Vol 1 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Spring of CE 1276

It has been 2 years since Ernesti and the others enroled in Laihiala Pilot Academy Their lifestyle remained the same First of all, Ernesti Echevarria

”Alright, this year ill be working on 'Silhouette Knight Design and Application' Ah, you are here”

During this period, when the school welcoins, the teacher who ca the center seat in the front row As a third year pri the craftshthood Faculty

”The Knighthood faculty's teachers have surrendered”

”Yes, I a”

He slightly tilted his head and sround in bullying the teachers to acco at all After prorade, Eru used his abilities to destroy all of the classes that got in the way of the courses he wanted to attend The Knighthood teachers were deeply depressed over this, and the craftshed deeply, and focused on his lesson If you ignore his shenanigans, Eru is a bright and passionate student, so the teachers gave him more leeway

Next are the twins Archid and Adeltrud

This is the training grounds of the Knighthood faculty Class was in session, so no one should be here The boy and girl practicing on the field were Archid and Adeltrud They followed Eru's lead to go beyond the scope of the lessons given by the school, and had been conducting personal training For the past two years, instead of takingthis special training Eru was not present because he had to attend some other class

”Okay, I will be going all out next”

”What's up? Your hits are harder than usual”

Chid waved his hands at the suspicious Ady, gesturing that nothing rong as he tightened his grip on his weapon His build was excellent for his age, and the sword in his hand was one size bigger than the standards Even though it was a wooden sword used for training, it was still i

In contrast, Ady held two thin swords, and her battling style was sith

Apart froe attached to it Made froun staff based on the noric staves the latest 'Gandiva' e fron the 'Winchester', but there was no need for the twins to use the same weapon Instead, their Gandivas wereto the state where it could be attached to any sword It was designed by Eru and hbour Termonen Workshop

The two of theic before raising their swords They switched s the power of their weapon, which un staff They were using limited physical boost After Ernesti tweaked with its script, the spell was easier to use than the previous version, and more importantly, it improved the sustainability of the spell They held true to Eru's teachings, training their body andtheir mana pools The crystallisation of their hard as clear for all to see

With the start of the battle training, Chid took a strong step forward His strengthenedhis opponent within his sword’s range This was Chid's preferred fighting style practical usage of the length of his oversized sword Thanks to Mathias's training, his style, which places e of distance and skill, was a real threat

Ady used the agility of her swords to counter this Because of her limited physical boost, her slashes turned into a ind, bypassing Chid's sword and going straight for his body Even though his weapon was large, Chid still e of his sword, to ward off Ady's attack But Ady didn't back down, shi+fting positions constantly as she waited for an opening The fierce exchange made others question if this was really a mock battle The two continued to spar until their mana and endurance were sapped

Because these two learned s differently, this sort of training was noric and swords siht in primary school If a third party was around, they would probably question their common sense

”Really I can't stand you guys, what did Eru teach you”

That's how Stefania, atching felt

”Hht?”

Watching the twins tilt their heads and answer at the same time, Stefania could only smile bitterly This was not a style you could learn just by 'learning ic'

”With your standards, I'm not sure if I can win”

”Really? Winning against the top student of Knighthood Faculty, who is also the Student Council President can't be that easy, right?”

Stefania had reasons to be concerned Nor sword battles in secondary school If so so froht before her

She was the top in her faculty in results, the daughter of a Marquis, and with her distinquished personality, she was elected as the student council president But after seeing the capabilities of her half-siblings, Stefania was still shocked The tere too used to Eru's standards, so their benchht about correcting their mindset, in order to avoid trouble in the future

There were only the three of the, and distracting the attention to their surroundings, so they failed to notice the shadow lurking behind the thin wall near the training grounds entrance

While class was in session, the sound of footsteps echoed in the empty dormitory, the students were all absent

The person walking was agitated, his pace fast as he reached his desired roo hands and rushed in as if chased For a dored by the school with consideration of safety in ned personal rooms

The male student stood by the door listlessly for a while He couldn't hold in his agitation anymore and kicked the furniture in the roo loudly

”What is that how could it be damn, damn damn!”

Theextremely frustrated He was upset because he had witnessed the training session of his sister and half-siblings

Baltsar was a first year student in hthood Faculty, and has just started using ic and sword si, but his siblings were doing what he couldn't with ease It was clear that their abilities were far ahead of him For the proud Baltsar, he couldn’t stand bastard children ere stronger than hie, and he realised the existence of Chid and Ady was a threat to his goal

Baltsar's goal was related to his 'family'

His family The 'Marquis Serrati family', is one of the doe, and it occupies a place that is flat and filled with fardom, near the Bocuse Sea of Forest and suffers from frequent attacks by Demon beasts In order to fend thehts within the country the 'Red Rhino Knights' It is a critical place that borders the frontlines, and as a result, the land has prospered econoh the main economic artery constantly

Marquis Serrati, the ruler of this land had three children The eldest, Artos, was the heir of the Marquis, receiving an education befitting a noble, and was starting to help his father hter, Stefania, was studying in her second year of middle school at Laihiala Pilot Academy, while the second son, Baltsar, was in his first year

”If this carries on If that brat shows up at the main family”

The titles of nobility are basically inherited by the eldest son, where the other children do not get any land or property They need to forge their own path forward, hts or bureaucrats Baltsar chose to becoht without hesitation, since the Serrati Marquis clan was in cohts, protecting the people froe of the aristocrats It was natural for hioal

”If those bastards cohts maybe”

The entire Kingdost its knights The knights are expected to be ready to fight the De in ter strong in coht to be the leader of the knights, but the stronger soanisation

Baltsar ihts with his brother He had never doubted that until the twins showed up This casted a shadow in his heart Even though they are children of acapabilities, and ties to the Marquis by blood, they e and realise their drea stripped by his bastard younger siblings was a nightmare

”That's right I have to get rid of them”

He reflected upon why he had let the situation deteriorate so much, and the conclusion was that he was too careless, thinking of them only as bastards who could never nored that incident during the first day of school He realised he rong, the situation was very pressing and every second counts He needed to work fast to dispose of the, it would be unwise to challenge theth, in a safe and efficient way

Baltsar raised his head, his worries had disappeared

He was not duness to sacrifice others allowed him to come up with despicable and effective s becaer than before

One day after class, Batson Ter to head to his next class He looked around and discovered a faure He noticed that person because she was a childhood friend

”Is that Ady? Who is she with?”

As he wondered about what Ady was doing, Batson became suspicious Not because Ady ith someone, but because she ith a student he didn't know From afar, her face looked stiff

”Should I alert them?”

Batson was not overreacting because Ady ith a stranger, but her expression looked weird, and that worried Batson She ht be in trouble, so Batson decided to show his considerate spirit

Afterup his mind, Batson turned around and searched for his petite friend, as probably in a classroom nearby

”Baltsar Onii-sa?”

Adeltrud clenched her fists, her eyes searching her surroundings and her slightly fierce deer

Baltsar stood before her with his usual sh it upsets the people who look at hiotten used to it The problem ith the people around them There were three of them behind Baltsar and four behind Ady Male students who she did not know, blocked her way after Baltsar gave a signal They were probably his lackeys

Ady was stopped by Baltsar in the corridor and brought to a deserted area Although she was not close with Baltsar, they were still fa brought to a quiet place, so others wouldn't hear hi on her She was surrounded before she realised Frouessed that this was probably not a 'happy chat'

”These aremuch, they are here to help me teach disobedient brats their manners, eh?”

Baltsar's companions smiled quietly

”I learned about manners in class, there is no need to trouble everyone”

”The teacher is not enough to teach the brats of ayou personally, shouldn't you be lowering your head, and begging for your lesson?”

A hand stuck out from behind Baltsar

”That's right, be a good girl and”

The naht they had the overwhelirl younger than the out her gun staff before he finished She immediately used limited physical boost and elbowed the lackey in the stomach before he could react

”You are too noisy!”

She needed to break through the encircleet away She dropped one opponent, and took the chance to run with her enhanced leg power Because of her sudden retaliation, the encircleet away

”Spark Dart”

An arrow of lightning landed on Ady's back, at the command of this calm voice She couldn't even scream, a hoarse sound escaped fros It was not lethal, but the direct lightning numbed her body, so she tripped and fell

Uguu! I screwed up can't, conscious fading

Incredibly, she re expression on Baltsar's face as she blacked out He was not haughty like usual, but earing a foreboding smile

Some time after Ady blacked out

Chid had no idea what happened, and he was just a bit concerned that Ady hadn’t returned when class had begun When he was thinking about ditching class to search for her, he met an unexpected person

”Oh? You were in class that saves me the trouble”

Baltsar appeared before him Chid was shocked, he hadhis time with the main family, and Baltsar always chose inconspicuous places to talk to hiht now, and Chid was unsure of how to address him

”Senpai, do you have anything for me?”

Chid couldn't hide his confusion and asked Baltsar was s as usual, as he announced in a loud voice:

”I challenge you to a duel!”

The rowdy classroom was silenced, followed by an eruption of sounds Students in the classroo the current exciting topic, 'duel!'

”What are you saying”

”You can't understand? Ha, I expected as , I can't forgive such insolence anyht”

Chid was baffled, because everything had been set in e Baltsar's actions confounded hi

”I don't get what you are thinking Duel? Alright, it's on!”

He also hated Baltsar His fighting spirit overcame the question in his heart, and he accepted it readily Chid would let it go if Baltsar had picked on hie head on, Chid had no intention of hiding his displeasure

”How uncouth your ant”

Class was abandoned, and the whole group tagged along with them out of the campus

Laihiala Pilot Acadehts between students It is ridiculous for knights protecting citizens to fight ast themselves Those who break the rule will face all sorts of punishht known as a 'duel'

Duels have their own set of rules: they ree a third party has to act as the referee the referee has absolute authority; the match will be decided when one party loses consciousness or surrenders; they have to use wooden training swords, and spells that release projectiles are banned to avoid collateral dae to others In the end, the main point is 'settle it yourself'

By its nature, the Knighthood faculty has a lot of hot headed students, so settling disputes by duels is common There is even a fixed place within the academy known as the 'duel arena'

News of Baltsar and Chid's duel spread through the acade this, and the challenge beca to witness the battle

A student as unrelated to either of them volunteered to be the referee He read out the rules of the duel in a loud voice, and confirmed the acceptance by the two participants When they faced each other, Baltsar took out so from his shi+rt pocket Chid turned stiff when he saw it

Isn't that The hair pin Ady earing this !? Why Did he!?

The shocked Chid looked at Baltsar, and their eyesoal, why Baltsar had proposed a duel and why it was being done in public

”You What did you do to Ady”

”Hmmm? I don't knohat you mean”

Baltsar's expression twisted as if he was trying to control his laughter, confir Chid's suspicion

”That's right, I heard a rumor the other day You can use advanced spells as a pri achievement! Can you show them to me?”

Chid roan It was obvious why Baltsar raised this issue, he wanted everyone present to hear Chid say that he couldn't to humiliate him The way he flashed the hair pin made Baltsar's intentions clear

” I can't use it anyway”

Chid answered, as if he was squeezing the air out of his lungs, baffling the audience Chid was one of the famous trio in primary school that was exe, wondering why so like this Were the rumours false?

”Huh? What a joke! Ha! The rumours are fake? Really, to be exposed so easily! Where did that attitude of yours go? Hah!”

If eyes could kill, Chid would have aze by now Baltsar didn't h:

”Hey, hey, hey, wanting to stand out even if you have to lie, what a naughty boy Correcting the error of juniors is the senior's job, right? Okay, it's about tiin”

Baltsar lifted his sword and staff while Chid quietly attached his Gandiva to his wooden sword What folloas not a duel anymore, but an execution

”What's with you? Such a spoilsport You can't use ic, and you're subpar with swordsmanshi+p!?”

Baltsar taunted as they sparred Chid was enraged and wanted to counter attack, but Baltsar was flashi+ng the hair pin from time to time to warn him

About 30 ht, everyone could see that the battle was one sided Chid was slow and was the only one taking hits He tried countering a few ti The pitiful state of the rumoured student disappointed the crowd ”Ru start?” ”The ending will be the arrogant junior facing reality”, ”Such a boring fight” There were even some who left impatiently

But some of the students felt uneasy Chid was hit directly a lot of tie? Baltsar, as enjoying the overwhel Chid

Since he can't defeat Baltsar, Chid had to tank the attacks He was unsure how long he could endure it Even so, he was still waiting for the chance to counter attack He didn't know if he still had a chance, but he clanged on desperately to this hope Chid's most trustworthy friend was not here, but he definitely knows about this co uproar, so his absence means he is on the move

I’ll leave it to you my, friend You are my only hope!

Chid gritted his teeth and took the hit fro stance

At the sa the corridor After listening to his childhood friend Batson's explanation, Eru had begun searching for Ady But he was troubled by the fact that there were no clues Suddenly, soed him from behind Eru was startled, and looked up to see Stefania caressing his hair with a blissful face

”Ah, so soft and so”

1

”E, Stefania-Senpai?”

”It's the fault of these silky smooth locks You Impish Devil”

Stefania rubbed her face against Eru's hair, as she poked his cheek Eru was baffled by her reaction as usual, but inspiration struck Maybe Stefania has some clues

”Stefania-senpai, you caht time Do you knohere Ady is?”