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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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To the average student, Lemnos, wielding his flamboyant Flame Blade, seemed to have the upper hand. I, without using Aura Blade, appeared to be desperately dodging, unable to mount a proper counterattack.
“Lemnos is overwhelming!”
“Look at that little person, so cocky before, now he’s just running away!”
“Can’t he even use Aura Blade?!”
“Finish him, Lemnos!”
The crowd overwhelmingly favored Lemnos. It was understandable. He was a Five Pillar, not just any noble. Supporting Atlas was risky, regardless of the duel’s outcome. The odds, initially close, had shifted to 2:8 in Lemnos’s favor by the time betting closed. The intimidating Atlas from the hallway seemed much smaller in the vast arena.
River, supporting Atlas, felt the pressure.
“Will Atlas be alright?”
“He’ll win.”
She answered Amy’s question without hesitation. It looked like Lemnos was on the offensive, Atlas merely dodging. But River, having sparred with him numerous times, saw the calmness in his eyes, the lack of any significant hits landed by Lemnos.
“Atlas defeated me.”
“I mean… even if he wins against Lemnos, the other Five Pillars won’t let him get away with this…”
River, realizing the misunderstanding, coughed awkwardly.
“He… he must have considered that…”
This wasn’t just a no-win situation. It was a lose-lose situation. Atlas must have a plan.
I’ll deal with them later.
I memorized the faces of those who mocked me, calling me “little person” and “cockroach.” These students were blind. They couldn’t see how thoroughly I was dominating Lemnos, still believing he had the advantage. Was it because I wasn’t using Aura Blade? Any experienced swordsman would understand the disrespect of facing an Aura Blade with an ordinary longsword. I couldn’t comprehend their blindness.
The pattern continued. Lemnos attacked, I dodged. The only difference was…
“Your side is open.”
-Thwack!
“Ugh!”
I punctuated my dodges with punches to his exposed flanks. A punch for every missed swing. Maintaining the Flame Blade drained his stamina, and the repeated blows to his ribs, shins, and wrists were taking their toll.
“Pick it up. It’s not over yet.”
“I know…!”
Lemnos, after being knocked down by a blow to his shin, retrieved his Flamberge and stood up. The blade flared, but the flames lacked their initial intensity. He dropped his sword again, and I kicked it back to him.
The crowd’s reaction was priceless. They had initially favored Lemnos, but now, sensing the shift in momentum, they began to murmur. Their initial confidence in Lemnos’s victory was wavering.
“Your leg is open.”
-Slice.
“Gah!”
This time, I used my longsword, slicing deep into his exposed calf. I wanted to take the whole ankle, but this was more humiliating. He buckled, his left knee hitting the ground.
“Ha… ha…”
He was nearing his limit. The Flamberge flickered weakly. His arms trembled as he supported himself, blood seeping from his wound. And before him, I stood, calm and composed, waiting.
“This… isn’t… over…!”
He struggled to his feet, balancing precariously on his right leg. He raised his sword, but his trembling hand and unstable stance prevented any proper technique.
“Haaaah!”
I sidestepped his slow, telegraphed overhead swing and kicked his supporting leg.
“Gah!”
He collapsed pathetically onto the sandy floor. Covered in dust, his body trembled. It was time to end this.
He slammed his fist into the sand.
“Why… why can’t I win…!”
His voice trembled with frustration. He had poured his life into swordsmanship, confident in his superiority, and this defeat was incomprehensible. And it wasn’t just a loss. I had defeated him with ordinary swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, without even using Aura Blade. His family’s secret sword techniques, his prized Flamberge—it was a crushing blow to his ego.
“You want to know why?”
But had he really dedicated his life to the sword?
“That attitude is the first reason.”
I sounded like an old man, but at his age, I was pushing myself relentlessly in the Knights, achieving feats beyond my years. It was all driven by my desire for height, but I was never ashamed of my dedication.
This world rewards obsession.
A little talent, unwavering determination, and self-justification were all it took to overcome any obstacle. Few understood this.
“You poured your life into the sword? Really? Then what’s with this childish power play? Why are you so focused on your peers when you should be striving for greater heights?”
He should be focusing on improving, not strutting around, puffed up with pride over his dominance among his peers. If he wanted to be stronger, he should be training, not wasting time on petty squabbles. His priorities were messed up.
“You… you dare judge my efforts?!”
He struggled to his feet, his voice filled with indignation.
“You might not understand now, but…”
He would understand eventually, when his anger subsided, when he realized he was looking down, seeking comfort in his superiority over those below him, instead of striving to reach the summit.
“Think about it. In bed.”
-BAM!
My fist connected with his gut. He flew through the air, crashing into the wall, just like yesterday in the hallway. He lay still.
I won.
-Edgar Lemnos is incapacitated. The winner is Atlas Nemea.
The announcement echoed through the arena. I waited for the fanfare.
“Agh! My money!!!”
“This is rigged!!!”
“I put my entire student loan on this! No!!!”
The cries of gamblers who bet on Lemnos filled the arena. They were lamenting their losses, cursing me, but I reveled in their despair. This was the fanfare I’d been waiting for. Cry louder. I remembered every insult they hurled at me during the duel.
Nobody forced you to gamble.
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Andy, beaming, greeted me as I left the arena. He had bet his monthly salary… I hadn’t seen the final odds, but he must have made a fortune.
“Kya~! You still got it! A Royal Knight wouldn’t lose to some Five Pillar brat!”
“Looks like you won big. Buy me a drink later.”
“I’ll get kicked out if I enter a bar with you.”
-Thwack!
I punched him in the gut. Like Lemnos, his torso was an easier target than his face.
“Gah!”
“Senior, watch your mouth.”
“You just hit me!”
“That wasn’t even a real hit.”
I was still annoyed about being kicked out of a bar after I turned eighteen. It had actually happened.
“Oops, gotta run… I’ll buy you that drink later!”
He vanished as footsteps approached from down the hallway. Our senior-junior relationship was still a secret.
“Atlas!”
River and Amy appeared. River, her face beaming, waved excitedly.
“To face the Flame Blade without using Aura Blade… amazing! The other students were groaning every time you gained an advantage! It was hilarious! You should have seen their faces!”
“I heard their praises at the end. That’s enough.”
“The half-swording was unexpected. You can’t use that with Aura Blade, so it’s not taught anymore.”
“Lemnos probably didn’t learn it. That’s why it worked.”
“Your strategy against the Flame Blade was brilliant! An ordinary Aura Blade would be consumed by the flames, so refusing to engage directly… only someone with your skill could pull that off.”
River, usually so composed, was like a child, excitedly analyzing the duel. Amy seemed a bit down. Perhaps she felt guilty for not supporting me more actively.
She loved heroic tales, stories of overcoming adversity through strength and courage. And she loved imagining herself as the protagonist, which was why she enjoyed combat. Her “challenge me to a duel” attitude stemmed from this.
Her enthusiasm was endearing. I’d entertain her until my meeting with Lucia.
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It was a beautiful morning. I had won the duel, silenced my detractors, avoided the disciplinary committee, and secured my place at the Academy. As I walked to class after my morning training, I noticed students reading newspapers. It was an unusual sight.
Was it about the duel?
I bought a copy.
“What? The duel is invalid…? Atlas is being referred to the disciplinary committee for cheating…?”
The headline was about the duel, but the content…
These bastards…
I ripped the newspaper to shreds. I wouldn’t let them get away with this.
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Eh? But everyone was watching. And it’s not like he won so fast you couldn’t see what happened. Everyone knows exactly how he won. :/
Page break, on pov changes