Ch.3737. Observation Class (2)

[ ‘Skill: Fatal Charm’ has been activated! ]

[ The villain’s affection has greatly increased! ]

[ A reward has been added to the Gift tab! ]

Hmm.

That’s right.

I glance at the audience with a smirk.

With all these people around, I can’t see Gideon’s position, but if this message is appearing for me now, he’s the only possible target.

‘…This is actually cheating, you know.’

If I recall the setting correctly, the foundation of the First Grand Duke Tristan’s swordsmanship is “basic techniques perfected to their peak.”

It’s about anticipating everything your opponent will do and always staying one step ahead.

Until you can toy with your opponent using defense alone.

“…”

Of course, you might think that if someone could actually do that, there wouldn’t be any opponent they couldn’t defeat.

This is swordsmanship from someone who could slice through space-time and distort the temporal axis itself. If you can’t even do this much, you probably can’t even stand at the starting point.

And if you could actually pull off such a feat, that would be a different story.

‘…Elnore used it later too.’

The game called it the ‘Infinite Veil.’

An absolute defensive technique that blocks and deflects any attack. Conveniently usable with just a single sword.

Compared to such an insane technique, what I’m doing now is essentially just child’s play.

But still, I can mimic the effect similarly.

Sword, magic, miracles and blessings. Whatever it may be.

With just the “deflection” of Tristan swordsmanship, I can handle anything. As long as I master the timing.

“W-what’s going on?”

“How can he block magic with a sword…!”

I subdue those who speak with bewildered expressions by striking them lightly.

My Desperate Situation skill has risen to at least C-rank. This is more than enough for ordinary freshmen.

With my back against a corner, I don’t need to worry about attacks from behind, and blocking student-level attacks is something I could do with my eyes closed.

As a result.

There were only three people left standing on the stage, including myself.

One of them is…

“I forfeit.”

“…”

“I can’t beat you anyway, brother. The prize money for second and third place is the same, right?”

Talion raised his hand with a fresh expression and declared that.

It was such a clean forfeit declaration that even the judge was taken aback.

“…What were you doing here?”

“Oh, I came because they said there would be prize money.”

“…”

Why is he so poor when he’s from a viscount family?

Get some allowance.

“I also have to pay some additional fines because of the issue with Marquis Riverback.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Well.”

As Talion exits with light footsteps, he bows his head slightly as he passes by me.

“Be careful with that one, brother.”

At the tip of Talion’s finger was a person wearing light gloves on their hands. The last person remaining on the stage.

They’re cracking their knuckles by bending the joints.

Purple hair peeking out from under the hood. Judging by the build…

‘…A woman?’

As I frown, Talion continues.

“I just came for the prize money… but that one looks a bit dangerous.”

“Dangerous how?”

“Just seems like someone who enjoys beating people up. They tormented their opponents to the end.”

Indeed, there are several students lying around them, half-beaten to a pulp.

As Talion says this and leaves the stage, I scan the opponent from head to toe.

“…”

Yes. I completely agree with Talion.

First of all, this is definitely someone who enjoys beating people up.

And not someone who would casually pop up in a place like this.

“What? Aren’t you coming?”

As I examine the opponent with a stern expression, that’s the response I get from the other side.

“Then I’ll come to you?”

Following that, an ominous feeling slid down my spine.

A familiar sensation.

That gap I felt when facing Elia without any ability enhancement.

[ Crisis situation detected. ]

[ Judged to be a direct threat to life. ]

[ Applying skill: Desperate Situation at EX rank. ]

“…!”

As the opponent’s figure ‘disappears,’ I instinctively activate my skill.

[ ‘Skill: Swordsman’s Focus’ has been activated! ]

[ Reaction speed and precision have increased! ]

The entire world slows down around me.

My reflexes have improved so dramatically that it feels like the world is being filmed in ultra-slow motion with me as the only exception.

With Desperate Situation at EX rank and skill stacking, this kind of thing is actually possible.

‘…This really is cheating.’

Thinking that, I look ahead, and my expression immediately hardens.

Even in this significantly slowed world, there was someone moving exceptionally fast.

It’s walking speed technically, but considering how much everything else has slowed down, this is an insane level of speed.

“…!”

I grit my teeth and try to take a defensive stance somehow, but my body feels unusually slow to respond.

‘…Ah, right.’

Just because my reaction speed is faster doesn’t mean my body moves faster.

After waiting for my body to properly assume the stance, I deactivate the skill with a bitter smile.

And simultaneously, a fist flies toward my sword and collides with it.

-!

…Did sparks just fly?

From a fist colliding with a sword?

“…”

As I step back a few paces from the impact, the woman who threw the punch wiggles her hand with a surprised look.

She seems unable to comprehend that her strike was just blocked.

But.

“What? I thought you were nothing special?”

Soon, her demeanor changes fiercely.

The hood is pulled down so low that her eyes aren’t visible, but beneath it, a grotesque smile forms on her lips.

The expression of a predator that has found proper prey.

“Were you holding back too?”

And then, various colored energies manifest on each of her arms and legs.

It’s a completely different feeling from the magical energy used by mages or the divine power wielded by priests.

Seeing that, a chill runs down my spine again.

“I forfeit.”

I quickly raise my hand and say that as soon as I see her form.

“…You’re forfeiting?”

“Yes.”

I answer the bewildered judge.

Since I don’t have any injuries at all and I’m being even quicker than Talion, his face looks even more dumbfounded.

“…”

Well. No.

Defeating this person who’s coming at me with full force with my current specs would be considered nonsense even in dreams.

“…Hey.”

As I quickly try to exit the arena, my opponent immediately calls me back.

“What are you doing now? Things were just getting interesting.”

“…”

No.

Why are you like this when I said I forfeit?

I feel like she’ll chase after me and beat me up if I silently retreat now.

“No, this would be a big problem.”

“…What?”

“What if you use tribal arts here?”

That’s genuinely true.

The tribal power that only the Tribal Union can handle is especially efficient for physical enhancement. Even with my Desperate Situation boosted to EX rank, I can’t guarantee victory.

No. It’s impossible for me to face this person in the first place.

‘Chief’s daughter, please…!’

Riru Garda, a key character from Chapter 5.

The second daughter of the Tribal Union’s Chief. A sadist who enjoys beating people up.

Above all.

‘…She’s probably stronger than Elnore at this point, right?’

Especially considering that Elnore and Elia haven’t properly grown yet.

I’m confident I’d be a corpse in less than 3 seconds if I faced her now.

I don’t know why she’s participating in an event like this, but anyway, running away is the best strategy right now…!

“…Hmm.”

As I hurriedly leave the arena with my back to the opponent who’s snorting, Riru’s gaze continues to pierce into me.

Continuously.

Until the very end, until my figure completely disappears from her sight.

And because of that.

“…So he knows tribal arts. A person from the Empire.”

I couldn’t hear Riru’s voice as she muttered that.

●

[ Skill: Fatal Charm is conditionally effective! ]

[ Excellent timing! You’ve planted a foreshadowing that will lead to explosive affection later! ]

[ The effect will be doubled the next time the skill is successfully activated! ]

“…”

I don’t even know anymore.

I’ve long given up trying to analyze why these messages appear.

I understand gaining Gideon’s interest, but who is this directed at now?

“…”

“…”

Of course, what’s even more incomprehensible is the current situation.

After the duel ended and I left the stage almost like I was fleeing after forfeiting, I was immediately abducted by someone.

I accept the teacup that the maid next to me places in front of me.

Of course, I don’t have the leisure to pay attention to that.

Just facing the person looking at me from the front is enough to make cold sweat pour down.

“…It’s an honor to meet you, Grand Duke Tristan.”

The other person closed his eyes and just nodded.

He’s been like this the whole time.

If I leave him alone, he’ll stay quiet for a long time, and it’s making me anxious.

The person himself has a charisma that makes people around him tense when he keeps his mouth shut, like an ice sculpture.

And this person is originally one of the Empire’s foremost power holders who could wipe out me and my entire territory with just a word.

There are more than enough reasons to be tense.

‘…I expected to attract interest, but…’

This person, for some reason, has an enormous interest in the First Grand Duke Tristan’s swordsmanship.

The fact that he called me for a one-on-one meeting as soon as I showed a hint of it proves that.

Probably, he has such interest for reasons related to his daughter.

“Darwood Campbell.”

I jump up in surprise. Why suddenly speak now?

“What’s your relationship with my daughter?”

“…”

It sounds like a father interrogating his daughter’s boyfriend, but I know that’s not what he means.

This person must have cut off his connection with Elnore.

Deliberately, severely, he must be doing so.

“…The Lady has always been helpful to me. She provides great assistance in academy life-“

“Did you learn the sword from that kid?”

No.

Turn on your blinker, please.

I struggle to smile in front of Gideon, who’s exuding coldness.

“…I only received instruction on basic downward strikes.”

Gideon’s eyes, which had been closed until now, slowly opened.

His gaze is so sharp that just meeting it feels like being cut. My palms are getting sweaty.

“Then where did you learn our family’s swordsmanship?”

“…”

Even while facing such a gaze, I take a deep breath.

Yes. He couldn’t fail to recognize it.

This is important from here on.

In fact, the starting point of the Boy King conquest in Chapter 2 begins here.

First, what I need to do first.

It’s also something I’m relatively confident in.

“I think you already know, Grand Duke.”

Well.

Cheating.

“…What?”

“The Sword Saint of our time is always elusive. He even visits rural baronies like ours to discover ‘talented children’.”

“…”

“Doesn’t he possess many talents? Even teaching the difficult Tristan-style swordsmanship.”

Gideon’s eyes narrowed.

The coldness emanating from him intensifies. My blood is drying up rapidly.

Of course, it’s a lie.

The Sword Saint, who is also the master of the current Grand Duke Tristan and the dean of Elphante Academy’s Knight Department, is a figure who repeatedly discovers geniuses across the continent and personally teaches them swordsmanship.

Originally, since his very existence is barely known, the fact that I know about his identity adds some credibility to my lie.

“…Are you saying that you and I are disciples of the same master?”

“That’s right.”

I swallow dry saliva inwardly as I watch Gideon saying that.

Next, this is the critical moment.

To be honest, this is a lie that will be exposed soon. Someone of Gideon’s caliber has plenty of ways to verify the truth.

“…”

So, I need to cover it up.

“And, he asked me to do something. He said if I ever met the Grand Duke, he would definitely want me to do it.”

And from what I’ve experienced so far,

The best way to hide a tree is to create a forest.

Small lies are covered by bigger lies.

“…A request?”

So, what I need to do here is.

“Grand Duke Tristan.”

Continue to cheat.

“Would you be interested in learning swordsmanship from me?”

And do it.

As grandly as possible.

●