Chapter 53
“…Are you talking about the Chairman?”
“Yes. Originally, it should be your position. I can’t hold it forever.”
I felt a bit awkward.
Arthur had been managing various businesses on behalf of Tristan until now, partly because he was his guardian, but also because he didn’t trust Tristan.
Indeed, Arthur’s judgment was accurate.
Tristan was a historically insane villain.
Arthur stubbornly refused to hand over those businesses and was eventually assassinated by Tristan.
Now, that stubborn Arthur is offering to hand over the Chairman’s position.
That also meant Arthur had acknowledged Tristan.
“I wish I could hand everything over to you, but I know you wouldn’t like that. So, how about starting with the Chairman position?”
In fact, Meikhael University was one of the places I had my eye on.
When I first visited Meikhael University, I looked around to see if there were any notable characters, but I didn’t see any.
Probably because I visited during the vacation.
But once the semester starts with the Entrance Ceremony, the place will be bustling with notable characters.
Meikhael University is the top prestigious university in the Empire. There are many characters here who haven’t yet blossomed into their full potential.
If I become the Chairman, I might be able to help nurture their talents.
And… I looked at Wendy, who was shyly smiling while hugging her uniform tightly.
“I’ll give it a try… for about a year.”
By then, even if I wanted to continue, I probably wouldn’t be able to.
*
Clack! Clack! Clack!
The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed cheerfully through the wooden dojo.
Sweat glistened as it dripped from her tied-up silver hair.
The morning sunlight reflected off the sweat on the floor, making it dazzling.
Bella Izakhel glared at the wooden dummy in front of her.
Her grip on the wooden sword tightened.
Magic power flickered at the tip of the sword.
Her right foot moved first.
The wooden sword became a streak of light, slicing through the wind.
Bang-!
Bella exhaled.
Then, unable to withstand its own weight, the wooden dummy’s head fell off.
The sound of applause followed almost immediately.
“Excellent, my lady.”
“Blanshe…”
Watching Bella was her bodyguard knight, Blanshe.
“Your skills have improved greatly.”
“…I still have a long way to go to inherit the Izakhel Style.”
The Izakhel Style is one of the oldest swordsmanship styles remaining in the Empire.
Long ago, during a dark time when the Demon Lord returned to this land, the hero who would save the world never appeared.
It was a time filled with screams and despair.
The world, abandoned by the hero, was slowly consumed by the Demon Lord’s darkness.
Then one day, Alonso Izakhel appeared before the despairing people.
A master of the sword, Alonso used the light magic power granted by the gods to drive back the Demon Lord’s army and defeat the Demon Lord.
The hero Alonso later left behind a new swordsmanship style that combined his swordsmanship with the light magic power, which became known as the Izakhel Style.
“Father has stopped training, so I must carry on the legacy.”
“That’s a good thought.”
“Well… I’m still far from being skilled enough…”
Bella recalled the time she was captured by thugs.
Honestly, they were opponents she could have handled with her skills.
But she knelt.
They had taken hostages, but that was just an excuse.
She didn’t have the overwhelming strength to turn the situation around.
“I want to become stronger…”
Bella thought of a man.
A disadvantageous situation with hostages.
Under the same conditions as Bella, Tristan overwhelmed them.
He had the strength to subdue the thugs.
In response to Bella’s muttering, Blanshe firmly replied.
“My lady, you don’t need to become stronger.”
“Blanshe…?”
“I am here for you. I am your sword and shield. So, I am your strength.”
Blanshe’s blue eyes looked straight at Bella.
Her words undoubtedly came from the heart.
But… that’s not enough.
“Blanshe.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“How about a sparring match? It’s been a while.”
“A sparring match… you say?”
“Yes. It’s been a long time since we last sparred.”
“That was… when we were both young, wasn’t it?”
“Right. Hehe. Doesn’t it sound fun?”
Bella smiled as she spoke.
Seeing that smile, Blanshe hesitated for a moment.
She wasn’t sure if sparring with her lady was appropriate, but she also found it hard to refuse her request.
In the end, Blanshe had no choice but to nod.
“Very well. I will be your opponent.”
“Ah, and don’t think about going easy on me.”
“?!”
By the time Blanshe realized, Bella’s wooden sword was already aimed at her neck.
Even though she had let her guard down, the speed was truly threatening.
With the wooden sword in hand, Bella spoke to Blanshe.
“Draw your sword, Blanshe. I’ll show you exactly how much stronger I’ve become.”
*
Blanshe stood barefoot in the dojo, having removed her socks.
The wooden floor, warmed by the morning sun, felt cozy.
But Blanshe felt as if she were stepping on thorns.
“Are you really okay with this?”
“Yes. I’m more comfortable barehanded.”
“Hmm… Alright.”
Bella faced Blanshe.
“So, what rules should we follow?”
“Whatever rules you prefer, my lady. I’m fine with any.”
“Hehe… Our Blanshe is quite confident, isn’t she?”
“Yes. I am confident.”
Blanshe spoke honestly.
“I am your knight. I am confident I can win under any disadvantageous conditions.”
That was no bluster.
It was the truth.
Bella could never be a match for Blanshe.
Both of them knew that.
But still, Bella picked up the wooden sword.
“Alright. The rules are no magic power, and the victory condition is forcing the opponent to surrender.”
“Understood.”
Blanshe slowly removed her clothes.
Her suit, blouse, and pants.
Even the act of undressing was flawless, with no openings.
Soon, all that remained was her sports bra and short shorts.
Her diamond-hard muscles and defined abs looked almost menacing in a way.
“Hehe… Are you showing off your body now?”
“Huh? Oh, no. It’s just… since I’m going barehanded, the clothes would be cumbersome…”
“I see. Got it.”
Bella adjusted her grip on the wooden sword.
Her expression turned serious.
“Let’s begin.”
“Yes.”
At that moment, the air around them froze like magic.
Tension flowed between the two.
Just as a sparrow on the window flew away, Bella closed the distance first.
“!”
Blanshe twisted her body to dodge the swift strike.
But Bella, anticipating the dodge, immediately followed up with another attack.
A sharp strike flew toward Blanshe’s chest.
Blanshe rolled backward to create distance.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Bella’s foot quickly turned toward Blanshe.
[Izakhel Style]
[First Strike: Light Slice]
Though no magic power was used, Bella’s wooden sword seemed to flash for a moment. It was almost like staring at the blinding sunlight.
Through that light, a fast strike accurately aimed at Blanshe.
But Blanshe didn’t dodge.
“Excellent.”
“…!”
She simply deflected the sword with the back of her hand.
Bella’s stance wavered.
Blanshe closed the distance and rammed her shoulder into Bella’s chest.
That alone was enough to send Bella flying.
Bella quickly regained her stance.
And she coldly retorted.
“I clearly told you not to go easy on me.”
“My apologies.”
Blanshe apologized plainly.
Adding a bit of truth to it.
“But with your current skill, my lady, you can’t bring out my full strength.”
“Hehe… That hit me hard.”
Rather than getting angry at being provoked by Blanshe, Bella actually found it amusing.
In the past, she would never have imagined the ever-stoic Blanshe would act this way toward her.
Bella tightened her grip on the wooden sword.
And slowly approached Blanshe.
One step.
“Blanshe.”
“Yes.”
The distance between them narrowed.
Bella’s sword pointed at Blanshe.
Two steps.
Until then, Blanshe had been waiting for Bella to make her move.
“But… you’ve been leaving your post a lot lately? Where do you go without telling me…?”
