A few minutes earlier—
I was standing across Spatuwhatnot. Since I didn't remember his name I decided to give him this nickname but the boy once again introduced himself like a clown.
"My name is Spatsel Judicea. I shall now show you the beauty of my fencing skill, mademoiselle."
"Hm... How I cannot wait to see your beautiful fencing ability then."
I put sarcasms into my words but the boy smiled passively. I instinctively knew he was faking it. Call it intuition but there had been many chances for me to be scammed and cornered by loan sharks. Those nasty guys always liked to do backstab and scheming as if they enjoyed trolling people's life.
Considering how nasty some could be... might as well increasing my alertness. Once we were ready, teacher Edwin grunted.
"Hmph. Then, let the duel begins!!"
Spatsel dashed forward and closed the distance between us in a second. He used aura to boost his legs huh...? I dodged by sliding to the right but once I distanced myself, the shawl I wore was ripped into two. Then it fluttered down as Spatsel kicked his heel and setting up his stance again.
"It was only a little more but I do not wish to end this duel so quickly!" The boy said, an elegant smirk plastered on his face but his eyes exposed malevolent desires.
...he intended to humiliate me by shredding my clothes? No, he wanted to put me under submission and torture me slowly. I exhaled and commented.
"To think that you intend to toy with your prey. You have some strange tendencies."
"Ho ho, it's a shame that you are thinking in such ways. However—it is also regrettable that it has come to this point."
Spatsel attacked with a flurry of thrusts. I evaded each of them but I was gradually bring pushed back.
Not to mention... my uniform was being torn bits by bits. Evading the latest thrust which was aimed to hit my head, a slight cut opened on my cheek and cutting off a strand of my hair. It was both annoying and disgusting how this talented fencer be so meticulous in plotting an accidental crime.
"Hey hey! Do you think you can win with dodging alone, mademoiselle? Or is it because I am too strong for someone such as you!?"
"...how distasteful. Do you enjoy tormenting others in this way?"
I deflected the rapier whipping to me from the side with my sword. The replica weapons made grinding sounds as I watched Spatsel approaching without blinking.
The proximity was close enough it was nearly zero. I found myself being stared back by the boy a few dozen centimeters taller than me and he licked his lips. A creepy smile was shown.
"You idiotic woman. Do you think you are stronger than ME just because you passed through that useless test for barbarians?"
Showing his true self, I began to realize that Spatsel was no gentleman. Witnessing his crazy face and mocking expressions, I narrowed my eyes.
"Hm... you do not have any manner. What is it that you see in women, Spatsel Judicea?"
I put strength in my arm and deflected the imitation rapier. Spatsel let out a gasp but he recovered and stood in front of me, his nasty smile still present everlastingly on his face.
"Isn't that obvious? What else than seedbeds?" teacher Edwin answered with indifference. "In fact, women are weaker than men. Why do we have to submit to them?"
"Hou...... so you are saying it's better for women to stay at home and spread their legs for you? Because we are inferior to you all?"
The students sneered. The teacher smirked. My opponent expressed a facial which told 'isn't that obvious?' to me.
"In this kingdom, women aren't meant a thing! Look around you! Is there a single friend of yours here? Not even the kingdom allowed whores like you as a Guard!"
"...oh, so this Kingdom is patriarchal. But isn't that discrimination?"
"Discrimination?? More like kindness! Now look here, mademoiselle.... Why don't you become mine and I'll give you everything you wish for?"
...not even a second passed and I already wanted to shout ‘HELL NO!’ but the fake gentleman ran forward again. I blocked his stab, fending off his whipping rapier and stood firmly on my ground. However, more and more cut wounds were engraved and my uniform was continued to be cut all over.
"Your worth isn't anything more than a meal for us! Even if most of you trained to be mages, not even YOU can deflect a knight's thrust! Why? Because you're weak!!"
"...weak, huh...? Whoever said that?"
"Ha! Let me tell you something, my cute toy. Raumia does not accept any woman to be involved in the wheel of government! It has been that way for a very long time!!"
"But the current ruler is a queen right...? Do you think you can disrespect her by badmouthing women?"
*clash!* The sword and the rapier trembled. They sung ruefully above me as I forced myself to not be overpowered by Spatsel who had enhanced his muscles with mana. It was not mana to be exact though.
After all, those with inferior mana makes up their weakness by converting the rest into aura which coated their bodies. Most adventurers, warriors and knights had this natural trait which boosted the muscle tissues and cells regeneration permanently.
However, it's impossible for them to be strong so suddenly. They must train constantly and they have to meditate in order to refine their auras, which in turn altered their body bits by bits. I grimaced but I didn't yield to Spatsel who yelled.
"HA! LIKE A BRAT LIKE HER CAN EVEN DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SUCKING UP ON HER BROTHER'S DICK!"
Suddenly, I sensed Spatsel's aura wavered and intensified. I quickly weakened my grips and bent down before dodging the slash which aimed to cleave my skull. Rolling on the ground, I was half-kneeling but the left chest part of my uniform was ripped wide. It even exposed my bra.
Clicking my tongue, I stood up and set up a stance. In the next moment, my opponent attacked me again with a flurry of attacks. I dodged. I blocked them. Again and again and again until I was fed up with it all and aimed a kick.
Spatsel retreated a few dozen steps back. Now that there was a distance between us, my mind instantly cleared up. If there was anything that I have learned from this duel--it would be murky disgust.
"Let me get this straight..." I paused. "You think that women can't do anything and you think I am no different than a toy for you to play with?"
"Oh, are you accepting defeat, mademoiselle?"
I grinned at his question, and then I answered fearlessly.
"It's best for you to retract your words. Because you are going to lose either way."
I swept the ground lightly with the edge of my sword. Leaving a small cloud of dust, I leaped forward and arriving right in front of Spatsel.
Within a moment, for the obvious fact.
The noble's eyes went wide in shock. He reacted by stepping back and trying to recompose his posture but I have already prepared my stance. Under his defense, slipping in a proximity where my sword can deal the greatest damage—
"Clench your teeth, strongest. For this single slash of the weakest will shake you up."
Distancing my legs, I lowered my hips and gripped the replica sword's hilt with both of my hands. Then!!
*SMASH!!* Spatsel shuddered. He tried to block the downward slash with his rapier but the weapon broke apart, the dull blade of the imitation weapon smashing into his right shoulder.
I can hear his bones shattering, crushed from the impact but I didn’t let up. As quickly as I could, I pulled the sword, twisting it around, then I swung it as if batting a baseball bat right at his solar plexus.
“Gwoh…!?”
And with one final push – Spatsel flew away to the distant sky.
Everyone who was in my group dropped down their jaws to the floor. Their eyes bulged out and even teacher Holo-caucasus exasperated hoarsely as their eyes caught a body floating in spread eagle.
In the midst of it all, I turned around. Making a gesture of sheathing the wooden sword, I muttered while smiling softly.
"Variant Arts: Steel Cut Revised."
*CRASH!* There was the sound of a pitiful soul slamming down into the mother earth. His head buried down into the ground and his legs were tangled around as a wide rip exposed his butt for public execution. Heh, so much for being a noble with royal blood.
"Hmh... Come to think of it, Raumia underwent revolution so I guess not many have accepted the idea of the change of ruling system from patriarchal into matriarchal. Oh well. With this, I'm the winner right?"
I glanced at the man in black robe whose face was as red as boiling kettle. His brows knitted together and after he grit down his molars strongly, teacher Edwin shouted out.
"Not yet! NOT YET!! THERE ARE STILL A LOT MORE!!" He raised his hand and pointed at me. "GO DEFEAT HER!!"
The students took out their weapons and attacked me from all side.
Heaving out a deep sigh, I wondered if men are sore losers. I never thought I would pity myself for being a former man this much. At least I never argued with my little sister beyond necessary and I did apologize when I was at fault.
Well, it wasn't much but I have no reason to play all the time. And so I experimented by visualizing the stances of swordsmen I have witnessed in Magnis. Not many but I started from Fei's swordsmanship which was composed of two Sword Arts. One was the Stance of Assassin and the other was Stance of Variant.
Stance of Assassin was a systematic sword stance which was in fact, more effective when I used dual weapons. I'm not ambidextrous but I trained how to wield them both in five years. Of course I could do that much and it's not like there was any rule prohibiting me from wielding fallen weapons.
The point of Stance of Assassin was to lure the enemies by showing visible gaps in my defense. My opponents were all practitioner of weapons so they at least knew where to strike and I simply used their aims for my own advantage. It also focused in swift strikes with pinpoint preciseness.
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Then, there was the Stance of Variant. To be honest, it was a formless stance where I have to keep moving and changing the flow of my sword. It was hard not to be random but basing it on Fei who showed tenacity when fighting father, I could grasp the flow and adapted it for my own use.
Then again, formless meant no proper forms were present. Stance of Variant accentuated multiple uses of slashes and breakneck agility depending on the situation. It also worked better if I were to use a great sword but as long as I don't show off my skills beyond necessary, I won't invite more troubles.
Next, I experimented with the Sword Styles the students used in battle royale. There were many as some talented people existed and there were even some that I recognized. For example, there was fencing, iaido, blade dancing, et cetera.
It was fun visualizing their images and implementing them into my sword style though I didn't exactly know since when I was capable of imitating other sword styles. I believe I might have gained something when I fought Bravzgaim. Once done with the matches, I returned the practice weapon, taking back Tyrfingg from a teacher in charge of holding real weapons while the matches were underway and went over to Leon.
"Fuwaah... that was easy. I had a good exercise." I yawned and found my little brother cleaned his hands off dirt. Wow, he annihilated everyone huh?
"...Big sister, you actually enjoyed making fun of that rotten scum right?"
Eh? What is? I questioned Leon ‘innocently’ but he shook his head weakly. Saying ‘nothing much, and please get changed’ before he walked away. I tilted my head in confusion but then I realized why.
The rotten nobles were owned at their own games. And even the teacher disappeared with fury clearly shown on his face.
Looks like pride and prestige will simply get one only that far. I took a note of this occurrence and engraved the lesson in my heart else I would fail badly like they did. Other than that…
"...what's with that appearance, Anise...?"
"Whuaaa!? Charl, please help meeeee!! And wait, you're in tatter too!!"
Anise was sitting on the ground, covering her pitiful chests with her arms as her uniform was completely in tatter. Looks like she lost but not far from her was a boy with long dark hair reaching his nose. He was sprawled on the ground with his replica katana further away from his motionless body.
So it's a draw huh...? Or a paper thin victory? I rolled my gaze to Anise and scanned her situation once more.
It was a sight full of ERO yet I was unable to be turned on with just that...! I need more ERO for me to be turned on so half-naked isn't enough unless it's half-naked with kneesocks or naked shirts!!
WHERE IS THE ERO!? I was about to shout out but I found myself glared at by someone else......
"Eh!? F-Fei......!!?" My jaw dropped the moment I caught Fei standing beside the grinning Instructor!
"Hoh. This year we have a number of talented kids. Congratulation for passing with flying colors, lass! You and the others who are still conscious are free for the week from my class, damn you all! Now what do you say, lad?”
"....Why are you asking me?"
"Well, haven't you been staring at the battle for a while? Particularly at a certain muffin."
...He's been watching us from the beginning...? My heart skipped a beat but... again, I swayed a little. Realizing my illness once again relapsed; I held the urge to faint and fought the fever.
".......Charlotte." Fei called out as he stood in front of me.
"...what do you want?" In response, the weakened me spoke in a strange tone.
"...Why do you sound so angry?"
.......damn. And he interpreted my illness as bad mood. Once again I realized how dense my childhood friend could be and it also caused me to scowl for unknown reasons.
"...I thought I told you that I know no one like you?"
"That's quite a grand lie you have there. There's no way you would forget me right...?"
...yeah... right. To be honest, I sometimes forgot about Fei because I was sent into hell for my special training. The menu was of course made by Takeru so it's a bad idea to unlock Pandora's Box.
"Unfortunately, I do not recall befriending someone such as you. Now please excuse me."
"Wait, Charlotte!"
The moment I turned my heels and walked away, Fei grabbed my hand and pulled me.
".....what are you doing?" I asked in a cold tone that surprised even myself. My headache gotten stronger and I frowned as I endured the increasing pains and fever.
Seeing me like this, Fei flinched but... as if troubled, he said in a stuttering manner.
"D-did I do something wrong...?"
"........"
I stared blankly at him. What could I expect? I mean... did he even need to ask? There's already something wrong here and he still asked...? How, how dense could he be, for Vainticel's sake!!
Aaagh! I really must drink my medicine else I will collapse! But Baka Fei just wouldn't let go off my hand! Uuuu.... again, the headache and 'sweet pain' is kicking me... damn it!!
"Please don't touch me so casually."
With a force, I pried my hand from Fei's grasp. He was once again stunned but I was getting tired of this.
"Unfortunately, I have an appointment in my schedule. If you wish to invite me for a tea party, why don't you invite your fiancée instead of me, Mister Black Hero?"
"........Huh...? W-wait, from where did you know...!?"
....Eh? So it's really true? This guy is already betrothed to someone else? My heart thumped and it felt terribly unpleasant. I was receiving the most intense headache and my body was feverish.
What's more... I had the sudden urge to punch Fei.
Wait... this shouldn't happen...! If I punched him again then tragedy would repeat itself!! Wh-what should I do...!? What should I do?!
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-Fei's POV-
Though I wasn't sure what did I do wrong but Charlotte was clearly angered now. I realized her aura was rippling like yesterday and I couldn't read her expressions......
Just what's going on here!? The girl with golden wheat hair and emerald eyes instantly fired me with a glare as I noticed beads of tears formed at the corner of her eyes.
"Uh... Charlotte...?"
Suddenly I sensed a killing intent and I jumped back. An object crashed into the space between me and Charlotte. Clouds of dirt piled up and my visibility became poor if not for a moment.
"Are you alright?" A foreign voice echoed
"Ah... yeah. Thank you, Leon." Charlotte muttered with a nod.
"Please get going. I'll handle this matter."
What? Who is this boy? Once the smokes dissipated, Charlotte disappeared and there was this redheaded kid bearing his fangs at me.
"You again... this is already the second time."
"......who are you? Where is Charlotte?"
"None of your business. And you're really a clueless bastard aren't you?"
...somehow, I seemed to be hated. It's not that I was upset but it annoyed me how this kid insulted me. It's like he had a grudge against me. But my concern isn't him—
"Ooh, a duel eh? Looks like the odds are not in your favor, lad."
....Instructor... that's right! Maybe I can ask him.
"Instructor, do you—"
"Nope. I won't help you because you're clearly in the wrong here, lad. And it's a perfect timing!"
"You're not even letting me to finish my question!?"
The man clasped his hands together and he uttered strings of words of the ancient language. Within five counts and his body emanated green aura before it flew everywhere as arrows of light. They landed on the students who were still conscious yet exhausted...
Then the students recovered! Did the Instructor sent out his own vitality to recharge their stamina and aura!? And one of them got their uniform repaired as if rewinding time back!! This damn synergy user is really annoying to deal with!!
"An extra lesson for the rest of you! If you can beat the black lad over here then you will gain two weeks’ worth of A+! But failure will get you a few of my errands!!"
Damn it!! He used me as a pawn for his little fun!
"I don't give a damn about the credits but I will beat up this guy for goods!!"
"Gh!? That was close...!"
" " " "You're miiiiiinnnneeee!!!!" " " "
"Ghh!!? Stop getting in my way! Charlotte! Charlooooooottteeee!!"
"A piece of shit like you don’t deserve to call her name!!"
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...Uuu... this... this is... bad...... Somehow, the world seemed to spin around... What the heck is going on here...?
Despite staying away from Fei, the illness was worsening. The rapidly increasing fever, the numbness over my senses, difficulties in breathing and my heart was beating absurdly fast and loud. I knew the symptoms all too well that I cursed out.
And yet... my voice did not let out. It's a weird feeling I never get used to no matter how many times I have experienced this illness. Just why is it relapsing now of all times...? I didn't want to spend my school life while being bedridden for most of it...... Did I overwork myself? Was I struck by deadly poison of a passing by Assassin?
Even though I was supporting myself by tracing my hand over the wall, my feet were heavy and dizziness assaulted my head. Not only that, it was as if cold and hot water was poured upon me in turns. Such a nauseating sensation... a... are...?
*THUD!* My sight became parallel with the ground and my eyes became so heavy to open... oh... ooh....... this is... bad...
"...I... can't... faint... Here......."
Darkness engulfed me. I entered sleeping state like an overheating computer forced to shut down. But... in the corner of my vision... I heard someone's voice.
"What? H-hey?! Are you alright!? Hang in there!"