Scouted.
Holy Weapons.
The fact that I don’t remember much about them probably means they’re not very famous.
‘Is it some kind of hidden secret organization?’
Even in the game, it’s a hidden element, so unless you dig deep enough, you wouldn’t even hear their name. If that’s the case, it’s only natural that I don’t remember.
Then, accepting the scout right here would be foolish. I have a living KnowYourMeme for this world.
“Can I think about it?”
“Of course. But I can’t give you too much time. I hope you can answer before the finals start in two days.”
“That’s plenty.”
I was about to leave with a light wave when I realized there was something I hadn’t asked yet and stopped.
“Oh, right. Mister. You said your weapon was a bow.”
“Yes?”
“Then… is your eyesight good?”
“It’s my pride.”
“Okay, got it.”
How he knew Arthur was female and why he suddenly offered me a scout proposal. I roughly understood now.
Arthur herself, and the one who cast the polymorph magic on her, didn’t know this.
‘The way she walks is feminine.’
Of course, it’s a very subtle difference, so unless you look closely, you wouldn’t notice—but it seems those who’ve trained their eyes extensively can see through it clearly.
‘And so can I.’
Aura and techniques can be hidden. But a trained body, and the transformed body after becoming a Master, cannot be concealed.
If someone has sharp eyes and has had considerable opportunities to meet Masters, they could figure out that I am one.
‘I won’t say anything.’
This is an unforeseen situation, so neither the headmaster nor the duke will say anything.
After all, they probably didn’t expect Masters to be this common either.
* * *
Watching Kyle’s retreating figure from afar, Kenneth reached into his pocket and pulled out an artifact.
A communicator capable of real-time two-way communication regardless of distance.
This relic found in ruins was an artifact each of the Holy Weapons possessed.
“Staff. Are you there?”
[What? What is it?]
Kenneth, who summoned the staff and was the leader of the Holy Weapons, recounted what he’d seen: a cadet using forbidden techniques at the level of an Aura User, and about Kyle.
The staff, which hadn’t shown much interest in Arthur, started showing interest upon hearing about Kyle.
[…Are you sure?]
“Do you doubt my eyes?”
[No, if you saw it with your own eyes, there’s no need to doubt it. If that’s true… that guy will go ballistic.]
“He’s a battle maniac who charges in whenever there’s someone to fight.”
Recalling the man who currently wielded the “Sword,” Kenneth imagined how he would react upon hearing about Kyle and gave a bitter smile.
Considering the Sword’s personality, it was clear that when the two met, one of them would either die or sustain similar injuries.
“Either way, if they survive, they’ll become stronger.”
If one side becomes material for the other to grow stronger—it’s not a bad outcome. Ultimately, it benefits the organization.
Kenneth ended the communication and turned his attention to the next match about to begin.
This generation has many interesting individuals. Imagining the storms they’ll bring when they finish growing and step out into the world made him excited.
* * *
“What? Holy Weapons?”
“Yeah.”
“I… don’t really know much about them.”
Kyle looked at Sera with an incredulous expression. Seeing his expression, Sera scratched her cheek as if she had nothing to say and turned her head.
Despite boasting that he knew everything about this world, he stumbled at such a crucial moment.
Seeing Kyle sigh, Sera urged him, saying it was due to lack of information.
“No, can you instantly recall something just by hearing one thing!? You need to give more information!”
“First, the person who came to scout me called himself ‘Bow.’ His name is Kenneth, a Master. He said he wants to scout me as a ‘Sword.'”
“…A Master who uses a bow?”
“I think so? I didn’t personally see him use aura, so I might be wrong. But there’s such a thing as a Master’s intuition.”
Those who’ve reached the pinnacle share certain understandings. Just as Kenneth deduced Kyle was a Master by looking at his muscles hidden under clothes, Kyle realized Kenneth was a Master by observing his abnormal vision and observation skills.
Such superhuman skills aren’t achievable through training alone. Those born with innate talent must also undergo rigorous effort.
And usually, when such geniuses put in the effort, most become Masters.
“Kenneth, Kenneth…”
“Do you know who he is?”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard the name. But I know the Master who uses a bow.”
Even though Sera figured out Kenneth’s identity, she didn’t smirk arrogantly but maintained a serious expression. Seeing her like that, Kyle looked at her as if asking if there was a problem.
She carefully opened her mouth while meeting Kyle’s gaze.
“I didn’t know because of the name ‘Holy Weapons.’ That’s not its official name.”
“Then what is it?”
“The Iron Fanatics. A terrorist organization composed entirely of Masters.”
Hearing that, Kyle’s eyes gleamed with interest.
* * *
The Academy Tournament lasts three days.
The preliminary round on day one determines who advances to the main event.
On day two, those who advanced compete in the main event.
Finally, on day three, the remaining four compete in the semifinals to determine the winner.
This arrangement accommodates scouts coming from afar. While it’s advantageous for those who find gems on the first day, established territories or organizations don’t need to act hastily.
They rely on their reputation, arriving late and easily plucking the biggest fruit.
On day two, as the main event began, these reputation-heavy individuals arrived additionally at the Academy.
“Hmm… Is this it?”
They muttered disapprovingly while watching the main event. Even if there were promising cadets, their expressions wouldn’t change much.
Getting excited over talented cadets would lower their own value and raise the cadets’. Nothing is more attractive than baseless confidence.
The scouts knew this well, so no matter how impressive the cadets performed, they maintained a cool demeanor as if unaffected.
—Winner, Arthur!
“Eh, eh?”
However, they couldn’t maintain that composure upon seeing Arthur. A commoner without a family name, an Aura User who couldn’t even coat weapons with aura, defeated promising heirs of knight families and cadets who reached Aura Expert status, continuing a winning streak.
While that alone wouldn’t be surprising, the key point was that Arthur used forbidden techniques every time. Normally, forbidden techniques aren’t revealed in front of so many people.
Revealing forbidden techniques in public means risking others stealing them. Not only that, those who witness it might develop countermeasures, rendering the technique useless.
Thus, while most cadets hesitated to use forbidden techniques, Arthur used them freely—naturally drawing the scouts’ attention.
“If we scout that commoner into our organization…”
“The fact that her aura remains stable despite using forbidden techniques suggests she has a substantial amount?”
“Just considering the quantity, it’s already more than enough to coat weapons…?”
As scouts from various organizations thoroughly analyzed Arthur, the victorious Arthur raised her hand proudly, accepting the cheers.
Leaving behind the cheers directed at her, she returned to the waiting room, where scouts had gathered in droves. She sighed deeply.
After asking everyone to leave, she locked herself inside the waiting room and rested on the prepared sofa.
“Ahh, I’m tired.”
Forbidden techniques mimicking the power of a Master’s swordsmanship using aura. Using them repeatedly consumes stamina and aura enormously.
The dragon’s heart, generating an immense amount of aura every moment, beats fiercely.
It must feel like running full speed without rest for several minutes. Arthur gently caressed her pounding heart and took careful deep breaths.
Closing her eyes and immersing herself in her own world, Arthur recalled the knight who visited her the other day. Introducing himself as a member of the Imperial Palace Knight Order, he promised her entry anytime.
It meant Arthur was valuable enough to attract their attention. She felt purely happy and simultaneously grateful to someone.
‘Kyle.’
Without him, she wouldn’t have participated in the tournament or gained attention from people.
She wanted to express her gratitude. There was only one way: winning the competition and splitting the prize.
‘Where is he doing what?’
She wanted to show him her cool side, but Kyle was nowhere to be seen.
Though she worried he might be causing trouble somewhere…
‘It’ll be fine.’
Kyle is a Master.
Nothing in the Academy should endanger him.
…There shouldn’t be.
* * *
Spotting Kenneth, I approached him with a sly grin.
Seeing my face, he checked his surroundings once before cautiously approaching me.
“So, Kyle. Have you made up your mind?”
“Yeah, sure.”
I pulled out a magical device from my pocket—a kind of speaker that only works within the Academy. Seeing it, Kenneth tilted his head, questioning what it was.
Shrugging nonchalantly, I tapped the speaker, and a woman on the other end began singing according to a prearranged signal.
[La, lalala]
With the singing as background music, I looked at Kenneth.
“Mister, aren’t you a terrorist?”
“…What?”
“I heard you commit crimes and are a bad person.”
Aria’s singing started driving away the people around us. Seeing others disappear so quickly, Kenneth sensed something amiss and glared at me sharply.
“What is this?”
“It’s nothing much.”
Sleung—my sword was drawn.
With no one watching, I unleashed my Aura Blade immediately.
“—I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
