Chapter 3

A voice was heard.

"Al... Wake... up! What time... did you think...? It's... early... to wake up!"

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw a hazy blue sky.

It seemed I was lying on my back.

(Huh...? What was I...?)

My blurry vision gradually cleared, and with it, my other senses became more distinct.

The cool earth.

The fresh scent of grass.

The parched dryness of my mouth.

The blinding sunlight.

And the voice calling out to me.

"Allen! Hey, wake up! Seriously, where have you been sleeping!?"

In front of me was the figure of Pola, the dorm mother, peering down at me.

"!?"

Panicking, I jumped up,

"What year, what month, what day, and what time is it...!?"

I immediately checked the current time.

Pola shrugged, looking exasperated.

"Ha... Allen? Are you still dreaming?"

"Ah, no, that's right... it's over."

I had escaped from that hellish loop of a hundred million years and returned safely to the real world.

"Right, the Time Sage...!?"

I drew my sword and looked around.

However... he was nowhere to be found.

"Time Sage...? Allen... are you really okay?"

Pola asked, her expression turning serious.

"Huh, no, that... I'm sorry..."

"By the way, you were tossing and turning a lot... did you have a bad dream?"

"Maybe... I did..."

Perhaps it was a dream.

No, it must have been a dream.

Common sense dictates that there can't be a 'hundred million years button.'

"If it was a bad dream, I can listen. That way, it won't become reality."

"...I don't remember it well, so... I'm sorry."

It was a lie.

In truth, I remembered it all too clearly.

But if I told such an absurd story, I would surely be laughed at.

"Alright. If that's the case, get back to the dorm quickly! Breakfast has been ready for a long time. If you don't eat soon, it'll be cleared away!"

With that, she turned and walked back to the dorm.

"I'm sorry...!"

As I apologized and was about to follow her, something caught my eye at the corner of my vision.

A crimson button, glowing eerily, was visible.

There was no mistaking it.

It was... that's right.

"A hundred million years button...!?"

I trembled.

Could it be that it wasn't a dream...?

Swallowing hard, I slowly picked it up.

(If I press this... will I return to that hellish world...?)

No... it's fine.

If it was real, I can just cut through the world and return.

If it was a dream, pressing it won't do anything.

Either way, pressing this button won't put me at any disadvantage.

"Phew..."

Taking a few deep breaths, I pressed it. I pressed it.

But nothing happened.

"...Of course."

The Time Sage.

The hundred million years button.

The time prison.

It was all a dream.

Of course it was.

There's no way such a fairy tale could be real.

Just as I carelessly tossed the button aside, I noticed something.

The hundred million years button had a large, sword-like gash on it.

(Huh...? Was there such a gash...?)

Trying to take a closer look at the button I had thrown away,

"Hey, Allen! What are you dawdling for! Hurry up!"

Pola's clear voice called out from ahead.

"Yes!"

Then I followed Pola back to the dorm.

■

Pola Garedzal.

She is the dorm mother of the dorm I live in.

Standing over two meters tall, with an imposing figure and a striking face.

She wears a white apron over a black shirt.

Her biceps, visible from her rolled-up sleeves, are easily three times the size of mine.

At first glance, she seems very intimidating and hard to approach, but in reality, she is a very kind person.

After finishing the breakfast Pola made, I clasped my hands together.

"Thank you for the meal."

"Sure thing! You ate well today! That's great!"

Pola patted my back and laughed heartily.

"Oh, by the way, are you okay with school today?"

"!?"

At that moment, my heart skipped a beat.

I had a duel with Doderel scheduled for 9:00 AM this morning.

"What time is it now!?"

"Um, it's 7:50."

Pola pointed to the wall clock.

"Such... a..."

It would take at least three hours to get to the Grand Sword Academy from here, even if I rushed.

There was no way I could make it in just over an hour.

But, I had no choice but to go.

I absolutely didn't want to be seen as a coward.

"I'm... leaving now...!"

"Be careful! Don't get hurt!"

"Yes...!"

With that, I rushed out of the dorm.

I ran.

I ran and ran—ran as fast as I could.

The duel is not just a verbal agreement; it's one of the rules set by the Sword Academy.

If I'm even a second late, I'll be declared a forfeit.

(Probably... no, definitely, I won't make it in time.)

But, I couldn't just sulk in my room.

After somehow making it to the academy, I immediately headed to the duel registration office in the second building.

"Sorry I'm late! I'm Allen Roder, who registered for a duel at 9:00 AM today! Is the registration still open!?"

The man at the desk, wearing glasses, looked at the paper in front of him and exclaimed, "Oh?"

"You came quite early. It's still an hour before the match starts."

"...Huh?"

There's no way that could be true.

I left home at 7:50.

There's no way I could have made it to the academy in just ten minutes.

However, the small clock on the desk—indeed, it pointed to 8:00.

(I really only spent ten minutes... Maybe the clock at home was broken...?)

Anyway... it's a relief.

"Phew... I'm saved."

I avoided a forfeit.

Now, all I have to do is use all my strength and the efforts I've put in to face Doderel.

■

Since I arrived much earlier than expected, I passed the time by eating a snack at the cafeteria, even though I had just had breakfast. Strangely, I was quite hungry.

Five minutes before the scheduled time, I headed to the gym, the venue for the duel.

There, I was overwhelmed.

"What... is this...?"

Despite it being early morning, the gym was packed with students.

"Wow, the failing swordsman is here!"

"Finally, he's leaving! It was embarrassing to see him swinging his sword like an idiot every day!"

"We should thank Doderel! He's getting rid of the academy's troublemaker!"

Jeers rained down from my classmates, making me want to cover my ears.

"Why...?"

As I was confused, a deliberate laugh echoed.

The source of the laughter—Doderel and his cronies were in the center of the gym. They were smirking, looking at me with hidden agitation.

"Hehe. I'll give you credit for not running away, Allen?"

"Doderel! What's going on here...! I didn't hear about this!"

I pointed at the students who had flooded the gym and confronted Doderel.

"Well, I was surprised too. It seems the information about our duel leaked from somewhere... Some people are really malicious."

He shrugged dramatically.

"You...!"

There was no doubt. He had spread the news of our duel and gathered the students here to humiliate me in front of everyone.

He's really... a despicable person.

"Kick the failing swordsman out!"

"Kyaa! Mr. Doderel! Do your best!"

Amidst the cheers of the students hoping for Doderel's victory and my humiliating defeat, a male teacher entered the gym. He was momentarily surprised by the number of students and their noise, but then he walked over without saying anything.

"Well... it's the scheduled time, so I'd like to start the duel between Doderel Burton and Allen Roder."

...I see, he's not going to reprimand this situation.

A duel should be conducted under equal conditions.

Obviously, a duel in such a hostile environment is far from fair.

(If the academy, which is supposed to be neutral, doesn't intervene in this situation...)

They must want to get rid of me from here.

(Damn...)

In this dire situation, all I could do was grit my teeth.

"Cough. Are both parties ready? Then—begin!"

And so, the duel began in the most hostile environment possible.

"I won't let this end in a second, Allen? I'll torment you slowly... until you beg for mercy!"

Doderel drew his sword from his waist and smiled sadistically.

"...If you underestimate me, you'll regret it!"

I drew my sword and placed it in front of my navel. The most basic stance in swordsmanship—the chudan no kamae.

A heavy, indescribable atmosphere filled the air, unique to duels.

In the midst of this, I focused intently on his sword.

The beautiful hamon on the blade was visible even from a distance.

I remembered he had boasted that it was a masterpiece crafted by a famous swordsmith.

On the other hand, my sword was a thousand gold piece—just a common, low-grade sword available anywhere.

(Probably... no, definitely, I will lose this match.)

In terms of sword, skill, and talent, I have nothing that can match him.

(But, I can't back down here...)

Even someone like me has pride and dignity.

(I can't back down after my mother was insulted...)

Burning with fighting spirit in my heart, I stared intently at Doderel's eyes.

His sword style is aggressive, a relentless barrage of attacks that doesn't allow the opponent to counter.

Challenging his strong point of direct confrontation would be futile.

(My target is a counter... a one-hit kill...)

Even a genius is human.

He makes mistakes and has flaws.

(Therefore, I will endure his relentless attacks and wait for an opening!)

In the midst of intense swordplay, I will find a momentary gap and strike with all my might.

Even if I can't win, I will at least wound him.

This was my strategy.

(Come on...!)

I focused my mind and waited for Doderel to make his move.

However, contrary to my expectations, he didn't attack.

In fact, he maintained a certain distance and didn't come any closer.

(...What? What is he planning?)

As I wondered about Doderel's unusual behavior,

"Allen... What did you do...!?"

He discarded his earlier smug smile and glared at me with a stern expression.

"...What are you talking about? I don't understand your question."

"Are you trying to play dumb... a failing swordsman like you...!"

He clenched his teeth and began to circle me, maintaining a considerable distance.

I kept him in the center of my vision and maintained the chudan no kamae.

(...Doderel won't last long.)

I know him as well as he knows me.

Impatient and easily bored—there's no way a natural genius like him can continue this tedious standoff. He will surely attack soon.

As time passed, one minute, two minutes... Doderel changed his stance.

(...He's coming!)

The next moment,

"Uuuuuuuuuuuh!"

He let out a fierce roar and charged straight at me.

"..."

Despite the overwhelming pressure, I kept my eyes open and held my ground.

However, the scene before me was absurd.

(...Huh?)

Doderel didn't attack.

No, more accurately, he was approaching me with a deliberately slow, childlike run.

(What is Doderel thinking...?)

The answer to my question was soon revealed.

(I see, that's it... He thinks I'm not worth taking seriously...?)

"You're not even worth me putting in effort" —that's what he's implying.

I was frustrated.

I never thought I would be treated with such contempt.

I at least thought he would take the duel seriously.

(Damn...)

Gritting my teeth and clenching my fists, a few seconds later,

Doderel finally closed the distance and began his attack.

"Shizukana Ryuu—Samidare!"

He launched a series of exaggerated, clumsy thrusts, as if saying, "Dodge this."

(There's no need to block these with a sword.)

I avoided the slow, yawn-inducing attacks with minimal movements.

"What!?"

After finishing his thrusts, Doderel turned pale and immediately jumped back, maintaining his distance from me.

"Ah, Allen...? To dodge all my thrusts, you must be having a lucky day...!"

"...Huh?"

"But, now my body is warmed up. The next strike will be three times faster. You won't have such luck again."

"Wait, what are you talking about—"

Just as I voiced my confusion,

"Shizukana Ryuu Secret Technique—Kusaame!"

Doderel thrust his sword straight forward and charged at me again.

This time, it was a focused, single thrust, not a series of attacks.

However,

(...It's a bit faster, but...)

It was still a slow, childlike attack.

What was more concerning was how vulnerable Doderel looked while thrusting.

It was as if he was taunting me to attack.

(Damn... he's mocking me...!)

Frustrated by his repeated provocations, I raised my sword.

"Hey—take this seriously!"

The vertical slash I intended as a warning—branched into seven strikes, capturing Doderel's entire body.

"Kya...!?"

Struck by the seven simultaneous strikes, Doderel dropped his sword and was blown across the gym to the wall.

The gym fell silent, as if water had been poured over it. The sound of swallowing could be heard.

"...Huh?"

An absurd sound escaped my lips at the unexpected turn of events.

"Doderel Burton, unable to continue! The winner is Allen Roder!"

Even after the male teacher announced the result, the gym remained eerily quiet.

At that moment, I was certain.

(It's not a dream...!)

The hellish billions of years I spent in that other world were not a dream or an illusion.

(Doderel's movements seemed abnormally slow, not because he was holding back...)

In reality, I had become far stronger than him!