Kays Translations

Chapter 34: It arrived loud and clear.

"Gulf, please enter the arena."

"Y-Yes!"

Finally, Gulf's turn had come.

"Gulf, stay calm and there shouldn't be any problems. Hit them with all you've got."

"You are undoubtedly one of the representatives of Flaveld Academy. There's no need to hesitate."

"...You, you know."

"What is it?"

Michela was just cheering with genuinely pure feelings, but... from Philip's perspective, it seemed like she was putting pressure on him.

"............"

Standing at the farthest end, the third-year student and student council president, Christille Albaresia, didn't say anything.

However, she just looked straight at Gulf's face and smiled.

(I know about your efforts.)

Like Michela, Gulf was told that there was no need to hesitate, and once again, determination was injected into his heart.

(It's okay... It's going to be okay. I've become stronger. Besides, I've fought and won firmly, gained victories.)

To participate in the Intense Battle Festival, one must achieve victory in battles against classmates held within the school.

The opponents faced in the school battles were not all weaker than Gulf.

Nevertheless, Gulf continued to pile up victories, resulting in an undefeated record.

Undoubtedly, it was a result that led to confidence.

"Take care and good luck."

"Yes."

In response to the guide's farewell, Gulf proceeded slowly, taking one step at a time.

“““Huh!!!!????””””

The sight that met the eyes was... a vast number of spectators that seemed almost countless.

Words directed at him from those spectators.

The number of gazes literally directed at him was beyond comparison to the time of the school battles.

This was enough to shatter Gulf's frozen feelings and turn them completely white—a sufficient shock.

(Is this the rumored commoner guy...? Geez, he's really stiff. How did this jerk manage to get here? The internal transfer students from Flaveld Academy are definitely stronger... Well, for me, it's lucky to win easily and move on to the second match!!)

Gulf's first opponent in the match is Ferno Santarchi, a student from Sambal Academy. 

He has already taken on the second profession, transitioning from a swordsman to a knight.

Handling a longsword as his main weapon, he smirks at Gulf, a commoner, as if mocking him. Despite such an attitude, he is one of the students chosen as a representative of the academy.

Weak... there's no way.

(I... I have to win, I must win...)

His breath becomes shallow.

He can't walk as usual; it feels unfamiliar.

It's unclear whether the opponent is wearing his usual expression or if he's laughing at Gulf.

When his mind is on the verge of going completely blank, a certain voice... among the almost countless spectators, a particularly loud cheer pierces through and reaches his ears.

"Gulf!!!! Bash the hell out of that idiot with a dumb faceeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"

"I-Ishud... hahaha."

The voice reaches his ears, and he quickly realizes that a friend is shouting encouragement from somewhere.

If he listens carefully, there aren't many people cheering for him.

The insults from the noble students who couldn't participate in the Intense Battle Festival are intense... Yet, even among that, his friend's encouragement is so loud that it drowns out the majority of insults, swelling Gulf's chest with determination.

"If you fight like you always do, you can beat him!!!! Don't hold back just because the guy's a noble brat!!! Knock him out with all your might!!!!"

"Are you even allowed to say that?" The surrounding students, also from the academy, silently retort in their minds.

From commoners who secured tickets for the Intense Battle Festival to adventurers, soldiers, knights, and merchants, everyone wonders, "What's up with this guy?" as they cast skeptical glances at Ishud. However, Ishud pays no attention to those looks, and for the sake of his probably shaken friend, he cheers as loudly as possible, ignoring any doubts.

"...That's right. I'll just do what I can."

"Hahaha!! Ready to bow down and beg for forgiveness by rubbing your head on the ground?"

"Beg for forgiveness? Why would I do that to you?"

"...I'll kill you. Don't think you can leave the stage alive, you damn commoner."

"............Haah~~~ It's impressive how you can take such an attitude while acting like you deserve admiration and respect from commoners."

"!!!!!!!"

His tone was provocative, as if Ishud had possessed him.

Just as Ferno seemed to be getting caught up in the taunts, the male referee stepped in to intervene.

"Both of you, the signal to start the match hasn't been given yet. Also, attacks that can lead to death are generally prohibited."

"Well, if it happens by accident, it can't be helped, right?"

Ferno showed no remorse whatsoever and casually asked if it wouldn't be a problem even if he accidentally ended up killing his opponent.

"Sigh... For now, both of you just focus on defeating the opponent in front of you."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Got it."

Ferno responded with an indifferent air, Gulf with his usual expression, and they both moved towards the starting line.

"From here on, we begin the third match. Fight fair and square... Well then, start!!!!"

"Urrraaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!"

The moment the male referee declared the start of the match, Ferno dashed straight ahead, approaching while swinging his longsword vigorously.

(No need for skills or magic against a commoner!!!!)

Although he holds the profession of a knight and automatically uses sword technique skills when handling a longsword, unfortunately, he is not the type to pay attention to such details when his temper flares.

Even though he holds the profession of a knight, just drawing the longsword... that alone slightly improves his physical abilities due to the profession's bonuses.

Nevertheless, even if the improvement effect is only that much, he still possesses the physical abilities worthy of being chosen as one of the first-year representatives of the academy.

(...Really, there was no need to get nervous or be overly scared.)

However, from Gulf's perspective, who has spent time with Ishud since entering the academy, it felt like a blow, as if he was completely underestimating himself.

"Goh!!??"

He swiftly dodged the longsword swinging down from the left, and before it could complete its descent, he struck his left leg into Ferno's abdomen.

He was sent flying, though not out of the ring, but Ferno, who unexpectedly took the kick, was completely unprepared to endure it. Right from the start, he suffered a painful counter.

"!!!??"

"If you're not going to go all out, I'll finish it quickly."

The idea of an overpowering opponent like Ishud, who goes all out and swallows up everything for victory, is not present now. Instead, Gulf will seize any victory that comes his way without letting it slip through his fingers.

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