Chapter 15.1 - Thousand Blade Academy and the Big Five Holy Festival [5] – part 1 (1/2)

15. Thousand Blade Academy and the Big Five Holy Festival [5] – part 1

After winning over Cain-san, I returned to the Thousand Blade Academy waiting room.

「Amazing! Amazing! As expected of Allen!」

「Umu! You wonderfully held down that mental interference-type soul dress! What tremendous mental strength!」

Ria and Leia-sensei showered me with praises.

「Thank you very much… However sensei, how did you know that Cain-san’s soul dress was a mental interference-type?」

「Oh, I’m actually quite accustomed to soul dress, you know? If you observe the other person’s soul dress carefully, you can quickly predict the type.」

「I see… That’s true.」

I wasn’t particularly surprised when I heard that Leia-sensei was accustomed to soul dress.

(There is no doubt, Leia-sensei is extremely powerful.)

During the practical test, she was the only one who had caught my Iai slash, which even a veteran measurer missed. The great pervert swordsman who destroyed iron bars with his bare hands and cut walls using disposable chopsticks as a sword – No.18-san didn’t even show the will to rebel in front of Leia-sensei.

And when she was a student of Thousand Blade Academy, she won every match at every competition – the golden generation.

(I wonder just how strong she is…)

To be honest, I was quite interested as a swordsman.

(When the Big Five Holy Festival is over, I’d like to request for a mock battle.)

When I was thinking about that, Rose pulled on my clothes.

「Allen… how were you able to use my technique?」

She asked with a look which seemed to say「unbelievable」.

「Err, about that…」

Then I told her the full particulars of the fight. I’ve been trapped in a different world for a hundred years by Cain-san’s〈Hell Hundred〉. There were minimum amount of supplies, and had no inconvenience to living. So, after earnestly swinging my sword in training, I remembered the fundamental principle, type, and essence of the schools which I learned from Class A friends. Only Rose’s Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style was learned by imitating from my memory because it had not been taught.

As I did,

「S-Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style that I learned from my father over the years… by simply watching and imitating…!?」

She bit her lower lip in frustration.

My heart ached for some reason even though I didn’t do anything particularly bad.

「Eh, ah… that’s uh! To be precise, that technique from a moment ago is a little different from the Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style Secret Technique – Mirrored Sakura Slash! It’s a combination of Eighth Sword-Yatagarasu! That’s why I wasn’t able to completely imitate it.」

「So, you had improved it. No wonder it was much sharper than mine…」

Although I tried to patch things up, I seem to have made it worse.

「……」

「……」

As Rose and I were silent, an uncomfortable air fell over us.

Ria and Leia-sensei stared at me, and silently conveyed「do something」with their eyes.

(W-What should I do…)

I desperately wracked my head and thought of a good idea that would bring Rose back to energy.

「U-Uh, that is… Oh, yes! I’ll teach you next time! The Mirrored Sakura Slash that I used a little while ago!」

And Rose raised her head.

「R-Really?」

「Aa, I mean, it was originally Rose’s technique.」

「T-Thank you…!」

She smiled cheerfully and thanked me.

(Fuu, I’m glad she’s back to normal…)

Then, when I finally put a rest to this scene,

「Everyone, we’ve made you wait for too long. From now on, the second match of Thousand Blade Academy vs. Ice King Academy will start!」

The announcement rang out.

「Good luck, Allen! I’m rooting for you!」

「Win just like before.」

「You are strong – go with confidence and pride in your chest!」

「Yes, thank you very much!」

With the support of Ria, Rose and Leia-sensei, I returned to the stage once again.

「Without further ado, the West Gate – Vanguard of Thousand Blade Academy, Allen-Rodore!」

The moment I set foot on the stage,

「HERE HE COMES! ALLEN!」

「Go and Wiiiiiin! Win this match, and it’s our win!」

「You can do it! Fight On!」

West side – The audience seating on the Thousand Blade Academy side were unusually excited. Perhaps the expectations has skyrocketed because I won the previous match.

「Continuing, East Gate – General of Ice King Academy, Sid-Euclius!」

Following announcement, Sid-san slowly emerged from the opposite side.

Sid Euclius. He was wearing a pure white uniform of Ice King Academy in an informal manner. His snow-like white hair was messy and he has brown skin. Huge sharp glaring eyes with black pupils. It is a fierce feature that makes him give off a ferocious vibe.

The moment he showed up, the audience on the east side – Ice King Academy’s side, fell completely silent. Cheering, encouragement, rooting – there was not a single supportive voice. On the contrary, no one even opened their mouth – to the point where it fell ominous. There was an astonishing difference in enthusiasm between the west and east side audience seating. Without paying attention to any of that, Sid-san proceeded to the middle of the stage.

Somehow… I understood.

(He is probably ridiculously strong – perhaps even the best I’ve ever faced)

I felt something like an exceptionally unique aura only the strong would have.

When we were both on the stage, the live commentator livened up the atmosphere.

「Because Ice King Academy didn’t register a vanguard at the beginning, contestant Sid is the General! In other words, this might even be the final battle! If contestant Allen wins this match, Thousand Blade Academy can finally escape from the lowest spot for the first time in over a decade!」