Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Sparring #02
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Clang! Clang!
Two male students were fiercely exchanging blows with their swords.
"Ooooh...! Is this the level of a knight family?"
"Amazing. To wield swordsmanship like that already as a first-year...!"
Sparring matches were usually held between opponents of equal skill, so the duel between these students from knight families was intense and evenly matched enough to draw exclamations of admiration from the surrounding students.
"Hmph, hrmm. They certainly have solid fundamentals. Not bad at all. Isn't that right, Assistant?"
"Yes, sir. I think an A grade for this practical session would be fine for both of them, Professor."
Professor Urdan Helik and his assistant both looked quite satisfied as they watched the two students' swordfight.
Indeed, for first-years, that level of skill meant kobolds or common bandits wouldn't stand a chance against them.
"...Yawn."
But it was so boring to me that I couldn't help yawning. What could I do? Boring was boring.
'Every regression, this is such a ordeal...'
For me, in my 21st year of academy life, first-year classes were generally dull. No matter how well they did, they weren't genius-level or main character material, so it was hard to feel satisfied.
"Oh my, are you sleepy, Big Brother? Should I give you a lap pillow?"
"No... You're just trying to dock points for class attitude. If I lay my head on your lap, the professor would think poorly of it."
I stroked Shaomei's cheek as she patted her lap at my yawn, then sighed and turned my eyes back to the male students' match.
'Ah, I just made eye contact with the professor again.'
──After my consultation with the dean last time, I knew the professors were showing me tremendous interest.
In fact, after taking a few days off due to the Rose Hall incident, one professor had strongly pitched to me—upon my return to class after so long—whether I'd consider becoming a graduate student or even an assistant.
Normally, that kind of hassle would have made me just take the exams and be done with it, but there were now a few reasons I had to attend classes diligently, so I couldn't.
'To get a score that satisfies the Crown Prince, attendance and professor evaluations will be important too...'
Who knows. Those measly extra points might just block any nitpicking from the Crown Prince. As student council president, he'd easily hear the professors' personal evaluations anyway.
Besides... I'd explain later, but for Senia Teacher's sake too, I had to attend classes properly.
But still, small fry fights need to be intense to be fun—small fry training is just no fun, so boredom was inevitable. And I couldn't goof off with Professor Helik visibly paying attention to me; it was killing me.
"Next up: Claire Flawber!"
"Ah, yes! It's my turn! Can I do well...?"
"Don't worry, Miss Claire. Everyone will go easy since you're a beginner!"
"Y-Yes...! I'll do my best anyway!"
Pumped up, Claire clenched her fists tight and headed to the arena.
"She really looks like a chick, doesn't she?"
"Yeah, totally a little chick. At first, I was worried seeing her follow Kaiyen around, but she's so cute, right?"
"Oh, her opponent's from an imperial knight family. Think she stands a chance?"
Of course she didn't. Claire, who had only just started swinging a sword, attacked her female opponent as hard as she could, mimicking the professor's demonstration. But from the sidelines, it just looked like clumsy beginner swordplay.
"They probably matched her with a knight family student on purpose. Sparring total beginners could lead to accidents, so they're adjusting for it."
Sure enough, the girl didn't counterattack aggressively against Claire. She maintained defense, letting Claire swing freely until time was up, then casually knocked her sword away and disarmed her.
"Mm, clean defensive skills. Well done, Lena. And Claire, for someone who's just picked up a sword, your form based on the fundamentals wasn't bad."
"Th-Thank you!"
Claire, panting from the praise from the assistant, grinned broadly and scampered back to us. Shaomei stroked her head and praised her.
"I got praised, Miss Shaomei!"
"Yes, yes, you did great, Miss Claire. Practice more, and your skills will improve a lot."
'...Isn't Claire a year older than Shaomei?'
Well, mentally, Shaomei was older, so it was fine.
"Next: Jorba!"
"Aw, my turn~ I'll go easy."
"...You're not supposed to say that, Young Lord! Got it?!"
As Jorba, who had been flirting with other girls nearby, stood up, Shaomei shouted urgently.
Clang!
"End! Jorba, grip your sword tighter!"
"Sorry~ No calluses, so it's hard to hold firm."
But ignoring Shaomei's hopes, Jorba dropped his sword after just three exchanges and lost. Shaomei and I clearly saw him let go on purpose.
"Haa... Young Lord, seriously...!"
"Calm down, Shaomei. Jorba diligently practicing swordsmanship would be weirder, right? Just let it be."
"Haha, sorry, sorry~ I lost~"
Shaomei, nominally Jorba's home tutor, looked endlessly frustrated at his antics. Jorba, oblivious, returned with his usual smug grin.
"As expected, the Golden Sun tribe must be exterminated. If he weren't Arthin's friend, I'd have kicked him!"
"Unicorn, I'll allow it—want to kick him now?"
"Whoa, if I stay here, I might actually get kicked."
Unlike me, Unicorn lounged comfortably watching the swordplay, but at Shaomei's glare from beside him, Jorba moved near the girls who fawned over him.
"This class is dreadfully boring for this lord... If not for the sight of virgin girls sweating, I'd have left ages ago."
"...Um, Unicorn? Why are you staring at me like that...?"
At Unicorn's satisfied gaze fixed on her, Claire looked a bit uncomfortable and hid behind Shaomei.
'He definitely became a bison, but liking virgins and hating Golden Suns makes him feel like a true unicorn at heart.'
Unicorn didn't really need to follow me, but at Agnes's insistence that he guard my weakened state while consuming potent elixirs, he was enduring the boring class.
In fact, just moments ago, his infusion of holy power let me train for an hour in restraints without tiring.
"Hang in there a bit longer, Unicorn. After class, I'll buy you carrot cake at the cafe, okay?"
"Mm! Carrot cake's good, but a hug... No, got it. Carrot juice too!"
Unicorn boldly started demanding a hug but glanced at Claire and nodded instead.
A symbol of purity like a unicorn demanding hugs from a man would be weird, after all.
"Next up... Orbot of the Black Plains!"
Just as I thought another small fry fight had ended, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"That's Orbot, right? The one who took down three guys who picked a fight in a duel single-handedly...!"
"As expected of an orc? Physically on another level!"
Indeed, striding out from the students was a massive black-skinned orc over 2 meters tall.
Orbot of the Black Plains. Overshadowed by super rookies like Shaomei, Kaiyen, and Violet, but one of the promising first-years said to have talent few could match.
Son of the great chieftain of the Black Plains tribe—one of the few civilized orc tribes—and a side character whose martial prowess made him second to none among peers... sort of.
"Wow, the most decent one yet. I could probably hang in there for five exchanges if I tried."
In the end, a downgrade of Shaomei. Plus, as a male character, I remembered him mostly as an enemy combat meter. Never got close after possession.
"Now, Orbot's opponent is..."
"Orbot! Wants to pick duel opponent himself!"
"Pardon? What do you...?"
Standing at the front of the training ground, Orbot cut off the assistant calling the next opponent and drew his sword, pointing at someone.
"...Huh? Me?"
"Arthin Ludwig! With the heart of a proud warrior, duel Orbot!"
But the tip of his blade pointed at me.
Utterly baffled at being called out by someone I'd never interacted with, I stood up with a puzzled expression.
"Wait, we assign duel opponents!"
"Orbot fights the strong! Defeat strong, take strong's things!"
"No, even if you say that...!"
Even civilized, an orc's an orc? No. Some orcs I knew weren't like that. This guy was just a brainless musclehead.
'Professor Helik looks troubled too...'
No helping it.
"Shaomei, I'll be right back."
"Oh, you're taking him on, Big Brother?"
"Calming down a reckless guy like this should score points, right? Gotta do one match anyway."
Indeed, Professor Helik—who wasn't the strictest—looked troubled. Couldn't miss the perfect chance to rack up professor points.
"As expected! True warrior steps forward! Arthin, crush you, take your things!"
"I-Is that okay, Arthin?"
"It's fine. Gotta spar once anyway."
I explained it was okay, and the assistant stepped back with a calmer face.
Meanwhile, Orbot snorted excitedly, glaring at me with burning eyes.
"Just one question: what do you mean by 'taking my things'?"
"Winner of duel takes loser's things—natural! Orbot proves strongest, becomes fiancée of Princess Agnes!"
"...What? Agnes's fiancé?"
I'd thought it was about the Rexton incident or power theft, but at the unexpected name, I furrowed my brow.
"Not just Princess Agnes! Daughter of War God! Unicorn! Witch! Orbot takes all! And Arthin, Kaiyen too!"
"You little shit, what did you just say about... What? Take me? And who?"
I knew this bastard was a disgusting NTR freak, and as my grip tightened on my sword, I heard something odd.
Me? And... what? Kaiyen?
"Yes! Orbot takes women who like Arthin and men who like Arthin! Orbot does both!"
What kind of bullshit was this? As I reeled in shock, a system window popped up before my eyes.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜 Handsomely Win the Duel!
📍 A man drawn to the Title: Possessor of Reverse Charm has challenged you!
⏰ This challenger declares he'll steal you and your women before everyone!
🎁 Prove you're the Imperial Princess's fiancé by winning the duel!
Quest Completion: Proudly defeat Orbot of the Black Plains.
Reward: Small amount of Crown Prince Recognition Gauge, Small amount of Shop Points.
⚙ Title: Possessor of Reverse Charm ⚙ Some people perceive you as female and find it attractive! A few men feel basic affection toward you! "Orbot! Surrender now, and Arthin can be first concubine..."
"Don't plan on walking out on your own two feet, Orbot."
At the system's filthy assault after so long, I gripped my sword hard.
NTR wasn't enough—he was a faggot who saw me as a bitch too?
'I'll kill him. Definitely kill him by accident.'
I felt killing intent I'd never shown even at Rose Hall leaking from deep within.
**
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And at that moment, a man was rushing toward the outdoor training ground where Arthin was.
'Something feels off...! Some arrogant bastard must be approaching Arthin...!!'
──Kaiyen, in his 16th year of stalking Arthin, sensed a threat to Arthin's chastity.