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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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“Still, no.”
Tesha’s eyes, now resembling a rabbit’s, widened before she pouted.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to indulge Tesha.
But I had to resist, at least until I had figured out the truth about this transmigration. And I was worried about developing… unusual tendencies.
The most important thing was to find out the truth.
“Okay. A promise is a promise.”
An awkward silence fell between us. Tesha finished her tea, and we chatted for a while before she left.
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In the dormitory.
Tesha kicked her blankets, her face burning. She had made a fool of herself.
“I must have been crazy.”
The thought of her master made her body tingle. She had even dreamed of him.
And that was what had led to her mistake.
“He must think I’m so strange…”
She had crossed a line, and she had thought he had opened his heart to her. It had been a foolish assumption.
“He enjoyed it too, and now he’s drawing a line.”
Tesha was annoyed.
But it wasn’t a complete loss.
‘I’ll think about it if you can topple two hundred steel training dummies at once.’
He had given her a new condition.
It seemed like Ethan wanted her to become stronger.
‘Does Ethan like strong women?’
If so, it would explain his attraction to Sylvia.
‘Get a grip, Tesha. You’re a princess. You can’t be corrupted like this.’
Tesha reprimanded herself, yet she still wanted to be liked by Ethan. She was torn.
“I almost lost sight of my original purpose.”
Her path was clear. To restore the empire.
To raise its status and regain its former glory.
She had come to the academy to become stronger and earn recognition.
And she was becoming stronger. It wouldn’t be long before her father acknowledged her.
But rejection was still painful. Her emotions were in turmoil.
She suddenly had a thought. What if she became the empress?
‘If I become the empress… I can have you, Ethan.’
Then he would have to acknowledge her, accept her. Even if he refused, she could take him.
The emperor was the most powerful person in the empire.
Her golden eyes gleamed in the darkness. A smile touched her lips.
‘I’ll work even harder to win your heart.’
His rejection had only intensified her obsession.
And Ethan, oblivious to all of this, was peacefully eating fried chicken with Hessia.
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I stretched. It was the second day of the final exam.
I was in top condition.
I had been conserving my mana, and it had paid off.
“Good morning, Ethan.”
Tesha waved at me, a bright smile on her face. I remembered what had happened yesterday.
But she didn’t seem to be bothered by it.
She wasn’t at fault.
The author was the one to blame. How could he give such a cute girl a masochistic personality?
“Tesha, are you okay?”
She seemed different today. I felt a strange chill as she looked at me.
I shook my head.
It was probably just my imagination.
I looked towards the arena. Sepia, Tia, Anya, and Arthur and Arianna were approaching the stands.
“Is this seat taken?”
Reus, who had just arrived, pointed to the seat next to Arthur. Arthur smiled and nodded.
“Go ahead.”
Sonny, who was behind Reus, greeted Anya.
“Hello, Anya.”
“Sonny! It was a good fight yesterday.”
Anya also greeted Sonny. Sonny’s eyes were fixed on Anya’s hammer.
It was currently the size of a handheld hammer. Anya, noticing his gaze, quickly hid it behind her back.
He was still obsessed with her hammer.
He probably thought it was Ruyi Jingu Bang.
He was just a sad monkey with brown hair.
Anyway,
Today’s matches were about to begin. Sepia handed me a box of cookies.
They were misshapen, clearly made by a beginner.
“What’s this?”
“Cookies. I thought they’d be good to snack on while we watch the matches.”
Everyone thanked her and took a cookie. They weren’t very sweet.
But they were nutty and moist, just the way I liked them.
“They’re good. But why the sudden cookies?”
“It’s a thank you for the cake…”
I noticed the dark circles under Sepia’s eyes. And the cookies were too misshapen to have been made by Vivian.
“Did you make these yourself?”
“N-no! Of course not…”
Did Vivian not know how to make cookies?
Maybe she was good at main dishes but not pastries.
“Let’s begin today’s matches.”
The announcer’s voice echoed through the stadium. The matches began. We turned our attention to the arena.
The matches were decent, but not as exciting as yesterday’s.
Except for Arianna’s match. She was a skilled fighter. Let’s take a moment to pray for her opponent.
“Ethan, we should get ready.”
It was almost our turn. Arthur looked excited.
“And now, for the final match of the tournament! Arthur Pendragon vs. Ethan!”
We walked onto the stage. We placed our hands on the magic devices and were transported to the virtual arena.
“Ethan.”
Arthur grinned, a determined glint in his emerald eyes.
Arthur Pendragon, the protagonist of this novel.
The hero who would save the world. The future Sword Saint.
And my friend, the one I was closest to in this strange new world.
He stood before me, our gazes locked. The air crackled with anticipation and a strange sense of tension.
“I’ll do my best. Don’t hold back.”
“You too, Arthur.”
Arthur drew his sword. It was an Arken Steel Sword, just like mine.
I also drew my sword.
A blue aura enveloped Arthur, his blonde hair fluttering in the wind. I also released my mana, a surge of power coursing through me.
“Begin!”
Arthur charged forward with a roar.
“Haaa—!”
He was fast. Our blades clashed.
–Clang!
A shockwave ripped through the arena. Arthur followed up with a series of quick attacks.
I blocked them.
Sparks flew as our blades met.
Our strength and speed were evenly matched.
This would be a battle of concentration.
Arthur was smiling. I also felt a surge of excitement.
He aimed for my legs. I deflected his attack, and his sword struck the ground.
–Bang!
The stone floor cracked. Arthur, unfazed, unleashed a lightning spell.
I dodged to the side.
He immediately followed up with another attack. I leaped back, putting some distance between us.
His blade grazed my shirt. I sheathed my sword.
Arthur watched me, his expression curious. I lowered my stance and adjusted my grip on the hilt.
‘Linchester Swordsmanship, Seventh Form: Flash Draw.’
I charged towards Arthur. He lowered his sword, his stance seemingly open.
My sword flashed through the air.
It was a technique I had never used before. But Arthur reacted instantly.
–Clang!
He blocked my attack with a simple upward slash. His reaction speed was incredible.
He followed up with a mana-infused kick aimed at my stomach. I blocked it with my knee.
–Thud!
The impact sent us stumbling back.
My wrist and knee ached. My heart pounded, and my breath came in ragged gasps.
But my focus sharpened. Every cell in my body was alive.
And I was enjoying this.
“Ethan, it’s an honor to fight you.”
“Likewise, Arthur.”
We charged at each other again. Our blades clashed.
I Blinked behind him. We knew each other’s moves too well.
He spun and swung his sword as soon as I reappeared.
I had to retreat. I Blinked again, reappearing a short distance away.
‘Linchester Swordsmanship, Second Form: Sword Soul.’
A giant dragon made of blue mana surged towards him.
Arthur didn’t dodge. He raised his sword and brought it down.
His powerful mana clashed with the dragon.
We charged at each other again, our blades clashing.
‘Linchester Swordsmanship, Third Form: Swift Sword.’
Arthur met my fast attack with his own, his hands glowing with mana. He matched my speed and technique.
‘Linchester Swordsmanship, Fourth Form: Sword Dance.’
Even my fluid, dance-like movements couldn’t break through his defense.
He was waiting for an opening.
He didn’t dodge my next attack. He had been waiting for this.
I instinctively knew I couldn’t dodge.
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