Chapter 141
“Then, candidates of each category, please prepare for your matches. As I just explained, you’ll duel against other candidates in the same category.”
I nodded at Luke’s instructions.
This procedure was exactly the same as in the game.
Candidates of the same category would duel before the instructors, who would then decide who would represent the academy.
One might think all I had to do was win the duel, but that wasn’t the case.
If it were that simple, they wouldn’t have called us a week before the semester started.
‘They’ll have interviews with the candidates, assess each individual’s abilities in detail... They’ll do everything possible to select the best representative.’
If things had gone normally, I would’ve gone through that process over the course of the week to become a representative myself.
Yeah, if things had gone normally.
No—if things had gone the same as in the game.
“Sir, doesn’t that mean I came early for no reason?”
“Hahaha... Sorry. Really sorry.”
Luke scratched his head awkwardly.
“Honestly, I thought there’d be at least one more applicant besides you. Didn’t expect there to be none until the very last day.”
“Yeah, I thought so too.”
In the game, there had been other candidates besides the player.
So I’d naturally assumed there would be some this time as well.
“Still, even if you’re the only applicant, you had to come today for formality’s sake.”
“Right. So I came... but will I have anything else to do until the semester starts?”
“Not really. You just have to show the instructors what you’re capable of, and later this evening, fill out a few forms... Yeah, that’ll be it. Once you finish today, you won’t have anything else to do until the semester begins.”
Luke gave me an apologetic smile.
“If you want, you can go home tomorrow and come back next week for the semester’s start. What do you think?”
“Nah, it’s fine. I’ve already unpacked my stuff in the dorm anyway. Since I’m here early, I might as well use the time to prepare more for the inter-academy competition.”
I spoke to Luke as if it was no problem at all.
“So, I’ve officially become Lysquare Academy’s representative, right?”
“Yeah, it’s confirmed. You’ll be the student representing Lysquare Academy in this year’s inter-academy competition.”
“Now that it’s official, I suddenly feel a lot of pressure.”
Letting out a small sigh, I asked Luke,
“But still, it’s a position worth having. Why was I the only one who applied?”
“Partly because people heard that you applied, but more importantly... it’s because of Eisen. Word spread far and wide that he’s beyond the level of a regular student. There are barely any students his age who could beat him.”
“Well, no student would want to lose in front of everyone.”
“Exactly. So not only for the all-around representative match that Eisen’s in, but even the swordsmanship category has far fewer candidates than last year.”
Luke glanced toward Sara’s group.
Sara was with the other swordsmanship candidates—but their numbers were noticeably smaller compared to other events.
“This isn’t just our academy. I’m guessing other schools are having the same problem—Eisen alone is making it hard for everyone to pick their swordsmanship representatives and overall contenders.”
“Sir Eisen must be... incredible.”
And indeed, that was consistent with his game profile.
According to the game, Eisen continued to grow and eventually became one of the strongest swordsmen in the Empire—no, on the entire continent.
A man capable of standing toe to toe with the Three Dukes, even matching Luke himself.
“Do you think I can beat someone like that?”
“Hmm... Honestly, even I can’t guarantee you’ll win.”
“Yeah, even I wouldn’t bet on it.”
“But one thing I can say for sure.”
Luke looked at me and smiled.
“Out of all the representatives competing in this year’s inter-academy competition, you probably have the highest chance of defeating Eisen.”
“...So even including the other academies’ representatives, I have the best chance? Really?”
“Yeah. That’s how strong you are... at least, that’s what I firmly believe.”
Luke’s eyes gleamed with conviction.
I chuckled faintly and nodded.
“Then I’ll trust your words and gain some confidence.”
“Don’t trust me. Trust yourself.”
“Then I’ll trust both you and myself.”
“Well, that’s not a bad answer.”
Luke chuckled softly with me.
“So you basically have nothing to do for a week?”
“Yes, that’s how it turned out.”
A little later.
I went up to the second-floor stands of the gym and joined Jason and Lisa.
“I didn’t expect to be the only candidate for the all-around representative.”
“Well, it’s not that strange. The performance Eisen showed last year... it wasn’t just a hot topic among academy students in the Empire—it was a sensation across the entire Arium Empire.”
“Do you think I can beat someone like him?”
“...All I can say is, good luck.”
“Thanks for the encouragement.”
I replied with a hollow laugh.
Lisa held my hand tightly.
“Want me to take your place instead?”
“Could you beat Sir Eisen if you did?”
“No, I couldn’t.”
Lisa answered without even a second’s hesitation.
“Our family’s swordsmanship is weak in one-on-one duels. And more importantly, it’s especially bad against the Isrinbloom Family’s style.”
“I’ve heard that. Your swordsmanship focuses on slow but powerful strikes, but the Isrinbloom swordsmen...”
“They don’t even let those strikes connect. On top of that, they take advantage of our slower movements and end the fight before we can even swing.”
Then, with eyes filled with reminiscence, Lisa continued.
“I watched Eisen fight during last year’s competition. I didn’t face him directly, just saw him from the stands... but sorry to say this about Sara, he was on a completely different level.”
“My father said the same thing when he went to watch the matches last year.”
Jason, too, had a nostalgic look.
“He said Eisen was beyond what Headmaster Dilug was in his student days—no, maybe even greater. ‘That boy will become one of the Empire’s top swordsmen’... or something like that.”
The current head of the Isrinbloom Family, Dilug Isrinbloom.
Indeed, Eisen would surpass his father in just a few years.
“Anyway, Gideon. If things get rough, I can take your place...”
“It’s fine, Noona. Besides, you can’t actually compete in the inter-academy competition, can you? You’re the Disciplinary Committee President.”
“Yeah. Someone from the committee has to stay behind to keep the students in order.”
“That’s why you couldn’t participate last year either, right?”
“Yeah. During last year’s competition... I’d kicked out all the senior members of the committee and was the only one left. I had too many duties to join as a representative.”
Lisa rested her head on my shoulder and looked up at me.
“Still, you’re here this year. So, if something happens, I can leave the Disciplinary Committee work to you and take your place in the competition.”
“…I don’t want to see you lose in front of everyone, Noona.”
“I don’t want to see you lose to Eisen, get hurt, and be criticized by others either. That’s why I’d rather take your place.”
“It’s fine, Noona. I decided knowing full well what I was getting into. Besides, Instructor Luke said something to me.”
I smiled as I gently patted Lisa’s head.
“He said that out of all the students competing in this year’s competition, I have the best chance of defeating Sir Eisen.”
“Then… I really hope you win. If you do……”
“Your name will spread across the entire Empire again.”
Jason, who had been quiet until now, smirked and joined in.
“Then maybe rebuilding your family won’t just be a dream.”
“Right. If I somehow manage to defeat Sir Eisen… I’ll gain a lot from it.”
“Nobles will line up to sponsor you. You’ll get a flood of marriage proposals too. But, well—since Lady Balmuth is standing firmly beside you… that might be tough.”
Jason chuckled softly before turning his gaze back toward the center of the gym.
“Anyway, there sure are a lot of students here. I guess that means there are a lot of categories in the competition, huh?”
“Yes. From what I’ve heard, there are quite a few.”
The all-around representative match that I’d be entering—as well as swordsmanship, spearmanship, archery, combat magic, magic theory, team battles, maze breakthroughs…
As expected of a competition lasting nearly two weeks, there were a considerable number of events.
“Oh, looks like the swordsmanship representative candidates are starting their duels. But really, it’s obvious who’ll win that spot, right? It’ll be Sara.”
“Yes, I think Lady Sara will take it too.”
“What about you, Noona?”
“I agree. If Gideon had applied for swordsmanship, it might’ve been different, but without him... there’s no one else but Sara. Among all the 1st to 3rd years, no one can beat her in a one-on-one duel.”
With Lisa’s words, the duels between the swordsmanship candidates began.
The following week passed by quickly.
Other than the first day, I didn’t have much to do.
So I spent my time watching the representative selection matches, going on dates with Lisa, and just enjoying myself.
Before I knew it, the day before the semester began had arrived.
“Jason! Sara! I’m here!”
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
“Was your trip here comfortable?”
“Oh, totally! Our coachman was amazing as always.”
The blonde Princess arrived at the academy, radiating her usual cheerful energy.
“Gideon! Lisa! Have you both been well?”
“Yes, we both had an enjoyable vacation.”
“I see. Oh, right—Gideon, Sara! I heard the news. You both became competition representatives, didn’t you?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I became the academy’s all-around representative, and Lady Sara…”
“I became the swordsmanship representative.”
Just as everyone had expected—
and with unanimous approval from the instructors who oversaw the evaluations, Sara had officially been confirmed as the swordsmanship representative yesterday.
“Wow! Congratulations to both of you!”
“Thank you, though… in my case, it’s not that big of a deal. There weren’t any other applicants.”
“No way! Still, becoming a representative is something to celebrate!”
“Well, in that case… thank you, Your Highness.”
I bowed my head to Layla, and Sara followed suit beside me.
Layla looked genuinely happy, as if it were her own accomplishment.
“So, both of you are going to go out there, beat the other academies, and win, right?”
“Ah, that’s… well…”
Sara trailed off, and I gave an awkward smile.
Layla seemed to find that amusing, and she laughed even brighter.
“Gideon, Sara.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“As your Princess, I command you—both of you, go and win first place in your respective categories.”
Layla’s tone was playful yet brimming with energy.
Sara and I couldn’t help but smile helplessly at her words.
“If it’s an order… understood, Your Highness. I’ll defeat my brother, Eisen Isrinbloom, and bring back the victory.”
“As the all-around representative of Lysquare Academy, I too will win without fail.”
With the Princess’s command and her encouragement, the second semester at the academy began.
And as it did, Sara and I immediately started our preparations for the upcoming inter-academy competition.