Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Team Play (4)
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Assistant Instructor Edna, who had taken position in the arena as the referee, raised two small flags.
After confirming that both teams were ready.
Flutter!
She swung the flags down forcefully.
At the same moment, Remina's team and Chapman's team sprang into action.
Chapman charged at Roin, wielding a sword with a wide blade.
Though their age difference was only three years, Chapman's build was far larger.
Even so, Roin maintained his usual bored expression.
He quickly scanned his surroundings.
Straight ahead was Chapman.
From the left and right, other members of the enemy team were rushing toward him as well.
I think I know what their plan is.
Chapman's team's strategy was simple.
Eliminate the strongest one first.
Remina's team's core strength was Roin.
They seemed to believe that once Roin was taken down, the rest would be easy pickings.
Not a bad plan.
It was a decent tactic, considering it came from kids' heads.
But.
They had made one colossal mistake.
Treating Roin as an enemy.
That was their one and only error.
Chapman's longsword aimed straight for the top of Roin's head.
Even as the blade hurtled toward his nose, Roin didn't flinch.
For a split second, Chapman faltered in fear.
In team tournaments, they fought with weapons crafted to closely resemble those used in real combat.
Even if they weren't real weapons, if Roin didn't dodge, his skull could shatter.
As the distance between the sword and Roin closed, Chapman's hesitation grew, and Roin looked into his wavering eyes.
Rookie mistake.
!
Roin used his dagger to smack Chapman's longsword aside.
Not only thathe even pointed the tip at Chapman's throat.
The entire sequence took less than three seconds.
Chapman stood there, dumbfounded.
Roin, sword at the ready, lifted his foot and shoved Chapman's chest with the sole.
As Chapman fell flat on his butt, Roin clicked his tongue.
Remember this. The moment you hesitate, the enemy will take your head.
For a moment, the arena fell silent, as if time had stopped.
Roin, having swiftly subdued Chapman, ripped the armband right off his arm.
Rip!
Looking at Edna holding the armband, Roin asked.
We win, right?
Edna silently raised Remina's team's flag.
The match ended in a flash, before any real fighting could even begin.
It was almost anticlimactic, that first round.
As soon as the match ended, Roin wiped away his sweat with a handkerchief.
Sweat is the enemy of beautiful skin.
For him, the sweat was more frightening than Chapman charging with a longsword.
From the first round, they swept through the second, third, and beyond.
Throughout the preliminaries, Remina's team didn't lose a single match, advancing unstoppable.
Remina's team shot straight into the finals.
Checking the bracket, Remina eyed the opponent matchups.
If we make it to the finals, we'll probably face Jerka's team.
In truth, just advancing to the finals was a huge achievement for them.
But human greed is like that, isn't it?
When standing, you want to sit; when sitting, you want to lie down.
Remina and the others felt exactly that way.
Since they'd made it this far, reaching the finals would be perfect.
Even second place would be fine.
It wouldn't give as many points as first, but it was still a massive score.
And if they went one step further and won?
They'd be within reach of passing the Junior Knight exam after just one year.
So far, they'd won easily thanks to Roin's one-man show.
But the other teams will definitely come prepared.
That was the worry.
Remina's team's strategy wasn't much of a strategy at all.
Roin moves, Roin handles everything.
The funny thing was, even knowing that, no other team could properly counter them.
Despite how straightforward it was.
Roin, carefully painting his nails with a fine brush to avoid chips, tossed a question at Remina, who was lost in worry.
There's one thing that surpasses strategy and tactics. Know what it is?
Hmm. No idea.
Was there such a thing?
Nothing came to mind for Remina right then.
Roin's answer was simple.
Overwhelming power. Strategy and tactics mean nothing against it.
Strategy and tactics are tools to compensate for a team's weaknesses.
They bridge gaps in ability.
But if the power difference is like heaven and earth?
No strategy or tactics can fill that void. That's what Roin wanted to sayno need for worries like Remina's.
With that, Remina had no choice but to steel her resolve.
Then I'll leave it all to you.
Just trust in me.
All Roin wanted was to escape this childish training farce as quickly as possible.
Entering the third week of the team tournament.
As expected, Roin's team maintained their dominant preliminary performance and rocketed straight to the finals.
The day to decide the final slot's occupant.
As soon as the match began, Jerka displayed swift movements, shaking up the enemy camp.
Remina and Drake, out on reconnaissance, marveled at how Jerka single-handedly threw the enemy team into chaos.
He's really good.
Not for nothing is he from a famed swordsmanship family.
His training was impressive, but Jerka shone even more in actual combat.
Clean, efficient movements and cool judgment.
Plus leadership to guide his teammates.
He was a model for all the trainees.
Jerka's team ultimately claimed victory, securing their finals spot.
Watching Jerka and his teammates celebrate, Drake shrank back.
Can we beat them next week?
Who knows.
Even Remina couldn't say for sure.
She wasn't a prophet or a god, after all.
Everything hinged on Roin.
But the key player himself wasn't there.
They'd planned to come to the arena together, analyze Jerka's team's strength, and hold a strategy meeting.
But Roin had left, saying he needed a full-body massage.
Can we really win?
Remina was filled with anxiety and concern.
The long-awaited showdown between Roin and Jerka was finally here.
Jerka had been craving this moment.
Oddly, throughout training, he'd never once had a proper one-on-one with Roin.
So he wanted to prepare meticulously for this final.
Jerka gathered his teammates.
They were brimming with loyalty, ready to charge into fire or water at his command.
Thanks to Jerka, they'd maintained far superior scores than the others.
Plus, wasn't he the fourth son of a famed swordsmanship house?
They were eager to build ties with the Tayla family starting now.
Jerka addressed his team.
I'll take Roin. You all go for their leader and snag the armband.
Simple plan.
No need for complex strategies against Remina's team.
They were straightforward, so hit them back the same way.
A clash of strength against strength.
Jerka was confident.
His teammates firmly believed Jerka would win even if he faced Roin.
If you're handling Roin, Jerka, then who wears the armband?
Dimart, you will.
Dimart was the trainee known as Jerka's right-hand man.
He nodded vigorously.
I'll follow your orders.
I'll pin Roin down somehow, so you just keep a safe distance from the enemy teamno need to overdo it.
Yes! I'll keep that in mind!
Strategy meeting over.
Alright, let's get to training.
Only three days left until the finals.
Jerka planned to train nonstop, even giving up the weekend.
Unlike model student Jerka, the infamous troublemaker Roin cut an outing pass today too and headed for his massage.
The shop owner beamed the moment she saw him.
Oh, Young Master! Back again today?
Yeah. My calves look a bit red and inflamed. Muscles are all knotted up too.
Hehe, legs today, then. Got it. I'll prep right away.
Thanks.
Coming so often had made him a regular.
Roin sat in the chair and expertly extended his legs.
Moments later.
The masseuses approached, applied oil to his legs, and kneaded them with care.
Yeah, this is it.
To keep his skin taut and his body lines beautiful, Roin focused on this kind of maintenance.
Of course, if Lucas Leyden and butler Gillion saw him now, they might explode in rage.
But Roin didn't give it a thought.
His sole goal was to become more beautiful.
Nothing else.
Entrusting his body to the masseuses, Roin took a short nap.
Sleep as much as possiblethat's best.
When he opened his eyes.
A pleasant fragrance soothed his senses.
What's this perfume? First time smelling it.
Oh, this? New product just out. Made from processing challavin plant. Nice scent, right?
Not bad.
Smell it often. Helps relieve stress and tension. Great for calming body and mind.
Really?
He could use it while sleeping with a face pack onseemed like a good match.
Give me one.
Thanks to Dian, money wasn't an issue for a while.
And right now, he wanted to focus more on grooming than cash.
Roin emerged with the perfume and some complimentary grooming products from the shop.
He felt refreshed.
Once back at school, shower, then try this perfume.
They said it was fine to spritz on the body too.
Excited to test the new product, Roin was buzzing.
But then.
Remina called out to him at the entrance.
Roin. Finals in two days. Got something to ask about that.
Roin tilted his head.
What?
Jerka's team. They'll come with a solid plan to pin you down. Are we just sitting tight?
She'd decided to trust Roin fully, but the unease lingered.
Jerka was special compared to the other trainees.
As Remina said, he'd surely bring a countermeasure.
So then.
We'll bring our own counter, then.
An idea flashed in Roin's mind.