Chapter 121
Traust and I ran toward each other at full speed.
I swung my sword horizontally, but Traust executed a move off the ground and leaped into the air. Using the rebound from the technique, he jumped high to evade my attack, then adjusted his posture midair and swung his rapier.
A sky-blue aura poured down on me like rain.
Pabababat!
I couldn’t completely dodge this unfamiliar pattern, but it didn’t deal significant damage.
Is it a case where the technique is good, but the body can’t keep up?
I quickly turned back and swung my sword before Traust landed.
[Eastern Greatsword Technique – Horizon]
A horizontal strike aimed at Traust. But he performed a brief backflip while throwing the rapier.
Traust landed steadily, caught the falling rapier, and pointed it at me.
“Your attacks are much sharper than before, huh?”
Says the guy who barely dodged everything…
Knowing Drenar probably wouldn’t speak during a fight, I silently charged at him again. Naturally, he ran toward me as well.
[Eastern Greatsword Technique – Waterfall]
I struck down with my sword like a waterfall, but Traust paused briefly, moving out of my reach. Then he lowered his body and weaved to my left.
A veteran’s smooth movement. But I trusted he would dodge my attack.
I released the downward strike and enveloped my fists in aura.
Traust widened his eyes in surprise, but he didn’t stop attacking.
A torrent of strikes poured down like rain again.
Pabababat!
But those attacks were at most a light drizzle.
I closed the distance while taking the hits and swung my fists.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Though I couldn’t use [Dragon Strike Technique] without the skill, I still dealt substantial damage.
Traust immediately focused on defense, but I didn’t stop pushing him. The more I pressed, the more wounds I received, but it didn’t matter.
Pushed back, Traust eventually reached the spot where I had swung my sword down.
The sword had slipped from my hands, spinning in the air after hitting the ground.
He tried to strike my sword with his greatsword, but I kicked him first.
“Ugh!”
The rapier narrowly skimmed the greatsword, and I grabbed my weapon, regaining my stance.
[Eastern Greatsword Technique – Tidal Waves]
A powerful strike like a tidal wave hit Traust as he flew through the air.
Ku-gua-gua-gwang!
The force of the aura didn’t stop until he slammed into the arena wall.
Bang!
For someone unaccustomed to aura armor, the impact must have been immense. Yet he stood up using his rapier and laughed.
“You bastard. You really don’t hold back at all.”
Then he pointed his sword at me.
“I’ll give you that one! But I won’t get hit by the same pattern twice!”
Traust infused his rapier with aura and charged at me again.
Even though one more hit would probably knock him down, he moved more nimbly than before.
I swung my sword vertically again. As before, he paused briefly to evade, then weaved to my right this time.
But my counter didn’t change.
I released the sword, surrounded my fists with aura, and attempted to pummel him.
But Traust slid and sliced at my ankle.
Crazy.
It wasn’t a deep cut, but my leg momentarily lost balance.
Traust stood and thrust his sword at me.
Pabababat!
I raised my guard, enveloped my arm in aura, and tried to break free.
He relentlessly pursued me, preventing me from regaining posture.
He wasn’t just attacking me—he was forcing me into a vulnerable position.
Damn, that’s tricky…!
At least Traust’s attacks weren’t very powerful, but if I kept taking hits like this, I’d lose.
His attacks were fast, making them impossible to intercept, and lying down prevented me from effectively counterattacking.
If I had known this situation would arise, I would’ve learned jiu-jitsu. But who would’ve known I’d be trapped in a game?
Still, I wasn’t without options—it was just a gamble.
I deactivated my aura armor. The rapier sank deeper into my body.
Traust spoke.
“You’re not giving up here, are you?”
Did he believe I could counterattack? His eyes were wide, tracking my every movement.
Fine. Watch closely. If there were a counter, I wouldn’t have attempted it.
As my wounds multiplied and my uniform soaked with blood, I activated magic.
1st Circle Fire Magic, [Fire].
Noticing the spell, he smirked.
“Think a 1st Circle spell will stop me? Wrong!”
He thrust his sword against the incoming magic, but the erupting flames sent him flying through the air.
The spell I just cast used [Mana Combination].
Even without a status window, [Mana Combination] was my personal insight. The skills were just a manifestation of that understanding. Skills weren’t necessary to cast it.
I hadn’t used [Dual Incantation], pouring all my mana in instead, which made the attack incredibly powerful.
I quickly stood, grabbed my sword, and watched Traust fall.
Being a knight, he couldn’t dodge my attack in midair. Knowing this, Traust gathered aura, preparing to strike.
This would decide the winner of the preliminaries.
I didn’t think I could lose this one.
I used [Mana Combination] again. Using aura instead of mana allowed me to focus almost instantaneously.
The compressed aura surged through my greatsword like a tidal wave, and I swung with all my strength.
[Eastern Greatsword Technique – Soaring Waves]
While I focused the aura into a single strike, Traust unleashed a flurry that seemed simultaneous.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gua-gwang!
The pouring rain and crashing waves clashed. At first evenly matched, but the waves gradually pushed the rain upward.
Traust, at the center, fell with his uniform tattered.
The referee shouted.
“The finalist is Drenar!”
Applause erupted.
“Too bad, Traust!”
“Drenar! Well fought!”
Even in the preliminaries, the crowd seemed thoroughly satisfied, cheering for a long time.
Traust raised his upper body, smiling ruefully.
“Ah… embarrassing. I acted tough but lost completely.”
Normally, Drenar would have walked off in such a situation, but a little whim was fine.
I approached Traust and extended my hand.
“If I had made a mistake, I would have lost.”
“Modest. Even if it’s a lie, it feels good.”
He took my hand and stood, lightly patting my shoulder.
“I heard you didn’t intend to win before, but still, try your best.”
“You don’t have to tell me. That was my plan anyway.”
“Hmm. Now that the battle’s over, your tone is closer to usual.”
“…Huh?”
What did I do wrong? Wasn’t I perfectly Drenar?
Seeing my confusion, Traust explained.
“You usually spoke very politely to me. I even asked you not to, because it was too much pressure.”
What?! Drenar? The guy known for being arrogant was polite?
Flustered, I forced a wry smile.
“I guess I didn’t realize it. Sorry.”
“Well, it’s understandable. A first-year in the preliminaries would be nervous. I understand.”
“Thanks for your understanding.”
“Stop using that tone.”
We left the arena, exchanged a few words, and parted ways.
Outside Skyaena Hall, Drenar waited for me.
“You barely won for all your boasts.”
Seeing his sneer, I had a brief urge to punch him in the face, but restrained myself and spoke calmly.
“Traust’s appearance was unexpected.”
“I hope no more surprises happen.”
“They won’t. Even if there’s an unexpected opponent, I can handle it.”
In the original, the finalists were predetermined, but now, by stacking strong players in a few preliminary groups, most top contenders would have been eliminated.
If I met a strong opponent next, I’d already have analyzed them; if not, they’d be easy to handle.
Drenar then asked,
“You were talking to Traust at the end. Didn’t say anything unnecessary, right?”
“…No.”
The issue was that I hadn’t said what I should, but I didn’t want to, knowing it would provoke trouble.
Since it went smoothly enough, it didn’t matter.
Seeing Drenar looking uneasy, I naturally changed the subject.
“Your preliminary match is tomorrow. Ready?”
“More or less. Honestly, I’m more worried about when we go eat later than about tomorrow.”
“Because of Ridipin and Ceres?”
“Yeah. Ceres keeps clinging, which is stressful, and Ridipin keeps staring at me with those scary eyes.”
For Drenar, acting in front of me seemed more challenging than the tournament itself.
Ridipin had built up experience from the start of the year and reacted sensitively.
“Still, isn’t it fine? When will you ever be surrounded by women like that?”
“Not at all. Unlike you, I’m devoted to one person, so it’s just uncomfortable.”
“Don’t make me seem fickle. I’m devoted too.”
“Then clean up your surroundings. Don’t leave openings everywhere. Even I, seeing it occasionally, feel frustrated.”
“That’s exaggerated.”
Drenar stared at me for a moment, then sighed.
“Just asking, but did Sonia notice anything strange?”
“Since the first day I switched bodies, when she said I seemed sick, she hasn’t suspected anything.”
“I see.”
Drenar looked a bit disappointed. He probably wanted her to notice, like Ridipin.
If that was the case, why not just date her?
At that moment, Reina and her group appeared.
“So you came to see Drenar? You should’ve told me.”
Drenar said,
“Sorry. You and Drenar are rivals, so I wanted to bring her alone.”
“It’s not like our relationship is terrible. I can still compliment your prelim performance.”
Reina approached and extended her hand.
“Congrats on making the finals. If you keep winning, we’ll face each other in the finals.”
I shook her hand.
“Thanks, but planning the finals already? Bold.”
“What?!”
“But I look forward to it. If the prestigious tournament’s winner and runner-up are both first-years, the academy will be turned upside down.”
Reina, who was angry, quickly smiled confidently.
“Just make sure you don’t lose before me.”
“Don’t start cursing if you fall first.”
“Hey!”
We bickered a little while heading to eat.
As we walked, Drenar quietly called me back. Once slightly separated from Reina’s group, he muttered with displeasure.
“Congrats are enough. Why say unnecessary things?”
“I was just copying your usual behavior.”
“When did I do that? I only ever say what’s necessary.”
I chuckled helplessly.
He’d often pick fights with Reina, but now that I mimicked him, he complained.
Realizing it was pointless to argue with someone so self-unaware, I stayed silent.
Drenar glared.
“You’re pretending to hold back?”
I flinched but acted nonchalant.
“I never thought that. Don’t take out your paranoia on me.”
“What?!”
Drenar gave a scoffing laugh, trying to argue, but I increased my pace and rejoined Reina’s group.
Drenar fell silent, only scowling.
There was clearly malice in his gaze—but seeing his twisted expression was thoroughly satisfying.
