episode_0047

Mark retracted the greatsword he had swung and brought it to his hand, lightly running his hand along the blade.

“My master told me not to use this method if possible.

He said it’s best to keep hidden moves hidden until the very last moment.

But to think I’d have to use such a secret technique on trash like you…”

Ropel could only keep his distance from Mark and observe the situation.

This was because his vision was significantly restricted by the unknown magic Mark was currently using, and he had noticed that Mark’s movements were different from a moment ago.

Approaching him carelessly in his current state would be a path to defeat.

Then suddenly, despite being in subspace, with just the force of kicking off the ground, the floor was pulverized, scattering like dust, and Mark flew right in front of Ropel.

It was a sudden surprise attack delivered while his vision was blocked by the black light barrier surrounding him.

Fortunately, Ropel barely reacted the moment he confirmed Mark’s greatsword entering the black light barrier, managing to raise his mace to defend.

However, it was merely a bare defense, and because the impact was not properly dispersed, parts of the mace began to break as if shattering.

But Mark didn’t give Ropel any respite and immediately began swinging his greatsword in rapid succession.

At this moment, all Ropel could do was add concentration upon concentration to minimize the damage as much as possible, matching the timing of Mark’s greatsword entering the black light barrier.

Each time he blocked Mark’s powerful attack with his mace, the mace’s shape was gradually warping and bending with a crushing sound.

Ultimately, Ropel withdrew the arm holding the mace and stopped defending against the incoming greatsword.

He judged that the mace he currently held was a very sturdy item, but it was insufficient to block Mark’s current attack.

Instead, he decided to focus all his attention on dodging the greatsword.

But Mark’s current attack was just as heavy as the impact, the speed was also immense.

It was not at a level that could be seen with the naked eye and dodged, so only by predicting the trajectory and moving his body in advance in the short moment he spotted the sword entering the barrier could he barely dodge.

Naturally, Ropel couldn’t help but feel immense fatigue, both psychologically and physically.

At this rate, his stamina would eventually run out, and he would eventually take a direct hit from that powerful attack.

Ropel decided to make a gamble.

With the black light barrier obstructing the view, Mark was appearing and disappearing, launching consecutive attacks at Ropel.

But a certain pattern was bound to emerge in this repetitive action.

Although it wasn’t certain, as he couldn’t keep the disadvantageous situation as it was, Ropel ultimately had no choice but to select this course of action.

At that moment, when Ropel disappeared towards the opposite side of the view while launching an attack, Ropel predicted Mark would attack from that direction again and fired a high-speed magic orb with physical form and high density.

Even if it couldn’t cause direct damage to Mark, it could probably stop Mark’s consecutive attacks for a moment.

But this judgment turned out to be a misstep.

Predicting Mark’s movements and the direction he would attack from again was fine.

However, the power of Mark’s current attack far exceeded Ropel’s expectations.

The magic orb, fired by squeezing out a considerable amount of magic power, was split in two by the greatsword Mark swung and disappeared into the air.

Because he had just cast magic, he pulled his body back late, but it was already too late.

“Guh…!”

Red blood splattered with a large laceration cutting through Ropel’s torso.

Even though he moved his body as quickly as he could react, it was a considerably deep wound.

Ropel hastily cast healing magic.

Although it wasn’t his specialty, the effect wasn’t very good, so he couldn’t stop the bleeding completely.

“Now, it seems the match will be decided.”

Mark swung his greatsword through the air once to shake off the blood clinging to it.

Then, with a gesture, the black light barrier that had been blocking the view surrounding Ropel disappeared.

As if it was no longer needed.

And as he slowly took one step after another, only the sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty subspace.

“Damn it, I’m still not satisfied.

To think I have to end it with just a few stab wounds.

That’s why I didn’t want to face you in this state.

Because if I just touch you a little, you’ll die.”

“Haa… Haa…”

Ropel clutched his chest, which was still bleeding profusely, and glared at Mark approaching him.

His breathing was ragged, and his stamina was clearly near exhaustion.

In fact, the mere fact that he could stand on two legs was close to a miracle.

But his eyes, still unyielding, burned with a fierce will.

“…You’re still insolent, as expected.”

Mark aimed his greatsword right in front of Ropel.

If he put strength into it now, Ropel’s neck would be severed.

“I’ll show you one last mercy.

Kneel… No, prostrate yourself on the floor and beg.

Then I’ll end it without actually killing you.”

“…Fuck you…!.”

With trembling hands, Ropel gripped the lump of iron that could barely be called a mace anymore, and with his other hand, he created a small flame, too pathetic to be called a fireball.

“Ha… you still don’t get it? The difference in our skill is clear.

Right now, I have the favor of this academy’s principal, Rium Kitocal, and I’m a genius with talent surpassing anyone else, guaranteed by none other than the head of the Serion family, Regulus Serion, my master.

Not only that, the current Tower Master, Shanti Kshatriya, also highly regards my magical aptitude.

In terms of both fame and skill, the number of people who can surpass me can be counted on one hand.

But what about you?

Until the end of the semester, I didn’t even properly recognize that a student like you existed.

Probably other students as well as the faculty are the same.

Your family is mediocre, and your skill is even more pitiful.

Do you really think trash like you could defeat me?”

“Wha…what…!”

“Is this such a complicated story?

Everyone says no, but the truth is it’s like your rank is decided from the moment you’re born.

A genius should live the life of a genius, and those at the bottom should live the life of the bottom.

Without talent, you who are merely mediocre, no, even less than that, should stay squashed at the bottom, as befits your station.”

“..You’ve been saying things I don’t like since earlier…

What about talent…? What about mediocrity..?

Then, what is it… guys like me without talent… are we supposed to just lose our whole lives…!”

“Then, are you saying that’s wrong?”

As if asking what was strange, Mark continued.

“Learning under Master Regulus Serion, I couldn’t help but realize.

If this world is one where someone born with everything can be pushed aside by someone who started with nothing, isn’t that world wrong and unreasonable?

Conversely, I think the very idea of someone born with nothing trying to defeat someone born superior is audacious.

So no matter how much effort you put in, it’s all meaningless effort.

Because the effort you can make, geniuses can make that much and more.”

“Audacious…”

“Without a family of great wealth and fame, or outstanding ability, trying to improve one’s lot in life, it might indeed look that way.

And struggling and striving desperately might look unsightly.

Because the more I advanced, the faster the geniuses moved away.

I also admit that my appearance like this is certainly bound to be unsightly.

But that doesn’t give me a reason to stop this struggle I’m making..”

Even while breathing roughly, as if about to collapse, Ropel didn’t stop talking.

“…I’m not struggling while hoping for something from the start.

It’s just that I won’t stop endlessly building up something, for a today that’s even slightly better than yesterday, for a tomorrow that’s better than today.

And it’s not just me, everyone else is also living diligently with all their might in their own way, in their own field, and moving forward.

Even if it might not reach the level of the so-called genius you talk about, they are striving for a better life.

Seraphina Serion also, even knowing that her talent is overwhelmingly inferior to yours, has not stopped training to this day.

Your words, which seem to look down on the lives of such people, I absolutely cannot forgive.”

His arms and legs were trembling, and his voice was shaking, but he was clearly shouting towards Mark.

“I… will defeat you here and now, no, I *will* win.

I’ll defeat you and prove that the struggles of myself and everyone else are not in vain…!”

“You have no skill, just a glib tongue.

No matter what you say, the mediocre of this world cannot defeat a genius.

The world turns on the decisions of the victors, and that victory is the genius’s share.

In the end, it means that the one who obtains everything is the genius.

For a loser like you to dare to try and obtain it.”

Mark clicked his tongue in displeasure.

“I’ve thought about this before, but why do you hate me so much…

Or… what is it, is it that something you couldn’t obtain is now in my hands?”

It wasn’t something Ropel said intentionally, but an unconscious taunt from a mind blurring with pain, but these words ended up hitting Mark’s sore spot.

“…What did you just say.”

Mark withdrew his sword and grabbed Ropel by the collar.

Although he was a little taken aback by the sudden intense reaction, Ropel didn’t stop talking.

“Did I inadvertently hit a weak spot?

To think our academy’s rising star had something he couldn’t obtain despite his talent.

Could it possibly be related to me?

…Whatever it is, if that’s true, in the end, it’s like you lost to me once.

Because something a genius couldn’t obtain, a mediocre person, no, trash less than that, dared to obtain it.”

“…This son of a bitch!”

Mark kicked Ropel hard in the abdomen, and Ropel lost his balance and fell.

And towards Ropel, who had fallen to the floor like that, Mark repeatedly slammed his fist into his face.

This was no longer a situation that could be called a spar, or a fight.

It was merely a one-sided assault fueled by personal feelings.

Teeth broke, his nose bone was crushed, and blood flowed.

Only after Ropel became completely battered, barely breathing, did Mark stop punching.

“…Haa… Haa… This insolent bastard…!”

Even though he beat him thoroughly, Mark couldn’t feel satisfied at all.

How could he provoke this guy?

How could he make him feel the same displeasure?

“…Come to think of it, I also need to consider Seraphina Serion, that woman’s situation.”

As he spoke that name, Ropel flinched and moved his body.

Yes, this is it.

“Yes, Seraphina, Seraphina Serion. What should I do with that woman…”

Come to think of it, I don’t know what happened between you two, but it seems like you became quite close?

And I even heard you were together late every single day…

That day you suddenly challenged me to a spar, I was really curious why you did it then…

Did you perhaps go all the way with that woman?”

Ropel began to clench his fists as if enraged by this.

“Then it’s truly become regrettable. Because the result of this spar, requested over her fate, will ultimately end in my victory.

Since I’m a strong candidate for the next family head, I’ll take Seraphina as my wife and enter the Serion family as a son-in-law.

Hey, tell me. How does it feel when the woman you love becomes someone else’s?

In a few days, I’ll call her, who will be my wife, to my bedroom.

Seraphina might vehemently refuse at first, but eventually, before the pressure of the family and my authority, she will end up opening her legs.

In a way, it’s regrettable. A woman who spent her entire life striving to become family head, ends up offering her body to a man of superior skill.

No, in a way, since it ultimately benefited the family, perhaps she’ll be proud?”

Ropel began to writhe and move his body.

Even while lying prostrate, he trembled, clutching his two fists tightly.

As if satisfied with Ropel’s reaction, Mark didn’t stop talking.

“Well, even so, I’m a magnanimous man, you see.

Although it’s a shame she’s used, her face and body are quite usable.

It’s a shame her build is large like a man’s, but well, she’ll be usable for ‘use’ occasionally.

Ah, don’t worry, of course. If you want, I can even show you directly how I handle that woman.”

“..You… you bastard…!”

At that moment, from one side of the subspace, the sound of space warping was heard.

It was the distinct sound heard every time one enters or exits through a portal.

And in the direction where that sound was heard, there was a woman, namely Seraphina Serion.