Chapter 202: Too Big to Refuse (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202: Too Big to Refuse (3)
“I got it cheaper than I thought.”
In the worst-case scenario, I was prepared to shell out a significant amount, but Daisy sold the magic sword for a much lower price than expected.
As for the contract extension... as long as those RoFan male leads kept strictly to the original plot—which is to say, as long as they made absolutely no progress—I was resigned to the fact that it would automatically renew until graduation.
Honestly, considering the way those guys were acting, it was practically a done deal.
Though, visiting her house was an unexpected development...
“Well, since I’m at it, might as well get everything done at once.”
Since the visit to the Jeyka Duchy was more or less confirmed, I figured I’d just wrap up several other matters while staying in the Empire for the winter.
“They say the Empire is the main stage of the original work, after all.”
Even if things had already gone off the rails, the Empire should still be full of what people call 'hidden pieces,' much like the dungeon beneath the Academy library.
So, this winter, I planned to drag Boradori around and farm all the hidden items tucked away in the Empire.
Of course, I had to resolve two things first.
One was rescuing Boradori, who looked like she was about to be hauled off to the Holy Kingdom.
Well, that was a problem for Uncle Aeryun and the Empire to cooperate on; I’m sure our dear Boradori would handle her end just fine.
The other issue was what to do about Prince Ellen.
“...So, you’re saying you aren’t returning to the Kingdom this winter break?”
“Yes.”
“And the reason is to go to Daisy’s house?”
“There are other reasons, but that’s certainly one of them.”
“……”
Prince Ellen narrowed his eyes and stared at me.
If Prince Ellen had been a reincarnator, the song Wrongful Encounter would probably be blaring in his head right now.
Of course, he wasn't, so that wasn't the case. Still, I could practically see the gears turning as a million thoughts raced through his mind.
That was why...
“So, why don't you come along?”
I threw out a bait he couldn't possibly refuse.
“Shall I?”
And our Prince bit it immediately, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“……”
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
I stared at him, dumbfounded by his audacity, but he just stared back shamelessly. It was a side of him I wasn't used to.
“You’ve certainly grown a thick skin, haven't you?”
“Thanks to a certain someone, a mere 'thick skin' isn't enough to block the stinging glares from the Magic Department.”
“I wonder who that could be.”
“...You’re not actually pretending you don't know, are you?”
Prince Ellen looked exasperated, but the expression didn't last long.
“But... it’s not like that, right?”
“What isn't?”
“You suddenly going to Daisy’s house...”
Seeing him so full of suspicion, I silently drew my sword.
“W-What! You want to duel? No, wait. Why is that...”
Ellen jumped back in surprise, but he fell silent the moment he saw the blade.
“That’s Daisy’s sword.”
“I bought it.”
“...Then you suddenly going to her house is?”
“I was sold along with it, obviously.”
“...H-How far?”
I told the trembling Prince Ellen the cold, hard truth, wondering exactly what kind of delusions were running through his head.
“Just as far as going to her house.”
“Phew...”
He let out a sigh of relief, then stood up, muttering something about whether this was really okay.
“Then, since you got a new sword—well, since you obtained it anyway!”
It looked like he was about to ask for a match, but unfortunately, I had to decline.
“Why?”
“I can use it once, but it needs to be recharged after that.”
I suppose that’s the downside of a Divine Artifact; I can't even put it in a subspace pouch, and if the divine power runs out, it’s just a heavy hunk of metal I have to lug around.
Therefore, I couldn't use it until the Holy Kingdom's delegation arrived and Delmoa’s business was fully settled—only then could I borrow the power of our 'charger,' Delmoa.
“Be patient until then. I heard the Holy Kingdom is arriving soon anyway.”
“Hmm...”
Prince Ellen looked disappointed, but it wasn't like he lacked sparring partners.
“Should I call the Elves for you?”
“That would be nice...”
The Academy was a place where humans capable of taking on a Sword Master were a dime a dozen.
One might wonder if the world was going to be okay at this rate, but I was now the owner of a mythic-grade magic sword.
I could finally start cheating my way through life with confidence.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing echoed as a sword met a fist.
Even without using mana, the sheer power behind the blows was incredible.
“As expected of Sososo...”
“It’s the Minor Sword Emperor!”
Asran—no, Sososo—snapped at Bell’s comment and lunged forward.
“Is this the fight to decide the fifth strongest in our department?”
“Truly, it makes my heart swell with grandeur.”
“So, the loser becomes the guy who can't even be counted on one hand?”
“You guys who can't even be counted on ten toes should just shut up!”
Whether the Pope was coming from the Holy Kingdom or the Emperor was moving to keep him in check, the training grounds of the Swordsmanship Department—filled with people who had nothing but swords on their minds—were as lively as ever.
Among them, the matches between Bell and Asran had become something of a local attraction.
“Hup, hup!”
Bell threw a punch, keeping her breaths short and sharp.
“This?!”
Startled by the unexpected speed, Asran frowned and parried the fist with his sword.
“They’re really going at it.”
Even if Asran was the 3rd seat of the Swordsmanship Department... and currently sliding down the ranks... it was only because the people above him, including myself, weren't normal.
Asran was, at the very least, the strongest among ordinary humans. He had the ability to fill a role roughly equivalent to Krillin.
Well, if we’re using that logic, I’m probably only around the level of a certain green alien.
Still, there were beings with combat power that even the strongest human couldn't match.
Because of that, Asran had become a being of ambiguous strength—he couldn't have a proper fight with those above him, and those below him couldn't give him a proper challenge.
However, with the appearance of Bell, who was perfectly balanced with him, he was able to grow his skills through their constant brawling. At the same time, he was finally proving his worth to the other students, as his reputation had been somewhat vague due to a lack of proper showings.
“At this rate, they might actually fall for each other.”
They were fighting so often it wouldn't have been strange to think so.
But.
“I doubt that.”
A voice spoke up, refuting my thought.
I turned my head to see the Beastkin Princess I had seen with Bell before. She was munching on popcorn while watching the duel.
“Why is that?”
“It’s a trait of the Beastkin, but females generally don't feel attracted to males weaker than themselves. This tendency is especially strong among the Wolfkin and Canine tribes.”
“I heard she’s won a few times, though...”
“That’s not enough. Overwhelming strength—that is the only way to make a Beastkin woman see a man as a mate.”
“……”
As expected of the Beastkin. Even the Princess didn't seem quite normal.
“But considering his growth rate...”
“Bell is one of the top talents even among the Beastkin. Her growth rate might actually be superior.”
As if to prove her point, Asran managed to block Bell’s double upper, but...
“Sososo has a weak lower body!”
“Gah!”
He stumbled after taking a hit to his legs.
“A low kick... disguised as a double upper!”
“That’s dirty?!”
“The one who falls for it is the fool, human!”
“Argh!”
After being hit low three times, Asran finally rolled across the ground.
It wasn't the first time this had happened, so he stood up naturally, but sharp verbal daggers continued to fly his way.
“If you fall for it three times, it’s your own fault.”
“Asran and his weak lower body...”
“Asran, the man with the frail foundation...”
“Asran, the one who can't perform his duties as a man...”
These weren't attacks from Bell, but from the onlookers.
They weren't using weapons, but their tongues.
“You sons of bitches!”
Yet, the attack power seemed far greater than when they held swords.
“That’s a species-discriminatory remark!”
“No, I wasn't talking to you!”
Whether it was intentional or she was just being sincere, Bell was even effectively utilizing the outside interference.
“I won't fall for it a fourth time!”
“As if I’d do it a fourth time!”
“Gack!”
And so, Asran was defeated once again by Bell’s strike to his upper body, which he had mistaken for another low attack.
“Male, defeated again!”
“I won last time!”
“Clinging to the past... truly a weak male.”
“……”
The loser had nothing to say.
“Fragile man, Asran.”
“So it wasn't just his lower body that was weak...”
“As expected, he can't fulfill his role...”
“Hey, you three! I remember your faces. Come at me all at once! Where do you think you’re going?!”
And so, to claim a victory, he chased after those weaker than himself.
“They’re having fun.”
“It’s fun here. As expected, people should live outside, not in places like caves.”
Bell approached, humming a tune, clearly intoxicated by the thrill of victory.
“Don't insult the caves that hold the history of the Beastkin!”
The Beastkin Princess frowned at that, but Bell shot back.
“You say that, but you’re always wandering around outside too!”
“This is an inspection! Since I’ve come to the human world, I must see how the world turns...”
“Our Princess goes on 'inspections' to cake cafes, I see...”
“Eek!”
Seeing them bicker naturally, it seemed they had already fully adjusted to the Academy.
In contrast...
“Why are you huddled in the corner, Ancestor?”
“Humans have no sense of moderation... 124 duels in a week is just too much...”
A being whose existence was known but mostly dismissed as legend.
The Dragonkin Ancestor, Irin, was found breathing faintly in a corner of the training ground, looking like she had been burned to a crisp after receiving duel requests from both the Swordsmanship and Magic Departments.
“Then you shouldn't have accepted them.”
“I was taught that if a challenge is issued, it must be accepted! Do you take me for a coward who flees from a fight?!”
As the Ancestor shouted proudly...
“It’s Lady Irin!”
“I am Hetais, a 3rd year in the Magic Department! Please accept my challenge!”
“I am a 2nd year in the Magic Department...”
“I’ve been spotted?!”
The Ancestor, who had been looking at me with resentment, turned toward the Magic Department students who were swarming her like idol fans.
Then, with a dignified face that was a complete 180 from before, she spoke.
“Come at me, all of you!”
Seeing her proudly accept their challenges...
“Isn't she just bringing this disaster upon herself?”
It seemed the Ancestor’s hardships would continue for quite some time.
Compared to her, the Elves...
“They aren't coming.”
“Not today?”
“No, they just aren't coming at all.”
“……?”
Apparently, they were practicing the philosophy of 'it’s dangerous outside the blankets.'
“Well, they still show up for class, so whatever.”
And the last of the demi-humans to check on were the Dwarves.
For the record, it might be surprising, but the race I’d had the most contact with lately was actually the Dwarves.
And the reason for that was...
“Wooooh! Old man! This sword is truly the best! Power... power is surging through me!”
“Look at this crazy bastard! That’s a symptom of magic sword addiction!”
True to their nature as Dwarves, they had tasted the true flavor of a magic sword and lost their minds.
“Good timing! Get this crazy bastard’s sword away from him!”
Old Man Derf cried out in horror, pointing at the Dwarf Prince who had gone mad over a greatsword the size of a human body.
“Why did you even make something like that?”
“With current technology, there’s a limit to the power you can put into a magic sword. I was just curious what would happen if I increased the size and just shoved a ridiculous amount of power into it.”
“Was it effective?”
“It certainly was. The problem is that the side effects seem to be amplified as well. Is it because there’s too much demonic resentment in it? He fell into a curse the moment he grabbed it.”
Indeed, he didn't look normal.
Dwarf Prince Alphonse’s face was flushed red, and veins looked ready to burst all over his body.
Watching Alphonse, whose eyes had rolled back as he was consumed by the instinct for destruction...
“Ah. I didn't want to pull this out in a place like this.”
“What kind of nonsense are you up to now...”
“Don't be surprised. This is none other than—!”
“I saw it last time, why would I be surprised? It’s the Saintess’s magic sword. Did you borrow it again?”
“No, I’ve leased it permanently.”
“……?”
Demonstrating an overwhelming difference in performance, I easily suppressed Alphonse and his oversized magic sword.