Chapter 9
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Clash of the Elites
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8화.
In the lecture hall, long after the students had departed.
Grad and Rosalia displayed a map of the northern mountain range at the front of the room.
The sprawling map of the northwestern mountains showed the real-time locations of each pair.
This was possible because the maps distributed to them were enchanted not only with a defensive magic that determined elimination but also with a real-time location tracking spell.
An assistant reported the situation.
“The students are being eliminated faster than expected. More importantly, none have been eliminated by monsters.”
Only four hours had passed since the practical exam began, yet eleven pairs had already been eliminated.
A rate of nearly one-tenth of the participants far exceeded their predictions.
Furthermore, the fact that no one had fallen to monsters meant only one thing: conflict among the students themselves.
“Three pairs stand out among them: Ludger Schwaben and Almon Doneretz, Carlo Deneve and Alia Torta, and Ruina Bercefe and Pernyan Fallenberg.”
“Pernyan Fallenberg? What are your thoughts, Professor Rosalia?”
“It’s a bit surprising, I must admit. Pernyan isn’t the type of student who likes to take the lead.”
“It’s safe to assume he’s following Ruina’s lead. She always gives her all, to a frightening degree.”
From Professor Rosalia’s perspective, it was indeed unexpected. The Pernyan she knew was more of a merchant than a nobleman.
He pursued profit and practical gain over things like honor. Frankly, she hadn’t understood why he’d chosen Ruina as his partner in the first place.
“Could it be for money? But if that’s the case, Pernyan has no reason to accommodate Ruina.”
“If Pernyan is acting this way, it must be because it benefits him more.”
A student who prioritized profit above all else. That was the Pernyan Rosalia had observed for the past year.
“The only thing he can gain by pairing with Ruina and catering to her is a high grade. Hasn’t he been rather indifferent to his grades until now?”
“Pernyan recently visited the Fallenberg estate. It’s possible the Duke gave him a new order.”
“That does sound plausible.”
Grad stroked his chin.
“Well, it’s not particularly important. Professor Rosalia, in your opinion, who do you think will take first place?”
“I imagine it will be one of the three pairs I just mentioned.”
“And if you were to be more specific?”
“They are all formidable. I cannot give you a definitive answer.”
“So formal.”
Just then, Grad’s expression changed as he saw two dots on the map converge.
“Well, at least the three possibilities will soon be reduced to two.”
“They could just agree to go their separate ways for now.”
“Perhaps, perhaps not.”
Grad stepped onto a magic circle.
“Are you leaving?”
“If they do clash, the assistants alone won’t be enough to guarantee their safety. You stay here and continue to monitor the situation.”
“Yes, sir.”
Flash. In the place where the light vanished, Grad was no longer present.
Left alone in the lecture hall, Rosalia sat calmly and studied the map.
She could see numerous dots moving about busily.
Sometimes they met, clashed, and fled. Some sought out other students for extra points, while others steadily headed north, focused solely on the objective.
Amidst the chaotic scattering of dots, Rosalia’s gaze was fixed on only two.
“…Ludger Schwaben, Pernyan Fallenberg.”
On the two most important students among the second-years.
* * *
“Knight Department’s Jane Hax and Magic Department’s Ned Palan are eliminated. Additional points awarded to Knight Department’s Ruina Bercefe and Magic Department’s Pernyan Fallenberg.”
Immediately after Ruina incapacitated Jane, an assistant appeared and whisked them away.
The map served not only to show their location but also as a means to protect the students and confirm their elimination.
“With the defensive magic in place, I suppose there’s no need to hold back from now on.”
“You call that holding back?”
“I was about to stop just before impact. The defensive magic made it unnecessary, though.”
“She looked like she was about to faint.”
“Jane has always been a bit timid. She’ll need to overcome that if she wants to become a knight.”
Ruina sounded genuinely concerned for her. Pernyan, realizing that further conversation would only give him a headache, changed the subject.
“So, where to next?”
The two were currently surveying the land from atop a pillar of earth Pernyan had raised with magic. A vast mountain range spread out below them.
“The marked location on the map is the northern coastal area, and I believe we are somewhere around here.”
“The western mountain range, then.”
The northern region was the largest part of the academy grounds, divided into eastern and western sectors.
“We should head northeast.”
“Alright.”
Pernyan released the spell. The towering rock pillar returned to the earth.
“There were quite a few people nearby, weren’t there?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the plan?”
“Is there a need to answer that?”
Pernyan’s lips curled into a smile at her predictable response.
‘The top and second-top students emerge every year. But very few of them ever become Royal Knights.’
But the prophecy book had mentioned it, and so far, every prophecy had come true.
Therefore, he decided to investigate further.
‘Verification can never be too thorough.’
He was a merchant, after all. A single mistake or a piece of false information could lead to immense losses. One must always doubt, reinvestigate, and build certainty upon certainty.
He had no intention of concluding his verification after just one or two tests. This partnership with Ruina would be a stage to both win her favor and test her abilities.
“To the west.”
“West it is.”
The presence was felt from the west.
“I’ll go on ahead before we lose them.”
Ruina kicked off the ground and shot forward like an arrow.
“I have no intention of falling behind, you know.”
“…What is that?”
“A person ought to use magic. It saves the body a lot of trouble.”
*Rumble—*
Pernyan stood perfectly still with his arms crossed. Though he didn’t move an inch, the earth itself flowed, keeping him right beside Ruina.
“I’ve never seen that spell before.”
“I learned it from one of my family’s mages. I despise breaking a sweat.”
“You must move your body to stay free of illness.”
“My mana takes care of my health just fine.”
“…You lazy merchant.”
“…What was that?”
“It was nothing.”
Ruina drew her sword. The sharp blade glinted in the sunlight.
“It’s Ruina!”
“Run!”
“Dammit, of all the bad luck!”
The battle began.
* * *
The second-top student was truly in a class of her own.
Pernyan thought as much as he watched Ruina fight.
Aint Armian’s assessment of her as ‘beautiful’ was not wrong.
Ruina Bercefe’s swordsmanship was fast and elegant, and at a glance, it even looked noble.
‘So this is…’
The secret sword art of the guardian family that had protected the empire’s northern frontier, the very art his father coveted.
Watching it stirred a sense of greed within him.
But he quickly shook his head.
A great merchant must pursue the great profit far in the distance, not the small gain right before his eyes.
The battle ended in an instant, without any need for Pernyan to intervene. This was partly because the pairs they encountered were of lower rank, but also because Ruina was overwhelmingly powerful.
“Good work.”
“It wasn’t particularly difficult.”
“For something not difficult, you look like you’ve been rolling around in the dirt.”
“I’m not injured.”
Ruina said nonchalantly. It was just that the dust kicked up by magic had soiled her armor.
“Saved a potion, then.”
“You have a talent for making even a simple comment sound irritating.”
“And you have a talent for taking even a joke so seriously.”
Pernyan shrugged and handed her a piece of beef jerky. Ruina accepted it without a word and began to chew.
“We should find the next pair right away…”
Ruina stopped mid-sentence. Pernyan’s gaze followed hers.
A presence could be felt not too far away. It felt completely different from the pairs they had encountered so far.
And soon.
“…Carlo?”
Someone emerged.
It was the top student of the second-year Magic Department, Carlo Deneve.
Becoming the top student among a hundred talented individuals gathered from across the empire, and even from neighboring kingdoms, was no easy feat.
The title of top student was itself a testament to his strength, a proof of how powerful he was.
And of all people, they had to run into him so early on.
“Carlo Deneve.”
“Pernyan Fallenberg.”
Their eyes met.
“What a coincidence. To meet so soon.”
“I agree.”
“It’s only the beginning. Is there really a need for us to wear each other out?”
“We’ll see.”
From that ambiguous response, Pernyan sensed that Carlo would not back down easily.
Why was he doing this, knowing it wasn’t entirely beneficial for him either?
Competitiveness? Or was it his pride, hurt by having Ruina taken from him?
Perhaps it was simply for the extra points. After all, Ruina was the second-top student of the Knight Department, and it was only natural that defeating a higher-ranked opponent would yield more points.
What mattered was that there seemed to be no way to avoid a fight now.
“Can you handle Carlo Deneve for a moment? I can defeat Alia.”
Ruina whispered softly.
“Doesn’t look like he’ll let us go quietly, does he?”
“Is there any need to run? We wouldn’t have to unless it was Almon.”
Confidence shone in her eyes.
Realizing that escape was out of the question, Pernyan nodded.
“Can’t be helped. Go on, run wild.”
In a way, this was a perfect opportunity to see Ruina Bercefe’s true capabilities.
“…You’re not just going to watch, are you?”
“I mean I’ll support you. We’re a pair, so why would we need to fight separately?”
That was surely not what the professors had intended.
“The assistants will probably give us higher scores for good teamwork.”
“…But we’ve never even practiced together, have we?”
“Trust me.”
“Trust you with what?”
“If you can’t trust me, then trust the elixir I gave you. Isn’t that worth overlooking a few mistakes?”
“……”
Ruina wore a dubious expression. Something felt off, yet she couldn’t find a proper counterargument.
“Very we—”
*CRACK!*
Just then, a bolt of lightning struck. The vertical thunderbolt shot straight for Ruina.
Or so it seemed, but a thick wall of rock had risen to protect her.
“Lightning, huh. Brings back bad memories.”
Pernyan clicked his tongue.
“…A cowardly sneak attack in the middle of a conversation.”
Ruina’s grip on her sword tightened.
“Isn’t having a conversation in the middle of a battle the bigger problem here?”
“Are you on my side or the enemy’s?”
“On your side, of course.”
“…Then please do a good job with that ‘support’ you mentioned.”
With a sigh and a low murmur, Ruina charged forward without waiting for a reply.
Her first target was the mage, Carlo.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Alia swiftly moved to intercept, blocking her sword.
Sparks flew with a clang. Simultaneously, lightning and rock crisscrossed above Ruina’s head.
*BOOM!*
Fragments of the shattered rock rained down. Through the rising dust, the two knights’ swords intertwined like snakes.
After a brief exchange of two blows, Ruina realized her body felt lighter and more powerful than usual. It was Pernyan’s buff magic, cast without her even noticing.
‘When did he…?’
His casting speed was faster than she’d thought. Though puzzled, she knew she had to focus on the opponent before her.
*CLANG!*
*CLASH!*
Ruina quickly adapted to her altered physique. She used her now heavier sword and faster body to pressure Alia.
Sword met sword, creating shockwaves. Fragments of the shattered earth flew in all directions, and wounds created by the blades were etched into the air.
She consistently pushed Alia back. She had been the superior fighter to begin with, and with Pernyan’s buff magic, she was even more overwhelming.
But Carlo wasn’t just standing by either.
*Crackle—*
A massive net of lightning unfurled across the sky. Its range extended beyond Ruina to encompass Pernyan as well.
The net fell. She swung her sharpened aura, but the net was tougher than expected and didn’t break completely. She had no choice but to dive through an opening.
At that moment, the net, which had seemed wide, began to tighten.
“…Hk?”
“Got you, Ruina!”
The net of lightning immobilized her. It constantly sent shocks through her, disrupting the flow of her aura. And Alia did not miss the opening.
The time needed to completely sever the net was but an instant, but Alia’s assault was faster.
A sword lunged at her. Ruina prepared to trade flesh for bone as she tore through the net.
And at the same time.
*CRASH!*
Alia’s sword struck rock, while Ruina’s sword, a moment too late, cut through empty air.
“…What is this?”
Ruina was bewildered by the sudden change in her surroundings. In the distance, she saw the rock that now stood where she had been, and Alia, who had just split it in two.
“It’s an artifact. It can swap two objects of identical weight.”
“…Using an artifact in a practical exam is cowardly.”
“Since when is there cowardice in battle?”
“That’s true, but…!”
Wait a minute.
“Identical weight…?”
Ruina’s face turned beet red.
“How…?”
“It was written in your personnel file.”
“You…!”
Her shout was cut short as magic and steel flew toward them simultaneously.
Ruina instinctively grabbed Pernyan and threw herself to the side. The lightning bolt pulverized the hapless ground.
“Cough…!”
Pernyan, who had tumbled to the ground, cried out.
“Pull me a little more gently! The ride is terrible!”
“That personnel file you found—I’ll make sure it’s burned!”
Ruina shouted as she blocked Alia’s sword. Another lightning strike forced Pernyan to roll on the ground again before he even had a chance to dust himself off.
Pernyan lifted his head.
“Ptooey. Right, I was wondering why you weren't double casting.”
It’s the specialty that made you the top student, after all.
Along with the lightning, a massive spell was forming in the sky.
A colossal pillar of light. A convergence of dozens of lightning bolts. Its destructive power was far beyond that of a mere student.
“Pernyan!”
“Don’t worry, just do your job. Finish her.”
Pernyan ignored her worried cry.
He pulled something from his subspace pocket, threw it, and chanted an incantation.
*FWOOSH—!*
A brilliant white beam of light descended upon Pernyan and Ruina, and upon Alia, who was trying to create distance.
Or rather, it was about to.
The three spheres Pernyan had thrown met the spell first.
The spheres burned black and fell, but the now-weakened magic crashed against a tall spike of metal and dissipated.
And a moment too late.
“Aah!”
Alia’s sword flew through the air.
“…What in the world?”
“I did some research after you got me last time. Effective, isn’t it?”
Pernyan smirked at the bewildered Carlo.
Ruina, with her sword at Alia’s throat, pointed at the three blackened spheres.
“…What are those?”
“Mana storage orbs.”
“…You mean you absorbed the spell with mana storage orbs?”
“I modified them, of course. They’re expensive and difficult to make. And now they’re all destroyed, turned into single-use items. I guess the top student is the top student for a reason.”
And they were so expensive. Pernyan clicked his tongue.
Carlo’s eyes widened.
“Using an artifact! That’s cheating!”
“If a merchant fighting like a merchant is cheating, then you shouldn’t use magic either.”
“What kind of sophistry is that…!”
“We can talk about this later.”
Ruina. Pernyan murmured softly.
“Finish them.”
Carlo and Alia’s maps burned away.
* * *
“Aaargh—”
“Run!”
*BOOM!*
“Block it!”
“It’s begun.”
Ludger stroked his chin at the screams and explosions coming from all directions.
It was an expected outcome from the moment it was announced that students would be worth extra points to each other.
“What will you do, Your Highness?”
“And you?”
“I will follow your will, Your Highness.”
The Knight Department’s top student, Almon Doneretz, bowed his head, his expression impassive.
“Can you defeat Ruina Bercefe?”
“I am the top student.”
“Good. I’m confident I can beat Pernyan, so there shouldn’t be any particular problems.”
Ludger smiled.
“Let’s join in on that free-for-all. Grades are rather important to me, too. If a prince’s grades drop, there’s a whole pack of vultures just waiting to tear me apart.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Ah, but don’t eliminate everyone.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Of course, there is.”
The prince and the Knight Department’s top student began their hunt.