The Villainess in the Romance Fantasy Is Strange - Chapter 66



66. Nineteen, the time to become an adult (2)

The coming-of-age ceremony event, ‘Special Duel’, in which most of the graduating male students of Bern Academy participate, attracts so much attention that even the imperial family comes to watch it in person.

Even when the normally closed dome-shaped giant arena, which looked similar to the ancient Colosseum, was mobilized, there were still crowds of onlookers who could not enter.

Excluding the VIP seats, the capacity is approximately 2,000 people. In other words, the number of people gathered in this dome-shaped arena is well over 2,000, and if you include the people watching from outside using the video transmission device, there are approximately 3,000 or more people watching today’s match.

“… … Still, there are less people than at the entrance ceremony.”

At that time, there were probably over 4,000 people gathered in a larger place than here.

“Umm… … .”

It was a thought that suddenly occurred to me as I was briefly reminiscing about old memories, but now that I’m a senior, looking back, I wonder what all the hardships that Leah and I went through back then were for.

We had only managed to drive out a dozen or so believers in the course of half a year, and those who were hiding very close by, ‘inside the Bern Academy’. My brother and Earl Macmillan used the information I had given them to conduct their own investigations, and they found two strongholds of the cult and dealt them a devastating blow.

Since it is a religious sect that operates in the form of a factional organization, it would be nearly impossible to find and subjugate every last believer. However, the religious sect that has suffered damage to 80% to 90% of its power will no longer be able to carry out its secret activities as before.

“… … .”

Yes, I am glad that it turned out well. If I had known it would turn out like this, instead of bringing up the issue of clearing out corruption and carrying out the operation step by step, I should have just asked my brother for help from the beginning.

If it had been like that without the need to go around and around, perhaps we could have had a quiet and peaceful time without having to attract so much attention from the entrance ceremony.

The word “if” has no meaning, but I’m still curious. If I had told my brother about the existence of the sect earlier, how would my and Leah’s academy life have changed?

“Okay, that’s enough.”

Why are you worrying about this? It’s not like me.

I shook my head to shake off the thoughts, stood in front of the door leading to the training ground, and listened outside. Then, from beyond the iron metal door, I could hear the host trying hard to liven up the atmosphere with the aforementioned voice.

─Okay, everyone, you’ve all been waiting for a long time. The preliminaries are over, and only the strongest ones remain! From the left side of the stadium, the overwhelming favorite to win this special duel is entering… … !

dripping-.

“You can go now.”

The door to the temporary waiting room opened wide and the staff member came in. I nodded in agreement and followed his guidance into the training room.

“… … There are so many people.”

The moment I took a single step, words came out of my mouth without me knowing. At the same time, a loud cheer filled the training ground.

Half of them probably don’t even know who I am, but they’re just yelling and watching because of the atmosphere the host created. Thinking about it that way, I realize that the host’s skills are truly amazing.

I just went in, so I bowed my head toward the audience and headed toward the center. The surrounding scenery came into view at a glance. No matter how you look at it, this is not a training ground, but a stadium. So it would be more appropriate to call it the Colosseum, where ancient gladiators fought to the death.

─And on the right, here is another strong player. He is the 3rd year student, second in class, and the strongest rival of the championship candidate! Bern von Edward… … !

“Hmm.”

I leisurely folded my arms and waited for the other person. Then, I saw Bern, a blond, cheerful man with a nobleman’s style, walking out from the iron door on the other side with a grin.

“Nice to meet you. Cain Reinhardt.”

Bern approached leisurely and held out his hand.

I shook his hand and blurted out a few words.

“Oh, nice to meet you. Bern.”

“Have you had lunch?”

“No, I’ll eat after we finish sparring. What about you?”

“Well, me too.”

“Really? Then shall we go have lunch together after we’re done? I’m with Leah and her younger sister.”

“You know that little sister? Is she pretty?”

─Ah, is it because the two favorites for the championship are clashing in the round of 16? The two boys holding hands are already sparking. Those two are probably thinking this right now. If it weren’t for you, I would have made it easily, if it weren’t for you, it would have been easy!

We were just having a silly chat, but the host must have misunderstood something and treated us like mortal rivals, adding all sorts of embarrassing remarks and further heating up the atmosphere in the stadium.

I winked at Bern and roughly threw away the hand I was holding, responding to the host’s remarks and adding to the fun of watching.

Then the host spouts out remarks that make the listeners immerse themselves in the duel between me and Bern, such as saying that enemies meet on a single-log bridge, or that the battle they couldn’t finish during the semester is now being settled.

“… … That would be fun.”

Originally, I was going to do it roughly and slowly, but since the groundwork has been laid out so well, it would be impolite to take my time.

I became a little more serious, pulled out my sparring sword, and aimed it at Bern, who was ten steps away.

“This isn’t a ranking match, this is a special duel to commemorate a coming of age ceremony, so let’s be gentle with each other. Cain Reinhardt.”

“What are you talking about? This is a special match, so you have to be more serious.”

“It sounds like you’re trying to defeat me at all costs, but am I mistaken?”

“I won’t comment.”

Bern smiled bitterly and took a stance, perhaps realizing that I had no intention of looking at him.

─Okay, both sides get ready!

“Then, I will sincerely go too.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was hoping for too.”

─3, 2, 1… … .

For reference, my record against Bern so far is 125 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in 128 matches.

─Sparring, start!

“… … Okay, let’s go!”

Of course, I have 125 wins.

* * *

Zzaeng──!

It was hard to believe that wooden swords had collided with each other, and the terrifying cracking sound was so loud. As soon as the vibrations that reverberated throughout the training ground stopped, Cain took back his outstretched hand and smiled leisurely.

“Hey, stop this?”

“I’ve been fooled by the same trick several times, wouldn’t I be stupid if I were to be fooled again?”

“Really? Then, let’s see if we can stop this too?”

Cain, holding his sword in his hands, charged forward, his well-trained shoulders and right arm reaching out to aim for Bern’s vital point. Bern barely managed to deflect Cain’s sword that was poking into his shin by turning his body to the left.

Whoosh─!

Cain’s sword cut through the air, and his stance collapsed for a moment. However, Bern did not approach easily. This was because he knew well that his fighting style was to intentionally leave an opening, and counterattack the opponent who tried to exploit that opening.

For nearly three years, Bern had been giving away 125 wins in such a ridiculous manner, so he had no choice but to be cautious. After the psychological warfare he had just experienced, Cain realized that there was no point in giving him any more obvious openings.

‘Well, they say that even a dog raised in a private school can recite poetry after three years.’

Cain, who had a thought that would have made Bern angry if he had heard it, decided to change his fighting style. This was a completely different way to attack an opponent who was impervious to counterattacks.

Bern sensed the change in Cain’s gaze and raised his sword. He re-established his center of gravity and tensed all the muscles in his body, concentrating to be ready to respond at any time.

“This time it’ll be different, Bern.”

“… … ?”

As if warning him, Cain spat out a word and smiled. Only then did Bern sense something strange, but at that moment Cain kicked his foot away to avoid giving him any opening.

“!”

A frontal charge, like the first sword, no. Cain leaped into the air. Bern was astonished for a moment. No wonder he could do a sergeant jump that high with such a large body.

Perhaps because he had jumped so high that he had to look up at the 180cm tall Bern didn’t think to get out of the way and dodge the attack. Because of that, he couldn’t dodge Cain’s sword that was rushing down from above his head.

──Bam!

The second battle was a fierce clash of swords, and the sound of a crash echoed throughout the area. However, unlike the first battle, the winner was clearly decided. It was Cain’s victory. This was because Cain swung his sword from an advantageous position, and Bern struggled to maintain his collapsed posture and forcefully countered.

The wooden sword that Bern was holding was pushed back. His wrist began to bend backwards, unable to withstand Cain’s strength. Bern, who felt that if he continued to exert force, his arm might break, stopped the struggle.

Bern let go of his hand, and at the same time, the wooden sword, now without a master, flew through the air. As if to prove the incredible power of Cain’s grip, the wooden sword flew over Bern’s head and cut through the air for a long time.

Whoosh─! Boom-!

Bern, sensing defeat, turned his head. He could see the wooden sword that had fallen far away. But it didn’t just fall, it had fallen after colliding with the iron door he had entered through. The center of the solid iron door was dented.

“……her.”

No, how can a person break an iron door with a wooden sword? And by blowing it away with just force.

‘What the heck, there are monsters out there.’

Bern, momentarily dispirited, looked at Cain.

Cain, who had been still from the moment his sword cut through the air, smiled as soon as he met Bern’s eyes.

“You said it would be different this time, right?”

What the heck, this was a match that I couldn’t win no matter how hard I tried.

His intuition that his arm would have broken if he had held on until the end was not wrong. That was understandable, since the wooden sword that flew by simply rebounding almost made a hole in the iron door, so if he had received all that force with his arm, his wrist would not have been damaged.

He said he would go with all his heart, but it wasn’t just a passing remark. Bern shook his head. It meant that he had lost. The host didn’t miss that signal and declared Cain’s victory.

─Ah, the moment I spoke, the decision was made. The winner of the Round of 16 A Block is the 3rd year second place student, Cain Reinhardt, who was mentioned as a strong candidate to win!

“Bern.”

Cain held out his hand. Bern stared at his flabby arm for a moment, then reached out and took his hand.

“Cain, it was a good fight… … .”

“Aren’t you thinking too much?”

“… … .”

“I think I pointed this out last time, but when you’re sparring, just focus on the sparring. Just think about how your opponent will react and how you’ll respond. Just now, you were thinking about something else and couldn’t dodge my attack, right? That’s not right. If you keep thinking harsh thoughts, you’ll always lose to me… … .”

“… … Take up your sword, Cain. Let the second battle begin.”