Chapter 44: Good Muscles

“Well then, I’ll go.”

Philip, whose turn had come, left the waiting room with the same demeanor as before, heading towards the ring, exposed to the excited gaze of the spectators.

“Philip, the day has come when you and I clash in the fierce battle festival… in this world, there truly is no such thing as the impossible.”

“I guess so. I feel the same way, Ornes.”

Philip’s second-round opponent is Ornes Sleisi.

With a towering height approaching 190, he possesses a massive physique that can be discerned even under his uniform.

To prove that he won’t become a lumbering giant even with a greatsword equipped, his muscles are more than sufficient.

“…Yeah, not bad at all.”

Unusually, before sending cheers that were closer to enthusiastic shouts to Philip, a fellow student from Flaveld Academy, praised the well-toned muscles.

Generally, Ishud has no interest in students outside those he interacts with within the academy. It’s the first time since entering the academy that he has taken a close look at Ornes.

Ishud, who was raised in the Regula family, where the belief “Muscles are justice!!!” is quite prevalent, has a fair share of people with such thinking. He, too, recognizes that Ornes’s muscles are not just for show.

“By the way, Philip.”

“Yeah?”

“…………”

“Well, what is it? You got something you want to ask me, right?”

Just as Philip guessed, Ornes had something he wanted to inquire about. 

With a serious expression tinged with a bit of embarrassment, he spoke up.

“Um… about that. What’s your relationship with Lady Michela?”

“…………Huhhhh????”

Philip, completely unable to understand what Ornes was asking, tilts his head in bewilderment.

“Hey, be a bit more specific with your question.”

“The words mean exactly as they are.”

“Just saying it like that doesn’t help… Ohhhh, is that what you mean?”

While Ornes is a young man of the same age, Philip is also a young man of the same age.

When he thinks calmly, he quickly understands Ornes’s intention.

“Hahaha! Come on, cut it out. Relax, Ornes. The relationship between me and her is not what you’re thinking. And by the way, it’s the same for Gulf.”

“Hmm, I see… Then, what about that guy?”

“That guy” refers, of course, to Ishud, a male student who is disliked by many students as a barbarian from the borderlands.

“How about him? You know that girl and Ishudo had a match, right?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Ornes watched that match, and while he was shocked that Michela lost, he was also impressed by the presence of the man standing in a different dimension.

“If you know that, then you get it. For that girl, Ishud is an opponent she definitely wants to take revenge against. Well, whether that wish is possible or not, I don’t know.”

“…Sorry, asking you something like this before the match.”

“It’s no big deal. It’s not like we’re complete strangers.”

There was a time when Philip was relatively serious, and their interactions were not bad.

However, even if they were on good terms, it’s impossible to pretend not to put in effort.

Especially on a grand stage like the Fierce Battle Festival… Ornes knew this precisely because he was familiar with Philip’s past. He understood that defeating him required more than just the desire to do so.

(Hey, hey, you’ve got a pretty intimidating look there~~~)

There’s no anger.

However, can’t you feel a bit of murderous intent mixed in? A sharp forceful presence that makes you want to comment, “Hey, isn’t there a bit of killing intent in there?”

“Both of you, try to avoid attacks that could lead to death as much as possible. Now then… begin!!!!!!”

“Grrraaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!”

With the signal to begin, Ornes raised his greatsword in a high stance and charged forward.

Ornes’ primary class is Swordsman, and his secondary class is Heavy Knight.

A profession excelling in handling heavyweight weapons such as greatswords, greataxes, and hammers.

His strike was truly a lethal beheading. 

If it were to connect, it wouldn’t be surprising if it cut through defenses, even if they were actively blocking.

“Your power seems to have increased since last time, hasn’t it?”

“And your evasion skills are truly remarkable!!!!”

Although the slashing attack didn’t hit Philip, it cleaved the ground in a large arc.

From the perspective of the speed-oriented Philip, there was indeed a significant opening. However, his instincts signaled not to recklessly dive in.

(Still relying on brute strength as always. Seriously, you might get split in two.)

The two participants in the second round had already acknowledged each other, skipping the probing phase and starting with their gears already engaged.

Guarding against Ornes’ slashes required courage each time, and Philip’s speed was such that if you weren’t concentrated, you’d lose sight of him.

(How about this?)

Numerous magical slashing blades were unleashed from the dagger, but Ornes managed to defend against them with minimal effort, continuing his charge to close the distance with Philip.

(Is he like a wild boar or something!?)

Attempting to evade in a different direction from the charge, Ornes now released magical slashing blades from his greatsword. Philip instinctively performed a backflip to avoid them.

Being a Heavy Knight, Ornes could endure minor cuts from Philip’s slashing blades without much damage unless they hit a vital spot.

However, if Philip were to take a hit from the magical slashing blades released by Ornes’ greatsword, even if not getting cut, the impact would send him flying backward significantly.

“Hey, what’s gotten into you? That was an unusually nice attack coming from you.”

“…Coming from someone who’s a lump of good taste, that means a lot.”

Ornes Sleisi, a man fittingly described as charging headlong like a wild boar.

However, the slashing blades from earlier were undoubtedly attacks that anticipated Philip’s movements.

“I… understand that strength is my greatest weapon. But with strength alone, there are walls that can’t be overcome. I’ve just come to realize that.”

“Seriously, you used to be more straightforward, like your specialty was charging straight ahead.”

“It’s called growth… Just like you, damn it!!!!!!”

He hasn’t unleashed his full power yet.

Even so, against classmates he has fought in school battles or his opponent from the first round, he could likely defeat them in his current state.

However, due to Philip’s combat style, he couldn’t land a single attack, no matter how hard he tried.

(Talking to me during a fight… It’s definitely not to catch me off guard!! Philip truly has some room to spare in this battle!!!)

He truly is an opponent worthy of giving it his all.

Ornes was aware of the pathetic feeling of jealousy he harbored lately due to his crush being close to someone else. However, a few minutes into the second round, he completely focused on defeating Philip and continued to apply relentless pressure that couldn’t be easily brushed off.

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