Chapter 236: Friendly Match (2)

At Werner’s words, the cadets on both sides were overcome with a tense atmosphere.

The cadets of the Zennier Academy radiated a desire to fight as soon as possible, while those from Bayern, knowing Carl’s true skills, watched with anxious anticipation to see how much he would reveal.

In response to Werner’s childish provocation, Carl chuckled lightly and replied.

“If we start with the main match, I think it’ll break your morale. I’d rather delay it so it doesn’t affect the friendly match.”

“Hahahaha! You’ve got a fun personality. Fine, the main dish should always be eaten last. Date.”

“I’m the first one up.”

A thick-bodied cadet stepped forward.

Since he was a swordsman who used a greatsword, Carl didn’t hesitate to make his choice.

“Gale.”

“I knew you’d call me.”

Gale grinned broadly, exuding confidence.

If it were the start of the semester, he might have been unsure, but after training and struggling beside Carl all this time, he was confident he wouldn’t lose to another cadet.

Soon, the surrounding cadets stepped back to the edge of the training hall, and the Illusion Field, which converted physical damage into mental shock, was activated.

As Gale and Date stood facing each other, Werner turned to Carl with a look as if he had forgotten something and asked.

“By the way, what level of intensity should we allow in the fight? Since it’s a friendly match, I don’t think we need to go all out.”

“Let’s go with no use of aura.”

“Sounds fair. You both heard that, right?”

Gale and Date nodded.

Then, as a suffocating silence settled in the middle of the training hall, the two charged at each other at almost the same moment, without anyone needing to signal.

Clang!

The greatswords collided.

A heavy shockwave rocked the ground, reaching even the cadets standing at the edges of the hall.

“…Who do you think will win?”

Maximilian whispered to Carl with a slightly tense expression.

What was visible appeared evenly matched, but neither had revealed even half their full strength yet.

For that reason, it was still too early to tell who had the advantage.

“Since it’s a friendly match, they’ll stop at a reasonable point. Both are among the top-tier cadets, so it won’t be easy to decide a winner. Still…”

“Still?”

“I’d like to bet on Gale’s superiority.”

Swinging his greatsword relentlessly, Gale looked at Date over their locked blades.

‘He’s strong. He certainly has the skills to represent the academy.’

If it were the start of the semester, he wouldn’t have lasted ten exchanges and would’ve been crushed.

But Gale, too, had gone through considerable experience and intense training to forge himself.

If he had complained about something like this, he wouldn’t have been able to stay by Carl’s side.

He had taken Mana Beads and trained under someone as skilled as Carl—he couldn’t afford to perform poorly.

“Haaah!”

Gale let out a loud battle cry, amplifying his momentum.

His hefty greatsword drew countless trajectories as it wildly rampaged, relentlessly pushing Date back.

“…That’s enough!”

With arms crossed, Werner, who had been watching the duel, declared its end.

Wearing a wide grin as if thoroughly entertained, he spoke to Carl.

“It’s definitely Bayern. I didn’t expect such a gap from the very first match.”

“Not sure.”

Carl responded calmly.

Gale had certainly shown an advantage, but the opponent hadn’t gone all out either.

It was clear that if they both fought seriously, it wouldn’t be an easy match.

“So that’s 1-0 to start. Now, for the second match! Horen!”

“I’ll go for the second.”

Before Carl could even call his name, Lewis stepped forward and spoke.

When Carl nodded, Lewis lightly rotated his shoulders to loosen up.

“Bayern isn’t called Bayern for nothing.”

Lewis was confident.

Unless Werner himself stepped up, there was no one at Zennier Academy who could stand against him.

Clang!

In the duel that followed, Lewis maintained the upper hand throughout.

Still, his opponent Horen displayed sharp brilliance, and the atmosphere was noticeably fiercer than in the first match.

“……”

After the duel ended, Lewis twisted his lips, seemingly dissatisfied with the outcome.

He had hoped to overpower his opponent and claim an overwhelming victory, but unexpectedly, he was held back.

“This won’t be as easy as I thought.”

Lewis kept an eye on Horen as he returned to his seat.

Next up was Maximilian, who performed about as evenly as expected.

He had the drive and aimed to dominate like Gale, but his opponent didn’t go down so easily and controlled much of the duel.

Because of the opponent’s solid defense, time was wasted meaninglessly, and the duel ended without Maximilian finding a strategy.

When it was Nerian’s turn, he seemed to deliberately conceal his strength, resulting in a similarly balanced outcome.

“So, that makes it 1 win and 3 draws. I’m surprised by how skilled everyone is. Honestly, I thought we’d dominate.”

“If it weren’t Bayern, that might’ve been the case.”

Carl admitted without hesitation.

It was a lackluster result for having deployed elite fighters.

That just showed how strong Zennier Academy’s force was—far beyond expectations.

‘However.’

Carl shifted his gaze to the one remaining cadet.

With a face full of determination, Laysis nodded and walked forward with graceful steps.

“It’s coincidentally a match between women. But don’t let your guard down. Aurora is the strongest among the cadets who’ve come out so far.”

“What a coincidence. Same goes for us.”

Had Nerian or Lewis heard that, they would’ve vehemently disagreed, but Carl said it casually as he watched Laysis and Aurora.

“……”

Laysis slowly drew her sword.

Aurora, on the other hand, merely rested her hand on the hilt without drawing her sword, smiling faintly as if she had something in mind.

Unable to wait any longer, Laysis spoke up.

“Are you not planning to draw your sword?”

“This is my ready stance. Come at me anytime.”

‘Come at me anytime.’

From those words, Laysis identified Aurora as a counter-type swordsman.

Unless she attacked first, Aurora wasn’t planning to make a move.

‘Fine. I’ll gladly play along.’

After all, Carl was watching.

She intended to elegantly display their difference in skill without revealing her full strength.

Laysis slowly raised her sword into a ready stance, shifted her weight forward with a subtle movement of her toes, and…

Shiiik, clang!

She dashed toward Aurora and swung her sword in one swift motion.

“……!!!”

Aurora’s eyes widened in shock.

She had clearly timed her counterattack correctly, yet it was she who ended up on the losing end.

The sword that should have been drawn from its sheath to block the incoming strike and exploit an opening was now bouncing through the air, rolling across the floor.

“…Wow.”

Werner, who had been watching the duel with his arms crossed as usual, widened his eyes and stepped forward with his arms uncrossed.

“This is overwhelming. Lady Laysis, you’re the princess of Alforam, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“If it’s not too rude, may I ask if you have a fiancé? I’ve been waiting for someone like you.”

It was a sudden and unreserved approach.

In the past, she might have been flustered, but Laysis had grown much tougher after going through many ups and downs following her admission to Bayern.

So she responded brightly, offering a light smile.

“That won’t be possible. There’s already someone I have in mind.”

“…Haah.”

Following Laysis’ gaze to Carl, Werner let out a low sigh.

“Why is it that all remarkable people are already taken? Truly tragic, truly tragic. You there, what’s your secret? What did you do, exactly, to steal Lady Laysis’ heart?”

“I didn’t steal it. She came and gave it to me one-sidedly.”

“…!”

Startled by Carl’s words, Maximilian, who stood nearby, lifted his head in shock.

He had expected Carl to dismiss it with his usual nonsense, but instead, here he was saying something embarrassingly sincere.

The same went for the other cadets from Bayern, and even Laysis, the one in question, hadn’t expected Carl to say such a thing—her face flushed a deep red.

“So, what about me? Do I have a chance?”

“None at all.”

Carl slowly stepped forward and gave Werner a look, as if telling him to follow.

“I’m not the type to give away what’s mine to others.”

“Ha!”

Werner let out a scoffing laugh as if finding it ridiculous, then confidently followed Carl to the center of the training hall.

Then he turned to Laysis, who was still awkwardly standing there.

“Lady Laysis. I still believe I have a chance. Please observe this duel and consider that possibility.”

“…Y-yes.”

The spirited declaration received a positive reply, though unfortunately, it wasn’t given in a clear state of mind.

“……”

With her face as red as a radish, Laysis glanced at Carl beside her with trembling eyes.

It felt like Carl had cut Werner’s words sharply, perhaps a bit too much, just to make sure there was no room for misinterpretation.

When Werner said that to Carl, she had a moment of panic—but never in her wildest dreams did she expect that kind of reaction.

‘He said he’s not the type to give away what’s his?’

There was no way he meant that as a mentor who had taught her swordsmanship, or as a friend.

At least, Laysis wanted to believe that.

“So I’d appreciate it if you could step aside now.”

“…Ah!!”

Realizing the situation, Laysis, who had been glancing sideways at Carl, suddenly bolted toward the edge of the training hall.

Her duel was already over, after all.

The graceful movements she had shown when first walking into the center of the training hall were now completely gone.

Whoosh.

Carl swung the sword in his hand and took a ready stance.

Werner grinned and looked at the sword in Carl’s hand.

“That’s not the Divine Sword Cheonroe. There’s a rumor going around that you passed the Trial of ‘Justice’ and became its successor. Is that true?”

“You have sharp ears. Is that thanks to the Bohm Ducal House’s information network?”

“…So it’s true? That’s surprising. I didn’t expect a hero’s successor to appear in our generation. I’m honestly a bit jealous.”

When Carl didn’t deny it, Werner’s eyes narrowed.

Meanwhile, the cadets who were observing the two exchanged surprised reactions.

“What? He’s the successor of ‘Justice’?”

“The Divine Sword Cheonroe? That’s the sword that shoots lightning, right?”

“…Well, I guess. Considering Carl’s skills, it’s not that strange.”

“Right? I can accept it if he’s a hero’s successor.”

Most seemed to accept it as something fitting.

Sensing the mood among Bayern’s side, Werner smirked slightly.

‘Interesting.’

He had sensed that Carl’s skill was extraordinary from the first time he saw him.

He had tested him, wondering if the rumors were true—and didn’t expect them to be.

‘I can’t fall behind either.’

If it was for the honor of the Bohm Ducal House, he too needed to become a successor of another hero.

Only then could he prove himself.

“Well then, let’s have a look at that skill of yours. Let’s see if you’re truly worthy of being a hero’s successor.”

Swoosh!

Werner, now with a sharper gaze than before, became a gust of wind and charged toward Carl.

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