Chap 11-I Just Wanted to Defeat the Demon 2

 

“Wow. Even if they’re from the opposing faction, can they really do that to a noble lady?”

“Well, it is the swordsmanship department, and to be serious, it’s a world of competition, but that’s a bit much.”

“Kind of pathetic.”

If Ciel was truly a monster, or even a muscular woman you might see in the Adventurer’s Guild, it would be understandable.

But Ciel looked like a woman who had just picked up a sword.

Yes, the world of competition is a cruel place, but.

Not all the nobles present had that competitive spirit.

In fact, even those who had held a sword thought it was a bit much.

“He’s swinging way too seriously, dangerously so.”

From the spectator seats, the students who were just watching saw Ciel only dodging Arnold’s attacks.

“I will definitely get you!”

Ciel easily evaded the attacks of Arnold, the heir to Edenberun Marquis Family.

His attacks were too simple.

In Ciel’s eyes, Arnold’s attacks looked like lines.

Like drawing black lines on paper.

The lines Arnold showed each time he swung his sword were just straight lines.

Very easy to dodge.

Just a simple step was enough to avoid them.

Usually, a skilled swordsman’s attacks show curves, but not this one.

Simple straight lines.

Of course, that was more than enough to catch Magical Creatures.

But to brag about it? I don’t know.

Moreover, such swordsmanship leaves many openings.

‘Or not.’

As Ciel effortlessly dodged, watching Arnold’s shamelessness being updated in real-time, a slight change occurred in the lines.

Arnold, realizing that he couldn’t subdue Ciel with simple attacks, began to use his family’s secret technique.

Swish, swish, swish!

A series of attacks using the sword like a spear.

One might ask, what kind of attack can you do with a sword shorter than a spear?

It was a kind of Mana-based attack. Each time he unleashed a series of strikes, the length of the sword increased, creating the illusion of a spear.

But it wasn’t just an illusion.

It was a spear manifested with Mana.

An effective attack against Magical Creatures who underestimated it as a sword.

It was Edenberun’s secret technique, known as the [Illusionary Spear Sword Technique].

It was definitely not something to be used during class at Schperen.

‘Oops.’

Arnold, belatedly realizing this in a fleeting moment, tried to stop, but it was too late.

He had already used the technique. Whether this attack worked or not, Arnold’s defeat was clear.

He’d be a fool if he won, and a clown if he lost. So, he’d rather win.

Unfortunately, the compatibility wasn’t good.

While dodging, Ciel had already drawn out high-purity [Mana Thread] with both hands.

Instead of drawing lines on paper, she drew elegant threads all around, as if creating art.

‘What is that?’

The presence of the [Mana Thread] twisted Arnold’s attacks, the series of sword strikes.

As he attacked, Ciel’s [Mana Thread] nonchalantly deflected Arnold’s attacks, and Arnold, unable to see this with his own eyes, only knew that his attacks were being interfered with by something.

In reality, Ciel was twisting the corners of her lips with a confident smile.

To just attack without realizing even this much.

He was still young.

Also, it meant that Arnold’s attacks had already been completely read.

It was too late when Arnold realized that Ciel had done something.

From the middle, Ciel didn’t even need to dodge.

Just wiggling her fingers a few times was enough for the [Mana Thread] to easily change the direction of the sword.

The sword, which had been unleashing a series of strikes, had lost its power.

Not only was he physically exhausted, but Ciel had erased the form of the spear made of Mana with her [Mana Thread].

Arnold’s Mana, trying to continuously restore it like pouring water into a bottomless pit, had long run out.

Arnold lost strength and slumped down on the spot like a puppet doll with its strings cut.

“No way.”

Moreover, even the sword he was holding fell to the ground due to Ciel’s Mana Thread.

Ciel walked towards Arnold, who was panting heavily, with a relaxed and confident gait.

As Arnold looked up at Ciel with a dazed expression, Ciel tilted her head slightly and whispered softly in his ear.

“My main weapon isn’t the sword in the first place.”

Ciel, retracting her [Mana Thread], picked up Arnold’s sword from the ground and held it to Arnold’s neck.

Naturally, Ciel was the victor of the match.

“Ciel von Adelaide Bathory wins!”

Gustav, now announcing my long name as the winner, brought the duel to an end.

Sweating profusely, this unknown heir of Edenberun Marquis Family was glaring at me with a very wronged and world-weary expression.

Yes, in reality, this guy was now facing the worst situation.

He must feel like he’s standing at the edge of a cliff.

“Wow, it’s not just pathetic, it’s miserable.”

“He can’t attack while she’s just standing there.”

“Wasn’t that technique in the middle the Edenberun family’s secret technique, [Illusionary Spear Sword Technique]?”

“The Marquis has a truly reliable son.”

Look at that. He seriously started a fight, and it’s the swordsmanship department, and Bathory accepted, so it was established.

Yes, I can somehow understand that. But Bathory kept dodging his attacks, and he ended up making a fool of himself by using his family’s secret technique.

He couldn’t land a single attack.

Bathory was just standing there, yet he used such a ruthless attack and couldn’t hit her once.

-This is what will be etched in the eyes of the other students in this duel.

I wonder what will happen to this heir of Edenberun Marquis Family.

His name was Arnold, wasn’t it?

I feel sorry for him. If only he had stayed still.

Why did he treat someone like a monster, saying they were scary, and end up like this?

“Well, thanks to that, I was able to get something.”

And there were quite a few gold coins in my pants pocket.

I used [Mana Thread] to deflect Arnold’s attacks and simultaneously pickpocketed Arnold’s wallet.

Even in wars between countries, the defeated country pays reparations to the victorious country.

Shouldn’t I also take reparations from this defeated Arnold?

I got quite a bit this time.

And Arietta was just as surprised.

“Y-You, what are you? How could you against that brutal man?”

“Didn’t you see? That’s just his level. He used his family’s secret technique with all his might against a woman and messed it up.”

Her lips were glistening, so she must have eaten her star candy.

It must have been fun to watch.

After all, the aide of the sister who bullied her was being humiliated.

“Huh.”

“Well, if he had at least made it seem like he was showing mercy at the end after showing off his secret technique, it would have looked less pathetic.”

Unfortunately, the exhausted heir didn’t have time to think about that.

As a result.

He’s being pointed at from all sides.

He should have at least pretended to be okay, but the heir collapsed from exhaustion.

In the end, I, who didn’t swing a sword once, picked up Arnold’s fallen sword and pointed it at his neck.

There’s a saying in the East, “Victory without bloodshed.”

Isn’t a victory without shedding blood the most valuable victory?

It was a perfect victory.

“Bathory.”

As if he had something to say, someone tapped my shoulder. It was Gustav.

“Y-Yes, Instructor.”

“I have something to say. Follow me.”

Oh, did he see it? Was I caught?

Anyone could see that I didn’t swing a sword.

It must have looked suspicious. Only Arnold swung his sword.

Even if the students there didn’t recognize it, an instructor would.

At least he would have noticed the sparkling thread near Arnold.

Or did he see me stealing the money?

Just in case, I decided to pass it on to Arietta.

“Your Highness, please hold onto this for now.”

“What are these gold coins?”

“The victor has the right to plunder the defeated.”

With those words, I handed the money pouch to the princess, who frowned, and followed Gustav.

Gustav and I sat facing each other in the lounge right next to the training ground.

“What did you call me here for…”

“You hid your true strength.”

“Come on, what would a clueless student like me know? In that case, all the noble families with names in the swordsmanship department are hiding their strength.”

I chuckled and waved my hand.

After all, many people would have learned swordsmanship or Magic in advance depending on their family.

Both the swordsmanship department and the Magic department would be the same.

To exaggerate a bit, they would probably all be in the top ranks in the end-of-semester exams.

Instructor Gustav wouldn’t be unaware of that.

From what I heard, he had already messed with two members of the Imperial Family.

“That’s not it. How did you manipulate Edenberun’s [Illusionary Spear Sword Technique]?”

“Excuse me?”

“Of course, Arnold hasn’t fully mastered the sword yet, but the [Illusionary Spear Sword Technique] itself is threatening. You were just standing there, yet his attacks didn’t reach you at all.”

I was caught, but not really.

Even Gustav wouldn’t be able to detect [Mana Thread] from that far away.

“Wasn’t he just making a fuss and messing it up on his own?”

“You were just wiggling your fingers.”

Gustav wiggled his fingers as I had done a moment ago.

“Hmm. You think I did something.”

Is he going to say something about winning with something other than swordsmanship?

That’s closer to Magic than swordsmanship.

“You remind me of someone I know.”

“Who?”

“A man from the Hero’s party. An existence who fought against the Demon King’s Army even more than the Hero. Sien.”

Oh, he’s sharp.

Well, if he saw Sien from afar, the movements might look similar.

Should I just say that I happened to see Sien and copied him?

“Have you ever met the Hero’s party?”

“At the time, I was fighting the Demon King’s Army with adventurers on the front lines. Those unlucky kingdom guys were holed up like rats, so we were the only ones suffering. That’s when I met Sien of the Hero’s party.”

He still remembers that.

I didn’t exactly come to save them.

I killed a corps commander that the Hero missed while trying to deal with the Demon King’s Army, and the Demon King’s Army under his command went berserk and flowed into the Empire.

I only stepped in to stop that.

At the time, Gustav was almost single-handedly stopping them all.

“Sien was amazing. Something flashed in the air in an instant, and the Magical Creatures were instantly cut apart. The giant Hydra was restrained by something shining, and its head fell to a dagger.-And miss Bathory’s name is ‘Ciel’.”

“Oh.”

“Presumably, the similar names and all.”

Did he notice?

If he can roughly recognize my [Mana Thread], then maybe.

It seems I was more popular than I thought.

“He must be her brother. Like brother, like sister. But wasn’t he from the kingdom?”

What nonsense is that?

That can’t be. No, maybe it’s better to go that way.

It’s better than saying we have no relation at all, since this world is connected by bloodlines.

For example, that Arnold or whatever, the magnificent [Illusionary Spear Sword Technique] that he used, anyone with the Edenberun name would use it.

Even adventurers would know that.

Gustav has seen noble students here, so he’s probably convinced.

A woman who uses the same abilities as Sien of the Hero’s party.

Even her name, hair color, and eyes are similar.

They could easily be seen as siblings.

I scratched the back of my head and smiled faintly.

“Ah. Ahahaha. That brother of mine is always wandering around.”

Since I, Ciel, am Sien himself, my words are Sien’s words and excuses.

Well, I can’t tell Gustav that I’m actually Sien.

Even if he believed me, it would be painful to explain the circumstances.

There’s no reason to tell Gustav that.

“I see. What’s your brother up to these days?”

“I haven’t been in contact with him recently either. Is something wrong?”

“He saved my life back then, so I thought I should repay him.”

Honestly, if I could, I would have just taken it, no matter the reason.

But I can’t in this body.

So I, Ciel, gently rejected his words.

“Ah, that’s a bit…”

“Hmm?”

“I can’t contact him at all right now.”

Well, it would be a different case if I could get news.

If the king was angry about the Holy Sword being stolen, he might put a bounty on my head.

It’s too late to put out a wanted poster now, and if the Emperor of the Empire returns the item himself, the king will have no choice but to worry about friction with the Empire.

“I see.”

“Well, if you really want to. There is a way.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m an instructor. I can’t join Arietta’s faction.”

It seems he’s been asked to join a faction once or twice.

Unfortunately, that’s not it.

“That’s not it. Just take my side once when something happens.”

“Once?”

“Yes. And it’s not like I’m asking you to take my side when I do something bad. Only in cases of injustice.”

“Like if you’re being framed. Or if someone questions what you’ve done, is that what you mean?”

“Yes.”

“That’s fine. I’m not bound by power in the first place. It’s not difficult.”

That’s enough.

I can use him once if something happens later.