After that, we left the cafeteria to go to the first year building and headed to the 2nd floor of the building where there was an arena for the first match. Along the way to the second floor of the first year building, we chatted with Masahiko Kotaro.

  "Hey, what should I call you?," I asked.

  "Just call me Kotaro, Mr," Kotaro said.

  "Okay, Kotaro. First of all, can you stop calling me "Mr"? Somehow I feel like your boss," I said.

  "Ah, I'm sorry, Mr. It seems that I haven't been able to get rid of the habits from my home country. In my home country, strong people must be respected. Since Mr. Rid came in first place in the entrance exam, it's certain that Mr. Rid is very strong, especially since I also saw your performance during the previous 3rd exam. Your sword skills are amazing. Therefore, I call you using "Mr". Not only Mr. Rid, Mr. Noa, Mr. Charles, Mr. Enzo and Miss Chloe too, you are very strong," Kotaro said.

  "I see, you're used to the culture in your home country so you call me "Mr". But I prefer it if you just call me by my name. After all, we're both students at this academy. It's okay if you can't call me by my name yet, just do it slowly," I said.

  "Me too. I don't want to be called "prince" at this academy. Let alone "Mr"," Charles said.

  "I don't want to either," said Enzo, Noa and Chloe.

  "It's like they said. They and I don't like being called Mr or miss. So just start calling us by our names, Kotaro," I said.

  "O-okay," said Kotaro.

  "By the way, Kotaro. According to the introduction in class earlier, you are from the country of Kaminari, right? That country is across the sea. It is true that there is usually a quota for children from outside San Fulgen, but I'm not sure if the country of Kaminari, which is across the sea, also gets a quota to take the exam. So how did you manage to take the entrance exam?," Charles asked.

  "Yes, I used to live there. But since 3 years ago, I moved and lived in the port city of San Quentine. So because I live in the San Fulgen area, I can take the test at this academy too," Kotaro said.

  "Oh, is that so, by the way you speak, it's very formal, like a warrior. Is your family a family of warriors, Kotaro?," Charles said.

  "When I was still living in Kaminari, yes. My father and mother were swordsmen. Swordsmen is a nickname for people who are experts in martial arts and weapons and are tasked with protecting the citizens of Kaminari. Maybe the same as the royal soldiers here. But now that we live in San Fulgen, my father and mother prefer to become merchants rather than continuing their duties as swordsmen because they are in different countries too. So now it's my turn to continue my father and mother's duties. Indeed, I can't be a swordsman in this kingdom but I can still be a soldier in this kingdom. Even so, the path of a swordsman in me will not disappear," said Kotaro.

  "I see. That's a good reason," said Charles.

  "That's why as a swordsman I want to compete with Mr. Rid, ah I mean compete with Rid," said Kotaro.

  "Rather than daily matches, you can just invite me to spar. So if you lose, at least there will be no point deductions," I said.

  "You should know, Mr. Rid. The fighting sensation during training and real matches will definitely be different. That's why I prefer to propose a daily match," said Kotaro.

  "I see. Well, you're right, the sensation will definitely be different," I said.

  "He called me "Mr" again," I thought.

  After that, we arrived at the first year building and immediately went to the 2nd floor. On the second floor there was an arena that resembled the arena during the third stage of the entrance exam, but this arena looked wider. In this arena it was very quiet, only 1 person was seen sitting in the audience seat, it seemed that person was the supervisor for the daily matches on this floor. We approached the supervisor. The supervisor seemed to know that we were going to come to him and the supervisor immediately got up from his seat.

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  "Wow, wow, it looks like you guys are here to have a daily match. Hmmm there's Prince Charles, Princess Chloe and young master Enzo too, apparently," said the supervisor.

  "Please don't call me that when I'm still a student here, Mr. supervisor," said Charles.

  Chloe and Enzo also nodded.

  "Hahaha okay. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Elgin Durant, as you can see, I am the supervisor for the daily matches in the first year building second floor. So are you here to do a daily match or just to watch," said the supervisor Elgin.

  "We're here to do a daily match," said Charles.

  "Oh, that's great. You are the first people to do a daily match in this first year. Because since earlier on the 2nd floor until the 5th floor, there has been no report of a daily match. So, princ- ahem I mean Charles, who do you want to fight in this daily match?," asked the supervisor Elgin.

  "Eh- ah I'm just here to drop off my friend, I'm not the one who will compete," said Charles.

  "Oh is that so, so who will compete?," asked the supervisor Elgin.

  "I'm the one who will compete, my name is Rid Archie," I said while raising my hand.

  "Rid Archie? Oh, so you're the one who got first place in the academy entrance exam. Wow, I didn't expect that you would also be the first person to do a daily match. Then who will be your opponent?," said the supervisor Elgin.

  "The opponent is me, sir. My name is Masahiko Kotaro," Kotaro said while raising his hand as well.

  "Okay, then let's go straight to the arena. For the audience, please sit in the audience seats," said the supervisor Elgin.

  Kotaro and I followed supervisor Elgin to the arena. When we arrived at the arena, supervisor Elgin explained the rules for this daily match.

  "The rules for this daily match are almost the same as the rules for the third stage of the entrance exam. The difference is that during the entrance exam if you win but you are injured, your points will be deducted. In this daily match, there are no point deductions for winners who are injured or exhausted. The winner will get full points. You are not allowed to use fatal attacks or magic on your opponent that could cause serious injury or death. There are no supervisors here who can heal your wounds after the match, usually after the match you will be told to go to the center building to get healing or you can heal yourself if you can use healing magic. The winner will be determined if you manage to defeat your opponent by making him faint, his opponent surrenders or the supervisor himself stops the match if the supervisor has found the winner,"

  "Are there any questions?" asked the supervisor Elgin.

  "None," we both said.

  "Hey, Kotaro. How about we make a bet? If I win, you have to do one of my requests and if I lose, I'll do one of your requests. How is it?," I said.

  "What's that you mean, suddenly making a bet?," Kotaro asked.

  "There's no particular reason, so how do you want it or not?," I asked.

  "Okay then, I'll take it," Kotaro said.

  "Okay, we're in agreement," I said.

  "Okay then, the daily match begins," said the supervisor Elgin.

  The supervisor Elgin moved to the edge of the arena.

  "Okay then, I'll start," Kotaro said.

  - Speed ??Boost -

  - ?Wind Magic, Apply Magic Weapon, Wind Sword -

  Kotaro moved quickly towards me while channeling wind magic into his sword.

  - Masahiko Art : Maple Tree Wind Slash-

  A slash was launched at me, but I blocked it with my sword. A very strong gust of wind appeared after our swords clashed.

  "'Masahiko Art'? Is this your family technique, Kotaro?," I asked.

  "Yes, that's right. I didn't expect you to be able to block it. It's no surprise since you're the top rank in the entrance exam," Kotaro said.

  We continued to clash swords until Kotaro was finally pushed back because the pressure of my sword was stronger than his.

  - ?Masahiko Art : ?Maple Leaf Slash -

  Kotaro moved towards me again and launched his slash but I managed to block it again. Even though I blocked it, he continued to launch slashes that were like consecutive slashes. He launched the slashes continuously, but I managed to hold them back until he finally stopped.

  "You're really great, Mr. Rid," Kotaro said.

  "Didn't I tell you earlier not to call me "Mr."?," I said.

  "Ah sorry, I reflexively did it because I saw how strong you are," Kotaro said.

  "Hmmm because you're serious and not an annoying person like Javier. Then I'll be serious from the start too. Try to hold this, Kotaro," I said.

  "Huh?," Kotaro said confused.

  I moved quickly towards Kotaro, Kotaro also seemed surprised to see me who was suddenly in front of him.

  "What?!?!," Kotaro said in surprise.

  - Sword Art, Half Moon Slash -

  I slashed Kotaro with a sword slash that formed a half moon shape. Kotaro intended to block the slash with his sword, but he was thrown against the wall of the arena. He seemed to sit down after hitting the wall of the arena, but he did not faint. But he suffered quite a wound because he hit the wall of the arena, especially since he didn't activate defense magic or defense boost beforehand. After that, Kotaro slowly got up.

  "You are indeed amazing, Mr. Rid. It seems impossible to defeat you. Therefore, I surrender," said Kotaro.

  "Daily match between Rid Archie and Masahiko Kotaro, the winner is Rid Archie," said the supervisor Elgin.

  -To be continued