Chapter 11
The tip of the dagger had gone blunt. I hadn't meant for it to happen at all. It was more like, Oh, so that's a thing?—just a thought that popped into my head without any real planning. I hadn't even intended to slip into that grayscale world in the first place. Dodging clumsily would have been less helpful for both me and Elvin than just taking a clean loss.
Silence fell. I stopped. Everyone stopped. Only I kept thinking. Maybe because it was just a model dagger, but its length was enough—the red lines started tracing themselves across my vision without me asking for it.
───. Between his eyes.
───. His throat.
───. His chest.
Three red lines etched in total. I'd seen countless drunks on the train, too many to count, but Elvin was different.
If these red lines are my death sentences... then maybe the number of them shows the gap in skill between us.
The drunks had been so weak their whole bodies were vital points. Elvin was so strong he only showed three. Of course, killing them was equally easy either way.
C-Calm down! I clamped down on the boiling killing intent surging from somewhere inside me with everything I had.
I have to calm... down!
Elvin, raised in the harsh northern wilds, had no peers his age who could match him. When he transferred to the academy in the east, he held the top spot through graduation—first in everything except magic and studies. Swordsmanship? Top. He never bowed to nobles, no matter what dirty tricks they pulled. He had the confidence to win anyway.
──You're pretty good.
Then he met someone worthy of being called a rival for the first time. During the Central Intelligence Agency exam. A red-haired girl: Airi Enposhium. Elvin lost his top spot for the first time. But he'd come in second here, and reclaiming the throne was just a matter of time. He ignored his classmates, his dormmates—nothing mattered except beating that one person.
I don't have time to waste on trash like this.
That's why sparring with someone this mismatched felt like a total waste.
"Time to end this..."
The moment Elvin thrust his dagger at Yufir—
Her gaze, shrunken in fear, locked onto him.
A chill raced down Elvin's spine. He felt like he'd overlooked something crucial.
───.
Yufir's dagger was right at his throat.
"Gasp?!"
Elvin jerked back frantically.
"Wha... what?!"
He gasped for breath, fingers fumbling at his neck.
"N-No cut...?"
He'd swear the dagger had sliced into his throat just now. His survival instincts screamed that pushing forward would have killed him.
"Must be my imagination?"
It was obviously a model. The tip wasn't even sharp—it was blunt. Without aura coating it, it couldn't cut or stab anything.
Something's off.
The drooping Yufir in front of him reeked of danger like never before. Having survived the north's brutal wilds, Elvin was hypersensitive to this instinct.
Like facing a starving man-eater bear...
His hairs stood on end. Focus, or die, his instincts kept yelling.
But the girl before him wasn't a bear. She was tiny, and the dagger was fake. Elvin saw no real threat.
Trust reason... or instinct...?
He never imagined a day he'd doubt his own senses like this. He clicked his tongue.
"You think I'll back down here?!"
His pride wouldn't allow it. He'd faced deathly situations like this countless times on the way here.
Gripping the dagger reverse, Elvin charged at Yufir.
Shwick!
He swung in a wide horizontal arc. Yufir ducked her head and slipped past effortlessly.
Elvin spun, launching a kick. Yufir tilted just enough to evade.
He unleashed a barrage, but it was like child's play—nothing connected.
"Damn it!"
He stabbed out in frustration, a big telegraphed motion. Yufir leaned back sharply, handplanted on the ground, and kicked up.
Crack!
"Kuh?!"
Her foot nailed his hand perfectly. The dagger spun into the air.
The moment Elvin's hand emptied, Yufir dove in like it was her turn.
"When?!"
She reset her stance impossibly fast. Hooking his leg and shoving with her body weight—
Bam!
Elvin's vision flipped in an instant. He stared at the ceiling.
Yufir straddled him, snatching the falling model dagger and pressing it to his throat.
"───."
Those pink eyes were ice-cold. Unfocused, not really seeing him. Like he was nothing.
"S-Stop..."
The fake blade crept closer. Death felt real, tangible.
Tap.
"That's enough, Yufir."
Blackrose grabbed her dagger arm. She couldn't let it go further. That model felt like it would turn real any second.
"───...Huh?"
Light slowly returned to the pink eyes. Focus sharpened, reflecting Elvin's fallen face.
"U-Uwaaah?!"
Startled, Yufir toppled backward, landing on her butt.
"H-How did this happen...?"
She scooted back, eyes wide in panic, scanning around.
Everyone in the training hall stared, speechless.
"Ahhat! Ahahaha!"
Only Blackrose could laugh in this awkward tension. She clapped, doubled over.
"Winner: Ppikak, Yufir Seijina."
After classes ended, it was dinnertime. I stood in line with my tray like always, but the vibe was off.
Stares bored into me from all sides, blatant as hell.
"That's her... the one who beat Elvin?"
"I swear!"
"No way, how could she beat Elvin?"
"Ask the others. It's real."
Every conversation in the mess hall revolved around me. Beating Elvin must've been a huge shock.
"Gave me chills. Elvin couldn't lay a finger."
"Still can't believe it. That parachute had skills?"
"Explains why she's a parachute."
They gossiped, dissected, obsessed over the afternoon spar. Had I overdone it?
"Hey, line's moving. Hurry up."
"Oh! S-Sorry!"
They jumped when I prodded, sticking close. Not bad, actually. No more sneers or snubs.
"Yufir~ Over here!"
"Coming!"
I plopped down across from Bina and shoveled food like always. This was the highlight in this hellhole.
"Yufir, what're you doing for personal time tonight?"
I pointed at the training field, cheeks stuffed.
"B-Build... stamina."
Flashy dagger work meant nothing if I flunked everything else.
"Let's do it together. I'll run beside you."
"Great!"
A running buddy made it easier. Lapping the field alone was lonely and brutal.
"But..."
"Hm?"
"Aren't you curious about anything?"
Bina probably had more questions than anyone.
"Kinda... but it'd put you on the spot."
"Hehe, thanks."
Too many awkward bits to explain. Couldn't blab about my Gift. Edwin had warned against it.
"Oh, Yufir. Just one thing."
"Yeah?"
"You're not like, a retired agent who ate some youth potion and shrank? Body smaller, but mind the same~?"
Clink.
Spoon dropped.
"As if!"
I yelled.
The sky was pitch black that evening. I used personal time to run laps with Bina.
"Go, Yufir! Fighting!"
"Hah! ...Hah! ...Hweeeh!"
Form crumbling, I ran the training field. Entering week two, I was still dead last in stamina.
Last place was whatever, but dragging everyone down, wasting their rest—sorry about that. Bina was probably annoyed too, just hiding it.
"Kuh, hwaaa~"
Thud.
I faceplanted into the dirt.
"Puhahaha! Yufir, you're covered in dust."
"Don't laugh, I'm serious."
"Still, you're better than day one."
"Nah, it's only been a week-ish..."
"Nope, for real. Collapsed at lap three then. Now you're at six."
"R-Really?"
Daily grind paying off? Felt good.
"G-Good... "
Shivering, I stood.
"One more..."
A new silhouette entered the field. Familiar—clear under the lights.
"Airi?"
"You two..."
Airi, hair loose, rubber band in mouth, tying it up.
Come to think, she always vanished evenings.
"Bina and I are doing stamina training!"
"Got it. I run here every week this time."
She tied her hair, eyeing me surprised. But her gaze held more.
A girl who'd normally glance and pass stood before me.
"S-Something you wanna ask?"
"You're... not acting, right?"
Classic.
"If that's what you hoped, sorry to disappoint~"
"Huh."
She shrugged.
"Not bad moves for that. Honestly, I was a bit... nah. Heading out."
"Huh?"
She took off running. What was that tsundere about to say?
I met Bina's eyes.
"Whoa, Airi acknowledged you?"
"No way..."
I stared at Airi's retreating back. No way she'd rate me high. Probably pissed at wasting her time.
Smack!
Bina giggled, slapping my back.
"Ow!"
"C'mon, chase Airi!"
"How do I keep up with that stamina monster...!"
"Ehehe, you won't know till you try~"
She pushed from behind. I ran again, forced.
That night, I crashed so hard I didn't dream.