Chapter 13
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Episode 3 - The duel of the strongest [2]
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The King of Ten Thousand Men, as his nickname suggests, earned it because he killed more than ten thousand enemies without moving even an inch.
His name is Karnak Everbright.
His sword technique is called "Ten thousand cuts that split the sky."
"..."
As I saw a dozen red lines about to strike my entire body,
I raised my sword and swung it, counterattacking the dozens of cuts.
Counting the lines, there were only thirty-two.
It was probably the first form of "Ten thousand cuts that split the sky"
'This is unexpected; however, since the cuts aren't very powerful, she must be just learning to use Karnak's sword art.'
That was good, since if she had mastered the first form, even if I had my senses, my body wouldn't allow me to move in time to counterattack or dodge.
In any case, after the flurry of strikes, I looked at the girl and noticed that she had a look of astonishment on her face.
Her emotions seemed to be a mix of disbelief, shock, and admiration.
"Well, I was surprised to see Karnak's successor, but I wonder where on earth he learned Karnak's sword technique; that's a big mystery."
In the game, there was no character, neither main nor supporting, who possessed one of the Five Swords' sword arts, with the exception of Lumina.
Incidentally, Lumina's sword art is called
Anyway, the duel continued.
The girl named Veronica used the first form once more: Thirty-two earthly realms.
But thanks to my senses, it wasn't difficult to defeat her.
"The winner is Cadet Adel."
After the referee's announcement, I turned around and walked back to my seat.
Of course, there were no applause or cheers, but that didn't matter to me.
Besides, due to my last attack, I left Verónica unconscious and they took her to the infirmary.
"First, I must find out who she is."
Naturally, I wasn't going to let this successor of Karnak pass me by. Besides, as I am the successor of Alice, she also told me to watch Verónica.
"Hmm, but now that I think about it, she wasn't at the opening ceremony. If she had been there, I would have seen her sword art then."
Maybe the director brought her to the Holy Academy.
***
Clementine looked at the dark-haired, purple-eyed girl being carried to the infirmary.
Although she wasn't injured, she fainted after that last blow.
In any case, Clementine couldn't help but look at her.
'She didn't even move, and yet…'
She was perplexed, as Verónica hadn't moved her katana at all, nor had she even taken it out of its sheath.
However, all she saw was a series of slashes that struck Adel.
If Adel hadn't counterattacked, Clementine doubted she would have been able to see Verónica's sword movements.
First, the sparks that flew when Adel counterattacked made Clementine realize that Verónica had moved her katana, but to her, it seemed as if the katana hadn't moved at all.
'And besides, how on earth could that guy react to that?'
Clementine shifted her gaze toward Adel, who was sitting far away. He was ten meters away from all the cadets.
Honestly, she didn't know what to say about it.
She had to admit that there were people stronger than her.
Especially the blind guy, who was known as the strongest in the first year, but that nickname was forgotten after his Dark attribute was discovered.
Clementine swallowed and thought:
'If I were to face Cadet Veronica, I doubt I could defeat her. Then, how can you defeat something that is impossible to see?'
Usually, when you watch a sword technique, it's easy to see where the sword moves.
But if that sword is moving so quickly, it's naturally impossible to see and even more impossible to predict where it's going.
Even worse, how can a blind person block and counterattack?
'What's the secret to this...?'
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come to any conclusion.
After all, it was his first time experiencing something like this.
'Maybe...'
He quickly shook his head at his first thought.
He could ask Adel how she reacted to those invisible attacks.
But his pride wouldn't allow it, and besides, he is a Dark attribute user.
'Never mind, I'll figure it out on my own.'
However, deep down, his curiosity kept growing.
***
The first round of duels had come to an end.
Professor Franklin's assistant passed around the box containing the numbered slips of paper for the second time.
After a while, I drew the number 4.
At the same time, Professor Franklin made an unexpected announcement.
"Usually, I would award points to the winner, but this time, I will give a special reward."
He reached into his right pocket and took something out.
"The first-place prize will be an Elixir of Supreme Quality. Coincidentally, I acquired it at an auction last month, and since I'm a teacher, I won't be competing every day."
"..."
The elixir that Professor Franklin showed was none other than the elixir made from my blood.
Since it's a Supreme Quality Elixir, it's no surprise that it has become quite famous in recent years, appearing at auctions and in a few high-end alchemist shops.
"I didn't expect to find my family here."
Much less as a reward for first place.
Anyway, this time my body didn't react; strangely enough, it held itself back.
"An elixir of Supreme Quality!"
"I've never seen one. Even the imperial family says they have few elixirs of Supreme Quality."
"That must have cost the professor a fortune, huh?"
"Who cares. With an elixir of Supreme Quality, I don't have to worry about losing a limb."
The cadets, who did not know what the elixir was made of, expressed their amazement, admiration, and greed to obtain it.
"Ha, ha, ha. It seems everyone's fighting spirit has increased."
Some cadets nodded without hesitation.
"Very well, then let's continue."
Meanwhile, I felt melancholy.
There was nothing I could gain by having that blood return to me.
Thus, the duels before the semifinals began with more force.
***
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Someone knocked on the door of Director Bernice's office.
Without looking up, she said:
"Come in."
Soon, her assistant entered, stood firmly in front of the director, and said:
"I'm here to deliver the report requested a year ago."
Bernice looked up and stopped what she was doing.
"What have you been doing over the last year?"
The assistant nodded and said:
"Not long ago, one of its most important branches disappeared, and the Supreme Quality Elixir that they have produced for the last nine years, presumably extracted from someone, has stopped appearing in legal and illegal sales."
Bernice frowned.
"The production of that elixir has disappeared. What exactly happened?"
The assistant continued the report:
"As you know, Director, the branch responsible for creating that elixir is one of the three main ones, and six months ago, its location was discovered; however, what was found were ruins."
The director, Bernice, nodded and couldn't help but think.
'Someone eliminated those bastards. Although the third branch was the weakest of the other two, it was particularly important for the production of that elixir.'
A decade ago, an elixir made of blood suddenly appeared, and its effects were so incredible that it became famous easily.
Additionally, it is a rare elixir, but if you counted from its first to its last appearance,
it would easily reach the thousands.
'The research from that time showed that the blood belongs to one individual, but that should be impossible.'
Unless it is a non-human race whose blood traits are identical.
Mass production of Supreme Quality elixirs made of blood is impossible.
So the result was clear.
The blood belongs to one person.
'If it's related to blood, then it's the power of some Heart of Strength. Whoever this person is, they're either dead or escaped and caused the destruction of that branch.'
If that person were alive and wandering somewhere...
Then, they should bring her in and take care of her. According to the investigation, his age could be estimated."
Therefore, he was likely a first-year student at the Holy Academy at this time.
Then, Director Bernice looked up and told her assistant:
"Let's launch a search. If this boy is still alive, we must protect and care for him at all costs. His estimated age is 18. His appearance is unknown, so investigate the blood of children who may look suspicious."
"Understood."
The assistant nodded and left the director's office.
Soon, Bernice tapped her fingers on her desk and murmured:
"The elixir appeared a decade ago, so... they extracted blood from her for ten years, from the age of seven or eight until seventeen or eighteen..."
Then, a sigh escaped her lips as she thought:
'If he's alive, then… should I adopt him or her as my son or daughter…?'
No one knew Director Bernice's secret.
It was simple, but also something that had caught her attention and that she now desired.
She was over a thousand years old, and in all that time, she had lost almost all her desires, feelings, and emotions.
But at some point she saw a family, and since then, her desire has been to have a child, at least one adopted.
***
"..."
'Mhm, I'm getting chills for some reason.'
Shaking my head, I faced my opponent, just as I expected.
Princess Clana, a Light-attribute user.
Of course, I can win this fight without much trouble. The problem will be the reaction.
'There are bastards who don't care about the cadets' strength and only care about status.'
If a commoner defeats the princess, dark times will come, with dozens of nobles harassing said commoner.
Then, what about me?
'Of course, it'll probably be worse.'
I could simply give up, but I suspect that will be impossible.
'If I say I'm giving up, Clana, with her pride as a princess, will force me to participate. Even if I manage to anger her, she won't send assassins, but other nobles might.'
So, basically, no matter what I do...
I'm screwed.