Episode 7
The duel that began with the unprecedented chaos at the entrance ceremony…
Of course, word of it spread instantly to the upperclassmen.
“I heard it was a fight between brothers?”
“Yeah. Apparently, the older brother charged at the younger one.”
Naturally, any upperclassmen who were free immediately gathered at the dueling grounds.
Boring academy life didn’t offer much excitement—so when a scandal like this popped up, who could resist watching?
“So, was the older brother just losing his mind? Or did the younger brother do something wrong?”
“Rumor has it the brother just started making a scene out of nowhere. If that’s true, he’s just crazy.”
“Not sure. You don’t get into this school without some skill. Would he attack without any reason? I think maybe the younger brother did cheat his way into becoming the representative.”
Everyone had their own take.
Was the older brother exposing a real scandal at the risk of everything?
Or was the younger brother just being falsely accused?
“If it turns out the younger one really cheated to become the representative, this is going to get interesting—”
That’s when—
“That’s impossible.”
A stern-faced man stepped into the circle of upperclassmen.
On his chest was an emblem of stars and a tower.
“Cheating doesn’t exist at Garam Academy. And especially not for something as public as the position of freshman representative.”
It was the current student council president—
Maratin Velota, eldest son of the Velota ducal family of the Kanarion Kingdom.
He looked around with a deep scowl.
“So don’t you dare spread nonsense about ‘possible cheating.’”
“S-sorry!”
The student who’d said that earlier paled and bowed.
Maratin glared at him in disgust, then turned his gaze toward the dueling grounds.
“Causing a scene during such an honorable event as the entrance ceremony… it’s disgraceful.”
He felt a surge of anger toward both participants.
Breaking the rules was one thing—doing it here, at the most honored moment for new students, was another.
“…I don’t like it.”
Both Jian and Chaan were in his bad books.
But—
“Oh! Maratin! Isn’t that you?”
Aris appeared from behind.
“Still wearing that unchanging stone face, I see!”
“…Princess.”
Maratin’s expression darkened ever so slightly.
He’d hoped he wouldn’t run into her—but of course, that was wishful thinking.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“Yes, I have.”
Then—
Jian and Chaan stepped into the arena.
Chaan looked like a volcano about to erupt.
Jian, on the other hand, was calm as a still lake.
“…Oh?”
Seeing this, Maratin’s eyes lit up.
He’d been planning to dislike them both equally—
but now he was reconsidering.
At least the younger one seemed promising.
Velomata… wasn’t that a minor noble family from Hesen, the western desert nation?
If so, it’d be easy enough to poach him.
If his fighting looks good, approaching him might be worth it.
But—
“Give up on that.”
Aris smiled, almost mockingly.
“That man, Jian, is far too great a vessel for you to contain. Try to keep him, and you’ll shatter completely.”
Her words didn’t anger Maratin—they surprised him.
As much as he hated to admit it, Aris’s eye for judging people was unmatched.
For her to rate someone this highly…
What on earth does she see in him?
“Don’t worry. You’ll find out soon enough.”
The instructor’s voice rang out:
“Begin!”
“I’ll kill you!”
Chaan charged right away.
Even with his rage, his blade didn’t shake much.
At least his basics are solid.
In contrast, Jian didn’t even take a stance.
Is he saying he doesn’t need to draw his sword?
With just a half-step and a slight tilt of his head, Jian completely avoided the strike.
Slash, slash—each attack was dodged with nothing more than a small step.
“Stop dodging! Fight me like a man!”
Chaan’s frustration boiled over, but Jian ignored him and kept evading.
“What the… He’s just toying with him.”
“If he’d drawn his sword, the fight would’ve been over in the first exchange.”
“Cheated to become the representative? No way.”
“Yeah. If not him, then who else could it be?”
It was like watching an adult humor a child’s tantrum.
But—
…Strange.
Only Maratin was thinking differently.
It’s like they’re acting.
Chaan seemed to be holding back.
Jian’s eyes weren’t even tracking the sword’s movements.
It was like they’d prearranged their moves—performing for the crowd to make Jian look good.
Could this be a Velomata family scheme to show him off?
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
Even the princess’s eyes must be clouded now.
But then—
“Do you think they’re acting?”
Aris grinned.
“If you do, you’re wrong. They’re not acting—it just looks perfect enough to seem that way.”
“No. This time, Princess, you’re—”
“Die!”
Suddenly, the mana on Chaan’s sword doubled.
His speed shot up by half again.
He was hiding this much strength?
It was a perfect surprise attack. Jian wasn’t defending or dodging—no way to avoid it in time.
The blade closed the gap to Jian’s neck—
He’s dead.
It should have been over.
“Kyaaa!”
A scream rang out—
—but then cut off.
“…Huh?”
Jian was completely unharmed.
The sword had clearly passed through his neck—yet it was still attached.
“Did I imagine it?”
“An illusion? Or a fake blade?”
No one understood what had happened.
“Match over! Chaan Velomata loses by disqualification!” the instructor barked.
Maratin, too, was stunned.
He’d seen it—
just before the sword connected, there was a strange afterimage around Jian’s neck.
And his upper body tilted back ever so slightly before returning to place.
Did he dodge by bending back at a speed the eye couldn’t follow…?
There was only one conclusion—
What impossible speed…
Maratin swallowed hard, looking at Jian with newfound respect.
The princess’s eyes weren’t wrong—mine were.
He was sure now: Jian would not only be the representative, but graduate top of the class three years from now.
After Chaan was taken away, students swarmed me.
“Wow, how did you dodge that at the end?”
“I couldn’t even see it.”
“Your brother’s nuts—he accused you of cheating after that?”
Most were full of praise.
Some were genuinely impressed.
Most, though, clearly wanted to befriend me for the benefits.
Upperclassmen tried to recruit me to their clubs.
Normally I’d give a polite answer, but I wasn’t in the mood—
Because…
[Blessing of ‘Loved by All Things’: When taking a lethal blow, avoid the attack once.]
…Yeah.
I’d just nearly died.
That bastard doppelgänger actually tried to kill me.
That final strike wasn’t part of our act—he’d gone for real.
If I hadn’t gotten Aris’s blessing before the duel, I’d be dead right now.
Her blessing, the reason she’s considered broken in the game, had saved me.
Thinking of that chilled me to the bone.
[EX-Rank Mind calms your agitation.]
The panic faded quickly, but the anger didn’t.
Typical villain underling—turns on me the second he thinks I’m weak.
Doppelgänger…
I’m going to kill you.
“Make way.”
“Gasp… Princess?!”
Aris appeared.
“Jian has a prior arrangement with me. I’ll be taking him.”
Perfect excuse to get out of the crowd.
I bowed slightly to the students and followed her.
In truth, she didn’t have any urgent business.
That should be enough.
You looked troubled, so I thought I’d repay my debt by getting you out of there.
Before the duel, she’d asked if I’d consider defecting to the Kanarion Kingdom.
I thought she was calling me now for that—
but no.
It was just a favor to improve my image. Clever move.
A sly fox.
I smirked—
“Master!”
The doppelgänger appeared—not as Chaan, but disguised as a maid.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to act without warning at the end…”
So he’d decided to play it off as concern for my reputation.
“I was only worried the likes of Captain Lionel were suspicious of you, so…”
I looked at him without expression.
“If I didn’t do something, people would doubt you…”
He flinched under my gaze.
I smiled warmly.
“It’s fine. I know you acted for my sake.”
He seemed startled—then touched.
“I knew you’d understand, Master!”
“I did wonder if you’d betrayed me, but now I’m sure you wouldn’t. You know such an attack couldn’t hurt me.”
“Exactly!”
I kept playing along.
“I was impressed. To improvise like that upon realizing Lionel was suspicious—your ability is remarkable.”
“Th-thank you!”
Then—
“I have a new mission for you.”
“A mission?”
“Yes. It’s difficult, but I believe in you. While I’m away, I want you to play the role of ‘Jian.’”
I could see the ambition in his eyes.
“Change into my form.”
“Yes, Master!”
A doppelgänger needs one minute of contact to copy someone.
He held my hand for a minute, then began transforming.
And that’s when—
Puhk!
I stabbed him straight in the heart.
“M-Master…?”
While transforming, a doppelgänger is completely defenseless.
Strike a vital point then, and they die easily.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know you planned to kill me and take over Black Night?”
As if I’d believe his excuse.
I’d been acting just to set up this moment.
“D-damn…”
With that, he stopped breathing.
[You have defeated an ‘Overwhelming Foe’!]
[You gain free stat points!]
For a level 72 villain, it was a pitifully anticlimactic end.
