Chapter 29

“…”

We silently locked eyes while the announcers introduced the contestants.

I had received the warning not to speak, so I just stayed quiet.

“…Hah.”

After more than a month of silence, it was Rusika who finally broke it.

She glared at me with eyes that looked exhausted from dark circles.

“…Impressive. You made it this far.”

“I tried hard, didn’t I? And didn’t you say not to talk?”

“I can let that slide, since it’s before I give you a beating.”

“Really? By the way, how have you been?”

As I lightly asked how she was, sparks of red shot from her slightly curled twin tails.

“Don’t act chummy with me. I haven’t forgiven you for a single thing yet.”

She pulled out a real twin sword, not a wooden one, and gritted her teeth.

“I see… That’s unfortunate. I was hoping you might have calmed down a little.”

With a bitter smile, I drew my longsword from its sheath.

Rusika scanned the buzzing crowd before locking eyes with me again.

“Let me ask you one thing. It might seem like luck to others, but if you really made it here by skill, what the hell are you thinking?”

“I told you, I just worked really hard.”

“Hah.”

Anger and sadness mixed in her pinkish eyes.

“Why are you pretending to be something now? You, a cowardly runaway.”

Her gaze screamed that my actions were meaningless.

It was filled with disappointment and disdain for the fool struggling late after having let go of something so crucial.

I swallowed my bitter smile and nodded.

“I won’t push my circumstances on you without saying anything, Rusika. But please believe this: I am neither a coward nor a runaway. I have never stopped wishing to be someone great.”

Then, I pointed my longsword at her and calmly declared my resolve.

“So check for yourself what kind of person I am.”

“Ah, I’ll do that.”

She took her stance, crossing her twin blades.

“Then I’ll show you properly. You’re just a nobody.”

A brief silence hung between us—

And as the audience quieted down,

Bang!

The fireworks signaling the start of the match exploded in the sky above the stage.

“Haaaaah!”

Crash!

As Rusika roared, red lightning burst forth from her.

Unlike the duels where magic is only used for physical enhancement, the martial arts tournament allows all magic and techniques to land serious hits on the opponent without crossing any life-or-death lines.

Rusika opened up her full power from the get-go, as if vowing not to show me any mercy.

“If your words are true, then try to handle this!”

Thwack!

With a furious shout, red lightning shot from the daggers Rusika threw.

The path was a straight line.

It showed her confidence that she didn’t need to engage in psychological warfare through various paths against someone like me.

Strike first for an easy victory.

That was her strategy.

Boom!

Rusika leaped forward like a streak of lightning and swung her dagger—

—Ka-boom!

A loud explosion echoed as red electrical currents burst everywhere.

“Huh?”

In the next moment, Rusika realized she had landed on her backside on the grass.

Thud!

Two daggers fell behind her a beat later.

―――

The atmosphere inside the arena turned chilling, as if cold water had been thrown over it.

“M-Match over!”

Hearing the referee’s declaration, I withdrew my longsword that was pointed under Rusika’s chin.

Exhaling lightly, I sheathed my sword and reached out my hand toward the dazed Rusika.

“You okay?”

“Uh… huh?”

Rusika looked at me with bewildered eyes, as if she still couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

“You said to handle it, so I did.”

“…Huh?”

WAAAAAAH—!

Only then did a mix of exclamations erupt from the crowd.

“What? What just happened?”

“It looked like Lady Rafis did the attacking, but suddenly she got flung away!”

“What kind of trick did that commoner pull? I couldn’t see!”

“No, wait! Are they saying he really climbed up here by skill?”

Whispering buzzes filled the arena.

Some were astonished, while others still doubted.

But a few who knew me were wearing smug smiles.

What mattered most was this.

“I won, Rusika.”

The fact that I had confidently defeated someone ranked 27th in the Academy.

“So who’s the nobody now?”

“What the…! Get away!”

Slap!

Rusika, with a face full of disbelief, slapped my hand away and stood up herself.

“I-I won’t admit it! This was just a fluke…!”

“Rusika… I…”

“Shut it! Do you think doing this will change the fact that you ran away from Tirisia?!”

“Well… that wouldn’t change, would it?”

When I lowered my head in agreement, Rusika jabbed her finger into my chest and shouted.

“The reason I’m disappointed in you hasn’t changed at all! You getting strong all of a sudden doesn’t mean anything!”

“Yeah, I get it. I understand how you feel.”

“Keep trying hard all you want! In the end, you’ll realize it was all in vain!”

After shouting, she turned her back and walked away, and I said one last thing.

“I hope one day you will understand me too.”

“…!”

She clenched her fists tightly and left the arena.

“Winner, Erto!”

Even though I had triumphed over Rusika, who had always felt like such a high wall, I felt more deflated than joyful.

After all, unless I exposed Tirisia’s flaws, she would never understand me.

For Rusika, I was just a pathetic man who failed to overcome his burdens and ran away.

What was more frustrating than wearing that stigma was the fact that I had hurt her feelings, someone who cared for us more than anyone else.

“I’m sorry…”

As I apologized to her already distant figure, I left the arena.

*

Victory, and more victories.

The martial arts tournament had matches every three days.

The deeper I went, the stronger my opponents became, and in that fierce battlefield, I finally succeeded in entering the final eight.

By this point, students no longer regarded me with skepticism.

However, it seemed opinions were still divided among the students regarding whether I deserved to be by Tirisia’s side.

As I strolled around the Academy, I couldn’t avoid hearing whispers of the students around me.

They seemed to be in a state of confusion, each with different thoughts.

“Look over there… that commoner.”

“They suddenly became ridiculously strong; what happened?”

“Is he trying to reclaim the spot of Bruerd’s boyfriend?”

“He got stronger, but he still doesn’t match up!”

“Well, still looks like he’s putting in effort.”

Some acknowledged me a little, while others still thought I couldn’t even hold a candle to Tirisia.

But that was fine. I hadn’t expected to be recognized by everyone this early.

Challenging myself to achieve satisfactory results was what truly began now.

The martial arts tournament quarter-finals.

Defeating today’s opponent would be the best recognition for all my training thus far.

If I defeat her, I could give myself a well-deserved pat on the back for the achievement.

So I headed to the arena for what might be the final fight of this tournament.

*

As I entered the arena at the signal for the commentators to prepare, I saw my opponent walking towards me from the opposite end.

She stopped about ten meters away and greeted me.

“Oh—hohoho! This is truly unexpected! Who would’ve thought I’d run into you here!”

A girl with golden rolled hair, resting her chin on a black fan while standing with her hand on her hip, laughed in a truly noble manner.

Seldienne Elconja.

She was my opponent in the quarter-finals, renowned as the official Academy’s rank 3.

“It’s also thanks to you, Seldienne.”

It was a clear fact, so I smiled and expressed my gratitude to her.

“Hohoho! Of course! I helped bring out all your potential! Now that you’ve received Elconja’s teachings, there’s no way you can remain a nobody!”

“Yeah, really appreciate it.”

Seldienne waved her fan and pointed it at my face.

“But! Who would’ve thought a commoner could rise this high! While the teacher is overwhelmingly competent, it’s clear you put in the effort too! I commend your will, oh—hohoho!”

“To receive praise from a high noble is quite an honor.”

I grinned as I drew my longsword from its sheath.

Seldienne also transferred her fan to her left hand and drew her rapier with her right.

Her crimson eyes glistened with arrogance as she glared at me.

“Both fighters, ready!”

Seldienne, with a flower-like smile, shouted for everyone on the stage to hear.

“Your efforts are commendable, but this is where it ends! As I said before! Now that I’ve met you here, I will crush you with all my power! Oh—hohoho!”

“That’s what I wanted! Let’s fight with everything we have!”

Bang!

The fireworks signaling the start exploded in the sky.

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