Chapter 40

Finally, the tournament began. The contestants whose turns were approaching waited in the waiting room, while the others could watch the matches, so I went to watch Zach's match, who was the first among the three of us to compete.

As expected of Elexir's prized student, several spectators had already gathered at the match venue, and I even saw a few of my seniors. I spotted someone I knew in the crowd and greeted them.

"Good afternoon, Senior Karlis."

"Hey, Miss Mary, you came to watch too?"

As we exchanged greetings, the venue erupted in a murmur, and the contestants appeared.

"Then, let's begin the first round, third match."

With the signal from the teacher serving as the referee, Zach and his opponent entered the match area. Seeing Zach's serious expression for the first time in a while, I became a bit worried, but he seemed to notice me and looked over, giving me a thumbs-up to show his determination.

(Haha, what confidence. Is he not nervous at all? I worried for nothing.)

I responded with a bemused look, and Zach laughed and walked to the center of the venue. The referee, standing between them, signaled the start of the match. At that moment, Zach quickly closed the distance to his opponent.

"!!"

"Haahh!"

Caught off guard, the opponent took a step back, but Zach continued with an overhead strike. The opponent blocked it with his sword, but Zach's blow was so heavy that the sound of metal clashing made the opponent's face contort, and he staggered. Without hesitation, Zach followed up with a horizontal strike, which the opponent barely blocked, causing him to stagger again.

"Indeed... the difference in strength is clear," Senior Karlis muttered, as if confirming his expectations.

"Is that so?"

I couldn't help but respond to Senior Karlis's comment.

"Hmm? Elexir's swordsmanship is primarily about overpowering with strength. Among them, Zach's strikes are so heavy that even I feel a tingling in my hands. He's a very promising talent."

Whether serious or joking, Senior Karlis put on a playful face, and a loud cheer erupted from the crowd. Looking around, I saw that the opponent, unable to withstand Zach's strikes, had his sword knocked away and was rendered unable to attack.

"It's over... but still, the opponent did well. It wasn't an instant kill, after all."

"Hmm..."

Zach, who had ended the match without any trouble, exchanged bows with his opponent and left the venue.

(That was quick. At this rate, there's no need to worry about Zach. Alright, I should go see how Safina is doing. She's probably in the waiting room by now.)

I said goodbye to Senior Karlis and returned to the waiting room. The air was tense, and the atmosphere was uncomfortable. I found a small girl huddled against the wall, waiting for her turn, and approached her. However, a man who had already approached her gave me a nasty look.

"Hmph! Are you still challenging me? You're so out of your league. You've never beaten me before."

Safina looked up at Allen, who stood before her with a smug smile, and shrank back. Before he could say anything else, I stepped between them and glared at him silently.

"Tch... Regalia again."

Allen made a face of genuine dislike and stepped back from Safina.

"Safina is the same as you. You have no real skill, yet you rely on your parents' power and act superior. It's disgusting, you incompetent people."

"!!!"

Tired of my interference, Allen spat out an insult at me and tried to leave.

"Hey! Correct that!"

A small but firm voice came from behind me, and Allen stopped, turning his head to look back.

"What? What did you say?"

Safina, gripping her sword with both hands, stepped forward and looked up at Allen with determination.

"You can say whatever you want about me, but you must correct your insult to Miss Mary. Miss Mary is not the person you think she is."

"Hah! If you beat me, I'll consider it. But that will never happen."

Despite his occasional softening, Safina's protest was clear, and Allen laughed and walked out of the waiting room.

"Safina..."

I was surprised by the small girl standing before me.

(Safina, standing up to him.)

"Miss Mary is... not like that... what do you know..."

Her voice was small, but her face was unusually angry. She was angry on someone else's behalf, which seemed to have overcome her nervousness and fear, pushing her forward.

(I did the same when I tried to protect Tette. Safina, too, found the courage to stand up for someone else?)

I was at a loss for what to do, but as the matches progressed and it was time for her match, a teacher told her to go to the venue. She lifted her head and walked out. I watched her go and could only call out to her.

"You'll win, Safina!"

"..."

She stopped for a moment, nodded without turning around, and walked to the match venue.

When I arrived at the venue, Magilka, Zach, and even the prince were there.

"Oh, Miss Reiforce."

I hurried to bow, but he stopped me with a hand.

"It's finally time for Miss Safina's match."

"Yes."

"Well, let's see how it goes."

As the prince and I talked, Senior Karlis approached with interest.

"Then, let's begin the first round, eighth match. Both contestants, step forward."

At the referee's signal, both contestants entered the venue. I was more nervous for Safina than for myself as I watched her.

"Hmph! Out of your league! I'll end this quickly and show you how pathetic you are."

His voice was clear, and I could hear their conversation.

"...Be brave... be brave... I won't forgive the insult to Miss Mary..."

Ignoring Allen's taunts, Safina was trying to muster her courage.

(Come on, Safina.)

I clenched my fists and held my breath. At the referee's signal, both contestants moved to the edge of the ring and took different stances, despite using the same sword technique. The crowd began to murmur.

"Hmph! What a strange stance! It's all for nothing! Nothing, nothing!"

"..."

Safina took a deep breath, unfazed by Allen's taunts.

"Then... begin!!"

The referee's signal echoed, and Allen ran towards Safina.

Silence...

The once noisy venue was now completely silent. The spectators held their breath, and even the other contestants, who were about to start their matches, stared in silence.

At the center of their gaze was a single girl.

Her beautiful blade glinted in the sunlight, and far beyond the blade, a figure lay sprawled, foaming at the mouth and unconscious.

...One strike...

...Just one strike...

A few seconds ago, the girl's sword had caught the man's side and sent him flying like a piece of trash. She exhaled, sheathed her sword, and the metallic sound echoed in the venue. The referee, who had been stunned, was the first to regain his composure.

"Winner! Safina Kalsana!"

The referee's voice was followed by a roar of applause from the crowd.

"Did... did she win?"

"Yes! Miss Mary!"

Still in shock, I muttered, and Magilka, who was next to me, hugged me joyfully.

"I'm surprised... to end a match in just a few seconds, and with one strike. This is the first time in my memory. She's a real dark horse."

Senior Karlis, who was also surprised, muttered, and I finally realized Safina's victory. I grabbed Magilka's hands and pulled her away, and we looked at each other, shouting in joy.

"Hehe... Miss Mary, you've really outdone yourself."

Zach, who was watching us celebrate, said, and I looked at him.

"What? Is the Elexir man afraid?"

"Haha! No way."

He turned to me with a genuinely happy face.

(Well, well... this warrior. A little fear wouldn't hurt you.)

As I sighed, the source of the cheers approached, swaying.

"...Miss... Miss Mary... I... I... won..."

Safina, still in disbelief, asked me.

"Yes! You won, Safina! You won!"

I held her hand and repeated her victory several times to help her realize it. Her eyes welled up, and she finally understood, breaking down in tears. The tension that had been building up was now released, and she sobbed into my chest, her tears mingling with the cheers.

A swordsman who had achieved the fastest victory in the history of the academy was born today.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for your evaluation.