Chapter 96
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Wendy, Running
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Even after the duel between Tristan and Bella ended, the students couldnt easily open their mouths.
The swordsmanship duel they had shown far exceeded their expectations.
At first, all they had was simple curiosity.
The chairman was an utterly uncontrollable man. No one knew what he was thinking when he challenged Bella to a duel. The outcome was obvious, after all.
The students had anticipated Tristans pathetic defeat at Bellas hands.
They also looked forward to it. The sight of the arrogant young noble crossing swords with the beautiful swordswoman would make for a fine picture in itself.
And the result was, as expected, Tristans defeat.
But the process completely defied their predictions.
Tristans swordsmanship was as elegant as Bellas.
Every slashing motion was dignified and straight. He was no novice at swordsmanship.
None of the students noticed that it was the Izarkhel style.
It was the first time any of them had seen the Izarkhel style in person.
That was why the two seemed evenly matched.
Why.
Anyone who watched the duel couldnt help but wonder.
Tristan was a man who had never shown any notable talent for swordsmanship. On top of that, a cursed body incapable of using magic.
There couldnt have been any trickery in the swordsmanship he displayed.
Now, there were only two conclusions left.
Tristan had either been hiding exceptional talent for swordsmanship or training in secret with blood and sweat. And naturally, the more likely one was.
Sia looked at Tristan.
His appearance had changed dramatically compared to when she first saw him.
Looking again, his body showed plenty of traces of effort.
His weight loss bit by bit could it have been.
Even his slender arms revealed the sharp outlines of firm muscles.
No doubt the marks of desperately swinging a sword.
Perhaps he had trained to the point of not caring if his own body got hurt.
The bandages over his eyes only lent credibility to Sias guess.
Hmm.
Sia scanned Tristans body from corner to corner.
His androgynous features might fool you, but his shoulders and back were broad, emphasizing masculine traits.
Ah, and now that she looked, his throat had a plump Adams apple like ripe fruit.
No. No.
Sia desperately shook her head.
If she kept admiring him, strange thoughts might creep in.
Youve done well.
The two finished their duel with a mutual bow.
Then Bella seemed to notice something and spoke to Tristan.
Oh? Chairman. Your bandages have come loose.
Uh
You should head to the infirmary right away.
The chairman nodded and passed the benches where the students sat, disappearing through the gyms back door.
His figure was the usual Tristan, but the students gazes had changed a lot.
It was because they realized he wasnt just some big-mouthed arrogant chairman.
At that moment, Bella clapped her hands.
Everyone, pay attention. The duel ran longer than expected, so well have to speed through the lesson. Sit on the benches where you are and listen carefully.
At her words, the students began gathering on the benches in clusters.
Sia was about to take a suitable seat when someone called out to her.
Sia.
Luna? Where have you been?
Luna, wearing glasses, said awkwardly.
I went to the bathroom and got lost on the way back. Ahaha.
You missed it. Just before, Professor Bella and the chairman dueled.
R-Really? Ugh! If only I hadnt gotten lost!
Luna, beside herself with regret, suddenly tilted her head.
Huh? But why are you alone, Sia?
Huh?
At those words, Sia realized her usually attached short classmate was nowhere to be seen.
Wendy?
The infirmary, which she had barely made it to, was empty.
It wasnt a high school; it was odd to expect someone always stationed in a university infirmary.
And in my current state, it was actually a relief.
Im alive.
I sighed and sat on the infirmary chair.
The duel just now had me abusing Patience and Envy, and the limit had come for me.
Id acted fine on the outside, but my insides and muscles kept screaming.
As expected, the half-baked swordsmanship mimicked with Envy couldnt beat Bella.
Not even my trump card secret technique worked on her.
That said, the duel wasnt meaningless.
Clashing swords with Bella had brought me one step closer to the Izarkhel style.
Compared to before the duel, it was a huge leap.
The swordsmanship, which had only been imprinted as an image, now felt like it had a clear form.
No one would see Tristan as a swordsmanship beginner now.
Thats when I was briefly relieved.
!
Unbearable pain made blood trickle from my mouth. My body, at its limit, was begging for rest.
No matter how good the trait Patience was, going beyond the limit brought severe side effects.
Even with this body Id slimmed down and trained more than before, the duel with Bella had been touch-and-go.
If the duel had dragged on, I might have ended up in this unsightly state.
I unwound the bandages around my eyes and wiped the blood from my mouth.
My head spun.
It wasnt much blood, but dizziness made it hard to steady myself.
For now, lie on the bed. Thinking that, I barely made it to the bed but collapsed from lack of strength.
Thats when it happened.
Screech!
The infirmary door burst open noisily.
What appeared was a girl panting as if shed sprinted full speed.
Haa. Haa.
She was in gym clothes unlike usual, but I recognized her at once.
The moment I was about to call her name, our eyes met.
!
Her eyes widened in surprise upon spotting me.
Kyaa?! C-Count?!
Wendy let out a shrill scream and rushed to me.
A-Are you okay?!
Yeah. Just a bit dizzy for a moment.
I spoke, feigning composure.
A short rest and my body would recover quickly.
But it didnt work on Wendy.
B-Blood! Theres blood!
My hand still held the bandage Id used to wipe the blood.
Before I could think of an excuse, Wendy grabbed a nearby bandage and started wrapping my left eye.
S-Sniff. Your eye. Your eye is hurt.
Mistaking it for a serious injury, Wendy was on the verge of tears.
It must have been quite a shock for the timid, fragile girl.
How did you get hurt like this. Sniff.
Its almost healed, so its fine.
Wendy wrapped the bandage diligently even as she cried.
But unexpectedly, the words from her mouth were reproachful.
I-Its not fine! Youre hurt like this and didnt tell me. And you even dueled so recklessly! Y-Youre too much!
It was a perfectly reasonable complaint, but Wendy had never gotten angry at me before.
Given our status, no servant could get angry at me anyway.
And Wendys personality was far from one that would get mad at anyone.
A girl so gentle and kind shed probably never gotten angry at anyone in her life.
Yet that girl was angry at me now.
Youre really too much. Too much. Count. You always push yourself. What if something happens to you? I-I!
I looked into Wendys teary eyes.
What they held wasnt fear of me, but worry. Pure, heartfelt worrysomething the original Tristan would never have received.
Sniff. Hic.
Wendy finally burst into tears.
If you get hurt like last time. Hic. and have to go to the hospital, I-Id be. so worried. Scared. If you disappeared. Id really. Hic.
I wiped the tears flowing down Wendys cheeks with my finger.
What words could reassure this girl? But nothing came to mind.
In the end, I could only say something the usual Tristan would.
Wendy.
Count?
I wont die.
Wendy looked up at me blankly.
There was no basis for it.
Just an arrogant declaration beyond measure.
No ordeal can kill me.
It was a kind of vow.
A vow to survive no matter what in this thorny path of a game.
But saying it aloud, I wondered if Wendy would believe it.
Sniff.
Wendys big eyes looked up at me.
I felt a pang of conscience for deceiving such an innocent girl.
At last, her mouth slowly opened.
If you say so, Count. I think you really will.
She could have doubted me at least once, but Wendy didnt.
Her tearful eyes held no suspicion at all, astonishingly.
With the pure, unadorned gaze of a girl, Wendy said.
I-I know. You always keep your promises.
Wendy wiped her tears.
That you can accomplish even the impossible. Thats the kind of person you are. So Ill believe you.
The face that had wiped away tears revealed a faint smile.
Youre. like magic to me.
Tap.
At that moment, what reached my ears was footsteps.
The sound was growing closer.
I had to make a decision.
If someone caught us alone together, things would get complicated.
Screech.
Just before the door opened, I swiftly pulled Wendy into my arms and lay down on the bed beside us.
