Chapter 57

At the very top of the spectator stands.

Leia, who had been intently watching Allen and Ria's match, was frowning.

"The way he looks... that power... Has he controlled the spirit core...? No... it's impossible. If that were the case, the output is too low... Is it his whim...? Or perhaps—"

As she was racking her brain over the unsolvable problem,

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, what a relief! Now my mistake is forgiven!"

An old man suddenly appeared, clapping his hands in joy from out of nowhere.

He was short, with all his hair, eyebrows, and beard completely white. The clearly hunched old man had a broad smile on his face.

"Wha!?"

Leia, shocked at how easily he had appeared behind her, quickly turned around.

Seeing this, the old man smiled kindly and cheerfully tapped his curved cane in his left hand.

"Well, well... I was worried about what would happen when he slipped away, but it seems the 'path' is opening smoothly! That's a relief!"

"...You, the Sage of Time!?"

Leia clenched her fists tightly and glared at the Sage of Time.

"Hee hee! It's been a while, Black Fist. I'm glad to see you're doing well."

"...I've already been informed. You used that cursed one billion year button on Allen, didn't you...!?"

"'Cursed' is a harsh word..."

The Sage of Time muttered this while intently watching Allen receive the championship trophy on stage. His hair, which had been mixed with white, was now completely black.

"Hmm, he's already 'pitch black'... It seems it will take more time..."

The Sage of Time, stroking his impressive white beard, fell into deep thought. Suddenly, Leia's straight punch struck his face.

"Wha!?"

"I have a lot of questions for you. I'm sorry, but you'll have to sleep for a while...!?"

The Sage of Time slipped through Leia's punch and even through her entire body.

"Hee hee! As expected of the Black Fist. Your speed is terrifying... You never let your guard down..."

"Damn... So that's the rumored 'invisibility'...!?"

Seeing Leia's frustrated expression, the Sage of Time laughed contentedly, "Hee hee!"

"---Well, I still have a lot to do. I'll see you again, Black Fist..."

"Wait!"

Ignoring her plea, the Sage of Time vanished like mist from the underground training ground.

"Damn..."

Leia, who had lost the sudden opportunity, clenched her teeth tightly.

"...Daria. Something beyond your expectations is happening..."

■

Meanwhile, around the time Allen had won the One-Year War.

Deep underground in the Holy Roneria Empire, a man was shouting in joy.

"I did it...! I finally found it...!"

The vice president of the Thousand Blades Academy's executive committee had slipped through the Empire's strict security network, evaded the Empire's pursuers and the Black Organization, and lived as a coal miner for several months.

"This is... the Blood Diamond I've dreamed of!"

In his hands were two fist-sized raw Blood Diamonds. The deep red stones, known for their demonic beauty, emitted an eerie glow even in their unprocessed state.

"Heh heh heh...! The president will surely be pleased...!"

Several flashlights illuminated him, his mouth twisted in a lecherous grin.

"There he is!"

"Contact the Imperial Guard immediately!"

"Hurry, inform the Black Organization too! We can only stall them!"

The mercenary swordsmen hired by the Roneria Empire, with their eyes bloodshot, shouted. Each of them held a soul-weapon, indicating they were highly skilled.

"Damn, one after another... They're really persistent."

The vice president, who had been cutting down the skilled swordsmen like swatting flies, was starting to find it troublesome after facing over a hundred of them.

"Ha... I'll run..."

He scratched his head in annoyance and fled.

"What!? Hey, wait!"

Over ten swordsmen chased after him desperately, but the difference in physical ability was clear. The vice president's back quickly disappeared from sight.

"President... please wait for me! I will definitely bring back these Blood Diamonds and show them to you!"

He clutched the raw Blood Diamonds in both hands and raced through the underground of the Roneria Empire.

■

After receiving the championship trophy from the One-Year War organizing committee, I headed to the infirmary where Ria and Rose were.

According to the infirmary teacher, Ria had used her power recklessly and was in a severely fatigued state. Fortunately, her life was not in danger, and she would wake up if she rested.

After Ria's treatment was completed and she was laid on the bed,

"---Rose, how are you feeling?"

I called out to Rose, who was resting on the adjacent bed.

"Hmm... I'm much calmer now. I should be able to move normally by tomorrow."

"That's good to hear."

She stared at me intently, then smiled wistfully with a slightly complicated expression.

"...From the looks of it, you won."

"Yeah, somehow."

"I see... Yeah, congratulations."

As a swordsman, it must have been difficult to congratulate the one who defeated her. Still, Rose said "congratulations" sincerely.

"---Thank you."

I expressed my gratitude sincerely for her feelings.

After that, I decided to talk with Rose until Ria woke up. Apparently, after our battle, her spirit core had shown unusual excitement, making it hard for her to sleep.

After about five or ten minutes,

"Un...?"

Ria, who had been sleeping next to us, slowly opened her eyes.

"Oh, Ria! You're conscious...!?"

"...A, Allen?"

She slowly sat up and looked around curiously.

"Where... are we?"

"In the infirmary. Are you feeling better?"

"Ah, yeah... I'm tough, so a little rest will do me good."

"I see."

Come to think of it, Teacher Reia had said, "Ria is abnormally tough."

As I was recalling this old memory,

"I see... I lost..."

She muttered this, clenching her fists in frustration.

The blanket was creased, and silence fell over the infirmary.

After ten or twenty seconds of silence,

"...To hurt two girls like this... Allen is terrible."

Rose, sitting on the adjacent bed, said something outrageous.

"Eh, no, that's... It was part of the match...!"

While the result was not wrong, it was a misleading and malicious expression.

(What, this is inviting misunderstanding...!)

As I was panicking about how to defend myself,

"...Really, that's true. How will you take responsibility...?"

"Ria too...!?"

Rose's comment was echoed by Ria.

"Hey, Allen... What will you do?"

"Will you take responsibility...?"

Two against one.

I was in a numerically overwhelming disadvantage.

"No... I mean, to be asked to take responsibility..."

As I was stammering,

"Ha ha, just kidding."

"Ha ha, maybe I'll let it slide?"

Rose and Ria laughed playfully.

"You two... Please spare me..."

I was already called a 'Failing Swordsman,' 'Problem Child,' and 'Evil Emperor,' and my reputation in the academy was not good.

(To be honest, I don't really care about people's opinions...)

Still, it's better not to hear insults.

As I was heaving a sigh of relief,

"---The next event is the Sword King Festival. I'll definitely come to cheer, so don't lose, okay?"

"Try your best for us too."

Ria and Rose said this, offering their support.

"Yeah, of course. I'll do my best."

The Sword King Festival.

Even I, who was not familiar with the five academies, knew about it. In fact, any swordsman in this country knew about this swordsmanship festival.

(Sido will probably represent the Ice King Academy as a first-year...)

Not just the Ice King Academy.

I'm sure other first-year swordsmen from the other five academies will also be formidable.

(Ha ha, I'm looking forward to it...!)

As I was excited about the upcoming battles at the Sword King Festival,

"Hey... By the way, Allen, what about that injury?"

Keen-eyed Ria noticed the bandages wrapped around my right arm.

"This... Well, it's... a bit..."

To avoid making her feel unnecessarily responsible, I decided to tell a small lie.

"......Hey, you're lying, right?"

She stared at me intently and immediately saw through my lie.

"No, I'm not...!"

"Really...? Allen's eyes drift to the upper left when he lies or says something insincerely... ---See, like that."

She looked directly into my eyes from the front.

...I have such a habit?

"Anyway... This injury is a side effect of using excessive power! Let's end this conversation here!"

I forcefully cut off the conversation and said,

"Hey, both of you! Get better soon and let's practice together again!"

I changed the topic to escape Ria's questioning.

"Ugh... Okay."

"Understood."

Thus, the tumultuous One-Year War ended successfully, and we enjoyed a brief period of normalcy.