Kays Translations

Chapter 35: It’s Different, So What’s the Risk?

“Shaaaaaaa!!! Nice counter!!! Just go on and finish him off!!!!”

A few seconds after the start of the battle, an unimaginable scene unfolded before the spectators.

Ferno, a student from Sambal Academy, had his slashing attack dodged, received a sharp kick, and was sent flying several meters.

“Tch!!!!”

Despite a loud click of his tongue, Ferno managed to block the longsword swung down from above with the same weapon.

“Ga!!!??”

However, his focus on the slashing attack being swung down was a bit too much.

Ferno concentrated solely on the longsword swung down from above, and even though he had magic power wrapped around it when he guarded, Gulf immediately activated his body strengthening skill, further enhancing his physical abilities with magic power.

While Ferno may have the upper hand in the traditional handling of longswords and rapiers, considering his second profession as a knight, the match is not solely determined by weapon handling.

In an overall sense, Gulf, being a gladiator, has certain advantages. 

The elegance of the movements, kicking up the chin after a slashing attack with a longsword, also reflects the significant difference in profession and regular training.

(Th-This… )

And then… Gulf continued the motion with a full rotation after kicking up the chin, making it insufficient to just guard with magic power. It was beautifully shattered.

“I win, right?”

“Not so fast!!!!”

“!!!??”

Not only was Ferno’s chin internally shattered, but blood flowed visibly from the outside, and his teeth were crushed into pieces.

“Well, ah.”

“The winner is Gulf of Flaveld Academy!!!!!!!”

In addition, due to the kick that lifted the chin, a tremor occurred in the brain.

Aiming for the moment of dizziness caused by it, Gulf thrust a blade into the neck.

While Ferno’s jaw would return to normal with recovery magic, it still remains a significant damage in this battle… The ultimate blow is being in a state where the power of life and death is controlled.

If Gulf had the intention, he could have easily severed Ferno’s neck.

It might have been possible to sever one of the arms or inflict a deep stab wound on either of the legs.

From any perspective, whether it be the ordinary citizens in the audience, adventurers, knights, or nobles, it appears to be a complete resolution.

(Wait… Wait, wait, wait, don’t joke around!!!! It’s negligence… Yes, I just let my guard down!!!! If I had gone all out from the beginning, I… I wouldn’t have lost to that damn commoner!!!!)

Certainly… If Ferno had earnestly, from the beginning, seriously fought against Gulf, regardless of the outcome, it would have undoubtedly been a good match.

That’s what participating in an intense battle festival entails.

However, in a place where childish thoughts like “if only I had been more careful” don’t hold water, it’s not the kind of reasoning that would be accepted.

If someone else were making such excuses, Ferno would probably burst into laughter.

However, when one finds themselves in that position, making rational judgments becomes quite challenging.

Considering Ferno’s position as a noble’s son, it might be understandable that he struggled desperately. Yet, even with such efforts, it’s completely impossible to turn the tide from this point.

“Yessssss!!!! Gulf, you’re amazing!!!!!!!!”

A friend from the audience shouted, and Gulf responded by raising his fist with a triumphant grin.

“Hey, welcome back, Gulf.”

“I’m back.”

“…Looks like you won, huh?”

“Yeah, I won.”

The representative from the same academy emerged victorious. 

Despite some discontent, the majority of fellow students representing the same academy were pleased with the outcome.

“Of course. Unless the opponent is significantly inferior, one wouldn’t easily lose… However, isn’t it a bit too clean of a victory?”

“Well, I guess he underestimated me because I’m a commoner.”

After receiving an explanation of how he won, the two seemed to understand various aspects of it.

“Hahaha!!!! Despite winning properly, being selected as a representative, he underestimated Gulf and ended up in a miserable defeat… He’s completely finished, isn’t he?”

Philip’s gaze towards Ferno, Gulf’s opponent, was very cold, and there was just a hint of pity.

“That’s true.”

He fought with all his might and lost. Thinking he had won in the end, he let his guard down and lost.

There are different ways to lose, but in any case, for a noble’s son or daughter to lose on such a stage can be considered nothing short of disgraceful.

However, the worst way to lose is… to completely underestimate the opponent just because they are a commoner and end up losing easily.

That is undoubtedly the worst outcome.

In addition, Ferno lost with a speed that can be described as instantaneous.

Could he still fight in that condition? There might be those among the nobility who entertain such thoughts.

However, looking at the result… the nobility had their fate completely controlled by a commoner.

Depending on the perspective, it can be considered a humiliating defeat of the highest order.

“Um, well… did I, you know, mess up?”

“No, it’s not like that. It’s that guy who underestimated and got cocky… Ferno’s at fault.”

“I agree. That person… probably might be disowned by their family.”

“What!!??”

Being disowned by the family. 

The implications of what that meant… were somewhat understandable.

That’s why it’s surprising. 

However, among the noble sons and daughters like Philip and Michela, it doesn’t seem particularly grave. The other representative students aren’t overly shocked either. Everyone, except Gulf, probably thought it wouldn’t be strange if it turned out that way.

“Gulf, you don’t need to worry about a thing, you know? Like I said earlier, it’s mostly because that guy underestimated you.”

“But, still…”

“Essentially, it’s the risk of living a better life than a commoner like you. In addition to the commoner versus noble dynamic, it’s like what Philip said: losing because he underestimated you just because you’re a commoner… that’s like staining the reputation of that opponent’s family. If he had lost while giving his all without underestimating, maybe he wouldn’t have been disowned.”

“Your life in the academy from now on might be hell. Well, that’s why, Gulf, you don’t need to worry at all about that idiot who was your opponent.”

The commoners and nobility fundamentally operate on different standards. 

Gulf, having heard these words repeatedly, was once again realizing the truth of it.

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