“I can’t fight anymore. I surrender.” Raising both of his hands, as if pointed by a robber’s handgun, Seth concede his landslide defeat.
Through the entire fight, Seth had been always on the offensive. I only took defensives by blocking and parrying his non-stop one-sided blows.
Exerting that level of effort caused great strain on the body. Rendering Seth exhausted at the duel went on and until he ultimately depleted all his strength.
“What are you going to do now?” I asked, sheathing back my blade. “Are you going to quit?”
Seth smiled then stood himself up from the grass, “Of course, not. I cannot give up this early.”
“Even though you knew that I didn’t exert my full power just now?”
“I may be not able to defeat you this time, but I haven’t lose hope yet. If I cannot play decently with you now, I have to forge my blade sharper than ever has.”
This one is the type that never gives up until he reach his goals. I didn’t hate his guts but it’s my sister were talking about, you know?
No matter how hard he effort himself, the world remains the same. I don’t want to tell him the truth yet, it might hurt his feelings and a possibility for him to enter a slumpage.
“Hm? Something’s coming.”
“It is. That crest…” Seth muttered seeing a green-painted magic carriage following the tracks of his.
After the exchange of the coachman with the estate gatekeepers, the crest-engraved ebony door pivoted its steel hinges giving an entrance to not one, but two young and handsome men in sumptuous get ups.
(Don’t tell me…)
Seth and I walked through the front yard closing the distance between us and the two adolescence waiting at the gate. But before I formally welcome our visitors, Seth step in.
“Look at what we got here.” Seth scoffed, folding his arms. “What are you two doing in this far, secluded place like this?”
The robust one with spiky forest green hair smirked. “What a coincidence, I have the same question for you, Ledfinn.”
He got muscles, even his thick coat could not contain his bulging biceps. He is like a boastful delinquent straight out of the manga. I don’t know his personalities yet so I cannot judge for now.
“Hmph. No need to ask that.” The other nobleman with fuchsia pink hair spoke, then pushes his eyeglasses like what nerdy characters in anime do. “If you’re here, it means we all had the same agenda, yes?”
“Oh ho. So I am not the only one sharing the same fate then.”
The way they treated each other, they must have been well-acquainted, perhaps schoolmates. But I can say their are having a free-for-all battle.
Attending the academy wasn’t meant only for formal education, but also serves as a place for sheltered noble kids to gather and socialize with one another.
Whether it’s political or personal, one have to befriend others for them to weave connections. Especially in the nobility where the nation is divided into alliances and factions.
Sometimes, the academy is a place for bachelors to find their partner in life. Socializations like tea parties and events increases the chance of knowing and getting closer to people, develop feelings and so on.
Even though they are all noblemen, they’re still inside our premises.
“Pardon my intrusion, gentlemen. I am Raphael Raevender. What can I do for you?”
“So you’re Raphael.” The spiked one spoke. “My name is Gauss Groniz. The second son of Margrave Groniz.”
Contrary to his rough looks, Gauss greeted me with respect. The empire is a country pertaining to meritocracy. My parents are well known throughout the continent so Gauss acknowledged me, their son, as great as them.
Apparently, Gauss came from the mighty family of Groniz. The Margravate of Groniz is a military family situated at the northern border of the Dixon Empire.
They are one of the families that shielded the empire from the threat of the invasive demons.
Since the location of their territory is up to the northern part of the continent, the territories there has colder temperature than the ones below.
“Nice to meet you, Raphael. I am Alexander Arcenciel. The first son of Arcenciel Earldom. It’s a pleasure to make the son of the Sage an acquaintance.”
The nerdy one, Alexander, did the say way of greeting as Gauss. The mentioned the title of Mom do he had the same reason as well.
The Earldom of Arcenciel is also a well-known family in the empire. They are a family that produces magic-adept children and had roots with a powerful mage in the past. Some even became the Imperial Court Mage.
As a member of a family of sorcerers, he must have heard the deeds of Mom, the Sage. Alexander must have high respects for Mom and probably to the point of idolizing her.
Based on his physique, he doesn’t seems to be a man of the blade, rather his magical power is leakily overflowing for someone at his Level.
(What are we going to do, a magic show?)
“Hm. Seems like you are also here to challenge me in a duel. Is that right?”
“That’s right.” Both of them replied at the same time.
“I see.”
So they are really looking for a match with me to achieve a certain goal. By defeating me, three young men compete with each other to can prove themselves worthy of taking my sister’s hand…
(Just when did my sister became a reverse harem protagonist?!)
◆◇◆◇◆◇
With the greetings done, we proceed to the less grassy side yard for us to conduct each of the duel. A sword match with Gauss and we Alexander engage a magic contest.
First is my fencing with Gauss Groniz.
“Here I go! Spirit Boost! Horizontal Slash!” ｂｏ𝚟𝚕.
Gauss immediately charges his strong body at me, wielding his sword this both hands. He started with his full power, he didn’t want to test my strength because there’s no need.
Unlike him, who went all might, I didn’t exert my true strength to raise my sword and completely blocked his boulder crushing blow. But my arms are not exempted from the stinging sensation of vibrations due to the destructive power of Gauss’ swing.
“I’m not done yet! Overhead Slash!”
“…”
I readied my mithrill blade to stop a super fast and heavy downward chop. Too powerful that it made me bend my knees for a few degrees.
“Kuh…!”
With both my arms unavailable, Gauss saw that as his change to deliver a powerful front kick to my stomach. Although it might look dirty in the eyes of the observers, cheap tricks is necessarily needed to win a game.
Hailing from a military family that is in the frontline to fend off the invasive demons, Gauss showcased his prowess in wielding a sword. Defining the mighty blood of his brave ancestors.
He’s too focused on the Techniques, not on pure sword skills. Even though each of his attacks are powerful, his moves are easy to read.
Although not as clean and refined as Seth, Gauss had the strength, due to his trained muscles, that making each of his attacks more destructive, which made me adjust my limit a little bit higher.
“Well done, playtime is over.”
“Ack—?!”
Once I get serious, I used Instantaneous Movement to instantly teleport myself at his blind spot. I slashed my blade at incredible speed and stopped it when it reached an inch from his neck.
“You’re not the only one who can use cheap tricks.”
Gauss froze for a moment staring at the mithrill on his peripheral vision. He broke a sweat and finally open his mouth.
“Okay. You win.”
The duel concluded in just a swing of my sword. One down, one to go.
“Okay, my turn.” Alexander stepped in.
As for Alexander, he verily demonstrated his great skills in magic. His magic power is already high, heightened by his Black Treant wand, his spells fired the already blazing summer heat.
He can use three elements, which was above the numbers of elements average magician could do; fire, wind and water, with the proficiency of at least Level 3 each.
I countered each throw of his spell with the same spell, but with higher firepower. I wanted to showcase my magic superiority over him. The duel ended when Alexander ran out of mana to consume.
But what’s this situation I’m facing right now?
“I’ve seen your refined and flawless swordplay from the observer’s point of view. Making me realized how imperfect my sword is. Please take me as your apprentice.”
“Hey, don’t forget me too! What with those monstrous strength?! You’re the son of the Sword Saint, right?! Take me too!”
“Well, it seems like I have to broaden my magic vocabulary too. Please teach me your wisdom for me to surpass my little sister.”
They were so stubborn and persistent that they made me surrender and accept my fate.
(How do thing ended up like this?!)