chapter 10
10 – Practical Test (4)
At the moment the game ended, my plan was established.
To support Line, the magic swordsman, more than Lily who had exceeded the original work.
“I have to be stronger than Lily for now, whether she falls for me or not.”
Two weeks later.
During an outdoor lecture, Lilly came under attack.
She fought with all her might, but in the end she was defeated and faced a desperate situation where she was about to die.
At that moment, the protagonist appears to protect Lilly and fight the enemy.
This is the beginning of the <Academy Series> and the catalyst for Lilly falling for the protagonist.
So, Line needs to be able to defeat opponents that Lily hasn’t been able to defeat on her own.
“The problem is whether Line can defeat opponents that even the current Lily finds difficult to beat.”
There is still a way.
That is the Magic Sword.
If Line, who is a mage warrior, has only the necessary Magic Sword, it can significantly enhance his skill.
No matter how fast Lily grows,
it is like trying to catch a star in the sky to defeat a mage warrior who has been wielding a Magic Sword since the beginning.
So, my first goal is Line’s Magic Sword.
“If I could easily obtain it, that would be great.”
Although I know the few Magic Swords that can be made in the early stages,
Considering Line’s skill level, I need to prepare one of the top-quality ones.
Thanks to that, the troubles have increased like one plus one equals two.
All I wanted was to see Lily and Line’s happy ending, so why do things keep piling up like a mountain?
“Peasant! How dare you ignore the words of a noble like me!”
I snapped out of my reverie at the sudden loud voice.
Bester, standing barely across from me.
The barrier surrounding the arena signaled the start of the match.
As I kept modifying my plans, suddenly it was my turn.
What happened while I was lost in thought,
Bester, who was extremely angry, glared at me with fierce eyes.
“Well then, come at me. If you think you can move,” I retorted.
“How dare a commoner-!”
Honestly, I had let my guard down.
I inwardly dismissed Bester, thinking what could he possibly do alone,
But from my waist, I drew out six figurines and held my breath.
Those are clearly foul play.
I quickly glanced at the jury because I knew the true identity of the figurines.
“Damn it.”
Unconsciously, curses slipped out of my mouth.
The professor currently in charge of the trial was William, a well-known nobleman even in the game.
He was a staunch aristocrat from his bones.
Bribery is bribery, but if it’s William who judges, I am the only one who can stop Bester now.
Only the person who pins the barrier on the battlefield can remove it.
If we use that, we can easily interrogate a student.
But it would be a shame to give up the position of a professor just to question one student.
Just being a professor at Iris Academy changes the way people around you evaluate you. How can I give it up?
But it’s different when it comes to William, an aristocrat.
If it’s for the sake of the aristocracy, he’s prepared to abandon his own position.
Even if he has to give up the position of a professor just to question a commoner like me.
“hehehe, if you beg for forgiveness now, I will forgive you generously. Hurry and kneel….”
“Damn, it’s enough talking.”
“…What?”
He knows very well about the identity of the statue
and the fact that it’s dangerous.
Even in this situation where it wouldn’t be strange to die, my will remains unbroken.
In the future, there will be hardships and adversity that cannot be compared to this situation.
There will also be situations where everything feels hopeless.
“Is this arrogance or confidence?”
If I fall over such a small thing, it’s better to give up everything.
So, once again, I raised my sword towards Bester, swinging through the air with determination.
“Come at me quickly. Otherwise, get lost.”
***
Ron’s provocation was successful.
The proof was Bester, trembling with his hands and a disheveled face.
“Get lost! These are my knights!”
Bester threw six statues to the ground.
Then, the statues emitted a bright light,
Gradually, it grew to the size of a person and aimed the sword at Ron.
[Doll Knight]
The true identity of the items used by Vester,
It is a magical item that summons a knight doll resembling a statue when used.
In the game, it is used only in the early stages as a trap-like item, at level 10.
Nevertheless, Ron still smiled.
Ron had swung his wooden sword every day to become stronger.
Even on rainy days, or snowy days.
But because he had never properly learned, he was hesitant to call it swordplay.
To Ron himself, the sword was nothing more than a decoration.
That’s why Ron saw this situation as a good opportunity.
No matter how much it is just a doll, it is a doll modeled after a knight.
Then, isn’t that the use of basic sword skills of a knight.
‘If I just watch and learn by eye, it might be difficult.’
Still, the reason he was confident was because of the attribute he had, [growth (middle)].
The effects of [middle growth] when no one is around are as follows:
[Growth rate becomes faster.]
[The possibility of learning skills seen through sight arises.]
Of those, the second effect that Ron is aiming for.
For Ron, who has never learned swordplay,
The knight doll was an invaluable good teacher.
While avoiding the swiftly attacking, he closely observed their movements.
Because of focusing on observing, getting attacked was frequent,
Nevertheless, his gaze did not lose any light at all.
“Is this how it is.”
Like reviewing what he had learned, the sword was swung.
The sword was very similar to that of a skilled knight.
The leader of the kingdom’s knights, who had been watching it, couldn’t help but be amazed.
At first, he was a novice who didn’t even know the basics of swordsmanship.
However, as the battles continued, his skills improved exponentially,
and his movements became similar to those of a knight.
He learned all of that by watching the knight doll right in front of him.
Anyone who wielded a sword would understand how remarkable that was.
Whether he knew or didn’t know the leader’s high appraisal,
Ron started to defeat the knight dolls one by one using the swordsmanship of a knight as a repayment for teaching him the skills.
“What are you all doing? Kill that commoner quickly!”
Even with Bester’s orders, the knight dolls couldn’t kill Ron.
More accurately, it can be said that they couldn’t kill him.
Having already taken his swordsmanship and even exposed his weaknesses, the knight dolls were no longer a match for Ron.
Thud.
Finally, as the last knight doll fell,
Ron turned his head and looked at Bester.
In his gaze, no sympathy or anger could be felt.
Nothing.
From his gaze that couldn’t contain any emotion,
Bester realized how worthless he was to him.
“Someone like a commoner. Don’t look at me like that!”
As if it were his final resistance,
Bester threw his last hidden piece.
The shining statue, just like the knight doll, immediately transformed into the form of a mounted knight on a giant horse.
“Crazy bastard.”
It’s not even strange for harsh words to come out of Ron’s mouth.
If the doll knight was level 10,
the mounted doll was level 15.
Even if he had faced six knight dolls,
the mounted knight surpassed his category entirely.
In that moment, the mounted knight moved and swung its giant lance in a circular motion.
Ron succeeded in quickly moving aside,
but due to a change in direction and rushing forward again,
he wasn’t even given time to think.
The attack of the cavalry was as fierce as if they were possessed by Yeopo from the Three Kingdoms.
In a situation where his stamina was rapidly depleting just by avoiding the attacks,
Ron swallowed dry saliva and rolled his eyes.
Although someone who seemed important dashed towards Professor William,
without hesitation, he gave up on seeking help from the outside when he saw William’s resolute stance with folded arms.
While still facing the charging cavalry fiercely, in a moment of hesitation, Ron was struck by what seemed to be a knight doll’s stone sword under his feet.
“If this is it!”
As if discovering a ray of light in the darkness,
he picked up the stone sword scattered on the ground, assuming a throwing posture rather than a stance for swordsmanship.
“Hngh!”
Swallowing his breath, he threw the stone sword.
However, it fell lifelessly, unable to withstand the spear techniques of the cavalry.
Thunk!
The iron sword stuck in the horse’s leg.
Simultaneously, losing balance, the cavalry stumbled and tumbled.
“Great!”
Ron already expected the first attack to fail.
Taking advantage of that, he simultaneously threw the stone sword and immediately tossed the sword he was using.
No matter how much it was a doll,
it could be neutralized simply by causing it to lose balance due to being a doll.
As if united with the horse, the cavalry didn’t fall down easily.
If it couldn’t fall off from a horse that lost one leg,
the horse was nothing more than a burden, not another leg.
“Phew, I barely survived.”
As a final move, he successfully separated the head and torso with the stone sword,
and took a deep breath, breathing heavily.
And then I looked at Bester again.
As if I couldn’t believe reality,
His empty gaze was fixed on Ron and didn’t move.
Just as I was smiling at Bester’s appearance, the barrier disappeared and some professors came up to the arena.
Whether it was because of Bester’s unfair play and defeat,
Professor William’s brow furrowed.
‘I can expect a good score for this.’
Bester cheated and lost.
On the other hand, Ron achieved a complete victory against such Bester.
It was a game that clearly showed Ron’s excellence.
If Ron’s evaluation is not good, it is almost evidence that there is another aristocratic teacher.
The match was over,
They were about to get off with the guidance of the professor.
Bester’s remark grabbed Ron’s ankle.
“It’s because of you! Because of you, I couldn’t make that hero girl mine!”
“…What?”
For a moment, Ron doubted his own ears.
It was not a polite remark, but rather a tantrum.
However, it was enough to touch Ron’s nerves.
‘How dare you in front of me!’
Ron is a man with deep love.
He hates everything except pure love, especially N*TR (Netorare – a genre involving stealing someone’s partner).
‘Did he declare N*TR?’
That’s right.
In Ron’s eyes, Bester’s remark meant boldly taking someone else’s woman.
It was nothing more than a blonde delinquent-like statement.
Even if the opponent plays unfairly.
Even if he ignores himself, Ron didn’t care at all.
“You damn bastard!”
With a few words from Bester, Ron expressed his anger by scattering his life-giving energy.
The startled professors initially remained still, but they gradually approached Bester, trying to restrain Ron one by one. However, Ron did not stop and finally, with a voice filled with anger and frustration, he whispered to Bester, who he had reached. “Bite down on this.” Ron’s fist flew towards the fallen Bester’s armor. Thump! The dull sound accompanied the mark of Ron’s fist imprinted on the armor. Those who knew the nature of the armor would have been amazed at its behavior. Despite the professors’ obstruction, Ron’s fist did not stop. As the marks on the armor gradually lengthened, Bester’s face turned pale with astonishment. The overwhelming fist flattened the thick armor. Without even noticing the blood coming from his own fist, Ron hit Bester recklessly. “Stop, Ron! You can’t change anything by doing this!” A muscular teacher grabbed Ron from behind, but he resisted fiercely and rushed towards Bester like a mad bull. “Lily is not a woman you can touch!” shaken by Ron’s cry that was even filled with beliefs, Bester felt fear. Exactly what did he touch? Bester regretted too late, but it was already too late. As Ron was dragged away by the professors, Bester could only cower and tremble like a newborn baby while looking at him.