Chapter 39: The Wager 5
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 39: The Wager 5
After stowing both communication devices in my Pocket Dimension, I set off across the Academy grounds toward the Special Class.
Students usually stared and whispered whenever I passed, but today, the buzz was particularly loud.
"That’s him, right? The guy who challenged Prince Rophri to a duel."
"I heard the loser gets expelled."
"My younger brother is a freshman, and he said this guy was an absolute beast during the entrance exams."
"Still, Prince Rophri is one of the top third-years. There’s no way he loses."
By now, there probably wasn't a single soul at the Academy who didn't know I was fighting that vermin with expulsion on the line.
While the Academy saw its fair share of duels with various stakes, this was the first time expulsion had been wagered. The sheer gravity of it had the campus in a frenzy.
Most students predicted my crushing defeat. However, a few were starting to consider the alternative.
"But hey, what if Prince Rophri actually loses?"
"No way. That’s impossible."
"I’m just saying what if. Just imagine it."
"If Prince Rophri loses to a freshman and gets expelled..."
What if a first-year beat a third-year?
What if a prince lost to a commoner?
If that happened, a third-year prince on the verge of graduation would be kicked out of the Academy after losing to a freshman who hadn't even been there a month. It would be a living nightmare for the vermin, certainly.
But it wasn't something the other students needed to worry about.
"Honestly, considering what he did to the Crown Prince, it might be better if he just got expelled anyway."
"True that."
Since word had spread about the vermin splashing a drink on Lucas, plenty of students were secretly rooting for his downfall.
"Ugh, why even bother fantasizing? Prince Rophri is going to win regardless."
Countless whispers followed me as I made my way to the Special Class. Their stares didn't particularly embarrass or bother me. Even without this duel, they probably would have been whispering about my handsome face anyway.
Once I reached the Special Class, the whispering stopped. After all, the students here could just ask me directly.
The Special Class students crowded around me, bombarding me with questions and comments. They told me I was being reckless, reminded me that my opponent was a third-year, and insisted that wagering expulsion was a terrible idea. Though their words differed, I could tell they were all genuinely worried about me.
The reason they were speaking up today instead of yesterday, when I first issued the challenge, was likely because yesterday had been too chaotic for anyone to process.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to reassure them...
"Everyone, take your seats."
Professor Elicia opened the door and walked in. The students immediately scrambled to their desks.
"Does anyone have anything to say? If not, everyone, begin your att—"
"I have something to say!" I shouted, raising my hand high.
"Yes, Loki. What is it?"
"As you know, Professor, the big day is only two days away. If I get injured before the duel, I might not be able to fight at my best."
The other students nodded, seemingly finding my logic sound.
"Sigh... Loki." Professor Elicia let out a long, weary sigh.
"Yes!"
"I don't think those are the kind of words someone should be saying while aiming for my back."
Damn, caught already.
Since the cat was out of the bag, I stopped suppressing my presence. I put strength into my legs and lunged at Professor Elicia.
Clang!
My sword was easily blocked.
The "Loki" who had been raising his hand and asking the question vanished into thin air. To be precise, it was merely an illusion of myself.
"How did you know?"
"You were being far too talkative."
Professor Elicia gave a curt reply. What a ridiculous reason to get caught.
"Judging by that swing, I assume it's fine to continue classes as usual until the duel?"
"Haha... any chance I can get a rain check on that?"
Without answering, Professor Elicia charged at me.
* * *
After lunch, I headed to the Newspaper Club room. Simon Nicholas, the club president, had requested an interview. Since Simon had made it easy for me to challenge the vermin, I had readily agreed.
"Thanks for coming."
"An interview isn't that hard. I can do this much."
Currently in the club room were Simon, myself, and a student holding a camera.
"Are you not interviewing the guy I'm fighting?"
"I don't think anything interesting would come out of interviewing him, so I'm skipping it," Simon Nicholas said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"I'm quite shy, so I'm not sure if I'll be any good at this."
The student with the camera looked at me with an incredulous expression.
"Senior." I called out to the photographer in a serious voice. What I was about to say was very important. "The left side of my face is more handsome than the right, so please take more shots from the left."
"...Uh? Okay."
"Hahaha! You really are a funny guy, aren't you?"
While the photographer looked baffled, Simon seemed to enjoy it, laughing heartily.
"I am quite good-looking, after all."
"Shall we start the interview then?"
I thought he would jump straight into questions about the duel, but he started with the basics.
"Name?"
"Loki!"
I guess he was starting with simple questions to help me relax.
"I know you use both a sword and Innate Magic. Do you consider yourself a swordsman or a mage?"
Swordsman or mage? To be honest, neither really fit me.
"I use a sword, but I've never thought of myself as a swordsman."
"Then a mage?"
"Rather than a mage, I'd say I'm closer to a magician."
"A magician..." Simon muttered the word to himself. "Can you tell me why you think that?"
"In two days, you'll see exactly why I call myself a magician."
Simon smiled, seemingly satisfied with my answer. After that, a series of relatively mundane questions followed—my favorite food, what I do during breaks, my type in women.
"You're dueling Rophri Alphser in two days with expulsion on the line. How are you feeling?" Simon finally moved on to the main event.
"I'm sure you don't want to hear some cliché answer like, 'Even though I'm in the Special Class, my opponent is a senior, so I'll try not to be nervous and do my best,' right?"
Sensing a scoop, Simon’s eyes sparkled as he grinned. I held up my index finger.
"Just once. During the entire fight, I will only swing my sword once."
* * *
That same day, the Newspaper Club posted a new edition on the bulletin board.
Previously, there had been two main posts. One was the photo of the vermin splashing a drink on Loki. The other was the photo of me challenging the vermin to a duel.
And today, the third one went up.
[Magician Loki: One Swing is Enough for Rophri Alphser...]
The accompanying photo showed me pointing my index finger forward with a confident smirk.
Damn, I look good.
* * *
Even though I was set to fight the vermin, my daily routine didn't change much. If I had to pick a few small changes, the first was that Johanna was now by my side during my morning training.
"Meditating again today?"
"I'm not sure if what I'm doing can be called meditation, but..."
"It's meditation," Johanna said firmly.
Usually, while I sat and practiced controlling my emotions, Johanna would ask various questions. She also gave me advice on how to deal with swordsmen. It seemed she was genuinely worried about my fight with the vermin.
"The most important thing for a swordsman is their footwork."
Footwork, huh?
"Loki, your movements are excellent. But your actual sword swings are still unrefined." Johanna said this while gently stroking my hair.
"That hits a little close to home."
I had learned how to fight from Duke Adelian. I had learned Shadow Step from the Emperor. But I had never formally studied the "Way of the Sword."
"It's tomorrow."
As Johanna said, tomorrow was the day I would face the vermin.
"I don't think I'll be able to come to morning training tomorrow."
"To manage your condition?"
"Not exactly. I have a few items to pick up."
Tomorrow morning, the items I had requested from Professor Idra would finally be finished.
"Make sure you win."
"Hahaha, of course!"
Johanna continued to stroke my hair for another thirty minutes after that.
* * *
If the first small change was Johanna's presence during morning training... the second was that my calls with Yerika had grown longer. We started contacting each other earlier than usual and talked right up until I fell asleep.
— It's finally decided tomorrow.
"What is?"
— Whether you become my guard knight now, or after you graduate.
Yerika meant that if I lost the duel, she would make me her guard knight immediately, and if I won, I would become one after graduation.
"Well, either way, I'll be happy."
— Hehe, still, you'd better win.
Yerika laughed at my response.
"Of course."
— And don't get hurt.
Yerika's voice was firm.
"I won't get a single scratch."
Thanks to Yerika, I was able to sleep peacefully again tonight.
* * *
Time flowed on, and finally, the day of the duel arrived. Everyone at the Academy flocked to the arena to witness the showdown.