Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Swordsmanship Tournament (3)
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The cheers of countless people.
The tension palpable amid the building excitement.
Cain saw this moment as a golden opportunity not to be missed.
His family's situation was deteriorating by the day.
If things continued like this, he might not even be able to return to the academy next semester.
He could end up having to leave behind the family and friends who believed in him and cherished him—or worse, disappoint them deeply.
Plus, Cain thought, he might prove that debauched pig of a young master Sian right—labeling him a "loser" from their first semester clashes.
Sian had vanished without a trace since the second semester began, but the resentment from back then still lingered.
...That's why this moment is my perfect chance.
The grade-level tournament.
The empire's elites and royals were all watching.
If he could prove his strength to them here, he could turn his fortunes around.
He had what it took.
Ever since that epiphany during the first-semester break, he'd honed his swordsmanship relentlessly.
"......"
Before the match countdown began, Cain glanced toward the spectator stands.
As expected, 4th Princess Rozaria di Violet sat in the prime first-row seat, flanked by her escort knights, watching the matches.
Rumors had been swirling lately—that she was scouting the academy for a personal escort knight.
...Straight red hair cascading down, vivid blue eyes.
A petite face, a perfectly upturned nose, flawless features without a single flaw—Rozaria.
Cain paused, momentarily awed by her striking beauty.
...She truly is breathtaking.
Was she building her faction to claim the throne?
Or simply seeking a knight to protect her?
Either way, for her—the one who never attended these grade tournaments—to show up here for the first time...
...Today has to be the day. This is a chance that won't come twice.
Cain swallowed hard.
With the princess in attendance, the spotlight on this match would only intensify.
What a perfect stage to prove himself.
If luck was on his side, he might even be chosen as her escort knight.
Cain thought of his family and friends.
Just wait. Father. And Lucy, Aria...
Soon, the announcer's voice rang out with the match countdown.
His opponent across the field assumed position.
...Cain gritted his teeth.
.
.
.
'Waaaaah!'
'Cain! That's our Cain—!'
'I knew you could do it!'
The match ended, and the crowd's roaring enthusiasm washed over him.
It had been a close call.
"Hah... hah..."
Cain stared down at the massive figure sprawled before him.
Deus.
One of the swordsmanship club's top contenders—and he lived up to the hype.
If this were the old me, I'd have lost for sure...
His recent enlightenment had come swiftly.
Thanks to it, he'd reached the early 3-star realm, enough to overcome Deus at the tail end of 2-star.
He hadn't shown his aura yet—still too unrefined—but this performance showed he had real potential.
Panting, Cain waved and smiled at the cheering crowd.
As his gaze swept the stands... it froze on one spot.
"......"
4th Princess Rozaria's seat.
Cain frowned in confusion.
What's that about? What is she looking at...?
He thought it had been one of the highest-level first-year matches.
Deus had put on a flashy show, and Cain had countered in kind—plenty to thrill the crowd.
So why...?
Rozaria di Violet, the 4th Princess, was looking elsewhere.
Like she was waiting for someone far off in the distance.
Her eyes were fixed on the waiting area for players from the previous match.
***
Rozaria gazed toward the waiting room where Sian had returned, lost in thought.
Jet-black hair, golden eyes.
Sian. It was him.
He'd saved her and her escort knight Emil without asking for reward, then vanished into thin air.
Why enter this tournament?
Did he need the top prize too?
Or was it ambition...?
If he wanted money or fame, he could've asked that day he rescued her. Why take the long road now?
It didn't make sense.
Rozaria sank into deep contemplation.
Then, a sudden realization struck.
...! To prove himself on his own merits?
A tournament was a stage for proof.
Skill clashing against skill—a survival game where the strongest prevailed.
If he sought this game... did he want honor earned solely through his own power?
Rozaria was impressed.
His character matched his skill—profound and principled.
Even that last match.
The crowd might've missed it, but in a fleeting instant, she'd seen him use mana for minimal, precise movements to end it swiftly.
Movements requiring supreme finesse.
Impressive on their own, but she saw deeper: consideration for his opponent.
He'd ended it with one clean strike to the throat—no injuries.
No flair, no spotlight—just victory.
Did he want to minimize needless attention and win on skill alone?
He might be a true martial artist.
Rozaria's admiration deepened into conviction.
Soon, the event gathering the 16 winners for a face-to-face with her would begin.
She wished it would come sooner.
The second round of 16 was done.
Just two matches left.
She wanted to see him again, fast.
The more she thought, the more Sian consumed her mind.
Nothing else mattered.
***
His growth rate is insane...
Watching Cain's match, chills ran down my spine again.
If I wasn't mistaken, he'd already hit the early 3-star realm.
How hard had he trained?
That kind of progress required nonstop grinding—something only hardcore players could pull off.
In three months, he'll catch up to me...? This is ridiculous. What is this world?
Even pulling every trick from my pro-gamer days, getting caught like this?
Anxiety gnawed at me. At this rate, he'd surpass me soon.
This was about pride.
Getting outdone by a character I raised? Unthinkable.
I couldn't let him school me again.
A 1-on-1 duel with that skill gap would bruise my ego bad.
Getting stomped by my own creation—what humiliation, what injustice.
...I wouldn't deny bullying him. Even if it wasn't "me," he was the clear victim.
But that's that, and this is this.
After the tournament, I'd ramp up my training intensity.
"What're you thinking about?"
Hedi, watching the match beside me, spoke up.
"Oh, just... that Cain guy. His skills are pretty solid."
"You think so too? I was shocked. Who knew the swordsmanship club was hiding someone like that? The world's full of surprises."
"......?"
Why talk like she's seeing him for the first time?
I was puzzled. Hadn't she already crossed paths with Cain?
Then who was she dolling up for?
Just playing to the royals and crowd like everyone else?
"What? Why stare like that?"
Hedi tilted her head at me.
"Were you dressing up for the audience too?"
"Huh? Why would you think that?"
"Your hair's up, full makeup. First time I've seen you like this."
"...Ah."
She nodded at my words.
Then continued.
"...Well, yeah, partly. Among other things."
"Other things?"
...Among other things?
She hadn't even met Cain.
Audience etiquette, fine—but "among other things" implied impressing someone specific.
Did she have a friend she wanted to shine for?
...Funny thing: no.
Hedi was a loner like me.
My "friends" were Lloyd, Bobby, and Lui at best—and pathetically, she had zero real ones.
So who...?
...No way.
It couldn't be.
Because I saved her life in the underground labyrinth?
Her attitude had softened since then, sure.
But this was straight out of a fairy tale—knight in shining armor stuff. Not real life.
If she were the type to fall fast, she'd have dated other guys before Cain.
Story-wise, Hedi rebuffed every advance until Cain—no one else.
Yet that was the only hypothesis that fit. My head spun.
Nothing else made sense.
"The third round of 16 match begins next! Participants, please take the field!"
My nagging doubts shattered with the announcer's call.
No resolution yet when she spoke.
"Let's go watch the next one. The second was great— this tournament's shaping up fun."
She grabbed my arm, tugging me along.
No helping it.
I buried the questions deep.
And followed her to the next arena.