Chapter 7: Because winning isn’t always the same as victory

“Maybe they like each other?”

Marie stared blankly at Emil, lost in thought.

Malcolm’s words from yesterday echoed in her mind.

“Alright, I’ll demonstrate first. I need a partner…”

The fencing instructor’s voice rang out, but Marie wasn’t paying attention to the lesson at all.

After all, first-years weren’t graded on practical combat in their midterms.

Since her class was having a joint lesson with Emil’s, Marie took the opportunity to quietly watch him from across the training hall.

‘…Could it really be true with Sierra?’

She then shifted her gaze slightly, turning toward Sierra.

It was ironic—just as she was struggling with thoughts about Emil and Sierra, their classes ended up having a joint practice session.

Unlike Marie, Sierra was properly focused on the lesson.

And Emil, too, was watching the instructor rather than Sierra.

Despite being in the same space, the two of them showed no signs of being aware of each other.

‘I can’t stop thinking about this… but they seem so calm.’

Which made her question it even more.

If Malcolm was right, why were they acting so indifferent toward each other?

Meanwhile, she kept stealing glances at Emil, unable to concentrate.

‘Is it because they already know they like each other?’

Throb—

That feeling again.

A dull ache in her chest.

Ever since hearing Malcolm’s answer yesterday, this odd pain had become a regular occurrence.

What was this?

She hadn’t even felt this way when her relationship with Damian became strained.

“Ah, Emil. Would you mind being my partner? You just need to hold the wooden sword lightly.”

Hearing the instructor mention Emil’s name, Marie snapped out of her thoughts in surprise and quickly looked at him.

“Yes.”

Emil stood up with a neutral expression and grabbed the training sword.

‘Emil…’

Even though it wasn’t her name being called, just hearing his name made her heart race and her cheeks feel warm.

Almost instinctively, she glanced at Sierra.

Her expression remained indifferent.

She was watching Emil with the same look as always.

Then, the instructor’s demonstration with Emil began.

The instructor explained a few techniques, and finally—

Whoosh!

“Like this!”

With a wide swing, the instructor clashed wooden swords with Emil, striking with force.

Thud!

Emil’s training sword flew from his hand effortlessly.

And then—

Bang!

“This is self-defense, so you end the fight by restraining your opponent like this. But if that’s difficult, finish them off with your sword instead.”

With swift, skillful movements, the instructor flipped Emil upside down and pinned him hard against the ground.

The observing students erupted into laughter and murmurs of admiration.

At the center of attention, Emil remained as expressionless as ever, lying flat on his back.

“…Cute.”

It was a rare sight—one that made Marie smile and blush slightly.

“Alright! Now, partner up—boys with boys, girls with girls—and start practicing!”

With the instructor’s loud command, students stood up and began to shuffle around.

***

“My shoulder hurts.”

I rubbed my shoulder, which had just been slammed into the ground during the demonstration.

Every time I took this class, I was reminded that this instructor never held back.

“Train like it’s real, fight like it’s training.”

That was his philosophy.

Still, I wasn’t embarrassed about getting thrown.

Compared to my first playthrough, where I was beaten to a pulp in front of my ex-girlfriend, this was nothing.

Though I did wonder if Marie was disappointed seeing me in such an undignified position.

I glanced at her, but thankfully, she wasn’t frowning.

Instead, she was… smiling? As if she found it amusing.

Oh well.

“Time to find a partner…”

As students shuffled around, I looked for someone available to pair up with.

Since this was a joint training session with three different classes, there were plenty of options—even for someone like me, who didn’t have many friends.

Just as I was scanning the crowd—

“Emil.”

“Hm?”

A familiar voice called me from behind.

“Malcolm.”

“If you don’t have a partner, how about me?”

I took a brief moment to study his expression.

Sparring against Malcolm…

What was his intent?

I examined his face carefully.

Recently, Malcolm had been openly wary of my relationship with Marie.

And just as I expected—

Though he was smiling brightly, his eyes carried that all-too-familiar hostility.

“I see.”

I quickly understood his reasoning.

“So, you’re finally making a move.”

He probably saw this as an opportunity to humiliate me in front of Marie.

Just like in the first playthrough.

Because he could never stand the idea of Marie caring for someone else.

“Perfect timing. I was just wondering who to partner with.”

I willingly played along with his obvious ploy.

A short while later, once all partners were assigned, the training hall echoed with students’ shouts and the sound of wooden swords clashing.

Smack!

Thud!

Malcolm and I also began practicing the techniques the instructor had demonstrated.

Whoosh!

Malcolm’s wooden sword locked against mine before smoothly twisting into a downward strike aimed at my head.

Clang!

I parried it cleanly with a swift movement.

“Wow, as expected of the top student. You’re good at swordsmanship too?”

“I just follow what I was taught.”

Malcolm chuckled, seemingly impressed that I blocked his attack.

Of course, that was only half true.

After going through five playthroughs, I had taken this class multiple times.

After getting beaten to a pulp in the first playthrough, I had made it a point to train rigorously.

And then—

Ding!

[The effect of ‘Awakening Talent’ is activating! Additional proficiency points are being applied to swordsmanship understanding and mastery!]

More than anything, my Easy Mode perk allowed me to absorb knowledge like a dry sponge soaking up water.

“Since you’re better than I thought… should we take it up a notch?”

“…So you were just playing around before?”

“Haha, well, by my standards, yeah.”

Malcolm flashed a bright, carefree smile.

For him, the light sparring just now probably was nothing more than playing around.

After all, he came from a knight family.

Having trained in swordsmanship since childhood, his skill was something I had learned firsthand—when he beat me to a pulp in the first playthrough.

Then—

I saw it.

Malcolm’s eyes flickered in a particular direction.

“Tch.”

His cheerful smile disappeared for just a second.

His jaw clenched ever so slightly.

Following his gaze, I subtly moved my eyes.

Marie.

The moment our eyes met, she flinched and quickly looked away, turning to her own sparring partner.

“You’re really losing your patience, huh?”

Malcolm’s whole plan was to make me look weak in front of Marie.

But instead, she kept watching me.

That was probably why Malcolm suddenly looked like he had swallowed something bitter.

Realizing this, I felt a surge of satisfaction—something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Emil… are you getting distracted in front of me?”

And then—

Whoosh!

Smack!

“Urgh…!”

“I just told you—I’m getting serious now.”

As I briefly glanced at Marie, Malcolm’s wooden sword came flying at me.

I barely managed to block it—almost on pure reflex.

A surprise attack.

Malcolm looked momentarily startled that I had parried it, but he quickly masked it with a smug smile.

Then, without hesitation, he began swinging his sword with greater intensity.

Clang!

Smack!

Clang—!

‘So… what should I do about this?’

I gritted my teeth as I blocked his relentless strikes, taking a moment to think.

His attacks were overwhelming, but as the spar continued, I found myself adapting.

Most likely thanks to my Awakening Talent trait.

If things continued like this, I would eventually win.

“Hmph…!”

Whoosh—!

Clash!!

“Tch…!”

But instead of pushing forward, I deliberately kept up the appearance of struggling.

Because in my mind, I had two choices.

Part of me wanted to take this as an opportunity to beat Malcolm to a pulp under the guise of training.

After all, this was one of the few ways I could get back at him without breaking school rules.

However—

That wasn’t the revenge I wanted.

Deep in my heart, I knew the despair I had felt because of Malcolm wasn’t from something as simple as getting beaten.

…What had truly made me despair?

As I received his strikes, I traced back to the root of it.

It was—

Whoosh!

Clang!

—The moment Marie chose Malcolm over me.

That moment, when she stood before me and announced our breakup.

That was what had truly crushed me.

The memory flickered through my mind, solidifying my decision.

And so—

“Not bad at all…”

I smirked as I pushed Malcolm’s sword back.

Marie absentmindedly swung her sword, her mind elsewhere.

Her gaze kept drifting to one place.

To Emil.

To where he was locked in an intense sparring match, sweat dripping down his face.

“…He’s really giving it his all, huh?”

She had always thought of Emil as the type who excelled only in academics.

Seeing this unexpectedly strong and focused side of him made her heart flutter.

Before she even realized it, she kept looking back at him.

“Marie.”

“Uh—huh?”

“I’d like to actually train during this lesson.”

“Ah! S-Sorry…!”

Her sparring partner, Sierra, frowned at her.

Realizing her mistake, Marie quickly gripped her wooden sword properly and turned her attention back.

Sierra watched her for a moment before smirking.

“Getting distracted?”

“Huh…?”

“You keep looking somewhere.”

Of course, Sierra already knew the answer.

But she couldn’t resist teasing Marie.

At that—

Whoosh…

Marie’s cheeks turned bright red, her eyes trembling.

“Did she… figure it out?”

There was a reason Marie had asked Sierra to be her partner today.

She had planned to subtly ask her about Emil.

But now, she had been caught before she could even bring it up.

“Ugh, what do I do?”

Flustered, Marie hesitated, sparring half-heartedly as her thoughts raced.

Should she just ask outright?

Was there another way?

Not asking wasn’t an option.

She had to know.

“T-Then, Sierra!”

Determined, Marie looked up and called out to her—

BOOM!!

A loud crash echoed behind her.

“Huh…?”

“What the—”

For once, Sierra looked genuinely shocked.

Her gaze was fixed behind Marie—

In the exact direction Marie had been looking just moments ago.

Slowly, Marie turned her head.

And there—

“E-Emil! Are you okay?!”

Emil lay sprawled on the ground, unmoving.

Malcolm stood over him, wooden sword in hand.

The instructor was already running toward him.

“Emil!!”

Before she even realized it,

Marie dropped her wooden sword and sprinted toward him.

***

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