NOVEL NEXT Ch 14 - Freshman Tournament (1)
Chapter 14
Freshman Tournament (1)
It had been two weeks since the freshmen had arrived.
With the Freshman Tournament scheduled for tomorrow, a meeting of the professors was taking place at the academy’s main building.
“Tomorrow’s weather looks clear, so I think we can hold the tournament at the First Training Ground like usual.”
“What will the match order be this year?”
“In the morning, we’ll have the match between Yellow Team 3 and Green Team 4 first, and in the afternoon, Blue Team 2 and White Team 5 will face off.
The last match will be between Red Team 1 and Black Team 6.”
“The first match will probably be pretty standard… but the second match is the one to look out for.”
“Right.
It’s going to be the clash of the ‘genius’ and the ‘prodigy,’ both of whom have been famous since they were young.”
“The Blue Team’s genius and the White Team’s prodigy… we’re in for an unexpectedly high-level match for freshmen!”
The professors were particularly excited about the second match between Blue Team 2 and White Team 5.
This was because both teams were represented by heirs of the six great swordsmanship families, who had been famous since childhood.
Everyone was curious to see which side would win in this match.
“What about the third match?”
“Well, Black Team 6… is the team with the top two from the entrance exams.”
“The entrance exam also includes written tests, so just because someone is first or second doesn’t mean they’re the best.”
“Especially since the top student, Serine Bastian, isn’t from one of the six great swordsmanship families, her background isn’t as prestigious.”
“I heard she even gave up her spot as the representative to the second-place student.
Doesn’t seem like much.”
“The second-place student, Ernas Lanzstein… is from one of the six great swordsmanship families, but there have been a lot of negative rumors about him.
To be honest, I’m a bit doubtful.”
When the topic of Black Team 6 came up, there were many dismissive comments.
This was likely because everyone was trying to avoid drawing attention from Professor Kaleon Ignias, who was present.
“On the other hand, Red Team 1… is represented by Rufus Ignias.”
“Rufus is an extremely talented student.
I doubt he’ll lose to someone from the Lanzstein family.”
“He has great charisma, and I’ve heard he’s already taken control of the entire Red Team 1.
All the students have been sacrificing their weekends to train hard.”
“It looks like Red Team 1 will win the third match with Rufus leading!”
As the professors continued praising his son, a smile appeared on Kaleon’s face.
He firmly believed that his son, Rufus, would rise to the top, surpassing the heirs of the six great swordsmanship families.
“Hmm… I’m not so sure,” said a voice that contradicted the others.
It was the middle-aged professor with a scar on his right cheek… Yols Kaleshius, also known as the Dragon Slayer Sword.
“I’ve been observing Serine Bastian for the past two weeks, and she’s definitely a student worthy of being the top of her class.”
“Really, Professor Yols?”
“Yes.
While I’ve taught students from White Team 5, I’ve felt that Serine Bastian has talent on par with their ‘prodigy.’”
“…!”
“I think Serine Bastian has been underestimated because she’s not from one of the six great swordsmanship families.”
Yols wasn’t from an elite family, but his battle achievements had earned him the title of “Dragon Slayer Sword” from the emperor.
His opinion carried significant weight.
“And the second-place student, Ernas Lanzstein, is an interesting one.”
“Interesting? What do you mean by that?”
“Overall, his skill seems to be below Serine Bastian’s, but he managed to beat her in a sparring match… he has a remarkable sense.”
“S-sense?”
“It’s like a sixth sense for victory.
I’ve watched him spar with other students, and he won by taking advantage of his opponent’s weaknesses with clever moves.”
Yols stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I haven’t seen Rufus Ignias from Red Team 1 in action, so I can’t say for sure which one is superior, but… Red Team 1 won’t have an easy time with him.”
“Oooh…!”
Yols’ evaluation drew exclamations of surprise from around the room.
Even the professors who had been dismissing Black Team 6 earlier now seemed intrigued.
The only one who was displeased was Kaleon Ignias, who was frowning, clearly irritated.
Red Team 1’s Training Ground.
There, Rufus Ignias was talking to the instructor.
“According to Professor Kaleon , it seems that Professor Yols has a rather high opinion of Black Team 6.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it might be wise to be cautious of Serine Bastian and Ernas Lanzstein.”
Normally, staying neutral was the rule, but this instructor was a subordinate of Kaleon . So, he had been providing Rufus with information all along.
“Hah, I can understand being cautious of Serine Bastian, but why should we worry about Ernas Lanzstein?”
“Rufus, still, according to Professor Yols’ evaluation…”
“I had the chance to spar with Ernas once.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Yeah, about three years ago?”
Rufus snorted with laughter.
“That guy canceled the spar because he ‘hurt his finger’ after breaking a teacup! Can you believe it?”
“Wait, he really got injured?”
“Do you think so? He made up an excuse because he was scared to fight me!”
Rufus continued with a look of contempt.
“None of the heirs from the swordsmanship families have ever fought that guy one-on-one.
He never challenges anyone with real skill! There are rumors that he won a few matches, but there was always something off about it!”
“Could it be…”
“He probably used money or power! What a coward!”
Shouting this, Rufus shrugged his shoulders.
“I bet even Professor Yols was tricked by him.
That guy is really sneaky and cunning.”
“Hmm, then…”
“But now that we’re going to face off in this tournament… those tricks won’t work.”
Until now, Ernas had been hiding his real abilities by using money or power, but it wouldn’t be so easy this time.
Rufus was determined to crush Ernas and expose his true nature.
“I’ll strip away his mask with my sword… and prove that the Lanzstein family can’t even compare to the Ignias family.”
“Yes…”
“Anyway, the one I need to worry about is Serine Bastian.
Her match will probably be the most important.”
After saying that, Rufus looked at the instructor’s face.
“By the way, have you checked what Black Team 6 is planning?”
“I heard from a friend of mine who’s been coming and going from that island.
They seem to just be doing regular training.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, they don’t even seem to know what the match location is like.”
“Unprepared fools.”
Rufus had already gotten his hands on a detailed map of the match area.
He’d been training Red Team 1 rigorously using that map.
“We’ve trained so well that we could change formation with our eyes closed.”
“The match island is a rocky, rugged place.
If they go in without prior knowledge, they’ll be confused.”
“Exactly.
We’ll just crush those unprepared fools.”
Red Team 1 was fully prepared.
They were going to completely crush Black Team 6, who would show up without any prior information.
On the day of the tournament.
Black Team 6 was filled with tension from the very morning.
“We’re finally leaving this island.”
“We’re heading to the island where the match will take place, right?”
“By now, Yellow Team 3 and Green Team 4 should be having their match.”
“Then it’s Blue Team 2 and White Team 5, and last will be us.”
“Red Team 1… they won’t be easy.”
They had been stuck on a small island, training all this time.
This would be their first time stepping off the island to face another class, so they couldn’t help but feel nervous.
“They’re all gathered.”
“Yes, I’ve assembled everyone.”
I stepped out in front of the students, Chloe by my side.
The students, who had been murmuring, turned their attention to me.
“Everyone, you’ve worked hard preparing for this tournament.
As the class representative, I apologize for not being able to participate in the preparation with you.”
Suddenly apologizing, everyone looked surprised.
But I paid no mind and continued.
“I couldn’t be with you all because I had to make the strategy, and I left it to Serine and Schmitz.”
“Strategy…?”
“I want you to take a look at the map of the match location.”
“…!”
Chloe unfolded the map she was holding and showed it to the students.
It was a map I had drawn based on the descriptions from the novel.
“As you can see, the match will take place on a rocky island.
The terrain is rough, so there are only limited paths for people to move.”
I pointed at the red and black dots marked on the map.
“The red dot here in the northwest is where Red Team 1 starts.
The black dot in the southeast is where Black Team 6 starts.
We’ll wait there and move as soon as the match begins.”
“Wait a minute!”
At that moment, one of the students raised their hand.
“Is this information reliable? Where did you get it from… and why are you telling us this on the day of the match? If we had known earlier, we could have trained based on it…”
“Yeah, if we had known this information in advance, it definitely would have helped with training,” I replied in a calm voice.
“But, if we had shared this information earlier… it could have gotten to Red Team 1.”
“…!”
“We’re stuck on this island, but the instructors and people transporting supplies come and go.
If any of them pass the information to Red Team 1, they would come up with a new strategy based on it.”
Rufus, using the power of the Ignias family, could be spying on us.
I didn’t want Rufus to find out that I had this kind of information.
“That’s why I didn’t say anything until today.
I hope you understand.”
“Yes…”
“Now, let me continue explaining.”
I pointed at the symbols on the map and spoke again.
“Red Team 1 will advance through relatively gentle terrain and launch their attack.
But Rufus Ignias is likely to stay at the starting point.
He’ll probably be waiting with a few of his closest subordinates.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because of his personality.”
I responded, recalling the depiction of Rufus from the novel.
“Rufus will let his subordinates… or rather, his fellow students, handle the fighting.
When they’re struggling against Black Team 6, he’ll make a flashy appearance and try to look like a hero.”
“Really…?”
“Is he doing it for a tactical advantage, or just to show off?”
“That’s just how Rufus Ignias is.
He loves showing off his skills.”
If the situation looks like a guaranteed victory without him, he won’t even bother.
He prefers to win in a close call, making it seem like his skills won the day.
“We’re going to use that psychology to our advantage.”
“Psychology…?”
“Yeah, we’ll set a trap using that psychology.”
The students of Black Team 6 in front of me would play the key role in setting up this trap.
I was about to explain how they should move.
“If we can trap Rufus, this tournament will end with Black Team 6’s victory.”
“…!”
Of course, trapping him wasn’t enough to win.
Someone would need to finish the job once the prey was caught.
And the only person who could do that was the representative of Black Team 6—Ernas Lanzstein.