It took way longer than expected to restore the arena.
Apparently, the concentration of residual mana was too thick for restoration magic to work properly, or so I heard.
Of course, since I had no idea what that even meant, I just decided to understand it as my students’ match being too high-level.
“Hmm… So we could’ve just done it tomorrow instead?”
“Unfortunately, the schedule was already set…”
“Yeah, well… Can’t be helped, I guess.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Not like I minded waiting a bit anyway, given how much time I had on my hands.
Though sitting around doing nothing in the empty waiting room did get pretty boring.
Just as I was getting restless and started stretching, Arkan returned from his brief absence.
“Preparations are complete.”
“Took longer than I thought. Didn’t the audience complain or anything?”
As we stepped out of the waiting room and walked down the corridor, the sun could be seen setting in the distance.
Arkan simply gave a wry smile in response.
“When the sun sets, does that mean it’s over?”
“We have illumination magic, so there’s no need to worry about that. You may fight for as long as it takes to determine a winner. Please put on a good show for us.”
“Well… We’ll do our best, then.”
With that, I left the bowing Arkan behind and ascended onto the arena floor.
“Barbarian Slayer…!!!”
The commentator seemed to be saying something, though it didn’t reach my ears.
Because the moment I stepped into the arena, all my senses were focused on one person.
“Hey there. Long time no see, future brother-in-law.”
There stood Leo, greeting me with his usual smug grin.
He looked especially solid today.
While I hadn’t really thought much of it until now, facing him directly made me feel… strange.
Still, that wasn’t going to intimidate me.
After all, having a strong body doesn’t guarantee victory in a fight.
“Don’t call me that.”
I smiled gently.
My usual calm smile.
Perhaps it carried some meaning – judging by the slight change in Leo’s gaze as he looked at me.
“Haha, this is going to be fun today.”
Leo drew his sword.
Looks like the match had officially begun.
“How about we make a bet?”
“A bet? What kind of bet?”
“If I lose, I’ll address you by name.”
“…?”
What is he talking about?
We’re speaking the same language, yet I can’t comprehend what he means.
“If I win, stop complaining about being called ‘future brother-in-law.'”
“… And what exactly do I gain from this?”
“Nothing!”
“Ah.”
So he’s going to be shameless about it.
Quietly raising my wrist, I said:
“If I win, spare some time to spar with our Minerva professors, will you?”
– Whoosh!
The artifact Opheucus transformed.
Into a sword.
I had decided to challenge the empire’s strongest swordsman with a sword.
Leo looked at me with renewed interest.
“Ho? Planning to face me with a sword, are you?”
“One question before we begin, if you don’t mind?”
“What is it?”
“Is Duchess Selene stronger, or the Gold Eagle Palace?”
The people of the empire call Leo the strongest swordsman.
And they call House Selene the strongest swordsmanship house.
So between Countess Kallias Selene and Leo Helios, who is stronger?
The patriarch of the swordsmanship house? Or the mutant from the mage family?
“Haha… Now that’s a difficult question.”
Leo scratched his cheek awkwardly but soon answered with clear determination.
“In a one-on-one duel, I would win. It’s not easy for someone from a mage family to choose the path of the sword. There isn’t anyone in the empire who can beat me with a sword.”
His voice was filled with unwavering confidence.
That’s the kind of confidence you need to earn the title of “strongest”, I suppose.
I nodded slowly.
“I see.”
“If you’re curious, I can tell you why I chose the path of the sword. Over drinks sometime.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Honestly, I wasn’t that interested, but I said it out of politeness.
“Shall we begin, then?”
With a hearty laugh, Leo unleashed his aura.
[Leo Sword: Forepaw Swing]
Before I could blink, Leo swung his sword vertically.
Reflexively, I raised Opheucus.
Clang!
“Planning to hold back against a junior?”
“Hahaha! The world of competition is a harsh one!”
The amount of aura condensed was visible even to the naked eye.
It was practically a clash of auras rather than swords.
Or rather, it felt like there was an additional layer of aura on top of the blade.
“Let me see just how skilled you are with the sword!”
Clang! Clang!
Leo pressed me relentlessly, giving me no time to breathe.
His swordplay was simple but heavy.
Weighty yet fast.
The shockwaves continued one after another, making my hands holding Opheucus tingle.
“Your lower body is solid. Your stance is well-balanced for someone trained on the battlefield. Who taught you swordsmanship?”
“No one in particular. I’m originally a soldier, so I mostly learned spear techniques. Though I did learn the basics.”
“Oh? Who from?”
“You know them.”
“Ah, the Gold Eagle Palace. That must’ve been tough.”
“Not at all.”
Despite our intense sword exchange, our conversation flowed uninterrupted.
This indicated we both still had plenty of energy left.
“My body is warmed up. Shall we get serious?”
At that moment, the atmosphere around Leo changed while he was smiling and swinging his sword.
Like a predator stalking its prey, he instantly unleashed his overwhelming aura.
[Leo Sword: Bite]
“!”
A giant lion’s fang descended upon me.
To execute an uppercut and overhead strike in a single breath was absurd.
Truly terrifying swordsmanship that defied common sense.
“Guh…!”
I took a step back to counter.
The moment the lion’s jaws closed, when the upper and lower fangs overlapped, I aimed my sword there.
Opheucus got caught between the lion’s fangs.
– Hum!
Fortunately, it was a blessing that my weapon was an artifact.
Any ordinary sword wouldn’t have been able to withstand Leo’s attack.
“Artifacts really are sturdy. To endure such extreme pressure… Most weapons would just break through a single point.”
Leo sounded impressed.
He was looking at Opheucus with covetous eyes.
“Did you obtain that weapon from the Procyon Treasury?”
“Yes. It was quite the place.”
“Tch, a place I still haven’t entered… Truly enviable. Enough to accidentally lose control of my strength!”
[Leo Sword: Slash Through Wind]
Leo’s sword qi came flying toward my waist, sharp enough to sever it.
“You weren’t controlling your strength from the start, were you!”
As I shouted while dodging, Leo gave a meaningful smile.
“Really thought I wasn’t controlling it?”
An ominous sensation made my hairs stand on end.
“When I go all out, you’ll see…”
The tendons in Leo’s arm muscles bulged prominently.
“Show you.”
[Leo Sword: Forepaw Swing]
Leo swung his sword downward.
It was the same technique as before, but the power behind it was on a completely different level.
Crackkkk!!!
The sword qi tore through the arena as it charged forward.
It looked just like the “Wind Cutter X” from anime in my past life.
“This is insane…!”
I hastily propelled myself into the air.
Then, leaning my entire body backward, I shouted at Opheucus.
“Spear!”
– Roar!
In response to my command, it transformed into a spear.
I threw it with all my might at Leo.
“Throwing spear, huh!”
Instead of dodging, Leo met it head-on.
[Leo Sword: Pierce Heart]
The tip of Opheucus’ spear clashed with Leo’s sword.
…
BOOM!!!
A deafening sound akin to tearing fabric erupted as a shockwave exploded.
The one who fell short in the power struggle was…
“Haha, still too light!”
Me.
– Hum…
Being pushed back by the force, Opheucus returned to my hand.
Looking at the faintly vibrating artifact, I felt bitter.
It was as if it was apologizing for not winning.
“Sorry, it’s my fault for being inadequate.”
Even against a true master, I’m clearly outmatched.
After all, I only became special because I came from another world and gained unusual powers. My mastery was achieved through shortcuts.
I chuckled bitterly.
“Guess I should act according to my station.”
If I want to beat Leo, using divine power is my only option.
Just as I was about to activate it…
– WOOOOM!!!
Opheucus emitted vibrations far more powerful than ever before.
So intense that I almost lost my grip on it.
It was as if it was reprimanding me.
“Why, why are you doing this?”
At my puzzled question…
[Do not belittle the path you have walked.]
The voice of Yggdrasil, the World Tree, echoed.
[If you wish to see, you shall see.]
“The one who removes limits, was it…”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Just what kind of existence is this that so firmly prevents me from taking the wrong path?
One thing was certain – Opheucus was an extraordinary weapon far beyond what I deserved.
“Thanks.”
– Roar!
The resonance seemed to say “If you know, do better!”
Now I could understand its communication, albeit slightly.
“Communicating with artifacts is nice and all, but you should come back now. It’s not a good feeling to be ignored.”
Leo pointed his sword at me while speaking.
Looking into his clear eyes, I bowed lightly.
“Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot. Now… It won’t be easy for you.”
“… Hooh.”
Leo’s gaze changed.
It was the same look Sage and Black Wolf gave me after returning from the Elf Forest.
“It seems you’ve gained enlightenment. Would you care to show me?”
“Of course. Don’t regret it later.”
“Hahahaha! Come on, then! Let’s see if you’ve earned the right to say that!”
Laughing heartily, Leo charged at me.
Though his appearance resembled a predator hunting prey just like before,
I no longer felt any pressure.
“Let’s go.”
– Roar!
I slowly raised Opheucus.
Then swung it at the charging predator heading towards me.
[Leo Sword: Forepaw Swing]
The sword technique of the empire’s strongest swordsman unfolded under my control.
