Chapter 184

Silence fell.

A silence born of shock.

Not just the Schwarzfeltz side, but even the Lepheria side couldn’t have imagined I’d show such an incredible move.

No one knew I had become this strong.

There might be a few who had guessed, but…

“Th-The class president was beaten?!”

“I-Impossible…”

“That guy is that strong…?”

“He… He just let his guard down. That’s it. The class president just let his guard down.”

“Y-Yeah, that’s right. He just took a hit because he was careless. Get up, class president! Get up! Show them the pride of Schwarzfeltz 1st Class again!”

“Show those Lepheria guys that a knight’s will is as strong as iron, and it’s not over until it’s over!”

The Schwarzfeltz atmosphere, initially shocked, soon changed to passionate cheering.

It showed how much they believed in Raquel.

Even after his unsightly performance in the first exchange, their faith hadn’t wavered.

On the other hand…

“…Why does that bastard seem to get stronger every time we see him?”

“Is he secretly taking some good drugs? I think this needs to be investigated.”

“Yeah, something smells fishy. Professor, we need a school-wide investigation right now…”

“Jealousy is unsightly, everyone. Let’s be more mature.”

“B-But… it hurts so much… it’s painful…”

“Yes, yes, you’re being honest. Keep feeling that pain.”

“Uwah, Professor! At least give us some words of comfort…”

My classmates, far from cheering, were dying of jealousy and envy.

…Do Lepheria students fear Max’s growth?

Fine.

I’m abandoning the guys.

I’ll just play with the female students, like the lecherous Max I am.

It’s the female professor who’s defending me anyway.

“A-As expected of Team Leader! I believed in you!”

Ah, Allen, I’ll include you.

You’re a pitiful but kind guy.

“Hmm, not bad.”

Riviera gave a slight thumbs up.

I’m honored to receive the witch’s approval.

“Don’t let your guard down until the end!”

Elaine’s advice-filled cheer.

See, I only have female students.

As I was striking a pose, trying to look cool while shrugging my shoulders…

“Ugh, you damn bastard…”

Raquel got up, gritting his teeth.

It must be incredibly painful, but the fact that he’s getting up anyway shows he has some tenacity.

Judging by his abnormal eyes, it seemed like his anger had overwhelmed the pain, as if he was about to go berserk.

His burning gaze glared at me as if it would turn me to ashes.

I received that gaze with a sneer and blurted out,

“You should have just given up and gone back crying, you pathetic trash.”

“Y-Y-You… s-s-son of a b-bitch…”

Raquel’s body trembled, and he even stuttered.

I understand that feeling well.

When you’re truly, madly angry, you can’t even control your excitement, and words don’t come out properly.

And if you provoke them at this point, they go even crazier.

“Oh my, how did a little kid who can’t even speak properly get into Schwarzfeltz? How old are you? Should uncle play with you?”

“Uwaaaaah! I-I-I’ll k-k-kill you! I-I’ll d-definitely k-kill you!”

“Little one, first speak properly…”

“I-I-I-I’ll k-kill youuuuu!”

Thump thump thump thump!

Raquel charged like a mad bull.

It was a charge with all his might, even using the strength he used to suckle milk.

I had to admit, that momentum alone was quite threatening.

But of course, I had no intention of just meeting him head-on.

‘Hmm, what should I use?’

The Rotating Slash form would be perfect against a charging opponent, but I’ve already shown that technique.

I didn’t want to allow even the slightest variable.

‘Right, that would be good.’

Another technique I had mastered.

The second form of Baker’s swordsmanship.

I sharpened my gaze and measured the distance with the charging Raquel.

This technique, like the Rotating Slash form, required very precise timing.

“Die!”

Raquel swung his sword, roaring like a lion.

Thwack.

I leaped without hesitation, kicking off the ground.

It was an incredibly high jump, impossible for me until last year.

It was as if I had grown wings.

This was because the jump contained the secret of lightness, making the body lighter.

And.

If there’s a secret to lightness, there must also be a secret to heaviness.

My foot, which had rotated half a turn in mid-air, kicked the empty air with the secret of heaviness.

With the added weight and kicking force, my body started falling at a rapid speed.

-The Falling Slash form.

Literally, a powerful falling slash.

Due to its height and speed, it was incomparably more powerful than an ordinary falling slash.

“Wh-What?!”

Raquel, who had lost his target in an instant, fell into confusion.

He had already become like a dog chasing a chicken.

And that chicken had turned into a diving hawk, about to mercilessly pounce with sharp talons.

Whoosh!

My strike, not giving him time to react properly.

Wham!

Crack!

“Gwaaaaah!”

A scream like a pig being slaughtered erupted from Raquel’s mouth.

His unfocused eyes rolled back.

It was because one of his shoulder blades had been completely shattered.

He lost consciousness due to the extreme pain.

If I had aimed for his head, his skull would have been shattered.

But there was no need to go that far.

Anyway, there was no doubt that he had become a pitiful sight.

He ended up suffering exactly what he had intended to do to me.

It was perfect karma.

Thud!

Raquel sprawled out, his limbs spread in an unsightly manner.

“S-Stop! Stop!”

The referee hurriedly stopped the match.

The medical team on standby quickly rushed to Raquel.

Raquel was immediately carried away by the medical team after they assessed the situation.

He would have to spend quite a long time in bed.

“Referee, the result?”

I asked the referee with a relaxed face.

“Ah… V-Victory goes to Max Celtrine of Lepheria Academy!”

“Ah, very good.”

I glanced at the frozen Schwarzfeltz side, still in shock, and then slowly walked back to our side.

With this, the score was 4 wins, 3 losses.

It wasn’t just a simple win, but a win that made a huge impact.

Enough to completely shift the momentum.

Of course, my performance would have left a strong impression on everyone here.

They would clearly remember that Max Celtrine was in Lepheria’s third year.

It was truly the best external debut.

‘Good, according to plan.’

I smiled.

* * *

“Tch, how pathetic.”

The female student with cat-like slanted eyes, who came up for the next turn, frowned.

I think her name was Karan.

She also seemed to be one of the strong ones from Schwarzfeltz.

But she had terrible luck with her opponent.

“Yawn.”

Riviera yawned.

She seemed to just want to finish quickly and go back.

“Y-You… Are you yawning right now?”

Karan’s expression showed she was at a loss for words, finding it unbelievable.

“Annoying, annoying, annoying! You and him, all you Lepheria guys are the same!”

Karan raised her sharp-edged sword.

Even though it was a wooden sword, it looked like it would hurt quite a bit if you got stabbed.

It seemed her specialty was thrust-type swordsmanship.

“Hm? I’m normal.”

Riviera blinked.

…Do you really think you’re normal?

I really want to dissect her brain.

“Shut up!”

Thinking it was an annoying provocation, Karan moved immediately, shouting fiercely.

Swish swish swish swish swish!

Sharp thrusts like a snake.

It looked quite tricky just by watching.

But.

“Oops.”

Whoosh.

Riviera’s body flew backward, lying down.

…Now you’re even doing low-altitude flight while lying down?

Tremble tremble tremble.

Karan’s body, her face turning ashen, shook uncontrollably.

That was indeed infuriating.

To leisurely fly while sprawled out right in front of her.

There’s no provocation like this.

“You, you b-“

Curse words were about to burst out of Karan’s mouth like a storm.

But just then.

“Catch.”

Magic Arrows floated up around Riviera.

Riviera’s unique Magic Arrows, 3 times thicker and more robust(?) than normal Magic Arrows.

And dozens of them at once.

“Y-You…!”

The voice cursing twisted.

Karan stared at the bundle of Magic Arrows with shocked eyes.

Her body froze awkwardly.

“Hup.”

With a light shout, the bundle of Magic Arrows finally moved.

The Magic Arrows mercilessly pounced on Karan.

“W-Wait! Wait! Wait!”

Karan shouted urgently, trying to dodge, but there was no way they would stop.

Thwack thwack thwack thwack thwack!

“Kyaaaah!”

She got a refreshing Magic Arrow massage.

Of course, it wouldn’t actually be refreshing.

“That should improve your blood circulation.”

“Kyaaaah!”

And so, Karan was carried away, having been thoroughly beaten and forced into a sweet sleep.

* * *

“D-Don’t tell me you too…?”

The large-built guy who came up for the next turn already looked very nervous.

I think his name was Stone.

True to his name, he looked solid.

“Wh-What?”

Allen had a confused expression, as if he didn’t know what Stone was talking about.

Only then did Stone let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

He seemed relieved that Allen looked like he wasn’t anything special, unlike the previous ones(?).

Is that really the case?

…Well, Allen isn’t someone I can confidently say is anything special.

But I know.

That Allen has definitely changed a lot.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but let’s have a fair fight.”

Allen raised his wooden spear.

“Hmph, do I look like I’m in the mood for child’s play? I’ll overwhelm you and turn the tide.”

Stone lifted his large sword powerfully.

It seemed his specialty was swordsmanship that utilized his innate strength.

“Do it if you can.”

Allen gazed at his opponent with calm eyes.

That calmness was something that couldn’t be found in the past Allen.

It was a scene that showed how much he had grown.

“I’ll send you to your grave!”

“Haah!”

The two soon clashed fiercely.

* * *

“Huff, huff, huff, huff…”

“Haa, haa, haa, haa…”

Allen and Stone breathed heavily.

They both looked extremely exhausted.

Their bodies were a mess.

Torn, wounded, and covered in dirt.

Even in that state, they were holding on with sheer tenacity.

But it seemed that even that endurance was reaching its limit.

For both of them.

Now, only the final clash remained.

Allen and Stone readied their stances with all their might.

“Huff, huff, huaaah…!”

“Haa, haa, haaah…!”

They clashed, shouting their final battle cries.

Wham!

A resounding impact echoed.

And then.

“Ugh?!”

Thud!

Stone’s large body lost its strength and fell to its knees.

An expression of disbelief.

But the match was already decided.

“Stop! Victory goes to Allen Benesse of Lepheria Academy!”

A smile of accomplishment appeared on Allen’s lips.

With this, the score was 6 wins, 3 losses.

Regardless of the last match, it was Lepheria’s victory.

The final class record was also 2 wins, 1 loss.

But in terms of quality, it was Lepheria’s complete victory.

Above all, winning completely in the battle between the top classes meant an overwhelming victory in the pride battle.

“Woohoo!”

“We won!”

“We did it!”

“This is Lepheria!”

The Lepheria students shouted in joy.

The poor generation, who had suffered countless humiliations since their first year, had finally achieved victory.

Through their own efforts and strength.

“Everyone did wonderfully.”

Professor Karen smiled.

She gave a subtle look to Riviera and me.

No… that’s burdensome, Professor.

And Riviera didn’t even see that look because she was nodding off.

Anyway, that’s how the exchange competition ended with our brilliant victory.

* * *

“A dinner banquet?”

“Yes, it’s to specially honor the best student of the exchange competition.”

Professor Karen explained.

I was chosen as the best student of this exchange competition.

The headmaster of Schwarzfeltz personally arranged a dinner banquet for me.

It wasn’t a strange story.

But I confirmed one thing.

“Was this event originally planned?”

“Yes, it’s a traditional event. I’ve experienced it myself.”

Professor Karen answered with a smile.

I see.

Well, for someone like her, it must have been a very natural thing.

“I understand.”

I nodded and answered.

But at that moment.

I realized something.

The fact that ‘nothing happened’ in the exchange competition where I thought something would happen.

Riviera had clearly warned me.

To be careful.

But nothing had happened yet.

And tomorrow was the day we’d return to Lepheria.

Which means…

‘In between?’

My eyes narrowed slightly.

I realized that if something were to happen, that would be the only moment they could target.

“What’s wrong?”

Professor Karen looked at me curiously.

“I’m sorry, Professor.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

I spoke to Professor Karen with a serious look.