*
The place where the grade exam was held.
On that stage, Blanc and I stood. Just like last time, a figure like a living shadow.
Outside the arena, Drake held his position just in case something unexpected happened.
In the circular seats resembling a Coliseum, students sat in a row.
Among them, there might be Pina and the Hero couple. If I lose here, who knows how far Blanc’s curse might go.
“Hey, Junior.”
“…”
I deliberately didn’t reply to the greeting. My expression was stiff under the helmet, and my hand gripping the sword tensed up. That person was clearly aiming for Pina rather than me.
‘It doesn’t matter who the identity of the Glass Knight is.’
Pina Grancia’s armor looked expensive to anyone. As Kainel mentioned before, it was obvious she was someone important.
But, nobles attending the Academy can also have that. It’s common enough. If she were the child of a duke or count, that could be the case.
Given there’s a proper record, she must be a player rather than just from the Hero Church. Laplace and the Sage wouldn’t be unaware of it either.
“Oh my, you’re not even going to respond to me? I’m feeling a bit hurt~.”
As soon as I glanced at Pina, Blanc’s interest was piqued, as if she recognized me as the protagonist.
“I quite like you, Junior!”
One thing’s for sure, she wasn’t my type. The most important aspect—her personality is just nuts.
Blanc chuckled. She spun a wavy dagger on her finger. Dust billowed up from the ground every time she swung it.
Seems likely it’s a sub-type of ‘Dream Knife’. It would be a tough fight against an artifact.
“The method is simple. You know we’re fighting with mana protection gear, right? If time runs out, the one with more left wins…”
“Shut up and let’s start.”
I didn’t want to hear her annoying laughter. More precisely, I dislike people who act like they’re part of the game and can do whatever they want.
“Is your personality fiery too…?”
Just because you’re following the main story blindly doesn’t mean game characters will fall in love.
That’s one reason why I had been indecisive with Pina before.
I wished Pina Grancia could love more freely. Just not like someone with burn scars like me.
But now, there’s no choice. I don’t want to get involved with someone like that.
I drew my sword. With a swish, the steel was pulled from my waist.
The blade reflected light off my black helmet. This would be the third time I’ve used this pure love injection. My gaze split between the sides.
‘First, I need to assess what I have.’
I had to figure out if she was a poison-wielding rogue or someone who relies on speed for quick strikes.
Blanc mixed in with gambler’s skills. There could be hidden cards up her sleeve.
If she’s the type to steal techniques or weapons, she could steal my Mind Sword. Drawing it recklessly could be dangerous. It might not be a true Holy Sword, but a steal wouldn’t be out of the question.
“Then we’ll begin the practice match!!”
Drake’s resounding voice snapped me back to reality. I kneeled and glared at my opponent in front of me.
“Well then, shall we give it a go? Junior?”
Blanc soared into the air, grabbing her daggers with both hands. She came down straight with a strike. If you don’t know she’s a rogue, it’s easy to fall for that move. I jumped up to block the dagger as well.
“Didn’t you know that iron swords don’t work?”
Cling! The short, dual blades struck at my neck like an X. Surprised that I blocked it, Blanc taunted. No, I knew very well.
As we landed back to back, my iron sword turned to dust. Not missing the gap, Blanc danced around, launching her flurry of attacks.
“Now you’re unarmed, huh? How pitiful.”
My breath hitched. She aimed for my legs, making a sharp cut at my right arm that held the sword, then lunging vertically for my carotid artery.
“Belief, Deduction.”
This had to make her think I was unarmed and let her guard down. I grabbed the cobalt-hued sword handle falling from the sky. And I quickly swung down to counter.
Lily Sword Technique. 4th Move. Clear Flow.
An all-out attack targeting the body’s weak points. Even with mana protection gear, it felt too blatant. I created a wave to disrupt the opponent’s balance.
“Ugh!”
I rushed in immediately, swinging my sword. A thrust aimed at her side. Thud! The sound of the mana protection gear crumbling echoed. Blanc barely managed to escape as she spun away from me.
iwwww-!
“Seems like catching the Demon King was no tall tale, was it?”
Under the pouring sky, Blanc laughed, releasing white breath.
Her movements were visibly different from a week ago. Something felt off. I cast a suspicious glance at Blanc.
“This is getting more interesting.”
A red die appeared in Blanc’s hand. No way, did she fight without boosting her stats? A ruby-like die sliced through the air. I had to block it.
“It’s too late, Junior!”
Though I rushed in with Wolf Fang, she caught my cobalt sword with both hands. Watching the numbers tumble on the ground, it was a 5 again.
“…You’re using underhanded tactics.”
“Oh my, how did you know?”
Typically, a die shows just three faces.
The common trick among those with gambling skills here is making one of the normal faces a 6.
“I had no intention of being fooled. Of course I knew.”
This jerk just made every face a 5. It’s an artifact, so it probably can’t show numbers above 6. To think she’d use two items and still wrangle with Pina about something.
“Still, if you lose here, is there anyone who will believe your words?”
The die could simply recover if it wins against me. Blanc’s movements sped up like before. The acceleration added more sharpness to her strikes. Whoosh! The sound of slicing wind was harsh.
“Let’s end this with throwing our faces to the classmates!”
Blanc’s violent assault targeted my helmet this time. The mana protection on my face got scratched. I couldn’t react fast enough. Trying to get into a stance to flit away was a miss.
Her daggers sharply attacked me. I must find a way out by trading flesh for bone. I couldn’t avoid the continuous strikes.
Even if I transformed into raindrops to escape, I just solidified into mud. Damn it, is this the effect of water and earth properties?
My longsword clashed with hers, and my mana protection gear became tattered. If I could just drop one sword…!
“Wow, you’re still holding on?”
Clang! Blanc knocked my dagger out of her right hand. She stomped on the falling dagger, preventing me from picking it up. I might have a chance of victory now.
“One sword is gone. Shall I borrow yours, Junior?”
“What…?”
Swish. My grip on the sword vanished. Before I could react, she leapt back to create some distance. Seems like a pickpocketing skill.
I knew this would happen. This is exactly why I hate facing rogue classes.
“..Oh? That’s not a Holy Sword? I expected this with the rain coming down.”
Blanc grinned, touching the Mind Sword. Of course, if it were a Holy Sword bestowed by a god, anyone else holding it would be instantly killed.
It was the same when I used the Glitch of the Demon King. Good as it may be, dragging things on turns you into a corpse.
“Hmmm.. that was definitely a teleport, right? Junior.”
Splash. Rain droplets danced. She closed in and swung the mismatched sword. I had no other weapons to block. It was too late to drop a thought.
“Concept. Longing.”
In my empty hand, a sword materialized. A white sword created from flames burst forth near my heart, colliding with Blanc’s dual daggers with a clash!
“If I can avoid it…!”
Just as Blanc transformed into raindrops, I slashed at her neck. Wham! The mana protection shattered. The startled look of the short-haired girl showed her surprise.
“How…?”
I had no intention of answering you. This was a sword Pina made for me. The third Mind Sword created with mutual thoughts.
A sword that can replicate the opponent’s state changes. The word “Longing” can also mean “Superior.”
My affection level with Pina Grancia jumped to 5 percent. The small act of aegyo done with her closed eyes was too cute to measure numerically.
The stats she boosted with dice are now mine to use. Messing with gambling can cost you a wrist, Blanc.
“Concept, Recollection.”
Looks like she’s observing things from the sidelines. It’s too late. As I began to chant, a heavy sword fell from the sky. I pulled the grounded recollection from the floor.
“Oh? Why isn’t this working? Is it broken?!”
Where Blanc stood, a dirt wall formed as the ceiling. Unable to teleport because of the rain, she was stuck. Using a soaring rock as a launch pad, I charged.
“Thousand Knife Rain!”
Blanc began chanting magic. Hundreds of daggers shimmered around me in a black mist.
Nightmare daggers flew in from every direction, mercilessly. If I got struck, would I fall into a slumber from the power of the Dream Knife?
“You can’t dodge all of this, right?!”
Blanc seemed to sense victory and hurled her last dagger at me. The fact was, she was right. My mana protection was in tatters by now.
“..If it’s one sword, that’s true.”
I grabbed a dagger soaring through the air and mimicked Blanc’s flurry. Did she think I couldn’t follow along? I began to slice away the drowning daggers aiming at me.
“How are you using my skill…?!”
Don’t judge a book by its cover; I can even replicate the spear techniques of that guy from afar. Metal with metal clashed, causings bursts of sound.
“NO WAY!!”
Blanc screamed. As I established Kew’s blade and swung haphazardly. Aside from the daggers, this was clearly a new move for her.
‘A true swordsman shouldn’t be attached to a weapon.’
The training from my master shone brightly as I swung with my left hand too. I deflected all the daggers and cleanly sliced through her mana protection with a swish.
“Match End!! The winner is student Licht!”
Drake raised one arm in declaration of the winner. He nodded slightly, as if to say he had expected this outcome. Pina was clapping her hands gleefully. Adorable.
Blanc fell to the ground as all her mana protection shattered. I lost my grip on the Mind Sword, returning ownership back to me.
“Sorry, I wanted to see how strong you were, so I did it on purpose, Junior…!”
Blanc shot me a heated smile. Even after losing, she looked more relieved than frustrated. She caused this whole ruckus just because of a curious whim?
“…What?”
I looked down at Blanc, baffled. She should clearly be a player. Not a Hero, but possessing two artifacts.
“I didn’t think you’d fight unless I did!”
Even so, throwing daggers at Pina crossed the line. Was her curiosity worth the trouble?
It didn’t add up. I was sure she was lying. A creepy feeling washed over me from her twisted smile.
“Our Junior, your name is Licht, huh? Want to grab a meal with this older sister?”
“You’re nuts.”
“Oh come on, don’t play hard to get! You’re really strong!”
I spat in annoyance since she wasn’t worth my time. Blanc blushed and looked at me. What a crazy woman. Is it fine to get scolded and still act all lovey?
I felt a chill at her sudden change in attitude. What the hell is this? Was she eyeing me from the start rather than Pina?
Just then, a transparent pink window popped up before my eyes.
[Licht♡Blanc….]
I immediately stabbed it with my sword, shattering it. The crack! of the disappearing status window sent chills down my spine. I never relied on that damned creator.
“Gyaaaah!!”
The Mind Sword lodged itself in the space between Blanc’s legs. She trembled, probably shocked.
Players could create NTR and harem situations like this. This was the biggest reason I couldn’t fully trust what I saw when looking at my affection level with Pina.
[Ah, Mr. Lee Soo-hyun! You’re not accepting this! Why not?!]
The status window displayed a message. Luckily, it seemed the affection didn’t disappear. Last time I fought despite being banned, so maybe it wouldn’t matter.
“Go screw yourself. Older sister.”
I have no interest in any woman except Pina Grancia. Especially not some crazy lady who looks like she fell in love at first sight with me.
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