Chapter 13 Fierce Shidou
"Is he serious about challenging Instructor Shidou?"
"Hey, is he really strong?"
"No. We were in the same class at the Training Academy, but he wasn't like that at all. I think he lost more in practice battles."
"Isn't he just a follower of the Senegal family heir? Maybe he's just paying people off."
"That's impossible. Instructor Shidou is famous for being a 'clean official' who never accepts bribes, even in the corrupt knight order."
"Then why is this happening?"
"I don't know. Maybe he lost his mind."
Whispers and murmurs filled the air.
In the middle of the ground, where confusion and suspicion danced together, I looked up at the sky with mixed feelings.
(Hahaha... I never thought my moment would come so soon.)
This was the first step on my path to becoming a knight.
Even though I lost to my rival Shura, I was facing the eyepatch knight who had an aura of strength.
Surrounding me were the audience members who didn't think I had a chance of winning.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Is there any other situation more fitting for Knight Hiiro to take the stage? No, there isn't.
"Hiiro Merifar. Are you ready?"
"You blind or what?" (Bring it on!)
"Ha, I see."
As I tightened my grip on the sword's handle, the instructor smiled and got into position.
"Then, let's begin the test──bring it on!"
"!"
As soon as it started, a wave of pressure froze my spine.
The intense killing intent in his one eye felt like a blade pressed against me, even though we were more than 5 meters (16ft) apart.
"!?"
No, it wasn't like that.
In an instant, as I tried to resist the pressure, the instructor was right in front of me.
And that wasn't all. The blade he held flashed. An upward slash from below.
It was so fast that it looked twisted like a snake.
But somehow, I managed to see it and barely block it.
I could block it, but...
"Ugh!?" (What!? It's heavy!)
"Oh, you blocked it. But..."
"!"
"Your side is open."
"Uh-oh... ugh, ah!?"
It wasn't just fast. The power behind it was incredible.
The impact from blocking the upward slash lifted my body off the ground.
No way. How strong is he?
My dazed thoughts were wiped away by a palm strike that hit my exposed torso.
"Ugh."
With a blurred vision, I was sent flying horizontally.
This time, it wasn't just floating. I flew straight and landed on my shoulder. It was a miracle I didn't drop my sword.
"Ugh... cough, cough!"
Using the momentum from my fall, I managed to avoid crashing down completely. But the taste of iron filled my mouth. I couldn't hold back a cough, and a clot of blood came out.
Seeing the red stain I made on the ground made my blood run cold.
"Not yet."
"Ugh, damn it!"
But I didn't have time to be distracted by my opponent's strength.
Just as I steadied my breath, the instructor was already closing the distance with another strike.
(Next, he's coming from above!)
"Close."
"What!?"
Power, speed. Plus, skill.
Just when I thought he was coming down from above, he slashed upward again. Before I could adjust my angle to block, his sword reached my body.
"Ugh──."
A dull pain shot through my side. I tried to shake it off, but the instructor had already stepped back, out of reach.
The pain made sweat drip down my forehead. But before that sweat could hit the ground, the instructor's follow-up attack was faster.
"Hmm. Your counter is weak."
"Ugh, take this!!"
If I blocked the upward slash, he would swing sideways.
If I blocked the swing, he would thrust.
If I dodged the thrust, he would come down again.
The rapid-fire attacks didn't give me a chance to breathe; it was like a rain of swords.
No, it was more than rain. It was a storm.
No matter how much I blocked, the relentless downpour kept chipping away at me.
"Tch!"
"You won't give up, huh? Then!"
From the outside, it looked like a repeat of the first exam battle.
But the situation was completely different.
Back then, the test taker (Shura) was the one attacking non-stop, but now it's me (the test taker) being attacked non-stop.
And unlike the instructor, I can't block everything.
The combination of speed and power in the continuous strikes breaks through my guard and hits my body past my defenses.
On my knees, shoulders, arms, and face.
Every time the sword swings, more and more injuries appear on my body.
"Enough."
"!"
"Already!!"
If this keeps up, it's really bad.
I shake off the pain wrapping around my body and gather all my strength.
This is my chance to turn things around. Even in the storm, I find the opening in the series of attacks and strike hard.
"Hmm."
"Damn it, acting so calm."
It's a desperate counterattack. But with all my strength, what I managed to gain wasn't victory, just a few steps of distance at best.
Turning things around feels far away. The instructor on the receiving end doesn't show any signs of losing composure.
(Ah, damn it. This person is really strong.)
I didn't underestimate him.
Even in his one-on-one with Shura, I could tell from his sword skills and footwork that he was a skilled fighter.
(Haha, I don't feel like I can win. Is this what they call a bad game?)
After crossing swords a few times, I realize again.
Right now, I'm up against someone I can't possibly match.
A high wall that I can't overcome, no matter how hard I try.
If this were a game, it would feel like a losing event, making me want to throw down the controller.
(...But, that's why I'm sure.)
However, I've known from the start that this was the case.
Even so, I don't doubt my choice because there are '2 types' of losing events.
One is when it makes sense for the protagonist to lose here for the story to progress later.
They have to lose because winning isn't allowed.
It's frustrating, but it's a reasonable logic when you think about the story's framework.
And the other type is...
"...Hmm. You're an interesting one."
"Huh?"
"From what I can see, you have some skill. Your footwork, your stance, your eye movements. What you have is that of someone who knows how to fight. It's rough, but not bad."
"..."
"But if that's the case, you should understand even more. The gap between us. You should have sensed it without even crossing swords. Right now, you're being pushed back without landing a single hit. In that situation, why are you... 'still smiling'?"
Doesn't make sense, huh? Well, that's true. The difference between me and the instructor is clear. It's reckless no matter how you look at it. It's like a goblin with a club challenging a dragon.
But.
Even if it seems reckless to everyone else, I can see a way to win.
That's the other type of losing event.
The protagonist who endures and never gives up, blooming the seeds of a counterattack.
A moment in the story where the overwhelming disadvantage turns into excitement.
In other words──an awakening event.
"Got no clue. But it's always the same crap." (You wouldn't understand even if I told you.)
"...?"
"Last one laughing’s the real winner." (But I'm the one who will win in the end.)
"...Oh."
Did my answer strike a chord?
The instructor's serious face softened just a bit, looking somewhat amused.
But that was just for a brief moment.
After that tiny moment, as if it were an illusion...
"Interesting."
"────Ugh!"
An even fiercer attack came crashing down on me.
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