Chapter 31: 5 vs 5 (2)
The day of the sparring match dawned.
It was a day that would determine whether Evan, a cadet, would be appointed as an instructor—a historically unprecedented event at Lansed Academy.
Unlike the ordinary cadets, who watched with mere curiosity, the instructors and assistants were all on edge.
Common sense dictated that the side trained by the instructors would win, yet the tension was palpable.
“Instructor Hughes, how do you think today’s results will turn out?”
At an assistant’s question, Hughes shot a glance and replied,
“Obviously, it’ll be a complete victory for the instructors. Haven’t the most skilled among us trained the cadets? Plus, the cadets we selected are all high-ranking candidates for the Executor program. There’s no way we’ll lose. However…”
The variable on the opposing side—Evan, the one who orchestrated this match—nagged at him.
Evan had recently shown feats that defied common sense, making it impossible to predict what he might pull off this time.
“Evan’s the concern, but no matter how remarkable that kid is, he’ll have his limits this time. He can’t fight directly himself.”
“That’s true, but what about the princess…?”
“Do you really think she’ll step in? Anton wouldn’t stand for it. Even if she does, she’ll likely forfeit quickly.”
“Then it’s essentially a five-against-four fight. In that case, no matter what Evan does, we have the advantage.”
“Exactly.”
Thus, they dismissed their unease as fleeting worry.
“Let’s hurry up and go. We’ll lose the good seats.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
Everyone at the Academy gathered at the training ground, which quickly filled to capacity.
Some even climbed the walls to watch.
“Hey! Don’t push. I almost fell!”
“When’s it starting?”
“You sat down without knowing? It’ll start exactly at 2 o’clock. Look, everyone’s already seated.”
A cadet pointed to the platforms overlooking the training ground.
Two platforms flanked the arena, split left and right.
On one side sat Evan, and on the other, the head instructor and other instructors took their places.
In front of them sat the participants of the sparring match, most wearing tense expressions, save for a few.
“But Evan’s side… what are they all holding?”
“No idea… Why are they all wrapped in cloth?”
Those trained by Evan each held something wrapped in white cloth.
Since they carried no visible weapons, onlookers assumed the cloth concealed the weapons they’d use in the match.
Naturally, the instructors on the opposing side noticed this as well.
“Head Instructor, that’s…”
“It’s fine. No matter what tricks they pull, they can’t beat us. From Evan’s perspective, he’d have to resort to such petty tactics to stand a chance, wouldn’t he?”
Head Instructor Everhart remained composed.
He trusted Jaina, whom he had personally trained, and the other cadets coached by the instructors.
And above all…
“We have a secret weapon. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“You mean Jack. Indeed, the way Jack is now, he could chew through anyone.”
An instructor whispered, glancing at Jack, who sat in a corner.
As he said, Jack’s presence was formidable even as he sat still.
His gaze was fixed downward, glaring at the ground as if it were his sworn enemy, brimming with killing intent.
‘How much torment did he endure under the dean to have such a look?’
One might think even an enemy wouldn’t warrant such a menacing stare.
Meanwhile, the dean arrived late and headed straight for Jack.
“Hahaha, Jack! Are you ready?”
As the boisterous dean patted his back, Jack looked up.
“Yes.”
A single word laced with resolve.
Those on the same platform as Jack felt the shift in his aura.
Some even thought Jack alone might take down the entire opposing team.
Jaina, however, merely crossed her legs and stared straight ahead.
*‘Jack, it won’t even reach your turn.
To surpass Evan, I’ll take them all down myself.’*
She intended to shock Evan, who was casually chatting without acknowledging them.
As time passed, at precisely 2 o’clock, the head instructor descended from the platform and stood at the center of the training ground.
“Silence.”
The murmuring cadets fell quiet instantly.
“As announced, today we will hold a sparring match between nine cadets selected for the Executor program, including the princess.”
“Woooo!!!”
A fight was always entertaining.
While the participants took it seriously, the spectators couldn’t help but cheer at the thrilling spectacle.
The head instructor shook his head but didn’t reprimand them.
Even he wasn’t entirely uninterested in the match.
“The sparring will follow the rules of a consecutive victory format, as agreed by both sides. Each side sends a representative, and the winner continues to fight. Victory is achieved when the opposing side is entirely defeated or forfeits.”
Despite his words, neither side seemed inclined to forfeit.
Thus, Everhart added,
“If the sparring becomes too intense, endangering lives or causing severe injury, I will intervene. Of course, I expect you all to fight without intent to kill.”
This wasn’t a battle to the death in a gladiatorial arena.
It was a sparring match to foster growth and gauge each other’s skills.
“Now, let the sparring begin. The referee, step forward.”
The referee for this match was Brook.
Everhart gestured for Brook to come closer.
“Brook, no matter what happens, prevent any accidents. Your responsibility today is immense.”
“Yes! I won’t disappoint you!”
Still wary from past incidents, Brook saw this as a chance to redeem himself.
With his weighty duty assigned, the head instructor stepped back, leaving Brook alone in the training ground.
“I’m Brook, the referee for today’s match. Let’s begin. The first fighters from both sides, step forward!”
Brook spread his arms.
From the instructors’ platform, Karl Stitz stepped forward as the vanguard, brandishing his spear confidently as he descended.
On the opposing side, Elliott rose from his seat.
He, too, carried something wrapped in cloth.
As he reached the training ground, he unwrapped it, revealing a spear, as expected.
“A spear… Are you confident, Elliott?”
“Of course.”
The two knew each other well.
Thus, Karl was displeased that Elliott had switched to his weapon of choice.
*‘He knows I use a spear, yet he challenges me with one?
With skills learned in just a week?’*
Karl, who prided himself on being skilled enough for the Executor program, took it as a provocation.
Meanwhile, Elliott spun his spear expressionlessly, warming up.
“To your positions.”
At Brook’s signal, the two moved to opposite ends of the training ground.
…
In that moment, not even a breath could be heard.
“Exchange greetings.”
Both bowed.
Then, they immediately assumed their stances, each aiming their spear at the other.
“Begin!”
At the signal, both lunged, thrusting their spears.
‘I’m faster!’
Karl’s spear shot forward a step quicker.
Just as it was about to pierce Elliott’s shoulder, Elliott suddenly twisted his shoulder back and fell to the ground.
‘Falling before even taking a hit?’
Puzzled, Karl swiftly swung his spear downward to strike Elliott.
At that moment, Elliott gripped the end of his spear’s shaft and gritted his teeth.
“Hngh!”
Elliott swung his arm widely.
The circular trajectory of his spear extended beyond the reach of Karl’s thrust.
Forced to halt his attack, Karl retreated.
—Whoosh!
Using the centrifugal force of the spear’s tip, Elliott rose fluidly.
Then, spinning his body, he threatened Karl.
—Clang! Clang!
Karl parried the incoming spear and ducked, closing the distance.
“Petty tricks!”
Karl thrust his spear.
Elliott drove his spear into the ground, blocking the incoming tip with the shaft to deflect its path.
—Scrape!
Simultaneously, he spun his body and delivered a kick to Karl’s torso.
“Guh!”
The impact forced Karl to hunch over.
Yet, he didn’t release his spear.
His mental fortitude, worthy of the Executor program, held firm.
But this was exactly what Elliott—and Evan—had anticipated.
“Hah!”
Elliott smashed Karl’s spear with his elbow, snapping it.
—Crack!
Grabbing the shortened spear, he stabbed Karl’s shoulder.
—Thud!
“Urgh!”
As he pulled the spear out, Elliott aimed a kick at Karl’s neck.
Karl instinctively raised his arm to block, but—
‘Ah!’
His stabbed shoulder wouldn’t move.
Elliott’s heavy kick landed squarely.
“Gack!”
Karl collapsed, unconscious.
All of this unfolded in under a minute.
“Hah… Hah…”
Elliott, who had calculated variables and moved intensely in that brief time, panted heavily.
“…Elliott’s victory!”
Brook, momentarily stunned, declared the winner.
Assistants waiting below rushed up, carrying the unconscious Karl to the healing priestess.
“We’ll clear the field and proceed to the second match.”
Thus, the goddess of victory first raised Evan’s hand.
The result alone was surprising, but the details were truly astonishing.
“Elliott was that agile?”
“No, wait—didn’t he use a sword just a week ago?”
“Mastering a spear in such a short time? Beating Karl? The Karl who’s so skilled with a spear?”
As the cadets reeled in shock, the instructors’ platform was equally stunned.
They had expected a landslide victory, yet they lost spectacularly in the first round.
“How could this…”
The instructor responsible for Karl looked incredulous.
He had thought Elliott would easily win, but the outcome was disastrous.
“My apologies, Head Instructor.”
“It’s fine. It’s just one loss. We’ll win the remaining matches. Go check on Karl’s condition.”
While the instructors’ side was shrouded in gloom, Evan’s side was festive.
“Elliott! Elliott!”
“Great job!”
The princess and cadets praised him.
Elliott scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
Evan, watching, clicked his tongue.
“Tch, you’re not getting excited over one measly win, are you? Your opponent was just a cadet like you. Someone you could’ve easily beaten.”
Elliott’s shoulders slumped under Evan’s grumbling.
“Yeah…”
“Win against the next one too. Oh, and if you move as sluggishly as you did just now, you’re dead to me.”
“I did my best…”
“What? Then our training was lacking?”
“No! I’ll take them down faster!”
Evan sent Elliott off with a stern warning.
Princess Anna laughed and said,
“That’s harsh! He did well.”
“In my eyes, he’s far from good enough. He could’ve subdued him with the first strike. All that flashiness…”
Over the past week, Evan had taught his cadets only two things:
First, to become familiar with their new weapons.
Second, to master the attack patterns he taught them.
If they ingrained these two things, their bodies would react naturally during the sparring, he was certain.
“I never taught them to show off. I taught them to subdue decisively.”
“Aren’t your standards too high?”
“No. Look at the next opponent.”
Evan pointed at the opposing side.
“She’s coming out already?”
“Probably to shift the momentum.”
Jaina was descending the steps from the instructors’ platform.
Even to Evan, her composed aura was evident.
“I should’ve held back then…”
“Hm?”
“Oh, nothing!”
Anna didn’t mention her encounter with Jaina to Evan.
Thus, Evan was unaware of the advice Anna had given Jaina, which had awakened her.
“Will Elliott win?”
“If Jaina hasn’t improved.”
“I see…”
Feeling uneasy, Anna fell silent and watched the second match.
“Begin!”
At Brook’s shout, Elliott lunged forward again,
this time even faster.
‘That guy, he can…’
Evan’s eyes wavered as he cursed Elliott.
Jaina’s stance had subtly changed.
‘That’s… not the Ritual of Bloodstorm I know?’
As Evan pondered,
Jaina’s red hair fluttered, and a glint of resolve shone in her eyes.