Ch.172171. Journey? (13)

# 171. A Trip? (13)

The Hero appeared out of nowhere.

I asked him:

“What about your graduation exam? Why are you here?”

“Obviously, I came because it’s over.”

“Then the Princess must have taken it too… How did it go?”

“Naturally, I won.”

“That’s too bad.”

Of course, I knew she would lose.

After all, her opponent wasn’t some nobody but Marco himself.

Still, I felt a sense of disappointment for her.

“But you’re not saying anything about it? I thought you’d scold me since the Princess got badly injured because of that…”

“It’s fine. It was just an exam after all.”

Part of my nonchalance came from only hearing about her injuries verbally, without seeing photos or witnessing it firsthand.

But I didn’t think seeing it would change anything.

Even if she was badly hurt, it was her choice to begin with.

“That’s one thing, but now we need to focus on what’s happening here.”

“I’ll proceed without using any skills, just like during the graduation exam.”

“But you’ll lose that way?”

“What impressive confidence. For your information, no third-year student at the Academy has passed the third trial yet.”

That was only natural since she hadn’t passed it.

Currently, there was no student stronger than her at the Academy.

‘Wait… if I win here, doesn’t that mean I’m stronger?’

As that thought crossed my mind, motivation I didn’t have before suddenly began to surge.

The idea of returning to the Academy victorious and showing off to her made my enthusiasm burn brighter.

I reactivated [Mortal’s End], which I had deactivated for a while, and said to Marco:

“Then I’ll give it a try.”

“Your confidence is truly perfect, exactly as the Princess described.”

With those words, Marco pointed his sword at me.

As always, I charged at my opponent first.

I swung my sword at him, enhanced with the [Reinforcement] buff.

Of course, Marco received my attack with an expressionless face.

-Clang! Clang!-

After exchanging about a dozen blows, I realized something.

‘He’s fucking strong…’

Despite not using any skills, he was disgustingly fast and powerful.

His speed matched mine, but his strength overwhelmed me.

He was truly a monster.

‘I just want to use Abyss…’

But unlike with Reina, the situation was different now, and using Abyss thoughtlessly seemed dangerous.

After all, they didn’t know much about the existence of the Abyss.

With that regret, I continued my attacks.

Though none of my attacks reached Marco, I swung my sword as much as possible.

-Clang! Clang clang!!-

He wasn’t going easy on me either. Marco was engaged in the match with a serious expression, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

The same was true for me.

“You seem quite tired. Perhaps you should consider giving up…”

“Aren’t you the same?”

“By the way, aren’t you going to use it?”

“Use what?”

“That thing you always use when fighting monsters. That black aura.”

So he did know about the Abyss.

I responded to Marco, who seemed to be testing me:

“No, I won’t use it.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m worried about you.”

“How arrogant. You’ll regret that choice!!”

With that thunderous voice, his longsword approached me at a frightening speed.

I caught the sword with both hands.

-Clang!!!-

The ear-piercing collision startled me momentarily, but I was more shocked by the impact of the sword.

Despite using such a cheap-looking sword, its power made Reina’s [Lightning Flash] look insignificant in comparison.

“You’re… stronger than I expected.”

“You seem to have underestimated me. For your information, Albert is also much stronger than I anticipated. Strong enough that most third-years wouldn’t even be a match.”

“…”

My hands, which had been blocking his attacks, were trembling as if they might lose strength at any moment.

It was genuinely dangerous.

‘I want to devour that sword with the Abyss…’

If I used it, it would be possible.

And if I succeeded, the tide of the match would turn in my favor.

But my pride wouldn’t allow it.

“You have quite the strong will… Normally, it should have broken by now.”

“…”

“But… it seems you’ve reached your limit.”

If things continued like this, I would indeed hit my limit as Marco said.

And if that happened, I would lose without being able to do anything.

My pride wouldn’t allow that either.

‘Should I… take a gamble…’

The moment that thought crossed my mind, I remembered my battle with Fenex.

A strategy where I deliberately allowed the opponent’s attack to create an opening, entrusting my fate to the [Death Brings Life] skill.

Back then, that was all I could do, and the same was true now.

So I slightly twisted the trajectory of my sword to aim at his body.

-Swoosh!!-

At that moment, Marco’s sword extended toward me just like mine toward him.

The two swords reached their targets almost simultaneously.

-Thud!!-

At least, that was according to my calculations.

There was quite a gap between calculation and reality.

My sword stabbed Marco’s body as calculated.

But his sword stopped just before piercing my body, as if by magic.

He had stopped it himself.

I expressed my gratitude to Marco, who had stopped his sword for my sake.

“I want to say it’s unnecessary meddling… but thank you. I was worried I’d get scolded again.”

“Now?! That’s what you’re concerned about?!”

Startled by my sudden action, Marco lectured me without even realizing his own wound.

“If you continue fighting like this, your body won’t be able to handle it! Take care of yourself first! Do you understand?!”

To Marco, the wound on his body wasn’t a wound, but the wound that almost formed on mine was.

I called out to him, who was showing such a contradictory attitude.

“But Hero.”

“Yes?”

“In this world, there are things more important than one’s physical condition.”

I pulled my sword from Marco’s body and pointed it at his neck.

Then I told him what was most important in this match and in real combat.

“The outcome of the duel—that’s what matters most.”

Looking at my sword that had reached his neck, he dropped his weapon and raised both hands.

A sign of surrender.

Then he muttered in a low voice:

“Really… you’re as crazy as they say.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Good work. And since I’m a fan, could I shake your hand?”

“A handshake…? So suddenly?”

“Yes, I’ve been thinking about it since I first saw you.”

Though Marco seemed momentarily confused, he eventually extended his hand, and I immediately grasped it.

Then, after a long time, I used [Regressor’s Privilege].

[Using Regressor’s Privilege.]

[Target designated.]

[You will randomly acquire one of the target’s skills.]

When that message appeared, I prayed.

‘Please… something good… give me an overpowered skill…’

Since I didn’t know what skills Marco had, I couldn’t make any hasty predictions.

In that situation, I checked the message that appeared before me.

[Congratulations!]

[You have acquired the skill [Reinforcement].]

Seeing that message, I couldn’t help but sigh.

I wondered why I got such a skill—it seemed like after getting [Black Sword] last time, I was now getting this.

‘But what comes after [Reinforcement]…?’

[Reinforcement] was a skill anyone could acquire, like [Leap].

However, it differed in that it couldn’t evolve.

‘That’s something to look forward to.’

I immediately checked the message that appeared again, just like before.

[You already possess this skill.]

[When acquiring the same skill multiple times, the skill evolves into a higher-tier skill.]

[The skill [Reinforcement] has evolved into [Transcendence].]

Looking at the name of the newly acquired skill, I blinked, wondering if I was seeing correctly.

[Transcendence].

As far as I knew, that skill belonged to the current Emperor, Reinhardt.

‘And it’s his unique skill…’

A skill that drastically enhances one stat, though only for 5 minutes, without any debuffs unlike [Limit Break].

Seeing it in my status window, I couldn’t help but smile broadly.

‘Is this… a dream or reality…’

I thought I had gotten the worst skill, but that wasn’t the case at all.

To be honest, this seemed much better than getting a hero’s exclusive skill.

With those, you’d have to leave the weapon to fate, but this was guaranteed benefit.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Hero.”

“Yes?”

“In two years, at the graduation exam, please use all the skills you can in battle.”

“Don’t tell me… you’re saying this because you won?”

“Of course not~”

With a bright smile I hadn’t shown in a long time, I said to Marco:

“I’m saying this because I think I’ll win even if you do that when the time comes.”

“Where… does this confidence come from… Well, alright, I’ll suggest it to the Academy.”

With those words, Marco left the arena, and I also declared my withdrawal and exited.

After I withdrew, Reina and Marco, who had been watching, asked me:

“Why did you withdraw?”

“Yes… you seemed to have plenty of energy left.”

“Because there was no reason to continue.”

Honestly, I wanted to return to the Academy as quickly as possible, even if just a minute sooner.

So immediately afterward, I headed to the park where Gloria was waiting.