Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Saving the Master (5)
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"Sorry, I don't know."
"You bastard!!!"
Kazin's waist bent backward, and he let out a scream.
'Whoever that man is, ...this is a crisis.'
For Siegfried, overcoming the current crisis was more important than figuring out the man's identity.
"Zi, Zeke!!"
Elis's voice came from afar.
Even with her cheering, Siegfried couldn't move.
The only thing he could move was the hand gripping his sword.
And even that hand could only manage a slight tremble.
'Is this ...how it ends?'
If he had a proper unique skill.
Or even if he could use some mediocre magic.
Then he would have chanted the incantation through his moving mouth to cast a spell.
He could have done something, anything.
But Siegfried couldn't.
All a talentless man like him could do was push his body to the absolute limit.
And when that movement was blocked...
He could do nothing.
'As expected ...for someone without talent like me.'
The red-haired man approached slowly, his eyes filled with rage.
"...Slowly... I'll give you pain... slowly... hee hee hee."
He licked the knife that had wounded Siegfried as he drew near.
'...Is this the end?'
Just as he felt his limits and was about to give up...
"Senior Siegfried!!!"
A man's voice called his name.
"...The important thing is an unyielding heart!!!"
It was Ken Fine Stein shouting.
Seeing Siegfried's back as if he'd accepted defeat, Ken hurriedly yelled that.
And hearing that voice, Siegfried remembered.
The Black Blade in his hand.
What Ken had said when he handed it over.
'If anything happens, channel your mana into this sword. It will surely help!'
It was a promise to become his master if he won with the sword's aid.
And his vow to seize victory with his own power.
That's why Siegfried hadn't used the Black Blade's power yet.
'...Channel mana ...into it.'
Steel ing his resolve once more, Siegfried clumsily poured mana into the sword.
Then, the black gem embedded near the Black Blade's guard began to glow.
And the hidden runes lit up along with it.
"Wh-what? H-how can you, you bastard, use magic...!"
Even Kazin, approaching, grew wary of Siegfried's change.
The mana flowing from Siegfried's hand was altered by the rune formula engraved on the Black Blade.
And injected straight into the black spirit stone.
'...My body.'
Centered on that gem.
A translucent black aura flowed out.
'It's moving...!'
Siegfried, who had been frozen, quickly adjusted his stance.
"H-how, you bastard!!!"
With Kazin's scream, cheers erupted from the stands.
And in response to the scream's question, Siegfried raised his sword silently.
"I don't know either."
His figure shot forward in an instant.
That form left a black trail with an explosive sound.
Boom!
"Gahhh!!"
Siegfried's sword clashed with Kazin's.
"Th-that won't change anything! You think breaking a mere curse lets a magicless wretch like you win!!!"
Kazin, putting distance from the approaching Siegfried, thrust out his hand.
"Acus Oculus!!"
What he chanted was the activation word for an ice spell.
Soon, sharp icicles formed around Kazin's hand.
And rained forward like bullets.
'...Dodge them all.'
Judging that, Siegfried adjusted his stance.
Bzzz.
'...What is this?'
He halted at the vibration from the sword.
As if telling him not to dodge.
The Black Blade seemed to convey its will to Siegfried.
And following the sword's lead, Siegfried drew a black trail into the barrage of icicles.
"H-how is that possible...!!"
Kazin hardened his face at the unbelievable sight.
The Black Blade Siegfried swung.
Within that black trail.
The icicles turned to mana and were absorbed into the sword.
"Impressive... This is a convenient sword."
Satisfied with the Black Blade's performance, Siegfried smiled and took his stance again.
"Excellent work, Ken Fine Stein."
In an instant, his draw-cut technique shattered Kazin's voodoo doll to pieces.
"The winner! Siegfried Gardner!"
Thus, he claimed victory.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Th-that's an amazing sword... That's a black spirit stone. A mana absorption stone?"
Mary, who had watched Siegfried's victory, immediately guessed its nature.
That's right. The thing embedded in the Black Blade he gave Siegfried was a black spirit stone called a mana absorption stone.
A magic stone that absorbs mana and transfers it to the user.
And likewise, black steel with excellent mana absorption and ebony wood with mana amplification effects.
Combining all these materials to forge the sword and engrave the runes.
The rune design handled magic decomposition and absorption. And physical enhancement using the absorbed mana.
'A sword that suits Siegfried, whose weakness is magic.'
It's my creation, but a satisfying sword.
Makes me proud.
'In the game, they're materials for armor...'
Mana absorption stones and black steel are fitting for armor due to their properties. That's why they're mainly used for magic-resistant gear.
But I'd always thought while looking at those materials.
'If I made a sword with this, it'd be perfect for Siegfried.'
I could realize that idea in reality.
Leading to this satisfying result.
"Ah, time for the winner's statement. Good thing. The person you cheered for won, Ken."
Mary shared in the joy of his victory.
I'd worried she might be bored, but it seems she found it interesting enough.
[Ah, let's hear a statement from the winner, Siegfried Gardner.] The voice amplified by the magic tool echoed through the arena.
And Siegfried received that magic tool.
Things were going according to the planned script. Lucky.
Having won this way, Siegfried would dedicate his victory to Elis in his statement, leading to a touching conclusion.
The illustration of Siegfried with his cool gaze and Elis tearfully moved is one of my favorite scenes.
'Phew, now that I've gotten the result I wanted, time to enjoy that touching event from the game.'
Siegfried stood silently, holding the magic tool as if lost in thought.
Seeing that scene from the game in real life.
With excitement, I focused on his words.
Having decided what to say, Siegfried opened his mouth.
[...This victory...]
His voice rang through the arena via the magic tool.
And he lifted his head, gazing toward the stands.
I thought he was looking at Elis and tried to follow his gaze.
'...Huh?'
It felt like he was looking at me.
...Just my imagination?
His words continued.
[This victory is not entirely my own power.]
And Siegfried...
[Dedicate this tournament victory and my thanks to the academy underclassman who made this sword. Ken Fine Stein.]
He spoke lines different from my memory.
Cheers burst from the stands, followed by applause.
"That sword was made by Ken?"
Mary, eyes wide in surprise at Siegfried's statement, asked from beside me.
'...What about Elis?'
As someone rooting for Siegfried and Elis as a couple, I didn't like it.
"Who's Ken Fine Stein?"
"Dunno, some underclassman?"
More than that, my name spreading made me feel a bit troubled.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Thanks to you, I could win. I'm grateful."
After the tournament ended.
In the academy at sunset.
Meeting Siegfried again there, he offered his thanks.
"I just made the weapon. You earned it with your own skill, Senior."
Ken's words weren't empty flattery.
Honestly, without that ambush from the guy named Kazin, he probably would have beaten him in a flash.
"No."
But Siegfried shook his head at Ken's words.
"This tournament made me painfully realize my lack of talent and the insurmountable gap between me and those who have it."
The difference he believed effort could overcome.
But Siegfried felt it as an impossibly high wall in this tournament.
And he drew the Black Blade from his waist.
"But this sword you gave me bridged that gap."
His strong, sharp gaze fixed on Ken.
"If it had just unleashed powerful magic, I wouldn't say this much. But this sword... it felt like it acknowledged my efforts."
If tremendous magic had felled the opponent, that wouldn't be Siegfried's power.
A victory gained purely by the sword's strength.
Siegfried didn't desire such a win.
But the Black Blade Ken gave merely compensated for the unfairness of talent.
And supported the power achieved purely through Siegfried's efforts.
Helping him win with that strength.
"That's why I felt you acknowledging me through this sword."
Siegfried genuinely felt gratitude toward Ken.
"Here and now, I swear to this sword, and to you."
All the effort he'd put in so far.
Ken had acknowledged and respected that effort.
Thus, Siegfried offered the greatest reward he could give, through a vow.
"No matter what happens, I'll help you. And with this sword you gave me, I'll protect you and our precious ones."
That's how Siegfried promised Ken.
And hearing that answer, Ken...
"...This is a bit embarrassing."
Scratched his head shyly.
'Anyway, now I can get his help!'
For now, he smiled, satisfied with the result.