Duel (4)
“Whoa…”
On the way back to the dormitory, I glanced at the roll-bread hair I'd picked up with Jessica's permission.
No idea how she'd styled it, but even after being cut off and quite some time passing, it still held its perfect spiral shape.
This should be fine to cut, right?
Even after snipping this much, it was still long enough to reach her chest, so Jessica remained the epitome of a roll-bread hair lady.
It felt a bit sorry for both her and the hair itself, but for the advancement of Battōjutsu, this roll-bread hair was absolutely essential.
Sending it to her father, the count, along with a letter bearing some profoundly meaningful words... I could easily imagine the chaos that would ensue.
Hehe...!! Then I'll send this off tomorrow if not sooner...
I'd planned to mail it right away, but then it hit me—a mere student like me sending a letter? No way it would reach the count.
I didn't even know the address, and telling a postman to deliver it to the count wouldn't cut it.
I tabled that for later and, still eyeing the roll-bread hair, suddenly recalled Jessica declaring she'd challenge me again.
Every day, she said...
When I first heard it, I'd thought I'd just beat her once more and summon her father. But ending it there felt like a waste.
As the daughter of the prestigious von Grind count family, she surely had connections everywhere.
Every time she lost, I'd impose a "penalty" of ten hours of Battōjutsu training—not really a penalty, of course—and drill her thoroughly.
Absorbing my flawless Battōjutsu theory, she'd undoubtedly become a proper Battōjutsu user after twenty or thirty hours.
Then, leveraging her connections to spread Battōjutsu far and wide... my plan would accelerate beautifully.
Perfect plan, even if I do say so myself.
Heading back to my room to flesh out the Battōjutsu training regimen in detail, I found an unfamiliar paper tacked to my door.
What's this?
I peeled it off and read. It was a summons from someone I'd never heard of, calling me somewhere.
Peter? Who's that?
A name I'd never encountered in the original story. Not the homeroom teacher's name either, as far as I recalled.
The commanding tone and the academy's official seal suggested he was a teacher, but that was it.
First-year Class G student Ian Bar Tow is ordered to appear at Training Ground 5 by 18:00 tomorrow.
Nothing to lose by ignoring it, but might as well check it out.
Honestly, the old-man vibe oozing from the note made me not want to go.
But with the original protagonist gone and the second prince turning into the fifth... until I mapped out all the changes, connecting with named teachers—who were plentiful—could only help.
I peeled the paper off the door, stepped inside, tossed it on the desk, and dove into planning Jessica's upcoming Battōjutsu sessions.
So absorbed was I that when I snapped out of it, dawn had broken.
No way... it's morning already?
Dragging my groggy body up, I decorated my desk with one of Jessica's twin roll-bread hairs and pocketed the other as a talisman before heading out.
Roll-bread hair symbolized wealth, so carrying it around was bound to boost my fortune.
Its spiral shape would make a fine bracelet for my wrist, but wary of stares, I stuffed it in my pocket instead.
In class, no one spoke to me—it was like being back in my dorm room.
Another lonely day dawned: no chats, no Battōjutsu draws.
I didn't mind being a loner, but not drawing on people? That grated a bit.
Maybe Jessica won't show today?
I wouldn't cut her roll-bread hair this time, so if she hurried over for a draw, that'd be great.
Her weapon had broken yesterday, so sourcing a new hammer would take days at least—but I hoped she'd come ASAP.
Sparring started, but no one challenged me, so I lay on the floor for a nap.
“Ian! What are you doing during sparring?!”
“Huh? Just catching a quick nap 'cause I'm sleepy... What's the issue? Everyone surrenders before fighting anyway.”
The teacher started to chew me out but glanced around and shut his mouth.
Just as I'd said—no one even thought of stepping into the magic circle with me lounging there.
With his okay, I napped inside the circle. When I woke, dusk was falling.
“Ugh…”
The training ground was empty—just me. The teacher and classmates had all left.
Those jerks. Normally, even outcasts get woken for class changes or meals.
Heading to Training Ground 5, I found a similar note on the door.
Training Ground 5 is unavailable today. Please use an alternate facility.
It's just a quick talk—why block the whole day?
Stepping inside, wondering what conscienceless bastard this was, I spotted a furious-looking back turned to me.
…Strong.
I hadn't seen him draw or fight, but the sheer presence from his silhouette told me everything.
This old man was at my level—or higher. A Sword Master.
Caught up in the thrill of meeting a warrior at my realm for the first time, forgetting why I was here, he spoke.
“You Ian Bar Tow?”
Peter's eyes widened the instant he saw me—he'd clocked my Sword Master attainment too.
I nodded at his question, and he bellowed in a voice that rang in my ears.
“Looks like you've got the skill for your insolence. But don't think that means you can do whatever you want!!”
“What're you even talking about…?”
Sounded like a lecture, but what had I done wrong?
Nothing came to mind, so I frowned slightly and asked.
“Cut the bullshit and get to the point. Why'd you summon me?”
“What?! Who the hell are you yelling at, you ill-mannered brat!!”
Somehow, in this novel world, it felt like bantering with a Korean geezer.
Maybe 'cause the author's Korean—next up: “Don't you have parents?!”
“Only one deaf old coot here, so speak up. Why'd you call me?”
“You don't know why? After everything you've done?!”
There'd been that minor scuffle mid-spar, but if he was blaming me for that, I had my defense.
Sure, I'd scared them, but knights ditching a fight over “might get hurt”? Pathetic.
Sparring or not, it was tantamount to dropping your sword and fleeing before the enemy.
“Not defending the quitters before the fight, and if it's about me challenging the teacher to spar…”
“No, you're not blameless, but dodging a student's challenge with penalty points instead? That's worse.”
“…Huh?”
His unexpected words made me tilt my head. If not that, what then?
“Entrance ceremony, then? Punching those seniors?”
Maybe those three were his disciples? But his cold reply dashed that.
“You think I'd defend trash who ganged up 3-on-1 on a junior and lost?”
“Then what the hell is it? Not over tossing cake on Jessica's face, right?”
“……”
My question hit the mark—Peter clamped his mouth shut and nodded grimly.
“You've gotta be kidding… Why drag up pre-enrollment crap?”
“The academy isn't just—”
A social hub, networking whatevers—heard it so much, even a half-brain-dead vegetable could recite it.
Tuning out the drivel, I glanced at his waist: a hefty hammer like Jessica's.
Victor had mentioned hammer warriors often trained under the von Grinds.
Realizing why Peter was so pissed about Jessica, a thought bubbled up, and I grinned.
“Speaking of Jessica…”
“Hm?”
Her name froze him; his eyes narrowed sharply on me.
No flinching at the killing intent—like he'd smash my skull any second—I pressed on.
“She dueled me yesterday. We went at it.”
“…Duel?”
Unlike novice Jessica, Peter knew exactly what “duel” meant.
Cold sweat beaded on his cheek as worst-case scenarios flashed through his mind.
I smirked at him, stroking Jinta at my waist.
“Smashed her skull with this. And…”
Then, flaunting my rightful spoils from yesterday's duel like a trophy, I added,
“Kept these as loot.”
Recognizing them instantly, Peter charged without a word.
His strike came faster than I could counter—I could only brace for defense.
“Guh!!”
Unable to fully block the hammer's impact, my body smashed through the training ground door and out.
First time.
Failing to parry. Flying from one hit.
Thanks, Jessica.
Thanks to you, I finally get to unleash Battōjutsu on someone stronger!!!
The first warrior beyond me to test it on. How could I not thank Jessica!!!
Truly, thank you, Jessica!!!