoided their kinetic energy.
If the opponent was a magician, it would be a different story, but facing Tigres with a weapon was no easy task. If their skills were similar, defeat was a natural outcome.
“…There’s still time.”
Artellion observed the passage of time and decided to take advantage of the spare time to go and see.
The woman named Alicia had a talent for commanding the sky. He wondered how much she had grown and how she would try to overcome the obstacle this time.
These thoughts wouldn’t arise in a normal duel.
Does that mean he holds her talent in high regard?
If that’s really the case.
“…It’s truly a remarkable thing.”
***
People crowded into the arena in one block.
Members of the Arbol Prutal as well as unrelated individuals who heard the rumors filled the seats.
Standing in the arena, Lavant Del Tigres was in a state of great excitement. He was already intoxicated with the thrill of victory and couldn’t calm his heated body.
He saw a beautiful figure before him.
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According to his assessment, Alicia belonged to the top tier of superior goods. Among any woman at the Academia, or any he had seen so far, Alicia stood out remarkably.
Through this ranking match, Alicia had set an additional condition that the loser must obediently follow the winner’s orders, besides the maximum 10 Kartia.
Which means soon…
Those white, soft skins…
Tigres gazed at Alicia with a horribly grotesque look in his eyes.
Alicia could guess what kind of pleasure he was feeling.
His academic rank was 28th.
In contrast, hers was 47th.
No matter how much attention she received through the class battles and heard about her potential for growth. It was considered impossible to overcome this gap in the short period of less than two months.
She responded boldly, but in reality, Alicia also felt uneasy. Every time that unpleasant gaze touched her body, she shuddered and wanted to avoid it.
But this was a kind of task set by her master, Vargan. Her master clearly allowed such individuals to pass through the screening process to create her current position.
It wasn’t just a mere coincidence.
There were many undeniable facts to overlook.
The fact that the difference in rankings between Tigres and herself was within 20 places, allowing them to have a ranking match. Also, the fact that she did not have a ranking match this month. The fact that the nobleman had given her a heads-up in advance, and so on.
She didn’t say it out loud, but her master undoubtedly planned this. Now Alicia could easily understand that extent.
Therefore, there was no room for hesitation.
Putting forth her best effort.
Because that was the lord’s will.
Alicia pulled the mana within her body to the extreme.
She focused all her concentration.
And so, when the preparation was complete.
Beep beep beep???!
The battle began.
“…!”
Charge.
Alicia, moving at breakneck speed, closed the distance with Tigris to ‘0’ in the blink of an eye.
Startled, Tigris wielded her sword not with reason but instinct.
Kwajijijijik??!
Two blue auras clashed, sparking off flames.
In the bright light blinding enough to blind, Tigris found herself looking into Alicia’s eyes. Her gaze was entirely different from before.
“Argh…!”
Tigris forced a laugh, pushing away Alicia’s sword with sheer strength. Ignoring the reaction of the wavering aura, she used the momentum to move her body in the same direction.
She delivered a side kick to the ground.
However.
Grrraaah??!
Alicia’s body was shielded by a thick barrier of wind, halting her kick in its tracks.
Without missing a beat, Alicia swung her sword again.
Her sword swung down explosively as if detonating a bomb from behind the blade.
A sharp sword strike.
Tigris could feel the electrifying sensation stimulating her peripheral nerves.
‘This… is even more exceptional than I thought!’
Tigris tilted her sword to deflect Alicia’s attack. Amidst the deflection, a tingling sensation spread through her hand.
It was significant output, but if it didn’t hit, it was meaningless…!
Grinning broadly, Tigris stepped on the ground and cast a spell. That way.
A spike shot towards Alicia’s chin.
Thin enough to fit in one hand, but with a terrifying speed and strength akin to iron.
Just before the spike could pierce Alicia.
The stone forcefully pierced through Alicia’s chin.
Alicia turned into a black mist and vanished.
“A trick…!!”
Tricks weren’t just mist.
Out of nowhere, water droplets rained down on Tigris from all directions.
The highly compressed liquid was akin to bullets.
In a hurry, Tigris either protected her body with her sword or thickened the aura around certain parts for defense.
“Ha…!”
There is no pain.
The water droplets that touched Tigress turn into smoke and disappear.
It was not real, just a clumsy hallucination like before.
Alicia reveals her true form.
Clang! Clang??!
Alicia continues her fierce attacks without stopping, blending hallucination and swordsmanship, pressing Tigress hard.
Tigress, using both magic and sword skills, resisted, but gradually started to be pushed back step by step.
Feeling the tide turning against him, Tigress wipes away the smirk, filling his empty emotions with anger.
That anger stemmed from distorted social hierarchy.
“Do you think you can get away with this, you lowly wench!!”
Jajajak?!
Again.
Tigress succeeds in deflecting Alicia’s sword.
Her body moves in the wrong direction.
Tigress’s spines shoot up.
The expensive her turns into black smoke once again.
Then, dozens of water droplets head towards Tigress.
“It’s the same pattern as before…!”
He felt insulted, gritted his teeth, unleashed his mana. Would this level of shock be enough for the hallucination?
“?Grr?!”
The dozens of water droplets turned to iron pierced through Tigress’s mana and struck his body. A trained warrior’s body could endure it, but an ordinary person would have been riddled with holes.
“Continuously… coming after me…!!”
As Tigress’s mouth opens wide.
Chaang???!
Intense pain reverberates through his hand.
With a clear vibration, his sword flies far away.
As the gaze falls from the spinning sword to the ground.
He sees the eyes of the woman facing him.
“The eyes of a predator.”
Her eyes, which seemed nothing more than objects, were like a predator that would swallow him whole. She was an existence at the top of the food chain pyramid.
In her serene, ocean-like pupils, there was a depth that seemed endless, arousing an unfathomable sense of horror from the depths. It halted Tigress’s movements.
“Is this also a hallucination…?” as if to jolt him back to reality.
Hundreds of high-concentration liquids shoot at him defenselessly.
“Kua, kuaaah!”
He screamed.
But no sound came out of his mouth.
In an instant, his will to fight was shattered.
Ttok.
Alicia approaches.
Inserting the practice sword without lifting her gaze.
“There’s something I’ve recently come to realize.”
She says.
“Originally, I thought I could tolerate insults. Compared to many nobles here, my status is lowly, and perhaps I was used to it, so it didn’t bother me that much.”
Beneath her gentle voice, something like a toxic powder lightly layered.
Alicia doesn’t stop walking.
“But, that wasn’t the case. I… truly, thankfully, I… am Lord Vargan’s concubine.”
To the point where Alicia’s approaching figure is obscured.
Tigress’ surroundings were filled with numerous bullets.
What was surely liquid now appeared as common lead bullets.
“It dawned on me belatedly that insulting me is akin to insulting the Lord I serve. …Tigress. You mentioned wanting to experience something with the Lord in the middle of the night, didn’t you?”
Alicia looked down at the trembling Tigress on the floor. Her eyes were clearly kind, yet resembling her master, they were also ruthless.
“I hope you endure safely.”
“Ggh…!!”
With that as the final word.
The bullets that filled his surroundings struck him.
He lost consciousness.
『7:20 PM. C-5 Arena. Winner, Alicia. Winner, Alicia.』
A startled Tigress, waking up from his sleep, would come to realize that all the bullets were illusions.
It was after the next morning’s sunrise.
***
Tick-tock.
The clock on the wall pointed to the exact time.
Two needles overlapped to become one.
Finally, April 28th comes to an end.
I can freely use mana again.
It will be another year before the next restriction comes.
One year… do I have to wait until then?
I wish it would pass quickly and I’d be restricted again. That way, I can undo all the shackles…
“Let’s see…”
I fiddled with the bracelet I was wearing, trying to activate it. Amidst that, a thought that occupied part of my brain continued on a multi-track.
I heard news of Alicia’s activities.
Naturally, she moved as I desired for the storyline.
What was his name…?
Right, Lavant del Tigress. That guy.
Utilizing the supporting role who self-identifies as a villain, I re-established Alicia’s position in the ‘stem.’ While the ‘branch,’ mostly composed of commoners, presented no issues, problems due to class were inevitable in the ‘stem’ where nobles were predominant.
Even if not Tigress, eventually, after a few months, discontent based on commoners’ origins would gradually grow and erupt.
Emotions felt by living beings are not just beautiful. When someone slightly inferior tries to command someone superior, discontent naturally accumulates.
Be it in consciousness or subconsciousness.
It accumulates for sure.
Even if one proves their abilities in class, there will always be those lowly folks who refuse to acknowledge it due to their fixation on social class.
Thus, intentionally causing chaos by inserting those third-rate villains. Knowing that Alicia could easily suppress them with her power, no further comments were made.
Minimizing accumulating grievances, as well as what’s necessary for delaying to the end. Fear, ability, and recognition (人情).
The reason why there are few factions that rebel against leaders with proper charisma. Depending on her subsequent actions, things might change, but this sets the minimum conditions for Alicia to lead.
A gentle charisma.
Is she like Liu Bei from the Three Kingdoms or Alicia?
“Oh, it’s done.”
As Hayleon activated the artifact handed to me, I feel my mana being consumed to its maximum capacity as the bracelet reaches its full power.
A mysterious sensation.
Would it be like feeling a loss of strength in the body and muscles not moving when seeing something extremely cruel or frightening? It’ll probably feel normal once time passes.
“Stay like this for a month. It will be released on the 29th of next month.”
Even if this artifact is of the highest grade, it forcibly restricts the mana of the wearer, so it must be used with intervals to prevent side effects. It’s safer to wait around 9 to 10 years before using it.
From what I remember, Vargan wore such an artifact at the age of 6… It’s the perfect timing. I won’t be able to participate in class battles for a while, or go around freely, but what can I do about it?
After a month, I can fly around as much as I want.
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I immediately adjusted my posture and delved into expanding the magical power within me. The total amount of mana is always the top priority. For me, this is fundamental.
The movement of mana becomes extremely sluggish, and the output drops suddenly, like in my childhood. It feels stuffy inside, filled with foreign matter. The effect seems to be proper.
As such, the sense of achievement when released will be considerable.
Considering my current achievements.
In about a month…
‘All preparations for the unique spell technique I aim for will be completed.’
The foundation for creating a spell technique at a higher level than the one Vargan had shown before can be established. Even if I end up at a mediocre level midway, the difference in output will undoubtedly be clear.
“I can’t wait to see it.”
The phrase “the aesthetics of waiting” is apt for times like these.
…
Ah, I was talking about Vargan’s incurable disease but got sidetracked.
No need to worry.
Am I really going to die because of some simple setting like Vargan’s weakness in the story? His incurable disease is a remedy that helps overcome another weakness.
Fire with fire.
Poison with poison.
Weakness with weakness.
Well, Liam might take it seriously on his own, but to me, isn’t a weakness another opportunity rather than despair?