“Ew…”
This morning, I’ve been holed up in the bathroom of my dorm room.
And yet, while nothing comes out, my sobs won’t stop.
“Miss, are you alright?”
I can hear the knocking on the door and Chloe, the maid, calling out from outside.
“I’m fine.”
Not even remotely fine.
My stomach is twisted in knots with extreme tension.
I managed to sleep after taking a sedative I concocted myself, but I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday.
There’s just one reason.
I have to fight a monster named Toko today.
There’s no way I can win.
She’s the genius of La Folle.
The woman who surpassed my sixteen years of study in just one or two.
I was frustrated and jealous.
I thought this was what a talent gap looked like.
But more than that, I despaired at my own acceptance of it.
And to make matters worse, she’s from the same generation and the same age as me.
And she’s at La Folle…
While I am an Iver, a member of a martial house.
Defeat is not an option.
“Why…”
I know there’s absolutely no chance of me winning against her, and yet I challenged her to a duel.
I swore I would never fight her when she enrolled.
There might be minor conflicts or even enmity, but I knew I shouldn’t fight her.
Indeed, rumors spread that during her first foundational examination, she pulverized the teacher’s automaton with advanced ice magic, earning her the nickname ‘Ice Princess’.
It’s impossible.
There’s no way I can win.
A mere heir like me, inferior even to my younger sister and brother, couldn’t possibly defeat the genius of La Folle.
That’s why I’ve always tried to avoid conflict.
I’ve always made sure not to fight.
But still, I threw down the gauntlet.
“Ugh…”
A scene flashes in my mind.
It was last Friday…
After finishing a task for the principal on the way back to the dormitory, I saw something.
“Ugh…”
Another memory replays.
It was on Monday when Toko said something to Tsukasa.
Hearing those words, I realized I’d already thrown the gauntlet down.
“……”
I can’t afford to lose!
I am Sharline Iver.
The heir of the illustrious Iver family, a lineage of warriors.
“And…”
I clench my fists tightly.
“Come at me! I’ll show you the pride of a failed one!”
With my resolve set, I leave the bathroom.
There awaiting me, Chloe wears a worried expression.
“Miss…?”
“I’m going! I’ll show La Folle’s daughter the strength of the Iver family!”
I can’t lose…!
There’s no way I’ll lose!
I stake my pride as a wizard on this—I will win absolutely!
◆◇◆
When we arrived at the training ground, there was a large crowd in the spectator seats.
Though it wasn’t entirely full, at least a hundred people were present.
“What’s up with that?”
I ask Frank, glancing at the audience.
“Duels draw crowds. It’s good entertainment, you know.”
Eh…
“Seriously?”
“Totally. Besides, the duel’s between Toko and the Student Council President. A grudge match between La Folle and Iver? People are bound to watch. They’re rivals after all.”
“Oh? What about me and Mathias?”
“Opening acts.”
Seriously…?
Well, I kinda feel like the opening act too.
“Alright, we’ll be watching from the stands. Good luck!”
“Take it easy.”
“Toko, good luck!”
“Knock down those shorties!”
“Not too hard, though…”
As the five of us said our words of encouragement, they climbed up to the spectator seats. That left just Toko and me on the field.
“I’m sleepy…”
“It’s your fault, Big Brother.”
I also think this plan of mine failed.
“Toko, everyone has their own strengths.”
Don’t mind being short.
“Big Brother likes people like the President, don’t you?”
That’s true.
“About not minding…”
“Then why are you laughing?”
Shorties get under my skin…
“Eh, no…”
“Hmph! Is the President here yet?”
“Dunno?”
In front of us stood Mathias, our opponent in the duel.
Mathias wore a metal armor and carried a sword, glaring at us.
“Referee is Ms. Jenny, huh?”
Between Mathias and us stood our homeroom teacher, Ms. Jenny.
“That’s who Frank asked for.”
“Huh… But it doesn’t matter who it is.”
According to Frank, despite being our teacher, she won’t show favoritism during duels. Apparently, duels are serious business.
“Toko, hold back.”
“Nope. Going all out.”
What a stubborn sister.
“Is Sharline that much of a sore spot for you?”
It’s inevitable to have differences in style between Asians and Westerners. Looks are just something one can’t help. Especially when it’s the same face as mine.
“It’s not that. To begin with, I haven’t even spoken enough to the President to dislike her. I have to go all out because she’s from a martial family. If you hold back against someone from a martial family, they’ll end up resenting you. So, Big Brother, go all out. Mathias is also from a martial family.”
So that’s how it works…
Sharline sounds tough too.
“Going all out… a one-hit knock-out good?”
“One-hit is the plan. Show them the power of La Folle… and Nagase.”
That’s the plan then.
Let me teach this fool in heavy armor, who’s only slowing himself down, about the power of enhancement magic.
Just as we were talking, Sharline arrived from the opposite direction.
Sharline was in her uniform but wore a cloak-like overcoat and carried a stick-like wand.
“She’s here. I see…”
Toko gave Sharline a thorough inspection.
“Miss Sharline Iver, Mr. Mathias Jacque, Miss Toko La Folle, and Mr. Nagase Tsukasa, please step forward.”
When Ms. Jenny gestured, we approached her and faced off against Mathias and Sharline.
“Did you come without running away, inferior one?”
As soon as we stood opposite, Mathias immediately began his provocation.
“I don’t know you. You don’t know me. Yet, deciding the strength of your opponent is something fools do. Are you unaware of even this, despite being from a martial house?”
“Of course I understand. Everything is decided by lineage.”
A bloodline supremacist.
“Your statement is impressive given that level of magic power. What was the name of your household again? The prestigious education befits you.”
Mathias doesn’t have low magic power, but it’s lower than mine.
“Ho ho, Mr. Nagase, pitiable. He’s trying his best, you know.”
A deadly, twin-pronged psychological attack.
“You bastards…!”
You two certainly are a perfect pair.
“Moving on, I’ll explain the rules of the duel. Is that alright?”
Ms. Jenny stepped between us.
“Go ahead.”
“As you all know, in this training ground, no one dies or gets injured. However, if you become unable to fight, you’ll be taken to the spectator seats, which counts as a defeat. Also, the duel ends either with you surrendering or if I determine the fight is over. Understood?”
After hearing Ms. Jenny’s words, we all nodded.
“Good. Also, duels often involve betting something. Do either of you have anything to wager?”
“No. It’s just to demonstrate prowess.”
“The same here.”
Sharline and Mathias responded without hesitation.
“And you two?”
Ms. Jenny turned to look at us.
“Hand over 1000 mana.”
“I just want a tour of the town with Sharline.”
As we said that, the teacher put her hand to her forehead.
“Is that…?”
“No issues.”
“Hmm…”
When Ms. Jenny asked Sharline and Mathias, they both nodded.
“Then, let’s proceed… First duel, begin. Miss Sharline and Miss Toko, please step back.”
As Ms. Jenny directed, Sharline and Toko stepped back.
“Does this inferior being even know their place?”
Mathias gave me a belittling look.
“Know your place? Don’t judge others by your own standards.”
“Hmph.”
Mathias gave me a single disdainful glance before taking a step back.
“Then, let’s begin the duel between Mathias Jacque and Nagase Tsukasa!”
As the teacher declared, my duel with Mathias commenced.
Thank you very much for reading.
If you found this piece ‘Interesting!’ or are curious about what comes next, adding it to your bookmark list or rating it with ‘★★★★★’ would greatly inspire me to continue writing.
Thank you kindly!
