Chapter 54 : A warm person

Where is the line drawn between an average person who can fight decently and a true master?

In swordsmanship, that line is often determined by whether or not one can use sword energy.

It’s a level only those who have truly mastered the sword can reach.

The aura that manifests outward through one’s will is what we call sword energy.

A bluish sword energy was radiating from Pontego’s sword.

“Woah.”

I’ve seen sword energy before, but I can count on one hand the number of people I’ve seen actually use it.

And now a first-year at the academy is emitting sword energy?

The guy in front of me was a monster born of absurd talent.

“Hey, can you do that too?”

I tapped Amiter, who was sitting next to me with a frown, and asked.

She was sitting stiffly with her tail upright, looking uncomfortable.

“Of course I can. You think I can’t do what that guy can?”

I looked at her with a skeptical expression, and she extended a claw like a cat to show me.

I hadn’t noticed before, but a soft golden aura shimmered like an iris around her claw.

It was small, but assuming she could do that on all ten claws, it was a remarkable skill.

Controlling all that would be even harder.

“That’s more impressive than I thought.”

“…Good that you finally realized.”

Could it be that this girl sitting next to me is also a natural talent?

I suddenly felt a bit left out.

While we were messing around, the match had already started.

The second-year senior was a skilled upperclassman, but perhaps caught off guard by the sword energy, he had only been defending since the

match began.

Clang! Clang! Ching! Pontego’s attacks came relentlessly like a ferocious tiger.

It wasn’t swinging a sword—it was like he was slamming an axe.

Each time his sword, infused with sword energy, struck the opponent’s blade, the sound of hammering metal echoed like in a forge.

Amiter murmured quietly as she watched the match.

“It’s over.”

Clang! The match ended shortly after, with the tip of the senior’s sword breaking.

There was a material difference in their swords, but the presence of sword energy was the deciding factor.

While the senior’s sword bore obvious damage, Pontego’s sword was completely unscathed.

In the end, the match ended before the senior could even show anything.

“Good match.”

A short and cold formality.

Pontego said that and immediately returned to his seat.

The match itself was anticlimactic, but the audience’s reaction was fiery, likely due to the sword energy.

Amid the enthusiastic cheers, Amiter leaned over and quietly asked:

“What do you think?”

What do I think?

Well, it’s impressive and cool. Just like Teferi described him—charismatic and skilled.

If I were to sum it up:

“He’s annoying.”

He already looks cold, and now he’s got that typical “romantic fantasy male lead” attitude.

Living with someone like that would be a surefire way to ruin your life.

I prefer someone who can hold me warmly.

“You’re way better, seriously.”

Same goes for skill.

Sure, Pontego is strong, but not at Amiter’s level.

His speed was average.

There’s a reason we’re treated specially and pushed off to the side.

Humans, unlike beastfolk, have little resistance to magic? I could immobilize him on the spot if I wanted to.

Did she feel proud when I said she was better?

Amiter began to wag her tail slowly in a good mood.

Even if she pretends otherwise, her tail gives everything away—like a dog.

Someone who can hold me warmly, huh.

Who could that be?

Come to think of it, back in the cave…!

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. What about you? Your tail’s still moving.”

I can’t just say I remembered something embarrassing.

Whenever I think about it, I get all flustered and my heart races.

Realizing my remark, she quickly stuffed her tail into her pants.

To divert her attention, I pulled a strand of magic thread from my hand.

It floated in the air, about the thickness of a finger, braided like a rope.

“Can you cut this? Even with sword energy?”

“That’s gonna be tough.”

She touched the thread for a moment, then shook her head.

Even when she fought me, she didn’t try to cut the thread—she went for me directly.

Even a fully-grown dragon barely managed to snap it last time.

That realization made me feel proud.

“If I try really hard, I might manage a few strands, but more than that is impossible.

That guy definitely wouldn’t be able to.”

I don’t know why she keeps bringing up Pontego, but it’s true anyway.

So it’s basically saying I’m amazing, right?

Maybe I am a natural talent too?

But then again, I’ve spent too much time to pretend it was all innate.

It’s only since I entered the academy that I got to relax a bit.

Before that, I was stuck in the basement of my family estate, except for dinner and bedtime.

Always under a six-times cognitive acceleration spell.

How many training dummies did I destroy?

I spent decades learning to manipulate pure mana.

If I couldn’t do this much, that’d be a problem.

The matches that followed weren’t particularly interesting.

Everyone was better than the intermediate class, as expected, but no one left an impression like Pontego did.

They all moved in rigid, formulaic ways.

Though I’ll admit, seeing that annoying elf Isabel eat dirt felt pretty satisfying.

“She’s up.”

Teferi entered the arena.

She looked around and waved when she spotted us.

But come to think of it, why is she hanging out with us?

In the original story, she was friendly with everyone regardless of gender.

Could it be she caught our “loser virus”?

That’d be a problem.

– You can do it, go Teferi!

– Don’t lose!

Thankfully, some friends were still cheering her on.

Though it seemed more like encouragement than actual belief in her victory.

It’s understandable.

Her opponent was Kaylee, a second-year top student.

Even if she’s in the upper class, who would believe a girl from some rural no-name place could win?

And in the original story, she did lose.

‘But it was enough to make her name known.’

Even though she lost, Teferi’s skills stirred quite the buzz.

From here on, she started gaining recognition around the academy.

With her much greater growth compared to the original story, she should easily win this time.

As the flag waved, the match began.

“Hello, junior. Let’s see what you’ve got?”

Kaylee was a red-haired girl with charming freckles.

She smiled lightly and made the first move.

Five red orbs, each the size of a watermelon, quickly formed around her head.

Simple mana concentration, but elemental mana shouldn’t be underestimated.

There’s a reason the fireball spell—literally just fire-infused mana—is still famous.

I feel stupid for even briefly doubting whether I was a natural talent.

The orbs slowly rotated in place, then fired at Teferi one by one.

Of course, these were just a warm-up.

If you can’t block this, you don’t belong in the upper class.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As expected, Teferi used earth spirits to defend.

A wall of dirt rose up and absorbed all the attacks before crumbling.

Seeing her defend successfully, Kaylee smiled slightly in amusement.

“Not bad. Then how about this?”

“She’s got this.”

Teferi’s abilities far exceeded my expectations.

Maybe going into the Black Forest with me helped.

She had excellent combat instincts.

Is this what people mean by genius?

Teferi greeted her senior politely and returned to her seat.

Her friends ran up to greet her.

– Great job!

– You were amazing!

Watching her surrounded by cheering friends stirred complicated feelings in me.

I should be happy for her, but… why do I feel so uneasy?

Her elemental and magical skills had grown beyond the original story.

She deserved applause.

This is how it should be, right?

She’ll have to fight other villains eventually.

A little unfair strength is fine, right?

I wanted her to grow strong quickly.

Even if it meant I’d fall behind someday.

Yes, this is the right thing.

Thump.

A large hand rested on my head.

“Thinking useless thoughts again?”

That annoyingly familiar voice belonged to exactly who I thought.

Besides, the only person around me was Amiter.

Before I could frown and snap back, she gently stroked my head and spoke first.

“As always, you overthink everything.”

“Thinking a lot is good. People should always think about stuff.”

I grumbled, but didn’t argue further.

Didn’t want to.

When my mind feels adrift in stormy seas, I’m thankful for the one holding the rudder.

She is someone precious to me.

“…Wanna just hold hands for a bit?”

Amiter hesitated slightly, then reached out and held my fingertips.

I’ve felt this before—maybe because she’s a beastfolk, but her body is so warm.

Good thing I like warm people.