Sword, Magic and Academic Society

Vol. 1 - Ch. 113 - Rising Star Cup (2)

I had thought Olivia-san would be the indisputable third-year champion after her display of skills, but it seemed like my judgement was a bit too hasty.

The other prospective champion that emerged was the candidate representing the Rosemieur Empire. Her name was Grayfia Indiana. Apparently she was also the victor of the first-year and second-year divisions in her time.

This person was incredibly fast, and she even seemed to have innate grace in her maneuvers.

They both were masters of finesse and prowess in their own ways that was incomparable to others, the fair example of everyone not being made equal, and as expected, the finals was going to be between them.

???

Facing her opponent, Olivia-san brought her rapier up vertically, resembling a salute in fencing.

"I look forward to having a fair fight with you."

"All I will give you is a thorough beating."

With her side sickle spear resting on her shoulders, Grayfia-san said so while stretching out her waist.

The match proceeded with Grayfia-san launching a fierce onslaught with her dynamic fighting style while Olivia-san settled with a counter style. It was similar to the mock battle between me and Leo, except the intensity of this fight was a step above.

In contrast to her uncouth speech, Grayfia-san's footwork was nothing short of artistic. The movement of her legs, peeking out from the slits of her mermaid-like dress, was as graceful and light as a waltz dance.

The way she manipulated the distance like a phantom evoked the memories of my experience with Dio's movements. It was something I wished for Parry-kun to see.

Her opponent, Olivia-san, was equally impressive. She was indeed not a match to Grayfia-san in agility, but she had been beautifully parrying each strike that came her way by sticking to her base, leaving no opening even under the barrage of attacks.

Frankly, the way she had been dealing with those untamed spear attacks was very much a role model example.

If I have to guess, she must have practiced day and night to the limits of her body and faced countless mock battles to reach this height.

Leo, too, was looking at their fight with an engrossed appearance. That was expected as Olivia-san's style was a perfect reference for him.

"Haaaaaaa!!!"

The one that broke that deadlock was Olivia-san. She unleashed her Body Strengthening ability to the maximum and increased her physical and defensive abilities.

She accepted a spear strike with her armor, and while covering her bases in case of a follow-up attack, she cornered Grayfia-san.

There was no way Olivia-san would have come out of that exchange safely if she was facing a real weapon, but she must have thought of Grayfia-san as a formidable opponent as well and considered it worthwhile to exchange injury for the victory.

But her impatience to settle the score didn't make sense. She could still have her chance if she just waited for the correct time... Unless she was unsure if her mana capacity would last.

The output of a magic spell --- whether it was Body Strengthening or Emission Magic --- could be increased with ease the higher one's mana capacity was, though it could also be increased by a small margin with training and talent.

But at the end of the day, you could rig a spell to get top-class firepower but the fuel to sustain it was something that would remain constant.

I guess the original five's Roldeon might be specialized in training their mana output control.

"Y-You're not winning this, you ugly duck!"

Grayfia-san frantically looked for a way to dodge the incoming blow but Olivia-san had everything covered.

This settles the match, huh? So I thought. I had been all but convinced about the outcome when my wind magic caught the presence of something needle-like leaping out of Grayfia-san's spear and pricking the edge of Olivia-san's right eyelid.

"?! Argh! Kyaaa!"

Grayfia-san didn't miss the opening and immediately swiped at Olivia-san's closed eye with that sickle shape protrusion from her spear.

"That's what you get! Who could have thought that a chipped wooden fragment would get into your eye, huh? Haha, even luck has forsaken you, ugly duck! Remember it, this is the difference between a chosen and a runt!"

Grayfia-san jeered and escaped from the corner of the stage.

But I could tell that wasn't the case. The wooden fragment didn't leap out when rapier and spear clashed against each other. The timing clearly was too good for that moment and it surely wasn't the wood fragment.

It also happened when the movement fell under the blind spot of the umpire, so most likely it was something she didn't want to be seen. I doubt Godorfun-sensei missed it though, but he probably didn't say anything due to lack of proof, or maybe it probably fell under a gray area.

The match from then on became predictable. The two had been evenly matched in strength to begin with.

Olivia-san also didn't seem like she was proficient in detection magic via mana circulation, so she was basically cornered in the confrontation after losing vision in one of her eyes.

Grayfia-san launched one blow after another from her dead angle that struck straight onto her body.

She could have easily made Olivia-san drop her weapon with her skills and end the match, needless to say it was an intentional torment on her part.

Yuukas, her little brother, was looking at the stage with a pale face, and the man glaring at the stage with a stern face must be... their father.

In the end, Olivia-san fell down but never let go of her weapon.

"......Game. The winner is Grayfia Indiana."

A thunderous applause, cheering both participants, came from the clueless audience.

???

"Hmph. Each and every one was so weak it didn't make me break a sweat. Ohh, yea. You. Weren't your two opponents weak as well? I'll be your opponent, so let's do a mock battle. Ah, well I'm not going to stop you from running away if you're scared though, prodigy-kun~."

Grayfia said while pointing her spear at Leo, who immediately stood up from his seat with an expressionless face at that cheap provocation. 'Nyahaha,' Grayfia smiled conceitedly while showing her characteristic canine tooth. And with that, she kicked the fallen Olivia-san's stomach with a mana-infused kick.

Crunch!

The sound of Olivia-san's rib, who no longer had her mana guard, cracking echoed as she received that kick.

"You're in the way, ugly duck. There's no need for a runt like you on the stage of the victor."

The Godorfun-sensei's face lost color seeing her barbarism.

"A little bird riding on the wind not knowing when it can turn into a storm...... Who do you think you are in front of------"

However, before Godorfun could complete his words, both he and Grayfia suddenly turned around after feeling a sudden wave of bloodlust.

They moved their gaze toward the source to see a young knight --- a rustic youth that could best be described as plain --- glaring at Grayfia while releasing his bloodlust.

???

Ack, now I've done it. What am I doing, suddenly giving a hostile look while on guard duty...

Well, I did my best to control myself in my defense though. I mean, I was just enjoying this thrilling, heart-thumping cultural event festival, a confirmed template of the reincarnation troupe, when it suddenly unfolded into this bitter--- no, this nauseating direction.

Cough Do your best, Godorfun-sensei, Leo.

I was feigning a clueless look while suppressing my feelings when Yuukas also turned his gaze my way following those two, shouting 'Allen-san!?'.

A buzz spread amidst the audience hearing that.

"......Allen? Ahh, that rumored Allen Rovenne? Pfft! Hahahaha! I thought it would be some heavy-weight with a cool or wild side with such flashy rumors, but what a bummer. Aren't you just a plain-faced scamp? And eww, you reek of country-bumpkin vibe so much. I bet you can't even be a starter. Come now, Leo Zaitsinger!"

But when Grayfia-san saw my plain-face, she immediately lost interest in me.

Damn, what a rude woman...... Did she really have to compare my face with that of that adonis Leo in front of such a huge crowd?

I hurriedly slid down my 'Nihilistic' mask to cover my face, I had to push it up to properly look at the matches.

However, Leo instead put up his usual fearless grin from his neutral expression and then gestured me towards the stage with his two hands as if saying 'Come, the stage is yours', before returning to his seat.

Huh, woah, woah. I'm currently on guard duty, man. Don't throw this hot potato at me---

I was frantically gesturing at Leo to take my position when Godorfun approached me and said.

"Fuhahaha! I didn't expect this situation, eh... She, Olivia, is the daughter of my dear friend when I was still commanding the army. So it's truly a pity that I can't kill that woman myself. But my patience is also not limitless to tolerate that cocky bird--- so go and discipline her."

What do you think I am, a secret ranger that jumps out to punish evil......?

I mean, I do feel enraged, but I had a hunch something even more terrible would happen to me if I turned to face her in a fight.

"Think about it again, Sensei, I'm just not cut out to face the spear of that person, no? So let Leo take care of---"

I protested, however, Godorfun-sensei flashed a doting grandfather-like smile as a streak of blue vein appeared on his forehead.

"I know. That Grayfia whatever put a bit too much on your shoulder...... So hurry up and discipline her!"

Gahhh, this old man really doesn't talk with human words, does he?!

I wonder if there was any bureau that would listen to my plea against the ex-vice commander's power harassment......

E/N - I have to admit, the author has talent in making annoying, punchable villains. Hopefully, Allen lays the smackdown on this girl in the next chapter.