Ch.35Chapter 35: Entrance Exam (12)

After the incredible first quarterfinal match ends, the tournament atmosphere heats up to its peak.

[Amazing! Incredible! Truly a stage for rising stars!! No need to wait!! The second battle!! The disciple of Sword Saint!! Shukville Laurent!! Against the strongest race of the continent!! Dragon-kin Solpin Drakan!! Their battle begins right now!!]

“Woaaaaaahhh!!”

***

Despite Shukville, the disciple of the Sword Saint, fighting valiantly, he ultimately fell to his knees against Solpin’s overwhelming physical prowess and attacks that utilized both aura and magic.

“…I lost.”

“You were quite strong too. Just not as much as me.”

[This is the power of the strongest race! The winner! Dragon-kin Solpiiin!!! Drakaaan!!!]

***

The next match follows.

It’s the battle between Seirun and Abel.

Although many predicted Abel from the 6th Floor would have the advantage, the result was unexpectedly Seirun’s victory.

Abel, who had just reached the 6th Floor, lacked impressive swordsmanship for some reason.

As a result, despite his higher aura level, he was overwhelmed by Seirun, who possessed the Empire’s strongest swordsmanship.

BANG!!

“Kugh!”

“What a shame. I don’t know how you reached the 6th Floor, but with proper swordsmanship, this could have been a good match. Power and speed alone aren’t enough. That’s why swordsmanship exists.”

“N-not yet.”

As Abel tries to create distance and regroup, Seirun’s vision technique strikes without fail.

“This ends it. Caldrian-style Vision Technique, Third Form: Rising Flower.”

Sharp, petal-like sword energy rises across a wide area.

Unable to dodge, Abel sustains injuries, and the referee announces the end of the match.

[The Empire’s border guardian roof is strong!! The winner! The Empire’s swordsmanship genius! Seirun Caldrian!]

***

The final quarterfinal match.

Airin versus Yuria Lycant.

The large-bodied Yuria’s eyes curve into a smile as she speaks to Airin.

“Hmm~ The Emperor said you’re at Floor 6.5, right?”

Airin answered nonchalantly.

“What of it?”

Yuria smiles, twitching her cute cat ears.

“I may not be as sturdy as Valt over there, but I’m pretty tough too.”

As she says this, Yuria’s eyes begin to glow, activating the beastkin’s special ability.

“Beast Transformation!”

With that shout, Yuria’s pretty appearance begins to change.

Crack! Crackle!

Crack!

“Grrrrrrrr!!”

Her face remains human, but her eyes become more distinctly vertical like those of a beast, and her fangs grow sharper.

Though wearing the clothes provided by the Academy, as lion fur emerges and covers Yuria’s body, she removes her top.

Luxurious white fur covers her upper body.

Her hands transform into beast-like claws, becoming sharp weapons.

The excited announcer shouts.

[Beast Transformation! The beastkin’s special ability, Beast Transformation! How magnificent! Yuria Lycant!! Facing a 7th Floor powerhouse, she attempts transformation through Beast Transformation to fight at full strength!!]

“Hmph, how flashy.”

“Grr, I just don’t want to lose without a fight. Here I come! Grawr!”

Yuria from the 5th Floor has become even stronger with her Beast Transformation. At this level, she wouldn’t be out of place on the 6th Floor.

Airin blocks Yuria’s claws, which move at a speed invisible to the eye.

[F-fast! Yuria Lycant! Approaching Airin at an incredible speed!]

Clang!

Screech!

Sparks fly as Yuria’s claws clash with Airin’s sword.

“Tch! This isn’t easy after all. It’s also surprising that someone so small can block my attacks.”

“Hmph, just this much.”

.

.

.

Yuria in her Beast Transformation was strong.

Because of this, Airin fought for over ten minutes for the first time since the tournament began.

Airin’s rough breathing can be heard.

“Huff, huff!”

Unlike Airin, Yuria’s voice sounds relaxed.

“As I thought, stamina is your weakness. What good is 7th Floor aura if you can’t use it for long?”

“Huff, huff. Damn it.”

Airin curses briefly, unable to refute Yuria’s words.

Though Yuria’s speech was normal, her physical condition was anything but.

Yuria’s body, which had been speaking normally, collapses.

Slide-

“Still… I lost this time. Next time I won’t…”

Thud!

Yuria, whose beautiful white fur has turned crimson with blood, declares her defeat and collapses.

“Medical team!!!”

As the referee shouts, healers rush to Yuria.

Though Airin is clearly out of breath, her body remains clean and unharmed.

That beastkin was troublesome.

Beast senses? Instinct? It was clearly a battle that would have ended long ago against a normal human, but Yuria incredibly managed to “take” unavoidable sword strikes with her body at a level that avoided fatal wounds.

Moreover, when Airin prepared to use her 7th Floor aura, Yuria instinctively sensed the danger and avoided approaching, choosing to flee instead.

Yuria was the fastest of all races in sprinting.

The speed of Yuria in Beast Transformation was truly lightning-fast.

While a sword strike might have caught her, Airin couldn’t match Yuria’s movement speed when she was determined to escape.

This caused Airin to consume a lot of stamina.

Additionally, the beastkin’s extraordinary recovery ability.

She had heard about it, but a beastkin’s body in Beast Transformation could heal moderate wounds on its own.

If Yuria had been even at early-to-mid 6th Floor level, Airin might have lost the match.

“So persistent… Phew.”

Airin looks at the slight wound on her left arm.

Though minimal, it’s unpleasant to be wounded.

She struggled against an unexpected opponent.

To struggle this much against a beastkin from the late 5th Floor—though she knew the Beast Transformation made her much stronger.

But this battle began to shake Airin’s belief that the difference in aura levels couldn’t be overcome regardless of physical differences.

The sword of a swordswoman with a shaken heart begins to dull.

***

[We’re seeing matches of the highest caliber in history. Will we see more matches of this level? The Grovint Tournament now has only the semifinals, finals, and the 3rd-4th place match remaining!]

The atmosphere in the arena is like boiling magma.

Seeing this, the Emperor feels proud.

“Hahaha, what a spectacle. What do you think, Lord Baldur? Wasn’t I right? Creating an educational institution was the correct decision.”

Academy Chancellor Baldur Kontis is watching the tournament beside the Emperor.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. I am also surprised. Such harmony is remarkable. The citizens’ aversion to other races must have decreased significantly.”

The Emperor, with a pleased expression, makes a proposal to Baldur.

“Hoho, I’m in a very good mood. What do you say? Would you like to make a wager with me? A bet on who will win. If you win, I’ll consider allowing you to resign as Chancellor.”

Chancellor Baldur had been planning to resign from his position starting this semester.

He felt it was time to step back from the front lines due to his age and being stuck at the 7th Circle.

Originally, he was a figure specialized in politics rather than magic.

However, the Emperor had not permitted Baldur’s resignation.

While skill might be important for regular professors, the Chancellor’s position wasn’t something just anyone could fill.

Only a political heavyweight like Baldur could appropriately keep the nobility and royalty in check.

That’s why he’s still maintaining his position as Chancellor at the age of 130.

Though he’s 130 years old, humans on this continent live long lives.

Baldur’s appearance only looks about 70-80 years old.

Baldur’s eyebrows twitch at the Emperor’s words about permitting his resignation.

“Are you serious?”

The Emperor laughs and says:

“Hoho, have you ever seen me make empty promises? However, if I win, you must maintain your position as Chancellor for 50 more years.”

It means he’ll be worked until death.

At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to step down from his position anyway.

Baldur accepts the Emperor’s proposal, clutching at straws.

“…Then, may I choose first?”

“Haha, go ahead.”

On the surface, Airin seems most likely.

After all, not just anyone can achieve a 7th Floor aura level.

But unless one is an 8th Floor Sword Master, the practical battles of experts can have varying results.

Didn’t they just see it?

If the beastkin’s level had been just half a floor higher, the outcome of the last quarterfinal might have been different.

With that in mind, Baldur makes his decision.

“Solpin Drakan. I choose her.”

The Emperor nods at Baldur’s choice.

“Hmm, indeed you have a discerning eye.”

As far as Baldur knows, the dragon-kin’s special ability hasn’t even been revealed yet.

It means Solpin’s current performance isn’t her full power.

Sensing victory, Baldur chuckles softly.

Only someone like Baldur in the Empire could laugh like this in front of the Emperor.

“Hohoho, what will you choose, Your Majesty?”

After a moment’s consideration, the Emperor smiles and says:

“If you choose Solpin, then I choose that fellow.”

***

[Grovint! Imperial Academy Tournament’s first semifinal match!! Who is the strongest among the other races?! We’ll find the answer to that question shortly!! Valt Gerunto versus Solpin Drakan!! The match begins right now!!]

As it turns out, the first semifinal is a battle between other races, while the second will be between humans from the central continent.

The final will be a showdown between an other race and a central continent human.

In the stands, Lati, with an anxious expression, asks Lisa and Arias:

“W-will Valt be okay?”

But Arias’s expression isn’t good either.

“Valt is strong, but dragon-kin are really…”

Victor and Robin, listening nearby, chime in.

“My master also told me to avoid fighting dragon-kin if possible.”

“My mentor said the same. He said there’s nothing to gain from fighting them.”

If one kills a dragon-kin, they’ll face persistent pursuit from their kind.

“But I’m a bit envious of Brother Valt. When else would you get to fight a dragon-kin?”

Lisa’s eyes curve into crescents as she teases Victor.

“Hoho! Someone like Victor would be blown away in one hit!”

Victor bristles at Lisa’s words.

“What?! No way! I could last at least 10 minutes!”

“Huh? That’s strange. Someone who got eliminated in the third round just like me, the weakest, claims they could last 10 minutes against a dragon-kin!?”

Tap tap tap-

Surprisingly, Victor and Lisa get along well. Or rather, Lisa gets along well with everyone.

Leaving the bickering duo, Arias, who had been intently watching the entrance to the waiting room, shouts:

“They’re coming out!”

***

Solpin and Valt take their positions after the announcer’s introduction.

Solpin shows her white teeth in a smile to Valt.

“Kyahaha, as expected! I knew you’d make it this far, barbarian.”

Valt also smiles and says:

“I’ve been looking forward to this match too. It’s going to be fun.”

The referee stands between them and raises his arm high.

“Both contestants ready!”

At that moment, Solpin makes a bombshell declaration to Valt.

“Give it your all. No! Fight with all your might! If you defeat me, you must become my husband!”

A deathly silence.

A moment later, Lisa, Arias, Lati, Elias, and Riduin, all in different locations, have the same reaction.

“W-whaaaat?!?”

[Oh, what’s this!! Contestant Solpin!! She’s publicly proposing to contestant Valt in the semifinals!!]