Dalian

Serena and Chris stood still for a moment, unable to think of an answer.

"Does that mean you're willing to accept a duel?"

"Yes."

Seeing her nod obediently, Chris began to warm up, seemingly forgetting about Adrias' aura from earlier.

"Chris. No, no. He's no match for us."

"Hey, freshman, I thought you were here to duel me too?"

Adrias picked Serena up and said, and she paused to shake her head.

Adrias had definitely said duel.

If it was a duel, they weren't supposed to harm each other.

"I need an observer instead....

Suppose I somehow managed to get an observer.

Wouldn't this be an opportunity?

'A duel with Adrias would be a great experience.

In fact, with Adrias's bad reputation and Chris's personality, I was expecting an unruly brawl, not a polite form of fighting like a duel.

That's why I came to stop him in the first place.

But when he laid it out so bluntly, she had no reason to refuse.

After all, he was a rare case of using magic and a sword at the same time.

The experience of dueling with such a person would surely be a great nourishment for her growth.

"I will."

"Okay. Good."

Adrias nodded, a dark smile etched on his lips.

"Let's go right away."

* * *

Ivy Claire was not pleased with the call in the middle of the night.

But when she realized that it was Adrias Cromwell who had called her, she had no choice but to frown and leave.

"Damn, you for calling me in the middle of the night.

It was the kind of call she would have ignored if it weren't for the rudeness of her past suspicions, but she was the kind of person who couldn't be indebted.

Adrias had probably called her for that, too.

She left the room in her nightgown, her hair tied up in a rough ponytail, and her sword sheathed.

Exiting the assistant professor's quarters, she made her way to the rehearsal hall Adrias had called for, where he and two of the new students he'd been eyeing lately were warming up.

"Why did you call me?"

"You're here."

Adrias inclined his head in greeting, followed by Serena and Chris, who noticed her arrival.

"Ms. Ivy! Howdy!"

"I'm a bit underdressed for an observer, but I suppose that can't be helped."

Ivy gave him a questioning look.

Why were these chicks together, let alone why she'd been called?

She had heard rumors of Adrias.

An oddball who used both sword and magic.

It explained his athleticism, which had always been suspect.

"Could it be... Dalian?

There seemed to be no other explanation.

And as if that guess was correct, Adrias spoke up.

"I'm about to have a duel with these two, would you be interested in watching?"

"You're being very arbitrary with your invitation."

"Why not?"

"Why not? I'm already here."

Her tone was harsh, but inside she was curious.

She hadn't actually seen Adrias in action, so she wondered how he would hold up against those freshmen.

"They're hardly first-years," she thought, "and I wonder how well Adrias, who hasn't studied the sword systematically, if at all.

Still, if the rumors were true, Adrias had a better chance of winning if they fought with magic.

Of course, Ivy thought it would be difficult to defeat either of them with a sword alone.

"Well, now that we have the observers, let's start the duel."

"Who's going first?"

Serena and Chris looked at each other at Ivy's question.

Adrias interrupted their discussion.

"Who's going to start?"

Adrias said, picking up a dueling iron sword from the training rack and swinging it lightly.

"Both of you at once."

The three who had been listening to Adrias's sudden words turned to look at him, stunned.

What was he saying now...?

"You're saying you're going to take them both on at once?"

"Yes."

Chris, who was listening to the words, had a look of exhilaration on his face and picked up his own dueling iron sword.

"That's very good, I can handle you by myself."

Serena, who was watching, also felt her pride bruised by Adrias's words.

She knew how good he was, but her pride wouldn't let her play two against one.

She also wondered if she and Chris would be too much for Adrias, no matter how great he was.

"I recognize his skill," she said, "but me and Chris aren't so good that we can go out there and be ignored.

But Adrias shook his head and said coldly.

"I don't have a lot of time, and I've already got a lot of work to do. If you two aren't going to go at it at once, let's just forget about the duel."

True to his word, it was Adrias who organized the duel.

As long as Serena and Chris wanted to play, they had to accept his terms.

"I'll do it, or I won't."

Chris bit his lip as Adrias twirled his iron sword and spoke in a stern tone.

He didn't like the idea of working with Serena against an opponent he could defeat on his own.

He might as well give up the duel if that was the case....

"I'll do it!"

Serena suddenly exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air.

Chris turned his head to say something to her, but Serena's next words beat him to it.

"Most of you have probably never faced someone who uses both sword and magic, and I don't want to miss that opportunity."

She sounded like she was talking to herself.

Chris mulled over her words slowly.

Certainly, few people have had that experience.

"Even Louis was ignored by this guy.

Even if it was two to one, Chris felt a sense of superiority just knowing that he could experience what even Lewis had been rejected for.

Of course, I knew it was useless, but I couldn't give up that feeling of superiority.

"Whoa. I can't do it. Do me a favor."

Chris finally changed his mind and began to seriously fix his iron sword.

Adrias nodded as Serena next to him took up a stance with a dueling greatsword the size of his own body.

"Very well, then, Assistant Ivy. Take care."

"Yes, sir. I'll watch you get your ass kicked."

Ivy slowly stepped back to make room.

"And now, under the observation of myself, Ivy Claire, we will begin the contest of Adrias Cromwell versus Chris Yunor and Serena Erestrial."

After confirming both sides, Ivy shouted.

"Duel begins!"

* * *

It was two-on-one, but Chris was the first to run.

As the duel began, I noticed that Serena had taken a step back, contrary to her promise.

"That's weird.

Of course, I know what they're thinking.

They're probably thinking it's not fair.

But how far does that go?

"If I get beaten up, I'll stop thinking about being cowardly or whatever.

Well, we're going to have to educate him first.

Chris's sword was honest.

As honest as it was, it was equally strong.

But that's why he didn't get along with me.

'It's obvious to my battle-talented eyes.'

I didn't swing a single sword at my charging opponent, merely dodging his attacks by the width of a sheet of paper.

Chris's movements grew louder and louder, and soon he was using mana.

Whoa!

Even if it was a dueling iron sword, it would hurt quite a bit if you were hit while surrounded by mana.

If I wasn't activating my body with mana, it would probably rupture my intestines and shatter my bones.

I still dodged his sword with ease.

Then, as if dodging wasn't enough, I sneakily extended my foot or fist.

Gotcha!

The low kick I dodged sent Chris sprawling.

I grinned at him as he narrowly avoided my outstretched fist.

"You said you could beat me by yourself. Where's that confidence?"

Despite the taunt, Chris didn't get any more excited than I expected.

Instead, he seemed more and more focused on the duel, and at one point, he stepped back.

"Whoa."

That was a lot of self-control.

I was expecting him to get high or go on a rampage at this point.

"A playable is a playable is a playable.

Despite being overshadowed by Lewis' halo, he's a playable.

A character I'd once made my protagonist.

'And you're calm because you haven't pulled out your stash yet.

Since he hasn't revealed his true power, he must be relaxed....

I wonder how long he can stay calm.

Huh-ing.

Chris adjusted his sword and took a different stance from the one he had been showing.

Seeing this, Serena muttered in a low voice.

"Yunor Sword Technique...."

Good, he's finally showing his true colors.

In that case, I'll be serious from now on.

The sword in Chris's hand began to shake slightly.

The Yunor Sword Method is characterized by the use of a light sword mixed with a heavy sword.

'But right now, Chris uses a sword that is neither his nor mine.

As far as I could tell, he was in a transitional period.

Proud of his family more than anyone else, but is unable to surpass Lewis with his family's swordsmanship.

'Let me take this opportunity to....

point you in the right direction.

To be honest, I think Chris knows more about swords than I do.

He's been holding a sword since he could walk, and he's dedicated his life to it.

But only one thing.

I had a basis for giving him advice.

"I've seen the end of Chris.

Playing Chris, I saw the end of his growth.

So I already know where he'll end up.

Yeeeeeeeee-!

Chris's sword vibrated tremendously, and a noise like the flapping of cicadas' wings filled the air.

After trembling countless times, the sword quickly unfurled and formed a fan shape.

'The Annihilation Blade of Yunor. Sword Cry.'

As if surrounded by hundreds of swords, Chris charged at me.

But I knew how to parry.

It's the one that works with Chris's still-growing phantom sword.

My dueling sword, enveloped in dark mana, slashed downward from top to bottom.

My first attack was the one that would shatter the Cry of the Sword.

Quadruple!

Dozens, maybe hundreds, of impacts ricocheted off the blade and pounded into my arm.

But I didn't stop.

I knew it was the right answer.

Kwagak-boom!

You might think it's a simple downward slash, but it requires precise timing and hitting the right spot, and most people wouldn't be able to pull it off.

You might call it bragging, but at his age, with his athletic talent and combat prowess, he's forced himself to succeed.

Chris's astonished expression flashed through the shards of the shattering dueling sword.

"No... way."