Chapter 24
“What was that? He just flicked his sword, didn’t he?”
Sue covered her ears and chuckled wryly. She knew nothing about swordsmanship and couldn’t comprehend Fritz’s technique at all. From what she had seen, he had simply raised his sword towards his opponent once. And yet, his opponent’s sword was already lying on the ground. Before she knew it, the referee was raising his sword towards Shina Fritz.
‘That crazy bastard…’
Sue gulped, watching Fritz sheathe his sword silently. He was a truly blessed man, to the point of being infuriating.
The matches progressed in a tournament format, steadily leading to a showdown between Fritz and Noel. Sue looked back and forth between their names, written at the top of the bracket, feeling a sense of awe.
It was no surprise that Fritz had made it to the finals, but Sue hadn’t expected Noel to get this far. After all, she had practically seen Noel’s swordsmanship for the first time today.
The all-rounder protagonist, Fritz, and the prodigy of the Royal Knights, Noel. What would happen if Noel defeated Fritz?
“Ah, it’s already the finals.”
Sue turned her head at the sound of a soft voice coming from behind her. Acrea was standing nonchalantly by the entrance to the spectator stands.
“Hello.”
He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, his head resting against his arms, a faint smile on his face as always. He seemed to have regained his composure, the mountain of documents he had been carrying earlier nowhere in sight.
“Master Acrea, you’re here to cheer for Master Fritz too!”
Sue, reflexively putting on her signature bright smile, greeted him enthusiastically. When Acrea just smiled without answering, Sue, feeling a pang of awkwardness, struggled to maintain her smile and continued.
“I apologize, Master Acrea. You didn’t see Master Fritz at the barracks earlier, did you? He said he wanted to meditate, so he came here…”
“I know. It was my fault for not checking the time.”
He blinked slowly.
“May I sit next to you?”
“Yes, of course. It’s an honor.”
Sue suppressed the intense pressure she felt. She gestured towards the empty seat beside her, welcoming Acrea.
Even though the second son of the Acrea grand duke family had made an appearance at the Grand Training Hall, the audience’s attention was focused solely on the arena, so Acrea didn’t attract any attention. He probably chose to come here because he knew that.
Just before the final match began, Sue tried to strike up a conversation with Acrea, breaking the awkward silence amidst the surrounding noise.
“Master Fritz is amazing, as expected. He’s won first place in every event he’s participated in so far.”
“That’s right. Shina is amazing.”
Acrea replied flatly, his voice devoid of any emotion.
“Haha…”
This was why she hadn’t liked Acrea in the novel. His artificial politeness, drilled into him like a doll, was occasionally comforting, but that was all.
Fritz at least reacted when you praised him, even if he acted childishly. She wondered if Acrea even had any emotions. And the female protagonist who could awaken his emotions wasn’t here. It was a sad reality.
Fortunately, before the awkward atmosphere could drag on, the protagonists of the final match appeared in the arena. Sue wanted to cover her ears the moment Noel and Fritz walked out of the corridor, but she couldn’t because of the boy sitting next to her.
Just like their previous match, the final was a single-round duel. From what Sue had observed, neither of them seemed to have any weaknesses. She wondered if there would even be a winner.
Fritz, her teammate, and Noel, her ‘friend’.
Who should I cheer for?
“Master Fritz will win, right?”
Sue mumbled to herself. But the question, though seemingly directed at no one in particular, had a clear recipient. It was Fritz’s close friend, the boy who was currently sitting next to her.
It was a question with a predetermined answer, but Acrea hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Shina will win.”
Sue forced a smile at his soft voice, which had a little more force than before. Woo Acrea’s meaningless words were strangely comforting.
“Well then… Prayers to God, oaths to the empire.”
The moment the referee’s sword cut through the air, signaling the start of the final match…
Fritz was the first to attack. His swordsmanship was aggressive, but flawlessly disciplined.
This was the strategy Fritz had devised to face Noel, having observed the swordsmanship of all the participants throughout the competition. There was no way his opponent, who had made it to the finals, would easily reveal any weaknesses, and Noel, in particular, was the type to toy with his opponent before finishing them off.
‘Then, I just won’t give him time to play.’
It was a simple, almost foolish, tactic, but it was something Shina Fritz could pull off. However, Noel wasn’t backing down. He blocked all of Fritz’s attacks. Although he couldn’t dodge and wait for an opening as leisurely as he had done before.
But what did that matter?
Noel’s blue eyes glinted coldly. He memorized every move of Fritz’s sword, absorbing it all through his senses. The moment Raines Noel had grasped the essence of Shina Fritz’s swordsmanship, he launched his counterattack.
His swordsmanship was graceful and free-flowing. Like a playful wave, like a gentle ripple. It lacked form and discipline, but he wielded his sword with a mastery that surpassed anyone else, gradually pushing Fritz back.
“Noel…”
“Amazing, Sir Raines of the Noel count family.”
Sue and Acrea, sitting side by side, murmured the same words, each lost in their own thoughts.
Noel pointed his sword directly at Fritz’s throat. Fritz quickly parried the attack, deflecting the blade downwards. Their swords scraped against each other with a screech of metal. The two, their attacks blocked, retreated to regroup.
‘Can Fritz really win?’
Sue clenched the hem of her pants. She knew nothing about swordsmanship, but even she could feel the tension in the air, the intensity of their duel.
Moreover, unlike Fritz, who had a grim expression on his face, Noel seemed to be at ease.
‘If that’s not just a bluff…’
And then came the final clash.
This time, Noel was the first to move. He attacked with twice the speed he had shown before, overwhelming Fritz. He aimed his sword at Fritz’s throat, just like before. Or so Sue thought.
But it was a bluff, a feint. The moment he thrust his sword towards the center, he immediately shifted it to the side, aiming for Shina Fritz’s right hand, which was moving to block the attack. It was a swift move.
But what did that matter?
Fritz’s black hair swayed once, sharply.
His legs firmly planted, his arm extended, his final strike aimed upwards.
The disciplined, storm-like attack cleaved through the free-flowing wave.
There was a clang as a sword flew through the air and clattered to the ground. It was Noel’s sword.
A heavy silence fell over the Grand Training Hall.
“…I lost.”
Noel, acknowledging his defeat, clutched his right hand and spoke in a clear voice. The referee, realizing the situation, raised his sword towards Fritz.
“The winner, Shina Fritz Digoril!”
The arena erupted in a frenzy of cheers, even though it was just a friendly match between a boy who was still a squire and a boy who was still the eldest son of a grand duke.
“…You really won, Master Fritz.”
Sue murmured, staring at the arena. This time, it wasn’t directed at anyone. The words simply escaped her lips. She was genuinely impressed.
Sue stood up as she saw Noel, picking up his fallen sword, heading back to the corridor.
“Goodbye.”
Acrea bid farewell to Sue as she got up. Sue was about to reply when she suddenly stopped and looked down at him. His greetings always lacked something crucial.
“Master Acrea.”
Sue, who had been half-lost in the excitement of the match, finally spoke the words.
“I’m Byron. Sue of the Byron viscount family. My name is Sue Byron. Please remember it. Please.”
It was a calm plea.
It might have been a lament for herself, or a small gesture of sympathy for ‘Sue Byron’, or perhaps even compassion for the boy reflected in her eyes.
“Yes, Lady Byron.”
She felt a sense of déjà vu at his response. Seeing his indifferent eyes curve into a mocking smile, Sue couldn’t help but laugh along.
***
“Noel.”
Sue caught up to Noel as he was leaving the Grand Training Hall.
“Byron.”
Sue had been waiting for him by the entrance. Noel called out her name, surprised.
“You were here?”
“Yes, you were amazing.”
“…”
“It was admirable. Truly, truly.”
Sue wanted to express the thrill she had felt, but she couldn’t find the words.
Noel stared at Sue, his lips pressed together. Sue averted her gaze, unable to meet his intense stare.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Sue didn’t hear his words.
“Sue.” A high-pitched, beautiful voice mercilessly drowned out Noel’s voice. Sue flinched and quickly forced a smile on her face before turning around.
“Lady Enzhe!”
Sue greeted her brightly, but her mind was filled with questions.
Why is Enzhe here in front of the Grand Training Hall?
“What brings you here, Lady Enzhe! Oh, did you see? Master Fritz just won the swordsmanship competition…”
“Yes, I know, so shut up.”
Sue instantly closed her mouth. Enzhe smiled, satisfied with her well-trained dog.