Chapter 19
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Team Play (5)
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The team tournament final, the last stage of apprentice knight training.
To wrap up nearly a year of training, the 159th class cadets gathered in the arena in small groups.
Since it was open to the public, those eager to watch filled the seats freely.
Thanks to the standby order, Seira, the eldest daughter of the Leyden family, was still in Endla.
Having heard that her youngest brother was in the team tournament final, she had arrived at the arena early that morning and secured her spot.
She wasn't the only one interested in family matters.
Murmurs rose from the opposite side.
Kern Tayla, head of the Tayla family, had come to the arena himself to watch his fourth son's match.
Kern had high hopes for Jerka, his fourth son.
Jerka possessed swordsmanship talent surpassing even his older brothers and sisters.
Was it because of those great expectations?
Whenever it came to Jerka, Kern made an effort to show up for almost everything.
Today was no different.
As Kern appeared, others approached him first to greet him.
By then, preparations for the match were complete.
The referee for the final was Instructor Lepid.
As he entered the arena, the crowd held their breath and returned to their seats.
Lepid raised his voice toward the spectators.
We will now begin the 159th class team tournament final for apprentice knights at Loud Swordsmanship Academy. Both teams, enter!
At Lepid's words, Remina's team and Jerka's team emerged one by one from opposite directions.
The audience cheered at their appearance.
With so many from the Tayla family present, cheers for Jerka were the loudest.
But not everyone was rooting for Jerka.
Draaaake! Hang in there! Your big bro's watching!
Bro!
Drake waved his arms vigorously, showing his gratitude to his brother who had come to cheer him on.
Not just Drakefriends and acquaintances had come to support Mering and Cleng too.
Roin was no exception.
However.
Remina's family was nowhere in sight.
Not even acquaintances.
Roin glanced toward Remina.
But Remina just prepared for the match with a stoic expression.
Whats going on? Families usually come cheer for semis or finals, if not prelims.'
The apprentice knight team tournament was quite popular in Endla.
And it was also a place of honor.
'Whisli, that guy's the same as ever.'
Just twice before.
Roin had fought on the same battlefield with Billian Whisli, current head of the Whisli family and Remina's father.
Back then, Billian was famous for being curt and tight-lipped.
'Well, people don't change easily.'
Roin clicked his tongue inwardly.
Before the match began, Lepid explained the rules once more.
Steal the opponent's band. No special rules beyond that, but fight honorably within the bounds of a knight's creed, as much as possible. Understood?
Yes!
Then... bands on!
Jerka's team went with the plan: Dimart would wear the band.
Dimart had shown exceptionally quick footwork compared to other cadets during training.
Lepid thought it an excellent choice as he watched Dimart put it on.
'The other side's obviously Remina, as usual.'
It had always been that way.
No doubt about it.
So Lepid assumed.
But then came the twist.
...!
The band was in Roin's hand.
Not only thathe had already put it on his arm.
Jerka's pupils shook violently.
Roin, on the other hand, looked triumphant.
Before the match started.
Roin had taunted Jerka and his teammates.
Try taking it, if you can.
Truth be told, Roin could have held the band from the start.
With Roin wearing it, there was no way they'd steal it.
Roin had shown he wouldn't lose one-on-one even to Lepid, a senior knight and instructor.
No chance he'd give it up easily.
So.
Why hadn't they used the Roin wears the band strategy since the prelims?
Only one reason.
'Too much hassle, that's all.'
But this was the final.
'Might as well wear it this once.'
Jerka's team, meanwhile, was thrown into disarray.
J-Jerka, sir.
What do we do?
All their plans were ruined.
...
Jerka's mind raced.
No matter his sword talent, he was still just a kid.
Short on experience.
Short on knowledge.
When reality diverged from what he'd pictured, he couldn't help but panic.
Roin had struck that gap.
Meanwhile.
Lepid swallowed a wry smile as he watched Roin.
'Roin, you little...'
Sorry, Jerka.
But honestly, Lepid found this turn even more entertaining.
Lepid raised the flags symbolizing each camp.
He swiftly lowered them.
At the same moment, Jerka shouted.
Everyone! Focus all attacks on Roin alone!
Just take down Roin.
The rest of the team swallowed hard and nodded at Jerka's command.
Enemy teammates charged from all sides.
Remina and the others moved to support Roin.
That's when.
I'm good. Remina, you take the others and go for their band first.
Victory meant neutralizing the enemy leader and seizing the band.
Playing defense was pointless.
Remina double-checked with Roin.
You sure?
I could last all day. Just do as I say.
...Got it.
The plan's core was simple.
Trust Roin completely.
Nothing more.
Remina moved with Drake, Mering, and Cleng to take down Dimart.
Meanwhile.
Jerka led the remaining teammates to surround Roin.
Front, back, left, right.
They had him completely encircled from four directions.
No matter how great Roin was, he couldn't break this easily.
That was Jerka's thinking.
Yet even surrounded, Roin stayed calm.
What're you waiting for? Come get it.
The fact they were from a swordsmanship family meant nothing to Roin.
Even Kern Tayla, the head, was just second fiddle, unable to surpass Lord Rodri's feats.
Jerka drew his sword and charged at Roin with blinding speed.
It all came down to which team grabbed the band first.
Fastest team wins.
Jerka's blade aimed for Roin's throat.
Eyes that felt no fear of killing, unlike Chepman during training.
Roin grinned.
'Nice expression.'
He parried Jerka's longsword with his dagger.
But Jerka didn't drop itinstead, he quickly reset his stance.
Other cadets would lose their swords helplessly to Roin's counter.
Not Jerka.
He regripped and swung at Roin again.
A clean strike for a kid.
But one flaw.
'Always targeting the same spots.'
In other words, too predictable.
Roin wasn't falling for such obvious moves.
He sidestepped slightly, deflecting Jerka's sword by a hair.
He could have gone for Jerka with the blade tip.
But Roin had no hobby of bullying kids.
He struck Jerka's side with the dagger's pommel instead.
...!
Pain so intense Jerka couldn't even scream engulfed him.
Just one hit.
Jerka's stance crumbled instantly.
Jerka, sir!
You bastard!
The remaining teammates rushed Roin together.
But Roin dodged their attacks effortlessly, toying with them.
As before, dagger reversed, he slammed the pommels into all three solar plexuses.
Breath caught in their throats.
Roin shrugged at the trio collapsing forward in unison.
'Done.'
He was about to go steal Dimart's band when.
Killing intent surged from behind.
Roin moved on instinct alone, without turning.
Whoosh!
A sword slashed massively past Roin's side.
Jerka, thought knocked out, had ambushed him.
Roin moved to counter instantly.
But Jerka tumbled to the ground, unmoving.
'Unconscious reflex, huh.'
His body had moved on pure will to fell the enemy.
'Impressive resolve.'
Still, way short of taking down Roin.
Thanks to Roin soloing four foes, momentum swung hard to Remina's team.
Dimart fled desperately.
But it was only a matter of time.
Roin snatched the band.
Lepid raised their flag at once.
Roin's overwhelming victory!
The crowd sat stunned, unable to speak at the unforeseen result.
But the 159th class cadets had seen it coming.
...
Kern stared silently down at the arena.
He soon left.
Even as he exited, his mind filled not with Jerka, but Roin.
'Roin Leyden. No ordinary kid.'
It felt.
Just like seeing Rodri.
With the team tournament over, apprentice knight training ended.
All that remained was selecting those worthy of junior knight rank from the training endured.
While awaiting results, the 159th class got two months' break.
Those promoted to junior knight would jump straight into the next phase.
The rest stayed for second-year training.
Two months.
No short time.
Most cadets returned home to make up for lost family time.
Roin planned to visit his hometown after ages, to see his parents.
Drake, Mering, and Cleng had left ahead of Roin.
Roin grabbed his bag and headed out.
On the way, his gaze drifted to the training grounds.
In the empty field, one cadet trained alone, forlornly.
Remina.
Roin veered toward her.
Not going home?
Remina stayed silent at Roin's question for a long while.
Finally, she spoke.
Nope.
Why.
Better staying here.
Even during the team tournament, she'd fought alone without family cheers.
Seemed there was something Roin didn't know.
'Whatever, not my business.'
Curious, but no need to pry deep.
Better to spend that care on his skin instead.