Wasted Weekend and the Prince's Challenge
A ferocious hunger hit me alongside an unbearable thirst. The light clung right behind that agony, pulling me upright, and pain like my throat was splitting open exploded out in coughs.
“Hurk...!”
The smell of some unidentified medicine and the feel of unfamiliar blankets registered. My uniform was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a baggy patient gown.
“You're awake?”
As I hacked with my raspy voice, someone pushed open the hospital room door and came in. An old doctor whose hair had all fallen out. His eyes were bloodshot red, giving him a savage look straight out of a horror flick.
“W-water...”
“Nurse.”
Where the hell was this place?
“The ward. Good thing you woke up.”
A young nurse hurried up behind the doctor. In her hand was a cup filled with clear water.
Water! Actual water! I gulped it down like a castaway spotting an oasis after three days in the desert.
“Just so you know, today is Monday.”
Huh?
“Monday?”
I'd dueled Noel on Thursday at three in the afternoon.
“Does that mean I slept straight through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?”
“That's right. Tests showed no major issues with your body, but it was weird that you wouldn't wake up. We figured at least half a day, but three whole days...”
“No, that's not...”
Despair drained all strength from my body as I asked. The cup slipped from my hand onto the blanket.
“Friday. Saturday. Sunday. All just sleeping?”
Friday was a free period. Saturday and Sunday were the weekend. The three most precious days for a college kid, pissed away in sleep?
“...Yeah, pretty much.”
One screw-up in a fight, and I'd stumbled right into Monday out of nowhere.
“The week's clearly seven days, so why do I have to endure eight straight days of classes?”
Was I trapped in some ghost story? If this wasn't a freak phenomenon, what was?
“...Well, it's the second week starting today.”
Even if I fell into a ghost story, I still had to go to class, apparently. The noble kids who'd rested over the weekend glowed with healthy sheen. Guys like me who'd scheduled Friday free periods looked so greasy they'd burst into flames if you lit a lighter near them.
Along with the urge to burn the whole world down, I headed to the dorms and changed into my uniform.
“...It's Ram Artel.”
“He woke up, huh.”
“Bet he lies there another week straight. What a waste...”
“You nuts? Watch your mouth.”
“Yeah, watch it. You should've seen Ram Artel beat the crap out of that commoner...”
More people recognized me just coming to change clothes. ...Well, yeah. Noel had yelled stuff in the middle of the park like “sharing a secret I can't speak of,” “trying to settle this with money, you shameless bastard!,” “a total shitshow.” Rumors getting wilder wasn't surprising.
'Trying to settle with money—that was me, right?'
My memory was fuzzy after Noel pounded me senseless.
'Still, it wasn't a total loss.'
The “Ki” Professor Lien mentioned. My brain had recognized the hidden power flowing through my body. Even now, focusing a bit let me feel something filling my dantian.
'Three days of rest and it's still not half full. Not the most efficient power.'
I slipped on my uniform jacket while replaying my last fight with Noel. Everything else from that day was faded like an old VHS tape, but that moment felt fresh as if it'd just happened. The instant my stamina bottomed out and my life hung in the balance—Ki surging from my dantian, flooding my body. Vision calmer and sharper, wind currents caressing my skin. The fulfillment of everything elevating to another level, the omnipotence that said I could do anything. Then consciousness vanishing in a flash.
'Using the power causes a backlash that knocks me out?'
I looped my tie loosely around my neck as I walked to class.
'Doesn't seem right.'
I'd seen Lien wield Ki right in front of me once. He hadn't drained his stamina dry, no visible backlash.
'Probably usable even in perfect condition.'
Driving the body to near-death was an extreme measure to make the brain recognize Ki in the first place. The book said normal folks needed long meditation and contemplation, so yeah, full stamina should allow it.
'That's the proper way to use it.'
Harmony between trained stamina and Ki.
'What ratio, though?'
Ask Lien? Where was his lab? Did he even stay there? Guy probably sat on campus chugging booze in broad daylight...
“Ram Artel.”
A familiar voice cut into my thoughts as I stood blankly pondering Ki by the roadside.
“...Your Highness.”
It was the Crown Prince. His golden necklace glittered blindingly in the morning sun.
...What the fuck did this guy want with me now?
“Oh my, young master of Artel territory.”
As I thought that, Rehen's voice came from behind him. Cute couple heading to class together. Would've been nicer if they hadn't talked to me.
“Lady Rehen.”
Why did these two always pick on me together? No class today?
“...Don't look at me like that. I just came to say hello.”
Were my eyes that sharp? And a greeting?
“Were we that close?”
“...”
The Crown Prince sighed inwardly, unsure how to handle the rudeness.
“I heard you found a decent sparring partner.”
“Sparring partner?”
Oh, Noel.
“Not quite... we just crossed blades once.”
“The other side tells a different story.”
“What'd they say?”
“'My partner is already set as Ram Artel, so find someone else.'”
What bullshit was Noel spreading after putting me in a coma?
“I'm looking for a good sparring partner myself. Sparring's the best way to improve, right?”
“Noel said the same.”
I knew jack about it, but the emperor and Noel were elite sword trainees. If they said so... probably true.
“Only two first-years I saw who could cross blades with me. And now they're paired up.”
Could he not phrase it like we're dating? Noel was 100% commoner, so blurting stuff made sense, but you're royalty.
'He knows the rumors about me too.'
Some indirect jab? Keep his dignity while mocking me. Chasing two rabbits—good luck, Your Highness.
“How about it? Mind if I join you two sometimes? Even royalty can't swing at second-years.”
Okay.
“Then duel again at the next swordsmanship exam.”
You'll be my Ki guinea pig. Time for a proper ass-kicking on that sleazy prince. Win rate under 10% even going all-out, but still—an ass-kicking.
I answered thinking that, but...
“Oh, really?!”
The prince's sculpted face lit up with surprise and joy as he reached out.
“?”
“See you at tomorrow's sword exam then!”
Why was he so innocently excited? Seeing that handsome bastard purely happy weirdly lifted my mood. Was this why you judge by looks first?
“Uh, sure.”
I grabbed his hand, openly bewildered. He shook firmly, then vanished with Rehen.
“That worked out well.”
“I was stressing over sparring second-years. One worry down.”
...What the hell was that guy?
The next day.
“Wooden swords again today?”
The Crown Prince greeted me entering the grand hall with a kid's bright grin, like he'd waited all day.
“...Sure, whatever.”
Dazed, I reached for the wooden swords on the platform. Soon Lien strolled in, same disheveled self as always.
“One-on-one duel. Pick your own opponent.”
Didn't academy teachers need to teach basic theory or something? Reminded me of my past life's PE teacher who tossed a soccer ball and called it class all semester. Then justified midterms/finals with textbook trivia, saying “gotta test discernment...”
'This guy's doing the same, right?'
Totally plausible. Hell, Lien might mix up second- and first-year tests. If someone questioned weird problems, he'd scratch his belly: “Oops, my bad? Just solve 'em.”
“Mages can use magic. Kill each other if you want.”
See? A prof openly saying “murder time” mid-class. This was a senior professor?
“I'll watch, so do whatever.”
“Got it.”
The prince, like he'd lived for this, reinforced his body with mana and raised his wooden sword.
'...Mana's concentrating on his eyes.'
He'd prepped some counter to my speed.
“You're taking this too seriously, no?”
“You treated me too lightly.”
He smirked lightly, channeling mana into the sword. It wrapped the blunt blade like a chainsaw's teeth.
“After our fight, I spent all day thinking how to beat you.”
Chainsaw romance prince spouting that gave me chills.
“Weird, didn't I win that duel?”
“Half-victories are losses to me.”
'What an ego.'
Overinflated self-esteem was the problem with these types. They rejected results, nitpicking “nah, I basically lost for these reasons” to pick fights.
“Then I'll give you a proper win this time.”
Extreme medicine for scum like you.
“Kinda deflating declaration.”
Obviously.
Just dipping a toe into the realm of “nothingness” let me feel it instantly. The prince's skill was beyond my current reach. The bastard was filthily strong.
“Not that I'll just stand there and take it.”
Which meant no better target.
“Music to my ears.”
I'll beat him once before semester's end. Luck or whatever—once, just to engrave “you're trash.” Dream come true.
“Looks like you've found opponents. Get ready.”
Lien slouched in a chair on the platform, prepping the signal.
“Rea...”
BAM!
Right before his signal dropped. A merciless ripping of wooden planks echoed from behind. Someone lose control and blast magic? I turned.
“...”
A massive glacier had burst through the building wall.
Whoosh!
As I blinked in shock, something human-shaped flew into view at the edge of my sight. My gaze followed naturally.
“...Please, spare me, my lady.”
Rehen Aura, head drenched in blood.