Chapter 110: I Partnered with the Strongest of the Department of Knights
Upon seeing the figure of the man before him, Rest’s eyes widened in shock.
“Wilhelm Lübesse. What are you doing here…?!”
The one who appeared was the strongest first-year student of the Department of Knights. Known as the “Sword Saint Who Dislikes Women,” Wilhelm Lübesse’s unexpected arrival caught Rest off guard, momentarily freezing him in surprise. Seizing the opportunity, a Corrupted Beast lunged at him.
“GYAO!”
“Ugh…!”
Rest attempted to counter the attacking Corrupted Beast with magic. However, before he could act, Lübesse moved first.
“Almacain Sword Dance Technique… ‘Sankage.'”
In an instant, a flurry of slashes was unleashed. The Corrupted Beast was disassembled mid-air, its pieces raining down to the ground.
“That was fast…!”
Lübesse’s movements were astonishingly swift, rivaling even Rest’s use of High Accelerator. Moreover, he effortlessly sliced through the Corrupted Beast’s remarkably tough fur.
(And that sword… It resembles a katana. Is it a blade specialized for slashing?)
“You are… Rest, right? A friend of that girl.”
That girl must be Yuri Cattleya, who had been following Lübesse around during their Swordsmanship class.
“Well, that’s true… Yuri is my friend.”
“Why are you here? This isn’t a battlefield for first-years.”
“I could say the same to you…”
Lübesse was also a first-year. Why was he on the front lines?
“If you’re just going to stand there, you should go home. I’ll handle this.”
“There’s no way I can entrust an important battle to someone I’ve just met. I appreciate the help, but… wouldn’t it be better for you to leave?”
Rest retorted. Although he had been saved, he could have defended himself with magic even without Lübesse’s intervention. As a swordsman, Lübesse was at a disadvantage against the Corrupted Beasts, which could dissolve weapons, and Rest genuinely believed it would be wiser for him to retreat.
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
As they spoke, several Corrupted Beasts launched streams of corrosive saliva at them.
“Star Eater!”
“Zanten!”
Rest absorbed the incoming saliva with his Dark Star, while Lübesse cleaved the streams in two with his sword. The divided saliva splattered off in different directions.
“He cut the liquid…?”
Even while slicing through the corrosive saliva that could melt metal, Lübesse’s sword showed no signs of breaking or melting. It seemed he was enhancing its strength by enveloping the blade in high-density Magical Power. This was a technique often used by knights and warriors, but Lübesse’s execution was far more refined than that of other students in the Department of Knights, including Daniya.
“He nullified the enemy’s attack…? What a peculiar magic you use.”
Meanwhile, Lübesse frowned, puzzled by the unfamiliar magic Rest had employed.
“This isn’t exactly a situation for calm conversation…”
To silence the enemies, Rest unleashed a wide-area spell.
“Thunderstorm!”
Lightning rained down like a torrential downpour, striking the foes. It was an advanced magic spell with a broad area of effect but relatively low power. Against the magic-resistant Corrupted Beasts, it served only as a deterrent.
“Well done.”
Lübesse kicked off the ground. Taking advantage of the opening created by the lightning magic, he closed in on the enemies and began slicing through the Corrupted Beasts.
“Magic is quite convenient. That was good support.”
“I wasn’t trying to provide support, you know…”
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
As a Corrupted Beast attempted to attack Lübesse, Rest fired a spell from a distance, neutralizing the threat before it could strike.
“Almacain Sword Dance Technique… ‘Danjou.'”
Lübesse continued to cut down the Corrupted Beasts with incredible speed and power. His swordsmanship represented a pinnacle of achievement, showcasing techniques that were ideally unattainable at such a young age.
(He’s truly a genius swordsman… like a protagonist from a story.)
Rest cast spells while Lübesse swung his sword. Although the situation was unexpected, it was far easier to fight alongside someone else. He never imagined how much simpler it would be with the support of a companion.
(I might need to reevaluate how important teamwork is… This could change my perspective on many things.)
“GYAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
As Rest and Lübesse battled the Corrupted Beasts, Subnock ambled through the Plain, seemingly disinterested in the fight. Ignoring the two, he headed toward the Plain Entrance.
If he were retreating deeper into the area, that would be fine, but Subnock was walking in the opposite direction.
“This is bad… I can’t let him get away!”
“Hey, you…!”
“I’ll leave this to you! Handle these guys!”
The number of Corrupted Beasts had already dwindled to less than half. Lübesse alone could manage them without issue.
“I’m counting on you! I’m going after him!”
Activating High Accelerator, Rest kicked off the ground and dashed away at breakneck speed. He felt a twinge of guilt toward Lübesse, but there was no other choice. Rest unilaterally pushed the enemies onto someone he barely knew and chased after Subnock.