episode_0126

Lenny Evergreen is an ordinary genius.

Since childhood, he possessed talent in magic and swordsmanship, and being of noble birth, he received top-tier customized gifted education.

With his family overflowing with money, his equipment was also top-notch.

His talent was particularly outstanding in [Footwork] and [Thrusting], making full use of the muscles in his arms and legs.

He excelled at a toying, attrition-based tactic, constantly weaving in and out of his opponent’s range.

A custom-made ‘Rapier’ forged by the kingdom’s best master smith using a special metal.

Made with ‘Manastones’ from Tarun Mountain, imbued with dense mana, the sword itself possesses high mana conductivity.

Rapiers were originally thin and long, lacking in destructive power compared to other swords.

However, thanks to this characteristic, simply channeling mana into the sword made a single thrust boast firepower on par with a large-scale magic bullet.

Truly the perfect equipment for Lenny.

With natural talent and top-tier equipment combined, in the past three years, not a single person in the academy could stand against this genius.

But his luck in the draw was bad.

“Aaaaaah—! Evergreen’s nimble swordsmanship is completely ineffective!!”

*Pakaang—!*

*Suss- Tsukaang—!!*

“What… why isn’t it piercing…”

Lenny’s sword energy, which even pierced the [Armored Rampart], the strongest defensive magic of the top magic student in Year 4,

was being blocked by a mere Year 1’s [Mana Shield].

The orange mana enveloped Narias’ entire body.

The hardened mana armor didn’t give Lenny’s sword an inch to penetrate.

‘It was said that they use all four attributes of mana…’

Then, this sturdy barrier must be using earth mana.

It’s not compatible with Lenny’s fire mana, but there’s a way to break it.

However, it’s slightly troublesome.

*Hwoong- Bwoong—!*

“However, Philbrog’s sword is also failing to reach his opponent! Evergreen is dodging everything with swift footwork. This is truly… a neck-and-neck battle so unpredictable, one cannot foresee the next move!!”

The problem is that ridiculously large greatsword, swung wildly with each approach.

“Goodness… you dodge so well.”

“I never intended to hit you, though.”

“Caught you?”

The greatsword created by magic is diametrically opposite to Lenny’s rapier.

The destructive power is immense, but like the rapier, swift and sharp attacks are difficult.

However, a single hit would put one on death’s doorstep; her sword energy surrounds her.

One careless moment and it’s over.

*Taat-*

Lenny put distance between them and corrected his posture.

“Rapid offensives are the advantage of magic swords… why wield such a greatsword?”

“Well? It might just be more comfortable.”

It sounded somewhat true.

Even while wielding a considerably heavy sword, she maintained her composure, indicating she’s accustomed to fighting with it.

But he couldn’t shake off one thought.

Narias seemed to be buying time.

“Both players are maintaining a distance, continuing a contest of nerves! I, as a novice, cannot fathom what kind of energy they are exchanging—!”

She’s clearly hiding her strength.

Right from the start of the match, the first attack she suddenly delivered.

The speed and destructive power were beyond imagination.

Lenny barely dodged that attack, strengthening his leg muscles in preparation for the following continuous attack.

But afterward, she suddenly stopped moving.

She simply keeps swinging her greatsword, remaining in place.

Eliminating all risks of a close-range battle, maintaining her fighting position with minimal movement.

‘Could it be… she’s targeting something else.’

Then, he really underestimated her.

*Kkaddeuk-*

Lenny gritted his teeth.

“Even a sturdy wall… will eventually crumble.”

He abruptly cut off the mana flow into his magic sword, which he’d been continuously sending to unleash maximum firepower.

Then, he began to slowly condense it within his body.

“Aaah—!! Suddenly, right now! The energy surrounding Evergreen is starting to change slightly! This is something palpable even to me… What technique are they about to show—!!”

It’s a simple solution.

It’d be like, a nail and hammer.

A stone wall cannot be broken with a hammer.

However, if you hold up a sharp nail and swing it, it will gradually start cracking.

Lenny slowly channeled his condensed mana, sharpening the blade further.

A technique that can be used thanks to the sword’s special properties.

He had entirely forgotten about the rapier’s nature, focusing solely on its lacking destructive power.

He had completely abandoned his own sword.

A strong and sharp sword that pierces through anything.

That was Lenny’s sword.

Spreading his legs wide, lowering his stance, he assumes a strong thrusting posture.

His other hand aims at his target, Narias.

“Don’t think you can block this one…”

“It looks like that. I’ll try putting in a little effort.”

Her expression remained relaxed, contrary to her words.

Thrusting such a strong sword at a junior, a girl at that, was a bit bothersome.

That’s like belittling an opponent on the battlefield.

Regardless of the outcome, Lenny decided to do his best.

“Evergreen—!! An incredible momentum!!”

His leg muscles throbbed explosively.

The ground he stood on shattered and cracked.

Mana power exploded from a point.

His whole body became one with his sword, thrusting in a straight line!

*[Spiral Pierce—]*

As he was about to unleash the accumulated power, his best thrust…

*Hmeuchit-*

*Kuwaguaguaguwaaaang—!!!*

A tremendous roar erupted from a distance,

Even Lenny, who had poured all his focus into the attack, was momentarily distracted by it.

When he turned his head back towards Narias, the relaxed expression was finally gone.

However, she still didn’t seem interested in him.

“What are you looking at—”

Lenny gritted his teeth, lunged, and thrust his mana-charged rapier at Narias.

During the use of his ultimate move, his senses heightened tenfold, and time seemed to slow around him.

And in his vision, where everything was moving slowly.

Only Narias moved at normal speed.

“That’s enough playing around.”

She used her elbow to strike down the sword tip, burying Lenny’s attack into the ground.

Then, she vanished at an imperceptible speed.

‘Wha- what, where—’

*Ppeok—!*

And he was knocked unconscious by a strong blow to the back of his neck.

***

Even during the match with Lenny, she was scanning the entire academy with her eyes.

She felt slightly bad for not giving her all, but thanks to that, she could pinpoint the location as soon as the problem arose.

‘The Third Training Ground—!!’

Another venue used for the tournament.

She couldn’t tell exactly what happened, but she was sure it was Moriarty’s doing.

A chillingly powerful magical energy was felt.

After confirming Lenny’s collapse and ignoring the commentator’s announcement of her victory, she immediately sprang into action.

Simultaneously, she received a message from the Knights.

「Is it now?!」

「No, wait! Perhaps only the vanguard has appeared yet. I will personally check the scene.」

The Oracle’s view is hazy.

It seemed that a spell disrupting mana flow was also being used.

But without time to worry, her feet were soon on the ground at the scene.

“Cough- cough—”

“Are you alright? What happened—!!”

The tournament hall had become a pit of dust.

The stage and auditorium were completely destroyed.

A familiar mana wave was soon felt, and Aspi approached her.

“Your highness— no, Cadet Narias…! How did you…”

“Quickly, explain the situation.”

She quickly began to summarize what had just happened.

Like the first training ground where she fought Lenny, a second match of the Round of 16 was underway here.

One of the two cadets who had advanced suddenly reacted strangely, then launched a fatal attack on the opponent, wreaking havoc on the hall.

“How’s the one who was hit?”

“They’re still breathing… but they need immediate treatment or they’ll be in danger.”

Casualty… she quickly put her hand to her ear.

「Tier, can you hear me?」

「Whoa—! You scared me… What, what happened?!」

「No time to explain. Come to the third training ground immediately, treat the injured, and assess the situation.」

She gave simple instructions, but Tier quickly understood and sent a positive reply.

The dust, the dirt pit…

The surroundings were also thoroughly messed up, making it unlikely to be noticed by anyone else.

“Aspi, where did that strangely acting person go?”

“Um… they flew towards the main building, but after that…”

This attack was clearly a diversionary tactic.

The main target must be somewhere else.

『The scenario is updated.』

『Warning! An intrusion scenario has occurred.』

『The clear conditions for the [Intrusion Scenario: Mysterious Attacker] are open.』

-[Minimize casualties]

-[Identify the attacker’s identity]

-[Stop the attacker’s objective]

And apparently… it seems that’s my job.

She let down her tied hair and created a small crown of ether, placing it on her head.

“Aspi Lichtenstein, Second Knight of Naifrantz.”

Aspi instantly understood her intentions and immediately knelt on one knee.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

“Join the Knights on standby outside and seal off the entire academy. Not a single ant is to get through. Protect the people from threats.”

“As ordered.”

She vanished like the wind as soon as her orders were given.

Frankly, Aspi could also handle internal issues as an instructor.

But the priorities need to be changed.

I’m terribly sorry, but if any gaps are left in response and those guys release poison gas and escape… that would be the worst-case scenario.

In such a situation, I cannot save everyone.

But… I can definitely do this one thing.

I will capture every single one of them without exception.

Having used the name of a princess, I have no intention of letting them go lightly.

Seeing how they’ve escalated things, their target is not just me.

Aaah—!!

She immediately turned her attention to the Oracle in the first training ground.

The people who were watching the match in the audience…

“…Damn it.”

Why do bad feelings always come true?

Yulia wasn’t there.