BFBG 10

Chapter 10

Word spread that there would be a duel between Jian and Lionel, drawing countless second- and third-year students.

“What? How is this supposed to be a duel?”

“Ugh, forget it. We got baited.”

Most of the gathered students wore expressions that clearly said, We’ve been tricked.

“Hey. I heard it was a spar.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve looked into the details more carefully…”

They had come expecting an entertaining showdown.

But instead of a duel, it turned out to be nothing more than a high-level “hit the training dummy” test.

Of course their moods soured.

“Ah, that guy Jian… I already don’t like him. Tricking people right from the start.”

Among the third-years, a noble male student with a fairly solid reputation clicked his tongue irritably.

“Let’s go. There’s no reason to watch this kind of staged exam.”

Many students, having heard the details of the spar, lost interest and even left the arena.

Since they had gathered because of provocative rumors, it was only natural.

Everyone’s awfully impatient.

Among them, student council president Martain quietly shook his head.

There would still be time to be disappointed after everything ended.

Why jump to conclusions already?

I’m curious. What kind of swordsmanship does Jian Bellomata use?

Would it be a fast style emphasizing speed?

Or the opposite—a heavy sword style built around overwhelming strikes?

Though personally… it’s disappointing I won’t get to see Commander Lionel’s sword.

Martain mulled over his regret and turned toward the center of the stage where the test would be held.

At that moment, Lionel appeared from the left entrance.

Clank. Clank.

The metallic ringing unique to plate armor echoed.

A giant over two meters tall strode toward center stage.

Every step released a heavy, razor-sharp pressure.

A savage aura worthy of the title Mad Tiger spread beyond the arena itself and reached the audience seats.

“Crazy…”

“That pressure is no joke.”

“So that’s… the kingdom’s strongest…”

Almost every student’s expression stiffened.

Some trembled in awe.

Some shook in fear.

Others quivered with competitive excitement.

“This is insane. So this is just his normal presence?”

Commander Lionel wouldn’t possibly go all out for a mere exhibition match.

His opponent hadn’t even appeared yet.

There was no reason for him to intentionally release killing intent.

Therefore, the aura now pouring out must simply be his usual presence.

That was what most students concluded.

That isn’t his normal aura.

But they were wrong.

No one else perhaps—but Martain’s eyes couldn’t be fooled.

The pressure Lionel was releasing now was not ordinary.

What exactly has Commander Lionel so excited?

The murderous atmosphere surrounding him made it obvious.

Lionel was trembling with joy.

He was looking forward to this match—so much that he couldn’t contain his excitement.

Why…?

A single-exchange duel with fixed offense and defense.

What was there to become competitive about?

Could Jian Bellomata have provoked Commander Lionel?

Otherwise, this savage aura made no sense.

If that’s true, then the boy’s completely insane.

Just as Martain reached that conclusion—

“Martain.”

“…Princess.”

Princess Aris took a seat beside him.

“I have something to ask you.”

Her brows were tightly furrowed.

As though her head hurt unbearably.

“A swordsman. A highly skilled one at that. Before an important battle… if he asks a woman to hold his hand, what does that mean?”

Martain frowned deeply at the sudden question.

What in the world is this out-of-nowhere question?

Wait.

A highly skilled swordsman facing an important battle…

Did she mean Jian Bellomata?

So in summary… Jian asked the princess to hold his hand before the duel?

If true, then Jian harbored feelings for the Third Princess…

Interesting.

Love was an easy emotion to exploit.

If Jian held affection for the Third Princess, persuading him to become a citizen of the Canarion Kingdom would become significantly easier.

Especially since the Bellomata family has practically been destroyed because of Endrich…

There would be few obstacles.

A strange light flashed in Martain’s eyes.

“Your Highness. Would a swordsman, before an important battle… ask a woman unrelated to him to hold his hand?”

Martain looked directly into the princess’s trembling eyes.

“Affection. That swordsman surely… is in love with that woman.”

“L-love…”

The princess’s eyes shook violently, as though struck by an earthquake.

“I… I see.”

At that moment, Jian appeared.

Martain glanced at the flustered princess before shifting his attention to Jian on stage.

I’ll stop there for now.

He badly wanted to tell the princess to try seducing Jian…

But seeing her reaction, that would likely backfire.

Better to leave it alone for now.

“Both sides. Take your positions.”

The instructor serving as referee gave the order.

The two stood in their assigned places.

“…I’ll ask one final time. You’re certain it’s alright if we proceed exactly as discussed?”

The instructor’s expression looked uneasy.

As if thinking:

Is this really okay?

“Haha. No need to worry. Didn’t I say? I’ll take responsibility for everything.”

Something about Lionel’s words was strange too.

Take responsibility?

There shouldn’t be anything requiring responsibility in this duel.

“Understood. Then I won’t say another word.”

The instructor sighed and stepped back.

Only two remained on stage.

“Need preparation time?”

Lionel asked Jian.

“No. I’m ready. Come whenever you’re prepared.”

“Kuhahaha! That confidence hasn’t changed.”

Martain’s eyes widened.

Listening to their conversation, he finally understood what was happening.

“No way… the attacker and defender…”

“Mm. They decided to switch.”

The princess confirmed his suspicion.

Martain stared in shock.

“What? Why is Sir Lionel taking a stance?”

“The freshman is in a defensive posture.”

“Don’t tell me…”

The students finally realized the situation and stared wide-eyed.

“Well then. Here I come.”

Lionel raised a sword as massive as his own body.

“Are you insane?!”

“The offense and defense were reversed!”

A terrifying force gathered around the blade.

“S-sword aura…”

Even students unfamiliar with swordsmanship recognized it instantly.

The sword aura was unmistakable.

“Sir Lionel is serious!”

“A freshman can block that?”

Everyone present understood simultaneously.

Lionel was serious.

Completely serious.

He intended to attack with full strength.

“S-Sir Lionel! Even so, using sword aura is—!”

The referee shouted in panic.

Ignoring him—

Lionel swung.

BOOOOOOOOM—!!

The greatsword split the air as it descended.

Its speed was so absurd that even the swordsmanship instructor acting as referee couldn’t properly see it.

“AAAAAH!”

“H-he’s dead…!”

A slash like the heavens collapsing.

Faced with such overwhelming might, most students instinctively foresaw Jian’s death.

A seventeen-year-old boy couldn’t possibly block that monster’s sword.

Now… show me.

The instant everyone except Lionel envisioned Jian dying—

[Due to the blessing “Beloved by All Things,” the effect “When receiving fatal damage, evade the attack once” activates.]

Jian’s body and sword began moving at a speed matching Lionel’s strike.

CRAAAAASH!!

Lionel’s sword utterly destroyed the stage.

At the center of the crater stood Lionel—

and one more person.

“Haha… Hahahaha!”

Had it broken while deflecting Lionel’s blade?

Jian held a shattered sword pointed downward.

His uniform top had been sliced perfectly in half, exposing bare skin—proof of how close it had been.

“You blocked it. You blocked it! You really blocked it!”

Lionel had seen it.

Seen Jian moving beneath the descending greatsword at near-light speed.

At first Jian’s face showed shock—

as if he hadn’t expected Lionel to use sword aura and attack seriously.

Then his expression changed.

And he moved.

“Amazing. Truly amazing. I’ve fought countless warriors across countless battlefields… but never have I seen anyone block my sword as perfectly as you!”

Goosebumps rose.

His skin tingled.

“At first I wondered why you held your sword like that. At that angle, it was guaranteed to break. I couldn’t understand such foolishness.”

How long had it been since he’d felt this way?

“To think such a method existed… Astonishing!”

Lionel never imagined someone would use the force of a sword breaking to alter its trajectory.

He didn’t know exactly how Jian had twisted the path—

but in the instant the sword snapped, the trajectory undeniably changed.

Therefore he must have used the force of the break itself.

“I acknowledge you. I, Lionel, Commander of the Mad Tiger Knights… acknowledge your sword, Jian Bellomata!”

Jian’s face looked more animated than usual.

The emotionless mask he wore as if distancing himself from the world had cracked.

His fingertips trembled while staring at his broken sword.

Surely he was overwhelmed by the ecstasy of victory.

“So… has the swordsman destined to dominate an era finally broken free from the heavy chains called Bellomata?”

Lionel remembered what he had learned while investigating Jian and the Bellomata family at Princess Aris’s request.

A tragic past that turned an unparalleled genius into a timid coward.

Lionel wanted Jian to overcome it.

That was why he arranged this spar.

He wanted a gifted swordsman to spread his wings.

“Hahaha…”

And now—

that wish had come true.

Just look at him.

Trembling in intoxication from victory.

There was no need to worry anymore.

Jian had completely escaped his past.

“…Good. Truly good.”

Lionel withdrew his sword and walked toward the waiting room.

That dazzling jewel… if our kingdom—no…

On the way, he noticed Princess Aris in the audience.

Frozen from shock.

If my lady could obtain him… I’d ask for nothing more.

Lionel silently wished for it.

[Mental EX Rank calms your agitation.]
[Mental EX Rank calms your agitation.]
[Mental EX Rank calms your agitation.]

I stared at the nonstop system messages and kept taking deep breaths.

[Mental EX Rank calms your agitation.]

Damn…

My heart kept racing, then being forcibly calmed down.

Mental EX Rank was practically injecting tranquilizers into me nonstop, so I should’ve calmed down already—

but I wasn’t.

I seriously almost died…

[Mental EX Rank calms your agitation.]

I looked at my upper body, sliced open enough to expose my abs.

That was really close.

If I’d been one millimeter further forward—

Just thinking about it made my heart pound again.

[Mental EX Rank calms your agitation.]

Only after receiving about ten metaphorical doses of Mental EX Rank sedatives did I finally regain composure.

“Phew…”

I exhaled the remaining tension.

Seriously, all hail the princess’s blessing.

[Due to the blessing “Beloved by All Things,” the effect “When receiving fatal damage, evade the attack once” activates.]

Complete evasion.

To experience such a beautiful effect this early…

Is Mental EX Rank a god?

Aris’s buff was godlike.

And Mental EX Rank, which let me enjoy her ridiculously overpowered buff from the beginning, was also godlike.

I should stay on good terms with her.

Thinking that, I shoved my broken sword into its sheath and turned toward the waiting room.

Then, just as I began walking—

“WAAAAAAAH!”

“That was insane!”

“He’s amazing! The freshman!”

Cheers erupted everywhere.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Thunderous applause followed.

Holy— that scared me.

[Mental EX Rank calms your agitation.]

I flinched from the sudden cheering but quickly regained calm.

There’s Aris. She’s with Martain.

Maybe because my composure returned—

I spotted the princess among the crowd.

Thank you. I survived because of you.

With genuine gratitude—

I smiled brightly.

And waved.

“….”

The princess’s eyes widened so much it seemed impossible for them to grow any larger.