Chapter 72: Duel

Serena and Chris momentarily forgot to respond and remained silent before snapping back to their senses.

“Are you saying that you’ll accept the duel?” Serena asked.

“Yes,” Adrias replied.

Seeing Chris nod obediently, as if he had forgotten the aura Adrias emitted earlier, he began to loosen up.

“Chris, no. He’s not our opponent,” Serena pleaded.

“Hey, freshman. Weren’t you here to duel me?” Adrias said, gripping Serena’s arm.

She hesitated, about to shake her head, but stopped.

Adrias clearly mentioned a duel.

If it was a duel, they couldn’t harm their opponent.

“But we need a spectator…”

If they managed to find a spectator somehow.

Perhaps this was an opportunity.

“A duel with Adrias senior will definitely be a valuable experience,” Serena thought to herself.

Given Adrias’s bad reputation and Chris’s personality, she initially anticipated a conflict that would deviate from the rules rather than a proper fight.

That’s why she had come to dissuade Chris in the first place.

But if the stage was set so blatantly, she had no reason to refuse from her perspective.

Moreover, Adrias was a rare case of using both magic and a sword.

A duel with such a person would undoubtedly be an excellent opportunity for growth.

“I will accept.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Adrias, with a deep smile etched on his face, nodded.

“Let’s go right away.”

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Ivy Claire was not in a good mood when she received the midnight summons.

But when she learned that it was Adrias Cromwell who called her, she frowned and reluctantly had to go.

‘Calling someone in the middle of the night. Ridiculous.’

If it hadn’t been for the fact that she had been suspicious and rude to him in the past, she would have simply ignored the request.

But she had a debt to pay, and Adrias probably exploited that fact to call her.

Ivy, in her casual sleepwear with hastily tied hair, grabbed her sword and made her way out of her room.

When she left the assistant professor’s quarters and headed to the gymnasium, Adrias and two freshmen she had been eyeing recently were warming up.

“Why did you call me?”

“You’ve arrived.”

Adrias bowed her head and greeted, followed by Serena and Chris noticing her presence.

“Assistant Professor Ivy! How do you do?”

“Although your attire is a bit shabby to consider it as an observation qualification, I suppose there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Ivy gave a skeptical look.

Aside from the reason for being called, why are these chicks together?

She had also heard rumors about Adrias.

A unique constitution that wields both a sword and magic.

It was a story that explained his previously suspicious athletic abilities.

‘No way… A duel?’

Other than that, it seemed like there was no particular reason.

And as if confirming that speculation, Adrias immediately spoke.

“We’re about to have a match with these two. Can you observe?”

“You called me here all of a sudden and talk as you please.”

“Is that not possible?”

“It’s not that it’s impossible. You’re already here.”

Though she spoke roughly, she was secretly curious.

Since she hadn’t actually seen Adrias’ skills, she wondered how well he would fare against these freshmen.

‘They’re hard to classify as first-year students with such skills. Even if there are one-on-one battles, I wonder how well Adrias, who hasn’t systematically learned swordsmanship despite having experience, will do.’

However, if the rumors were true, Adrias, who fought using both magic and a sword, had a high probability of winning.

Of course, Ivy thought it would be difficult for either of them to win with just a sword.

“Well then, now that we have an audience, shall we start the match?”

“Who should go first?”

Upon Ivy’s question, Serena and Chris looked at each other.

Adrias interjected between the two who were about to discuss.

“Why do we have to take turns?”

Adrias lightly swung the training sword in the practice arena and said, “Let’s do it both at once.”

The sudden words of Adrias made the three of them look at her with dumbfounded expressions.

What did she just say…?

“You mean you want to face them both at the same time?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing those words, Chris wore an excited expression and also grabbed a training sword.

“Very thrilling. I alone would be enough.”

Observing their reactions, Serena felt a sense of wounded pride at Adrias’ words.

She was aware of his skills, but her pride didn’t allow her to accept a 2-on-1 situation.

Moreover, if it was her and Chris, no matter how formidable Adrias was, it wouldn’t be too difficult, she thought.

“While I acknowledge your skills, Chris and I are not to be underestimated.”

However, Adrias coldly replied, tilting her head.

“I don’t have much time. I already have a lot to do, so I made time for this. If you’re not willing to face both of us at once, then let’s forget about the match.”

As Adrias said, he was the one determining whether the match would take place or not.

If Serena and Chris wanted to have the match, they had to comply with his conditions.

“What are we going to do? Are we going to do it or not?”

Seeing Adrias twirling the sword and speaking in a sly manner, Chris bit his lip.

He didn’t like the idea of cooperating with Serena to face an opponent he could defeat on his own.

Perhaps it would be better to give up on the match…

“I’ll do it!”

Suddenly, Serena, who was standing beside him, raised her hand and shouted.

Chris turned his head to say something to her, but Serena’s following words cut in first.

“Not many people have experienced facing someone who uses both a sword and magic. I don’t want to miss such an opportunity.”

It felt like she was speaking to herself.

Chris pondered over her words.

Indeed, there were very few people who had such an experience.

“Louis even got rejected by this guy,” he thought.

Even though it was a 2-on-1 situation, the fact that he could attempt what Louis had been turned down for gave him a sense of superiority.

Of course, he knew it was an unnecessary feeling, but he couldn’t give up that sense of superiority.

“Well, I guess I have no choice. Count me in.”

After contemplating, Chris finally took the training sword in his hands seriously.

Serena, who was beside him, also grabbed a practice greatsword the size of her own body and took her stance. Adrias nodded in approval.

“Alright. Assistant Professor Ivy, please watch over us.”

“Sure. Make sure to keep your composure.”

Ivy slowly stepped back, creating space.

“Then, starting now, I, Ivy Claire, will oversee the match between Adrias Cromwell and Chris Unor, Serena Erestial.”

Ivy shouted after confirming both sides.

“Let the match begin!”

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Although it was supposed to be a 2-on-1 match, it was Chris who made the first move.

Once the match began, Serena seemed to have stepped back, contrary to their agreement.

‘How cheeky.’

Of course, I know what they’re thinking.

They probably consider it unfair or dishonorable.

But how far will those thoughts go?

‘In the face of a relentless beating, their thoughts of cowardice or unfairness will disappear.’

If that’s the case, I should start by teaching this guy a lesson.

Chris’ sword was honest.

As honest as it was, it was a strong and conventional sword.

However, because of its conventional nature, it didn’t match well against me.

‘It’s clear to my eyes, which possess the talent for combat.’

I dodged the attacks from the oncoming opponent without swinging my sword even once, evading by just a sheet of paper’s difference.

As Chris’s movements grew bigger and he eventually started using mana.

Huah-!

Even though it was a practice sword, it would still hurt quite a bit if it hit while enveloped in mana.

If one’s body wasn’t activated by mana, their organs would rupture, and their bones would be shattered.

I calmly continued to evade his attacks.

And it seemed that simply evading was not enough, so I slyly extended my leg or threw a punch here and there.

Assessing!

While dodging, I delivered a low kick, and Chris staggered.

Following that, he barely evaded my consecutive punches.

I smiled while looking at Chris, who was barely avoiding them.

“You claimed you could win even on your own. Where did that confidence go?”

I tried to provoke him, but to my surprise, Chris didn’t get more excited than expected.

Instead, he showed a growing focus on the match and suddenly stepped back.

“Hoo.”

His self-control was more impressive than I had anticipated.

At this point, I expected him to get excited or lose his composure.

‘As expected, playables are playables.’

Hee may have been overshadowed by the glory of Louis, but he was still a genuine playable character.

He was once a character I used as the protagonist.

‘And he still has hidden moves that he hasn’t unleashed, which allows him to remain calm.’

Since he hasn’t revealed his true abilities, he seems to have a sense of composure…

I wonder how long he can maintain that composure.

Whiiing.

Chris adjusted his grip on the sword and assumed a different stance from before.

Upon seeing him, Serena murmured softly.

“Unor Sword Style…”

Good. Is he finally going to reveal hiss true skill?

If that’s the case, then I should also take it seriously.

The sword Chris was holding started to shake slightly.

The Unor Sword Style is a blend of fast and aggressive swordsmanship.

‘But the sword he’s using now is neither.’

From what I know, he is currently in a transitional phase.

Proud of his lineage more than anyone else, but unable to surpass Louis with his family’s swordsmanship, he is in a situation where he hasn’t grasped the essence of the sword.

‘This is my chance…’

I set my direction.

To be honest, when it comes to the sword, I think Chris knows more than me.

He is a man who dedicated his entire life to the sword, starting from his first steps.

However, there is one thing.

I had a reason to give him advice.

‘I have seen the end of Chris.’

Playing as Chris, I have witnessed his growth come to an end.

That’s why I already know the direction he will ultimately take.

Wheeeeng!

Chris’s sword created a tremendous vibration, filling the training ground with a sound resembling the flapping wings of a cicada.

The trembling sword unfolded in a rapid sequence, drawing a fan shape.

‘The Unor Sword Style’s Illusion. The cry of the sword.’

Chris, who had transformed into a form surrounded by hundreds of swords, charged straight at me.

However, I knew how to parry his swordsmanship.

Since Chris’s Illusion was still in a stage of growth, I knew the method to counter it.

My training sword, enveloped in shimmering mana, came down heavily from above.

It was my first attack, aimed at shattering the “cry of the sword.”

Kwaddduk!

Dozens, hundreds of impacts reverberated through my arm from the sword.

But I didn’t stop there.

I knew this was the right answer.

Kwagak! Clink!

It may seem like a simple downward slash, but it requires attacking the precise point at the precise timing, something that ordinary people may not be able to replicate.

Although it may be seen as showing off, it was a parrying technique that I successfully executed with my athletic talent and combat skills.

Between the shattered fragments of the training sword raining down, Chris’s astonished expression flickered and passed by.

“This… can’t be real.”

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