First Class 3

“Please wait just 5 minutes.”

At that moment, Theodore grabbed Yuria’s hand and said:

“5 minutes?”

“Yes, 5 minutes for Lady Yuria to change clothes. That will be enough.”

“Well, you should certainly be able to change clothes.”

Professor Benjamin, aware of Yuria’s skirt issue, readily granted permission. As soon as his permission was given, Theodore took Yuria’s hand and pulled her outside, and Yuria quietly allowed herself to be led out.

“…I should have worn pants even if it meant breaking the school rules.”

The first thing Yuria said after coming out of the lecture hall was expressing regret for wearing a skirt while pressing down her skirt hem with her hand.

She remembered the many gazes directed at her.

‘It’s embarrassing… ugh.’

Yuria could realistically understand, not through paranoia, what the numerous gazes directed at her were thinking. Most of them were probably imagining scenes where her skirt would be lifted, revealing what was underneath, as she fought vigorously in a skirt.

As someone who prided herself on having achieved considerable accomplishments through hard work as a swordswoman, she could detect other people’s gazes.

She couldn’t blame them for their gazes unconsciously turning to her skirt at the mention of her changing clothes, as it was an instinctive action that happened unwittingly.

“You’re right.”

Theodore nodded, expressing agreement with her words.

“This academy’s rules are wrong. Making you, a member of the Swordsmanship Department, wear a skirt and feel unnecessarily embarrassed.”

Yuria felt that she was gradually getting used to this aspect as Theodore agreed with her words and showed consideration for her.

“Since we don’t have much time, I’ll take you there first.”

“What?”

Yuria momentarily didn’t understand Theodore’s words. But as she held his hand, and as he took a step while holding her, she felt that the space around her had changed.

It wasn’t something like a spatial transfer magic.

If she had moved through space like when coming from Jeiha Academy to Minst Academy, she would have detected the spatial change.

Somehow, she had returned to the mansion that was her accommodation!

“Y-Young Lord Theodore. What kind of power is this?”

Yuria stammered her words, too surprised. This was because she had never seen this kind of power before.

“I’ll explain it to you later this evening, for now, just focus on what you’re going to show in your first class.”

Feeling that Theodore’s words were also advice as a mentor teaching her swordsmanship, Yuria quickly composed herself.

It was indeed surprising, but she needed to focus on what she had to do now.

“Yes.”

Perhaps sensing the change in Yuria’s expression, Theodore was seen smiling as if satisfied.

“Yes, that’s it. Then, Lady Yuria, though you felt embarrassed now, show them a performance so shocking that everyone will forget such thoughts.”

“A shocking performance?”

“Yes. Show them your skills.”

“…Yes! I will definitely do that.”

Responding energetically to Theodore’s words, Yuria hurriedly opened the door and entered the mansion.

Since she had come in to change her clothes, Theodore didn’t follow her inside.

‘He’s being very considerate.’

Yuria felt that Theodore had been genuinely caring for her in various ways since that day.

He had arranged a place for her to fight as she wanted, and now he had helped her to change her clothes like this.

Though the skirt issue was a bit embarrassing, that wasn’t a problem.

As Theodore said, she just needed to show such outstanding skills that everyone would forget about such matters!

‘First impressions are important. I’ll show my skills from the first impression.’

She would show everyone what kind of mindset she had been learning swordsmanship with.

With that resolve, Yuria first took off her uniform top, then the uniform skirt, and quickly changed into her favorite black leather hot pants and white T-shirt top.

It was an outfit that revealed more of her body’s curves than the uniform, but it was that much easier to move in, and now she felt like she was wearing the right clothes.

Especially the feeling of the sword scabbard attached to her waist gave her this feeling greatly.

‘Good!’

Yuria felt a sense of freedom just from no longer having to worry about what was under her skirt being seen and having to be mindful of her movements.

Thinking that pants were indeed best for a swordswoman, she completed her preparations to swing her sword excitedly.

‘I will definitely win!’

For her dream, she would definitely make her name widely known.

She would achieve the primary purpose of coming to study at Minst Academy by impressing her skills by defeating the top student of the second-year Swordsmanship Department as her first impression.

‘And Young Lord Theodore… I’ll do my best as much as he believes in me.’

Yuria thought of Theodore who was outside the door.

She would win, if only to not disappoint him who believed that she would win.

‘Ugh, it’s like I’m fighting for him?’

And having her thoughts go in this direction, Yuria momentarily hesitated to open the door.

She felt that if she saw Theodore’s face, she wouldn’t be able to bear the embarrassment, and she would probably want to hide under the blanket at night.

‘Calm down, Yuria. Calm down.’

When Yuria, who had comforted herself by calling her own name, opened the door and came out, Theodore reached out his hand to her.

“Let’s go, Yuria. Show your skills as a swordswoman.”

“Yes!”

Yuria deliberately answered with excessive energy to avoid being conscious of him, and grasped his hand in return. When she took his hand, she felt a slightly tingling sensation.

‘Ugh.’

And before she could think about that aspect, the shape of the space around her changed. She had returned to just outside the lecture hall of Minst Academy.

‘Now it begins.’

Yuria placed her hand on the sword scabbard on her belt, wanting to focus only on the upcoming duel.

When she met Theodore’s gaze, she seemed to understand what he wanted to convey without words when she saw him nod slightly.

‘I will definitely show you a victory.’

Thinking this, she also nodded in return and went inside.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Yuria as she returned to the lecture hall.

“Wow~”

“She’s killing it!”

“Hey, speak quietly. It’s dangerous if we get caught.”

Yuria felt that those admiring gazes bursting toward her were words said while looking at her body’s curves, but she ignored and passed over them.

“Yuria Arsein, I formally challenge Owen Lawrence, the top student of the second-year Swordsmanship Department.”

Yuria, having entered, did not say anything else, only issuing the challenge.

“Good. Owen! And Yuria! Both students come up to the platform now.”

At Professor Benjamin’s words, Yuria immediately went down the stairs and headed for the platform.

As she passed, she felt the gazes of many directed at her, but now she would make those gazes turn to astonishment.

‘I’ve already anticipated these kinds of gazes.’

She had prepared herself for studying abroad in a foreign country where House Arsein would find it difficult to exert its power properly.

To establish a reputation with the swordsmanship she had built up through her efforts, she had already anticipated the gazes of those who would be captivated by her external appearance.

Anyway, those gazes would soon change.

‘I will definitely make them change.’

Thinking this, Owen addressed Yuria, who was standing on the platform.

“Lady Yuria Arsein, you and your fiancé, Young Lord Skyroad, seem to get along well?”

“Think as you like.”

Yuria had no intention of talking at length.

In fact, because she had focused on swords since childhood, she had no close friends with whom she could open her heart, except for her best friend Ashley.

‘I didn’t intend to make friends here anyway.’

Theodore seemed to have no intention of bestowing the kindness of teaching in the Britannia Empire, unlike when he was in the Arcan Empire.

And she too had no intention of making friends in a foreign country.

The purpose of coming here was solely to establish her reputation, and she would return after this academic year anyway.

“If only you weren’t a woman with a fiancé, I would have proposed to you earlier, truly regrettable.”

Owen’s expression was genuinely filled with regret.

However, this wasn’t special to Yuria, as she had already seen the gazes of many people in the Arcan Empire who regretted that she already had a fiancé.

“I’ve seen such reactions more than hundreds of times. If you have time to think of other things, focus on your sword. I don’t want to hear excuses that you weren’t properly focused after you’re defeated.”

In response to Yuria’s sharp words, Owen didn’t answer but was seen drawing and gripping his sword.

He meant to answer with his sword instead of words.

‘He is strong.’

No matter how much he was immersed in talent and didn’t put in effort, there would be a reason he was the top of the Swordsmanship Department, surpassing William Artin.

And in Jeiha Academy, during her first year, though she was second due to Theodore, she had possessed the most outstanding swordsmanship skills in the same year, excluding him.

In that sense, the current duel was a clash between the strongest second-year students of the Swordsmanship Departments from the best academies in the Britannia Empire and the Arcan Empire, respectively, excluding the exceptional figure of Theodore, who was like the sky above the sky.

---

Theodore smiled contentedly watching Yuria standing on the platform with her sword drawn.

‘Show them clearly your skills in this fight.’

To fulfill Yuria Arsein’s wish.

And to shatter the pride of the Britannia Empire’s Minst Academy for the Arcan Empire.

Theodore expected Yuria’s victory for these two reasons.

After her performance from the first class, he would also showcase his skills.

‘I’ve already decided who will be the sacrifice.’

The person who would be the sacrifice to be defeated by him was already determined.