Chapter 50
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 50
49. The Re-examination
Aniel staggered for a moment at a sensation she had never experienced before, but before long, she came to her senses and examined her surroundings.
"It seems I arrived well."
She arrived at the Academy safely.
Furthermore, whether she was lucky, she was near the testing ground.
Aniel moved in a hurry.
'By now, it must be the time the exam starts.'
Even though she promised, she ended up a little late because she was handling the matters at the Grand Duke's residence.
While moving her steps hurriedly, Aniel was a little worried.
About the part where she couldn't be with him, as she should have helped his training until the very, very end.
'I hope it hasn't started yet.'
She wants to be with him when it is difficult, when it is hard.
She wants to be a source of strength by being together.
Just like he was for her at the banquet hall.
"Because I desperately wish for you to pass."
So, she also wants to do that.
With a heart wishing that he would stay by her side until the end.
***
Starting with the first clash, the beginning of the re-examination was announced.
"Honestly speaking, I thought you would charge in foolishly without any thought."
But he realized within the first clash.
"You are quite the cautious type."
That Baran didn't hold the title of professor for show.
'He's strong.'
Clearly, Baran only counterattacked.
But why is it?
'It feels like I struck a rock.'
The reason why my wrist hurts more instead.
The gap in experience and skill was clearly felt.
"What are you doing? Time is continuously flowing."
The evaluation proceeds for one hour.
I had to produce a meaningful result within this time.
"If you really won't move, I shall move."
How many seconds had passed since his words ended?
I had widened the distance quite a bit, but he approached right before my eyes in just a few seconds.
"I wonder if you can even block this."
Then, he swings his sword consecutively without a moment to rest.
The opponent had a very relaxed expression, but for me, who was blocking this, it was so fast that each strike was difficult to follow with my eyes.
"Ugh!"
"As expected, there's no way you could block it."
In the end, I failed to block and got struck on the shoulder.
A dull impact was felt as if my bones were ringing.
I doubted if I hadn't been hit by a steel sword rather than a wooden sword.
I worried if my shoulder was really okay, but.
'I have to widen the distance first!'
It wouldn't be late to check that after the re-examination ended.
I have to fix my posture again somehow.
To do so, I had to get as far away from the opponent as possible.
"Should I call you smart, or should I say you're running around like a rat."
That person would be able to catch up to my running speed in no time.
But Baran didn't bother doing so. Like a predator with prey right under its nose, he was exercising leisure.
Whether due to tension, my hands became damp and the wooden sword I held became slippery.
"Do you still think you can pass?"
Baran asked with a ridicule.
At that question, my spirit felt like it would break.
Could I really extract a passing mark from that person?
The opponent seems to have come out with a firm determination.
But I recalled someone.
'You taught me. To try until the end without giving up.'
Why is it that a smile tries to form just by recalling that person.
"Why is your tongue so long?"
"What?"
"Didn't I tell you? That it's still unknown until you try it."
The result was already out.
But I ignored it. Such things come to those who try until the end; they don't come to those who give up halfway.
Fixing my sword, I recalled the opponent's weaknesses.
'Can I target his Achilles tendon?'
The opponent didn't seem likely to give an angle to target the Achilles tendon though.
While thinking deeply about a method, I rushed in for now.
"This time, I'm coming!"
"Arrogant fellow!"
Each time we clash, the difference in strength is clearly revealed.
So I put all my strength into every swing, but the opponent easily knocked it away as if my attacks were merely ridiculous.
'I have to keep moving.'
Make the opponent overexert themselves as much as possible.
By doing so, wouldn't the opponent eventually reveal a weakness first someday.
"Do you think such a trivial attack would work on me!"
"Keugh!"
Then I got kicked in the stomach.
For a moment, my breath was blocked. My vision was dyed white in an instant, but the most serious thing was the pain as if my organs were screaming.
I felt like I would slump down just like that as my strength left me, but I tried to put distance from the opponent again just like before and fix my posture first.
"Did you think I would wait for you in the same way again?"
But Baran immediately targeted my thigh.
I had to dodge or block somehow, but the moment my posture collapsed, that was impossible.
"Not even a few minutes have passed since you brought up those words, yet you are like this. Pathetic."
***
He cut the thigh.
If the sword held was a real sword, he could have sliced it cleanly, but because it was a wooden sword, he ended it at the level of merely breaking the bone.
'There's nothing more to see.'
Baran, certain of victory here, intended to put down his sword and return as is.
Because the weak Allen Wiesent wouldn't even be able to get up anyway.
He thought he must have realized what his own level was while trailing tears in front of everyone watching.
"I am... not done yet!"
Until a desperate voice was heard from behind his back.
"I have not given up yet!"
"Ha. Your bone should be broken."
The bone must certainly have broken. Because that was the part he targeted so it would be so.
Despite that, Allen bit his lip tightly and barely stood up from his spot using the wooden sword as a staff.
Seeing that appearance, Baran was dumbfounded.
'Why does he bother trying to be in pain?'
It would be comfortable if he just gave up anyway.
'Is it stubbornness, or is it self-assertion.'
The result is already in a decided state. No matter how much he tries to stand up, there was absolutely no way Allen would pass his exam.
[? Interest has increased by 1]
'Still, I must acknowledge his spirit at least.'
But Baran came to acknowledge that he was a little different from the young ones these days who give up quickly when faced with something difficult or impossible.
At least any person meeting his eyes right now could know.
Looking at him standing tenaciously while not even being able to stand properly, one could know how much he wants to be in the Academy.
"I'm coming!"
Allen lunged at Baran as is while limping.
Certainly, the speed had decreased a lot compared to the beginning.
His posture was also very disarrayed.
"Stop it!"
Naturally, Baran knocked Allen down several times.
It was an almost one-sided fight.
Not stopping at being struck and dropping his sword, even falling down was repeated.
But Allen did not give up and stood up until the end like a cockroach.
"Why do you want to remain in the Academy that much? Why on earth!"
The more they clashed swords, for some reason his mouth felt parched.
Baran was puzzled. Clearly he was attracted to his appearance, but why is his heart beating like this?
As said before, it wasn't that he met an equal opponent.
Nor was it that adrenaline was being secreted because he didn't know when he would die while fighting at the front line.
His hands became damp with sweat.
While fighting, he felt Allen looking elsewhere. Baran followed that gaze to check who he was looking at.
'How is she here?'
At that place, there was a figure who should not appear here.
The Grand Duchess, Aniel Windelof.
Salaban said. That he would keep Aniel away somehow so she wouldn't be here.
Actually, Baran was puzzled as to why he was keeping her away.
Because he thought nothing would change even if she was present.
'Is it because of her.'
But now, he felt like he knew a little, just a very little.
Since every man wants to look cool in front of the woman he likes.
Since they don't want to show an appearance of giving up and being defeated.
It was a scene often seen when he attended the Academy.
At that moment, Baran's brow furrowed.
"It seems you have the mind to look elsewhere."
Why is he so displeased. Baran, to whom this subtle feeling was strange, went straight to Allen.
Partly to prevent him from looking at her.
Baran intended to deal a single blow with this attack.
With the intention of making him completely retire, unable to stand anymore.
"It seems the Professor himself is the one who became too defenseless instead."
"What?"
However, Allen knew.
That Baran's wariness towards him was gradually lowering.
Until now, Baran had attacked while maintaining a certain distance. He had never approached close enough to deliver a counterattack like now.
Allen only peeked for an opportunity continuously. For the golden moment when he could land a single blow.
'Now that the opponent's guard is completely crumbled....'
It was the strategy of sacrificing flesh to take bone.
Because that was the only effective method he could do, Allen blocked his sword with the wrist where protection gear was worn.
It hurt as if his arm was breaking, but it didn't matter.
'Targeting the Achilles tendon!'
Exercising all his concentration, he targeted Baran's weak point.
Wringing out his mental power which had reached its limit, hoping it would reach.
'Please hit!!!'
He wanted to show those who gave him help, including Aniel.
That their help wasn't entirely useless.
"Aaaack!!!"
The sword swung with all his strength like that succeeded in delivering an effective hit to his weak point, but sadly, his mental power ran out.
"Allen!!"
Allen collapsed on the floor just like that.
Before collapsing, he saw someone approaching while calling his name.
It seems she is shedding tears, but he must have seen wrong.
'Because that person absolutely never cries.'
Like that, a pitch-black night arrived in his vision.
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