“Guhhhhh…”
It was a turn of events no one had anticipated. Yuri had actually defeated the strongest first-year in the Knight Department.
Oddman let out a low, frustrated growl at the unexpected outcome. However, Lyubase had already bolted from the grounds, leaving the result of the match beyond dispute.
As Oddman stood there with clenched fists and gritted teeth, even the Knight Department students joined those from the Magic and Civil Official Departments in casting skeptical looks his way. No matter how much he tried to exert his authority as an instructor, there was no way to overturn Yuri’s victory now.
“...The winner is Miss Yuri Catreia.”
“Hmph…”
Yuri returned to the sidelines, her expression clouded with dissatisfaction.
“Good work out there. How was it?” Rest asked.
“Honestly, I didn’t learn a thing,” Yuri replied, her lip curling into a pout. “And here I was, finally looking forward to facing a real swordsman…”
She seemed to have a surprisingly battle-hungry side to her; the fact that she hadn't been able to fight to her heart's content clearly grated on her nerves.
“I see. That’s a shame.”
“Yes, it is very regrettable. However, as long as I’m taking these swordsmanship lessons, I’m sure I’ll have other chances to fight.”
“...I wonder about that.”
Judging by the state Lyubase had been in, Rest had a feeling the boy would never set foot on the same field as Yuri again.
“...Next: Danila from the Knight Department and Rest from the Magic Department.”
“Ah, that’s me.”
Oddman barked Rest’s name, his voice dripping with irritation. Rest, who had been busy tending to the injured, stood up, grabbed his wooden sword, and stepped onto the field.
“Don’t hold back, Danila. Do whatever you want,” Oddman urged.
“Heh... You don't even have to tell me. I’ve been dying to wipe the smug looks off these Magic Department brats.”
A boy with short-cropped, dull brown hair stepped forward, invigorated by Oddman’s aggressive encouragement. While he didn't look particularly bulky, he was tall. A predatory glint flickered in his eyes, and he bared his teeth like a wild animal.
“To be honest, I wanted to take a crack at that girl from before... I love beating women to a pulp.”
“...What a charming fellow. Is the Knight Department raising wild beasts now?”
“Haha! Spoken like a true Magic Department elitist!”
The violent boy—Danila—raised his wooden sword as he faced off against Rest.
“That Lyubase is a disgrace! To think a man who lets a woman toy with him is the First-year Head... it’s pathetic! Well, I’ll be stripping that title from him soon enough in a Rank Scramble!”
“A Rank Scramble... So that tradition really does exist in the Knight Department?”
Rest had heard that students in the Knight Department were assigned specific ranks and that they constantly competed for their standing through tests and one-on-one duels. Those who maintained a high rank found it much easier to secure prestigious positions after graduation.
“I heard the top five get scouted by the Royal Guards... That sounds like it could be interesting.”
“Beating on you magic types won’t raise my rank... but haha! I’m still gonna enjoy the hell out of this!”
“Begin!”
The signal was given. Danila lunged forward instantly, driving a heavy strike toward Rest’s legs.
“Going for the legs? Cruel taste.”
Rest leaped lightly, narrowly avoiding the blow. Danila was likely targeting the legs to drag out the fight and maximize the pain he could inflict.
“Hya-ha! Not bad! I'll give you credit for dodging that one!”
“............”
“Now for the right! Then the left! How about your gut!?”
Rest parried the strike from the right with his wooden sword and stepped back to evade the follow-up from the left. When a thrust came for his torso, he twisted his body just enough to let it slide past.
Danila unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes. He was clearly one of the elite students of the Knight Department; though his style was unrefined, his blade was exceptionally sharp and fast. Rest was forced to scramble across the field, evading each attack by a hair’s breadth.
(If I hadn't studied under Master Dieble, he would have ended this in a heartbeat. This guy is the real deal.)
Danila wasn't just boasting. Rest could feel the weight of genuine skill behind every swing.
“I’m just getting warmed up... Accelerator!”
Danila’s speed surged. Both of them were already using Physical Enhancement, but the intensity of the battle was now reaching a fever pitch.
“I’ll use Accelerator too... This is turning into a real headache.”
“Hey, hey, you’re pretty good for a mage! This is great! Give me more!”
“I can’t say I’m having much fun. As I thought, your swordsmanship is superior.”
If it were a simple fistfight, Rest could win. However, in a duel of blades, his opponent clearly had the upper hand. Even with their speeds matched, Rest was slowly being driven into a corner.
“Using physical enhancement magic is within the rules. In that case...”
“Hya-ha! What’s the matter? Are you just gonna stand there and let me kill you!?”
“I’m not planning on dying.”
“Huh?”
Rest evaded Danila’s next attack and vanished, reappearing behind him in an instant. Before the boy could even think to turn, Rest landed a solid blow across his back.
“Guh...!”
Danila stumbled forward from the impact but recovered his footing almost instantly.
“You’ve got fast reflexes. You really are strong.”
“You bastard... What did you just do!?”
“We’re in a match. Let’s keep the chatter to a minimum.”
“...!?”
Rest kicked off the ground, moving behind him once more. Danila spun around immediately this time, but Rest was faster, slamming the wooden sword squarely into his face.
“Tch... You... where did this speed come from!?”
Rest felt no need to explain. He began to weave through the field with impossible agility, striking Danila from every conceivable angle. He hit his shoulders, his thighs, and his torso, raining down a flurry of blows.
“High Accelerator.”
It was the high-tier evolution of the Accelerator spell. This was the only high-tier magic his mentor, Dieble, had mastered, and he had passed the technique on to Rest.
(This might be straying a bit far from a 'swordsmanship' lesson... but it's not against the rules. Don't take it personally.)
“Ooooooooooh!”
Danila roared, taking hit after hit. The fact that he was still conscious was a testament to his defensive magic. Even so, everyone has a breaking point, and after taking dozens of strikes, he finally reached his.
“Ku-ha…”
Danila froze. He remained upright, but his eyes rolled back into his head.
“H-he’s out cold... and he's still standing...” someone in the crowd whispered.
The surrounding students watched in stunned silence, their gazes shifting between Rest and the catatonic Danila.
“Wait... he’s not dead, right?”
He was merely unconscious. Rest really didn't appreciate being looked at like a murderer.
“M-match over…”
Oddman declared the end of the bout, his voice heavy with bitterness.
As Rest would later learn, Danila was the student ranked second in the first-year Knight Department. The news that the Knight Department’s elite—Lyubase at Rank One and Danila at Rank Two—had been humiliated on their own turf would soon spread like wildfire throughout the entire grade.