-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For over a year, the suppressed emotions and the sudden change in circumstances caused Rex Plumen to completely lose his reason. He no longer cared about the consequences.
"Ughhh!"
It was a leap fueled by his life's worth of inner energy. Rex himself doubted he could move so quickly, but the rage towards Davian must have maximized the efficiency of his energy control.
'I'll kill him!'
Rex saw Davian getting closer. One more reach, and an incurable wound would be etched onto Davian's body. Ideally, a fatal wound, but if not, he'd cripple him somehow. He aimed for Davian's heart. If the dagger pierced Davian's back, it would pierce his heart.
'He'll probably dodge.'
"Yeah, try to dodge it."
Even if he couldn't kill him in one strike, he'd leave an everlasting wound, crippling him.
'Ha, Davian, you're nothing special.'
He was almost there. The dagger was about to pierce Davian's back. In a flash, an irreparable wound would be carved into his heart.
Then, Davian's figure seemed to blur, and he vanished before his eyes.
And then, thwack!
A powerful pain struck his side. Rex Plumen, who had reached a near-trance state, snapped back to his senses. He tumbled around like a desert tumbleweed for a while. Finally regaining his footing, he was met with Davian's furious gaze.
"Rex Plumen."
"Wh-what!"
"Do you know who I hate the most?"
"..."
Fear. Extreme fear swept through Rex Plumen's entire body.
"It's the bastards who stab you in the back."
Thud!
Davian roughly grabbed Rex by the collar.
"Do you know how much it hurts to be stabbed in the back, you bastard? Hah, I'm getting pissed just thinking about it. Hold still. Let's trade a few blows."
Whack! Thwack!
Davian's beating began. He wasn't using inner energy or physical strength, just pure brute force. Rex could have escaped if he'd used his inner energy, but he was paralyzed with fear and could only take the beating. Still, thanks to his trained body, he didn't collapse, but that was all Rex Plumen could do.
Davian's beating continued for a while until the instructors came and stopped him.
Dormitory lounge.
Liber ran over from afar.
"Huff, huff. Guys."
"What's up? Where'd you go?"
"I... uh... the poison analysis lab."
"That's not our grade's area, is it? How did you get there?"
"There's always a way. Huff, huff."
Finally catching his breath, Liber spoke again.
"They detected poison on all the swords of Rex's team! They need to research it more, but it was a volatile poison, and they said it wouldn't have been detected if they'd been even a little late."
Bellum turned to Davian.
"That's amazing, Davian. How did you know?"
"Just a hunch."
Bonita nodded.
"Rex has been quiet lately. I knew he'd cause trouble soon."
Davian looked at Bonita, who was nodding.
In fact, he wasn't sure if Rex would use a poisoned sword and a so-called 'cursed dagger' in today's sparring match. This hadn't happened in the previous timeline. The previous Davian was in the magic department, so he didn't have much to do with Rex Plumen.
However, it was a plausible scenario. In the 3rd timeline, Rex Plumen used the same trick to cripple Bonita's left hand.
'That treacherous bastard...'
It was an event from the 4th year of the 3rd timeline. After somehow driving Billy out of the academy with all sorts of slander and schemes, Rex Plumen used poison in a sparring match with Bonita and cut her left hand with a cursed dagger to escape his perpetual second-place position.
Bonita testified that she was poisoned, and all her inner energy was disrupted, leaving her unable to resist Rex's attacks, but no evidence was found on Bonita's body or Rex's sword.
However, Rex was demoted to the first grade as punishment for using the cursed dagger to make Bonita's left hand incurable.
It was fortunate that he wasn't expelled.
Bonita Fortis freely wields her sword with both hands now, but in the previous timeline, she became a one-handed swordsman after that incident. He was that hungry for power. He wanted to cripple Bonita, the top student in the swordsmanship department, so he could take the top spot.
'Rex Plumen. I was expecting him to do something.'
It was just a guess at first. Since he was the kind of guy who did that to Bonita in the previous timeline, now that he'd fallen out of the top three, it wouldn't be surprising if he plotted something. And his sparring partners were Davian and Nubes, the ones who had humiliated him on the first day of admission.
He thought he might plot something, and he suspected he'd use the same method as he did with Bonita. So, he told Nubes in advance to buy time while enduring his attacks. If he was planning to do something with poison, it would be useless against Davian's group. The entire Davian group was immune to all poisons thanks to the Green Dragon Elixir given by Glacie.
And after the sparring started, from Rex Plumen's expression and movements, and from the ominous feeling dagger at his waist, he was able to confirm his plan. Nubes had a minor injury, and he felt Rex's expression and energy suddenly change. There was no need to watch any longer. It was the same method he used on Bonita Fortis.
'Not this time.'
"Anyway, what's going to happen to Rex?"
"Since he used a poisoned sword during the sparring match, won't he be expelled?"
"They say that dagger is something strange too."
"It's a dagger that I thought only existed in legends. They say someone from the Plumen family is coming to the academy tomorrow because of it?"
"Since they allowed such a dangerous object to come inside the academy, Rex's family won't be able to avoid responsibility either."
"Probably."
The next day, Rex and his gang were dragged to the academy's disciplinary committee, and the final match of the tournament sparring evaluation proceeded normally. After the fierce competition of 63 teams, the final two teams remained.
"The final match of the tournament sparring evaluation will begin shortly. All students watching should take their seats, and the sparring contestants should come to the tent set up in front of the sparring arena."
Team 22.
Latia Meridiem from the magic department.
Karin Obelia from the magic department.
Martin from the comprehensive martial arts department.
Team 62.
Davian Naone, double major in magic and swordsmanship.
Nubes Arbo from the swordsmanship department.
Luna Pueri from the magic department.
"Both teams, come up to the arena."
The final match between teams 22 and 62 began.
As they had been doing, Latia took charge of the strategy.
"The strategy of Martin narrowing the angle and Karin and I spreading out to attack from both sides like in the quarterfinals and semifinals won't work this time."
Karin nodded.
"If Davian is the opponent, that kind of strategy is meaningless."
"We'll fight together as much as possible. We need to gather our strength. Martin, you have to try to block Davian if he suddenly rushes in."
"..."
Martin, who had always nodded vigorously to Latia's words without question, didn't move or respond this time. Latia continued.
"Karin, do you really think we can win?"
"It's better than losing, right? Even if the opponent is Davian Naone."
"Then forget about Nubes and Luna. Dealing with them first is meaningless. We have to catch Davian first. The three of us."
"I don't know if it will work, but let's try. It's better than losing hopelessly."
"Good."
That's when it happened.
"I'm sorry, Latia. I won't join hands with you this time... no. I won't follow your opinion."
"What?"
"I've done everything according to your opinion so far, and you've been the best commander. But we can't beat Davian Naone."
Latia looked at Martin with disappointed eyes.
"What, you were such a quick quitter? I thought you were from some battle tribe."
"I, Martin, never give up in a real battle. But this is a sparring match with friends. We can't beat Davian Naone."
"How do you know without even trying?"
"Don't you know too? Latia Meridiem."
'Damn it.'
Latia was the first to look at Martin with disappointed eyes. But now, she was embarrassed to look directly into Martin's eyes.
Actually, she just didn't want to lose powerlessly. Honestly, she didn't really think they could win.
'But...!'
Still, giving up like this is even more absurd.
'I am the eldest daughter of the continent's best magic family, the Meridiem family, and a magician with the nickname of genius magic girl.'
Karin is a magical weapon created by all the royal magicians working together in a secret project. And Martin... what was it... something about a great guy from some tribe in the West. With this much, it's still worth a try, isn't it?
'I can do it. No, giving up before even trying is not my style.'
Latia took a deep breath to say that she could win.
Martin spoke first.
"I'm sorry, Latia. Just like you have something that makes your heart... no, your heart beat, I also have something that makes my heart beat more than clinging to a hopeless match at this moment."
Latia tilted her head. What is he even saying?
"Nubes Arbo and Luna Pueri. I've been watching their combination since the round of 32. I, Martin, as a descendant of a battle tribe, want to fight Nubes Arbo. And of course, with Luna Pueri too."
Martin raised his big, clumsy fist and struck his chest!
"Latia. I'm sorry for not following your lips... no, your words. But if you think about my words carefully, you'll know what I mean."
'Damn it.'
I thought he was just a pervert who spoke strange words. But in fact, nothing he said was wrong. As he said. This battle. It's actually hard to win. Isn't she the one who knows Davian's skills better than anyone else? If Davian takes out his ice sword or whatever right now and rushes this way with all his might. She and Karin won't even have time to use their magic. And Martin, who showed overwhelming force, won't be able to withstand even one blow.
Martin had never objected to Latia's words and had always followed her. And for the first time, he was claiming that he wanted to have a battle that made his heart beat.
"Huu... Karin."
"Uh."
"It looks like Davian will have to be our opponent."
Karin, who had heard Martin and Latia's conversation, quietly nodded.
"He wouldn't draw his sword and rush at his friends, would he?"
Karin was naturally calling them friends. As a royal secret weapon, her original role was to monitor Davian Naone, who had a high potential for treason.
Martin bent his thick neck towards Latia and Karin.
"Not an easy choice. Good eye for judging the situation. Caring for your companions. Excellent and sincere. Thank you, Latia Meridiem. Karin Obelia."
Martin turned his body and looked at the opposing team.
"I, Martin! I was really impressed with the combination of Nubes Arbo and Luna Pueri! As a member of the Western Battle Tribe, I, Martin, with respect, request a 2-on-1 match against Nubes Arbo and Luna Pueri!"
It was the traditional battle request speech of the Western Battle Tribe.
It was also the first speech Martin had given since entering Elton Academy.
Comments
Post a Comment