25 - Duel (1)

I arrived at school a little earlier than usual today, and the reason was obvious once I entered the classroom. Classmates were gathered around Renji Daisuke's seat, encouraging him to do his best.

Renji responded to each of his classmates with a smile and a "thank you." Even on the day of the important duel, he didn't seem nervous and was able to respond well.

As soon as Akari entered the classroom, she joined the circle of people and encouraged him. She knew that for the past month, she had been accompanying Renji on his dungeon dives and practice sessions, working hard until late. She must have been worried about this day, but she was still smiling and cheering him on, as if she were the heroine.

Theo's mind was no longer as sore as before when Akari approached Renji, but it was still quite painful. He realized that falling in love with someone is not something that can be forgotten easily.

In Renji's weapon stand, there was a slim weapon wrapped in cloth. You couldn't see what was inside, but I wondered if he was going to use it to fight. Was he planning to use the same strategy as in the game? However, it seemed unlikely that that strategy would work against Kazami in this world.

'If that weapon is what I think it is, does that mean he know the game strategy...?'

I was lost in thought when the classroom door slid open with a bang.

"Oh, you E-class losers. Who was that trash that tried to shield you from...?"

Kazami and his cronies walked in suddenly. They looked down on us with eyes that said, "There's no way we can lose." I wanted to snap back with, "The taller you are, the harder you fall!" But Renji, undaunted, seemed determined.

"So, where do you want to do this?"

"Huh? Oh, it was you. I booked room four in the arena after school. Don't try to escape."

"Oh, yeah, Daisuke, right? Kazami, let's make an example out of him by beating him up."

We're in the same grade and about to start working hard at the same school. Class E has only been in the dungeon for a month, so it's not surprising they think we're low-level and weak. It's like an employee who has been with the company for a few years competing with a new hire.

"Class E, you inferior students! You guys should definitely come. I'll show you what your position is."

Kazami emitted an |Aura|, and a chill filled the classroom.

I guess I'm still level 11. The database doesn't show Kazami's information, so I don't know what level he's registered at, but if it's the same as in the game, it should be 11. I don't use |Simple Appraisal| because if you use it, your opponent will know, so you have to be careful.

My classmates were intimidated by the aura of strength, with some turning their heads away. Now that I'm level 8, I don't feel as intimidated as I used to, but it still disturbs me whenever I sense it.

'I think level 7 or 8 is the minimum needed to fight Kazami...'

The terminal shows Renji's level as 5. It's possible he's hiding his true level like I am, but if he's really level 5, it'll be tough for him to win unless he's exceptionally skilled.

If Kazami wins, Renji will probably be forced to do some D-class chores. I hope he does well.

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During lunch, the taunts from Class D continued unabated.

"You're in E class, but you're really going to fight against our class?"

"You don't know your place. There's no way you can beat Kazami."

"Maybe we should join in the fight against Class E."

"That sounds like a good idea."

Class D loudly proclaimed that Class E was ridiculous in the school cafeteria. One of our classmates, a girl who aspires to be a fighter, bit her lip and endured the mockery. Matsuri and Su Luo tried to distract her with another conversation to calm her down.

After Kazami's visit in the morning, our classmates discussed it and decided to endure the continued provocations. But, of course, not everyone in Class E could remain patient.

"Shut up. You guys are at the bottom of the middle school class too."

It was Isamu, a samurai. He's a hard worker but also very proud, and he probably couldn't stand being looked down upon unfairly. It's true that Class D is the lowest among internal students, but compared to the abilities of the external students in Class E, the gap is significant.

"Huh? Who does this guy think he is? Should I beat him up right now?"

"Let's do it! Even though you're in E class, it's annoying to eat at the same place as you."

"You're too cocky for a newbie."

A group of our more patient classmates intervened, apologizing to the Class D members and calming Isamu down. They knew we couldn't win if we fought now, so we had to endure.

"Tch! Let's go!"

"I don't think they'll stop provoking us unless we get stronger soon."

I felt a bit sorry for him since he's one of the few trying to strengthen Class E. Some strong people are here too, but at this stage, they don't want to step into the spotlight. I also don't want to stand out or reveal my dungeon knowledge.

But why are they provoking Class E like this?

It seems that not only Kazami but the entire Class D is trying to provoke us. If they aim for the top, they shouldn't be worrying about those at the bottom. I wonder if they have some ulterior motive.

How was the Duel event when it was a game?

The main story is primarily told from the perspective of the main character, Renji, or Sasaki, leaving out many side characters and their backgrounds. Kazami was treated as an early mid-boss in the game, and after defeating him, I don't remember him appearing again...

I skipped most of the early conversations in Adventure Mode, not bothering to remember the backstory of a soon-to-be-defeated mid-boss. If I'd known it would come to this, I would have paid more attention, but it's too late now.

In any case, there must be a reason why Class E is being targeted so aggressively. I'll try to find out more once the Kazami event is over and I have some free time.

—————————————

And after school.

There was a tense atmosphere in the class.

"Hey Daisuke! And all you small fry in Class E! Gather at arena number four!"

The moment homeroom teacher Osuke announced the end of homeroom, Kazami's cronies rushed in. Despite the teacher's presence, he said nothing and left the classroom, as if to declare that he had nothing to do with it. I'm not sure if he thinks this is part of our education or not.

Renji silently took the cloth bag containing his weapons and left the classroom, his chest outstretched and his steps steady. It's good to see the students of Class E maintain their dignity in such situations.

"Good luck, Daisuke."

"I'll be there to watch!"

"Let's take out Class D!"

'Don't jinx it!' I mentally sighed, having a bad feeling about the upcoming duel.

Classmates began to move into the arena, one after another.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," they said to each other. I know everyone is hoping for the best, but to be honest, the odds look pretty bad.

So, I'm going to visit room 4 of the arena, too.

The arena is naturally located entirely within the magic field, and the facility itself is durable enough to be physically enhanced. The inside is divided into areas 1 to 4, with room 1 being the largest and room 4 being the smallest, but even the smallest room has enough space for dozens of people to practice. It is a full-fledged training arena, where magic stones can be used to put up a magic defense shield.

This arena is usually used by many club activities as a training ground, and it is strange that even room 4 can be reserved after school for a lower-class duel. In the game, there is the head of Class B behind Kazami that I've forgotten.

"You've come a long way without running away, Daisuke."

"I'm not going to run."

The two of them faced each other in the center of the arena. Kazami, the bigger of the two, looked down at Renji and glared at him. Renji isn't short, but the difference in body size is clear compared to Kazami, who is over 190 cm.

"Kazami, get rid of the E-Class!"

"Let him know what he's getting into, Kazami!"

I was annoyed by the noise from the spectators. I thought Kazami had a bad physique and was always trying to scare people, but he's surprisingly popular with the students in Class D.

Meanwhile, Renji looked at Kazami with a cool expression, seemingly unaffected by the taunts and provocations from Class D. You seem cool as ice, but are you sure about your level?

As I found out when I dove into the dungeon, it's tough to approach Kazami's level in just a month, and it's difficult to defeat him straightforwardly. If you're a The Conquest player, you're familiar with Kazami's fighting style and have countermeasures, but if you're not...

'Do you even have a plan, Renji Daisuke?'

After the standoff was over, they returned to their respective positions to put on their protective gear.

Kazami removed his school uniform and changed into his protective gear. Not only is Kazami tall, but his physique is also impressive for someone just entering high school. The muscles around his neck and shoulders clearly indicate extensive training and body strengthening.

He donned leather armor reinforced with metal plates, weighing over 20 kilograms. Despite the weight, being over level 10 and in a confined arena means he should manage it with ease.

The weapon he brought out was a two-handed greatsword, known as the «Two-Handed Sword». It weighed more than 10 kilograms and was about 1.5 meters long. With the added length of his arm and step, the sword's reach extends over three meters, requiring careful management of attack range.

In contrast, Renji wore black Demon Wolf light armor. This armor is known for its strength, light weight, and affordability as a dungeon material, making it quite popular. The abdominal section is reinforced with metal to protect vital organs.

From the cloth bag, Renji drew out his weapon...

'I knew he'd use the same tactics as the "Static Sword" from the game.'

What Renji revealed was a thin, sharp sword. This single-edged straight sword, also known as a backsword, resembles a slightly wider rapier blade. Though it's said to be damaged, its sharp tip and Renji's enhanced strength mean it can still inflict considerable damage.

The issue is that this isn't just any sword—it's a magical weapon.

The «Static Sword» doesn't have high attack power but features effects that lower the attacker's AGI and inflict a certain percentage of paralysis. While it's not effective against opponents of higher levels, it should work well against Kazami, who is level 11. This weapon is obtained by completing a sub-event with the main character.

In the game, Kazami uses a powerful swinging sword skill called |Slash|, so countering it is crucial. However, with a significant level difference, exploiting this gap becomes challenging. That's why using a weapon that reduces AGI and induces paralysis is a common strategy.

AGI affects not only movement speed but also the speed of normal attacks and skill activation. If Renji can lower Kazami's AGI or successfully paralyze him with this sword, it will make it easier to counter the |Slash| skill and significantly reduce the difficulty of attacking Kazami.

However...

'Getting that sword involves a rather complicated event trigger... Did someone inform him about this?'

If one is aware of the sword's existence from the start, triggering the event to obtain it for defeating Kazami is straightforward. But without prior knowledge, acquiring it isn't so simple. Initially, defeating Kazami with this sword was considered a hidden technique.

In the game, the typical approach to defeating Kazami involves fighting him multiple times, struggling with his difficulty, and improving your level through trial and error before eventually overcoming him.

On the other hand, the tactic of using the «Static Sword» was developed to defeat Kazami with minimal level progression. If you're unfamiliar with Kazami's battle style, it would be challenging to devise such a strategy.

It's also possible that Renji obtained the sword by chance through an event. Considering that Kazami uses a large sword, it's unlikely that he would have anticipated that the «Static Sword»'s AGI reduction would be an effective strategy for increasing his chances of success.

If Renji has indeed acquired it, it suggests the influence of "The Conquest player" behind his strategy...

'Or am I overthinking this?'

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...

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The two opponents stand facing each other in the center of the arena, fully armored and weapons ready. The rules are clear: no killing, surrender is allowed, and fainting results in a loss.

An official duel, this match is overseen by a student council member and a [Priest] teacher, who are present to tend to any injuries. It appears that students from other classes have also gathered to watch.

My classmates watch with intense anticipation.

"...Are you ready?"

"I'm ready when you are."

The Duel Event is about to begin.