Ch.33Chapter 33: Entrance Exam (10)

No matter how well this barbarian caught me, the impact from falling from such a height was minimal.

No, there was no impact at all.

The bewildered princess checks her body while being held in Balt’s arms.

“W-what? It doesn’t hurt at all?”

Balt is also slightly surprised.

He caught her thinking it would be better than letting her hit the ground, but the constraint of “I won’t harm you” completely negated the impact.

“Are you alright, Princess?”

Elias, who was checking her body, suddenly realizes that she’s being held in this barbarian’s arms.

*Whoosh*

The princess’s face instantly turns red as she stammers.

“H-how long are y-you going to h-hold me!? P-put me down!!”

Balt slowly sets the princess down.

“You seem fine. So, was it fun?”

If it hadn’t been a duel, such an experience of flying through the air would have been fascinating even for a princess.

“Y-you throw me like you’re trying to kill me and then ask that!? You idiot!!”

Balt chuckles and says.

“Strange, weren’t you the one who told me not to go easy on you?”

“W-well, yes, but! What kind of person throws a lady so mercilessly!?”

Thinking about it, Elias feels embarrassed that Balt had grabbed her waist.

While she’s touched swords before, this is the first time such a rough man’s hands have touched her body.

“Haha, forgive me. I thought that was the way you’d be least likely to get hurt.”

“What?”

At that moment, the announcer’s declaration of the winner is heard.

[What a shame! You showed a magnificent attack, but the Princess has unfortunately lost to incredible defensive power and strength. The winner of the first match is Baaaalt!! Geruntuu!!!]

“Woooooooah!! Balt! Balt! Balt!”

Lisa and her friends’ cheers echo throughout.

Citizens from the other empire remain silent.

People around them start glaring at Lisa and her friends who are enthusiastically cheering by themselves.

Noticing the awkward situation, Arias begins poking Lisa, Lati, and Victor in their sides.

“Lisa! Lati! Victor! Shh, shhh! Q-quiet down for a moment!”

But Lisa and Lati are too excited.

“Ah! Why?! My friend Balt won!! How can I stay quiet about that!! Balt! Balt! Balt!”

Victor, who was shouting alongside them, also cheers.

“Did you see that!! This is the power of muscles!! Uahahahaha!!”

Watching the scene, Balt somehow felt those guys were amazing.

Even Elias lets out a laugh at the sight.

“Hehe, you have interesting friends, don’t you, Balt?”

Balt answers awkwardly.

“Indeed. They’re good people.”

Elias extends her hand to Balt.

“I lost. You know what happens if you don’t win after beating the princess, right?”

Balt takes Elias’s small hand and says.

“Hmm, I’ll try my best.”

[As expected of the Princess!! Gracefully accepting the result and congratulating the winner. Both of you fought wonderfully!!]

Only then does thunderous applause erupt from the audience.

“Woooooooah!!”

“Princess, you were amazing!”

“Well fought!!”

“The barbarian showed excellent manners too!”

After finishing the first match, the two head to the waiting room.

Elias’s heart pounds as she walks alongside Balt.

‘W-why am I feeling like this?? Is it some aftereffect of flying through the air?’

*Bump*

Robin bumps fists with Balt and exclaims admiringly.

“As expected of you, Balt! It’s incredible how you withstood that attack!”

“Still, she was impressive. The princess’s attacks were strong.”

“H-hmph, you block it so easily and then say nice things. Is your arm okay?”

Though it was a minor wound, the sword had clearly pierced and drawn blood.

Balt checks the spot where the sword had stabbed him and answers.

“Hmm, it’s fine. It’s healed.”

Elias responds with an incredulous expression.

“What kind of body do you have…?”

***

The tournament continued.

Robin showcased his powerful bow for the first time in the main tournament and performed well, but his opponent was unfavorable.

Robin’s opponent was Seiron Caldrian, who had defeated Victor.

Even though he had compensated for archery’s weakness in close combat, it was natural to be at a disadvantage against Caldrian, who specialized in close combat.

So Robin chose a hit-and-run strategy, but no matter how spacious the arena was, archers were at a disadvantage in spaces with nowhere to hide.

“Ugh! If this doesn’t work either! Thunder Arrow Barrage!”

Five lightning-infused arrows burst from Robin’s longbow and rain down on Seiron.

*Crack!*

*Crackle!*

“Impressive technique. But it’s useless if it doesn’t hit. Caldrian Style Third Form: Returning Wind.”

As Seiron swings his sword, Robin’s arrows lose direction and scatter in the powerful wind, and Seiron charges in, bringing his sword down on Robin.

*Clang!*

Robin barely blocks Seiron’s sword with his longbow, but he’s now exhausted.

Recognizing this, Seiron says.

“Do you wish to continue?”

Hearing those words, Robin sighs and forfeits the match.

Robin had barely managed to block that last strike.

“Phew… I lost. As expected of Caldrian. Your skill is incredible.”

“You were strong too. You fought well despite being an archer in an unfavorable location.”

“Haha, that’s not much consolation.”

***

With Airin’s match ending in just 2 seconds again, the quarterfinalists were determined.

Balt

Riduin Brinche

Shukbil Lorang

Solfin Dracan

Seiron Caldrian

Abel

Yuria Raicant

Airin Silveron

The quarterfinals will begin with Balt’s match after a two-hour break for rest and meals.

As they exit the waiting room, Lisa and her friends are waiting at the entrance.

“Balt! Robin!”

It’s the cheer captain Lisa’s shout.

“Balt, you were amazing! Robin, too bad! But you did well!!”

Robin scratches the back of his head awkwardly at Lisa’s praise.

“I’m ashamed. I lost to the same person as Victor.”

Caldrian’s stock is incredibly high right now.

He’s the only noble family member to reach the quarterfinals, and by consecutively defeating the disciples of the Sword King and the Palace God, he’s impressed upon everyone the prowess of the Empire’s swordsmanship lineage.

No wonder he’s earned the nickname “Muscle Destroyer.”

“That guy’s strong, right? See, I didn’t lose for nothing?”

“He really is strong. But I think Balt could probably beat him, don’t you?”

Victor nods.

“Yeah… Brother Balt is really… Now it’s all up to you, brother!! Please win!!”

“I’ll try.”

But Lati worriedly says.

“But your next opponent is the Tower Master’s disciple? That guy’s 6th Circle, he’s bound to be incredible.”

From the 6th Circle, mages become exponentially stronger in one-on-one combat.

This is because they can use the evasion spell Blink from the 6th Circle.

Although it can’t be used continuously, the existence of an evasion technique that can perfectly avoid an opponent’s attacks greatly enhances combat ability.

Robin and Victor nod in agreement.

“Approaching will be the problem…”

“Yeah, that Blink is really tricky.”

What makes Blink tricky is that there’s no indication of where the user will move to.

In martial arts, you can predict the direction of movement based on a person’s movements, but that’s impossible with Blink.

Of course, it becomes possible with higher mastery, but that’s still far off for someone at the Expert level.

But Balt calmly says.

“What are you talking about? I won’t approach at all.”

Everyone gives him a dumbfounded look.

Except Lisa.

Lati tilts her head and asks.

“Then how will you win?”

Even Arias, who knows about the spirits, is skeptical.

“Yeah, Balt, even with spirits, against 6th Circle magic…”

“Hehe, there’s always a way. This match will be a magic battle.”

Everyone expresses doubt at Balt’s strange statement.

“M-magic battle?”

It’s questionable how he plans to engage in a magic battle with just 1st Circle magic.

Victor also finds it strange.

He knows that Balt’s “muscle magic” still requires him to get close to use it.

But there’s one person.

Lisa trembles as she looks at Balt and says.

“Y-you’re not going to kill him, are you?”

***

After a hearty meal, his condition is excellent.

As the announcer’s introduction ends, Balt faces Riduin, the Tower Master’s disciple.

With purple curly hair, Riduin, befitting a mage, holds a staff and says confidently.

“I watched your match with interest. But I won’t let you catch me~.”

Balt calmly returns Riduin’s words.

“I don’t intend to catch you.”

“What? Hmph, liar, I know you’ll rush at me as soon as we start~.”

The referee’s signal to begin the match is heard.

“Begin combat!”

With the starting signal, Riduin launches three fireballs at Balt to keep him in check while casting Haste on himself and creating distance.

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

Balt swats away the fireballs with his thick palms.

‘H-how brutal! Who swats away fireballs with their hands? This won’t do! I’ll have to use ice magic.’

Riduin’s specialty is ice magic.

Other magic is merely supplementary.

Having already completed calculations while throwing the fireballs, Riduin chants the activation words.

“Ice Spear!”

Three sharp ice spears form around Riduin and shoot toward Balt.

‘He can’t swat these away with his hands… Huh?’

Several stone spear-like objects appear in Balt’s left hand.

‘What’s that? I didn’t even hear an incantation?’

Seeing Riduin’s ice spears, Balt had asked the gnome to create similar stone spears.

Three from that side, so three from Balt too.

Balt, who had been holding them at his side, throws the stone spears one by one at the incoming ice spears and shouts.

“Stone Spear!”

*Boom!*

*Crack!*

*Splash!*

Balt’s stone spears and Riduin’s ice spears collide, causing powerful explosions.

Startled, Riduin shouts.

“W-what kind of Stone Spear is that, you cheater!!”

He’s never seen such stone spears before.

Sure, stone spears can be created, but to throw them like that?

And the power is considerable.

His Ice Spear is strong enough to be his main attack technique, yet it’s evenly matched.

No, honestly, the Ice Spear is slightly overpowered.

With his magic countered, Riduin prepares to Blink, expecting Balt to approach, but Balt truly doesn’t approach Riduin.

‘He’s really not coming?’

Balt, excited about engaging in a magic battle after a long time, smiles and calls out to Riduin.

“That can’t be all, right? Throw more. I’ll block them all ‘with magic.'”

Riduin can’t understand what this barbarian is saying.

Is this 1st Circle mage suggesting a firepower battle with him, a 6th Circle mage?

“Are you crazy? You blocked one Ice Spear and now you want a firepower duel with me?”

Balt grins and says excitedly.

“A firepower battle! Sounds fun! Come on! I’m looking forward to it. Hurry up, I’m waiting.”

With his pride hurt, Riduin grits his teeth.

“You’ve made a mistake! I’ll show you what happens when you give me time!”

With that, Riduin begins preparing a major spell.

The 6th Circle magic Icicle Tornado.

It’s a powerful spell that launches a whirlwind filled with sharp icicles that tear enemies apart.

It has a long casting time, making it unsuitable for duels, but that foolish barbarian has given him time.

Observing this, Balt thinks.

‘Hmm, Icicle Tornado. Then I’ll…’

Balt, knowledgeable about magic, recognizes what spell is coming just from the signs and prepares a counter-spell.

*Boom!*

*Thud!*

*Crack!*

*Boom Boom!*

He stomps the ground repeatedly, creating piles of stones on the floor.

Seeing this, Riduin thinks to himself.

‘I don’t know what he’s doing, but he won’t be able to block this!’

Just as Riduin is about to complete his spell.

“Hup!”

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Balt spreads his massive arms wide and begins spinning in place.