NOVEL NEXT Chapter 39
✦ Chapter 39 — Wager (5) ✦
「Translator — Creator」
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I eventually put both Communication Orb in my [Subspace] and was walking through the academy grounds to go to the Special Class, like always.
Even on normal days, the students would look at me and whisper, but today, the whispers felt louder.
“That’s the guy who challenged Prince Lophrey to a duel, right?”
“The loser gets expelled.”
“My younger brother is a freshman, and he said that guy was amazing during the entrance exam.”
“Even so, Prince Lophrey is a top-ranked third-year student; Prince Lophrey will win.”
I’m sure almost everyone at the academy knows that I’m fighting the worm, with expulsion on the line; there have been many duels with something on the stake at the academy, but this was the first time expulsion was on the line, so it was even more chaotic.
Most of the students said I’d lose.
But they also considered the opposite scenario.
“But what if, let’s say, Prince Lophrey loses?”
“There’s no way that’ll happen.”
“No, I mean, what if, just what if.”
“What if Prince Lophrey is defeated by a freshman and gets expelled…”
What if a freshman beats a third-year student?
On top of that, what if a prince loses to a commoner?
If that happens, the third-year prince on the verge of graduation would lose to a freshman who hasn’t even been enrolled for a month and get expelled.
The worm would be pissed off if this were to happen, but…
It was none of the other students’ business.
“Honestly, considering what he did to His Highness the Crown Prince, getting expelled might be better for him.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Furthermore, because the students recently found out about the worm throwing a drink at Lucas, there were students who wanted the worm to lose.
“Sigh, what’s the point of having these delusions? Prince Lophrey is going to win anyway.”
Countless students whispered, looking at me, until I arrived at the Special Class; the students’ gazes weren’t particularly embarrassing or unpleasant. They would’ve whispered because of my handsome face even if this hadn’t happened.
Once I arrived at the Special Class, I could no longer hear the whispers.
That’s because the Special Class students could ask me directly; they surrounded me and said various things.
“It’s too reckless.”
“Your opponent is a third-year.”
“Fighting with expulsion on the line is a bad idea no matter how you think about it.”
Although everyone said different things…
I could tell that they were all worried about me; the reason they’re telling me this now instead of yesterday when I challenged him to a duel…
It must be because they were too flustered yesterday.
As I was about to open my mouth to reassure the students…
“Everyone, take your seats.”
Professor Elysia opened the door, came in, and spoke to us.
And as one would expect, each of the students took their seats at Professor Elysia’s command.
“Does anyone have anything to say? If not, attack me all at on—”
“I have something to say!”
I raised my hand high and spoke up.
“Yes, Loki, what is it?”
“As you know, Professor, in two days is an important day where I’m fighting with expulsion on the stake. But if I get injured before then, I might not be able to fight properly during the duel.”
The other students nodded as if what I said made sense.
“Haah… Loki.”
Professor Elysia sighed before speaking.
“Yes!”
“I don’t think that’s something you should be saying while aiming for my back.”
What? She noticed.
Since I was caught anyway, I stopped concealing my presence.
I strengthened my legs and rushed at Professor Elysia.
*Clang!*
My sword was easily blocked by Professor Elysia.
I, who was raising my hand to ask her a question, had disappeared.
To be precise, it was just an illusion of me.
“How did you know?”
“You talked too much.”
Professor Elysia answered curtly to my question.
What a ridiculous way to get caught!
“Judging by your sword strike, I assume you’re fine with having regular classes until the duel?”
“Haha, is there any chance we could cancel?”
Professor Elysia didn’t answer my question and instead ran toward me.
.
.
.
I was now at the Newspaper Club, having finished my lunch.
It’s because Simon Nicholas, the President of the Newspaper Club, had requested an interview.
And since it was thanks to him that I could easily arrange the duel with that worm, I gladly agreed to the interview.
“Thanks for coming.”
“It’s not like an interview is difficult. I can do this much anytime.”
Currently, there were three people in the Newspaper Club Room — Simon, a newspaper club member holding a camera, and me.
“Isn’t the person I’m fighting doing an interview?”
“I don’t plan to interview him since I don’t think anything interesting would come out of it.”
Simon said while waving his hand dismissively.
“I’m actually quite shy, so I’m not sure if I’ll do a good job with this…”
The student holding the camera looked dumbfounded after hearing my words.
“Senior,”
I called out to the student holding the camera in a serious voice.
Because what I was about to say was important.
“My left side is more photogenic than my right side, so please take a lot of pictures of my left side.”
“…Huh? Okay.”
“Hahaha! You’re really an interesting guy, aren’t you?”
While the student holding the camera looked bewildered, Simon laughed as if he found this even more amusing.
“Well, I definitely am quite handsome.”
“Shall we start the interview then?”
I thought he would ask about the duel from the beginning, but he didn’t.
“What is your name?”
“It’s Loki!”
Perhaps he was starting with simple questions to help me relax.
“I know you use both — a Sword and Unique Magic, but do you consider yourself a swordsman or a mage?”
Swordsman or a Mage…
Actually, neither sounded very fitting for me.
“Although I use a sword, I’ve never thought of myself as a swordsman.”
“Then are you a mage?”
“Rather than a mage, I’d say I’m more of a Magician.”
“A Magician…”
Simon muttered the word.
“Can you tell us why you think that?”
“In two days, you’ll understand why I called myself a Magician.”
Simon smiled, seemingly satisfied with my answer.
After that, surprisingly mundane questions followed.
What’s my favorite food, what do I do in my free time, what type of woman am I attracted to…
“In two days, you’ll be dueling Prince Lophrey Alfsur with expulsion at stake. How do you feel about that?”
Simon finally asked a question related to the duel.
“Although I’m a member of the Special Class, my opponent is a third-year senior, so I’ll try my best without getting too nervous… You don’t want to hear those cliché lines, do you?”
Simon smiled, his eyes gleaming as if sensing a scoop.
I extended my index finger.
“Just once, I’ll swing my sword only once during the entire fight!”
{T/N:- the way he calls himself a ‘Magician’ is more like the stage performances you see of people performing tricks in the name of Magic. They are also called magicians in the modern world but they do not use mana., so they are not magicians (Mages) per se but we call them that nonetheless…Therefore, to avoid confusion, Mage can use mana and Magician is those tricksters who use tricks.}
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.
.
That day, the Newspaper Club posted a new article on the bulletin board.
Until then, there had been two articles posted.
One showed the photo of the bug throwing a drink at the Crown Prince,
And the other showed me challenging the worm to a duel.
And today, a new article went up—
[Magician Loki: One sword strike is all I need against Lophrey Alfsur…]
The picture in the newspaper was of me pointing my index finger.
Hmph, I look handsome.
.
.
.
My daily life hadn’t changed much despite the upcoming duel with the worm.
If there were any subtle changes, the first would be that Johanna was next to me during morning training.
“Meditating again today?”
“I’m not sure if you can call what I’m doing meditation, but…”
“That is definitely meditation.”
Johanna said firmly.
Usually, while I sat controlling my emotions, Johanna would ask various questions.
And she would also teach me how to fight against a swordsman.
It seemed like she was worried about me fighting the worm.
“Footwork is crucial for a swordsman.”
Footwork, huh…
“Loki, your movements are excellent. But your actual swordsmanship is still lacking.”
Johanna said, stroking my hair.
“That stings.”
I learned how to fight from Duke Adellion,
and [Shadow Step] from the Emperor himself.
But I never properly learned swordsmanship.
“It’s tomorrow.”
As Johanna said, tomorrow was the day I would fight the worm.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to come to train tomorrow morning.”
“Because of conditioning?”
“That’s not it. There are a few things I need to pick up.”
The items I requested from Professor Idra would be ready by tomorrow morning.
“Make sure to win.”
“Hahaha, of course!”
Johanna continued to stroke my hair for another 30 minutes.
.
.
.
If the first subtle change was that Johanna was with me during my morning training, the second would be that the time I spent talking to Yerika had increased.
I contacted her earlier than usual and talked to her until just before going to sleep.
[So, it’ll be decided tomorrow.]
“What will be decided?”
[Whether you’ll become my guard knight now or after graduation.]
What Yerika meant was that if I lose the duel, she’ll make me her knight right away, and if I win, she’ll make me her knight after I graduate.
“Well, that seems like happiness either way?”
“Kuku, still, make sure you win.”
Yerika laughed, hearing my words.
“Of course.”
“And don’t get hurt.”
She said firmly.
“I won’t get hurt, ever.”
And thanks to her, I should be able to sleep peacefully tonight too.
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.
.
Time flew by, and the day of the duel finally arrived.
And everyone in the academy flocked to watch the duel.
END of CHAPTER
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