Chapter 160: Let’s Spar [1]

The groups had been formed.

Each of the students now had their own sparring partner.

I too had been matched with some guy from the class, but I negotiated with the instructor for some time, debating the effectiveness of this activity.

To my luck, my opponent was a lot weaker than me, barely at Bronze 2.

Zenur had first tried to refuse my request, but somehow I was successful in persuading him.

Honestly, I had merely spoken a few words, and the instructor understood my logic, so he decided on allotting Noah as my sparring partner.

Fighting Noah would have been good too, but I wanted someone else as my partner.

Hence, through another round of small negotiations, I had secured him.

As I looked in his direction, the boy lowered his gaze, not daring to look into my eyes.

Or at least that was what he made me believe.

But I knew better.

“You all may begin now. And don’t worry about disturbing the fights of your fellow classmates… The hall is large enough for everyone to fight comfortably.”

Saying so, the instructor sat on a slightly elevated platform, looking over everyone.

I had to say, Zenur wasn’t the best at keeping his words.

Before, he had asked everyone to sit on the boundary of the hall, and said that we would be enjoying the show by seeing every student fight in the centre.

But as the time for that came near, Zenur changed his decision.

The interesting part was that he didn’t even treat it as something he had changed midway.

The instructor acted as if everything had already been decided.

Did he have some memory issue?

Those could surface with old age, but that was for people on Earth.

Here, old age was a sign of strength rather than weakness.

Still… Despite the sudden change in arrangements, I found this new one quite favourable to me.

Seeing the fights of other children would have quickly become boring for me.

And this arrangement also prevented anyone from hearing what I would be saying going forward.

“Cough… Sir?”

I was brought out of my thoughts by the coughing sound of the boy before me.

He had waited patiently for me to begin the spar, but I had chosen to stand in the same place.

“What’s your name?”

Though I had a fair idea of his name, I still had to ask it… And I only had an idea; even I was not confident about the name that was in my mind.

“Jacob Bristle.”

Huh?

The boy had introduced himself as Jacob Bristle. Though the Bristle name was similar to what I had in mind, the boy’s first name took me by surprise.

In the game, he went by another name, one that was better than this Jacob.

I know my interference always leads to a change in the natural order of the game, but isn’t this a bit too extreme?

How could the names of the characters simply change?

Or did I get the wrong guy?

“Sir?”

Jacob stood awkwardly, as I still hadn’t reacted to his introduction.

“That’s… a nice name.”

I extended my hand, and Jacob, after staring at it for a moment, reciprocated the gesture.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir?”

He slightly bowed his head.

“…”

I just stared at him silently.

Though I knew that Jacob was acting, even I found it hard to believe that this was an act.

It felt too real.

It was as if Jacob had always been like this.

But—

I knew from the game that this guy—Jacob—should have already been a part of a massive cult that had its roots deep within every part of the world.

Jacob’s father was one of the leaders of that cult, and after his demise, Jacob too had to join it.

It was also during that time that House Bristle had fallen from its former glory, as many of its elite soldiers had deserted after the death of their previous lord.

So…

Jacob now worked for the cult, though he hadn’t fully embraced it… At least not yet.

Some incident with his sister had resulted in Jacob’s typical villain arc, and that was how he had become one of the most famous individuals on Jutan.

As for the time when Jacob was attending the academy, he was supposed to hide his real self and act like a polite, easy-to-bully guy.

Even his sister didn’t know the real side of her brother, which was only known to his father, and that was the sole reason behind Jacob’s father telling him about the cult and making him his heir.

“What’s your rank?”

I could sense it, but I asked nonetheless.

“Uh… Silver 1.”

Jacob answered while scratching the back of his head.

It was impressive… Much more impressive for a kid from a fallen house.

“Sir—”

“Call me Kael.”

“Um… Okay. So… I just wanted to ask, I was paired with someone else, but then—”

“I had asked the instructor for a change in the pairs. My partner was too weak, and I felt like you were decently strong.”

I explained with indifference.

“Oh… T-Thanks.”

Jacob spoke as he scanned the hall at the same time.

“I know there are others stronger than you, but… I thought you were special.”

The moment my statement ended, Jacob looked up at me, his eyes slightly narrowed, though he quickly hid his reaction before I could see it… Or that was what he thought, as he tilted his head in polite confusion.

“Special?”

“Yeah… Special. I mean—not everyone is as unique as you.”

“…”

The rest of the students had already begun their fights, as I could sense several individuals around me using their mana to the best of their abilities.

“You are fairly strong for someone from a fallen house. I wonder where you got all the resources to cultivate.”

My voice was low yet controlled as I began to inch closer towards Jacob, who had his guard raised, with each muscle in his body tensing at every heartbeat.

“Let’s spar, shall we?”

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