The Public Class, Part 3
Eisel Ludwig's appearance sent the entire Colosseum into a frenzy. The excitement was no different among those seated in the VIP section. Even Chris, who had absolutely no interest in anyone who wasn't a swordsman, had muttered, "Not bad," which made any further explanation of what the others felt about Eisel entirely redundant.
Above all, the fact that she was a fresh face played a huge role. Many had come specifically to scout for promising talent. Having never heard of the surname Ludwig, they quickly put two and two together. If she belonged to some minor, obscure family from the fringes, then whoever claimed her first would win the prize. The only catch was that she was a mere first-year, but they figured it wouldn't hurt to stake an early claim.
Representatives from magic towers and guilds alike eagerly voiced their opinions about her. They were all convinced that whoever managed to win Eisel's favor would be the one laughing when this public class came to an end.
Immediately after Eisel's battle concluded, the public class was paused for an official recess. The scouts and officials warily eyed one another as they hurried out of the VIP section. Normally, this was a time for cadets to share a meal with the families who had traveled far to see them, but these recruiters intended to use this window to strike up a conversation with Eisel.
Following them, the heads of the Four Great Elemental Families also rose from their seats. Only Chris remained seated, unable to bring himself to stand. ...The bloodlust is gone. He was deeply puzzled by the fact that the murderous intent, which had lingered throughout the entire public class, had vanished the exact moment the recess began, as if on cue.
Who on earth in this place harbored such a grudge against the Sword Saint to emit such bloodlust? Chris pondered, but since the number of people who held a grudge against him was practically endless, an answer didn't come easily. Moreover, the bloodlust had clearly been drifting from the empty air. As Chris leaned back in his chair, lost in thought, Juliut stood up and spoke to him.
"Yo, Chris. Care to grab a bite together?"
"I've got someone to meet first. I'll try to make time this evening."
Chris was planning to go see his disciple, Kaen.
"Right, of course... It must have been a while since you two last met. Have a good time."
Knowing this, Juliut immediately took his leave. Chris sat there a bit longer, but his dilemma remained unresolved. Soon, he stood up, humming a tune at the thought of meeting Kaen. The only reason he could remain so relaxed despite sensing such bloodlust was simply because he was the Sword Saint.
It was a time for everyone to dine with the families who had traveled from afar. Since I had no family to visit me, I filled my stomach alone. The only one in a similar boat was Eisel, but just like in the game, she was hounded by people from the magic towers and guilds, so I couldn't even catch a glimpse of her. In fact, since she had put on a performance of slaying a wyvern in a single blow—unlike in the game—it was obvious they would cling to her far more tenaciously than before.
On my way back to the Colosseum after finishing my meal, I slipped into a quiet, deserted alleyway to talk with Sierra.
"...You think the Sword Saint saw you, Master?"
[ Indeed. When this lady glared at him for a moment, he stared intently in my direction. He must have sensed my bloodlust. ]
"That doesn't sound like good news..."
[ Do not fret so. This lady will not unleash her bloodlust right under his nose. ]
"Are you sure...?"
[ Of course. Do you not trust this lady? ]
Despite her words, Sierra's eyes still flickered with lingering bloodlust. She had strived to surpass the Sword Saint until the very moment of her death, and now she had become a ghost, denied even the chance to try. She had mentioned losing to him over seventy times... Every time she thought of the Sword Saint, her humiliating past must have flashed before her eyes. Now, facing him again after decades, her reaction was entirely understandable.
[ Show him Reverse Heaven. ]
Sierra's majestic voice, arms crossed, echoed in my mind.
[ Engrave upon his eyes the swordsmanship that will defeat him—the only style that poses a true threat to him. ]
Sierra spoke with conviction. I wondered what the point of showing my swordsmanship to the Sword Saint was—wouldn't it just give away my hand and put me at a disadvantage? But perhaps Sierra wanted to make a statement. To let him know that a swordsmanship designed specifically to defeat him existed right here. My answer, having already promised to defeat the Sword Saint on her behalf using Reverse Heaven, was already decided.
"Understood. But in return..."
[ What is it? ]
"Will you promise not to emit any bloodlust when the Sword Saint is nearby? I'd rather not have my head lopped off in the blink of an eye."
[ Hmph, my disciple worries too much. ]
Snorting softly, Sierra reached out and pinched my cheek. She didn't actually answer. Does that mean she can't guarantee it? I really didn't want to be remembered by the Sword Saint as some weirdo leaking murderous intent.
As I was having this conversation with Sierra, two girls suddenly stepped into the alley.
[ Hmm...? ]
Sierra reacted instantly. Perhaps because the alley was so dark, they didn't seem to notice my presence.
"Sister, is that really true?"
"Y-Yes..."
I wondered who it was, and it turned out to be Lucia and her younger sister, Liqua. Liqua asked while grasping Lucia's shoulders, and Lucia shrank back as she answered.
"Where on earth did you lose it?"
"I don't know either..."
Liqua bit her lip in thought, while Lucia looked on the verge of tears. Liqua had a cute face that resembled Lucia's, but her expression and tone carried a calm composure that was entirely absent in her older sister. Listening to their conversation, I could guess what had happened. I remembered this scene from the game. A petty thief... no, the 'Phantom Thief' was starting to roam around the academy. Lucia was one of his victims.
"How is it even possible to lose a pendant you were wearing around your neck in a single day? Seriously, Sister... Just tell me who took it. I'll beat them half to death."
Liqua's words were rather chilling.
"N-No, that's not it...! I was really wearing it around my neck...! It just vanished at some point... I'm not being bullied...! The cadets in my class are so nice!"
Lucia, feeling wronged, stammered in protest. Liqua was usually calm, but she was the type to let her emotions take over whenever it concerned her older sister. In short, she was a sister-complex. She adored and cherished her sister deeply, though she never showed it in front of others. There was a backstory to this.
To outsiders, the succession of the Windless family looked as though the capable and ambitious Liqua had seized the heir position with her own hands. But Liqua had no such ambition. Even for her, the position of heir was a heavy burden. The real reason she became the successor was that after finding Lucia crying her eyes out and depressed because she couldn't handle being the heir, Liqua had stepped up to take the burden upon herself.
Liqua and Lucia kept this a secret between them, pretending to be on bad terms. Well, calling it mutual is a stretch... It was more like Liqua unilaterally keeping Lucia at a distance. Thanks to that, Lucia began to be compared to Liqua, and as her standing within the family gradually shrank, Liqua was able to secure the succession.
She really is a good kid. Of course, since it was something decided in their childhood, it was imperfect and clumsy. This was information one could find out by talking to their mother and the head of the Windless family, Cicely Windless. Right now, Lucia looked quite pitiful, so I slowly approached them.
"...Who's there?"
Sensing my presence, a gust of wind wrapped around Liqua's hand. Immediately after, Lucia spotted me and cried out.
"Zeto...?!"
"...Miss Lucia, what a coincidence to meet you in a place like this."
Liqua looked back and forth between me and Lucia, then whispered softly to her sister, asking if she knew me.
"Yes, we're in the same class! Zeto was in my group during the mock battle... Thanks to him, we got second place...! He's incredibly strong... Don't you remember the letter I wrote to you about him?"
"Ah, the one... who fires wind cutters with his sword..."
Despite Liqua's attempt to whisper, Lucia spoke loudly, prompting Liqua to look at me as she spoke. It seemed Lucia had described me to her sister in that manner rather than just as a blind swordsman.
"I am Zeto."
"...I am Liqua Windless."
I offered a smile and extended my hand to Liqua. She accepted my handshake with a somewhat hesitant expression. It was indeed a rather sudden encounter.
"But Zeto, why were you coming out of there...?"
Lucia quickly voiced her curiosity.
"It was crowded outside, so I was resting here for a bit. It gets a little tiring when there are too many sounds drifting in."
I said, tapping my ear.
"Ah..."
An understanding exclamation escaped Lucia's lips. Liqua, glancing at my blindfold, seemed to grasp the situation as well. I immediately continued.
"Actually, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation... and it reminded me of a certain rumor."
"W-What rumor...?"
"During this public class... they say a phantom thief sent an advance notice to the academy."
"A-A phantom thief?! By phantom thief, do you mean... Yo-Yorphang?!"
Lucia flailed her arms, making a fuss.
"Yes. I wondered if the theft of your item might be the work of that phantom thief. Well, it's just a passing thought..."
Lucia's eyes widened as if she had suddenly realized something.
"Well then, I shall take my leave."
Thinking that was enough, I bowed to them and stepped out of the alley. Walking away slowly, I strained my ears to catch their conversation behind me.
"Uh... I did bump into someone earlier...! Could it be that person...?!"
"Sister... why would a phantom thief resort to pickpocketing? Phantom Thief Yorphang isn't just some common thief. I heard he sends an advance notice without exception, no matter when or what he steals."
"Right...? But maybe an advance notice did come...!"
Phantom Thief Yorphang. He always sent an advance notice before committing a theft. Yet, the reason players of the game called him a petty thief rather than a phantom thief was...
"Huh? What's this...?"
Lucia, still in the alley, found a letter inside her clothes and began reading it aloud.
Dear Lucia,
I find your pendant quite exquisite. Therefore, in exactly thirty seconds from now... I shall take it.
— Phantom Thief Yorphang
...because he was a hilarious fellow who would pickpocket you first and then slip the advance notice into your pocket to call it even. I needed to catch him eventually, but there was still plenty of time. For now, my mind was occupied with thoughts of the Sword Saint.
Even though the sun had completely set and the sky had turned dark, the first day of the public class was not yet over. Bright lights illuminated the Colosseum. The festival-like atmosphere of the stadium remained, but it was clear that things were drawing to a close.
Yet, even after Yuri showed off her brilliant, firework-like fire magic against a highly regenerative troll, and even after the unfortunate incident where Lucia cast a Calling Tornado and flew away along with the monster...
...my turn still hadn't come. Even Kaen had already finished. She had put on a decent performance, acting at the level of an average Class C student. It wasn't that I was itching for a fight, but rather that I felt an uncomfortable sensation, like having unfinished homework hanging over my head.
Just as I was wondering when my turn would finally come, Instructor Kaliman, who was walking among the cadets in the spectator stands, called out my name.
"...Cadet Zeto of Class 1-A, you are next. Prepare yourself."
"Please follow me."
Following Kaliman's call, an academy staff member approached to guide me. Following the staff member, I arrived at a hall where Edward, the host, was waiting. Behind Edward, I could see the passage leading to the Colosseum. Spotting me immediately, Edward spoke.
"Ah, you've arrived, Cadet Zeto. I've been waiting for you. Now, you just need to choose the monster you will face, but..."
"...But?"
As Edward let his voice trail off, his smile felt far more suspicious than usual.