Daniel and Joey’s duel proceeded more intensely than expected, but in the end, the victor was already decided.
– Joey, the student, has collapsed! The duel is over—!!
I gazed blankly at Joey, who was slowly walking out of the practice field.
She must have a lot of regrets. Even though Daniel was meticulously preparing his strategies behind the scenes, Joey had also attempted to leverage her own strengths in a close-quarters brawl.
As I thought about it, Joey’s expression as she approached us after exiting the practice field appeared quite frustrated. It contrasted sharply with the light-footed Daniel walking behind her.
At that moment, an academy staff member who was supporting Joey approached me.
“Professor. Joey is complaining of pain in her wrist… could you take a look for a moment?”
“Of course.”
I took Joey to the infirmary.
The infirmary was located in a corridor just outside the practice field, with its entrance wide open to quickly bring in any urgent patients. It also facilitated the smooth transfer of students being carried on stretchers.
“Head Priest, how is it?”
Sofia Sub-priest approached me with a concerned expression. I pressed on Joey’s wrist gently and then nodded towards Sofia.
In cases like this, I didn’t necessarily have to step in. It would be better for Sofia to become accustomed to using her divine power, so my right arm wouldn’t unnecessarily suffer.
“Sofia Sub-priest.”
“Ah, yes.”
Without needing to say much, Sofia Sub-priest understood my intention and began to heal Joey’s wrist. I watched for a moment before glancing outside the infirmary.
Daniel was glancing over here with a somewhat awkward expression. He briefly watched Joey, who was grimacing in pain, then lowered his head towards me and began to walk slowly away.
“……”
Even though he seemed merciless, it appeared that Daniel was somewhat worried as well.
“Head Priest, it’s done.”
Joey, looking much more relaxed, emerged from the infirmary while fiddling with her wrist. Sofia Sub-priest and I briefly watched her before turning our gazes back towards the practice field.
“Sofia Sub-priest. Are you alright?”
“Ahahaha… it’s not easy.”
“…Don’t overdo it.”
It’s foolish to excessively use divine power to the point of turning pale. Though I didn’t voice it aloud, I couldn’t help but think that.
It felt like a deception. It was a concern arising from a base desire to replace something irreplaceable.
“Hehe… thank you!”
Nevertheless, Sofia Sub-priest smiled brightly at me and nodded.
I watched her for a moment before slowly turning my gaze away.
On the monitor mounted on the ceiling of the practice field, a girl in a gothic lolita outfit was showing her indifferent face.
*
– Vivian Student! As expected, she’s fierce! She’s truly cornering Gunt Student!
“Huff… huff…”
Gunt Burke from Class 2-B of the Combat Department was gasping for breath. Thick blood was trickling down his cheek.
It was all because of the girl suddenly standing in front of him, Vivian De Vallerge. Known as the strongest in the 2nd year Combat Department, she was like an insurmountable mountain.
Vivian De Vallerge, as the eldest daughter of the swordsmanship renowned House of Vallerge, wielded an unpredictable sword style that was difficult for her opponents to anticipate. Gunt gritted his teeth as he looked at the longsword held in her hand.
The ornate decoration reflected sophistication, and the blade was honed to a sheer edge, making it an utterly suitable weapon for the offspring of a martial arts family. However, it ultimately remained a classic weapon that did not exceed the limits of an ordinary longsword.
Swinging, thrusting, hitting, stabbing—all attacks suited to the weapon, yet its straightforward method of assault made it easy to counter. That was certainly the general evaluation.
But Vivian was different. As if casting a spell, her swordsmanship was exceedingly erratic and discordant. Even as the sword was swung, she twisted the blade’s trajectory with her own will.
This made it difficult for Gunt to react. If the speed of her sword had been slow, it might have been manageable, but that was not the case.
Vivian’s longsword stormed forth like a tempest, and Burke could only defend himself in a flustered manner. Gunt gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his weapon with both hands.
The massive and heavy mace required a two-handed swing to unleash its power. Gunt steeled his resolve to crush Vivian’s head, who was watching him with a bored expression.
“Come on! Are you scared now that we’ve started!”
“……”
“What are you doing! Hurry up and attack!”
Swish. Swish.
Rough breaths, tightly wound with tension and excitement. Gunt prepared himself as he looked at Vivian in gothic lolita attire.
Vivian stared back at him intently, then soon took her stance.
Gripping her sword with both hands, she stepped forward slightly with her left leg. The cold, deadly blade pointed unwaveringly at Gunt.
“You… how about just giving up?”
“What…! Stop the nonsense and come at me!”
“1 minute and 3 seconds… that’s how long it’s been. Can you last longer?”
Gunt made a face of disbelief before contorting it in frustration.
‘Is that all that time has passed?’
It felt like they had been fighting for half an hour, but in reality, just a little over a minute had passed. Gunt found it hard to believe, suspecting Vivian might be playing psychological games.
However, one thing was certain.
‘The only thing I can trust is myself.’
Gunt forced strength back into his weakening grip. The heavy mace was now firmly held.
“If you don’t come, I’ll go!”
With that declaration, Gunt charged with all his might. Each time his feet hit the ground, a booming sound echoed all around.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Now within range for an attack, Gunt swung his mace horizontally. The mace whistled as it cut through the air.
“Your movements are too huge.”
Yet, Vivian remained unfazed. Hearing her murmurs, Gunt’s face darkened.
Vivian’s longsword had already sliced through his side. Gunt’s mace struck only air.
In the blink of an eye, having allowed Vivian’s attack, Gunt clutched his bleeding side and glared at her.
“Damn it… what kind of monster are you…!”
“Don’t use such harsh words.”
Vivian’s face remained stoic as Gunt’s expression turned red with rage. It felt as if steam might erupt from the top of his head at any moment.
Gunt was frustrated. It felt utterly unfair to face this situation of impending defeat.
He admitted his speed was slow. However, Gunt prided himself on his sheer destructive power. In Class B, there was likely no student who could match his level of destructiveness. He even thought he could stand against a student from Class A without being outmatched.
But what was truly humiliating was…
‘I couldn’t even brush against her…!’
No matter what tricks he tried, he couldn’t land a single scratch on Vivian. Her signature gothic lolita outfit remained unsoiled, without a single tear or damage.
He did not neglect his training, nor was he unable to use his aura. Surely, not a single student in the Combat Department of Caldera Imperial Academy was incapable of using aura.
Thus, Gunt’s pride was deeply wounded. He was exhausted after just one minute, and he couldn’t land a single effective attack against Vivian’s prowess.
The Vivian he occasionally saw was nothing like the one now. In Gunt’s memory, Vivian was always that slacker who stuck with Daniel, exploring the academy’s hidden spots.
Because of this, they rarely met in training, and even when they did, she was only helping her sister train.
But now…
Gunt glared fiercely at Vivian. He was about to lose his mind from frustration.
“You run around in that strange club, the Occult Research Club! Trailing behind someone like Daniel, how are you this strong!”
As Gunt shouted, Vivian stared back at him with an unwavering gaze. The moment stretched until Gunt’s ragged breath had finally calmed down.
“…Hey.”
Vivian called out to Gunt. He looked at her with furious eyes.
Suddenly, a chilling sensation enveloped his body. A deep and cold intent to kill that was almost unbearable was slowly gnawing at his skin.
Gunt’s face turned pale in an instant. Struggling to avoid dropping his mace, he looked at the girl before him, presumed to be the source of that killing intent, in shock.
“You just called our club strange.”
Vivian’s expression had changed. Her face, which had remained impassive no matter what, began to shift gradually.
“Moreover, you insulted Daniel. Isn’t that right?”
Her eyebrows slightly furrowing and her brows narrowing ever so slightly. It looked as if she squinted to see something far away.
“Hey, answer me.”
What Gunt felt was clear killing intent. It was thick and prioritized the will to slaughter her opponent in front of her.
Under that fierce killing intent, Gunt swallowed hard and involuntarily shook his head.
“No, no…! I didn’t insult Daniel…!”
“Then, what about our club?”
“Uh… that is…”
“It seems you did. Am I right?”
Vivian raised her longsword high. To Gunt, her slowly rising figure appeared agonizingly sluggish.
It was like a scene passing by in slow motion.
“I-I’m sorry—!!”
Gunt squeezed his eyes shut and shouted. A sharp sound cutting through the air reached his ears before it suddenly stopped. Gunt cautiously opened his eyes.
Vivian’s longsword was halted just a hairbreadth from Gunt’s forehead. A strand of his bangs was neatly sliced off by the blade.
“I’m sorry…”
“……”
“I’m truly sorry for insulting the Occult Research Club… I sincerely apologize…”
It was a pitiful apology, but after facing that heavy killing intent a moment ago, Gunt had no fighting spirit left within him.
Watching Gunt, Vivian murmured softly.
“1 minute and 51 seconds.”
“…Huh?”
“That’s how long you lasted.”
Vivian sheathed her longsword. Gunt stared at her in shock as she executed that elegant and precise movement.
‘I… survived…’
It was only natural that a sigh of relief would slip out involuntarily. Gunt held his trembling hands together, wanting to express his gratitude for Vivian’s mercy.
“Still, I can’t forgive you.”
“What…?”
– Crack—!
With Vivian’s sudden pommel strike, Gunt collapsed and fainted.
That was the end.
