The Senior’s Duel

I stared her down with a chilling gaze from start to finish. Girona merely tilted her head.

“Hmm, everyone else’s eyes waver at least a little bit. Is it really not you? How mysterious.”

“……”

I understood generally what she meant, but my hostility toward that woman was so intense that I felt no agitation—only cold focus. Just then, Rene de Le Havre burst in, looking startled.

“Hey, you again!”

“Oh, alright, alright. Let’s talk later.”

There’s a culture here where close female friends touch cheeks, but I sharply turned my head to avoid her. Girona poked her tongue out, licking her lips as she walked away.

“What a shame~”

“How unpleasant. You must have felt disgusted, too. Tell me immediately if she bothers you again.”

“I—I understand.”

Though there was a brief commotion, it was settled thanks to Lady Le Havre’s intervention. After greeting Le Havre, a girl wearing the student council armband stepped forward and shouted to the freshmen.

“Listen up, first-years! First, you will undergo etiquette and history training led by us, the Imperial class seniors. There will be an exam at the end of the month, and your placement in the Magic Department will depend on those results.”

“Wait a moment.”

“Ah, yes, Senior?”

“Take her off the list.”

“The Knight Course? Ah… right. Ariang Aosta? Follow Senior Le Havre.”

I was basically kidnapped by Lady Le Havre the moment I stepped onto campus. Is this even allowed? Lady Le Havre added one more thing:

“And Ariang, since the Princess isn’t here right now, just skip the morning greetings and common classes and come straight here. It’s just going to be the two of us anyway.”

All the Imperial class ladies gather in the Grand Hall in the morning, where the first-years are forced to bow their heads in a collective greeting. I’d already been trained for it—it’s taught like an idol group greeting on a music show. It’s a chore, but I was prepared to follow along since everyone else did. Now, I was being exempted.

“……”

As I was pulled away by Senior Le Havre, the daughter of Duke Colmar glared at me with her one still-reddened cheek. Many other classmates watched me too. Most of their gazes were envious.

If you’re so jealous, you should have signed up for the Knight Course. I’d heard no one wanted to join, but I didn’t realize the lack of support was this extreme. Apparently, other classes have at least a few knight applicants, but the Imperial class has become obsessed with “Magic Supremacy” ever since the appearance of the mana-gifted Princess. According to my sisters’ past accounts, the Kingdom class is the same—almost everyone chooses Magic. Only the Holy See, Outlander, and Lesser Kingdom classes are different.

“Is it alright to skip the common classes like this, Senior? I haven’t even met the professors yet.”

“The Knight Course is all about training. Just log your attendance and come straight to the dueling hall. The common classes at the start of the semester are just seniors hitting you while teaching ‘etiquette’ and history.”

“I actually like history.”

“Really? Then attend the history lectures. As for etiquette… well, go if you have a hobby of getting beaten with a cane.”

I’d seen them bringing in bundles of switches earlier. They definitely intended to teach through pain. Lady Le Havre glanced at me.

“I mean… if you feel like you need to build a bond with your fellow first-years by being punished together… to expand your network… then you don’t have to skip…”

She had read the very thought I’d just had. If a single freshman is singled out and constantly exempted, it’s bound to cause bullying or “downward hazing” in a class that’s being oppressed like that. However, I didn’t exactly need a network of first-years.

“Given my age… they’re all much younger than me. It’s fine.”

“Then why did you cry like that, at your age?”

“The person who touched me was in the wrong. Getting furious is the normal reaction. Since I couldn’t express that fury, I felt wronged.”

“Alright, alright, I get it. I’m not comforting you again. Next time, I’ll just kick you.”

I simply stared at her in silence.

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.”

“Hmph.”

“So, when we go to the dueling hall, will a Knight Department professor be teaching us? Is it the same professor who teaches the Kingdom or Commoner classes?”

“No, each class has its own advisor. But the professor isn’t here right now.”

Strangely, many professors and students were absent at the start of the semester. Most notably, Princess Celisty, her younger brother, and several daughters of Ducal houses were missing. I also noticed that the daughter of Count Trieste—one of the suspects—was nowhere to be seen.

“If the professor isn’t there, why are we going to the dueling hall?”

“Because I’m the proxy for the Knight Course. The advisor had nothing to do, so he’s currently out overseeing repairs on the castle walls.”

“I take it you defeated the advisor, then.”

“Exactly!”

She sounded quite proud as she spoke.

“And the professor is of the Knight rank?”

“What noble would come to teach the Knight Course here? I heard there are some at the male Academy of the Holy Knights, though.”

This is a strange Academy where a student can defeat a professor and send them off to manage wall repairs. It’s only possible because the student-teacher hierarchy is flipped by social status. The Imperial dueling hall was empty.

Shring!

Rene immediately drew a sword. She looked like a fish in water, or perhaps a dancer. Even in her high heels, she spun around gracefully, performing a sword dance. Her feints were quite skilled. She seemed to be showing off for me, clearly enjoying herself. A few droplets of sweat flew from her brow during the performance.

“So, are we going to spar with swords right away?”

“You won’t be able to keep up with a sword, will you? You seem confident, though.”

“Shouldn’t I show at least a bit of my skill so I can receive tailored instruction?”

If I picked up a three-meter battle hammer and spun around a few hundred times, she wouldn’t even be able to get close before being crushed. But battle hammers and halberds are too closely associated with my “real” identity, so I can’t use them.

“What weapon do you use? A spear? A lance?”

Using a peculiar weapon would be suspicious, so I picked up a wooden staff.

“Your stance is completely wrong.”

“That’s why I came here to learn.”

“Right. Come on, then. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“If I have no foundation, it won’t be a display of ‘skill,’ will it? It’s embarrassing. I’d prefer if you gave me a demonstration first.”

I don’t know formal swordsmanship. And even if I did, I have no intention of bragging. Right now, I just need to stay in the good graces of this senior who’s clearly high on her own swordsmanship. I have no reason to befriend the first-years since they don’t know anything about the murder of the Kingdom twins. However, the Imperial seniors know about the incident and have connections to the suspects. Rene de Le Havre herself has some sort of relationship with Girona. At the very least, she’s someone who can give testimony about the suspects. And isn’t testimony something that comes out most easily when someone is comfortable?

“Fine, let’s do that.”

She took the lead, acting like she was giving a handicap to an amateur, but it was clear she just wanted to show off. She moved gracefully, her steps light despite the heels, performing her dance-like swordsmanship as she closed in. I could see the entire trajectory. She was good, but she wasn’t on the level of my true skill—not Ariang’s, but mine.

I couldn’t hit her, so I just focused on dodging. The seniors in the Imperial class are savage. A new recruit who used to be a martial artist might engage in a playful sparring match with a veteran sergeant, but they’d be an idiot to actually beat them, right? I blocked her strikes clumsily, swinging my staff with dull, unrefined movements. It’s better to be surprising, but not victorious.

Clack!

Wooden sword met wooden staff. As the sticks crossed, Lady Le Havre grinned, baring her teeth. Aren’t noble ladies supposed to laugh without showing their teeth?

“Wow, look at that strength. You’re pretty good.”

“I spent a lot of time climbing mountains.”

She parried my attack, flowing with the “softness” that overcomes “hardness.” If I had applied more force, her weapon would have broken or been pushed back, but I didn’t let that happen.

“I suppose a strong lower body helps you hold your ground. Good strength, good reflexes. I like it. I might not even need to put you through extra physical training.”

“If you order it, I will do it.”

“Really?”

Why is she so happy? Did the other students refuse to do it? How ridiculous—if a senior orders it, you do it. She’s a fourth-year from a Ducal house, for heaven’s sake. I suspect a few others might have applied for the Knight Course, but they probably all fled after this senior pushed them too hard. She is definitely more skilled than most knights. Her grip is strong; the tip of her wooden sword doesn’t even tremble.

“Yes, of course.”

“You’re a real find. But why aren’t you attacking? Why are you only blocking?”

“I… forgot how to attack.”

“Eh? What kind of nonsense is that?”

Time for some flattery.

“Well… your movements were so fast and beautiful that I think I forgot myself watching them. Or perhaps you were so quick I couldn’t even think about attacking.”

“Pfft! Haha, what is that? Do it properly.”

She told me to do it, so I did, but I made sure it looked stupid.

“Ugh, what was that? Have you never hit anyone before?”

“Your beauty makes it hard to want to strike you.”

Since I didn’t want to draw attention by over-displaying my power, I retreated just enough to keep my pride intact while continuing the flattery.

“’Hard to strike’? You’ve got strength and great defense, but your offensive technique is pathetic. Well, I guess that’s why you’re here. Unlike the rumors, you’ve clearly never been in a real fight.”

“The knights never allowed me to stand at the vanguard. Even during sparring, they only let me focus on dodging.”

“Right. With a foundation like this, you’ll do well. You’re quite reliable.”

A suspicious choice of words. I entered this place relying on my face and acting skills, but my physique is a problem.

“Thank you.”

“Alright then, today we start with exercise.”

“May I do it while wearing armor?”

I spoke up as Lady Le Havre took off her formal dress, revealing a light tunic, and began stretching. I wanted to wear something baggy like a dress, or armor. Noble athletic wear is somewhat loose, but it’s still more revealing than formal wear, and exercise tends to make the body’s curves stand out. Honestly, by noble standards, such attire is scandalous, but it’s the compromise people reach. They don’t stop commoner women from doing laundry naked at the river… using the excuse that wet clothes lead to colds.

“You want to exercise in armor?”

“Yes. After all, when we fight, we must display the same mobility in armor as we do without it, mustn’t we?”

“…Impressive. Fine, I don’t care. But can you actually do it?”

Of course I can. I’ve fought all night in full plate armor. There were several suits of armor hanging in the Knight Department’s dueling hall.

“Some of these haven’t even been worn once. But for your build… oh, this one should work.”

“Ah, I think it fits.”

“You’ve got spirit. Since you’ve got the strength, let’s see if you’ve got the stamina. Usually, people with big frames tire out quickly.”

Why does she keep calling me “big-framed”? It’s getting on my nerves.

Following Lady Le Havre’s lead, I started with stretching and followed the lesson in full armor. An entire day of training as a class—if I were going to do this, maybe the Magic Department would have been better. But then again, training makes me stronger in a straightforward way, so it doesn’t matter.

Rene de Le Havre’s session consisted of combat gymnastics and strength training, and I followed along with every bit of it in armor. At first, she seemed to think I’d collapse after a few minutes of light movement, but as I kept up in full plate, her expression shifted to one of pure shock.

“Wow, you’re incredible. You can do all this?”

“I’m a bit out of breath.”

I faked being winded. It’s not that I hate combat training—becoming stronger never hurts, and in this place, swinging a weapon for a while actually raises your skill level. Doing it on a battlefield raises it even faster. I don’t know about others, but that’s how it works for me. Honestly, if my martial power was stronger than everyone else in Sky Castle, I’d just sweep through and be done with it. But since I can’t guarantee that, I’m hiding my identity and staying quiet. Still, getting strong enough to sweep everything away isn’t a bad plan.

“Alright, alright, let’s stop here.”

“Yes, I was waiting for that.”

Lady Le Havre flopped down on the spot.

“Man, you’ve got great stamina. Maybe I should have climbed mountains instead of swimming.”

“Swimming is more than enough.”

“Really? Look here.”

I followed her to the back of the dueling hall, where there was a swimming pool designed for simulated underwater combat. The facilities were top-notch… but it didn’t look like anyone had used it.

“I didn’t expect there to be something like this.”

“We’ve got everything here except a mounted combat arena. There’s even a small bathhouse. This area is for emergency patients, but you can use it as a breakroom.”

A bathhouse?

A sense of dread washed over me. I am definitely never using that.

“I’ve worked up a sweat. Shall we go wash up?”

…No.