Duel.
For nobles, it was once the most effective means to protect one's honor...
That was true in the days when knights were most highly valued.
However, with the development of many magical weapons and the modern era's emphasis on mastery of magic power over swordsmanship, dueling came to be seen as crude and barbaric, losing much of its former influence.
Nonetheless, among those who had learned swordsmanship, duels were still respected as the fundamental way to protect one's honor, and those from regions less affected by magic or battle-hardened borderlands tended to prefer that tradition all the more.
"A duel...?"
That's why there was a slight flush of excitement on Reducte's face as he repeated the word.
To him, dueling was his specialty.
The territory of Baron Britel, whose mainstay was agricultural products from the eastern borderlands—
Not particularly poor, yet not especially wealthy either.
For that reason, the territory's soldiers could not be fully equipped with magical weapons.
Naturally, unarmed swordsmanship became the central focus, and Reducte also ended up primarily learning swordsmanship and, by chance, discovered his talent, which had brought him all the way to Hernan Academy.
'Whether it's a traditional duel where magic power isn't allowed, or the modernized version where magic power can be used, there's no way I'll lose to an A-Class!'
Hernan Academy, renowned for fairness, had an official class distinction system: S-Class students were, of course, considered superior to A-Class students.
There wasn't a single citizen of the empire who denied the academy's official designations.
"If you win, the Traverse Count's family will not pursue any punishment against you. I stake my name on it."
"!"
When a noble stakes their name on something, they take responsibility for it.
And if someone here touting dignity and proposing a duel said such a thing, it didn't seem likely they'd backstab you later, either.
"W-What if we lose?"
"Hey! Like we'd lose!"
"We'll withdraw from the academy."
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
The word "withdraw" had come out so lightly—yet the weight it carried was nothing so light as it sounded.
"If you lose to me in the duel, life at the academy won't be smooth for you anyway. In that case, you're better off withdrawing quickly and trying your luck at anoth
er academy."
"T-That's..."
"Still, withdrawing is..."
Reducte and his friends began glancing at one another, nervous.
No matter what, having made it into Hernan Academy—the continent's best—and even into S-Class, being told to withdraw was not easy to accept.
"What's wrong? Got cold feet?"
"Cow... What? What did you say?!"
It was a cheap provocation, quite different from Luca's previous calm manner, but it was exceedingly effective.
Watching Reducte's face go bright red as if about to explode, Luca smirked softly.
"If not, then never mind. I was worried that such a grand S-Class student might be too scared to even pick up a glove from an A-Class challenger, but I needn't have worried."
"... The method?"
"It's not an official duel overseen by witnesses, so it doesn't matter if it's traditional or modern. Heck, all three of you can come at me at once if you want."
Of course, Luca truly didn't care, but to Reducte, even this sounded provocative.
"Don't spout nonsense! I'm more than enough for the likes of you, all by myself!"
"Really? Then the friends beside you who were chattering earlier won't have to withdraw with you. That's good for them."
"...."
Reducte's friends glanced at him uncertainly.
He just gritted his teeth and said nothing further.
After all, it was Reducte who had led the trouble with Luca and committed violence against Ottbo, so his friends likely didn't want any responsibility for the affair.
"If I win, we're fine."
Reducte muttered this as he picked up the glove at his feet.
"I accept your challenge, Luca Traverse! The method will be traditional, without the use of magic power—a one-on-one duel between you and me!"
"Hm? Are you sure? That's rather disadvantageous for you."
"It wouldn't make sense if an S-Class like myself fought you using magic power as well!"
That's what he said, but privately he was apprehensive.
Even if the opponent was only A-Class, they were still a count's child, likely with a special mana circuit, and might actually be even more difficult to face.
Srrng.
"In that case, there's nothing more to say."
Luca drew his sword. Instantly, the atmosphere changed.
'W-What's going on all of a sudden?'
To be honest, Reducte had underestimated Luca.
A delicate face like a girl's. A mere A-Class. An unflappable response to blatant mockery.
He'd naturally assumed those were signs of genuine weakness.
But...
'Solid and sharp.'
No other words came to mind. The aura Luca exuded felt like a finely honed sword itself.
The certainty that he would win, which Reducte had clung to, suddenly grew faint.
At that moment, Luca extended his sword.
"Draw your sword, Reducte Britel. The duel will now begin."
"..."
Srrng.
Prompted by Luca, Reducte squeezed his eyes shut and drew his sword.
'It's fine! I beat the knights back home in the territory all the time!'
This was the source of his confidence.
He had often dueled with the knights of his domain—and always won.
So, he reasoned, there was no reason he couldn't win here as well.
"The rest of you, act as witnesses and signal the start of the duel."
"!"
Reducte's friends, tense, looked back and forth between them before stepping back.
"Th-Then, in the one-on-one duel between Reducte Britel and Luca Traverse, the method will be traditional, with no use of magic power and only skill with the sword."
"Should we have them bow too?"
"I don't know! Just do whatever!"
"Uh, both sides! Bow!"
"..."
They were still just kids—somewhat awkward about the procedure—but both Luca and Reducte adopted proper sword salutes without smiling.
Reducte's friends swallowed nervously and raised their hands.
"We'll count to three to begin! Three! Two!"
Clench.
At the count, strength surged into Reducte's arm.
And on the final number—
"One!"
Clang!
Luca and Reducte clashed.
And in one exchange—just a single clash—the duel was decided.
Thud!
Reducte's blade flew past, grazing the side of his head.
A bit of his hair was cut and even blood began to flow, but he had no time to think about that.
"T-That's a foul!"
"Yeah! We agreed no magic power!"
"Unfair!"
Their claim of a foul was simple: Reducte's sword wasn't broken; it was sliced.
Oddly enough, Luca looked the most puzzled at their reactions.
"That's odd. At that level, why did you propose a traditional duel with no magic power?"
"Wh-What are you talking about?"
"Iron-Cutting is a fundamental skill for swordsmen. Why talk about a traditional duel if you can't even recognize that?"
Iron-Cutting—a technique for cutting iron.
It allows a swordsman to destroy and neutralize an opponent's weapon without the use of magic power.
"I-Iron-Cutting...?"
"Learning 'Iron-Cutting' and how to counter it is a basic requirement for any swordsman heading to war. Debating the traditions of duels without knowing that is laughable. Are you seriously telling me you didn't know?"
Having said that, Luca strode past Reducte, picked up the fallen tip of his sword, and tossed it over his shoulder.
Clang!
And once again, 'Iron-Cutting' unfolded before them.
The blade was once more cleanly severed, and at no point was any trace of magic power felt.
"Wow..."
It was a skill that drew only admiration.
The truth was, the Traverse Count's family, whose knights are expected to fight on the front lines, naturally produced a higher level of swordsmanship than those from houses like the Britel Barony, focused solely on defending their own lands.
On top of that, Reducte's own arrogance contributed to his defeat.
There was no way knights sworn to the Britel Barony would give their all in a duel against their own lord's son.
Boasting of a few victories against such knights was nothing more than an act of foolish pride.
"You chose the method for this duel, so there's nothing more to say. You know the consequence of your defeat, don't you?"
"..."
Reducte's eyes trembled violently.
The price of defeat was clear: expulsion from Hernan Academy.
Not every noble's child could attend Hernan Academy.
You needed considerable talent—and the financial resources to match.
For a low-ranking noble to enter was already a huge gamble.
"C-Couldn't you let me off just once?"
"!"
It wasn't Reducte himself who spoke, but his friends.
"Y-Yeah! We're sorry for mocking you and for hurting Ottbo Gress. But it wasn't our intention, you know. He started the fight, right?"
"It's not that we're saying we didn't do anything wrong. We're just asking for some leniency. Please, just this once?"
"Guys..."
Reducte looked like he was about to shed a tear of gratitude, but Luca's face remained frigid.
"My duel with him was rightful and just. And now you ask for lenience? Do you take the duels of knights so lightly?"
"It wasn't even an official duel, anyway!"
"..."
For a moment, Luca was lost for words; it was just childish whining, but technically not incorrect.
"Even so, I can't just let this go."
"I'll beg like this instead! Or, could we compensate you in some other way?"
Watching them desperately bargain, Luca considered for a moment, then sheathed his sword and made an offer.
"In that case, all three of you will take a one-year leave of absence."
"A l-leave of absence?"
Not expulsion, but a leave of absence—however, the fact that all three would have to do it made Reducte bite his lip.
And just as he was about to protest further, Luca's voice grew cold and final.
"That's enough. I've already been more than lenient. All that's left for you is to accept or refuse. There's no need for further discussion."
"..."
"I'm leaving. You have one week to decide and act."
As he turned away after delivering his verdict, a subtle smile played on Luca's lips.
'Now, the seeds are sown. I'm curious to see how that person will react.'
This hadn't only been an elaborate act for revenge.
It was laying the foundation for something down the line.
* * *
"My, my, it seems so many unpleasant things have happened early in the semester."
"Indeed. Still, I suppose we should be grateful the situation didn't escalate beyond repair."
Senior faculty—Dean of Students Kirius Blavon, Head Teacher Bendia Moraco, and Vice-Headmistress Etylen Basta—were troubled over the first incident of its kind in the hundred-year history of Hernan Academy.
"Three S-Class students all taking a leave of absence at once... It's unheard of."
"I've gathered there was an altercation between students. But in the S-Class, no less? Hard to believe."
"Makes one doubt the judgment of our examiners. We'll have to be much more careful with our selections next time."
With their grumbling done, their faces turned sober.
"So, what do we do? We can't proceed with so few S-Class students this semester."
"Well... I suppose we'll have to promote an A-Class student."
"But that's the problem, isn't it—who do we promote?"
This was a matter to be approached with utmost caution.
They hadn't even had midterms yet—so who could they possibly pick?
"As you know, for the instructors' safety, all data is destroyed as soon as class assignments are finalized. There's no way to re-select based on past grades."
"It's unconventional, but the only solution is to hold a reassignment examination for all students below A-Class."
"Will that be all right? There'll be serious backlash. The academic calendar will have to be pushed back, and some events may have to be canceled."
"But we have no choice. If we promote anyone arbitrarily, we'll only face further criticism."
"How about recommendations?"
"?!"
At a table meant for just the three of them, someone had joined unnoticed.
The veteran teachers turned, surprised.
Hair the color of spring, and violet eyes inherited from the Hernan imperial bloodline.
A girl wearing an inscrutable smile.
It was the Fourth Imperial Princess, Brid Hernan.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Will Luca go to S-class?
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】