The Red Lightning's Challenge
The day after the sparring request. Slide. “Did I come too early?” I’d headed to Class S for the class lesson, but no one was there. I converted the chill floating through the room into warmth and walked over to the seat I’d taken yesterday. Once seated, I gazed out the window.
‘Will it be okay?’
Christina Helen. What she had told me in the training room yesterday weighed far more heavily on my mind than I’d expected.
‘Even now, demons are trying to descend.’
The family that stood in their way was the Helen family. It was the household of both Christina and Siris, and they were also known as the Marquessate of the North.
‘She said she didn’t know when the defense would break.’
The demons and Demon Lords whose exact numbers remained unknown. Their forces were estimated to be at least in the hundreds of millions. There were even rumors that there might be more than one Demon Lord.
‘It will definitely break through.’
There was no way it wouldn’t. If it never broke, there would be no need to speak of an approaching apocalypse.
‘I need to grow stronger, and fast.’
The protagonist of this world. In other words, even if I didn’t step forward, I was fated to fight the demons anyway.
‘…This is depressing.’
A student who had to worry about an academy raid that hadn’t even happened yet, along with demons descending from the north. ‘Is this what being the protagonist is like?’
I was gradually becoming someone for whom the phrase innumerable hardships fit perfectly.
Slide.
Just then, the door to Class S opened and a man walked in. There was something sinister about him.
“……”
“……”
When the man glared at me, I met his eyes. He quickly turned his head and went to sit in his own seat.
‘Ah, I have to worry about him too.’
Freed. The guy who had bumped shoulders with me yesterday, and a student who gave off an inexplicably uneasy feeling. In short, he had the potential to become a boss in some chapter.
‘Fuck…’
There were too many things to think about.
Slide.
Soon, students began trickling in one by one. Christina and Siris arrived as well.
“Adel, hello.”
Christina waved as she approached.
“…Hello.”
The girl beside her, Siris, also murmured in a small voice. It seemed like something I shouldn’t have been able to hear, yet for some reason I caught it clearly.
“Hello.”
I waved back in greeting. Today, Christina sat in the seat next to mine.
“Adel, did it help at all?”
She was probably referring to the knowledge she’d shared with me yesterday.
“Yeah, every bit of it was helpful.”
It had helped a lot. To the people of this world it was all common knowledge, but for me it was the first time hearing any of it.
As I chatted with Christina, I felt an odd gaze on me. When I turned my head, Freed was staring at me with a look that could kill.
‘…What’s his problem?’
I’d only been talking. ‘Does he like Tina?’
Even so, that was excessive. If I were her boyfriend it might be one thing, but for someone who had nothing to do with her to look at me like that… In a world where people could actually die, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
‘The vibe he gives off is awful too.’
Next, the homeroom instructor for Class S and swordsmanship instructor, Cain, arrived. He swept his gaze over everyone once before nodding.
“Everyone’s here.”
I had no idea what he’d seen, but since he was the man once called the Sword Emperor, I figured it was one of his abilities and let it slide. That was something I’d learned yesterday too.
‘I knew he was impressive, but I didn’t realize it was to this degree.’
The academy seemed even greater than I’d thought. The same went for the headmaster.
“Since the first class is a class lesson, I’ll be teaching it. Today we’ll be covering theory.”
…I’d thought theory would be boring, but the class turned out to be surprisingly informative.
When the class lesson ended, I stood in front of the classroom for the next period—Understanding of Martial Arts.
Slide.
I quietly opened the door and stepped inside. My black martial arts uniform still stood out, so I didn’t want to draw any more attention than necessary.
“Isn’t he from Class S?”
“Really? That guy?”
“He doesn’t look like there’s much to him besides his face…”
…A few people still glanced my way. I sat down in an empty seat and spotted some familiar faces. Vanya, Daren, Freed…
The reason Daren, who used a sword, had come here was probably because the basics and theory of swordsmanship were scheduled at a different time.
Slide.
The moment the door opened, the entire room fell silent.
‘Is that Instructor Charles?’
Charles. The instructor who taught Understanding of Martial Arts and was evaluated as stronger than anyone else when it came to fighting. She was probably at least on par with Cain.
‘…She’s strong.’
She didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding her power; she was openly radiating her aura. Several students looked like they were about to collapse.
‘I guess that means I’m stronger than them.’
I was still perfectly fine, after all.
“Hmm…”
Charles looked at the students who remained standing. Then she turned to me and smiled.
‘What the…?’
It made me uneasy. A teacher I’d never met before was smiling at me. It probably wasn’t anything bad, but it didn’t feel like anything good either. I decided to stay quiet.
When Charles stepped onto the platform, every student who was still upright focused their attention on her.
“No need for greetings. Adel Ifrit. Come forward.”
“Yes?”
So much for staying quiet. The instructor had called me out first.
‘What now?’
I just hoped it wasn’t something annoying.
“It’s nothing bad. Come here. It’s actually a good thing.”
“Yes.”
I’d been sitting in the back, so I walked up to stand in front of Charles. She spoke.
“I heard from Cain. You created a martial art, right?”
“……”
The room immediately began to stir.
“A martial art…? He created one?”
“No way, the instructor must be mistaken.”
“But she said she heard it from Instructor Cain?”
“Quiet.”
At a single word from Charles, the room fell silent again.
“Did you really create one?”
I looked into her eyes. Our gazes met. I could sense curiosity. She was wondering if I had truly created a martial art at twenty years old, and if so, just how advanced it might be.
Noticing my hesitation, Charles added,
“In my class, you get full marks if you create a martial art or if it impresses me.”
“Is that all?”
My bold question made Charles’s smile deepen.
“I believe you understand just how incredible it is to create a martial art at the age of twenty.”
That was what Cain had said. Since it came from the man known as the Sword Emperor, it couldn’t be wrong. It wasn’t just empty praise. I didn’t think so, and Charles confirmed it.
“Yes, that’s correct. So, is there anything you want?”
The words I’d been hoping for had come. I hadn’t come here specifically knowing this would happen, but if she was willing to tell me, I figured I might as well ask for something in return.
“Please spar with me every time this class meets.”
“Hm?”
She asked again, sounding puzzled.
“Is that really all you want?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t have any material desires yet. But what I needed most right now to become stronger was practical combat experience.
‘Out of what she can offer, this is the best option.’
Personal guidance would probably be too much. We both had our own schedules, and I wasn’t her disciple. Therefore, a public spar that was nothing special to outsiders would be the greatest opportunity for me.
“Alright then. Show me this martial art of yours.”
I nodded. But I didn’t use it right away.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Should I use it on you, Instructor?”
There wasn’t really a proper target in this classroom.
“Yes. Use it on me.”
There probably wouldn’t be any damage anyway. But if I could make a good impression on her, maybe the “sparring” could turn into something closer to “guidance.” With that thought in mind, I began the technique.
I formed a gun shape with my fingers and aimed at her. Fwoosh. Flames erupted from my body. I controlled the fire energy and condensed it in front of my index finger. Pouring everything into it while leaving only the minimum amount necessary, I began to manipulate the energy.
“Oh…?”
Her eyes sparkled with interest as she watched. With all unnecessary fire energy gone, my hand jerked upward from the recoil.
Flame Divine Art, First Form — Red Sun - Point.
Even as the red light of the sun, born from that single point, flew toward her, she took no action whatsoever.
BOOOOM!
The moment she was struck by Red Sun - Point, acrid smoke began rising from her body. I was about to step forward, worried she might be hurt, when—
“Hmm… Impressive.”
Charles’s calm voice rang out, sounding completely unharmed.
Whoosh!
With a single swing of her fist, the smoke scattered and her body was revealed.
‘…Not even a scratch.’
She must have taken some secret measure no one else noticed, but the fact that she’d suffered zero damage from a direct hit was a little frustrating. It was the expected outcome, though.
“Condensation, control, regulation. Quite an interesting technique.”
“…Thank you.”
It seemed that after seeing it once and taking the hit, she had already grasped how to use Red Sun - Point.
“However, it looks like only you will be able to use this technique.”
“…May I ask why?”
Charles stroked her chin in thought. Then she answered.
“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling.”
“Pardon?”
“Exactly what I said.”
I don’t know. Suddenly, a line from a text came to mind.
—The first martial art one creates is superior to all others.
Superior. Perhaps the effect of those words was that no one else could use it. I wasn’t sure, but that seemed the most likely explanation.
“Anyway, Adel Ifrit. You receive full marks in ‘Understanding of Martial Arts.’ I will also spar with you.”
“…Thank you.”
“Return to your seat.”
As I walked back, I looked at the other students’ faces. Some were shocked that I had created a martial art, some looked like they refused to accept it, and others held reverence in their eyes. Rumors would spread. That Adel Ifrit had been acknowledged by Instructor Charles.
‘With this, maybe the number of sparring requests will decrease a little.’
I hoped the number of requests I could accept starting today would drop. This class had been extremely satisfying.
After all classes had ended, on my way back to the dormitory, my mind was incomparably troubled compared to just moments ago.
‘…Sparring requests.’
Those who hadn’t yet heard the rumors had probably already sent them.
‘There’ll probably be over a hundred.’
A minimum of a hundred. There were still people who saw me as nothing more than a worthless pebble rolling around.
“Sigh…”
It would work out somehow. I was stronger than most people. Honestly, the bigger problem was the sheer number of sparring matches.
Crackle.
An odd sound rang out.
‘…Must be because I’m too stressed.’
I was even hearing what sounded like electricity.
Crackle.
This time it came from the sky.
‘What is that?’
The moment I looked up in confusion—
BOOOOM!
A woman fell from the air together with a spear of red lightning. From within the wreckage, a female voice rang out.
“Adel Ifrit, right?”
The woman who emerged while brushing off debris fixed her red eyes directly on me.
“That’s correct, but who are you?”
At my words, the red-haired woman grinned and said,
“First-year Class A, Shane Krakt. I hereby request a spar with Adel Ifrit.”
“……”
I couldn’t say a word. Just moments ago I had said I was stronger than “most” people, but the woman standing before me didn’t seem to fall into that “most” category at all. I was even confused as to why she wasn’t in Class S.
“You’ll spar with me, right?”
And so, my first sparring match was set.