Practice Duel (4)
In the game, Panzy was basically easy mode. She was the number one recommended character for beginners to get a taste of the game—an absolute broken overpowered character.
Even the recent Violent Circle cleanup was supposed to be a breeze with the top student of the Martial Arts Department, Panzy, joining in. People were saying the difficulty had been tuned so poorly that it felt like a failure in game balance.
And yet that very Panzy Vlad had gotten injured?
Alex must have noticed my eyes narrowing with suspicion, because he waved his hands wildly, claiming he had no idea what was going on, and then vanished in a hurry.
Like I could believe that bastard.
Come to think of it, Alex seemed to have grown quite a bit too. Looked like it was about time to check him with the Spirit's Eye.
“Guess I’ll go see Panzy’s face tomorrow.”
“Y-you’re going to see Panzy Vlad?”
“Yeah. Oh, right. Even though we’re in the same class, I don’t think we’ve actually talked much.”
“R-right… I heard she’s a really scary person…”
Shub said, her shoulders slumping.
Was she scary? She did seem a bit cold, but after talking to her last time, anyone could tell she was just a normal girl.
“People who wield swords are always kinda scary… Especially dual-wielders…”
“Hmm.”
Dual swords are pretty intimidating, I’ll give her that.
I walked over to Eve, who was still huffing and puffing in the distance.
Shub trailed after me with quick little steps. I crouched down to meet Eve at eye level and looked straight at her.
“Is it because it’s a demonic sword that you don’t like it?”
“If it were just a regular demonic sword, I wouldn’t even mention it. That person called Alex…”
Eve’s eyes glistened like she was about to cry, but she squeezed them shut and forced the words out.
“If we’d given him even a little more time, Cain, he would have killed you. That ominous blade would have happily swallowed you whole.”
“…”
I hadn’t exactly been completely innocent in my intentions, but it seemed like the scene had been quite traumatic for Eve.
I gently placed my hand on her head and waited until she calmed down.
No matter how much of a saint she was, she was still only seventeen.
It was perfectly natural for a girl at that sensitive age to be shocked at the thought of her friend nearly dying right in front of her.
This was my mistake.
“Your eyes are gonna swell up. You’re gonna keep being like this tomorrow too, so are you just gonna stay like this all day?”
“…”
I could check on Panzy’s injury by going to see her myself, but that didn’t mean I could slack off on training.
Especially not when it came to Alex, who I would probably have to face someday.
“You’re not gonna quit, right?”
“It’s only been one day. And worst case, I’ve got you, don’t I?”
“T-that’s right! Since the Saint is here, Cain can focus without worrying!”
“Next time something this dangerous is about to happen, tell me in advance!”
Eve stood up with a bright smile.
I was relieved she accepted my words so easily.
When I told them I’d meet up with Panzy first, they nodded, saying the whole gathering had formed around me anyway, and that they’d go grab dinner.
In Act 1, there had been no reason for her to get injured at all.
Either she’d let her guard down…
Or Alex had attacked her.
“Visitation is not allowed?”
“That is correct, Cain. It was a special request from Miss Panzy herself.”
What the hell is this bullshit?
Professor Pione, the instructor in charge of Class A, stood blocking the entrance to the hospital room where Panzy was admitted. She slowly read my expression and gave a small nod.
“I understand that you’re worried about your friend, but there is a duel coming up soon, is there not? Between you and Miss Panzy.”
“Yes. But that’s completely separate from—!”
Professor Pione’s wrinkles twitched for a brief moment.
Her hair, which was gradually turning white, showed just how long she had been teaching at this academy. And it was clear that she didn’t like me one bit.
“Cain. Before the entrance ceremony, you had conflicts with the children of nobles and their followers, correct?”
“Excuse me?”
“And after that, I heard you were nearly harassed by Vermillion Vermon and his gang.”
“…”
Why was she bringing that up now?
Professor Pione pushed up her old-fashioned gold-rimmed glasses and glared at me.
Wow, this bitch. Don’t tell me…?
“Do not disturb the order. Cain. While the academy’s regulations don’t particularly care if a commoner talks back to a noble, there’s also the matter of your involvement with Dorothy Gale, isn’t there?”
“What does any of that have to do with me visiting Panzy Vlad?”
“You ruin the atmosphere. Whenever you get involved, the academy’s mood turns strange.”
“All based on just a few incidents? Isn’t that a serious case of hasty generalization?”
The professor’s eyebrows twitched violently.
“The academy is an educational institution that transcends race and social status, Professor Pione. I honestly don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
“It’s fine if you don’t understand. Please, just respect Miss Panzy Vlad’s request.”
“…”
Panzy actually made a request like that?
Then why the fuck did you spout that garbage about me ruining the academic atmosphere?
“Recently, I’ve been hearing rumors that you’ve been hanging around with Shub le Ruelle. That you and the Saint have been wandering around doing all sorts of un-student-like things…”
“They’re both just helping me. The rumors are false. I didn’t expect a professor to pay attention to student gossip.”
“Because every single one of them affects the academic atmosphere, Cain.”
“That’s such complete nonsense—”
“Miss Panzy said, ‘I will definitely recover my body before the duel. Do not worry.’ No matter how much you can’t control your temper and cause chaos everywhere, you should at least understand that much, yes?”
Professor Pione quietly placed her hand on the rapier at her waist. It was a clear warning that she would subdue me if necessary.
What the hell was going on? The situation had changed so suddenly that I was struggling just to process reality.
I glared at Professor Pione while trying to make sense of it all, then finally nodded.
“If Panzy said that, then I understand. She is my duel opponent. I was only curious whether she was in a condition to fight. I have none of the ‘impure’ intentions you were worried about, Professor.”
“…”
I deliberately poked at her weak spot.
As expected, the hand gripping the rapier tensed for a moment, but she stopped at simply glaring at me with a vicious expression.
“Of course, there will be no problem with the duel. However… you really know how to make enemies. A pathetic worm who doesn’t even know how he got into the academy.”
“Those are some fucking harsh words. Are the weak supposed to just drop dead on the side of the road or something?”
“To the very end, not a single word—!”
In the end, Pione drew her rapier.
I had zero confidence in fighting a professor. Shit… what the hell do I do?
I took a hesitant step back. I could launch a surprise attack while she was off guard. With luck, I might even wound her. But what came after was the real problem.
A student injuring a professor, who was practically a god within the academy?
I didn’t even want to think about the consequences.
She had thrown the first serious insult, but the difference in our positions was utterly infuriating.
How the hell was I supposed to get out of this?
“Professor Pione. It’s been a while~”
“Dorothy Gale. What brings you here?”
My savior had arrived!
Cain, you’re saved!
Hell yeah!
Dorothy Gale, the Disciplinary Committee Chair, walked between me and Professor Pione. She glanced at the drawn rapier, then looked at the professor.
A brief flicker of conflict passed through her expressionless face before she spoke.
“I heard that student Panzy Vlad had a clash with the ‘Violent Circle.’ I’ve already looked into Alex’s situation, but I haven’t yet taken Panzy Vlad’s statement.”
“Ah, haha. How convenient. Miss Dorothy? This student Cain here—I remember him being involved in several incidents. He’s a very problematic student. He is currently ignoring a professor’s opinion, spouting sophistry, and insulting me.”
Pione pointed her rapier at me and smiled at Dorothy.
She thought she had the upper hand.
Dorothy stared blankly at Pione with her expressionless face, then turned to look at me.
She gazed at me indifferently for a moment before narrowing one eye.
What? Did she just wink?
“We are currently inside the academy, Professor. What kind of teacher would draw a blade on a student?”
“T-that’s… this student said insulting things to me! I am trying to convey my intentions to you in the gentlest way possible.”
“You mean dragging personal feelings into the student council to issue punishment. I understand perfectly.”
“Dorothy Gale!”
In the end, Pione couldn’t hold back and shouted.
I barely suppressed the laughter threatening to burst out and kept a serious expression.
It was obvious Dorothy had been watching everything I was doing.
I was her one and only business partner, after all. She wouldn’t want me getting into trouble.
“Professor Pione. The fact that you treat students with a discriminatory viewpoint is something most students already know. The reason you are still allowed to maintain your position as a professor is—”
Dorothy’s emerald eyes flashed sharply as she glared at Pione.
“Because of the achievements you made while active, and because you have produced ‘meaningful results’ in nurturing the next generation. Please keep that in mind.”
“Did the headmaster say that?”
“…”
Disgust rose on Professor Pione’s face.
Dorothy simply stared at the professor in silence without answering.
“You… you think I don’t know you’re always glued to the headmaster?! No, I bet all the professors know! Dorothy Gale. Do you even realize what you’re saying right now?!”
“I am very aware. I also know that among educators like you who are unworthy of the title, I am called a ‘fucking pet.’ Would you like me to tell you the name of your little group, along with the location and time of your meetings?”
“!!!”
“Please always maintain your dignity and treat us with the proper attitude of an educator, Professor Pione. Students are not fools.”
Professor Pione’s face twisted in disgust.
Dorothy’s information network was far beyond what she had imagined.
For a girl who had only just entered her second year to be this well-informed…
Was it the headmaster’s power?
Or her own?
Pione couldn’t tell.
“I will pretend I did not hear your remarks or anything regarding student Cain. Cain, I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll hear the full story later. You should leave now too.”
“…”
“Cain.”
“Understood.”
That sly bitch. Fucking hell.
With a face completely rotten with displeasure, Professor Pione sheathed her rapier and walked past Dorothy and me.
“Orphan bitch. Fucking pet.”
Why do people like her never fail to live up to my expectations?
I glared at the professor and was about to order Gnome to flip the ground beneath her when Dorothy shook her head and grabbed my arm.
“Go back now, Cain. If you keep being stubborn, I won’t just use words.”
“…Yes.”
She opened the door to the hospital room and stepped inside. I headed back toward where Shub, Eve, and Alex were waiting, my shoulders slumped in defeat.