Chapter 37: A relatively minor failure

Simon often let his thoughts wander, so the idea of giving up had crossed his mind more than once.

‘Maybe it would be better to just quit?’

It’s not like attending this academy is absolutely necessary.

If he hadn’t taken the magic aptitude test, wouldn’t his life have been calmer and more ordinary? He wouldn’t have faced so much discrimination and cold stares, nor would he have met that noble girl who approached him only to torment him.

In truth, Simon understood why Lila had chosen him. Among all those who bore malice toward him, no matter how much he was humiliated or mistreated, a few would turn a blind eye, while most would even take pleasure in it.

So targeting him wouldn’t bring any serious punishment. In their eyes, he was the embodiment of disaster, destined to bring calamity in the future.

Even though such a thing could never truly be proven, was he to endure all of this just because he was the first person with dark magic aptitude?

“Accept this power. It already belongs to you. Let us create a new world together.”

His “brother’s” whisper echoed by his ear, frenzied yet resolute.

At some point, that voice had begun interfering with him even in reality.

“Accept, accept- are you a broken record? My answer is rejection. Just disappear already!”

Simon gripped his sword tighter, turning his head slightly as he muttered under his breath.

Just as he refused to become the disaster others believed him to be, he also rejected that power.

From the moment he saw the disdain and contempt in Lila’s crimson eyes, he made up his mind, he would shatter that arrogance and make her taste defeat at least once.

That was the kind of person Simon was. Once he decided on something, he would see it through, no matter the cost.

His gaze hardened like iron as he stepped forward, dust scattering beneath his feet.

He lowered his stance slightly, muscles tensing, ready to strike.

Then he swung his wooden sword in a swift, powerful horizontal slash, the air splitting with a sharp whistle.

But Lila merely tilted her head and stepped back half a pace, effortlessly dodging. Her expression remained relaxed, completely unconcerned by his attack.

“Your downward strikes are clumsy, your upward swings lack force, your footwork is sloppy, and your reactions are slow. Not a single move is decent.”

Seizing the moment as Simon withdrew his sword, Lila struck his right hand.

Pain shot through him, but he didn’t drop his weapon. Adjusting his breathing, he abandoned defense and launched another attack.

In the next instant, a sweeping kick came from his left. Unable to evade in time, he was knocked to the ground.

“You think you can defeat me? Keep dreaming!”

Lila sneered, looking down at him.

Yet beneath that cold exterior, she felt a trace of concern, was he truly being crushed by this? After all, she was genuinely a prodigy in this field; no swordsman of her age could match her.

Only when Simon silently rose again did she feel relieved.

Perhaps she was overthinking. Someone as stubborn as him wouldn’t give up so easily.

Then try to knock me down.

Lila fixed her gaze on him. His dark eyes were like a still pool, concealing unreadable emotions. Though she didn’t care much, a thought still surfaced in her mind:

‘Pour all your unwillingness, all your resentment onto me.’

An inexplicable excitement stirred within her.

Simon stared at her, thinking rapidly.

Everything he knew about swordsmanship, his stance, movements, techniques, had been taught by her. That meant his thoughts and actions were transparent before her, like behind a sheet of glass.

At this rate, defeating her was impossible. He might not even land a single hit.

Just as she had declared arrogantly at the start, the only way was to find her opening, and the only way to do that was to change.

With that in mind, Simon charged again, only to be struck down moments later.

Again and again, he rushed forward recklessly, not to win, but to observe. He studied her movements, her habits, the rhythm between her strikes.

“Have you given up? Or do you enjoy being treated like this?”

He ignored her taunts, focusing solely on her patterns.

After countless falls and rises, his eyes sharpened.

He noticed that whenever she blocked, her right foot would unconsciously step forward half a pace. And after each strike, though her recovery seemed smooth, there was a fleeting opening beneath her right ribs.

Simon inhaled deeply and attacked again.

This time, instead of blindly striking, he feigned an upward slash. As expected, Lila raised her sword to block, stepping forward with her right foot.

In that instant, Simon shifted his body like a phantom, aiming straight for the opening.

Lila’s eyes flickered, she sensed danger and tried to adjust, but his sword grazed her clothes.

No real damage, but enough to shock her.

She had grown careless after his repeated reckless attacks.

But this was exactly what she had hoped for.

Simon pressed on, launching a fiercer assault. His attacks were no longer wild, but calculated, exploiting her habits.

The battle intensified. Their figures blurred across the field, blades clashing with sharp echoes.

After a fierce exchange, they both stepped back.

Lila’s hair was slightly disheveled, sweat forming on her forehead.

“It seems I underestimated you, Simon.”

A mocking smile curled on her lips.

“But the fight isn’t over.”

In a flash, she moved like a red bolt of lightning, launching a relentless attack. Her swordplay became sharper, more unpredictable.

Simon focused, relying on his observations to withstand her assault.

Back and forth they went, neither yielding.

Suddenly, Lila feinted and used a technique she had never shown before.

The strike was fast and strange, aimed straight at his throat.

Startled, Simon realized his escape routes were already sealed.

At that critical moment, he made a gamble, rather than retreat, he charged forward.

Twisting his body, he used his wooden sword to deflect most of the force.

As his blade approached, Lila remained calm. Should she take the hit… or pretend to fall?

After all, she too had grown through battle. Since surpassing all instructors in her family, she had mastered nearly every technique.

She admitted she had underestimated him. Perhaps he wouldn’t be eliminated in the first round after all.

But as the villain…

She chose…

With a sudden twist, she struck his sword away with overwhelming force.

In the next instant, a powerful kick sent him flying again.

This time, she didn’t ignore him.

Walking over slowly, she stepped on him, her black stockings slightly deforming under the pressure.

Through blurred vision, Simon saw her crimson hair against the gloomy sky, like a streak of blood, beautiful yet dangerous.

He saw the smile on her face.

“Did you think you could defeat me? How unfortunate… I’m sorry, but my act fooled you. You need to understand, Simon, you will never escape my side. You’ll live your entire life under my shadow.”

Pinned down, he couldn’t move.

“Understood?”

“…Yes, Miss.”

His voice was low.

“Good.”

She smiled with satisfaction.

“To commemorate your failure, come have a meal with me.”

“…Understood.”

Simon replied weakly.