Episode 664
Episode 664
"...Still, Lee Han, there's a silver lining."
Seeing Lee Han so dejected, Gainando cautiously spoke up after gauging his mood.
'Is there really any upside?' In the current situation, the only possible silver lining seemed to be that Lee Han was being mistaken for a White Tiger Tower student...
"What is it?"
"The fact that you're the headmaster's apprentice hasn't been exposed yet!"
"......"
The friends nearby were horrified by Gainando's words.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Are you insane??"
"Lee Han! Prince Gainando meant well! Don't kill him!"
Before Lee Han could murder the prince, his friends quickly dragged Gainando away.
How the hell was that a silver lining!
Palga inspected the condition of his sword stick.
This weapon—which transformed into a sword when the wand was drawn—was favored by White Tiger Tower students like Palga.
A weapon that allowed its wielder to use both magic as a wizard and swordsmanship as a knight.
Of course, an ordinary sword stick couldn't function as a magic wand. To craft this one, Palga had poured all his earnings from the Duel Club, mission rewards, and even payments from working at the <Iactus Soup Club> into it.
It had been a painfully expensive investment.
So much so that he'd had to beg his friends for reagents when he ran out for his research.
But this sword stick was worth every penny. Palga fixed his gaze on Sir Chelese.
Today, his opponent was Sir Chelese.
'Stay calm.'
Palga struggled to forget about Professor Voladi—and the fact that Voladi even had a disciple.
A duel couldn't be won with too many distracting thoughts before it began.
'...'
But seriously, how the hell did he end up as Professor Voladi's disciple??'
Yet the questions kept creeping back into his mind.
He was dying to know!
'Stay calm. Stay calm. Sir Chelese is a swordsman who uses swift strikes. The moment his boots twist sideways, he lunges left as if teleporting. It's a unique footwork technique, but once you know it, you can block it. Guard the left and immediately cast <Steel-like Arm>. Then you won't have to worry about defense...'
"Forward."
An arbitrator appeared and called them forward.
He briefly explained the Duel Club's rules:
Under no circumstances were they to kill each other, the duel would end the moment someone was injured, and they must fight honorably...
But neither of them was really listening.
Before a duel began, all they could see was their opponent.
"Begin!"
The moment the handkerchief was thrown, the clash began.
Sir Chelese unleashed a series of sharp, lethal sword techniques, while Palga gritted his teeth, blocked them, and countered.
Less than a minute had passed, yet the number of exchanges between them had already surpassed several dozen in the blink of an eye.
"Ghk!"
"!"
Luck favored Palga.
Sir Chelese retreated with an injury to his arm.
'I won!'
"The victor is Palga of the Ukim Family!"
Without realizing it, Palga clenched his fist tightly.
That was how formidable Sir Chelese had been as an opponent.
The club's mages and alchemists, who had been standing by, immediately rushed over to check their conditions and heal their wounds.
"You were amazing, senior!"
"I'm in awe!"
Amid the cheers from the audience, Palga smiled at the voices of his juniors.
He always enjoyed the cheers after a victory, but today they felt especially gratifying.
'Ah, I see. It's because they're fellow Einrogard students cheering for me!'
"Thank you, everyone. I didn't realize how much it would mean to have my juniors watching—"
"Your reaction was delayed at the start."
"......"
As Palga walked toward the spectator seats, Professor Voladi delivered his critique bluntly.
Lee Han wasn't particularly surprised, but the other friends stared at the back of the professor's head in shock.
Did this man have no heart?!
"Sir Chelese has two footwork techniques. You only accounted for one. If he'd used the other, you would have lost."
"I... Is that so?"
Even in his flustered state, Palga was astonished.
He'd thought he had completely grasped Sir Chelese's movements, but there had actually been one more technique.
It was true—Professor Bagrak might be Einrogard's insane vampiric monster, but his dueling skills were the real deal.
"You cast <Steel-like Arm>."
"Yes. To block the attack and create an opening for a counter—"
"The casting was slow and the effect weak."
Professor Voladi pointed out the flaws in Palga's <Steel-like Arm>.
Because the casting was slow and the effect weak, the full impact of the opponent's strike had penetrated, leaving his left arm numb.
"I... I see."
"Had it been a piercing attack, you'd have been finished."
"You're right."
Palga readily acknowledged the professor's critique. Professor Voladi continued pointing out every minor mistake Palga had made.
Each critique was so accurate and well-founded that Palga couldn't help but marvel. 'He's incredible!'
He'd always been nothing but terrified of the man, but now, in this open space where escape was possible and with so many spectators watching, Professor Voladi wasn't as frightening as he'd imagined.
Instead, what shone through was the seasoned insight of an exceptional duelist.
Palga reflected.
Had he and his Duel Club friends feared Professor Voladi too much just because they'd been brutally attacked for three days in a confined space?
In truth, the professor might even be sociable enough to take first-year students out for meals.
"...Thank you, Professor."
"I'm not done."
"Huh?"
"The <Vision Blink> you cast at the 18-second mark was a mistake."
"...Uh, w-well, that's what let me block the opponent's attack."
"Your opponent pretended his vision was obscured to lure you in. If you'd fallen for it, you'd have been finished."
"I... I see."
"And..."
Professor Voladi began dissecting every single mistake Palga had made, from head to toe.
At first, Palga had been satisfied with his victory and grateful for the feedback, but now his face flushed red, and tears welled up in his eyes. 'I'm trash! I only won by luck!'
"Sh-shouldn't someone stop him...?"
"And risk him turning his attacks on us?"
"Lee Han, Lee Han... Huh? Where'd Lee Han go?"
The friends who'd been about to call for Lee Han suddenly realized he had vanished.
Surprisingly, Lee Han had already approached the referee and was speaking to him.
"Yes. Please begin the next duel. Thank you."
Rather than trying to stop Professor Voladi, it was far more comfortable to just start the next match and move on.
Palga's nerves settled slightly as he sipped the warm black tea his juniors had brought him.
"...Thanks, everyone. I made a fool of myself."
"N-no, Senior! Anyone would've cried in your place." 'Except Lee Han...'
The friends all thought it simultaneously but kept it to themselves for Palga's sake.
Fortunately, Professor Voladi had gone down to the arena to prepare for the next duel.
Palga sniffled in relief at that fact.
"...Did I really look that clumsy?"
"Not at all!"
"You were amazing!"
"We always thought White Tiger Tower students were weak because they're always getting beaten up, but actually... sniffle."
"Sigh. Right. Well, in Professor Bagrak's eyes, everyone must seem inadequate." 'Except Lee Han...'
The friends all thought it in unison again.
Once he'd regained some composure, Palga voiced the question that had been bothering him.
"Wait. But why is Professor Bagrak participating in duels? Is he here to practice?"
"Uh... Well..."
"He has a hobby of touring the Duel Clubs, apparently."
Yoner softened the explanation on behalf of the group.
Now that he thought about it, it was a slightly odd hobby, but Palga accepted it.
Given Professor Voladi's skill level, it wasn't strange for him to have such an interest.
"Indeed. Perhaps it's because of that hobby that he's so strong."
'Though he's probably just doing it for the money...'
"Wait. Then was that monstrous new member who showed up yesterday also the professor?!"
"Most likely, yes."
"But why does he fight so much?"
Palga couldn't understand.
The reason for dueling was pure combat against an opponent of equal skill.
But judging by Professor Voladi's strength, it seemed unlikely he could even find an opponent on his level, let alone have a reason to fight so frequently...
The juniors all fell silent at once.
"The winner is Voladi of the Bagrak Family!"
As expected, Professor Voladi ended the match in an instant. Palga grew even more puzzled.
Just... why?
"Gasp!"
"What's wrong, Senior?"
Durgyu looked at Palga in surprise when he suddenly startled.
How could this senior be even more shocked when Professor Voladi was already right there?
"It's Count Sementen!"
"Who is Count Sementen? I'm not from around here, so..."
"In this Duel Club, family names or territories don't matter, Junior! What matters is skill. And Count Sementen, as far as I know, is the strongest in this club. He usually doesn't even show his face!"
Palga spoke with fervor.
Truthfully, Palga's ultimate goal was that very Count Sementen.
Even if it was too much for this break, he wanted to hone his skills and strategy enough to defeat the Count before graduation.
Count Sementen strode across the Duel Club with dignified movements before addressing the receptionist.
Then, pointing at Professor Voladi, he muttered something. But the receptionist refused with an apologetic expression.
—Why?!
—Your Lordship's opponent today has already been decided as that young man. Even Your Lordship cannot change the schedule once it's set.
—What nonsense! I wish to face a worthy opponent. Do you truly believe that boy is a match for me?
—Your Lordship! You arrived late—that is the issue. Please do not insist!
—Naturally, I assumed I would be the one to fight. Why must I face that boy? Surely he didn't request this.
—The young man did request it. Now, please return to your seat!
"..."
"Uh..."
Palga felt something was off.
Count Sementen's opponent seemed to be none other than Lee Han, the junior from the White Tiger Tower.
Huh...?
'It must be a mistake...'
If Professor Voladi had arranged it personally, unless the professor had gone mad, he wouldn't have set the Count as Lee Han's opponent.
"Senior, how does Count Sementen fight in duels?"
"The Count wields a mana-absorbing cutlass, rings, and a cloak—heirlooms of his family, I hear."
Palga explained the Count's combat style.
The Count was a fighter who actively utilized his family's treasures.
At the start, he would swiftly and lightly circle his opponent.
This was to absorb the ambient mana. For mages, this blocked their spells.
If anyone tried to rush him, the cutlass would intercept the assault.
It directly absorbed the opponent's mana. His defensive swordsmanship was so refined that if you didn't break through immediately, you'd wither away on the spot.
"That's why his nickname is the Vampire— Wait!!! Why is that kid going down there?!"
When Lee Han descended and stood before Count Sementen, Palga was aghast.
Could it really be that this junior was the Count's opponent?
"Oh. Looks like it."
"So Lee Han's opponent is the Count."
"Can I have one more sandwich?"
"Stop eating, Gainando. Don't go back and say you won't eat dinner later."
"No, no, I can digest it."
"......"
Palga was speechless at the sight of his juniors casually chatting while their friend was about to face a formidable foe who could seriously injure him.
These...
These absolute trash!
'This year's first-years are all wicked and despicable...!'
"Choi! As fellow White Tiger Tower students—"
"It's fine, Senior. Haha."
"......"
'Even the White Tiger Tower!'
Palga squeezed his eyes shut.
How had the White Tiger Tower come to this?!