EP.162 Fall, new semester (5)
The morning in Aplia is noisy with the opening ceremony just around the corner. Teaching assistants walking around the campus are busy preparing for something, such as attaching or installing something. I wasn’t preparing for the school opening ceremony. Since the school opening ceremony was scheduled, preparations had been made for a long time.
Cleaning of the classroom was completed prior to the start of school. All supplies needed for class were new. The textbooks were received in advance from the Horse Society, and all miscellaneous preparations were completed within the vacation period.
For teaching assistants, vacation is just a preparation period.
It’s no different even though it’s vacation. They had a busy schedule as usual. Therefore, with just a few days left before the start of school, the teaching assistants should have had a leisurely daily life.
However, like everything else in the world, work always comes suddenly.
「Combat Magic Department Master Competition」
Before the start of school, work was thrown in.
A battle for seniority, a duel.
It’s a little off this year, but it wasn’t like that last year. Duels took place several times a month. Therefore, the instructors at first ignored the notice about the duel, but realized it later.
The scale is different.
This is an unusual case.
“This is the first duel this year.”
“Well, Belnoa, that kid was so unique that other students couldn’t even dare to challenge him. Just by looking at the mock sparring, you can get a rough idea of his level…”
“At least, wasn’t student Lark worth a try?”
“That said, Belnoir is still dominant. So it seems like they are trying to settle the score this time. “I’m looking forward to it in many ways.”
Professors are interested.
I am interested in the duel that will take place between them. Following the professors, it reaches the dean’s ears.
“A duel taking place before the start of the semester.”
Dean Aaron said, stroking his chin.
“It’s hot. After all, young people should be like this. I envy your youth, I envy you. We grow by colliding with each other and competing. “It’s a beautiful story of youth.”
He nodded and smiled.
“The timing is right. How about planning it like an event? “It’s not a bad idea to give some motivation to students who are slacking off during vacation.”
And the sentence was handed down.
“Let’s make a big plan. “I’m looking forward to it.”
If you criticize me, what can I do?
The teaching assistants prepare for the event, shedding bloody tears. In just a few days, the event took on a plausible shape. On the morning of the duel, the trainers see the results they completed.
The sparring hall built for duels, as well as the sparring halls that were dusty due to no duels taking place over the past semester, were thoroughly cleaned. The chairs were polished to a shiny finish for the professors, including the president, who would come to watch the duel.
The Colosseum was modeled after the duel arena of ancient gladiators.
Looking at the place where preparations will be completed to receive the audience… the teaching assistants smile with great emotion. And then, someone walked among them laughing.
“oh.”
Now there is no one in Aplia who does not know her name. Rania Van Trias, professor in charge of Mana’s basics of trading. She glanced around the battlefield, opened her mouth, and let out an exclamation.
“Thank you for your effort.”
She took a seat in the audience and sat down, giving frequent words of comfort to the teaching assistants.
“Hmph, huh.”
She was humming a tune, sitting on the seat and swinging her legs back and forth… but she wasn’t just stopping by for sightseeing. For today’s event, she was perhaps her most important person.
Belnoir and Lark went beyond the level of students. Compared to most professors… he may be behind in theory, but he is not behind in practice. Two people of that size collide with all their might.
The fight gets heated.
If it overheats, something bad is bound to happen.
Blood splattering and irreversible injuries should not occur in the land of learning. However, the thought of having a duel with Son Dae-jung makes me feel cold. This means that someone is needed to supervise the duel in an appropriate manner.
That is Rania Van Trias.
She has a history of mediating between two people during a previous placement test. Her skills have already been proven. That’s why she asked this…
“Oh oh.”
Watching her looking around the battlefield so brightly, I feel like all sorts of worries are starting to arise. The teaching assistants sighed, hoping that nothing bad would happen.
Anyway, morning comes.
The sun shines warmly, and the audience begins to gather one by one at the sparring hall. The duel comes to an end amidst the students’ heat and excitement.
2.
“The duel was today, right?”
“I heard they are handing out snacks at the bakery. Let’s get some and go.”
“Who do you think will win?”
“I heard the professors are betting on it without the dean’s knowledge? “Maybe we don’t do that.”
The students walk towards the sparring hall, laughing and chatting. With the start of school just around the corner, students are also looking forward to events they can enjoy leisurely.
“The sparring hall is um…”
And, in the procession, there is also a girl who has just entered Aplia. Chloe looked around at the map she had received from the maid at the Central Academic Building, then gave up and walked along the line of students.
‘If you follow along, you’ll find it!’
As she walked, the students’ eyes were focused on Chloe. They glance at Chloe and whisper.
-He’s that transfer student…
-I heard you’re one of the Black Magic Tower Lord’s disciples?
-Isn’t there already Belnoir?
-I think I’m close with Belnoa too.
Students who transferred during the semester.
And, she is a girl who has a connection with Belnoa. She has many of her students who have seen her get along comfortably with her Belle Noah. There are rumors that she is not just her friend.
Belnoir is hard, cold, and rarely expresses emotions. Belnoa reveals his feelings in front of that girl. Laugh and talk.
‘There’s something!’
These students are at the peak of their interest in love stories. Inside them, Belnoa and that girl are already considered to be close lovers. It’s funny that the rumor isn’t entirely wrong.
-···Belnoir deserves it.
-Yes, she is pretty.
-Something feels a little different…?
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Coupled with the girl’s gorgeous appearance, Chloe had already become a celebrity among students. However, without knowing it, he just walks behind the students.
“Ah, it’s here.”
Chloe mumbled and entered the Colosseum. The circular stadium and the audience seats arranged in steps are visible at a glance. Chloe is inwardly amazed at the number of spectators filling the auditorium.
‘They’re all gathered to see Belnoa.’
Belnoir is really popular.
With those foolish thoughts in mind, Chloe walked away looking for an empty seat. As she walked like that, an unusually empty line came into Chloe’s field of vision.
Even though all the seats were crowded, that one seat was empty as if there was a hole in it. There wasn’t really a problem with the audience. If there was a problem, it was the person sitting there.
Wow.
The center of an empty line.
There is a person sitting there. She was munching on a snack bar and looking down at the center of the duel arena. Her gray hair swayed in the blowing wind.
“Professor Rania?”
“huh?”
She turns to the side as if answering a call.
She recognized Chloe and nodded.
“Hello, Chloe.”
Chloe tilted her head and asked a question.
“Why are you sitting alone?”
“well? I don’t know, but they don’t come here often. “Is there something wrong with the seat?”
She shrugged her shoulders while chewing on her snack.
“Do you want to sit down?”
Rania tapped the seat next to me.
Chloe nodded without thinking. Chloe walked over to her and sat down next to her.
-···omg!
-Someone try to stop him…!
-Transfer student, you don’t know because you’re a transfer student…!
And, that is the moment.
The murmur around them grew louder. Professor Rania and the students sitting at a distance from her look at Chloe with angry expressions.
···The reason the seat next to Rania was empty is simple.
Of course, the students also agree that Rania is quite a beauty and that she is a person with a unique beauty that is not often seen. However, she says it’s all rhetoric based on one prerequisite.
It’s pretty when seen from afar.
It is beautiful only when seen from afar.
As you approach, you will see blood. Students felt that fact keenly over the past semester. However, not Chloe. The innocent girl who has just entered Aplia does not know that fact.
-······.
Students express their condolences at that ignorance.
In front of Professor Rania, there was no student there who had the courage to warn Chloe. They couldn’t say anything, they just mumbled from afar. Chloe tilted her head as the surroundings became noisy.
Wow.
Whether the surroundings became a little more noisy or not, Rania still munched on her snack bar. Chloe glanced at the snack she was munching on. Come to think of it, did she say she was giving out snacks at the bakery?
‘I should have stopped by the bakery…’
It was the moment when Chloe felt such regret.
Rania, noticing her gaze, asked vaguely.
“Do you want to eat too?”
Chloe’s expression brightened.
She nodded and accepted the candy bar. I feel this again, but he is a very good professor.
“thank you!”
Chloe smiled brightly.
3.
[Student Belnoa, please prepare.]
I overhear the sound echoing in the waiting room.
Belnoa looked at the dagger in his hand. It is a dagger woven from shadows. Its form has not changed much from the old days. It’s like living while crawling in an alley.
Why is it in the shape of a dagger?
Because it was good to hide it. This is because a dagger was a good weapon for hiding and making a surprise attack. A dagger is not a very good weapon. However, when he realized that fact, Belnoa was already too familiar with the dagger in his hand.
As usual with weapons.
The dagger in his hand shows his life.
Belnoir raised his head and looked outside the waiting room. Light leaks in. The sight of Dalian is visible through the bright sunlight.
“······.”
There are many audiences.
There are so many eyes that it feels burdensome.
That was unfamiliar to Belnoa.
The place where he has fought has always been in the dark. He hid himself in the dark and made a surprise attack. He played a sloppy move. He did not hesitate to use poison when necessary. Such is the life Belnoa lived.
The current situation is unfamiliar to him.
It’s unfamiliar, it’s not familiar.
Belnoir did not like this kind of sparring. There is not even the slightest hint of practicality. A fight is something that happens unexpectedly and in less-than-perfect circumstances. What is the meaning of this made-up duel?
“···Phew.”
Belnoa let out a long sigh.
I tried to change my mind as much as the other person, but it rarely worked. Values built over a lifetime cannot change overnight.
That was the moment when Belnoir relaxed and tried to stand up.
Trudging.
Someone walks out of the waiting room across from us.
-Waaaaaa!
Cheers pour in. Every time he takes a step, the audience screams. The surroundings become noisy. Amidst the commotion, he stands in the center of the sparring hall.
Pure white hair.
Red eyes.
And, a hatchet held in each hand.
There is no change in his expression, as if he is familiar with the current situation. He just takes a deep breath and turns his head. He turns his head and looks this way.
Red eyes are looking at you.
He slowly raises the ax and points in this direction.
“Belnoir.”
Lark smiled, showing his teeth.
He flicks the hatchet and pulls it.
“Come out quickly.”
Seeing that sight, Belnoa couldn’t help but sigh.
“okay.”
Belnoa stands up, putting his hands on his knees. She leaves the waiting room and walks towards Lark. Cheers pour in. Amidst the outpouring of cheers, Belnoa stood right at the battlefield.
“Are you confident?”
“It will be different from before.”
“I think it would be a little different too.”
“Good.”
Lark lightly shook his arm.
“If nothing had changed since the last time we fought, it would have ended too easily.”
“You are very confident.”
“I had special training. “Training always makes a warrior stronger.”
Across the line, the two raise their weapons.
Lark uses an axe, and Belnoa uses a shadow dagger.
-Buuuuuuu.
And then, the horn sounds.
It was the signal to start the game.
