...
Shulim was taken aback for a moment. She could only silently put away the weapon she had just drawn and leave the arena.
Next up were Fran and Ander.
Unlike the previous match, which had ended before it even started, this one was filled with tension—most of which, of course, came from Fran...
“Please guide me, Fran!”
Ander raised his training sword.
“Hmph! I'll certainly 'guide' you. Get on the ground—!”
“Wind Blade!”
As she spoke, Fran launched a surprise attack—a tactic she had just learned from the instructors a few days prior.
As the green wind blade hurtled toward Ander at an incredible speed, not only the students but also many of the teachers lost their composure.
This was no joke! If they weren't careful, someone could actually get killed!
“Instructor Kunon! This seems bad. If this goes on, an accident might happen. Please stop them!”
Kunon gave the teacher a baffled look.
“Stop them? Why? I recall stating that this is a practical combat course when we first established it a year ago, did I not?”
“What?! Instructor Kunon, you—!”
The teacher was extremely anxious.
“Instructor Collette, please talk some sense into Instructor Kunon! We can't allow bloodshed to occur in our school!”
Collette, who was thoroughly enjoying the show, blinked and said with a smile, “I think Instructor Kunon is right~. Isn't this what practical combat is all about? If you can't use magic, it's not real combat~!”
“Ah, Instructor Collette, even you—”
“Yahaha~, don't worry so much~! Relax, Instructor Kunon and I are right here. We'll step in if things get critical. Nothing bad will happen~!”
“You two... Sigh!”
The anxious teacher sighed helplessly, having no choice but to trust Collette's reassurance.
While the teachers were arguing, the battle between Fran and Ander did not halt.
Seeing the high-speed wind blade rushing toward him, Ander didn't even think. He threw himself to the ground and rolled to the side.
The wind blade flew right past his scalp.
After scrambling back to his feet, Ander felt a lingering sense of dread.
“Fran, were you trying to kill me just now...?”
“Tch! Aren't you still perfectly fine? If you really wanted to die, then why did you dodge?!”
“You... are right. This is a practical combat assessment, and I was being too naive. I'll have to take this seriously now.”
“Ha! As if I'm afraid of you! Just hurry up and get knocked out!”
Since they were forbidden from using their own weapons and had to use training weapons, Fran simply used her wooden training sword as if it were her usual wand.
“Wind Blade—!”
A green wind blade materialized before Fran once again.
“Don't think that'll work a second time!”
“Fireball—!”
On the other side, Ander also cast his magic.
Boom—!
The fireball and the wind blade collided in mid-air, causing an explosion. The expanding flames instantly obscured both of their fields of vision.
Taking advantage of this moment, Ander rapidly closed the distance to Fran.
If it were a pure contest of magic, he might not necessarily beat Fran. But in close-quarters combat, not even ten Frans would be a match for him.
However, Fran was no fool either. She knew her own weaknesses well.
The moment they lost sight of each other, she immediately began chanting her next spell in preparation. As soon as Ander showed himself, she would strike him down immediately.
Whoosh—!
On the right—!
“Wind Blade—!”
Ander's figure appeared to Fran's right, rapidly closing in. She immediately released her prepared spell.
“I was waiting for you—! Fireball—!”
But Ander was not unprepared either. To prevent any surprises, he had also readied a Fireball.
Boom—!
The fireball and wind blade exploded in the air once more. Since the two were much closer this time, both were caught in the blast's residual flames.
This scene instantly broke the watching students and many teachers into a cold sweat.
“I-Instructor Collette, should we really not stop this?”
“No need! Relax, everything will be fine~!”
Collette replied with complete nonchalance, leaving the other teachers grumbling in their minds.
Where was there any cause for reassurance in that!
The moment Fran saw Ander unleash his Fireball simultaneously, she knew things were bad. She immediately began running along the edge of the arena, trying to maintain her distance while rapidly chanting a new spell.
Whoosh—!
“Don't even think about running!”
A voice called out from behind.
Fran looked back, only to see Ander charging right through the lingering flames.
“Eek?! What is wrong with you?! Ah, oh no—!”
In her shock, her half-prepared magic fell apart. Feeling a wave of regret, she immediately restarted her chant.
However, that brief delay ultimately cost her the victory.
“Wind Barrier—!”
“Too slow!”
Just a split second before Fran could unleash her magic, Ander caught up to her. He swept his sword in a wide arc, knocking her flat to the ground, causing her gathering magic to fizzle out completely.
Ander breathed a sigh of relief, then extended his wooden sword, pointing it at Fran's throat.
“I win—!”
“...”
The training ground fell silent for a brief moment, but in the next, the students erupted into cheers.
“So powerful!”
“That was amazing!”
“Both of them are so strong!”
“Ander won after all! Go, Ander! Take first place!”
Amidst the cheers of the students, Kunon stood up and announced, “This match goes to Ander!”
Hearing everyone's cheers, Ander rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, then offered a hand to the fallen Fran.
“Sorry, I went a bit too hard just now. Are you okay?”
Fran glared at his outstretched hand and scoffed.
“Hmph!”
She slapped his hand away, pushed herself up, and brushed the dust off her clothes.
“Who needs your concern? I only lost because I was careless this time. I'll definitely win next time!”
With that, Fran spun around and stormed off.
“Ah...”
Watching her depart, Ander let out a helpless laugh.
After a brief rest of a few minutes, the final match began.
Ander versus Shulim.
Unlike Fran, Shulim simply stood there quietly holding her sword, with no intention of launching a surprise attack.
Ander looked at her stance—seemingly casual, yet offering not a single opening—and his gaze grew more serious.
“...Shulim, come to think of it, this is our first time fighting officially, isn't it?”
Shulim nodded. “That's correct.”
“Everyone says I'm the strongest, but I know you're far more than meets the eye, Shulim. Am I right?”
Shulim didn't answer.
Ander didn't mind. He slowly raised his sword, adopting an offensive stance.
“My apologies, but I'll be going all out from here on. I hope you'll show your real strength too. I don't want to be the 'strongest' in name only.”
“Is that so? Alright then...”
Shulim tilted her head, reluctantly agreeing.
“Here I come—!”
The moment Shulim gave her reply, Ander launched a sharp, fierce attack.
Closing the distance in an instant, he lowered his body and unleashed an upward diagonal slash.
Yet Shulim merely turned her head slightly to glance at him.
Whoosh—!
In a split second, the person before him vanished from sight.
Alarmed, Ander hurriedly rolled forward. As he flipped over, he unleashed the magic he had prepared in advance behind him.
“Fireball—!”
However,
Boom—!
The moment the fireball formed, before it could even fly a meter away, it suddenly exploded.
“Ah!”
The blast from such close proximity instantly sent Ander flying backward.
“Is it already over?”
A very calm voice sounded from above him.
Soot-faced, Ander looked up to see a young girl looking down at him. The wooden sword in her hand was pointed right at his throat—just as he had pointed his at Fran only moments earlier...
Rate on N.U.
