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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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He had said, ‘It can’t be proven without a fight.’
And the strategy she was about to employ was based on that very principle.
‘I have to succeed.’
For the past few weeks, she had practiced extensively for this operation. It was a strategy that demanded intense focus; there couldn’t be even the slightest lapse.
The moment she showed a gap, it would be as good as a failure.
‘Focus.’
From the moment she entered her opponent’s field of vision, the operation had already begun.
They might wonder what had begun when they hadn’t even clashed yet, but for her, it had definitely started.
She was already focusing all her nerves, from the tips of her toes to every strand of hair.
‘First, the gait.’
Footwork was a crucial element in swordsmanship. From determining the positions of oneself and the opponent to attack and defense, everything began with footwork.
That’s why a swordsman’s skill could be discerned from their gait.
‘He said to encroach on the opponent’s space.’
She still didn’t fully understand what that meant. But she didn’t need to worry about it. It seemed like space wasn’t that important for her sword.
Unlike ordinary swordsmen, her sword didn’t need to be concerned with such things, so Allen’s instruction was to walk as boldly as possible.
‘As boldly as possible.’
Wide strides without a single hesitation, as if she could attack at any moment without even looking for an opening. Her expression and posture also needed to exude confidence.
‘Have conviction.’
That was her biggest weakness, as he had pointed out. Before, she had been quite cautious because of the Overload trait, which caused her relic to break. But now, things were different.
‘Sky Cutter.’
Just thinking about that word made her confidence surge. Moreover, even though this was reality, she could strengthen her relic without hesitation. It was the graduation competition, after all.
‘Even if it breaks, I’ll receive a new relic.’
Of course, she didn’t think any hero would readily pass down a relic to her after seeing her break one. But Allen had told her not to worry about it. If he said so, then she didn’t need to worry.
‘So…’
The final step. She drew Sacred Replicant from its sheath. And then, she used the only ability she had.
‘Overload.’
To its maximum. A sinister aura began to emanate from the sword. Yes, with this much…
‘There should be a reaction.’
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His opponent was Yuseora. When he first saw the match-up, his mind was filled with despair.
While half of the students participating in the competition would inevitably face someone with a higher rank, he had hoped it wouldn’t be him.
‘And of all people, Yuseora.’
Against others, he could at least exchange a few blows. But he had already experienced Yuseora’s power in mock battles and knew that it was on a completely different level.
‘It’ll be over in one hit.’
It was an attack that defied the concept of blocking. In a match against her, he shouldn’t worry about losing, but about surviving.
‘What should I do?’
He had already requested a change of opponent, but it hadn’t been granted. It seemed like his only option was to forfeit if he couldn’t do it. However…
‘I don’t want to forfeit.’
It was a hard-earned opportunity to participate in the graduation competition. Of course, he would still become a full-fledged hero even if he gave up this chance, but he would lose the opportunity for inheritance from numerous established heroes.
However, he wasn’t sure if that was more valuable than his life.
‘I’m not even sure if someone like me can receive an inheritance.’
There were already many candidates ranked above him.
Would his turn even come after they all received their inheritances? And even if it did, would receiving an inheritance that way be beneficial?
‘Maybe it’s better to just quietly receive a relic from the church.’
He had heard many stories of heroes whose lives were ruined by being stuck with strange relics after receiving a bad inheritance.
Of course, receiving an inheritance meant inheriting not only a relic but also the hero’s rank, so it wasn’t that he wasn’t disappointed.
‘Then let’s do this.’
No matter how strong she was, she wasn’t without weaknesses. One of them was that the relic she used would break from the strain of its own power.
Because of this, while she had displayed formidable power in mock battles, this time might be different.
‘If she knows what’s good for her relic…’
The relic she used was a sword said to be a replica of the holy sword, created by Heinz Armanus, the principal of the Hero Academy and a former hero.
Known to have a total of 101 copies, the sword was famous for being given by the church to promising heroes or hero candidates who lacked relics.
But would she really break such a sword in front of all the other heroes?
‘Well…’
He didn’t think so, not unless she had generous backing.
So he decided to participate in the match, but only to confirm one thing. Whether she would use that ability or not.
‘If she doesn’t use it, there might be hope for me.’
The hope he held onto began to crumble little by little from the moment he entered the arena.
‘What’s this…?’
The moment she appeared, the atmosphere changed. He didn’t know why, but every time she took a step forward, he felt as if the space he was standing in was being swept away.
It felt like he was standing in a place where he shouldn’t be.
This wouldn’t do.
‘Don’t be intimidated.’
The match hadn’t even started yet. He was clearly intimidated by her still-sheathed sword.
He forced himself to take a step and continued walking towards the center of the arena. Yuseora’s figure grew closer. At that moment, her lips moved slightly.
‘What did she mutter?’
That was when it happened. The atmosphere around Yuseora changed once again. If it had felt like the water was up to his knees before, now it felt like it was up to his chest.
‘Why?’
Even Yuseora shouldn’t feel this powerful without using her ability. That’s how it had been at the beginning of the academy training.
But the strength emanating from Yuseora now was overwhelmingly vivid.
‘This is like…’
Like the time he had encountered a high-ranking hero by chance. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find a single opening in her stance.
Her posture was as natural as if it was ingrained in her very being.
‘No, I don’t know yet.’
Still, he didn’t want to forfeit. It would be incredibly humiliating to forfeit in front of so many heroes. Even if she did use that ability…
Clang
Yuseora drew her sword. A sinister energy began to seep into the blade. It was her ability.
‘So she’s using it after all.’
He still didn’t know for sure. She might control the intensity to prevent the relic from breaking immediately. But the energy permeating the sword only grew stronger.
‘Damn, is she trying to finish me off?’
The energy emanating from the sword began to surge around her, no longer just contained within the blade. It was so intense that he could feel it on his skin.
Having experienced her strike with this ability in a mock battle, he knew exactly what it meant.
‘If she swings that sword now, it’ll reach even here.’
Fear gradually consumed him. His mentality, already weakened by her overwhelming presence, was fragile.
‘Can the support mages even block that? Even if they do, I’ll still lose. Is this even a match worth fighting?’
Faced with the overwhelming aura, any thought of fighting had vanished. Negative thoughts amplified in his mind, and the result poured out of his mouth.
“I forfeit.”
Yes, nothing was more important than his life.
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“I forfeit.”
As those words echoed, I leaned against the passage connecting the audience seats to the outside and watched the arena, feeling a slight sense of relief.
‘So the premise of the operation is established.’
Nothing could be proven without a direct confrontation. But not everyone could risk their life for proof.
Using that, the premise of this operation was to make a relatively weak opponent, who wouldn’t be able to withstand Yuseora’s full power, forfeit.
‘Of course, even against an opponent like that, it would be possible for her to launch at least one attack.’
But I didn’t think the support mages here could block it. And only Yuseora and I knew that. No, perhaps even Yuseora herself didn’t fully realize it.
So, in a way, this operation was also for that unlucky guy. I didn’t want bloodshed in the competition.
‘That was close.’
Yuseora, entering the arena, had successfully overwhelmed her opponent as I had taught her. But when he muttered “Sky Cutter,” I couldn’t help but feel a chill.
‘I told her to stop saying that.’
However, it was true that her confidence had surged because of it. Thanks to that, she was able to easily induce the forfeit. Perhaps it was time for me to give up on that.
‘No, give up what?’
If I heard “Sky Cutter” during a battle, my concentration would break. It was too early to give up, if only to prevent that. I had to find a way for her to not rely on that word.
‘I’ll think about that later…’
For now, there was something more important. It was time to move on to the next stage of the plan.
‘Yuseora’s match ending like this won’t accomplish anything.’
I intended to utilize a specific rule of the graduation competition. A rule created for opponents who forfeited without showcasing anything.
‘It’s practically a privilege.’
Then, the announcer’s voice echoed, signaling the application of that rule.
[Due to the forfeit, Yuseora is granted the qualification of a challenger.]
The so-called Challenger Rule. It was a rule unfamiliar to even the heroes in the audience, as forfeits were rare in the graduation competition.
The conversations around me proved it.
“A challenger? There was such a rule?”
“I heard it was created when someone forfeited against Lady Stella for the first time… but this is the first time I’m seeing it in person.”
The announcer explained the rule in detail for those who were unfamiliar.
[The heroes present are now eligible to accept Yuseora’s challenge. Any hero who wishes to accept her challenge can raise their hand. After a certain amount of time, Yuseora will choose her opponent from among those who have volunteered.]
The heroes began to show interest.
“We can fight a candidate?”
“When I was a candidate, it was my dream to stand in the graduation competition.”
“But is she really that strong? It didn’t seem like it was to the point of forfeiting.”
On the other hand, there were also heroes who didn’t seem interested in participating.
“Isn’t it embarrassing to lose to a candidate?”
“Are you scared?”
“That candidate’s sword was a little strange. It was clearly an ordinary Sacred Replicant, but…”
Despite that, volunteers continued to raise their hands. The announcer confirmed each volunteer and took down their names.
[…Hugo, ranked 86th among heroes.]
Exclamations arose when a high-ranking hero appeared. It was only natural, as this was a rare spectacle for the heroes.
But not for Yuseora and me.
[Are there any more volunteers?]
Yes, there was still one left. Yuseora needed a worthy opponent to fully showcase her ability and obtain ‘that relic.’
‘Then…’
I apologized to everyone who was excited, but Yuseora’s opponent was already decided. I pushed myself off the wall I was leaning against, stepped forward, and raised my hand.
Since the number of volunteers was dwindling, the announcer quickly called on me.
[The blonde gentleman near the passage?]
I told him my name.
“Allen Blake.”
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