Ch.367362 – Strange Rumors

“Since I’ve already been eliminated, I won’t be taking any feedback. This is my last year competing in the National Exchange Competition anyway.”

“Of course, one session of feedback won’t completely change a person. If people could change that easily, there would be no point in all that grueling training. But are you really going to abandon this path just because you couldn’t compete in one National Exchange Competition? You must be the strongest in your country to have made it here, right?”

There are plenty of other competitions besides the National Exchange.

“You might laugh, but I seriously aimed for the championship this year.”

“It’s just frustrating to see you unable to draw out even a quarter of your true power.”

“You saw the match—the difference between Katsuhata and me was overwhelming. Do you think I could have beaten Katsuhata even if I was in peak condition?”

“Not easily.”

“See?”

“But if Larsson had just one more month, beating her wouldn’t have been impossible.”

“What?”

Larsson’s eyebrows twitched.

One month wasn’t a short time, but considering the vast gap between them, it wasn’t particularly long either.

“In duels, even a slight advantage in skill can dramatically tip the scales, but from what I saw, the gap between Emika and Larsson isn’t that huge. Which part exactly do you think you couldn’t handle?”

“All of it. If I had to pick one thing, I just couldn’t keep up with her sword speed.”

“You mean during the 4th exchange?”

“The 4th… how did you know that immediately?”

Larsson recalled the match and stared at me with wide eyes.

I just gave him a gentle smile.

“When a katana, significantly faster than a greatsword, thrusts toward the center, Larsson has no choice but to retreat. But what if you had stepped back three and a half steps instead of four? What if you had swung your sword at Katsuhata immediately without shifting your center of gravity on your final step? What do you think would have happened?”

“Then… hmm…”

“The answer is simple—Katsuhata would have either lost her sword completely or taken major damage to her barrier. If you don’t believe me, analyze it later with your coach.”

“Harald, is that right?”

“We haven’t reviewed the match yet.”

Harald the coach scratched his head awkwardly as he answered.

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. Why would Katsuhata deliberately put herself in such a vulnerable position?”

“Because if she discovered Larsson couldn’t counter there, she’d have the advantage throughout the entire match.”

Once a weakness is exposed, you have to play at a severe disadvantage compared to your actual ability.

Emika was perceptive enough to catch that small detail, and Larsson was forced to fight at a disadvantage throughout.

“Even Katsuhata isn’t without weaknesses. Her left arm is weak, making her attacks from upper right to lower left sluggish, and she has a habit of repeating the same technique she just successfully connected with.”

“So what should I have done? I was barely keeping up with parrying her sword in that chaotic exchange.”

“Mistilteinn.”

I pointed at his sword.

The aura-cutting blade.

A sword’s power is determined by grip strength.

And to exert more power than their natural ability, swordsmen wrap aura around their arms.

This applies to both Katsuhata and Larsson.

“On the 9th exchange, when Katsuhata’s upper right attack came in, you should have countered by swinging Mistilteinn upward to cut her aura support structure.”

I picked up my wand and recreated the exact stance Larsson had taken in the arena.

At that time, the prince had maintained a textbook defensive posture with his sword firmly in the center.

Unlike him, I flipped my wand and slashed upward—with one hand.

With my empty left hand, I concentrated aura and shot it forward.

I’m too short now for the height to match, but with Larsson’s build, this would be about where Emika’s head would be.

I paused in this position and said to Larsson:

“One month to learn to control a greatsword with one hand—that’s where my one-month timeframe came from. If you could do this, it would be Elias Larsson preparing for the round of 32 tomorrow, not Katsuhata Emika.”

Somehow I ended up giving feedback on his match with Emika rather than my own.

Larsson suddenly sat up.

“Larsson, don’t push yourself too hard…!”

“I’m fine. Just need some water.”

After gulping down cold water, the prince continued:

“Mistilteinn weighs a full 7kg. NoName, could you swing it with one hand?”

“I couldn’t. But you could. Listen, Larsson. Everyone has their own strengths. And with your talent, you could have beaten Emika. If there were hundreds of parallel universes, in one of them, Larsson would have shown us the upset of defeating Emika.”

“So you’re saying I’m a failure?”

“No. You have a long life ahead—I’d like to see more upsets from you. Isn’t there a Swedish saying? ‘Fear less, hope more; and all good things will be yours.’ Get in the habit of thinking positively.”

You can’t live your whole life just comparing yourself to others.

Everyone is born with a brilliant talent, but many hide it away in storage after facing early setbacks.

Compared to that, Larsson is actually quite fortunate.

Born into a wealthy family, he can pursue his talents without financial worries.

It seemed such a waste to give up on his dreams just because of one loss.

Larsson wore a deeply contemplative expression.

We talked a bit more after that, but most of it was trivial.

How did you come to Japan? By boat.

Is Korea really that close? Don’t you look at world maps, Prince?

Anyway, to commemorate our meeting, we took a photo together before parting ways.

Late that night, Larsson sent me a message thanking me.

He said after rewatching his match with Emika, it didn’t seem as one-sided as he’d thought.

Of course—the truly overwhelming defeat was actually in his match against me, but perhaps the shock was too great.

He seemed to have completely erased it from his memory.

That night, Prince Elias Larsson posted our photo on his social media.

[@eliaslarsson] [883M followers]

(In a training hall in Fukuoka.jpg)[+6]

[After losing to Katsuhata Emika, I was considering retiring from the national team.

The global barrier seemed too high, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was unqualified to represent my country as a mage.

But after meeting this brilliant kid, I was able to regain my resolve.

Today, I need to make one thing absolutely clear.

I don’t care who wins this year’s National Exchange Competition.

This kiddo is the all-time world number one in xxxxxxx.

What do I mean?

I lasted 14 minutes against Katsuhata, but against this girl, I couldn’t even last 5 minutes in xxxxxxx (Holy moly, I was confident I could last 5 minutes against last year’s champion!).

Who is NoName?

To the blind, she is eyes.

To the hungry, she is a chef.

To the thirsty, she is water.

If NoName has just one fan, that would be me.

The moment I realized she’s the only genius in this world, everyone else started looking ordinary.

So I’ve decided to participate in next year’s Europa League.

And there I’ll tell everyone:

‘You guys aren’t NoName, are you?’

Elias Larsson’s challenge continues in 2053, so please keep supporting me!]

[124,197 likes]

[Comments]

-Only you use social media like a diary, bro!

-Larsson, you did your best. You gained experience in the wider world, so I’ll look forward to Europa next year.

-Who is this cute girl?

-They look like a princess and prince from a fairy tale❤️❤️❤️

-wtf? You couldn’t last 5 minutes against NoName? Are you joking?

-Larsson only used simple words but I didn’t understand any of it.

-Did they duel?

-NoName>Katsuhata Emika, is that what you’re trying to say?

-OMG I looked it up and NoName is only 9 years old?!

* * *

Strange rumors were circulating in Japan.

Word was spreading that a girl not even 10 years old was hunting down eliminated participants from the National Exchange Competition and crushing them one by one.

[NoName: (photo.jpg)]

[NoName: Today I met my Italian friend Federico.]

[Emika: Did you win?]

[NoName: Yes, he wanted to go three sets and I won 3-0. He was pretty good, as expected from someone who made the top 16.]

[NoName: Good luck to Emika all the way to the finals! I know you’re good, but don’t get too careless! Oh, and also.]

Emika swallowed hard and closed her phone.

NoName wasn’t just skilled with a sword.

‘Does it really work in actual combat? With that physique? How?’

During training camp, Name had provided guidance, but only on theoretical aspects.

There’s a world of difference between having a god-given mind for theory and actually moving your body.

Emika wondered how on earth Name could defeat such formidable competitors.

“Hello, Katsuhata’s successor!”

“Oh? Hello.”

Emika automatically responded to the voice calling out while tapping her shoulder.

Turning around, she saw a young girl with slightly tanned Latin features staring at her.

‘She’s so young…!’

At 157cm, Emika was already well below the average height of National Exchange Competition participants.

The handsome Prince Larsson she’d faced in the round of 64 was over 180cm tall.

In contrast, the girl before her was barely 150cm, if that.

“Looking forward to working with you!”

“Pardon?”

The Westerner spoke fluent Japanese without any translation magic.

“We’re meeting in the quarterfinals!”

“Ah! May I ask where you’re from…?”

“Brazil. I’m representing Brazil. What, am I so insignificant you don’t even notice me? Even if you’re the tournament favorite, that’s mean!”

“No, no, that’s not it. I apologize.”

“Hehe, I’m just kidding! Cecilia Nieto de Sampaio. Just call me Cecilia!”

Cecilia extended her small hand.

As Emika shook it, she finally recalled information about her opponent.

Cecilia, French-Brazilian mixed heritage, graduated from Rice University in Texas at age 11, currently a principal researcher at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

She had been featured in global media as the person with the highest IQ in the world, and before Name broke the record, she was the youngest person to cast 5-circle magic.

“I learned a fun spell from that friend—want to see? She said you can use it too, sis!”

Cecilia smiled brightly as she skillfully created a magic circle.

[Quick Cast: Demon King’s Horns]

A pair of horns suddenly sprouted from among her long straight hair.

“Which friend are you talking about?”

“Huh? Name didn’t introduce me to you? I’ll have to scold her later!”

Emika checked her phone in confusion.

[NoName: Oh, and also.]

[NoName: I had a chance to briefly meet your quarterfinal opponent. She’s definitely not to be underestimated. Even you could lose if you look down on her just because she’s young.]