**Chapter 73: Striking the Knight Department with a Sword**
“Guuuu…”
In a shocking turn of events, Yuri had defeated the strongest first-year student of the Knight Department. Oddman groaned in frustration at the unexpected outcome, but Lyubase had already dashed away, making the result clear. Oddman clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, while not only the students from the Magic and Civil Official Departments but even those from the Knight Department cast dubious glances his way. No matter how much authority the instructors wielded, it seemed unlikely they could overturn Yuri’s victory.
“…The winner is Miss Yuri Cattleya.”
“Muu…”
With a look of dissatisfaction, Yuri returned.
“Good job, how was it?” Rest asked.
“To be honest, it was a fight with nothing to learn… Just when I finally had the chance to battle a real swordsman…”
Yuri pouted as she answered Rest’s question. It seemed she had a surprisingly fierce side, feeling disgruntled that she couldn’t fight to her heart’s content.
“I see, that’s unfortunate.”
“Yeah, very unfortunate… However, if I take the ‘Swordsmanship’ class, I might get another chance to fight.”
“…I’m not so sure about that.”
From what Rest could see of Lyubase, it didn’t seem like there would be another day for Yuri to fight him.
“…Next, Knight Department Danira. Magic Department Rest.”
“Oh, it’s my turn.”
Woodman called Rest’s name with a sullen expression. Rest, who had been tending to the injured, stood up, grasping a wooden sword as he headed to the field.
“Go all out. Danira.”
“Heh… I was looking forward to smashing those smug faces of the Magic Department, even without being told.”
Encouraged by Oddman’s fervent words, a short-haired man with dull brown hair stepped forward. He didn’t appear particularly muscular, but he was tall. A ferocious glint shone in his eyes, baring his teeth like a carnivorous beast.
“Honestly, I wanted to fight that girl from earlier… I love taking down women.”
“…You’re a dangerous one. Has the Knight Department started keeping wild beasts?”
“Haha! That’s just the kind of thing you’d expect from the Magic Department!”
Facing Rest, the violent boy—Danira—raised his wooden sword.
“Lyubase is pathetic! A guy who gets completely outdone by a girl is the top of the first years? Unbelievable! Well, I’ll take that ranking from him soon enough!”
“The Rank Battle System… So it really does exist in the Knight Department?”
It seemed that students in the Knight Department were assigned ranks, competing for their positions through tests and one-on-one duels. Those ranked higher were more likely to have favorable paths after graduation.
“Those in the top five are scouted as royal knights, right? That sounds a bit interesting.”
“Even if I beat the Magic Department folks, my rank won’t go up… Haha! But I’ll have fun doing it!”
“Begin!”
The declaration of the battle’s start echoed through the air. Danira lunged forward, aiming for Rest’s legs with a fierce strike.
“Aiming for the legs, huh… Poor taste.”
Rest lightly jumped to evade the attack. It seemed Danira intended to prolong the fight by targeting his legs, hoping to wear him down.
“Hyahha! You dodged well! I’ll give you that!”
“…………”
“Now it’s right, then left! How about the torso?!”
Rest parried the attack coming from the right with his wooden sword, then stepped back to avoid the left strike. A thrust aimed at his torso came next, which he twisted his body to evade. Danira continued to swing his wooden sword in rapid succession. This man was likely one of the top students in the Knight Department… Though rough around the edges, his swordsmanship was sharp and swift. Rest narrowly dodged the attacks while maneuvering around the field.
(If I hadn’t become a disciple of Teacher Diable, I would have been finished in an instant… This guy is genuinely strong.)
He certainly lived up to his boastful words. It was clear that he possessed considerable skill, not just empty talk.
“I’m just getting started… [Accelerator]!”
Danira increased his speed even further. Both had already used [Body Enhancement], but the battle was escalating into a high-speed clash.
“I’ll use [Accelerator] too… This is quite the exhausting fight…”
“Hey, hey, for a magician, you’re doing pretty well… This is fun! Keep it coming!”
“I wouldn’t say it’s fun… But it seems your sword skills are superior.”
If it were a fistfight, Rest might have the upper hand. However, in a sword duel, it appeared that Danira had the advantage. Though their speeds were even, Rest was gradually being pushed back.
“Using body enhancement magic is allowed by the rules. Then…”
“Hyahha! What’s wrong? Are you really going to get taken down like this?!”
“I won’t be taken down.”
“Huh?”
Rest dodged Danira’s attack and swiftly circled behind him. Before Danira could turn around, Rest delivered a strike to his back.
“Guh…!”
Danira stumbled forward from the blow to his back but quickly regained his stance.
“Your recovery is fast. You really are strong.”
“Y-You… What was that just now…!”
“We’re in the middle of a fight. Let’s keep the chatter to a minimum.”
“Ugh…!?”
Kicking off the ground, Rest moved behind Danira once more. Danira spun around, but this time, Rest struck him in the face with his wooden sword.
“Tch…! What the hell is this speed?!”
There was no obligation to explain. Rest darted around the field, attacking Danira with his wooden sword. He struck his shoulder, then his thigh, then his torso, delivering blow after blow.
“[High Accelerator]!”
It was a superior version of [Accelerator]. The advanced magic that only his master, Diable, could use had also been passed down to Rest.
(I might be straying from the swordsmanship class, but… according to the rules, I’m not breaking any. Don’t hold it against me.)
“Oooooooo…!”
After taking hit after hit, Danira screamed. The fact that he wasn’t collapsing was likely due to the defensive magic he had activated. Even so, after receiving dozens of attacks, his limits were finally reached.
“Guh…”
Danira froze, standing still with his eyes rolled back.
“He’s… standing there, dead…”
Someone watching the fight muttered. Stunned gazes were directed at Rest and Danira.
“No… he’s not dead!”
He was merely unconscious. They shouldn’t hastily label him a murderer.
“Th-The match is over…”
Oddman announced the end of the match with a bitter tone.
Later, it would be revealed that Danira was the second-ranked student in the first year of the Knight Department. The rumor that the top students, Lyubase and Danira, had suffered defeat in their own field of swordsmanship would soon spread throughout the entire grade.