24 – Student Battle, Finals 2
Waiting room. Bailey raised his head at the food that was thrust in front of him.
“Eat up. Our fights are this afternoon.”
“Ah…thanks. Godor.”
The student battles to take place early in the morning were the sword, spear and martial arts division. In the afternoon, there were group and general battles.
Right about now, Sigurd and the others would be fighting.
They were incredibly strong. Bailey was sure that they would win. They were reliable juniors that he was proud of.
But he himself was…
“Are you worried?”
Asked Godor as he sat down next to him. His classmate was always so blunt.
“Roy is strong. He isn’t called the king for nothing.”
Last year. He had learned it. The distance between himself and his old friend.
They were no longer at that point, where they could laugh lightheartedly together and talk about how they hoped to face each other in the tournament.
And he had realized it. That he was not a genius.
“In terms of talent, I am inferior.”
“No, Godor. You are…”
He raised his head.
Godor Valt. They had known each other for some time now. He was blessed in terms of physique, sensibilities…everything.
And yet he was third among the 4th years. In other words, he was stuck below Bailey. But Bailey knew that he tried, he could go even further.
But he shook his head.
“It’s not about physical strength. It’s about spirit. To be honest… I was reminded after being instructed by teacher Yukito.”
Godor looked at his fist.
“Weapons are for killing people. I am honing techniques to kill. …But I’m not strong enough to be on the receiving end, apparently.”
“Godor…”
He was too kind. That’s what it was.
Not of noble, but common birth. His reason for enrolling at the academy had been for the scholarship. To feed his ten brothers and sisters.
“Bailey. When I graduate, I’m joining the police force. So this will be the last time that we can fight.”
“Godor…”
“You and I are both weak, brittle humans. Neither of us can stand against the complete strength of Roy alone.”
Godor said, and then turned towards the rest of the room.
To their other comrades.
“Then we just have to complete that strength with the four of us. And you are the only person who can draw that picture, Bay.”
Bailey blinked his eyes.
Just then, a thunderous applause echoed from the monitor.
Their heads turned. A single man was standing in the ring. Sigurd had just won the battle.
(I see… Indeed.)
The corner of his mouth lifted into a grin.
—I am no genius. However…
Bailey tore the packaging of the bar, took a bite, and swallowed it with water.
Then he wiped his mouth and stood up.
It would not be long before the other battles ended as well.
“Let’s go then.”
“Aye.”
“Yes.”
“Right.”
Bailey Grendeman.
Godor Valt.
Millie Alensen.
Arnela Dilmont.
All four held their weapons and started walking to the battlefield.
◆ ◇ ◆
“Rimro! Rimro Vanheus! Where are you!?”
A man’s voice echoed in the Imperial University Training Division dormitory.
It was mostly empty. It was obvious, as the tournament had already begun.
However…
The man who was called got up slowly.
He was like a lion.
Eighteen years of age. But it was hard to believe. There was something too wild and vicious about him.
“Rimro! I knew you would be here!”
The man in the student uniform panted as he stepped inside.
But…
“Ahhh!”
A woman screamed as she quickly covered herself with the sheets. The man turned red.
Rimro and the woman’s clothes were scattered over the floor.
Though, Rimro did not seem to care as he got out of the bed and opened the curtains.
“Hey… The games are starting! Stan was defeated and… Why are you…!”
“That bastard lost?”
The man chuckled.
“Good. That obnoxious idiot thought he was better, just because he’s older. Even though he could never beat me.”
“…The general division will be starting soon. Hurry up.”
“I know.”
He cracked his neck, gave the girl a kiss, and then picked up his clothes.
“Hey. Is it true that Iria Orlando is not competing?”
“…Yeah.”
“Argh! I wanted to beat her to a pulp!”
The male student scowled at this.
If Stan was problematic, this one…should surely be disqualified. As a student. As a person.
In fact, last year, he had won in the preliminaries, but could not go to the finals. The university had taken him off the register.
He lacked class and understanding. He was a beast. Even if the empire held power above all else, he was too different.
“Well, fine then. But her replacement is a woman too? Well, it’s decided then.”
“What is?”
“I will give her a taste of overwhelming power. And then she will be mine.”
“…That doesn’t make sense.”
◆ ◇ ◆
“…”
General division. Waiting room.
A girl was sitting on the bench and hugging her spear.
Aize Lilieth.
She closed her eyes and waited.
This was the moment she had dreamed about.
Though, her reasons for it had changed.
The problem that had plagued her was gone. The reason she had to win.
However, that didn’t mean she could lose.
Aize haad felt it.
That the weak could not save others.
So she wanted power. The strength to protect what she wanted. So no one could step all over her again.
(I will win.)
The flames that blazed within her. Hot enough to burn, but hidden under a calm exterior.
Those flames would be unleashed soon.
Thanks for the chapter