episode_0061

1.

Somehow we won and got a chance to advance to the round of 16, but the feeling of discomfort still doesn’t go away.

The cleaning man suddenly appeared and crossed between Taina and me.

I didn’t even feel any movement for a moment, and it almost led to a major accident.

Because I almost cut the person diagonally apart.

Fortunately, he was swinging his sword with its energy extinguished, so he probably didn’t sustain any life-threatening wounds.

The janitor was led by Uni’s hand to the infirmary.

I looked at the path that Uni had taken and fantasized about myself being treated by Uni when I was hurt.

“Haa… It’s okay Ignis. I just got hurt during the sparring. Hey, buddy! Can I ask you to heal me?”

“Oh, yes. Could you please come down to the training ground?”

Taina went down to the training ground to heal the wounds she had here and there.

For a moment, I thought I had been too harsh on Taina, so I spoke to her.

“Excuse me, Taina. Are you okay? Sorry I couldn’t control my strength.”

“…Let’s talk later.”

But what came back was a cold response.

I felt awkward looking at Taina because she was always so kind to me.

“Please consider the position of the person who lost.”

He was frowning as if the wound on his cheek was stinging.

And here and there, clothes were torn and blood flowed, mixed with sweat and dust, making the sight even more miserable.

But more than that, it seemed that the lingering sense of defeat was tormenting Taina.

“It hurts… Ignis! Gently… It hurts there too.”

I could only watch Taina limping down the exam hall with Ignis.

…

After some time passed.

-Ding~ Ding~ Ding~

The bell rang to signal the start of the round of 16.

From now on, professors will remain in the testing room and watch the sparring.

Since they have made it to the round of 16, both of them must be strong, and a fight between strong teams could lead to a major accident.

“Ignis?”

“Class.”

I didn’t really know who my opponent was in the round of 16, but when the bell rang, the person who came up was Ignes.

A member of the warrior club along with Taina.

Because we’ve been together for a long time, we’re more familiar with each other than anyone else.

‘Ignis. In terms of total power, he’s slightly above me. However, due to the nature of the greatsword, there are many gaps in his attacks, so I have to attack through those gaps. And Ignis can’t use his sword skills either…’

“…A sword cannot contain any emotion.”

A cold voice is heard, cutting through distracting thoughts.

The sight of Ignis dragging his greatsword across the floor as he came up to the examination room was extremely cold.

“But the human body contains countless emotions.”

I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected remark, but I thought of it as a light pledge made before starting a duel.

But there is no denying that it has an ominous vibe.

“From now on, the sword and my body will become one, reaching the realm of body-sword unity.”

Ignis continued speaking with a dark, hardened expression.

Ignis continued talking, as if he wasn’t expecting a reaction from me, although I couldn’t make out the exact gist of what he was saying.

As of now, all we can tell is that Ignis’s scream is similar to a spell that draws up magical power.

“Abandon arrogance, abandon personal feelings, and become a sharp sword with a sharp sense of propriety.”

-Ding~ Ding~

As I was enduring the pressure from Ignis without knowing English, the bell that signaled the start of the exam rang.

Ignis concluded her speech by reciting the contents of the declaration she had recited at the entrance ceremony, as a finale to the nameless chant.

“As a proud student of the Academy, I swear before the Academy that I will continue the legacy of the warriors and bring justice to this continent.”

He looked at himself with his sword without even showing his usual sly smile.

Her expression hardened as if she thought she was possessed by a ghost, but Ignis paid no attention.

“Let go of your emotions.”

Ignis said, chewing.

I feel like I’m brainwashing myself by looking at myself with a sword.

After being defeated by Instructor Tachibesus, he seemed to have changed as a person, remaining humble in battle.

-Ding~

The bell rang to signal the start of the exam.

At the same time, he turned the greatsword that had been reflecting on him and sharpened the blade.

There was no mercy for Ignis, who kicked the ground and swung his sword at me.

…

“…Your defeat. Half.”

“…”

Ignis was holding his greatsword and aiming it at the neck of the already fallen Ban.

With an extremely cold expression.

“…I lost.”

I feel humiliated just saying those words.

I don’t know about other kids.

I am the protagonist and hero of this world, and Ignis is one of my heroines.

But now, such rules feel like nothing more than a facade.

The protagonist and hero of this world was defeated in the round of 16 of the school tournament and rolled on the floor.

And the person who directly created that appearance was the heroine, Ignes.

It’s a disaster.

This wasn’t my plan.

It’s embarrassing that I secretly imagined myself fighting Kariel in the finals.

The result was elimination in the round of 16.

‘It was complacent.’

A thought occurred to me as I remembered Ignis practicing.

I thought that since it was a story where I was the main character, it would work out somehow.

I couldn’t put in enough effort to die, to the point where I wouldn’t have even a single regret.

Defeat is bitter, but we must accept it as a failure that we always experience and move on.

I don’t know if I can accept this failure well.

“…half.”

“Ignis.”

Ignis reached out to me as I sat there with my head bowed in a dazed manner.

What I wanted to look at in this context was Kariel’s hand in the finals.

Ignis’s small hands were covered in calluses.

“…Okay.”

I stood up in a bad mood for no reason.

And then I added a word for no reason.

“You said you were giving up your feelings.”

“Yeah…”

“But the sword feels rougher and more merciless than usual, and it feels full of resentment…”

“That, that’s…”

Ignis put down his sword and returned to his usual appearance.

“Po, I tried to get into shape…”

“Stop acting like this. You’re being a bit awkward.”

“What…”

He seemed quite embarrassed and followed me around, showing his embarrassment.

Maintaining an ambiguous distance, unable to properly apologize or ignore the other person.

Of course, until Ignis prepares for the quarterfinals.

…

It’s finally the long-awaited finals.

This time, the test will be conducted in an open space where all students can see it, rather than in the testing room.

In it, Ignis, who had no smile on his face, was greeting Kariel in his signature pose of raising his greatsword.

Kariel faces Ignis in the upper third.

‘This is where I should be.’

It leaves me with regret.

Because I wanted to be the main character at least once in a place where everyone’s eyes are on me, and even if I lost, I wanted to show off at least one cool move.

‘Defeat Kariel.’

You could say it’s petty, but I can’t help but cheer for Ignis.

No, I was closer to Kariel to begin with.

-Ding~

The bell rings, signaling the end of the finals and midterms.

At that sound, Ignis swung his greatsword.

The way he swings his sword sharply as if he was rushing at me, quickly closing the distance.

“…Galaxy Sword.”

But in the face of that attack, Kariel calmly muttered a word.

Did you activate the Holy Spirit?

He once secretly told me that just as I developed the Moon’s Herbivory, Cariel also developed the Astral Stem.

Star sword.

The first of the acquired Galaxy Swords that support him.

“Meteor Sword.”

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ!!!

Cut through the air in an instant like a shooting star, and surpass the speed of sound to stab your opponent.

A speed that lives up to its name as a meteor sword.

“Ughh …

Ignis gritted his teeth and endured the attack at an unimaginable speed.

But that’s it.

A sword energy shining like a star explodes at Ignis, who has stepped back.

A black energy so powerfully concentrated that it was unbearably heavy.

-Kwaaah!!!

Ignis flew out of the testing room with a huge bang.

“”Wowwowwowwowwowwow!!!”

The children standing as spectators screamed at the splendid and dazzling attack.

A blow that makes your blood boil.

“Kkaaah…”

Ignis, who had collapsed next to me, had her eyes spinning.

Covered in mud.

“Kariel, you win!”

The result of the final was Kariel’s victory.

The victory was decided with just two points.

It seems like the victory was too easy for a final… but I guess I have to say that Kariel is amazing.

With that kind of speed and destructive power, he accurately struck Ignis without an inch of hesitation, and finished him off with overwhelming destructive power before he could even respond.

The significant difference in skill between Ignis and Kariel… rather than that, I should lament the fact that their compatibility is not good.

If the war had been prolonged, it would have been Cariel who would have been affected by that mysterious swordsmanship.

“Not just anyone can win…”

I muttered to myself with a sense of reflection.

Or study all day like Taina.

Even with overwhelming talent and power like Ignis, it is not easy to win.

Only those with overwhelming talent, like Kariel, who can devise countermeasures against any enemy, can reach the top of this academy.

“…I should try harder too.”

I clenched my fists like I was going to start a midterm, and my first midterm ended in failure.