Chapter 165

Chapter: 165

The moment I caught Frey’s sword, my body was pushed back.

Wait a second. What’s that shimmering thing on Frey’s sword?

Aura?!

[Hmm. It doesn't have a solid form yet, but it's definitely something close to aura.]

Frey, you little talent monster!

No matter what, entering that level as a first-year in the academy, first semester, is just too much!

According to Grandpa, it seemed like she had just unconsciously lifted her toes. But that doesn’t change the fact that dealing with this has become harder.

Every time the Shield of Divinity clashes with Frey’s sword, shockwaves travel through my arms.

This is dangerous.

I still can’t wield Divinity well.

I’m confident I can unleash a decent level of common divine magic, but that’s about it. Nothing more, nothing less.

I’m compensating for my lack of skills with the overflowing divine power typical of an apostle, but even that has its limits.

This means my shield, made of divinity, isn’t that sturdy after all.

Until now, I had been compensating for my shield’s shortcomings with my Shield Technique, but now that Frey is using her aura, that’s become a burden.

If I succeed in parrying, there’s no problem, but every time I fail to parry, cracks form in my divine shield.

Because of that, focusing on moving the shield has naturally forced me into a defensive position.

This isn’t like when I could hide behind the shield voluntarily by following the strategy Grandpa taught me.

Right now, I was being pushed back by Frey.

‘She really is a monster!’

[Isn’t that something you shouldn’t be saying? ]

‘Well, that’s true!’

[Don't worry. If you can endure, you'll win. That kid is just like when you were learning the Divine Sword Technique.]

Right now, Frey had unconsciously manifested something that resembled an aura.

Of course, she didn’t know how to handle it or control it. She was just rampaging, burning through her magic power as fuel.

So soon enough, when her magic runs out and her limits are reached, victory will be mine.

Endurance is my best skill.

After all, I’m a tank!

As I tried to hide behind my shield blatantly, Frey raised an eyebrow.

Frey, who had been sparring with me every day since enrolling in Soul Academy, must have caught on to my intentions immediately.

But what can she do about it?

There’s no way she can break through my shield…

“Are you hiding behind your shield again? Coward.”

What? This girl is serious.

In an instant, my head heated up, but I quickly calmed myself.

Anger wouldn’t help me in this situation.

But that brief moment of hesitation caused by anger became an issue.

Before I knew it, Frey’s sword was right in front of me.

I urgently raised my Iron Wall as it instructed, but my will didn’t exist there.

Parry didn’t activate, and the Shield of Divinity, already slowly breaking, shattered completely.

Frey’s sword stopped just before my neck.

Silence surrounded us.

Frey’s heavy breathing.

The clear blade reflecting the sunlight.

My face reflected in it.

All of that clearly indicated one thing.

‘I lost.’

Oh no. I moved on impulse, and I lost just like that.

If this keeps up, I’ll be called a Shoddy Swordsman every time I mention Frey. I’ll just become the King of Shoddy.

[Well, why did you charge in like a fool? That’s why you lost.]

‘Grandpa said it was okay!’

[Did he? Maybe I’m just getting old and can’t remember.]

‘Grandpa?! What do you mean?!’

As I stood in shock at my unexpected defeat and talked with Grandpa, Anton approached to end the duel.

The result was clear to anyone watching, and I had no intention of denying it.

If Frey hadn’t awakened her aura, I would have won! But that doesn’t make Frey’s sword in front of me disappear, right?

A loss is a loss.

While I waited patiently for Anton’s declaration, Frey cut him off.

“Wait. It’s not over yet.”

“Lady Kent? What do you mean? The duel is already…”

“Lucy didn’t go all out. That last one was fake.”

After saying that, Frey looked back at me again.

“Lucy, am I still a Shoddy Swordsman?”

Pfft. Ha ha!

I couldn’t help but laugh, even with a sword right next to my neck.

Ha! So that’s what Frey was after?

I thought she’d be satisfied just winning, but that wasn’t the case.

Frey didn’t just want to defeat me; she wanted something else.

She wanted me to acknowledge her as someone standing right next to me.

I have no idea what it is about me that appealed to Frey.

I don’t understand why she looks at me with fervent eyes when she should be indifferent and unemotional.

But, well… I’ve already lost once, haven’t I? I should grant what the winner wants.

“Hey, Professor Shoddy, could you get lost? It’s disruptive!♡”

“Hmm. If both of you agree, then sure. Understood.”

After Anton stepped back, I began chanting the incantations for several divine spells in my mind.

With that, my physical abilities soared to an unimaginable level.

Then I wrapped the remaining divine power around my whole body.

At first, I struggled to manage it.

I can’t say I’m adept at it even now, but it’s certainly better than before.

After rolling around for hours every night until Grandpa was satisfied, how could I not grow?

Once all preparations were complete, I pulled out my Mithril Shield from my inventory and took out Ruel’s Mace from my pocket.

This is my full power now.

“Bring it on!♡ Shoddy Trash!♡”

“Okay.”

With a smile on her lips as she burned through her magic power, Frey rushed at me.

The Mithril Shield I hold now is solid.

It’s steady enough to withstand a sword swung with great intent.

Even if Frey is using something resembling aura, there’s no way she can shatter a shield like this.

Knowing that, I thrust my shield forward, deflecting Frey’s sword as I advanced.

Every time her sword reached my shield, shockwaves passed through me, but that was all.

It wasn’t enough to stop my advance.

The reason I had been pushed back before was solely due to the shield’s shortcomings.

My other physical abilities weren’t lacking at all.

Looking at my steadfastness, did she change her strategy?

Frey tried to pull back, but I wouldn’t allow that.

The moment she attempted to retreat, I raised a wall using divine magic behind her.

It’s originally something used for defense, but it can be utilized like this depending on the situation.

Confirming that her escape route was blocked, Frey frowned and charged forward again.

If she couldn’t back away, maybe charging through the front was her strategy?

It wouldn’t work now, not against me.

I gazed at Frey’s sword, which was streaked with blue traces from her magic.

I moved my shield first, following it up with Iron Wall’s guidance.

Our judgments aligned perfectly.

As Frey swung her sword at my shield, the parry activated, and her power dramatically decreased.

I managed to push her sword away with my shield.

The mass and power of my shield itself make it a formidable weapon.

With a thwack, Frey, caught off guard, staggered back.

Though she quickly regained her composure, it was already too late; I had closed the distance into her personal space.

We were close enough for our breaths to mingle.

This isn’t sword distance.

Not mace distance either.

This is hand distance.

I smiled at Frey, who was dazed, and grabbed her collar.

She struggled desperately, but there was no escaping my grip.

I lifted Frey up and was about to slam her to the ground! … but I stopped.

After all, this is just a duel.

There’s no need to crush my opponent, right?

Before hitting the ground, I made sure to gently set Frey down, and she looked up at me blankly before raising her hands in surrender.

“I lost. Lucy is definitely strong.”

I thought there’d be a hint of frustration, but Frey’s expression was as indifferent as ever.

I guess it’s going to take more time before I can see this unemotional beast truly vent her frustrations.

‘Good job, Frey.’

“It wasn’t bad. Foolish Swordsman.”

“… Huh? Foolish?”

I couldn’t answer Frey’s question.

The most surprised of all was me, who just blurted it out.

Foolish Swordsman?!

What’s that? Why did the title just change like that?!

Can titles really change?!

I thought once set, they’d last forever!

This wasn’t bad information at all.

It means that titles I can’t possibly say now can change one day.

And indeed, the nickname of the Mesugaki Skill often causes trouble!

Imagine how much hassle I went through when I called Arthur, “the Pitiful Prince!”

And think about what might happen if I called Cecil “the Pitiful Prince” in the future!

It would be horrifying!

However, if we could change titles, that changes things.

I don’t even want to call people by their names. A casual nickname that can be laughed over is just fine.

Just look at Joy! Calling her the Foolish Young Lady isn’t a problem at all.

Honestly, it’s cute! Calling the foolish one foolish is no big deal!

If I could turn other people’s nicknames to that level…

[Sorry to bring this up when you’re so happy, but…]

‘If it’s an apology, don’t say it, Grandpa.’

[Girl, Foolish Swordsman and Shoddy Swordsman are basically the same, aren't they? ]

Grandpa. Can you not poke at sensitive spots?

I’m trying to foster some hope here. Do you really need to interject with your opinions?

Let me enjoy my happy imaginings.

And what’s wrong with Foolish Swordsman? It’s cute.

[Also, remember when the title changed before, right?]

‘Was there? ’

[Ah, right. I did call Phoebe an “Erotic Saintess” instead of “Shoddy Saintess.”]

Ah, that was an embarrassing past. That was when the Shoddy Perverted God enhanced the Mesugaki Skill.

… Hmm. It’s likely that was just the Shoddy God tormenting me.

Still, this title change doesn’t necessarily only reveal positive things.

Haa. This is complicated!

As I sighed inwardly at the sudden development, Frey had already gotten up and was pulling on my arm.

“Lucy! Lucy! One more time!”

‘What for?’

“What do you mean, Foolish Swordsman?”

“… Did I hear you wrong? Foolish, not Shoddy?”

Does Frey think she acknowledged me? She seemed satisfied with her title change to Foolish Swordsman.

Whether she knows it or not, the slight upward curve of her lips must mean she’s incredibly happy.

Haa. Okay, if that makes you happy, then I guess that’s a win!

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