Revenge (1)
...So sleepy. I'd stayed up all night refining that potion.
By the time classes ended, I clutched the duel challenge letter Ian had written to my chest and headed to the Knight Department building.
It had been just over three weeks since the academy term began, so most students had memorized each other's faces by now. They gave me odd looks, recognizing I was from another department.
"Ugh..."
The curious stares felt as uncomfortable as ever, no matter how many times I'd endured them.
Even in class, whenever a teacher called on me to answer or present an assignment, my heart pounded like it might burst from sheer tension.
'Just hand it over quick and get out of here...'
I quickened my pace from earlier, peeking into classrooms one by one, but none of the teachers matched the description I'd memorized.
"Um, excuse me..."
At this rate, I'd never find him before curfew. Desperate, I flagged down a passing student.
"Me? What for?"
"Y-yes... Do you happen to know where Teacher Peter is?"
"Huh...? I do, but why do you want to know?"
"I-I'm on an errand. I have documents to deliver, but I don't know where he is."
"Oh, in that case..."
He kindly told me Peter was probably training at the Fifth Training Ground right now.
"Thank you."
I bowed briefly and hurried off along the path he'd indicated, straight to the Fifth Training Ground.
Unlike the other grounds I'd passed, which buzzed with activity, this one seemed reserved solely for Teacher Peter—no signs of life at all.
As I drew closer, a strange bang-bang sound echoed, defying description.
Reaching my destination, I pushed open the door. A scorching gust hit me, despite being indoors.
"Eek..."
The sweltering heat evoked midsummer; I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut and shielded my face with my hand before slowly opening them.
I first thought a window might be open, but every single one was sealed tight.
Wondering what could cause it, I looked up—and there he was: an old man, shirtless, hefting a massive hammer.
His short white hair and body scarred from countless battles marked him unmistakably as a veteran warrior.
Among those scars, one fresh wound stood out. Did Ian give him that one?
Peter van Fortress.
Once a captain in the Royal Knights, he set down his hammer and approached me.
"Hmm... You're no Knight Department student. What brings you here?"
I'd had no intention of hiding it, but he'd seen right through me at a glance.
It was unsettling, like he'd pierced straight to my soul just by looking.
"Th-that's... here..."
Desperate to escape as soon as possible, I pulled the duel challenge from my bosom and handed it over.
"...What's this?"
He took it without opening the letter, standing there and eyeing me.
"It's... a d-duel challenge."
"...A duel? From you to me?"
Teacher Peter stared at me like I'd lost my mind. I shook my head furiously, neck vertebrae practically creaking.
"Not me—Ian! Ian told me to deliver this!!"
"Ian... That lunatic hasn't learned his lesson even under house arrest."
Muttering that, he tore open the letter, read the challenge, let out a deep sigh, and crumpled it up.
"Hoo..."
His face crumpled just like the paper. I could guess the contents well enough.
"Um... are you going? For the duel...?"
"If it were up to me, I'd smash that fool's head right now..."
"But?"
"A teacher can't fight his own student. Tell him the duel is refused. Sorry."
"Y-yes?!"
No way. I'd pulled an all-nighter refining that potion—I couldn't lose this chance to test the new drug.
"Wait!!"
Before I knew it, I was calling out to stop Teacher Peter, driven by the fear of wasting my experiment.
With an obvious air of annoyance, he sighed heavily and turned back slowly.
"What now—"
The moment he turned, I spat straight at his face.
It was close enough to dodge easily, but the sheer unexpectedness landed it squarely on his cheek.
"...Have you gone mad?"
"N-no! Ian told me to do this!! If you refuse the duel, he said to do this...!"
"That bastard did?"
Of course, Ian hadn't said any such thing. But even if he found out, he'd probably cheer me on, saying I did great.
'It's a duel with no honor anyway, so Teacher Peter has every reason to refuse...'
Only one option left. Make him so furious he loses all reason, just like my first duel with Ian.
"Ian said... Teacher Peter, you're just a loudmouthed coward who only swings a barbaric weapon like that hammer, so something like this is nothing...!"
"Urgh...!!"
Teacher Peter's face flushed red, his hand trembling as it reached for the hammer.
Seeing my absurd ploy actually working, I pressed on.
"And... I don't know if it's okay to say this, but..."
"...I won't get mad at you. Speak."
"Well... Ian said you're not retired—you're just old and weak, so the knights kicked you out. And the knights who served under you..."
"...The knights?"
"...He said anyone under that old man is obvious without seeing them—all losers."
"......"
The air quivered.
A chilling killing intent stabbed through me, making the room feel five degrees colder despite the prior heat.
This reaction proved I'd nailed what Ian might plausibly say.
"...Should I tell him you'll skip the duel?"
"...No."
Shaking his head, Teacher Peter picked up the hammer from the floor.
"...Tell him I'll be there. Have his will ready."
"...Yes."
Phew—mission accomplished!
He's a knight, alright. Surprisingly straightforward!
"Hoo..."
After visiting the forge, I kept practicing solo Battōjutsu under the tree to prepare for the impending duel.
I hadn't brought a watch, but with the sky dyed red, classes at the academy had surely ended long ago.
'...He should be here soon.'
I'd told Hori the spot too, so whether Peter accepted or refused, she'd arrive any minute.
But what if he refuses?
Other knights might not stoop so low, but a scheming political knight like Peter? Entirely possible.
I was pondering faking an accident mid-spar to slice him when—
"Ian!!"
Hori came sprinting from afar, clutching something in one hand like an excited kid.
"Haa... haa..."
Poor stamina aside, she'd run straight here. She bent over gasping the moment she reached me.
"Why the rush?"
"Y-yes... h-here...!!"
Panting, she handed me a potion vial of some bizarre hue.
'...What the hell is this?'
The murky color looked like every paint in existence mixed together—utterly undrinkable.
Aware or not of my thoughts, Hori proudly presented it.
"I refined it all night! Drink it before the duel—your physical abilities will skyrocket!"
"Oh yeah? You ran all the way here just to show me?"
I examined the vial closely, but even as a science type, I couldn't guess its effects from looks alone.
"...You sure it's safe to drink?"
"Yes! I made it strawberry-flavored for easy drinking!!"
"Strawberry?"
No way this color tastes like strawberry.
"Forget taste—isn't the side effects too brutal?"
"...Life's short anyway. Don't sweat the small stuff."
"Your life or mine?"
I had no strong attachment to life, but dying like an idiot from obvious poison? No thanks.
"Anyway, it's really safe?"
"Of course! You think I'd give you poison?"
Honestly, after seeing those research notes on her desk, I trusted her about as far as I could throw her.
This lead-gray potion surely came with vicious aftereffects.
"......"
Risk aside, relying on drugs felt off, but I'd drink it anyway.
For stronger Battōjutsu? A bad rep as a junkie or shaved lifespan was a small price.
"And... one more favor. Can I come watch the duel?"
As I pocketed the potion reluctantly, Hori asked.
"To the duel site? Sure, whatever. Why though...?"
"Closer view means better data! If I'm in the way, I'll hide in back—please let me come?"
"...Fine. Hey, can you make one more of these potions?"
"Huh? Why...?"
"Why?..."
Two test subjects yield more data than one. Doesn't she know basic alchemy?
Now was the time to crush that fraudulent political knight fair and square, elevating Battōjutsu's supremacy once and for all.