Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: 38-1. Gambler's Fallacy.
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The next day, Drake called us to the large lecture hall. It felt nostalgic, being back in the same place we'd arrived at for the second semester. This was where I'd first used Shadow Slash, wasn't it?
"UHAHAHAHA!! Nice to see you all!!"
His booming laugh echoed through the lecture hall as always. Drawing on ingrained experience, I plugged my ears in advance.
"Welcome to Instructor Drake's [Practical Sparring] class!!"
Practical sparring? Last semester, he called it the subtleties of the sword and just taught us physical training and basic swings without any mana. Typical of him, favoring those with low mana.
'Honestly, magic is all-powerful, but it has big limitations.'
For starters, it's slow to react. Mana circulation involves channeling mana through your body's veins to explosively boost physical abilities.
It's like trying to handle a sudden turn while speeding in a car.
That was how I'd exploited an opening against Pine during the grade exam.
Second, it's heavily influenced by attributes. That's why people like Dennis could break through weaknesses by smashing concepts.
"Last lecture, we learned how to move without mana! This time's different!"
Judging by the class name, he's probably having students spar while wearing mana shields.
As I stood there with arms crossed, watching, Drake thumbed toward the back door.
"Fight the TA, everyone!"
My brow furrowed. TA? Was there someone in this academy I didn't know about?
Soon after, the door burst open, and a woman strode in.
"Nice to meet you, underclassmen."
Her footsteps were silent, light as a cat's. She wore tight-fitting clothes overlaid with a cloak.
"I'm Blanc. I came at Professor Drake's invitation."
Her outfit was shadowy from head to toe. A petite woman with short black hair and green eyes greeted us.
'Rogue class.'
Light gear for mobility, and two daggers at her waist. If Pine and I were knights, she was the polar opposite.
A class skilled in assassinations and acrobatic maneuvers. But I didn't recall a character with that name.
'No way... a player?'
The northern grand duchess had mentioned something about Geoseok before, so another player wasn't impossible. I'd possessed a character I'd raised myself, after all.
Licht the Black Knight. A playable character with that name. Back then, I'd just picked it because it looked cool.
"I'll call students one by one to spar!"
"You'll get mana shields, so no worries about injuries."
"I'll point out your shortcomings and weaknesses! Give it your all!"
But there was no Blanc in the game.
Tension made my body stiff. What if she was after my couplings? The worries chained together.
"Blanc's one of the strongest around! Strong enough to beat any first-year!"
Drake's gaze turned to me. If she'd been around, why not help with the Head hunt? I sure hadn't seen her.
'Besides, if she's that strong, I'd know about her.'
I had affection deep enough to memorize the setting bible. If Drake was vouching for her, she'd have to be Ten Heroes bloodline or something.
'Excluding Laplace's lover who suffered an incurable disease, no human couplings should've connected yet.'
The possibility grew. Plus, no rogue jobs I knew of. Other races would show some traits.
"Mr. Mardol. Notice anything off?"
"...Not really."
I asked Pine just in case. She'd spot anything weird first. Even with her sharp eyes, nothing?
"She's a Grand Hearts Academy alumna, just like you."
"Yeah! She was even student council president before!"
Former student council president. This was a romance fantasy academy story. A sudden major character meant one of two things.
A real-world player or a new lead.
"Um, is she really that strong? Sounds dubious."
I raised my hand. If she was a player, she could go NTR or harem routes to mess with Grand Route.
Pine's case had no official happy ending, so extra risky. Needed to check.
'From [Black Heart], players could enter couplings for harem or NTR.'
Screenshots on game forums overflowed with crazy stuff.
That NTR Black Knight vid had triggered me hard, and it made me distrust even Pine's Love Meter.
I knew most things, but Pine? No clue how she'd get stolen.
Devs said love takes many forms. Luckily, as Nameless Saintess, she was side character—no such events.
Now she's lead. Even if someone else, they'd target her for sure. If they targeted me, wrong choice.
"Pretty confident, huh? You're the rumored Black Knight?"
Her bold question made Blanc smile, hand to her mouth in surprise.
"That's the guy who beat the Demon King? The weirdo in the black helmet."
"I can't believe it. He just leeched off the Ten Heroes' kill, right?"
Murmurs rose. Every student's eyes turned to me. Challenging the TA like this.
"I saw it. That's the guy."
"On the training field, we survived the apostle thanks to Licht..."
"Nah, lucky break!"
Opinions split. Those around during the Demon King fight knew my skill somewhat. Others didn't.
No way a freshman beat the Omniscient Demon King. I felt Pine's heart quicken. No purges, princess.
"Hmm. Want proof?"
Whoosh. Her black bob whipped as Blanc closed in. Too fast to track. Had to react. Before Wolf Fang, her smirking face was right there.
"Feisty words from a cute underclassman. This your friend?"
But she targeted Pine, not me. A dagger flew at her heart, the Masterpiece core.
"I'll make you regret it."
I drew my iron sword from my waist and deflected it. Clang! One dagger embedded in the floor.
"You reacted to that?"
"Of course."
This is why I hate rogues. All sneaky plays. Thought she'd hit me, but Pine? I glared up at Blanc angrily.
"Nice eyes. Handsome."
Then. Psssh. Sand flew from my sword, weight vanishing. Steel turned to sand in my hand.
'...The sword melted.'
The iron sword gone, just a pile of sand on the floor. A weapon that changes target states.
'Masterpiece-grade dagger. Or more likely, an artifact.'
The bizarre sight calmed my mind. While I panicked weaponless, Blanc hurled another at Pine.
"One more left."
No. If that hits, her gear could dissolve, exposing her armor's secret to all. Heart armor melt would break the link.
"Urk...!"
Blocked with my empty scabbard. No teeth? Use gums. I sighed in relief at the half-pierced sheath. Any thinner, it'd gone through.
"Gotcha."
She grabbed my wrist in the gap. Seeing me out of weapons, she licked her lower lip.
"Reacting to my moves... Curious what's under the helmet..."
Her fingers moved to lift my visor. Don't. Burn scars. Scared people'd fear me like before.
Too fast. Too late for Heart Sword. No options, I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Stop."
Pine's cold voice. Opening my eyes, a glass wall had formed. Blanc's strike slid harmlessly into empty air.
Thanks, Pine. Love you. Owe her one more.
"Too bad. You were lucky today."
Blanc retrieved her dagger and hopped back to Drake.
"Pretty interesting."
How'd she move that fast? Too responsive for mana use.
'Or am I still weak?'
Yeah, Head was weak among Demon Kings. Barely phase 2 on Magic Hat.
Final boss of original [Knight Heart], his strategy was info overwhelm.
"Underclassman. Doubting why I missed the Head fight? Fog around academy..."
Blanc pulled something from her cleavage. Acting seductive, but I only had eyes for Pine.
"I'm super variable."
"...Dice?"
A ruby-carved die, all faces showing 5. Lucky stat rogue?
"Yeah! Blanc's strength changes daily based on the dice roll!"
No way she'd roll low. Gambler's skill.
Half right, half wrong. Sleight of hand decides. I use holy knight skills too, so I know. Doubts lingered.
"But that girl next to you's in full plate during class? Professor?"
"..."
"That's allowed?"
Pine hung her head, silent. Couldn't reveal princess perks here.
"Won the grade exam like that? No shame?"
Blanc twirled a dagger mockingly from afar, sticking out her tongue to taunt Pine. Was this TA behavior?
She could've crushed Ariel without Masterpiece. I knew from experience.
"Enough. You've crossed the line."
"Saw your exam. Even freshmen called it unfair~!"
You cheesed with dice, who're you to talk? Her weapon's Masterpiece-grade too.
"Blanc! That's enough!"
She was inciting students; Drake tried to intervene. More, and princess reveal risked.
"...Mardol's strong without armor."
"Trust second place? Others agree?"
Targeting me and Pine from the start. Player or not, irritating. Grand Route threat.
"Shall I prove it in practical sparring?"
Had to beat Blanc here. Add weight to my words. One plan ready.
Heart Sword. Draw a new one.