Chapter 13: Concept Freak

Why?

The question fills my head.

…Did I miss something?

It’s not like I did anything at all.

I did secretly bring the Orb of Dreams from Arcana.

But surely that had nothing to do with Elena.

“Sparring over!”

While complicated thoughts were swirling in my head.

I came to my senses at the professor’s voice saying that Ed’s sparring was over.

The result was, of course, Ed’s overwhelming victory.

Unable to accept the fact that he was defeated by a commoner, Harsen came down from the sparring stage with a shocked expression.

The Class C students, who had not expected Harsen’s defeat at all, all looked bewildered.

They probably didn’t know that the commoners they had been looking down on would show such an overwhelming appearance.

“He’s pretty good for a commoner.”

“Hmph! It’s probably just a fluke.”

But the nobles are still busy disparaging his skills, simply because Ed is a commoner.

Even though they clearly saw his skills with their own eyes, they are trying hard to deny it.

I quickly asked Elena.

“What did you think of the sparring just now?”

“That Edmond person is very good at fighting.”

“Right? I think he might be the strongest among the first years.”

“Really? I don’t think so…?”

Damn it.

I asked Elena as if probing her, with a glimmer of hope, but.

She tilted her head as if she didn’t agree with me.

It’s definitely different.

Elena should have been instantly fascinated by Ed’s sparring, but.

Her reaction was only slightly lukewarm.

Seeing her seemingly uninterested in Ed, I thought.

First impressions are important.

Even if it’s not love at first sight, if there’s a favorable impression, things can go smoothly.

Elena’s feelings for him now can be said to be not favorable, but at least she’s interested.

Then, the situation can change at any time.

The next episode will be important.

The next episode, where Ed saves Elena in danger, and the two begin to build a relationship in earnest.

Now, in the next episode, I have to make her develop a favorable impression of Ed.

Only then can I see the end of the story that I couldn’t see in the comic.

“Louis…. Louis…!”

“Huh?”

“It’s your turn for the next sparring!”

I was lost in deep thought, and I quickly snapped out of it at Elena’s urgent voice.

I had forgotten for a moment.

It’s now in the middle of a joint class with Class E.

It seems that my turn has come around.

As soon as I heard Elena’s words, I quickly got up from my seat.

“…Why didn’t you answer when I called you, Louis?”

“I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment….”

“We’re in class right now. Concentrate.”

“I understand!”

“Come up.”

I hurriedly apologized, sweating cold sweat at the murderous look of Professor Dominic, who seemed to be scolding me.

But fortunately, he didn’t say anything else, as if he didn’t intend to scold me any further.

I answered vigorously and quickly climbed onto the sparring stage.

And there, a male student who seemed to be my sparring partner was already standing there with his eyes closed.

But.

His appearance is somewhat peculiar.

Darker black hair than Ed’s.

And a loose-fitting coat worn over his uniform.

The opponent, wearing clothes similar to traditional Japanese clothing.

I tilted my head at the sight of him.

‘Was there such a person in Ed’s class?’

His face up close, too, and his overly oriental appearance in this fantasy setting.

There were all sorts of people in the comic, but.

At least in my memory, there was no character with such a peculiar outfit.

‘And his name is Tatsuya? What the….’

While questioning his appearance, which doesn’t fit the worldview, for a moment.

He opened his closed eyes and opened his mouth towards Professor Dominic.

“Professor. May I ask for your understanding on one thing before sparring?”

“…What is it? Violating the rules I explained in advance is not allowed.”

“I would like to ask if it is okay to use this in sparring.”

And what he took out was.

A scabbard for storing a sword.

Why that…?

“Why are you asking that?”

“It is necessary for the swordsmanship I use.”

“Hmm…. Louis.”

“Yes?”

“If you allow it, I will approve Tatsuya’s request.”

I thought for a moment at his words.

This sparring is simply a sparring with a strong friendly nature.

It’s not included in the grades, so even if you lose in sparring, it doesn’t affect your grades.

This sparring is a sparring conducted to educate the nobles.

The purpose of this sparring is to make the nobles, who are frogs in a well, realize their level.

Besides, I don’t think a mere ordinary scabbard, not an artifact, will have a big impact on the battle.

It’ll probably be fine.

Without much hesitation, I nodded.

“I will allow it.”

“Thank you..”

“I understand. Then go to your respective positions.”

Following Professor Dominic’s words, I went to the designated position, stood facing my opponent, and gripped the wooden sword in my hand.

There are too many things to think about right now.

I need to finish the sparring quickly and go down and think about the things to come.

I intend to finish the sparring quickly.

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes.”

“I am ready.”

“Then…. Sparring start!”

With the sound announcing the start, I immediately ran towards Tatsuya.

But Tatsuya, even though the sparring had started, crouched down and didn’t seem to have any intention of moving at all.

As I got closer to him, his appearance began to be seen in detail.

With the wooden sword put in the scabbard he requested.

Tatsuya, waiting for me to get close to him.

And when the distance got close to a certain extent.

“Battou”..!!! (drawing a sword) (TL note: it is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes being aware and capable of quickly drawing the sword and responding to a sudden attack)

…What?

I flinched at the very familiar word that burst out of his mouth.

What did you just say….

But before I could even be embarrassed.

Seeing the wooden sword flying quickly towards my head, I was startled and hurriedly ducked my head.

Whoosh!

I came to my senses again at the chilling sound of the wooden sword that quickly passed over my head, cutting through the wind.

If I got hit by that, I’d be knocked out immediately.

I got goosebumps and took a step back to distance myself from him.

However, Tatsuya had already put the sword back into the scabbard and corrected his posture.

Is this okay?

Although I allowed it.

I didn’t expect this.

I turned my head and looked towards Professor Dominic.

He was standing still in the same spot where he was when the sparring started, without any movement.

Seeing his appearance, I readjusted my grip on the sword.

That’s as good as implicitly allowing the attack just now.

In the first place, it was me who allowed the opponent to use the scabbard.

Actually, there was nothing wrong with it.

Blaming my past self for nodding without any worries, I racked my brain.

Just now.

After the chilling strike that attacked my head.

Even though he had a clear advantage over me, whose posture was broken, there was no further attack.

Rather, he gave me time to distance myself and put his sword back into the scabbard.

…Is the only swordsmanship he can use iaido (the way of sword drawing)?

His iaido was quite chilling, both in speed and.

But only up to there.

A reasonable suspicion crossed my mind that he clearly doesn’t know how to swing a sword properly except for iaido.

Then it’s worth a try.

If I somehow avoid the first attack.

Next, it’s definitely my turn.

It’s just sparring anyway.

Even if I lose, there is no particular loss.

I thought it would be okay to clash once since there is no risk.

And I took my stance again.

Tension flowing between the two.

Tatsuya, who took a preparatory posture to perform iaido.

The moment he twitched his shoulder for a moment.

Now is the time.

I ran towards him once again.

Tatsuya, who had been waiting for me to attack, finally drew his sword quickly as soon as I entered his range.

“Battou…!!!”

Is he sick of not being able to shout the name of the technique?

Tatsuya, shouting iaido loudly once again.

This time, I turned my head to the side, seeing the sword flying quickly towards my head.

From bottom to top.

A wooden sword that draws a diagonal line and passes by my head.

I dodged his sword again and was filled with a strong conviction.

I won.

Tatsuya’s chest, which was empty in the same posture as when he slashed his sword.

I immediately raised my sword and stabbed it into his chest.

“Kuhuk…!”

Tatsuya screamed in pain, hit in the chest by the tip of my sword, and fell backward.

“Sparring over!”

Phew.

I finally lowered the sword I had raised when I heard Professor Dominic’s declaration that the sparring was over.

I was embarrassed by the unexpected appearance of iaido.

It’s fortunate that I knew about iaido in advance.

An ordinary person in this world who doesn’t know iaido might have a hard time.

No, by the way, why did the author hide such a character?

My head is dizzy at the appearance of a character that definitely didn’t appear in the comic.

Tatsuya’s name and outfit are definitely unusual features that don’t suit this world.

This is definitely a character sculpted by the author.

“Ahaha. I lost! It was a wonderful match. Louis-kun.”

Tatsuya, who still hadn’t recovered from the pain, rubbed his chest and laughed heartily.

He offered me his hand, asking for a handshake.

I looked down at his hand for a moment.

I shook his hand.

Elena too.

And Tatsuya, who I’m shaking hands with now.

This world is not going the way I expected at all.