LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 43
“Oh~ So you’re that famous male freshman? I’ve been wanting to talk to you!”
Her brown hair swayed cheerfully.
“Nice to meet you, Head of the Discipline Committee.”
“Come on, don’t be so formal! Just call me Senior Jane.”
Jane Rune.
In terms of influence within the Student Council, she was second only to the Vice Student Council President, serving as the Discipline Committee Head.
‘Magic Sword Clan.’
An heir endowed with a rather unusual vision passed down through her family.
“Wow, it seems a guy actually came to this place where only girls were, huh~. Thanks to you, it feels like spring flowers have bloomed in a place that was stuck in summer all year round.”
“J-Jane…!”
“What? I meant it as a compliment.”
Jane nodded and smiled mischievously.
‘I thought she must have a strict personality since she’s the Discipline Committee Head.’
She was quite playful, after all.
“I envy Elma~ You get to monopolize this pretty junior under the pretense of training.”
“That’s not it!”
“Hmm~? Then can I take her away instead?”
Jane leaned in closer to me.
“Isn’t a fun style like mine way better than the stiff Elma? How about swapping trainers for a few days…?”
“Jane!!”
“Whoa! Okay, okay!”
Elma blushed and shouted softly, prompting Jane to raise her hands and take a step back.
“B-but, I’m fine, but it’s rude to Ran!”
“Haha! Sorry. I couldn’t help but joke after seeing your face lighten up like that.”
“Ugh…”
“Come on, Elma, you’ve been rigid lately.”
“That’s…”
Elma bit her lip.
It was the same last time and now too; it seems there’s a complicated situation going on.
While I was watching the seniors chat, suddenly—
Swish—
A figure appeared right in front of me.
Despite being covered by a black eye patch, her jawline exuded tremendous charm.
Her voluminous hair resembled a wave of pink.
“Hello, Ran Black. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
Just hearing her voice brought a sense of calm to my heart.
The ‘Saint of the Oracle,’ manifesting after 120 years.
“Lienna… It’s you.”
“No need to be so formal. We’re classmates, after all.”
“…Even the saint is being formal.”
“I find this comfortable.”
“……”
I was bound to get involved with her at some point, but having her right before me made me swallow dryly.
“Alright then. I’ll speak comfortably.”
“Hehe, sounds good.”
Lienna’s small mouth curved into a smile.
“By the way, you wanted to talk with me?”
“Yes. Regardless of the reason, we are the top representatives of our classes, right? I wanted to exchange words at least once.”
“We can do that during lectures.”
“Since I’m in a position that’s quite undeserved… it would be uncomfortable if there’s excessive attention, you know? Plus, you always leave class early, so I didn’t have the chance.”
True.
If we’re talking about pure influence, Lienna was stronger than Angela, who had practically dropped out of the Imperial Crown War.
She is the face and representative of the ‘Divine Religion,’ the religion itself.
I doubt anyone in Polaris could surpass Lienna except for Fernia.
“Ran, I find you quite interesting.”
“R-really? I’m not that entertaining.”
“No, you’ve shown hints of talent and skill that were completely unexpected for me.”
Lienna came closer to me.
I felt her gaze even behind the black eye patch.
“Too close…”
“It feels like you came from the outskirts of fate. It feels distant and empty, yet… just a little… just a bit more, please show me…”
Thump!
I felt a soft sensation against my chest.
Lienna’s immense divine power was pressing down on me.
‘Oh, God.’
Why do you put my patience to the test?
I need to pull away, but I don’t know where to grab.
No matter what I do, it feels like I’d incur the sin of blasphemy.
“Please…”
At that moment, when I was starting to worry that I might really be in trouble,
“Saintess, Ran seems to be frightened.”
The savior intervened, creating a gap between her and me.
“Same goes for Jane. No matter how skilled you are, Ran is still a man. Please be considerate.”
“Ah…! I’m sorry, Ran.”
Elma stood in front of me and lightly warned, causing Lienna to apologize.
Elma whispered softly so only I could hear.
“Are you okay?”
“Thanks. I owe you one.”
“…Helping a junior is a senior’s duty.”
After the small commotion settled down, we prepared for the actual duel.
“The rules are a free-for-all with 2 vs. 2. It’s the same rules as during lectures.”
“Still, let’s not push too hard, okay? It’d be unfortunate if anyone got hurt in a casual duel.”
“Jane is right. Hmm… then let’s do it this way.”
Elma took out two pieces of cloth from her bag.
“Tie this around your waist, and if anyone takes it from you, you lose.”
“Just two pieces? So is one tied from each team?”
“The one tying will be rookie Ran and Lienna then. That way, during the duel, we’ll protect you both, reducing the chances of accidents.”
So, losing a piece of cloth means defeat.
In other words, the focus is on subduing rather than knocking out the opponent.
“Sounds good.”
“Alright then.”
Both Lienna and I accepted at the same time.
And so, the first duel began.
*
“Don’t worry about Jane. I’ll defend as much as I can.”
Elma warmed up and drew her sword.
“There’s no need to be overly fixated on winning or losing. This duel is primarily for increasing our cohesion.”
“Still, isn’t winning better than losing? Right?”
As Ran laughed heartily, Elma’s eyes widened slightly.
-‘Still, isn’t winning better than losing?’
A saying I heard long ago from someone precious.
“…You’re right.”
“So let’s win!”
This wasn’t just about this duel.
It meant all the fights to come, including the festival finals.
-‘If possible, let’s win.’
Let’s win.
Beep—!
When the alarm signaling the start of the duel rang out, Jane quickly dashed toward Elma.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a duel, Elma!”
“You’re right…!”
Jane’s energy spiraled around her sword.
The ‘Rune’ clan’s vision technique had a distinctly unique quality compared to other techniques.
That is—
Szzzz—!
The energy brimmed with magical properties.
「Magic Sword Style」
The energy concentrated in her sword seeped into the ground.
「Great Sword」
With a dramatic swing, a blade of earth erupted in the direction Jane struck.
It was a technique at the crossroads of swordsmanship and magic.
If faced for the first time, one could hardly help but be taken aback.
However—
“Indeed, that technique is first again.”
Elma had faced her several times.
The ‘Magic Sword Style’ no longer served as a variable.
Swoosh!
Elma extended her sword and condensed her energy.
‘…I resent my family, but.’
She hated it so much that she went to great lengths to conceal her lineage.
However, the ‘sword’ they had built-up couldn’t be overlooked.
‘Ashen Reaper. Carbon Oldair.’
Her sword was incredibly strong and elegant.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her one of the best knights today.
-‘Elma, lift your sword.’
-‘Only you are worthy to lead Oldair after me.’
Regardless of Carbon’s words, she had no intention of living at all.
At least not until she found Alben.
‘I’ll borrow this sword.’
Whoosh—!
The red ash flame blazed.
The more her rage toward Carbon deepened, the more fiercely the sword burned.
The technique that earned Oldair the title of a swordsmanship family.
「Ashen Sword Style」
The ash flames born from her sword consumed all the blades of earth.
‘Extreme of Destruction’
The 「Ashen Sword Style」 was this sort of technique.
Not death, nor destruction, but annihilation.
A sword embodying death itself.
A brutal and chilling blade.
That is why it was the ‘strongest’ sword.
-‘That is the 「Ashen Sword Style」.’
Carbon’s voice echoed in my mind.
Indeed, every time I used it, my mood soured.
“That is mesmerizing every time I see it.”
“Jane has unique tastes.”
Ash scattered in the training hall.
Whoosh—!
Elma moved forward, shaking off the ash flames.
“Ran can’t be touched!”
“We’ll see. Lienna! Plan A!”
“Okay.”
When Jane signaled, Lienna summoned her divine power.
“O Holy Creator, send forth a protector to guard your creations.”
Four syllables became divine energy descending upon Jane.
“「Buff•Paladin」”
In an instant, golden armor and a sword appeared on Jane.
“…To cast a four-syllable blessing so easily. Truly, the Saintess of the Oracle.”
Even average clerics need to go through long training to obtain divine status and cast three-syllable blessings.
“Is this Plan A?”
“It’s the most basic, after all. Anyone can expect this strategy, so I put it in A.”
The most fundamental method of using divine power—blessings.
Mellowing out evil and enhancing abilities through divine grace.
“Hehe, shall we proceed?”
Lienna lifted the sword powered by divine energy.
‘This will be a bit tough.’
The moment Elma was cloaked in ash flames.
“Senior.”
Ran stopped her.
“If they launch a coordinated attack, we must respond in kind.”
“But… we haven’t even teamed up before…”
“Don’t worry about that.”
He stood in front of Elma.
“I’ll help you match it.”
Ran enveloped his sword in a faint crimson energy.