Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: 38-3. Gambler's Fallacy
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The location where the grade exams had taken place.
Blanc and I stood on that stage. Just like last time, she appeared as a living shadow, writhing and shifting.
Drake stood guard outside the arena, prepared for any unexpected trouble.
The students sat in neat rows on the circular seats resembling a colosseum.
Pine and the hero couple were probably among them. If I lost here, I had no idea how far Blanc's sleep curse might spread.
"Hey, junior."
"..."
I deliberately ignored the greeting. My expression hardened inside the helmet, and my grip tightened on the sword. This person wasn't after me—they were targeting Pine.
'It doesn't matter what the identity of the Glass Knight is.'
Pine Granasia's armor looked expensive to anyone who saw it. As Kainel had mentioned before, you could tell she was someone important just by looking.
But nobles attended the academy too, so it could be dismissed as commonplace. The child of a duke or earl might have gear like that.
Given the proper records, she was more likely a player than someone from the Hero Cult. Laplace or the Sage wouldn't miss that.
"Oh dear, not even responding to my greeting? How rude~."
Maybe Blanc had taken an interest in me the moment she saw Pine, sensing she was the protagonist.
"I really like you, junior!"
One thing was certain: she wasn't my type. Her personality was the worst part.
Blanc chuckled mischievously. She spun a wavy dagger on her finger. Sand particles scattered across the floor each time it sliced the air.
As expected, it was likely a variant of the 'Dream Knife.' Beating an artifact would be tough.
"The rules are simple. You know we use mana shields, right? Same as always—time runs out, and whoever has more shield left wins..."
"Shut up and let's start."
I couldn't stand her cackling voice. More precisely, I hated people who acted like they'd become something special just because they'd entered the game world.
"Such a fiery personality..!"
People like her, who blindly followed the main story or their favorites, firmly believing they'd make a game character fall in love.
That was one reason I'd hesitated with Pine before.
I wanted Pine Granasia to love more freely. Anyone but a scarred guy like me.
But now there were no choices left. At least, I didn't want her tangled up with someone like this woman.
I raised my sword. With a shing, steel slid free from my waist.
The blade gleamed, reflecting my black helmet. This was the third time using the pure love injector. Our gazes locked.
'First, assess the tools at my disposal.'
Was she a poison rogue, or did she rely on speed for quick strikes? I needed to figure that out.
Blanc, mixed with Gambler's skills. She might have hidden cards.
If she stole techniques or weapons, she could nab my mind sword. Pulling it out rashly was risky. It wasn't a true holy sword, so it might be stealable.
"Then, let the practice duel begin!!"
Drake's booming voice snapped me back. I eyed the enemy before me and bent my knees in advance.
"Well then, shall we start? Junior?"
Blanc gripped her daggers in both hands and leaped. A downward stab from directly above. If you didn't know she was a rogue, you'd fall for it—but I'd anticipated. I jumped too, blocking the dagger.
"Didn't know iron swords don't work on me?"
Dream Knife
Weapon dissolution / Sleep induction on hit
Clang! The short blades crossed in an X, aiming for my throat. Surprised that I'd blocked, Blanc sneered. Of course I knew.
The moment we landed back-to-back, my iron sword turned to sand and scattered. Blanc spun without missing the opening, unleashing a flurry.
"No weapon now? Poor thing."
My breath caught. She targeted my legs, then sharply slashed at my sword arm, before thrusting vertically at my carotid.
This would make her think I had no weapon and lower her guard. I grabbed the hilt of the cobalt sword falling from the sky. Then, I swung down to counter immediately.
Magnolia Swordsmanship. Form 4. Clear Stream
Disrupts balance with wave-like motion
Every attack targeted weak points. Even with mana shields, it was blatant. I created a wave to throw off her balance.
"Ugh!"
I charged and swung. A thrust to the side. Crack. The sound of her mana shield cracking. Twisting her waist, Blanc barely escaped me.
Shaaa—.
"So, the rumors about you slaying the Demon King weren't nonsense after all?"
Rain poured from the sky like a downpour. Blanc laughed, white breath escaping her mouth.
Unlike a week ago, her movements were visible. Something was off. I eyed Blanc suspiciously.
"This is getting more and more fun."
A red die gleamed in Blanc's hand. No way—had she fought without boosting her stats? The ruby-like die sliced the air. I had to block it.
"Too late, junior!"
I lunged with Wolf Fang, but she caught my cobalt sword with both hands. Glancing at the rolling number on the ground—another 5.
"...Dishonorable tactics."
"Oh? How'd you know?"
Normally, only three faces of a die are visible.
Gamblers' tricks usually involve making all but the visible faces 6s.
"No intent to deceive. Of course I'd notice."
This bitch had made every face a 5. Probably an artifact limit—no numbers above 6. Using two items while mocking Pine about hers.
"Even so, if you lose here, who'll believe your words?"
She'd win with the die and take it back—that was her plan? Blanc's speed returned to normal. Accelerated blades. Shrieeek! The air whistled sharply.
"Let's end it by revealing your face to your classmates nice and cleanly!"
Blanc's fierce assault targeted my helmet this time. The mana shield on my face scraped. Too fast to react. I failed to assume the wing slip stance.
Her dagger pressed sharply. To turn the tide, I'd give flesh to take bone. No dodging the continuous attacks.
Even turning to water droplets to escape resulted in mud hardening. Damn—water and earth affinity clash?
Longsword clashed with dagger, my mana shield already in tatters. If only I could disarm her of one blade..!
"Wow, still holding out?"
Clang. I knocked the dagger from her right hand. I stomped it so she couldn't pick it up. Victory was possible now.
"One sword down. Mind if I borrow yours, junior?"
"What..?"
Whoosh. Glass Sword vanished from my grasp. Before I could react, she backflipped away. Pickpocket skill, as expected.
I knew it. This is why I hate fighting rogues.
"...Huh, not a holy sword? The rain gave it away, though."
Blanc smiled, handling the mind sword. Of course—a true divine holy sword would shatter anyone but the owner who wields it.
Even when I used the Demon King glitch, it was the same. Great short-term, but long fights turned you to mush.
"Hmm... This was teleportation, right? Junior."
Fwoosh. Raindrops splashed. She closed in, swinging the longer blade. Nothing to block with. Too late to drop the pommel.
A sword formed in my empty hand. Sparks flew as a white blade materialized near my heart, clashing with a clang! against Blanc's twin daggers.
"If you turn to water..!"
Just before Blanc could escape as droplets, I slashed her shoulder blade. Splang! Her mana shield shattered. The short-haired woman widened her eyes like a startled rabbit at the sudden shift.
"How..?"
No answer for you. This was the sword Pine made for me. Our third mind sword, born from mutual thoughts.
It copied the opponent's status changes. "Mutual Thought" also meant superior-subordinate.
Pine Granasia's love meter had risen 5%. A little affection while my eyes were closed. Things like that were too lovable for numbers.
Your die-boosted stats were mine now. Mess with gambling, and you lose a wrist. Blanc.
She was watching from afar, probably. Too late. As I chanted, a heavy sword fell from the sky. I yanked the embedded Gu念 from the ground.
"Huh? Why isn't this working! It's broken!"
A dirt wall formed a ceiling over Blanc. No rain meant no teleportation. I used a floating rock as a foothold from behind and charged.
Thousand Knife Nightmare!
Summons hundreds of shadowy daggers / Induces sleep
Blanc chanted a spell. Hundreds of daggers shimmered like black mist around me.
Nightmare daggers flew from all directions without gaps. Imbued with Dream Knife power—hitting them would induce sleep.
"You can't dodge them all!"
Blanc hurled her last dagger, sensing victory. She was right. My mana shield was shredded.
"...If it were just one sword, maybe."
I snatched a flying dagger and mimicked her flurry. Thought I couldn't copy after seeing it? I deflected incoming daggers one by one.
"H-How are you using my skill..!"
I could even mimic that pillar husband's spearwork. Metal clashed with explosive sounds.
"I-Impossible!!"
Blanc screamed. She swung wildly with Glass Sword's edge. Clearly unused to anything but daggers.
'A true swordsman doesn't cling to weapons.'
My master's training—swinging with the left hand too—shone here. I deflected all daggers and slashed her mana shield with a shrrk.
"Duel over!! Winner: Licht!"
Drake raised one arm, declaring victory, nodding as if he'd expected it. Our Pine clapped lightly. Adorable.
Blanc collapsed, her shields fully shattered. Glass Sword returned to me as ownership shifted.
"Sorry, I just wanted to test your strength on purpose, junior..!"
Blanc smiled dreamily at me. No frustration in defeat—just relief. All this for that reason?
"...What?"
I stared down at her in disbelief. She had to be a player. Two artifacts, not even a hero.
"I had to do this, or you wouldn't fight..!"
Even if true, throwing a dagger at Pine crossed the line. Curious about my strength?
Didn't add up. Obviously a lie. Her twisted smile sent chills down my spine.
"So, junior, your name's Licht. Wanna grab a meal with your senior?"
"Fuck off."
"Aw, don't play hard to get! You're really strong!"
No value in engaging—I spat an insult. Blanc's cheeks flushed looking at me. Crazy bitch. Okay getting cursed at?
Her 180-degree attitude shift creeped me out. What was her deal? Targeting me, not Pine, from the start? A player after me?
Then it happened. A translucent pink window appeared before my eyes.
I stabbed it with my sword, shattering it. It vanished with a crackle, creepy as hell. Shouldn't trust the damn devs.
"Kyaaah!!"
The mind sword impaled between Blanc's legs. She trembled in shock.
Players could force NTR or harems like this. Biggest reason I never fully trusted the love meter with Pine.
The window showed a message. Good—the love meter vanished. Last time it ignored battle bans too, so it'd work.
"Fuck off. Senior."
I loathed any woman but Pine Granasia. Especially crazy ones falling at first sight.