046: Students from Other Schools

Summer vacation—or Estarm, as they call it here—was officially over, and we were back within the familiar walls of Noblesse Academy.

I’d managed to squeeze in several sparring matches since our return, and the effects of Flash (Time Lapse) were undeniable. I was significantly stronger than I’d been just weeks ago.

The problem was that everyone else in my immediate circle had also improved by leaps and bounds. Allen, in particular... the way that guy moved now was just wrong. Based on my knowledge of the original game, his growth rate was mathematically impossible. It was infuriating, honestly, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little exciting to watch.

Outside of training, I’d started meeting Cecil in the library after school to discuss the impending Calamity.

"So, what are the specific abilities of the Demon Race?" she asked.

"Well—"

She never once pushed me on how I knew these things; she just listened with absolute sincerity. In the original Battle Universe story, Cecil was a creature of pure pride who had zero interest in other people. Seeing her like this was a total shock, but it made me genuinely happy.

Maybe we really did connect our hearts through the game... but still, to this extent?

I was so preoccupied by the change in her that I found myself voicing the question before I could stop myself. It was pretty rich coming from me, considering I was a walking vault of secrets.

"To be honest," Cecil said, "it might have started as simple curiosity. But please don't misunderstand—I don't think you're lying, and I never did. I don't know why, but if you're the one saying it, Fancent-kun, I feel like it must be true. Now, I just hope I can take your warnings and use them to protect everyone."

...I was happy. Truly, honestly happy. Knowing her original character, the fact that she placed this much trust in me meant the world.

"I owe you a big one for this," I muttered.

"Then I’ll just have to make you my practice partner in Universe again," she teased. "That aside, do you really think people will listen to me? The teachers will be there, and there are people much stronger than I am."

"It’ll be fine. I trust you, Cecil. At the very least, the people I know will believe you. I... I think. Sorry. I’m not exactly the most reliable guy when it matters most."

"I don't mind. More importantly, is Cynthia-san okay with this?"

Cecil really was a good person. She was even worried about Cynthia. I told her that I’d been consulting with Cynthia about our classroom studies as well.

The truth was, I was still agonized over whether to tell Cynthia the full truth about the Calamity. If I spoke up, the future would change. If the future changed, I’d be flying blind in a plot I no longer understood.

And that would be dangerous in its own right. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don't.

"—Weiss, are you listening? Does that work for you?"

"Eh? Oh. Yes. Of course."

I’d been so deep in thought that I hadn’t noticed Teacher Milk calling my name during morning homeroom. I had no idea what she’d actually asked, but I figured a polite "yes" was the safest way to avoid a lecture.

Our actual homeroom teacher, Chloe, was MIA this morning, likely busy with some administrative disaster. Darius was nowhere to be found either, which was why Teacher Milk was covering for them.

"Then it’s unanimous," Milk declared.

I didn't know what we'd just agreed to, but I breathed a private sigh of relief that I wasn't being scolded.

"Then let's move out. And listen up—don't you dare lose!"

"YES, MA'AM!"

The male students let out a roar that nearly shook the windows. It was impressive how motivated they got the second Teacher Milk opened her mouth. I spotted Duke (Vitamin) among them, shouting in perfect, terrifying unison. I had to stifle a laugh.

We stood up and began filing out of the classroom. The air was thick with competitive tension. Even I could feel my pulse quickening.

As we walked, Allen bumped my shoulder. "Weiss, we’re allies today. Let’s give it our all."

"Don't get it twisted," I replied, putting on my best aloof voice. "I’m just doing what I have to do. I’m not here to play 'teammates' with you."

"Good grief, man! Would it kill you to just be honest for once?"

"Shut up, Vitamin. And get your hand off my shoulder."

I have such mixed feelings about this. But I guess this event was inevitable. There’s a saying about a frog in a well not knowing the ocean; this was the perfect chance to see exactly where I stood in the grand scheme of things.

"Weiss, I’m counting on you," Shari said, smiling.

"You should be more worried about Allen. He’s probably still got a case of Estarm-brain."

"Honestly, you are so stubborn."

I brushed off Shari's comment as we stepped out onto the school grounds. Far in the distance, in an area usually off-limits to students, a massive arena—no, a stadium—loomed over the landscape.

As we drew closer, the sound of cheering reached us. There were way more civilians in the stands than I remembered from the game. Is this another plot deviation?

Actually—

"Cynthia... you’re a bit close."

"Hehe, I’m simply making a public display of our affection."

"That is correct! Intimidation is a vital part of strategy!" Lilith added, looking equally fired up.

Cynthia was clinging to my arm, and while the... softness of the contact was incredibly distracting, I decided not to complain.

We reached the entrance of the arena, where a group of familiar-looking faces was waiting. Well, "familiar" in the sense that I knew them from the game; it was my first time meeting them in this world. Every one of them had the same arrogant, "I’m better than you" sneer plastered on their faces.

Good grief. Some things never change.

One guy, who was significantly taller than Duke but stopped just short of having a "gorilla" physique, locked eyes with me. He was wearing a jet-black uniform embroidered with the Knight's Oath—the emblem of Duran Swordcraft High School.

Wait. Is this event going to center on me now? What a pain.

"Having a grand old time before the match, aren't you, Noblesse underclassman?" the guy sneered.

His tone was insufferably affected, backed by a visible aura of mana that practically screamed overconfidence. He loomed over me, looking down his nose. His cronies were no better—even the girls looked at us like we were something they'd stepped in.

Then again, given their stats, they probably thought they had every right to.

"It’s called the champion’s swagger," I shot back. "I wouldn't expect your kind to recognize it."

"Hmph. The only person of merit your school ever produced was your senior, Eva Avery. To hide behind someone else's mantle like that... I suppose I shouldn't expect much from a 'Scum of Sloth' who got in through family connections. Isn't that right, Weiss Fancent?"

Oh? So he knows my name.

In the original game, this was Allen’s event. Michael—the guy currently trying to bore a hole through me with his eyes—was supposed to pick a fight with Allen after seeing him flirting with Cynthia. I guess I’d managed to hog the spotlight this time around.

Still, his face was even more punchable in person than it was in the sprites. Seriously, did they buff his level of douchiness for the real-life version?

"I’m impressed," I said. "I didn't realize 'insulting people' was part of the Duran curriculum. That almost hurt my feelings."

"Hey! Don't you dare insult Michael!"

The chirping came from his girlfriend, Milika Empress. She was loud and aggressive, but I didn't actually hate her character type. She had a short, wine-red hairstyle that suited her, though she definitely wasn't my type.

"If you lay so much as a finger on my Weiss," Cynthia interjected, her voice dropping to a sub-zero chill, "I will personally see to it that your arm is encased in ice."

"Cynthia," Milika scoffed, "how could you ever settle for a man like this?"

"Your eyes are clearly incapable of seeing the truth. I expect they'll stay that way for the rest of your life."

Milika and Cynthia were classic rivals. Even in the original game, they’d had some incident during their childhood that fueled a lifelong grudge.

Michael held Milika back, giving me one last condescending look. "This year’s trophy belongs to us. Enjoy your little sense of superiority while it lasts."

With those parting words, they strutted away. Lilith, who looked like she’d been vibrating with suppressed rage, finally exploded.

"How incredibly rude! Is that how one behaves at an honorable tournament!?"

"Let it go," I said. "They’re just frustrated. Eva Avery competed last year, and unlike Noblesse, Duran is a four-year school. Those guys probably had to watch their seniors get absolutely humiliated from the front row."

I turned my attention back to the arena. A massive banner hung over the entrance:

The 12th Inter-Academy Nobless Sword and Magic Cup.

This was one of my favorite events in the game. I’d known it was coming, but standing here in the flesh, I couldn't stop the warrior’s tremors from shaking my hands.

In this world, there are several institutions like Noblesse. Once a year, the top students from each school gather to find out who’s best. Because Noblesse is a three-year academy, we send underclassmen, but Duran and the others are four-year schools, meaning they send second-years.

Naturally, having an extra year of training meant they were both more powerful and more arrogant. Duran was considered the second strongest after Noblesse.

The original game described how Eva Avery had basically played with them last year. No one could touch her, let alone wound her. Michael and his friends had likely realized they couldn't win before the match even started. Seeing their idols get dismantled by a single woman must have been agonizing.

So they’re taking it out on us. I get it. I really do.

The tournament was a three-day affair: middle-class tomorrow, upper-class the day after. The stands were packed with parents, VIPs, and power brokers. My father had mentioned he couldn't make it due to work, which was fine by me.

Truthfully, this tournament wouldn't change the future much. But I was going to win anyway. That’s why I was here. I was going to take everything.

Plus... this was a chance to legally beat the crap out of people who annoyed me. How could I possibly pass that up?

"Let’s go, Weiss."

"Yeah."

We entered through the student tunnel. When we reached the athlete benches on the ground floor and I looked up at the stands, the scale of it hit me like a physical blow.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Actually seeing it... it’s incredible.

The stadium was a sea of people. The roar of the crowd was a physical weight, making my skin tingle with static.

"Duran! Take 'em down!"

"Fury is the best!"

"Go Noblesse!"

I hadn't really thought of myself as a representative of the academy before. I’d come here as Weiss Fancent to test my own limits. But looking at the flags and hearing the cheers, it finally sank in.

I’m standing here for Noblesse.

Teacher Milk might be a temp, but she was still my master. I couldn't let her name be tarnished. I owed Darius, Chloe, and all the other teachers too.

And more importantly...

"Fancent-kun! Do your best!"

"Weiss-sama! Fight on!"

"Weiss-kun, you have to win!"

I looked up to see Cecil, Lilith, and Carta cheering from the underclassman section.

Hmph. If you scream like that before the first match, you’re going to lose your voices.

The tournament was a five-person team format. Members were chosen based on grades and teacher recommendations. It was a shame Lilith and Carta weren't on the team, but there was no use complaining.

Though, technically, I wasn't even supposed to be here either.

"Weiss," Teacher Milk said as we gathered in our designated team area. "The matches are starting. As the General, say a few words to the team."

"...I’m sorry, the what?"

Wait. 'Weiss, are you listening? Does that work for you? Then it’s unanimous.'

...Oh. So that was what I agreed to?

I'm the leader? The General? Are these people insane?

"Is there a problem?" Milk asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No... no problem at all."

Frustrating as it was, my heart was probably in the same place as theirs. Last year, Eva Avery became a legend. And during the dragon subjugation, she’d had to save my life. As a Noblesse student, I couldn't let our honor be dragged through the dirt.

I looked at my teammates. It was a lineup so stacked I almost felt sorry for the other schools.

The difficulty of this event was notorious—it was basically the "Dark Souls" of Battle Universe. You could lose and the story would continue, but everyone wanted that first-place trophy. However, in the original game, it was almost impossible to win. Most players thought it was a "scripted loss" event.

But I remembered a rumor about one legendary player who had cleared it. They’d posted a screenshot (SS) online, and while everyone else tried to replicate it and failed, the debate had raged for years. Some said it was a cheat; others said the photo was a fake.

The truth had never been found. There was simply no information.

But now I can find out for myself. I'll know if it's a scripted loss or not. Because the final victory prize was visible in that screenshot. If the prize I see matches that photo, I’ll have my answer.

Fine then. I’ll just have to win and see for myself.

I turned to my team.

"Cynthia. Your ice magic is second to none. I believe in you."

"Ufufu. As you should."

"Duke. As long as you don't lose your head, you’re unbeatable. Stay calm."

"Hmph. Consider it done."

"Shari. I know you’ve been training with Lilith. Show me the results."

"Of course. I’m not planning on losing."

And finally...

"Allen. I don't have anything to say to you. I’m not going to lose, so make sure you don't either."

"Leave it to me, Weiss."

Even though we were a five-person team, we wouldn't all fight at once. There were some tag matches, but it was mostly one-on-one.

With this lineup, there was no way we could lose.

I—Weiss Fancent—was going to crush everyone with overwhelming power.