Chapter 36
Chapter 36
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Observation Class
-----------------------------------------------------------------
●
[Gift-Related Character Alert]
▼ Yuria Grayhauncher
[ Interest Stage 1 ]
[ Rewards available for collection! ]
I stroke my chin while scanning the window floating in front of me.
‘...Interest Stage 1 right from the start.’
As expected of a villainous character—her favorability is rising at an alarming rate.
Considering Eliya is still only at Interest Stage 4, it stands out even more.
I don’t even know what caused it in the first place.
“...”
Yeah. This thing never pops up on the timing I expect anyway.
Might as well eat.
[ Claiming ‘Yuria’s’ Gift Reward. ]
[ Acquired ‘Skill: Swordsman’s Focus’! ]
[Skill Info]
[ Skill: Swordsman’s Focus ] [ Grade: B ]
[ Dramatically enhances focus for a short time in combat situations. Maximizes reaction speed and precision when used. ]
‘...Not bad?’
Desperate Situation boosts physical abilities including reflexes, but amplifying just that with a dedicated skill feels entirely different.
It’s Grade B, but pairing it with Desperate Situation for reflex amplification would already make it cheat-level performance.
Even on its own, the benefits in battle would be immense.
“Young Master! It’s been a while!”
Lost in thought, I spot a man in a suit waving at me from afar.
Butler Herman is an elderly man who has served the Campbell family for a long time.
In terms of time spent with the family, he’s outlasted even my father, the family head.
That’s why Herman exudes that peculiar aura only someone who has mastered their profession can possess. A sense of composure in everything, perhaps.
“...But is Elpante always like this?”
“Just let it be, sir.”
Even Herman, unflappable as he is, can’t hide his bewilderment at the scale of Elpante’s observation class.
The number of people around isn’t actually that huge.
But when you look at who they are.
People who wield enormous capital, nobles, and even royalty from various nations.
No top leaders from hegemonic powers, but still—who would call a gathering like this a ‘class’?
“No, even so...”
Herman strokes his beard and gazes at the massive rectangular arena planted in the center of the building.
“...Isn’t that a bit dangerous?”
Herman’s eyes fix on the magic engineering display board near the arena.
For events drawing such crowds, observation classes often stray far from their original purpose, filled with extravagant schedules.
You can’t bore the powerful figures from various nations who’ve come to watch.
Hence this.
A battle royale tossing dozens of students in at once.
“...”
This feels more like something from a colosseum than an academy, but surprisingly, it’s a time-honored event dating back to Elpante’s founding.
What a fearsome place.
“And you’re saying the Young Master plans to participate right in the middle of that?”
“...Well, yeah.”
Herman says it with a bewildered look, but I can’t just skip this.
It’s my one shot to catch Gideon’s attention.
“...I wonder if the family head will be proud or troubled.”
I give a wry smile at Herman’s words, accompanied by a hollow chuckle.
‘The really scary stuff I haven’t even shown yet.’
Eliya or Elnor.
No joke—if I brought even one of them, the whole territory would flip upside down.
“I am... worried, yes. With all sorts coming to attend. On the way here, I even spotted people from the Holy Kingdom.”
“...Really?”
I narrow my eyes in response.
That has to be the saintess and the ‘boy king’ crew, judging by the timing and affiliation.
They’re arriving much sooner than expected. Normally, contact wouldn’t happen until next month.
‘As I thought.’
The scenario’s pace is accelerating.
Their early arrival means both the Holy Kingdom and the demon worshippers are heating up.
Different reasons, sure, but both are clearly after something inside this academy.
‘...I can guess what.’
And my job is to screw them both over.
I’m not keen on cozying up to either the Holy Kingdom or the demon worshippers.
As I think that, Herman continues with a smile.
“Well, it’s a big event with lots of people, so showing off splendidly would be good. You’ll get popular with the female students too.”
“...Sure, whatever.”
“Indeed. And right after the observation class ends, there’s that next event, isn’t there? Finding a partner will be easier. I heard the family head met the lady of the house there...”
“...I’ll head out now.”
Don’t bring up scary stories like that.
Eliya and Elnor’s faces flash in my mind.
Cold sweat breaks out for some odd reason.
‘What I need to do...’
Is leave a deep impression on Gideon, blended in with the spectators.
Using the Tristan-style Swordsmanship I’ve built proficiency in so far.
[Mastery Info]
[ Trait: Tristan-style Swordsmanship ] [ Grade: General ]
[ Current Proficiency: 0% ]
[ Sword style of the renowned Tristan Ducal House. ]
[ ■ Can produce consistent power regardless of weapon. ]
[ ■ Enables ‘Deflect’ when wielding a longsword. ]
[ ■ When equipped with a longsword, partially ignores opponent’s defense on strikes. ]
The key is the second one.
Deflect.
A parry that nullifies an enemy attack if timed right. A staple system in any game.
But.
For a veteran who’s mastered every ‘timing’ in the game to a perverse degree.
This can create some pretty fun situations.
“...”
I give a wry smile and pick up my longsword.
Truth be told, what I’m about to do is half a scam. Borderline farce.
But that farce.
Will definitely hook the empire’s strongest knight.
●
A dry tension hung over the spectator seats.
Given the attendees, they’d normally be engaging in sociable chatter.
Everyone here is a leader of some group or close to it.
Probably.
If not for the one man seated in the center of the spectator seats.
“That man, why is he here...?”
“Who knows, I’m not sure either...”
Even those murmuring are two royals from somewhere.
But the one there now is undoubtedly someone they couldn’t dare raise their voice against.
Gideon Gailsterd la Tristan. The empire’s strongest knight. Grand Duke Tristan.
All eyes were on him, but the man himself stared down at the arena with an emotionless expression, revealing nothing.
“Hey, Gideon? What brings you here?”
Of course, Elpante has at least one bold soul who’d speak first, regardless of whether it’s a grand duke or whatever.
Like Konrad Baltador, dean of the Knight Faculty, for instance.
Gideon’s gaze slowly turned his way.
“...”
Without rising or speaking, he merely gave a slight nod. Seeing this, Konrad smirked.
Yeah. Getting even that much reaction is a win.
If they hadn’t trained under the same master, he’d have been completely ignored.
“What wind blew in a guy whose ass is glued to his seat.”
Konrad plops down in the seat next to Gideon anyway, all friendly-like.
And being so close, he spots what others missed.
“...What the hell happened to your arm?”
Konrad points at Gideon’s arm, wrapped thickly in bandages. Gideon’s face twitches briefly.
He swiftly covers it with his cloak. Konrad chuckles and opens his mouth.
“You still at it? Chasing the first Grand Duke Tristan?”
For the empire’s strongest knight to get injured that badly, nothing else comes to mind.
He’s always done that sort of thing. Trying to match the Sword Saint, the first Grand Duke Tristan, he’d often pull off insane stunts under the guise of training that no one else could imagine.
“Hey, come on—even if, you’ve got a kid now—”
“Senior.”
Gideon speaks in a low voice.
“That’s enough.”
At the same moment, a cold edge like a blade sweeps through the surroundings.
“You know what I hate.”
As those nearby break out in cold sweats, Konrad frowns at Gideon.
‘...He’s grown even more?’
Gideon was always ahead, but this gap in presence is disorienting even for him.
Back then, he could win three or four out of ten fights.
Now, it feels like he’d lose all hundred.
“...Fine, got it. No daughter talk. So how’d your arm end up like that? Spill.”
Konrad brushes it off slyly, and Gideon frowns a bit more before retracting his aura.
A shallow sigh escapes, followed by his answer.
“...Training based on the words the first Sword Saint left in records. The virtue underlying all his swordsmanship.”
“What’d he say?”
“Make the mountain your own.”
“...”
What kinda ghost-spooking nonsense is that?
Konrad squints and asks back.
“So what’d you do?”
“Tried cleaving a mountain first.”
“...”
“Didn’t work well.”
“...No shit it didn’t.”
Yeah. Like father, like daughter.
Spouting mad shit with a straight face—it’s gotta be genetic.
‘Blood will tell...’
As he wryly smiles, the ‘participants’ enter the stage just in time.
Guys clutching their gear, faces stiff with tension.
Even one trembling head to toe. Konrad snorts at the sight.
Sure, they’re promising talents from across the empire, but most are greenhorns without real combat experience. Normal to tense up in front of these big shots.
Plenty must’ve been pushed here to uphold family honor.
But among them, exactly one.
‘That guy’s in too?’
One who doesn’t look tense at all.
No—bored, almost.
Dawood Campbell.
Blank-faced, using his longsword like a cane, sauntering out.
‘...Huh?’
And.
Konrad grins, noticing Gideon’s gaze locked on him too.
“What? You here to see him?”
“...”
Gideon fixes his stare there instead of answering.
Every movement scrutinized.
Like analyzing something.
Soon, his eyes flicker.
“Senior.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s that man to my daughter?”
“...What?”
“Did she teach him the sword? Or...”
Gideon pauses, then continues.
“...He’s definitely learned it. How long? Months? A year?”
“Hey, hold up. Wait.”
Konrad answers in bewilderment at the sudden question.
“They’re close, sure, but sword lessons? No idea. He’s a freshman anyway. Been here just two months.”
“...Pardon?”
Disbelief crosses Gideon’s face.
Incredible, given he never shows emotion.
“...Impossible. That’s clearly our family’s—”
“Participants, salute each other!”
The referee’s voice booms from the stadium center, cutting Gideon off.
“Prepare!”
Everyone in the stadium takes their stance.
Knight Faculty with weapons, Magic Faculty with spells, Divinity Faculty with blessings or miracles.
“Begin!”
The stage erupts into chaos at the declaration.
No allies except yourself—enemies everywhere. Battles breaking out in a frenzy.
Nearly half drop instantly. Numbers dwindle at a terrifying pace amid the fray.
But gems separate from pebbles quickly.
Konrad smiles down at the stage.
These crude events endure because chaotic battles reveal true talent.
Jewels who shine amid all-enemy surroundings.
‘Some promising ones already.’
A man overwhelming with a spear. Konrad knows him: Talion Armand. Eldest son of Viscount Armand.
And a woman flattening foes bare-knuckled with gloves. Deep hood hides her face.
‘Those two dominate.’
Yeah, at freshman level, they’re outliers. Without Eliya the hero candidate, they could top the year.
“What do you think...”
Konrad turns to ask the guy next to him, then stops.
Gideon’s eyes never once strayed there.
The empire’s strongest knight watched only one from start to finish.
“...”
Dawood Campbell.
Right at the start, he hunkers in a stage corner and hasn’t budged an inch.
That’s it.
‘...Holding out well, though.’
Pure defense.
Standing firm, blocking and repelling all comers.
Understandable survival tactic. But compared to the other two, it looks plain.
“Surprising. You like that basic style?”
“That’s all you see?”
“Huh?”
“It looks different to me.”
Gideon stands and heads to the fence.
As if craving a closer view.
“...”
Gideon smirks.
“You just smirked?”
No denying it.
Like solving a long puzzle in one go.
Make the mountain your own.
The first Sword Saint said it.
He watches the man still defending from the corner.
Not just standing and blocking.
Predicting every attack, waiting for the perfect moment, then ‘deflecting’ precisely.
‘Tristan-style Swordsmanship basics.’
Deflect.
The foundational technique to receive and expose an opening.
Pushed to the limit.
Magic, miracles, blessings—
All nullified like hitting an immense wall.
That alone halts attacks cold. Foes stagger, losing rhythm.
Light pokes into those gaps subdue them.
‘...A freshman.’
Don’t make me laugh.
If that’s ‘just’ a freshman, then the empire’s knights including himself are worthless apprentices.
Konrad’s eyes widen at Gideon’s face.
A twisted smile plays on Gideon’s lips.
Genuine interest in a find.
Or.
‘Not just enduring.’
A ‘fighting spirit’ ignited.
The empire’s strongest knight.
Against a mere freshman.
‘Blocking to win.’
No flashy attacks.
Everything optimized.
Standing still, unmoving, exuding suffocating pressure.
That form was like.
“A mountain.”
Likely the ‘virtue’ the first Grand Duke Tristan meant.
Gideon’s eyes flash fiercely.
●