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Chapter 75 : The Guardians
🕑 Added 2022-09-03 18:23:50 +0000 UTCTL:SummerPeanut
Freswald -> Fresvald
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February 14, 2030.
The day of the Freshmen Combat Tournament.
All the first year of Lister Imperial School came to the colosseum.
There are 10 S class students participating and 500 cheering students.
It seems that all the first-year students from the other competing schools are also here, and the cheering competition has already begun.
The participating schools from the Lister Confederacy totaled four.
Two from the Balkus Kingdom, and two from the Zarkham Kingdom.
It is said that the status of schools that can participate in this tournament must be quite high.
The colosseum is surrounded by a festive atmosphere.
There is even a place to bet on which school will win.
The favorite overall winner is none other than our Lister Imperial School.
However, the Syrian Royal School is also very popular.
The Royal School of Syrian is the overwhelming favorite to win the martial arts division.
Their odds is 1.1 times. By the way, our odds to win the overall championship is 1.2 times.
That's how much the Royal School of Syrian is ahead in martial arts.
Since we had a little time, the eight S class members, excluding Joseph and Johan, walked outside the colosseum to relax.
Then a pompous-like old man came from the distance and called out "Karen.”
“Father! You have come!"
Karen hugged the man who she called her father.
Is this man the Duke of Fresvald, the first duke of the Lister Confederacy?
Duke Fresvald's hair is also red in color.
“Karen, how is the school? You said you and Baron are temporarily breaking off the engagement?”
“Yes, I did. I enjoyed my experience in school. Baron and I are good friends, even though we only temporarily ended our engagement.”
Then Baron also went to greet the Duke of Fresvald.
"It has been a long time, Duke Fresvald. We have discussed the matter with Karen between us. I believe that you will watch over her again and so my warmest regards.”
"Yeah. I understand. There are a lot of things that happen when you are young after all. Baron, now that you have left the family, you need to stretch your wings a little. But don't play too much. You might get seriously burned so be careful.”
“Thank you for understanding."
Baron bowed and stepped back.
“Karen. Are you going to pledge the oath for the combat tournament?"
“Indeed, that is so. Everyone concurred that I should be the one to do it."
Well, there is really no one better qualified than Karen.
It was a unanimous decision, except for Ellie.
"Ooh, good. That's good. You're also getting along with your classmates, I see. Don't be too proud of being the second-ranked, and be friendly with the lower-ranked ones, too.”
“Eh? But I am ranked 5th though?”
Duke Fresvald was surprised by these words.
“What? Karen is ranked fifth? If Baron is first, who are the other three?”
“Baron is in fourth place. This is the most distinguished year that had never happened in the past. Of course, I and Baron are not complaining because we have been shown the difference in our abilities.”
Then Elie stepped in front of the Duke of Fresvald.
“......Ellie Leo, daughter of Barnes Leo, former Duke of Syrian......”
At these words, the Duke of Fresvald was surprised but also happy.
“Oh! You're Lord Barnes's....... I’m glad. We will support you to become the Duke of Syrian! I've had a bit of a run-in with the current Duke of Syrian. You can rest assured that we will do everything we can to assist you in becoming the Duke of Syrian. I see the Golden Lion you being in the same grade means that you are the first ranked. That makes sense.”
"......I'm ranked third......and ranked first is my fiancée."
What kind of introduction is that......?
“To think that even the Golden Lion, Ellie, is ranked third. This year’s participant level is so high I even feel numb."
I made eye contact with Duke Fresvald. I had no choice but to introduce myself too.
“Nice to meet you, Duke Fresvald. My name is Mars Bryant.”
Then Duke Fresvald said to me
"Did you say, Bryant? Are you related to Ike?”
“Yes, Ike is my brother.”
Then the Duke of Fresvald suddenly pressed on.
“Is it possible that the ranked second is also related to you?"
Duke Fresvald touched his chin and pondered for a moment before asking, and Clarice, who was in the very back of the room, came forward and said
“How do you do, Duke Fresvald? I am also Mars's fiancée and I am Clarice Lampard. I am a first-year student at the Lister Imperial School, ranked second."
Duke Fresvald looked at Clarice and was amazed by her beauty and the word ‘fiancée’.
"Mars, my dear. Where do you hail from?"
“The Kingdom of Balkus, sir.”
"So Glenn and all of this year's first three rankers are from the Kingdom of Balkus. That's a complete breakdown of order.....”
An external voice answered Duke Fresvald's soliloquy.
“No, I think differently. His Excellency the Duke of Fresvald."
It was Count Beetle, the lord of the Grantham Labyrinth City, who said that.
Moreover, next to Count Beetle are Clarice's parents, Gray and Erna, and behind them were Zeke, Maria, Leena, and Ike.
Clarice rushed to Gray and Erna at once.
It’s 4 years distance reunion. Tears welled up in their eyes.
“I apologize for the delay in my introduction. I am Raoul Grace, Count Beetle of the Zarkham Kingdom. This is Viscount Grey of the Zarkham Kingdom.”
Count Beetle greeted Duke Fresvald, and now Zeke.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Count Bryant, Zeke Bryant. It is an honor to meet you, Duke of Fresvald.”
And then Count Beetle broke his back to me.
Then Count Beetle said to me
“Long time no see, Sir Sword Saint. Will you help us again?”
He asked me with a smile as if he was happy to see me again after a long time.
“The thought of having the honor to assist you did not even cross my mind... I am the person I am today thanks to Count Beetle. If there is anything I can do to help, I will do so gladly.”
The Duke of Fresvald, who had been watching the series of events, said
"The marriage and alliance between the kingdoms of Balkus and Zarkham...... T-this is not good! We must do something!"
Duke Fresvald said hurriedly, and Count Beetle said
“After this, I would like to discuss things with just the adults. I hope we can all build a win-win relationship."
When Count Beetle said so, this time from somewhere else…
"Then I wonder if you'll let me join you.”
And Sasha came out.
In the end, the adults and Ike all decided to watch the tournament together in the meantime and to get to know each other somewhere else.
“That was some amazing development, isn’t it?”
Minerva said to us, and everyone nodded.
“Clarice isn't from the Balkus Kingdom?”
“Yes. When I was six years old, I went with Mars from the Zarkham Kingdom to the Balkus Kingdom, and we met Misha on the way.”
For some reason, Leena is on Clarice's back.
Huh? Leena, what are you going to do now? Zeke and Maria have gone away somewhere...then Baron turned to Clarice.
“Clarice, who's that pretty girl on your back? Mind if you introduce her?"
Hey, I thought you were going for Clarice! Then Leena jumped to my side.
Leena seemed to be wearing a bracelet, and it actually hurt when it hit me.
When all eyes, except Clarice and Ellie, saw this, their eyes were as if asking how many people I have to seduce before I am satisfied.
“Hey, Leena, say hello to everyone.”
I couldn't stand the way everyone was staring at me so I asked Leena to introduce herself.
"I'm Leena Bryant."
Leena introduced herself cutely and this time Baron saw her hug Ellie.
“I see, there is also the possibility where Mars might become my brother-in-law?”
Everyone laughed at Baron's words. No, even Karen laughed...I guess people in this world have different sensibilities than I do…
Then Lorenz rushed over to us and told us to come back ASAP, so we went back to the colosseum.
When we returned to the colosseum, the principal, Duke Regan, was there and told us that
“I'm terribly sorry, but we're going to have to change the members for today.”
““““What !?”””””
“I'll tell you why later but listen carefully.”
Martial arts division
Rank 1: Mars
Rank 2: Clarice
Rank 3: Ellie
Rank 4: Baron
Rank 6: Dominique
Magic division
Rank 5: Karen
Rank 7: Misha
Rank 8: Joseph
Rank 9: Minerva
Rank 10: Johan
I had Clarice and Misha switched.
"What's the big deal all of a sudden, putting the top ranks in the martial arts division?"
When Karen asked her about it, Duke Regan said.
"If the Royal School of Syrian wins the martial arts division this time, the duke said he would withdraw from this Freshmen Combat Tournament from now on.”
“Is there any issue?”
“Their reason. That apparently it's boring to see the superiority of the Royal School of Syrian, which is composed only of beastmen, winning first place for the past five years. The beastmen are the best so they don't have to work with other races anymore. And by extension, the Dukedom of Syrian is thinking of becoming independent."
“Wouldn't that just invite the other 11 Dukes of the Lister Confederacy to crush the Dukedom of Syrian?”
“Normally you would think so but the opposite party is the Duke of Syrian. There must be something behind them......that's why we can't lose this battle. It doesn’t feel right to entrust politics to students but this is the only way. Please, please do your best!"
Duke Regan stared into my eyes.
I wonder if she is using her Magic Eyes?
“I understand. I originally thought that I couldn't lose to the Royal School of Syrian, so I shall give it my all."
The 284-year-old, who by all appearances only looked around 20 years old, jumped in joy.
Instead, I had her send Leena to Zeke and the others.
Then, at the same time as Karen's greeting as the representative of the freshmen, the tournament is held.
The matches are held on a tournament basis.
The winner of the previous tournament in the martial arts division, the Royal School of Syrian, is on the leftmost team in the tournament.
In contrast, we were the third place last time, and our name is the fifth from the left.
We will be going against the Royal School of Cereans in the finals....*1
This year's tournament is different from previous years in that instead of alternating between the martial arts and magic divisions, the magic division is to be completed first before the martial arts division.
It seems that this was also suggested by Duke Syrian, and after discussions with the principals of the other schools, including Duke Regan, they agreed to Duke Syrian’s proposal.
The reason is that the martial arts division is, frankly, more exciting.
The reason is simple: there are fewer wizards to begin with, and 10-year-olds don't have enough MP to fight in a series of battles. That's why it often ends in a draw.
It is said that in the first round of the magic division, the competitors often run out of MP and end up not being able to do anything in the second round.
The rule of the magic division was that only attacks from 50 meters or more are allowed.
Therefore, a line was drawn 25 meters to the left and right from the center of the colosseum, and students are then allowed to shoot at each other with magic and bows from outside the line.
In this world, there are fewer archers than magicians.
The reason is that arrows are heavy to carry and inefficient.
MP can be recovered by sleeping but arrows do not recover even if you sleep.
It was no wonder that it is unfavorable for students and adventurers.
And as expected, the magic division quickly reached its conclusion.
The Lister Imperial School won 5-0 in all the matches up to the finals.
The schools we compete against had no archers.
There were few wizards, and even if there were, their MP…and the Freshmen Combat Tournament’s martial arts division, began.
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Author’s note:
If you feel the series is even a bit interesting and are curious about the story’s continuation, please consider giving ★★★★★ and bookmark as it will really help with my motivation. m(__)m
I am also on Twitter.
I would be delighted if you would follow me on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/qdUYSDZf8XzNaUq
TL’s note:
- This is obvious if you remember they are a total of 8 schools. 1(Syrian Royal School),2,3,4 then 5(Lister Imperial School),6,7,8.
