“……”
Hulim Heyerar blinked in surprise, then silently sheathed the weapon she had just drawn and walked off the arena.
Next, Fran and Ander stepped onto the field.
Unlike the previous match that ended before it began, this one was charged with tension—though most of that hostility came from Fran alone.
“Lady Fran, I ask for your guidance!”
Ander raised his sword in a formal stance.
“Hmph~! I’ll give you more than just guidance—stay down!!”
“Wind Blade!”
Without hesitation, Fran launched a surprise attack, using a spell she had only just learned from her instructor a few days prior.
As the green Wind Blade hurtled toward Ander at blistering speed, not only the students but even several instructors paled.
This was no joke! One wrong move, and someone could be seriously hurt!
“Professor Kuno! This is dangerous! Something terrible could happen—please stop the match at once!”
Kuno glanced at the panicking instructor with a look of bewilderment.
“Stop it? Why? I believe I stated clearly when this course began a year ago that this is a practical combat class, did I not?”
“What?! Professor Kuno, you—!”
The instructor was beside himself with anxiety.
“Professor Colette, please reason with him! We cannot have bloodshed on school grounds!”
Colette, who had been watching the fight with great amusement, blinked and then smiled warmly.
“I believe Professor Kuno is quite right~. That is what practical combat is, after all. What’s the point of holding back magic in a real fight~!”
“Ah, even you, Professor Colette—”
“Hehe~, there’s no need to fret~! Rest assured, with Professor Kuno and I here, we will intervene if it comes to it. No one will come to harm~!”
“You two…… sigh—!”
The anxious instructor could only heave a helpless sigh, choosing to trust Colette’s promise.
While the instructors argued, the battle between Fran and Ander raged on uninterrupted.
Seeing the high-speed Wind Blade bearing down on him, Ander did not hesitate. He dropped flat to the ground and rolled sharply to the side.
The Wind Blade sliced past mere inches above his scalp.
As he climbed back to his feet, Ander felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
“Lady Fran, were you trying to kill me just now……”
“Tch! You’re still alive, aren’t you?! If you wanted to die so badly, you shouldn’t have dodged!”
“You…… you’re right. This is a practical combat match, and I was being naive. I will fight seriously from here on out.”
“Hah—! As if I’m afraid of you! Stay down and forfeit!!”
Since official personal weapons were forbidden in the match, and only training gear was permitted, Fran simply used her wooden practice sword as a substitute for her wand, mimicking the grip and motion she was used to.
“Wind Blade——!”
Another green Wind Blade coalesced in front of Fran.
“You won’t get away with that a second time!”
“Fireball——!”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
On his side, Ander unleashed his own magic in response.
BOOM——!
The fireball and Wind Blade collided midair, erupting in a violent explosion. The spreading flames from the blast instantly obscured both combatants’ vision.
Seizing the opportunity, Ander closed the distance between himself and Fran at top speed.
In a pure magical duel, he was not certain he could defeat her. But in close-quarters combat, ten Frans would be no match for him.
Fran, however, was no fool. She knew her own weaknesses all too well.
The moment their lines of sight were cut off, she immediately began chanting her next spell, ready to strike the instant Ander reappeared.
WHOOSH——!
To his right——!
“Wind Blade——!”
Ander’s figure materialized to her right, closing in fast. She wasted no time in unleashing the prepared spell.
“I’ve been waiting for this——! Fireball——!”
But Ander had not come unprepared either. He had a Fireball at the ready, just in case.
BOOM——!
The fireball and Wind Blade exploded in the air once more. This time, both fighters were close enough to be caught in the fiery backlash.
The sight sent chills down the spines of the watching students and many of the instructors.
“P-Professor Colette, do we truly not need to stop this?!”
“No need at all, rest easy~!”
Colette replied with careless cheer, leaving the other instructors muttering uneasily to themselves.
There was nothing reassuring about this situation at all!
The second she saw Ander cast Fireball simultaneously, Fran knew she was in trouble. She immediately began circling the edge of the arena, attempting to keep her distance while rapidly chanting a new incantation.
WHOOSH——!
“Don’t run!”
A voice rang out from behind her.
Fran spun around, only to see Ander charging straight through the lingering flames, enduring the residual heat to close in.
“Eep?! What is wrong with you?! Ah, no——!”
Her moment of shock caused her to lose focus, and the half-cast spell fizzled out completely. Frustration surged within her as she restarted her incantation at once.
But that single moment of hesitation cost her the match.
“Wind Barrier——!”
“Too slow!”
In the instant before Fran’s magic could fully activate, Ander caught up to her. He swung his sword in a horizontal arc, knocking her to the ground, and the glowing light of her brewing magic vanished instantly.
Ander let out a relieved breath, then extended his wooden sword, pressing the tip to Fran’s neck.
“I am the winner——!”
“……”
The training grounds fell silent for a heartbeat, then erupted in cheers from the students.
“Incredible!”
“That was amazing!”
“Both of them are so strong!”
“Ander won, just like we thought! Go Ander, take first place!”
Amid the students’ shouts, Kuno stood and declared: “This match, Ander is the victor!”
Ander scratched the back of his head awkwardly at the cheers, then reached out a hand to Fran, who was still on the ground.
“I’m sorry. I was a little too rough just now. Are you all right?”
Fran stared at his outstretched hand, then let out a cold huff.
“Hmph~!”
She slapped his hand away sharply, climbed to her feet on her own, and brushed the dust off her clothes.
“As if I need your concern! I only lost because I let my guard down. Next time, I will defeat you for sure!”
With that, Fran turned on her heel and stormed off in a fury.
“Uh……”
Ander smiled helplessly as he watched her retreating figure.
After a few minutes of rest,
the final match began.
Ander versus Hulim Heyerar.
Unlike Fran, Hulim stood quietly with her sword in hand, showing no intention whatsoever of launching a surprise attack.
Ander studied her seemingly casual stance, which in reality held not a single flaw, and his expression grew solemn.
“……Lady Hulim, I believe this is our first official match, is it not?”
Hulim nodded. “That is correct.”
“Everyone says I am the strongest among us, but I know you are far more than you appear, aren’t you?”
Hulim did not respond.
Ander paid it no mind, slowly raising his sword into an offensive stance.
“I apologize in advance, but I will be fighting with my full power. I hope you will do the same. I have no desire to be a ‘strongest’ in name only.”
“Is that so? Very well……”
Hulim tilted her head and agreed, almost reluctantly.
“Take this——!”
The instant Hulim finished speaking, Ander launched a sharp, aggressive attack.
He closed the distance in a flash, ducking low and slashing upward in a diagonal arc.
Yet Hulim merely turned her head slightly to glance at him.
WHOOSH——!
In the blink of an eye, the figure before him vanished entirely.
Ander’s heart jolted in alarm. He rolled forward abruptly, and as he flipped back to his feet, he unleashed a pre-prepared spell toward the space behind him.
“Fireball——!”
However,
BOOM——!
The fireball had barely formed and traveled a meter before detonating spontaneously.
“Aah!”
The flames, exploding at such close range, sent Ander flying backward.
“Is it over already?”
A calm, neutral voice sounded from above him.
Covered in ash and dirt, Ander looked up to see the young woman standing over him, her wooden sword pointed at his neck—exactly as he had done to Fran moments before……
