Chapter 75
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: A Series of Upsets
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Early in the morning, Pernyan savored his morning coffee as he picked up the newspaper.
【Daily Academy 10/6】
【Upset in the Magic Tournament. First-Year Runner-Up Defeats Second-Year Runner-Up…! Carlo Deneve’s Lightning Fades Before Aria Friedien’s Gale.】
【Gismond Erdt, the Jousting Tournament’s Dark Horse, Tamed by Ruina Bercefe in the Round of 32.】
【Another Upset, Aint Armian Secures a Spot in the Round of 16.】
【The Jousting and Magic Tournaments Enter the Round of 16. Who Are the Final 32?】
Following these were more articles about the match results, the other competitors who had advanced to the round of 16, and the festival events.
“…What the.”
Those weren’t the important parts.
Who defeated whom, who won against whom.
There were quite a few deviations from the Prophecy Book, but he had expected things to keep getting twisted because of one troublemaker.
Even without the Prophecy Book, he had a grasp of the more talented individuals, so while it wasn’t perfectly aligned with the prophecy, he had still made a decent amount of money.
The problem was something else entirely.
“Aria beat Carlo…?”
Some things had changed from the Prophecy Book, and some hadn’t. The match between Aria and Carlo was supposed to be the latter.
They were fated to meet in the Magic Tournament, and Carlo would defeat Aria.
It was only natural.
In the original history, Carlo was still the top student of the second year.
That wasn't due to any trick or luck, but pure skill. As talented as Aint’s companion Aria was, she couldn't surpass that level in an instant.
It was the same now.
Even if Carlo had been pushed to second place because of Pernyan, his skills hadn’t gone anywhere.
So why.
Why did the result change?
“……”
Pernyan’s mind went blank at the completely unexpected outcome.
The money he had bet on Carlo, using his staff and even his acquaintances, was gone.
***
The Jousting Tournament had progressed to the round of 16.
Pernyan examined the bracket.
【Jousting Tournament Round of 16 Bracket
- Valoci Vienderk (1st Year, Top Student) VS Bella Hohen (2nd Year, 19th Place)
- Verian Calburden (1st Year, 3rd Place) VS Barog Hernim (3rd Year, Top Student)
- Alkan Domirn (3rd Year, Runner-Up) VS Rob Kaelin (4th Year, Top Student)
- Gillet Pience (3rd Year, 5th Place) VS Ruina Bercefe (2nd Year, Top Student)
- Aint Armian (1st Year, Runner-Up) VS Almon Doneretz (2nd Year, Runn…】
Thanks to the variable named Gismond Erdt, the round of 16 bracket was vastly different from what Pernyan knew.
“What a mess.”
Unlike the Magic Tournament, which was proceeding smoothly aside from Aria, the Jousting Tournament was a complete disaster.
Bella Hohen, who should have been eliminated in the round of 32, had gotten an incredible stroke of luck and secured a spot in the round of 16. Aint and Ruina, who were supposed to face each other in the semifinals, were now set to clash in the quarterfinals.
“…I have a rough idea of how the other matches will go.”
But Aint and Ruina, he had no idea.
However, Pernyan didn't dwell on it. Their match was in the quarterfinals anyway, something to think about tomorrow.
For now, betting on the round of 16 was the priority.
“Hyde.”
“Are you doing it again, sir?”
“Don’t ask the obvious.”
After placing his bets, Pernyan handed his slip to Hyde.
“You ask that knowing how much money I lost because of Gismond and Aria? I have to make more, much more money.”
“…Understood.”
Now, his staff and all of Pernyan’s connections would place the exact same bets.
And in an hour, the tournament would begin.
While Pernyan continued to place bets, extending to the Magic Tournament, someone in the Jousting Tournament’s contestant waiting room was trembling with a pale face.
“…But still, he’s a first-year, so I should have a chance, right? He might be the top student, but he’s still a first-year. He might be a Vienderk, but he’s still a first-year.”
“Bella.”
“Just looking at the time we’ve spent learning at the academy, there’s a one-year gap. There has to be a possibility….”
“Bella.”
Ruina gripped Bella Hohen’s shoulders. The slight tremor stopped.
“Just fight your best. Without regrets. That’s all that matters.”
“…That sounds like you’re saying I have no chance of winning.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then can I win?”
“…Do your best, Bella.”
“And you call yourself a friend….”
Ruina averted her gaze. Bella let out a deep sigh. But thanks to that, her nerves had settled a bit.
Right, when she thought about it, just reaching the round of 16 was a stroke of heavenly luck. Even if she was eliminated here, it was a massive improvement over last year.
But it wasn’t just luck.
Fighting the Sea Serpents and serving as Ruina’s sparring partner had improved her skills by leaps and bounds.
She couldn’t have reached the round of 16 without luck, but it would have been just as impossible if she lacked the skill.
“Still, I’m the senior here. I’ll show him the dignity of a senior.”
“Bella Hohen!”
“I’m coming!”
After an hour of psyching herself up, Bella put on her helmet and strode out courageously.
And exactly 20 minutes later.
“I’m… so embarrassed I could die…! What is that monster…! That thing is a first-year?”
Her armor dented in several places, Bella returned like a defeated soldier.
She had barely managed to endure the three jousts, but in the subsequent sword duel, she was completely overwhelmed.
All she could do was hold on. She was on the defensive from start to finish until she finally dropped her sword.
The fact that she had lasted 20 minutes was only thanks to her sparring sessions with Ruina.
“You did well.”
“Well…? I thought I could at least hold my ground, but the difference in our levels was just too great….”
Bella squatted in a corner of the waiting room, bemoaning her fate.
And exactly 15 minutes later, another loser in the same state entered.
“…The wall of a third-year top student is high.”
It was Verian Calburden, who had fought against the third-year top student, Barog Hernim.
Verian had been utterly crushed.
He had barely avoided losing in the joust, but that was it. The moment they moved to swordsmanship, he was pushed back instantly.
Verian, who hadn't imagined the gap would be this large even for a third-year, let out a deep sigh.
“How was it?”
“Don’t ask. It’s pissing me off.”
“I’ll avenge you.”
“If you avenge me, that’ll just piss me off more.”
Verian gritted his teeth at Aint’s innocent words.
Normally, he would have retorted that it was impossible, but he had a feeling that Aint might actually be able to do it.
After all, this was the person who had confronted a demon and, in the end, defeated it.
The very demon that he, Verian, had fainted before without being able to endure.
‘Instead of closing, the gap is just getting wider. Dammit…!’
What kind of talent did he possess to show such insane growth? Were all Armians like this?
‘…Is there a way?’
He didn’t want to be left behind like this. When Aint stood tall before everyone, he wanted to be, at the very least, one step behind him.
‘Senior Pernyan might have a way.’
He had a feeling that man could accomplish anything and find a solution for everything. He wasn’t sure when he had started to trust Pernyan this much.
“I’m a second-year, and I’m getting nervous.”
“Just shut up.”
While Aint and Verian were chatting, the tournament continued.
The match between Gert Grotz, a second-year, and Yuria Sandra, a third-year, ended with Gert’s victory, shattering everyone’s expectations.
Alkan Domirn and Rob Kaelin.
The prideful showdown between the third-year runner-up and the fourth-year top student ended with last year's champion displaying the same prowess as the year before.
“Gillet Pience! Ruina Bercefe!”
And finally, Ruina stood up.
‘She’ll win, right, senior?’
- The third-years are quite skilled.
- Only the fourth-years are dregs. The first, second, and third-years are all decent.
Among them, the third-years were the most outstanding on average.
- But I doubt Ruina will lose.
- Of course. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a human confront a demon so boldly.
- In terms of mental fortitude alone, she is a knight superior to anyone else here.
“I’m cheering for you, senior. You have to win.”
Aint whispered as Ruina passed by him.
Ruina paused for a moment and nodded.
- You do realize that if she wins, she becomes your next opponent, right?
‘…Uh, about that….’
- Are you confident you can win?
‘…It’ll work out somehow, won’t it?’
- Such a thoughtless fool. I told you that you must win the championship.
Of course, he was right, but Aint had his own defense.
‘To win the championship, I have to fight you at least once anyway, senior.’
- Do you think Ruina Bercefe will make it to the finals?
‘Of course. If not you, senior, then who else would get there?’
- Should I call this being blinded by affection, or having a good eye….
Gardner sighed. Even though a sword couldn't sigh, his tone conveyed it perfectly.
- Just watch your opponent carefully. How ridiculous would it be if you were eliminated first after saying all that?
‘Yes.’
Ruina returned, having easily secured her victory.
“Impressive. I kept an eye on her last year, but her skills have improved even more this year.”
“As expected of a Bercefe….”
“Her swordsmanship is beautiful. Her opponent wasn’t lacking, yet he never once gained the upper hand.”
The cheers of the crowd were a testament to the incredible match she had fought.
Now, it was Aint’s turn.
“I will definitely win too, senior.”
“…Right.”
Ruina nodded slightly as she wiped her sweat. She had a somewhat reluctant expression, but Aint didn't know why.
“…Huh?”
Not until he faced Almon Doneretz.
- This one is quite strong!
When his artifact activated, unable to block a sword strike aimed at his chest, Aint's confidence, which had soared to the heavens after defeating Andromalius, plummeted straight into the ground.
“The winner, Almon Doneretz!”
“…No way.”
Aint couldn't get up easily, as if unable to believe his own defeat.
But in the stands, there was someone even more surprised.
“…Huh?”
Pernyan’s mouth fell open.
“Right, there was that guy…!”
He hadn't given him a second thought, assuming Aint would naturally face Ruina.
But Almon was no ordinary person.
He was the wall that had blocked Ruina Bercefe, a future Royal Knight acknowledged by Gardner himself, for an entire academic year.
His skills were by no means.
Inferior to Ruina Bercefe’s.
‘To make a mistake like this…!’
He had been too engrossed in the Prophecy Book. He had overestimated Aint, the future hero who had slain Andromalius.
But he wasn't a hero yet.
Pernyan admitted to himself that he had been far too foolish.
“…My money.”
And the price was painful.
He had lost money again, and again, and again.
***
The battle was fierce.
The three jousts ended without either side gaining an advantage.
The subsequent sword duel lasted for over three hundred clashes.
Their auras ground against each other in an intensely fierce exchange, and the crowd roared their names.
“Is this the power of an Armian? He’s amazing for a first-year!”
“Armian! Armian!”
“Go, Almon Doneretz! Uphold the pride of the second-years!”
“Almon! You have to win it all this time!”
What decided the match was something very trivial.
Experience and stamina.
Aint’s aura, enhanced by the Heart of a Saint Bird, was certainly superior to Almon’s.
But the difference wasn't that great, and Almon skillfully narrowed the gap.
Moreover, his well-honed body and stamina allowed him to conserve his strength for longer.
And that.
Claaaang—
Became the reason Aint's sword went flying through the air.
It resulted in Almon’s sword being placed at Aint’s neck, and the two were divided into loser and winner.
“The winner, Almon Doneretz!”
The referee declared the match decided.
“He fought well, even in defeat!”
“He might even win it all next year.”
“So this is an Armian. Incredible.”
“Aint Armian!”
“Almon Doneretz!”
The crowd sent fervent encouragement and cheers to both Aint and Almon for the spectacular match they had provided.
“This might displease the Schwabens.”
“Almon Doneretz? From the Doneretz viscounty?”
“I’d like to make him my knight.”
Some, impressed by their skills, began to covet them, but Aint sat helplessly, as if unable to believe his defeat.
“I… I lost….”
After killing Andromalius, he had thought he wouldn't lose to anyone except Ruina or Pernyan, who had fought alongside him.
Why.
- You were really thinking something that stupid?
- It’s a good thing you lost now.
‘A good thing? Whose side are you on, Gardner!’
Aint flared up at Gardner’s words and retorted fiercely.
- The world is vast, and there are many strong people. And you are merely a first-year at an academy.
- You may be strong for your age, but that’s all.
‘But I killed a demon…!’
- The power of light possessed by the Armians is the natural enemy of demons. But to put it another way, against anything that isn't a demon, it is merely a top-tier swordsmanship and training method.
That alone made the value of the Armian secret swordsmanship indescribably high.
But there was a clear difference between fighting a demon and not.
- Above all, Andromalius did not descend with his full power. If it were the one from a thousand years ago, you would have been sent to the afterlife with a single punch.
- Even if that weren’t the case, you would never have won without the golem of Pernyan, that nouveau riche.
- The amazing one isn’t you, it’s the rich guy.
‘…It can’t be.’
Aint hung his head at Gardner’s blunt words.
Almon didn't bother to comfort or help him up.
‘What a monster.’
He was ranked 38th during the entrance exam. How did he become so strong in less than a year?
‘Is it because he’s an Armian?’
Is this the difference in talent?
The world is truly unfair, Almon thought. Just as others thought when they looked at him.
Almon sheathed his sword and returned to the waiting room. Ruina was there, resting.
“Ruina.”
“Almon.”
“You know, don’t you? My next opponent is you.”
“I know.”
The quarterfinals. The two, who would not have met before, were now set to face each other due to Gismond’s interference.
“I have been waiting for this moment for some time.”
“Do I need to ask why?”
“Because you became the top student.”
“It sounds like you’re saying you can’t accept it.”
“You’re correct. You and I have never properly faced off, have we? We were always caught in Pernyan’s schemes.”
“My partner’s merit is also my own.”
“I’m not saying that’s wrong.”
Those were the academy's rules, and Ruina had rightfully become the top student according to them.
It couldn't be said it was all thanks to her partner.
While it was true that Pernyan had shown an incredible performance, Almon’s partner, Ludger, was by no means inferior to Pernyan.
And yet. And yet, he couldn't accept it.
Because since becoming a second-year, Almon had never had a proper fight with Ruina.
Because he was confident he could win in a one-on-one duel.
“Knights should speak purely through their swords, shouldn’t they?”
Ruina was silent for a moment.
Their eyes met, and they stared at each other.
“You are right.”
After a moment, she nodded.
“I, too, felt it was a bit of a shame.”
Because it wasn't a top position she had earned purely as a knight against a knight, she felt a slight sense of unease amidst her joy.
“Tomorrow, we can blow all of that away.”
“Yes, we should.”
Almon smiled at Ruina’s fighting spirit.
“In case you’ve forgotten, you’ve never once beaten me.”
“I am the top student.”
“An unsettling top student, as you said.”
“Is there any need for long words? The result will be out tomorrow.”
“Fine by me!”
Almon exited the contestant waiting room.
However, Almon would never have the satisfying match with Ruina that he desired.
“…Hah, how absurd. The moment I’ve waited so long for, and I’m tripped up because of that guy?”
“It is unfortunate, but I have no intention of going easy on you.”
Almon, who had poured all his strength into the battle with Aint.
“The winner! Ruina Bercefe!”
In the following battle against Ruina, suffered a crushing defeat, as if it were a lie.
Ruina advanced to the semifinals.