Ch.3636. Observation Class

# Gift-Related Person Alert

▼ Yuria Greyhaunter

[ Interest Level 1 ]

[ Rewards available! ]

I stroke my chin as I scan the window that appeared before me.

‘…Starting at interest level 1 already.’

As expected of someone with an evil alignment, the rate at which affection increases is concerning.

Considering that Elia is still only at interest level 4, this is even more remarkable.

Though I don’t even know what caused this to appear in the first place.

“…”

Right. When have these things ever appeared at the timing I expected?

Let’s just claim the reward.

[ Claiming gift reward from ‘Yuria’. ]

[ You have acquired ‘Skill: Swordsman’s Focus’! ]

< Skill Info >

[ Skill: Swordsman’s Focus ] [ Grade: B ]

[ Dramatically enhances concentration for a short time during combat. When used, reaction speed and precision are maximized. ]

‘…Not bad.’

When Desperate Situation activates, my reflexes improve along with my physical abilities, but having a skill that specifically amplifies just that aspect gives a different feeling.

It’s only B-grade, but if combined with Desperate Situation to boost reflexes, it would be close to a cheat key in performance.

Even used alone, the benefits during combat would be tremendous.

“Young master! It’s been a while!”

While I was thinking, I spotted a gentleman in a suit waving at me from a distance.

Butler Hermann is an elderly man who has served the Campbell family for many years.

In terms of time spent with the family, he’s actually been around longer than my father, the head of the family.

Because of this, Hermann exudes that peculiar atmosphere that can only come from someone who has mastered their profession. A certain composure in everything he does.

“…But, is Elphante always like this?”

“Just go with it.”

Even Hermann, with all his composure, can’t hide his surprise at the scale of Elphante Academy’s observation class.

In truth, the number of people nearby isn’t particularly large.

However, when you look at who they are…

There are merchants who control enormous capital, nobles, and even royalty from various nations.

While the absolute top leaders of hegemonic nations aren’t present, who would call an event with this caliber of attendees a “class”?

“No, even so…”

Hermann stroked his beard as he looked at the massive square arena embedded in the center of the building.

“…that seems a bit dangerous, doesn’t it?”

Hermann’s gaze fixed on the magitech scoreboard installed near the arena.

For events with crowds like this, observation classes typically fill their schedules with activities far removed from their original purpose.

They can’t present boring content at an event attended by influential figures from various countries.

So this is what they came up with.

A battle royale where dozens of students are thrown in at once.

“…”

This seems more like something you’d find in a colosseum rather than an academy, but apparently it’s been a long-standing tradition since Elphante’s founding.

What a terrifying place.

“And you’re saying you’ll be participating right in the middle of that, young master?”

“…Well, yes.”

Hermann expressed his dismay, but I can’t just pass this up.

This is my only chance to catch Gideon’s attention.

“…I’m not sure whether the head of the family would be proud or troubled by this.”

I give a bitter smile in response to Hermann’s wry laugh.

‘The truly frightening things haven’t even been revealed yet.’

Like Elia, or Elnore.

No joke, if I brought either of them along, the entire estate would be turned upside down.

“I am… concerned. After all, it seems all sorts of people are in attendance. On my way here, I even noticed people from the Holy Empire.”

“…Is that so?”

I narrow my eyes as I respond.

Considering the timing and affiliation, that group must include the Saint and the “Boy King.”

Their arrival is much earlier than expected. Normally, they shouldn’t make contact until next month.

‘As I thought.’

The flow of the scenario is accelerating.

The fact that those two have arrived like this means that both the Holy Empire and the Cultists of the Demon are quite fired up.

While their motivations differ, it’s clear that both are looking for something within this academy.

‘…I can guess what it is.’

And my job is to thwart both of them.

Neither the Holy Empire nor the Cultists of the Demon are groups I particularly want to befriend.

As I was thinking this, Hermann continued with a smile.

“Well, since it’s an event with many participants, I hope you’ll show your best. You might become popular with the female students too.”

“…Yes, well.”

“Of course. Given the timing, there’s another event following the observation class, isn’t there? It would be easier to find a partner. I heard the head of the family also met the mistress there…”

“…I’ll be going now.”

Don’t bring up such frightening topics.

The faces of Elia and Elnore flash through my mind.

In a cold-sweat inducing way.

‘My task is…’

To make a deep impression on Gideon, who will be mixed among the spectators.

With the Tristan-style swordsmanship I’ve been building proficiency in.

< Mastery Info >

[ Trait: Tristan-style Swordsmanship ] [ Grade: Universal ]

[ Current Proficiency: 0% ]

[ This is the sword technique of the prestigious Tristan Dukedom. ]

[ ■ Can exert a consistent level of power regardless of weapon. ]

[ ■ When wielding a longsword, “Deflection” becomes available. ]

[ ■ When equipped with a longsword, can partially ignore opponent’s defense when striking. ]

The key is the second one.

Deflection.

Parrying that neutralizes an opponent’s attack if timed correctly. It’s a system found in almost any game.

However.

For a veteran player who has mastered all “timings” in the game to an obsessive degree.

You can create quite interesting situations with this.

“…”

I pick up my longsword with a bitter smile.

In truth, what I’m about to do is almost halfway to cheating. It could even be called a farce.

But that farce…

Will definitely work on the Empire’s strongest knight.

●

A dry tension permeated the stands.

Given the setting, under normal circumstances, people would likely be engaged in social conversation.

After all, everyone here is either the head of some faction or close to it.

Probably.

That is, if not for the presence of a certain man sitting in the center of the spectator seats.

“Why would he be at a place like this…?”

“I’m not sure either…”

Even the two people exchanging these words were royalty from somewhere.

But the person sitting there now is undoubtedly someone before whom even “the likes of them” wouldn’t dare raise their voices.

Gideon Gaelstard La Tristan. The Empire’s strongest knight. The Grand Duke of Tristan.

Everyone’s gaze was directed at him, but the man receiving such attention was merely looking down at the arena with an expressionless face.

“Oh, Gideon? What brings you here?”

Of course, at a place like Elphante, there’s bound to be at least one person bold enough to speak first, regardless of whether the other party is a grand duke or not.

For example, Conrad Baltador, the dean of the Knight Department.

Gideon slowly turned his gaze toward him.

“…”

Without rising from his seat, without saying a word, Gideon merely gave a slight nod, causing Conrad to smirk.

Yes. Even this much response is a lot to get from him.

If they hadn’t trained under the same sword master, he would have been completely ignored.

“What wind blew in someone with such a heavy backside?”

Regardless, Conrad sat down with a thud in the seat next to Gideon.

And because he was so close, Conrad was able to notice something that others hadn’t.

“…What happened to your arm?”

When Conrad pointed out Gideon’s arm, which was heavily bandaged, Gideon’s expression momentarily furrowed.

He quickly covered that area with his cloak, causing Conrad to chuckle before speaking.

“Are you still doing that? Trying to catch up to the First Grand Duke Tristan?”

If there’s anything that could injure the Empire’s strongest knight to this extent, that’s the only thing that comes to mind.

He used to do such things often. He would commit crazy acts of training that others couldn’t even imagine, all in the name of catching up to the First Grand Duke Tristan, known as the Sword Saint.

“Hey, even if that’s the case, now that you have a child, you should-“

“Senior.”

Gideon spoke in a low voice.

“That’s enough.”

Simultaneously, a coldness like the brushing of a blade rose sharply around them.

“You know what I dislike, don’t you?”

While those around them were breaking out in cold sweat, Conrad also frowned as he looked at Gideon.

‘…Has he grown even stronger, this bastard?’

Although Gideon’s skills had always surpassed his own, the gap he felt from this aura was enough to surprise even Conrad.

If previously he could win three or four times out of ten fights…

Now it felt like he would lose all hundred times.

“…Ah, alright. I won’t bring up your daughter. Just tell me how your arm ended up like that.”

As Conrad smoothly changed the subject, Gideon also withdrew his aura with a slightly furrowed brow.

Then, with a shallow sigh, he answered.

“…I was training based on a passage left by the First Sword Saint in the literature. It’s said to be the foundation of all swordsmanship he left behind.”

“What did he say?”

“He said to make a great mountain your own.”

“…”

This really sounds like some ghost eating sesame seeds nonsense.

Conrad frowned and asked back.

“So what did you do?”

“I tried to cut a mountain first.”

“…”

“It didn’t work well.”

“…Did you expect it to?”

Yes. Like father, like daughter.

They’re so similar in how they say crazy things without changing their expression that it seems genetic.

‘Blood will tell…’

As he was giving a bitter smile, the “contestants” were entering the stage.

Each carrying a weapon, they came in with visibly tense expressions.

Some were even trembling all over, causing Conrad to snort.

No matter how promising these talents from across the Empire might be, most are novices who haven’t even experienced a real battle. It’s natural to be nervous in front of such distinguished people.

Some were surely pushed to participate to elevate their family’s honor.

However, among them, just one person…

‘He’s participating too?’

There was one person who distinctly lacked any tension.

No, it wasn’t just a lack of tension—he looked almost bored.

Darwood Campbell.

With a blank expression, he was sauntering in, using his longsword as if it were a walking stick.

‘…Hmm?’

And.

Conrad noticed that Gideon’s gaze was also fixed on him, and he grinned.

“What? Did you come to see him?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Gideon continued to focus his gaze on him.

Every movement, every gesture, he was scrutinizing everything.

As if trying to analyze something.

Then, his eyes wavered momentarily.

“Senior.”

“Yes?”

“What is that man’s relationship with my daughter?”

“…What?”

“Did my daughter teach him swordsmanship? No…”

Gideon was silent for a moment before continuing.

“…He must have learned it. How long did he learn? A few months? A year?”

“Hey, wait. Just a moment.”

Conrad responded with a bewildered voice to the sudden question.

“It’s true they’re somewhat close, but I don’t know about learning swordsmanship or anything like that. Besides, he’s a new student. He’s only been at the academy for about two months.”

“…What?”

Surprise appeared on Gideon’s face.

Considering his usual demeanor, where emotions never show on his face, this was extremely unusual.

“…That can’t be. That is clearly our family’s-“

“All contestants, bow to each other!”

The voice of the referee in the center of the stadium cut off Gideon’s words.

“Ready!”

Simultaneously, everyone in the stadium took their respective stances.

The Knight Department with their weapons, the Magic Department with their spells, the Divine Department with their blessings or miracles.

“Begin!”

With the referee’s declaration, the stage instantly turned into a scene of chaos.

In a situation where everyone except oneself is an enemy, battles erupted from all directions.

Nearly half the participants were swept away in an instant. The number continued to decrease at a frightening pace as the battle progressed.

But even in such chaos, the wheat is quickly separated from the chaff.

Conrad smiled as he looked down at the stage.

The reason such a simple and brutal event has continued for so long is because there are those who reveal their true value in such chaotic battle situations.

Because everyone is an enemy, there are gems that display overwhelming skill.

‘There are already some useful ones.’

A man wielding a spear and dominating his surroundings. Conrad knew him. Talion Armand. The eldest son of the Armand Viscounty.

And a woman knocking down everyone around her with just her fists and gloves. Her face was hard to see as she wore a deeply pulled hood.

‘These two are the most dominant.’

Indeed, at the freshman level, those two are almost beyond standard in terms of combat ability. If not for Elia, a hero candidate, they could aim for the top of their year.

“What do you think? In your view…”

Conrad stopped mid-sentence as he turned his head to ask the opinion of the person next to him.

He realized that Gideon’s gaze had never once turned toward them.

The Empire’s strongest knight had been watching only one person from the start of the duel.

“…”

Darwood Campbell.

As soon as the duel started, he immediately went to a corner of the stage and hasn’t moved a single step from there.

Yes. That’s all.

‘…He’s holding up well though.’

He’s purely defensive.

Standing in place, blocking and deflecting those who charge at him.

Well, as a survival strategy, it’s understandable, but compared to the two mentioned earlier, it does seem rather unremarkable.

“Surprising. Did you always like such modest fighting styles?”

“Is that all you see?”

“What?”

“To my eyes, it looks a bit different.”

Gideon said this as he stood up from his seat. Then he walked toward the fence.

As if he wanted to see that man a little closer.

“…”

Gideon smirked.

“Did you just smile?”

He didn’t feel the need to deny it.

It felt like a long-pondered problem had been solved at once.

Make a great mountain your own.

That’s definitely what the First Sword Saint said.

He looked at the man who was still standing in a corner, defending against attacks.

He’s not simply standing and defending attacks.

He anticipates every attack, waits for the perfect moment, and “deflects” with precise timing.

‘The basics of Tristan-style swordsmanship.’

Deflection.

The most fundamental technique of receiving an opponent’s attack to create an opening.

But when utilized to the extreme…

Magic, miracles, blessings—

Everything is neutralized as if hitting a massive wall.

That alone renders the opponent’s attack instantly ineffective. They stagger and lose their pace.

And by simply pushing in light attacks through those openings, he subdues his opponents.

‘…A new student, they say.’

Don’t make me laugh.

If he’s “just” a new student, then the knights of the Empire, including himself, are nothing but untrained commoners.

Conrad’s eyes widened as he saw Gideon’s face.

A twisted smile hung on Gideon’s lips.

It was as if he had found a truly interesting subject.

Or perhaps…

‘It’s not just enduring.’

It was the expression of “competitive spirit” being activated.

The Empire’s strongest knight, toward a mere freshman.

‘He’s winning by blocking.’

There’s no flashy attack or anything like that.

Everything is optimized.

Standing in place, not moving a single step, delivering a suffocating pressure.

That appearance, almost like…

“A great mountain.”

This must be the “virtue” the First Grand Duke Tristan spoke of.

Gideon’s eyes flashed fiercely.