Chapter 55: Semi-final

After the conclusion of the first semifinal, the second semifinal begins.

Yes… finally, the match between Philip and Michela begins.

“Yeahhhh!!!! Philip!!!! No need to hold back!!! Even if you chop off an arm or two, she won’t die, so give it your all!!!!”

“Uh, um… G-Good luck to both of you!!!”

“…Ishud. Why don’t you learn a bit from Gulf?”

“I’m not lying unnecessarily; I’m just being honest with my feelings!!!!”

Regarding the cheering content, Ishud is teased by Byron, who is the homeroom teacher, but Ishud responds with a nonchalant expression as if saying something good… Once again, he only cheers for Phillip.

As Gulf, he cannot compare which one is more important, and he never gets swallowed up by Ishud’s cheering, expressing his feelings of support as they are.

Ishud has no complaints about that attitude…Rather, he feels Gulf’s strength in that posture and even spills a small smile.

Of course, Michela also receives a lot of cheers, and it never becomes a situation where only Ishud’s cheers are heard, not causing any turmoil in Michela’s heart.

“Hehehe, what a face you’re making, can’t say anything, huh?”

“I understood. However… being treated so openly like this makes me want to furrow my brow.”

“How about furrowing it all the way? He’d burst into laughter, I bet.”

“Do you forget? Phillip, you too… are someone I want to cut down just as much as that man.”

“Oh~~~ That’s scary.”

Ending their chat there, the two take a few steps back and get ready at the starting point.

Then, from the audience, albeit sporadically, voices of doubt begin to spill.

“…It’s not a clever strategy, is it?”

“Leave it to your imagination~~”

Unlike the previous matches, Phillip is equipped not only with a dagger but also with a sword that is a mix between a dagger and a longsword in his other hand.

At a glance, it looks like dual-wielding, similar to Michera’s twin swords.

(You shouldn’t think it’s the same dual-wielding as mine, though.)

It might be a provocation. It might be taunting.

Or perhaps… it could be an insult to win.

Usually, irritation would be building up, but… Phillip, bringing such a tactic into his match.

In other words, he’s seriously intending to win against her.

Thinking that, strangely, it doesn’t feel bad at all, and the wrinkles on her forehead have already completely disappeared.

“Both of you, refrain from life-threatening attacks. Now then… begin!!!!”

“Hyaaah!!!!”

The two have already engaged in simulated battles many times in private.

Having already read each other’s patterns to some extent, they seem to start without the need for cautious observation.

Even with Phillip wielding not just a dagger but another sword, Michela didn’t need to overly worry.

“Hey, hey, quite daring, aren’t we?”

“There’s still a long way to go. Can you keep up?”

True to her words, Michela’s movements accelerate even further.

The speed of the twin swords increases, and the whirlwind-clad strike carries a sharpness that one absolutely wouldn’t want to experience.

(I knew it, it’s top-notch.)

In his mind, Phillip sends admiration to Michela, his opponent.

Even if someone were to tell him that praising his opponent in the midst of a match is quite relaxed, he would deny it. 

However… in reality, Phillip’s dual-wielding of dagger and sword proves to be quite effective in both defense and offense.

(He has been training behind my back… or perhaps, he had already mastered it. Did he intentionally refrain from using it in front of us?)

Phillip’s dual-wielding.

This combat style is something even Ishud and Gulf, who are watching from the spectator seats, have never seen.

(Hey, hey, he’s become quite the expert. But he’s barely holding his ground… no, is that a bluff?)

(Dual-wielding a dagger and a slightly shorter longsword? That’s right. Phillip, he could do something like that… but in terms of attack power alone, isn’t Michela-san superior?)

Naturally, the fact that their friend is showcasing a combat style they’ve never seen in front of them on such a grand stage has elevated their excitement.

“Huh!? Ugh! Take this!!!”

“Hey, hey, be careful. Isn’t that a bit rough?”

“You’ve become quite adept at it.”

“I’m just making the most of the versatility of a mercenary.”

Amidst the repeated intense exchanges, Phillip seizes the opportunity and swaps the weapons in his left and right hands.

With both having a narrow cross-range, misjudging the expected distance in close combat could swiftly alter the course of the battle.

(Adept… Can it be performed at such a level?)

While not impossible, it’s something an amateur would likely die attempting. 

Even someone moderately skilled would face death.

It’s not an action to be taken against Michera, who, among dual-wielders, is enveloped in the wind and has further accelerated.

“Well then, let’s keep dancing!”

“Hyah!”

Not intending to let her rest any longer, Philip is determined to finish her off… However, Michela’s defense and evasion skills are exceptional.

Her reaction speed is also superior to the mercenary Phillip, allowing her to avoid attacks even with a bit of recklessness and counter with her own.

(But, if I continue like this, there will be no end to it!!!!)

Without taking a bold step forward, the deadlock won’t break.

For Michela now… that was certainly not a difficult thing to do.

(Now… here)

Gradually, gradually slowing down the sword speed.

Intentionally… Lowering it to a level that wouldn’t be noticed resulted in a successful bait.

“Shi!!! Seaa!!!!!!”

“Guh!!!!”

In the moment of bringing back the dagger and sword, flicking the dagger in mid-air and swinging the remaining twin swords.

It was truly a close call, using the sword as a shield and jumping.

“One… Two… Three.”

“Well, well, well… was it a trap? You’ve become quite capable of such things, huh? Not a very typical way of doing things, is it?”

“You certainly had a graceful performance.”

The moment Phillip guarded against the slashing attack enveloped in a whirlwind, he lightly kicked the ground as if surrendering himself to the flow.

Intentionally making an exaggerated leap, he jumped outside the ring.

Once outside the ring, there would be no pursuit, and he could retrieve the deflected dagger.

(Was the sword speed slowing down little by little? When facing someone like Michela, it’s hard to make snap judgments.)

(Most likely, he has noticed what I did.)

The same trick won’t work twice.

Michela, understanding this, did not change her actions.

On the other hand, despite wearing a weary expression, Phillip’s course of action had already been determined.

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