episode_0069
by fnovelpia“…Huh? What did you say?”
Professor Andres looked puzzled. It was an expression that was not typical of him, and the same was true for President Damien, who was standing in front of him.
Professor Andres first turned off the microphone he was holding. He felt that what he was going to say next would be embarrassing for the students if they knew about it.
“President Damien. What do you mean?”
When Professor Andres asked again, President Damian opened his mouth with an embarrassed expression, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Ugh… . I just heard this too. I’ve heard that His Majesty loves his daughter very much, but I didn’t think he’d come to visit me out of the blue like this… .”
“No, even so… .”
Professor Andres was dumbfounded. He suddenly decided to visit Brittany, where the match was taking place, just to watch his daughter’s match.
“Even if you are His Excellency the Duke of Adelheid, it is absurd to visit like this without notice.”
“… He said he would not make a big fuss, just watch quietly, and then go back. He promised me that, so there is nothing to worry about.”
“That’s not what I meant… .”
“Professor Andres.”
Professor Andres’ mouth was tightly shut. A suffocating atmosphere flowed between Professor Andres and President Damian, who had been exchanging glances for a moment.
The one who came between these two was none other than Professor Underwood.
“Okay, okay~. Professor Andres. Don’t think too negatively. His Excellency the Duke of Adelheid wants to see your daughter’s performance, so what can we do?”
“… … .”
Yes. In terms of social status, Professor Andres would not be pushed back by much, but it would be a different story if the opponent was a war hero who had risen to the rank of duke.
Professor Andres was not simply reluctant because of that fact. He was worried that Duke Adelheid might inject some influence into the training, and he was also worried that the students who noticed Duke Adelheid’s visit might become agitated and not be able to perform to their full potential.
“… Are you really just going to quietly watch and leave?”
“He said he was passing by on business and would just take a look. He will probably arrive tomorrow.”
“Sigh… .”
While I sighed at that foolish behavior, on the other hand, I thought it was arrogant.
The final match of the competition will be held tomorrow, and I want to watch my daughter’s match tomorrow.
Duke Adelheid also strongly believed that his eldest daughter, Laura von Adelheid, would emerge victorious from today’s duel.
The remark, which straddles the line between arrogance and confidence, would make even Professor Andres stick out his tongue.
It didn’t take long for Professor Andres, who had been chewing his lips for a moment, to nod and reluctantly accept the fact.
“… Okay. First, let’s continue with the sparring.”
“Yes. It seems His Majesty doesn’t want to announce that he will be here, so we can proceed as usual.”
Professor Andres took the microphone in his hand. His face, which had been frozen for a moment, took on a lively expression as it appeared on the monitor.
“Hahaha! Our president Damian said that in the past, the first-year students took the lead and worked hard, so shouldn’t we show the seniors the power first today? ”
“Hey, Professor Andres. When did I ever say that… .”
Behind President Damien, who was making a dumbfounded expression, Professor Underwood whispered to Professor Armstrong.
“Muscle Idiot. What do you think?”
“… Don’t call me by that name. More importantly, what are you talking about?”
“A student named Adelheid. Laura von Adelheid. Can she win this match?”
“What am I saying again… .”
Professor Armstrong shook his head with a weary expression, then rubbed his chin and muttered quietly.
“Hmm. We’ll have to wait and see about that though… .”
“I guess I’ll have to look?”
“… If she’s Adelheid’s daughter, wouldn’t she win?”
“Ugh… .”
The two professors stopped talking and looked down at the training ground beyond the glass window.
The second year students’ sparring was just about to begin.
“… If only there were no variables.”
The only person who heard Professor Armstrong’s subsequent mutterings was Professor Underwood.
* * * * *
‘I don’t like it…’
Joey, holding a rapier and shield, frowned at the man in front of him.
Daniel, standing across from me, also had a very serious expression on his face, but I could feel a playful smile shining through it.
Joey gripped his shield tighter. It seemed certain that this would be a tough duel.
Daniel, standing across from her, had his own set of concerns.
‘Ah… . Couldn’t you just come forward first… ?’
I could sense my impatience at Joy’s cautious attitude. I was thinking that if she came closer, I would attack right away through the gap in the shield that was disrupted by her movements.
However, Joy was calmer and smarter than Daniel expected. She held her shield firmly and did not move rashly. She had a rough idea of Daniel’s magic.
‘If it goes like this….’
In the end, he had no choice but to launch the preemptive strike, even though he didn’t want to. If the preemptive strike he attempted failed, it would be no different from allowing the distance to be closed, so Daniel secretly didn’t want to launch the preemptive strike.
‘There is a time limit.’
The time limit given to both is 10 minutes. They have to decide quickly.
Besides, it was a difficult situation to end as long as that shield existed. Daniel’s decision was quick.
Daniel picked up the thickest piece of charcoal from his fingers and dropped the rest to the ground.
The pieces of charcoal that had suddenly fallen were strangely aligned in a straight line.
Daniel, who smiled with satisfaction at the sight, rubbed the charcoal he was holding in his hand with his thumb. His thumb was covered in pitch-black charcoal soot, and the charcoal was pointed straight at Joy.
It’s like a painter estimating the subject of a painting with a pencil.
Daniel muttered.
“An old living tree. Guardian of the green forest. Here, change life into life. The mountain god is angry.”
Perhaps sensing something ominous, Joy showed signs of moving. Daniel spoke softly.
“Sal(煞).”
– Parsak!
One of the three pieces of charcoal lying in a row on the floor shattered into pieces with a clear sound. At the same time, a black line was drawn on Daniel’s right arm.
‘Is this offering the right arm?’
There are three chances to land a kill. If Daniel fails to land a kill even once during these three chances, he will be unable to move his right arm for a while.
Like that, the black aura-filled Salcho flies towards Joy.
“… Damn it!”
Joey quickly dodged, barely avoiding the blow. Daniel clicked his tongue without realizing it.
As he moved, it was obvious that he would try to close the distance between them. If so, he would slash through the gap left by his movements.
“Sal(煞).”
– Parsak!
Another piece of charcoal shattered in front of Daniel, and then a second piece of charcoal flew towards Joey.
Joy calmly raised her shield. She was running with all her might, and if she backed away or rolled away, it would be difficult to avoid the third attack that followed.
However, the judgment was not very good.
– Kwung!
“Bam…?!”
It was because the sharp, stabbing pain was transmitted through her left arm and throughout her body. Joy let out a groan and let out a ragged breath at the force of the killing blow that was much stronger than she had expected.
The shield in her left hand had a dent in the middle, as if something huge had hit it. It also put a strain on her wrist.
Still, Joey gripped his shield more tightly. The shield was slightly dented in the middle, but it wasn’t pierced. It could still withstand a few more attacks.
Rather than throwing away your shield and running away with your bare body, it is more important to have a chance to block the danger.
Seeing her like that, Daniel raised the corners of his mouth and aimed the charcoal again.
“Sal(煞).”
– Parsak—!
The last remaining piece of charcoal had lost its usefulness and shape. The same was true of the lump of charcoal in Daniel’s hand.
The last slaughter (煞) that flew towards Joy. It soon arrived in front of Joy.
– Kwung!
“Ugh… !”
Joy opened her tightly shut eyes. Now, a visibly distorted shield came into view.
Until the last attack, he had finally held out. Joy noticed this and glared at Daniel with a fierce smile.
“Now… It’s my turn?”
“… Oh, what are you doing?”
In order to achieve maximum speed, Joey threw the shield that caused a sharp pain far away. His left arm, caught in the wind, whined and screamed in pain.
However, Joey’s expression did not change at all. It was because he was in a state of extreme excitement and concentration, facing the decisive blow.
Joey threw down his shield, bent his knees, and crouched down. It took him only two seconds to complete all of these movements.
Soon, her body rushed towards Daniel, who was visibly embarrassed.
– Whaaah!
The sound of the wind cutting through her ears struck her ears without mercy. Joy, who had reached the attack range in an instant, took a short deep breath and held her breath for a moment.
Hold the rapier straight, take a lunge position with your right foot extended, and thrust the rapier in your right hand with all your might… .
‘… won.’
Joey had a gut feeling. He had won this match. He had finally landed a punch on Daniel’s unlucky and sly face.
Yeah, definitely, that’s what I thought.
“Shape.”
“… Huh?”
– Kwakwang—!
Until a large wooden doll appeared in front of her.
“Ouch!”
Joey let out a shrill scream without realizing it. Then, he looked up at the giant shadow that was casting its shadow before his eyes.
It was a doll that looked like two trees twisted and tangled together. The twisted trees formed hands and feet, and the holes in the middle of the protruding stumps formed a face and eyes.
However, it wasn’t alive. It was just a doll with a moving shell. Joey saw Daniel’s right hand hidden behind the wooden doll.
For a moment, time began to seem to pass slowly in Joy’s eyes. Her pupils slowly rolled.
A blood-stained wooden statue in Daniel’s hand. The inkwell in his left hand had its cap open, revealing blood sloshing around inside.
“Oh my, when did it happen…!”
“Break.”
The fist of a giant wooden doll came towards her in the blink of an eye. She couldn’t even recover her body to dodge the attack because she was in the middle of swinging her rapier.
In that brief moment, a thousand thoughts ran through Joy’s head.
If I hadn’t dropped my shield, I could have blocked this one attack somehow.
If I hadn’t dropped my shield, I might have noticed it coming at a slower pace.
If only I hadn’t thrown away my shield…
‘…no way.’
Joy slowly looked at Daniel’s face with an expression of disbelief.
He was smiling, as if he had caught the long-awaited prey.
‘The sword I spit out a little while ago was trying to make me throw away my shield—.’
Joy’s thoughts never ended.
– Bam!
Because a heavy wooden fist rushed towards Joey’s body.
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