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437 p1. Noble Faction and New School Year [10]

After Rose and Maddy’s Vice-General battle ended, the National Holy Arena was engulfed by a great commotion.

「H-Hey, Imperial Academy has lost two matches. It has never happened before…」

「Thousand Blade Academy… Until just a few years ago, they were the lowest in the ranking, but their value has increased a lot this year.」

「It’s the second coming! The second coming of the Golden Generation!」

「If I remember correctly, this breakthrough came after Leia Lasnode took office as chairman, right?」

「That girl, I always had the impression that she only does foolish stuff, but perhaps she is surprisingly a capable educator?」

「Perhaps that is the case, after all!」

The audience couldn’t hide their excitement from the series of unexpected results.

「Wow, the festival is getting really exciting! So far, both academies have two wins and two losses. Thousand Blade Academy’s super fast advance that no one could have predicted! Who could have predicted such a hot development?」

The voltage inside the venue rose as the commentary continued.

「No matter what happens, the next one is the last fight! At last, the General Battle will be held! General of Thousand Blade Academy Allen Rodore! General of Imperial Academy Shin Rex! Both contestants, please come up to the stage!」

Following the commentator’s instructions, I climbed up the stairs.

「Thousand Blade Academy’s Allen is a swordsman who rules pitch-black darkness! He has a soft and friendly face, but in reality he has a strong and deep connection with the underworld, and his character is as pitch-black as his abilities! But I wonder if that’s true, as he has provided precious specimens to break the “curse”! He’s a man of many mysteries who also has a humanitarian side to him!!」

As usual, my introduction was as absurd as it could be.

Well… it’s a little better compared to the 100% malicious introductions I’ve experienced so far.

「Imperial Academy’s Shin is a young genius swordsman who is part of the strongest group of swordsmen that is the pride of the Holy Knights Association, the “Seven Holy Swords”! There is not a single bit of information about his fighting style, soul dress, or swordsmanship school he belongs to! Just like Allen, this is another man full of mysteries!」

As we were introduced to each other, Shin and I made our way onto the stage.

Shin Rex.

He has brown, medium hair and is 168 cm tall. As mentioned in the previous information, he’s a fairly slender swordsman.

He has a well-proportioned face, characterized by clear, innocent eyes.

He is dressed in the white-based uniform of Imperial Academy and stands with a detached expression.

When our gazes met,

「Fuwaa… you’re Allen Rodore, huh? I heard rumors that you’re “insanely strong”… but it doesn’t seem like I can expect much from looking at you.」

Shin yawned while saying something extremely rude.

「Even though it’s the Sword King Festival, you seem really unmotivated.」

「I don’t have any motivation. To be honest, I really want to stay at home all the time without going out to a silly festival such as this. But if I did that, those stubborn grandpas would keep nagging me. So, without a choice, I have come here on a business trip.」

Stubborn granpas…is probably referring to the leaders of the noble faction.

「In the first place, isn’t the Sword King Festival pointless? It seems that the whole point is to decide the “strongest swordsman” and the “best swordsmanship academy”… Why do that when I am the strongest, and the Imperial Academy where I’m at is the best, after all.」

He said so and smiled innocently.

There was no bluff or bravado in those words.

Perhaps those words came from the heart.

(In a way, it’s amazing.)

Dodriel and Sid-san

I’ve seen many swordsmen who had overwhelming talent and absolute confidence that they were “the strongest”.

However, this swordsman named Shin Rex was fundamentally different.

Not “confidence”, but “conviction”.

He had not the sliver of doubt that he was the strongest.

「If you’re that conceited, one day you will slip, you know?」

「Sorry, but I won’t be made to slip by any insignificant creature.」

「…」

「…」

Both our gazes quietly collided with each other.

「Well then, are you both ready? Then, the General Match, Allen VS Shin ― Begin!」

At soon as the start signal was given,

「Destroy – Zeon!」

I immediately manifested my Black Sword and took the Seigan no Kamae stance.

Shin, on the other hand, stood there and didn’t move, looking at me as if he was evaluating me.

「Heh, that’s amazing. I’m a little surprised that there’s a swordsman with this much spiritual power in the same generation. I think I’ll give you +1 evaluation point.」

Saying so, he pulled out the sword that was fastened to his waist.

「…Are you not going to lie down this time?」

「Pu… ahaha! Even though you have such a serious face, you say quite funny things!」

I don’t know what was so funny about it but he started laughing while holding his stomach.

「Hmm, normally, I’d go about it while lying down, but you certainly don’t seem like an opponent I can beat in my sleep. ―But then again, not good enough for me to get serious.」

While evaluating me as such, he started light hopping on the stage.

「Let’s get started.」

The next instant,

「Kaha…」

Before I knew it, my whole body crashed into the wall behind me.

A breath later, an impact, as though I had been hit by a heavy machinery, rushed from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.

It took me some time to realize the fact that I was blown away by Shin’s charge.

(…Fast. No, it’s more “clever” than that…)

From zero to maximum speed.

Through his god-like weight shift and spiritual power control, he achieved perfect acceleration with no precursor or preliminary movements.

「Hey hey, if you let your mind wander, you’ll collapse, you know?」

A huge amount of spiritual power was released from Shin’s body in front of me.

(Oi Oi, are you serious!?)

He’s trying to crush me purely with his violent spiritual power.

「KUOOOOOHHHH!」

I also released my spiritual power without losing out.

I somehow managed to escape from the predicament by pushing back with the power of darkness.

「Wow, amazing. To think you got through that. Not bad, Allen Rodore. I’ve started looking at you in a little more of a positive light.」

Shin clapped dryly as his eyes widened.

「No way… Allen was pressured in terms of spiritual power?」

「Shin Rex… He fools around, but his ability seems to be the real deal.」

Ria and Rose, who were far behind, let out sighs of astonishment.

「As expected of an active duty Seven Holy Sword… you’re strong.」

I spat out the blood that had accumulated in my mouth and gripped the black sword tightly.

「I’ll make the moves now!」

I kicked the stone stage and reduced the distance to zero in one step.

「Eighth Sword — Yatagarasu!」

「Futile. Our ”basic specs” are different.」

My eight slashes were easily mowed down by Shin’s casual overhead slash.

「Wha!?」

「You don’t have time to be surprised!」

The counter slash was unbelievably sharp, and above all…

(…Heavy…)

It was so heavy that it was hard to believe that it was produced by that slender body.

「Hey hey, I’m gonna keep going.」

Shin leaned forward and increased his offense at once.

Diagonal slash, Upward slash, Overhead slash, Thrust, Side Sweep – a series of fierce attacks filled my sight.

「Kuh!」

Some I dodge, some it hurts, and some I defend. Then I started thinking.

(So this is the sword of the Seven Holy Swords, Shin Rex…)

Every slash was literally a certain kill, boasting extraordinary power.

That’s no wonder, after all. Each of Shin’s swing is imbued with out of bounds spiritual power.

(But isn’t this too abnormal!?)

Until now, I’ve fought with many types of swordsmen.

Those who were blessed with natural talent, those who had unusual reflexes, and those who wielded finely honed swordsmanship. All of them were first-class and naturally boasted an abundant amount of spiritual power.

However, Shin’s spiritual power was literally beyond that standard, and I don’t remember a swordsman who was so outstanding in “spiritual power”.

「Hey, you’re gonna fly now.」

A light side kick.

I lowered my elbows to defend myself, but I couldn’t control the impact and was blown backwards.

(Fuu… how troublesome.)

A very simple tactic of brute forcing with absurd spiritual power.

Since it’s simple, it’s difficult to deal with, and there’s nothing more troublesome than that.

(I don’t think I can win at this rate.)

If I proceed with the battle slowly, I will gradually be worn down by that ridiculous spiritual power, and I will end up taking a fatal blow.

(…I don’t like that power, but… I have no choice but to do it, huh.)

The power of the Seven Holy Swords, Shin Rex, far exceeded my expectations.

I’m no longer in a situation where I can pick and choose.