Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Swordsmanship Tournament (2)
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I never expected to be matched up right from the first round.
Was it because I was such a perfect extra...?
I had no notable achievements, and my grades were average, so they must have slotted me in like this.
"Kyaaah! He's so handsome!"
"Please win! Win for us!"
A roar of cheers mixed with countless voices filled the air.
I couldn't make out exactly what they were saying, but it seemed like they were roughly telling me to fight and win.
'I have no intention of winning though...'
If I stood out in front of the entire academy, the chances of my true identity being exposed would skyrocket.
So I figured I'd just clash swords lightly with my opponent a few times before forfeiting.
That was before I saw who I was up against.
"...Why are you here?"
"...?"
As I stepped onto the elevated stone platform at the center of the Colosseum, a familiar figure stood there.
Violet hair and piercing violet eyes.
Her face was small and pretty, and her lower body was toned and sturdy.
"Were you interested in the first-place prize too?"
She said, her eyes widening in surprise.
...It was Hedi Merrigold.
And not her usual self—she was fully made up, her usually unkempt hair neatly tied back.
*
'Why are so many unexpected things happening today...?'
It was the moment right before the battle began.
Hedi stood at the opposite end, gripping her wooden tournament sword and assuming her stance.
She never cared about her appearance before—why the makeup now?
Maybe because it was in front of the crowds and high-ranking families, so she was dressing to show respect.
Seeing her here made me feel awkwardly embarrassed.
I'd never dreamed I'd end up fighting her like this.
"Now, the first match of the round of 16 tournament begins!"
Before I could even think, the announcer declared the start of the match with amplification magic.
The instant the battle began, Hedi kicked off and charged at me swiftly.
-Thwack!
'Whoa!'
I reflexively blocked the sword swinging at me.
The dull thud of wooden swords clashing echoed through the arena.
"Got time to daydream?!"
She closed the distance again, launching a fierce attack.
Judging by her footwork, the next move looked like the Thunder Sword Arts.
Probably the first form: Rotating Thrust, using a stab.
She spun to the left.
-Whish! Whoosh!
I barely dodged her rapid thrusting charge.
"What the heck? Why are you just dodging!"
She pulled back and yelled at the top of her lungs.
...No matter who the opponent was, I'd planned to clash a few times and then flop over.
But things had gotten complicated.
I couldn't forfeit now.
In the worst case, she'd think I was looking down on her.
That could bruise her pride irreparably.
"If you keep ignoring me...!"
As I hesitated, she charged at me again.
"I'll smash you so you can't ignore me!"
A menacing threat.
True to her words, she leaped into the air, aiming to cave in my skull.
The next motion followed. Seeing her draw the sword's arc all the way down from above, it looked like the Waterwheel form of the Water Sword Arts.
Drawing the trajectory fully in midair made it even deadlier—already a powerful overhead strike, now impossibly dangerous.
If that hit, I'd die.
Even blocking it would shred the flesh from my hands.
I threw myself sideways with all my strength, rolling to evade her attack.
-Thud!
Her strike hit the stone platform.
"What was that! You could have attacked just now! Why didn't you?!"
She snapped at me, her voice booming with anger that cut through the cheers.
I was truly in a bind.
Flopping down now would really piss her off.
Like with the sandwich incident—if I messed up with her again, there'd be no going back.
...Guess I'd have to get serious.
I'd planned to flop in the first match, but I'd do it in the second instead.
For the first, I could play it off as a lucky win.
Then in the second: 'Ta-da! The first match was a fluke!'
"......"
Decision made, I steeled myself.
"...Finally decided to get serious? Your eyes just changed."
She grinned and reset her stance.
Then charged straight at me.
As she rushed in, I closed my eyes and opened my dantian.
Mana flowed through my bloodstream.
I pushed my physical abilities to the limit. Aim for a one-shot finish—no need to drag it out.
Continuing the fight unnecessarily would just draw unwanted eyes.
People couldn't start expecting things from me.
...Meanwhile, the cheers only grew louder.
Mixed in were jeers calling me an idiot for dodging and doing nothing.
'Fine. I'll grant your wish...'
Hedi wanted my all-out effort too.
She closed in, raising her sword—I felt it.
I kicked off.
By the time people realized I'd moved, the match would be over.
Those who could sense mana versus those who couldn't—their perception differed vastly.
The moment she swung down, I surged behind her on a blast of wind.
-Thwack!
"Huh...?"
Her neatly tied hair fluttered in the wind.
Her sword slipped from her grip.
Of course— I'd struck the hilt with full force before she could swing.
I hadn't used any forms.
I didn't want to hurt her body.
-Clack, thump.
Her wooden sword hit the stone floor, and simultaneously, I leveled mine at her bewildered neck.
No one in the crowd, Hedi included, had followed what just happened.
But the announcer had sharp eyes.
"M-Match over! The winner of the round of 16... is Sian!"
As the announcer's amplification magic rang out, the crowd finally buzzed in confusion.
They hadn't even seen it—one exchange, and it was done. They were baffled.
Exactly as I'd planned.
The audience wanted thrilling, heart-pounding matches.
Ending it like this and flopping miserably next would make them forget me quickly.
I was thinking that while glancing at the stands.
'Hm...?'
A piercing gaze bored into me from somewhere.
From the nearby seats.
My eyes naturally met it.
"......"
"......"
The moment I locked eyes with the owner, I froze.
I knew that face.
After all the chaos since getting here, I'd momentarily forgotten she attended the academy too.
Red straight hair and blue eyes.
Older than me, her body exuded a mature allure.
Her slender limbs contrasted with curvaceous hips and bust that naturally drew my gaze.
...Rozaria di Violet.
The 4th Princess gazed down at me alongside her knight escorts.
"As expected... I can't beat you."
Hedi said, catching up to me on the way back to the waiting room after the match.
Her words didn't register.
Why had I forgotten this?
The grade-level tournament drew massive attention—she was bound to attend.
After getting used to this world and meeting Hedi, so much had happened that I'd blanked on it.
"...Sian?"
Hedi's voice snapped me back.
For now, I'd shelve it... I still had to sort things out with her anyway.
"Oh... no. You'd climb past this level in no time. I just got lucky."
"You're so annoying. Why's the winner acting all humble too?"
"......"
It's true though.
Even without me in Twilight Queen, her burning desire to become a Sword Master would have awakened her.
She'd break through a realm then and learn to handle mana.
It was canon— if I hadn't found the mana stone first or met her, it would've happened for sure.
Later, I'd help her reach enlightenment to make up for it.
Though she'd hit 3-star insight eventually without me.
"Since you beat me, you have to take first place no matter what. Got it?"
She grinned, placing a hand on my shoulder.
Her reaction felt oddly affectionate.
"Uh, yeah..."
"What? Why're you reacting like such an idiot?"
"......"
What was this?
Wasn't she ice-cold just yesterday?
I thought I'd messed up and made her mad.
"Um... are we good now?"
"...? Good about what?"
"Didn't I do something wrong and make you mad?"
"...Wrong? Pfft!"
She burst out laughing, clutching her stomach and throwing her head back.
"Wrong! Yeah, you did something wrong! Puhaha!"
"......"
She laughed at me for a good while.
As I stared puzzled, she continued.
"But it's fine now. The original plan got derailed anyway."
"Plan...?"
"Yeah. More importantly, how do I look?"
"...?"
She leaned in close, her face inches from mine.
My heart suddenly raced hotly.
A faint sweet scent wafted from her—like her body fragrance.
What was she asking?
Pretty.
Unlike her usual messy hair, the neat updo suited her.
The makeup made her milky skin glow, sharpening her fierce yet cute cat-like features.
Who was she trying to impress?
Maybe Cain...? She might've met him while we've been distant.
That's why she asked me, a swordsman.
I voiced my honest impression.
"You look pretty."
"Yeah?"
She blushed shyly.
Then added,
"That just canceled out your screw-up."
"...What screw-up?"
"Secret. Idiot. You trying to make a girl say it?"
"...?"
It only made me more curious—right then,
"The next round of 16 match begins shortly!"
The announcer's booming voice via amplification magic rang out.
Hedi and I turned toward the arena simultaneously.
One participant was climbing onto the stone platform.
A muscular student with an ordinary face.
As he ascended, the crowd's hot cheers erupted—he raised a fist high in a solid show of flair.
"Round of 16, Match 2! His opponent is one of the top freshmen in the swordsmanship club~ The famous Deus!"
Deus.
I'd heard the name before.
He often came up in student rumors.
Despite his rock-like muscles, he was known for his agile swordplay physique.
Whoever his opponent was, facing him in the first round was unfortunate.
Then the announcer introduced the next participant.
"Facing him is~ the swordsmanship club's dark horse! Recently riding a wave of success and turning heads..."
With the announcer's lead-in, the next student climbed the platform.
A lean, toned build for a swordsman.
Sharp yet not fierce eyes.
White shaggy hair and golden eyes like mine—bright and intelligent.
'But he looks kinda familiar...'
As the sense of familiarity hit, the announcer finished the intro and named him.
"...The swordsmanship club's dark horse! Cain!"