Just a Dropout: And So the Duel Begins

The duel had begun.

Matches were fought clad in mana auras known as magi-armor beneath their clothes. Even direct hits from magic or swords wouldn't kill as long as the armor held. Such were the rules—performance of both magic and blades deliberately restrained.

Still, a solid strike hurt like hell and could leave you down for the count. Injuries were a real risk, too.

But Estelle showed no fear of any of that. She charged boldly, her sword path flawless and beautiful.

Guardians—as Leon and the others were called—had to master both magic and swordplay. The magic sword served as a tool for spells while fulfilling its role as a proper blade.

Mana—the magical source innate to each person—had strict limits. The amount you could use in a day was finite.

That was why sword skills could never be neglected. A single Guardian might face hordes of imperial foes; when that happened, only the sword was reliable.

Admiring Estelle's technique, Leon focused purely on defense. His magic sword parried her strikes, but he was gradually being pushed back.

Estelle looked delighted.

"What's the matter? Already scared?"

"Nah. Just thought the Sequence 22nd, newbie strongest, was only this good."

"...!"

Even cheap provocation like that turned her face red. Objectively, Estelle's skills were top-tier.

But mental stability? Maybe not so much.

Her sword wavered—just a fraction. Leon seized the opening. For the first time, Estelle was on the defensive.

Their magic swords clashed, sparks flying.

"Nngh," Estelle groaned. Leon's strike must have hit heavier than expected.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Not bad...!"

"Honored by the praise."

"But I'm still stronger!"

Estelle lunged straight ahead, clearly aiming to end it in one go.

But Leon had read her blade. He slipped right, then whipped his sword back across ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her torso.

Estelle couldn't keep up with his speed.

Her blue eyes flew wide in shock.

The match should have been decided.

But—

A transparent wall shimmered to life, halting Leon's sword cold.

Estelle exhaled in relief, a smug smile curling her lips.

"I'll give you credit for cornering me with pure swordplay. You've earned some respect. But I have a skill."

The clear barrier shielding her—that had to be it.

Every opponent she'd faced since enrolling had fallen before she could even deploy it.

Leon smiled.

"I'm honored. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I get to see the full power of the saint herself."

"Yes. Out of respect for your swordsmanship... I'll crush you at full strength."

Estelle's magic sword blazed with light.

The duel entered its second phase.

Once more, Leon was purely on defense. No point attacking if her barrier nullified any hits that landed.

He simply blocked her razor-sharp strikes.

"Too bad. This is my total victory."

"Dunno about that. Gotta try it to find out."

"That cheeky mouth won't last much longer."

Estelle swung for his torso to finish him. Leon parried, letting her blade slip through—only for her barrier to block it again.

She chuckled softly.

"This is my skill, White Transparent Defense. It stops most magic swords. Though a top-tier magic skill might break through—"

Leon's Absolute Command wasn't the direct-attack type.

So her wall held firm.

Even so, Leon kept swinging.

Estelle gazed at him with pity.

"Pointless. Holding a useless skill... how pathetic."

She repelled his assaults one after another with her barrier.

Leon had no path to victory. The spectators seemed to agree. "Finish her, Saint!" "Smash that pervert skill freak!" Cheers from men and women alike echoed from the stands.

But Leon had noticed. Estelle's White Transparent Defense wasn't invincible. Every time he attacked, she activated it anew. One activation blocked one strike, nothing more.

That left him a way through.

Leon gradually ramped up his speed. Estelle started composed, but soon wore a frantic look.

His attacks were inhumanly fast.

"W-what are you!?"

"Just a dropout Guardian."

Leon unleashed a precise, vicious slash.

Her skill activation lagged. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠It struck her right arm clean.

"Kyaaaaah!"

Estelle shrieked, her sword clattering to the ground. The crowd fell deathly silent.

She stared at Leon, eyes wide with fear.

"H-how... without even using your skill, that speed...?"

"I've only got a useless skill. So I trained my swordplay to fight as a Guardian on that alone."

"T-that's insane...!"

"And yet here I am, about to beat the newbie strongest saint."

"I-I haven't lost yet!"

"You will soon. And when you do, you'll be my slave, right?"

Leon asked it deadpan, straight-faced.

Estelle yelped "Eek!"—on the verge of tears.

The tide had fully turned.