SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The Martial Arts Tournament continued.
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But Artina kept surfacing in my mind.
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To the point where I couldn’t even remember which duels had taken place in the middle.
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That’s how strong of an impact she’d left.
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“This match features the rising star of Rotes Academy and the Swordmaster-approved genius of the blade—Ruan!”
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“Waaaaah!”
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With a roar from the crowd, a man with blue hair strode out onto the arena.
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Short-cropped hair and a refreshing look.
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He gave off an air similar to Artina, but somehow different.
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If Artina was like a well-honed blade,
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Ruan felt more raw, wild and untamed.
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“The one to face Ruan is Rotes Academy’s Vice Student Council President and apprentice to the Tower Master—Lina Orca!”
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Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and glasses, holding a staff as tall as herself, Lina Orca entered the arena.
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The two took their positions with a gap between them.
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“I won’t go easy on you just because you’re my senior.”
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Ruan unsheathed his sword with a smirk. Lina pulled her hat down and replied,
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“Suit yourself.”
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“You’re cute.”
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Their exchange was met with laughter from the audience as the announcer declared the start of the match.
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“We’ll now begin the match!”
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With that, Ruan moved.
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He charged at Lina directly with blinding speed, swinging his sword fast.
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Kang!
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The sword was stopped by Barrier Magic, but
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He wasn’t fazed, immediately following up with another attack.
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A blue glow ran along his blade, and with a motion like a claw tearing through, he smashed through the barrier.
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Lina, who had used the barrier to buy a moment, raised her staff.
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“Wind Blade.”
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A fierce gale rose around Lina, channeled through her staff into blades of wind that shot toward Ruan.
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Ruan twisted his body in a bizarre, acrobatic fashion, dodging every blade.
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“Wooooaaah!”
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“That’s insane!”
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The crowd went wild at the exchange of attacks. I, too, was surprised by the level of combat, but
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What astonished me even more was something else.
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‘No message popped up…’
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Yet I understood the principle and structure of Lina’s Wind Blade spell. As if I could use it right away.
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It was one thing to gain magic itself, but
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This Duel between swordsman and mage was also a lesson in how to fight in such a matchup.
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I watched the two, focusing even more.
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“Wind Dance.”
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Lina used magic to create distance from Ruan, and while doing so, prepared offensive magic to target him.
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Ruan dodged Lina’s spells with agile movement and swung his sword.
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And whenever a spell tried to hit from a blind spot,
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Just like Artina had done, he used the Blue Thread Sword Wind to cut through the magic.
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The intense back-and-forth dragged on.
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The longer a battle goes, the worse it is for a Mage. Magic consumes Mana, and when that runs out, there’s nothing left to do.
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“Wind Prison.”
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Lina, knowing this, used magic to immobilize Ruan, then began chanting for a powerful finishing move.
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“Raging Storm Wind.”
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A fierce tornado formed, sweeping through the arena. Sand and dust rose, obscuring everything.
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Boom!
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Not long after,
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The tornado burst apart and vanished.
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Through the swirling sand, I saw Ruan’s sword tip pressed to Lina.
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“The winner is Ruan!”
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“Wooooaaah! Both of them fought so well!”
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“That was awesome!”
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With their match, all of today’s scheduled duels came to an end.
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“Please look forward to the quarterfinals tomorrow!”
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People began to get up, one after another.
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I stood up as well.
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As I left the arena, I started narrowing down the Guardian candidates. Based on today’s matches, only two names came to mind.
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Artina and Ruan.
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It seemed likely the two would reach the finals.
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Which one would be the Guardian candidate?
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If the standard was simply strength, then the winner would suffice. But the Guardian’s standard isn’t strength—it’s the Keywords.
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-You can’t form a contract unless the Guardian fits the Keyword.
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That’s what Rose had told me.
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I recalled the five keywords I’d chosen.
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Hero.
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Direction.
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Passion.
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Composure.
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Advice.
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Both attend the Hero Academy.
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In the Duel, they showed ‘composure’ in facing their opponents.
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To reach their skill, they must have poured in ‘passion.’
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‘Am I stretching things too much?’
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I suppose you can always force things to fit, but for direction and advice, I couldn’t see how they’d fit at all.
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Maybe my approach was wrong.
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Or maybe I just didn’t know enough about Artina or Ruan yet.
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‘There doesn’t seem to be any time limit, anyway.’
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It would be best to watch their matches closely and gather more information about them.
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For now, maybe I should look around a bit.
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With the Academy building open, I wandered inside, checking out various places for anything that might help.
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Before I knew it, night had fallen.
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All those who had come to watch the matches had left, and only a few people remained, heading home.
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‘Where am I going to spend the night?’
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As I hesitated for a moment,
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Someone approached and spoke to me.
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“Need a place to sleep?”
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“Huh?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Turning, I saw the old man who’d been on guard earlier. He was dressed smartly now, not in his guard uniform, and somehow looked different.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He seemed much more dignified.
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“Come with me.”
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“…Yes, sir.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I followed the old man as he walked.
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“What’s your name?”
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“Yongje.”
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“Yongje?”
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Not thinking it necessary to correct him, I nodded.
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“That’s right.”
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“I’m Ropen.”
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The place Ropen led me to was a villa deep in the forest.
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It had quite an atmosphere.
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When we entered, Ropen lit candles and a fire in the hearth. Then he brought out something to cover myself with.
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“Use this.”
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“Thank you.”
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“Have you eaten?”
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Growl.
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“I’ll get something ready, so just relax.”
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Early the next morning, I saw Ropen outside the window. Bare-chested, he was swinging a wooden sword.
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Swish!
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Swish!
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His body, despite his appearance, was solid.
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Covered in scars from deep wounds here and there.
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‘He said he was a knight, didn’t he?’
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We’d talked a lot over dinner.
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Ropen was a former knight, who’d spent decades in a famous Knight Order. As he aged, his skills diminished, and he left the order, retiring.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
After a long break, finding it too lonely, he took up work as an Academy guard.
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He said, having dedicated his life to the sword, he just wanted to keep wielding one.
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“You’re up?”
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Ropen finished his morning training and returned.
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“Yes.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I’ll wash up and make breakfast. Wait here.”
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“Hold on.”
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He let me stay the night, after all.
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“Clean.”
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I used magic to wipe away Ropen’s sweat and odor. He didn’t seem surprised—perhaps it wasn’t the first time.
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“Ah. Right, you said you were a Mage.”
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“Yes.”
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“Thank you.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
After Ropen changed clothes, we had breakfast and talked as we headed back to the Academy.
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“How long have you worked at the Academy?”
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“This is my second year.”
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“Then you must know Artina and Ruan well?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Of course. They’re favorites to win this Martial Arts Tournament.”
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“In your opinion, who’s going to win?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Ruan.”
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Ropen answered firmly.
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“Not Artina?”
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“She’s afraid of losing.”
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When we reached the Academy, our conversation ended naturally.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Ropen went to change into his guard uniform,
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And relieved another guard who had been on night duty.
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“Go inside and get some rest.”
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“Yaaawn. You’ve worked hard too.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Before long, people started arriving to watch the Martial Arts Tournament.
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There was fierce competition for the best seats.
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More people came than I’d expected, making it hard to talk with Ropen again.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘Maybe I should try watching from a good seat today?’
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Yesterday I’d come too late and had to sit far away. I entered the arena with the crowd and—
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The back-and-forth in the fight grew ever fiercer.
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The longer the fight, the more disadvantageous for the Mage. Magic consumes Mana, and when that runs out, there’s nothing they can do.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Wind Prison.”
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Knowing this, Lina immobilized Ruan, chanting to prepare a powerful finishing move.
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“Raging Storm Wind.”
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A ferocious tornado swept through the arena, raising a sandstorm that blocked out all vision.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Thus, the first match was set: Artina versus Ruan.
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A duel that could practically be called the real finals.
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“Artina and Ruan! Ruan and Artina! In this early glimpse of the finals, who will win? Let the match begin!”
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Both stepped into the arena.
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Facing each other, they drew their swords.
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Shiiing!
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The sunlight glinted off their blades.
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In the next instant, both figures vanished.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Kang!
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The sound of blades clashing was heard, and then they appeared.
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They exchanged blows.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Artina swung her sword with weight and power; Ruan’s swings were sharp and instinctive.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Kang!
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Kaaang!
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After a not-so-short period of probing each other,
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“I surrender.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Suddenly, Artina declared her surrender, and the match ended anticlimactically.
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“The undefeated champion until last year, Artina, has surrendered! Ruan advances to the semifinals!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“…What’s with this bitter aftertaste?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“That’s really it? Surrender?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Uuuuu!”
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Watching Artina turn away without a hint of regret, I recalled Ropen’s words.
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-She’s afraid of losing.
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I think I understood how she felt.
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Maybe she was so afraid of truly losing that she surrendered first, so she could comfort herself that she didn’t lose by skill.
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‘So does this make Ruan the Guardian?’
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Just as my mind began to get tangled,
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I expected the Academy’s strongest to put on a show. But that’s it? All that waiting for nothing. Ugh, what a bore.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“So annoying.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Pouting, Ruan poured Mana into his sword and swung. The blade, filled with black Mana, extended out—
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And targeted the stands.
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KWAANG!
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He smashed through the pre-erected barrier, sweeping through the audience seats.
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A Mage stationed nearby quickly cast a double barrier, preventing casualties.
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But that was only the beginning.
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Ruan went berserk, flinging his Mana in all directions.
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KWAANG!
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KWAGAGAGAGANG!
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Spectators leapt from their seats and ran for the exits.
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“Kyaaaa!”
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“Aaaagh!”
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The Instructors waiting nearby rushed in to subdue the rampaging Ruan.
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Slash!
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With a single swing from Ruan,
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All their heads went flying.
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The overwhelming gap in power filled the arena with terror. Every Instructor and student nearby ran for their lives.
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“R-Run!”
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“Isn’t that an Aura Blade? How do we stop a Sword Master?!”
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“I-I’m going first! Out of the way!”
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Chaos reigned in the arena.
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Even if I wasn’t of this world,
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To prevent further damage, I deployed Absolute Barrier.
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That should buy enough time for people to escape.
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‘This makes Ruan definitely not the one.’
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He was anything but a hero—he didn’t fit the Keywords at all.
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“What, you’re not running away after all?”
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Artina stepped in front of Ruan, sword drawn.
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Rather than trembling from Ruan’s fearsome aura, she seemed more shaken by her own fear of losing.
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‘A trauma, maybe?’
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Artina could barely stand as Ruan grinned and charged at her.
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His sword raised high.
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At this rate, she’d die without even reacting, so I drew upon Mana from the Dragon Heart.
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I used Absolute Barrier to protect Artina.
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And then Ropen, now clad in armor, appeared and sliced at Ruan’s waist.
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Ropen caught his breath, positioning himself in front of Artina.
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Ruan, touching his wound, gave a twisted smile.
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“Hehehe. Who are you?”
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“How did a demon hide its demonic energy so well?”
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“Took a lot of effort to sneak into human society. How was it? Perfect disguise, right?”
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“…Are there more of you?”
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“I’m the only one here. But do you really think you can beat me with that battered body?”
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Ruan swung his sword, brimming with demonic energy.
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Ropen could never block that blade.
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‘A head-on fight is impossible.’
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All I could do was use protective magic to defend him. Using my remaining Mana, I activated Absolute Barrier.
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However, Ruan’s sword cut through the Absolute Barrier and struck Ropen.
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Shraaak!
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A line was carved across Ropen’s chest, armor and flesh splitting as blood spurted. Ropen clenched his teeth and endured.
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“Ghh!”
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“Oh? You can endure that?”
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“My duty is to protect the Academy. No matter what, I will protect it.”
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“Kuheheheh. I love that. I also love shattering such conviction.”
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Ruan swung his sword again.
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Shraaak!
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Shraaaak!
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He purposely didn’t kill—just inflicted wounds so Ropen would bleed out slowly.
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“Kh…!”
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Even so, Ropen stood firm, clutching his broken sword.
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Seeing this, Ruan whipped up a sword wind and sent it flying.
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At that moment.
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“Stop!”
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I dashed forward, sword in hand. Deflecting Ruan’s attack that targeted Ropen, Artina stepped in front of him.
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“Mister, please run.”
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“I won’t… retreat before a demon.”
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“…You’ll die at this rate.”
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“There are times in life when you can’t back down, even in the face of death.”
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“Why? Why go that far…?”
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“If I fear death, I can’t protect the things I cherish.”
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Ropen gripped his sword hilt with a determined expression.
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“I will protect them. Even if it costs me my life.”
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Seeing this, Artina bit her lip hard, then lifted her sword toward Ruan, her face calm at last.
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“Then, I’ll fight with you.”
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Wooooong!
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A blue Aura Blade formed on her sword. She charged at Ruan and swung her blade.
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“Haah!”
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“That’s not how you wield that power!”
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Though she’d forged an Aura Blade through realization and resolve, the difference in experience caused her to be overpowered by Ruan.
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KWAANG!
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Artina and Ropen were sent flying by Ruan’s attack.
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Seeing this, I dashed forward.
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I summoned wind to cushion their landing and set them gently on the ground.
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‘The five Keywords.’
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Hero, Direction, Passion, Composure, Advice.
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Both Artina and Ropen fulfilled all five Keywords.
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‘My intuition.’
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Rose had told me.
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To trust my intuition.
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So I felt like I understood now.
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Something indescribable—something you just feel.
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“You again. A Mage? Whatever. I’ve lost all interest. I’ll just kill you all at once.”
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I crouched down and used healing magic to stop the bleeding from Ropen’s wounds.
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“Why… aren’t you running away?”
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“Because I’ve found the person I was searching for. Sir Ropen, join hands with me, and let’s defeat him.”
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“Is that possible if I join hands with you?”
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“Yes.”
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Thud.
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Ropen took my hand.
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[Would you like to appoint as Guardian?]
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A message I hadn’t seen before appeared.
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“Ah.”
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A golden light flowed out, pouring into Ropen’s body.
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[Appointing Guardian King Ropenheim Odenberk (SS) as Guardian.]
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[Guardian’s Blessing temporarily raises rank.]
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