BSS 70

Chapter 70

In an instant, seeing the guy just a couple of steps ahead of me, I hurriedly sidestepped.

“Yah!”

No sooner had I slipped away than Pedri thrust the tip of his sword at me again.

But I was fairly confident when it came to dodging attacks.

I wasn’t a physical powerhouse, and my body wasn’t insanely fast, but as long as the speed wasn’t beyond what I could handle, I could predict where the opponent would strike and dodge a step ahead.

In truth, humans swing weapons, but they’re also dragged along by them. Once you commit to a certain path of force, there’s a slight delay before you can change it.

With enough training, that delay could be reduced—but these kids weren’t exactly lightning-fast.

At least, not compared to the Shabel Mercenary Corps.

The thought of their tear-inducing sacrifices resurfaced, and I couldn’t help but mourn them.

Such kind people. Throwing themselves away to help improve my real combat skills.

“Th-this—!”

It seemed Rasshamu had been watching my matches pretty closely.

Thinking he could win if he took me down before I could chant a spell, he kept thrusting and slashing without giving me a single chance to open my mouth.

But see, Undine and I don’t need incantations.

And you swing your sword way too wide. On top of that, you’re completely predictable!

Now I really understood what it meant for a sword path to be “honest.”

“Ghk!”

I had no time to speak while dodging the blade, but I wasn’t getting hit either.

I was weaving around quite well, and the more I did, the more his sword tip began to waver.

Still, even dodging had its limits.

More precisely, it was a stamina issue.

I’d love to keep playing around, but I guess this is as far as it goes.

[Undine. Trap him.]

The precise name of the technique was Un-Water Breathing, but I often shortened it casually to Un-Breathing.

Even without that, though, we understood each other.

There are countless differences between mages and spirit callers, but the coolest one is definitely this.

“Wha— gghrk!”

Unlike mages, who have to chant spells, calculate trajectories, and carefully adjust angles before casting magic, spirit callers use magic through communion with an intelligent being called a spirit. Because of that, in chaotic situations like this, they’re far stronger than mages.

Even if my judgment falters, the spirit’s judgment remains sound.

Even if you think I’m the main body and focus your attacks on me, if you fail to watch the spirit, this is what happens in the end.

Water rapidly gathered around Pedri’s head, then in an instant enveloped his entire body.

The more he struggled, the larger the mass of water grew.

Undine sensed my will and acted exactly as I desired.

Pedri, trapped in the water and clutching at his throat, stared with eyes filled with disbelief at his situation.

“You thought you could win just by stopping me from chanting spells?”

“Ggghrk!”

“What a shame. Mages and spirit callers are completely different.”

To be honest, fighting a spirit caller felt a bit like a two-on-one.

If I were to summon multiple spirits, it would feel like fighting an entire group.

And I’m not saying this just because I’m a spirit caller. Spirits are truly amazing.

The stronger your affinity with them and the better your coordination, the stronger you become—this was exactly what that meant.

When I’d heard that in class before, I hadn’t really gotten it. But now that I’d used it in real combat, I finally understood.

This was the feeling.

Becoming one body with your spirit.

Undine and I were in perfect sync—one hint was all it took.

“Hehehe.”

I put my hands on my hips and laughed for a moment. This feels great!

“You can’t even swim, yet you get cocky.”

“Gglrk! Khk!”

No matter how much you try to talk underwater, nothing comes out, you know?

In a relaxed posture, I watched Pedri flail about inside the bubble of water. Before long, I got bored and waved my hand dismissively.

“Undine, get rid of him.”

[Yes, Master.]

The water bubble containing a person inside slowly rolled across the arena—degururu.

And the moment it passed outside the arena, it burst like a soap bubble.

It was no different from the other matches so far.

I splashed some water at the commentator who was standing there in a daze.

Well, technically Undine flew over and splashed him, but still.

“Ten seconds haven’t passed yet, right?”

—Ah, uh. Yes!

Man, this was so easy it almost felt bland.

‘So much for a prestigious family.’

I kept that thought to myself out of courtesy, but it really was kind of funny.

No matter how good a sword is, if you can’t swing it, it’s over.

“No way!”

Rasshamu Pedri, who had been knocked out of bounds, stamped his feet and shouted while soaking wet—but losers are always full of complaints.

So what if it was a tiny bit underhanded? A win’s a win!

With light steps, I was heading toward the waiting room when a red-haired man suddenly blocked my path.

I’d been humming cheerfully as I walked, and when I snapped back to awareness, he was already standing right in front of me.

So quietly it sent chills down my spine.

What is this guy?

The man who suddenly appeared and blocked my way had an eerie lack of presence. No expression, no words.

“…?”

“……”

He stared at me in silence, so I did the same.

For a brief moment, we stood there just staring at each other.

“Hyung!”

The one who came running up was Rasshamu Pedri.

He was practically in tears as he clung to the man’s leg in front of me.

Huh—aside from size, they look exactly the same. They’re practically carbon copies.

Red hair, identical faces—the older brother of Rasshamu Pedri.

Got it.

“Robenin Pedri?”

I might be out of touch with information, but even I knew that much.

Robenin Pedri was such a famous figure that even if you didn’t want to, his name and reputation would reach your ears from every direction.

That must be what fame is.

Robenin gave a barely noticeable nod, then finally parted his heavy lips.

“You are…”

“Jinny Crowell.”

“Jinny Crowell.”

“Huh?”

That sounded like he pronounced my name perfectly just now. Was I imagining it?

“Would you like to fight me?”

What is he talking about all of a sudden?

Is this revenge for bullying his little brother or something?

“Hyung! That girl—!”

I thought so for a moment, but it didn’t seem like that after all.

Robenin shoved aside the whining Rasshamu’s face as if he were annoyed.

Pushed by the force, Rasshamu fell over pitifully. I almost wanted to help him up… Sibling affection can be so cold.

“You want to fight me?”

“Yes.”

“You and me?”

“Yes.”

Is Elan’s so-called genius actually a battle-crazed maniac?

Wanting to fight a ten-year-old girl.

You look almost like an adult just from your appearance!

And not just anyone—the guaranteed champion of the youth division!

He was so overwhelmingly strong that there was even a joke saying that in the youth division, second place was the real victory.

“No thanks.”

My gaze narrowed into thin slits from how strongly I refused.

“Why?”

“Why should I?”

“Well, that’s because—”

—Ahem, attention please. The finals of the youth division will begin shortly. All competitors, please come to the arena.

Taking advantage of the moment Robenin glanced toward the arena, I bolted.

My instincts were screaming at me.

This guy’s crazy—don’t get involved!