-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first semester midterm practical exam for the swordsmanship department's freshmen is a swordsmanship sparring match with the juniors from the third grade.
It's one of the oldest traditions of Elton Academy.
Since each grade lives in completely separate areas, it's practically the first time to meet academy seniors.
The professors in charge of the first and third grades divide the swordsmanship department students into three groups according to their swordsmanship achievement level.
Group A, Group B, and Group C.
And within each group, randomly matched first and third grade students will engage in a sparring match.
Bellum gestures with his palms facing upwards, as if questioning.
"It's obvious that Bonita is in Group A, but isn't Professor Stella being a bit too much by putting Davian in Group A too?"
Nubes agrees.
"That's right. Even though Davian's skills have improved a lot. It's been less than two months since he even started holding a sword. Sparring with a Group A senior."
Liber, from the magic department, asks.
"Then what groups are Nubes and Bellum in?"
"We're in Group B. Nubes, this big guy, is right on the Group B cut-off line."
Nubes flares up.
"What? Why am I the cut-off line? Who said that?"
"Isn't it true? Who's worse at swordsmanship than you in Group B?"
"That's... Hey! I'm going to push forward as a tank. My goal is to become a swordsman who is stronger and has more power than anyone else."
"Yeah, who's saying anything? Even now, you look like the strongest and most powerful in the first grade."
"Is that a compliment?"
"I guess?"
At that moment, Bonita, who was eating quietly, opens her mouth.
"It doesn't matter what group anyone is in."
Liber turns to Bonita and asks.
"Huh? Why?"
"Everyone will lose anyway. There's only one student every few decades who wins against a third grade student during the first semester midterm evaluation. Can you guys in the magic department win against a third grade senior?"
"A third grade senior? Oh, no way."
"It's the same for the swordsmanship department. The only important thing is how you lose, and how much you show before you go down."
"I see. Anyway, good luck. Bonita, Bellum, Nubes, Davian."
Bellum asks.
"Thanks, Liber. Then what exams do you guys have left in the magic department besides the common exam?"
"Now that we've finished potion making, we only have the summoning magic class exam left."
"So everyone except Davian only has one exam left. Anyway, after that, we only have next week's dungeon exploration evaluation left."
The next day, morning.
The swordsmanship department exam is being held on the training ground.
The midterm practical evaluation is taking place on the arena where the first sparring class was held.
On one side, the third grade students, who have turned 19 this year, are sitting in a row.
As they came to help with their juniors' midterm evaluations, awnings were also prepared above their seats to block the sunlight.
On the opposite side, the swordsmanship department freshmen are sitting in a row.
As with the previous classes, no awnings were prepared.
On the arena, a sparring match between two students was already unfolding.
Thwack! Thwack!
"Agh! Ack!"
The freshmen students murmured.
"How many is this already? Is this really a midterm exam? It feels like the third grades just came to beat us up."
"Did we do something wrong?"
"What wrong. We haven't even properly met any seniors since entering."
"Maybe someone made a mistake while passing by in the city."
"Then what about the professors who are just watching? Does this just happen every year?"
"Ah, damn. What do I do when it's my turn."
Already ten people.
It was more of a one-sided beating than a sparring match.
The Group C sparring was in progress, and it didn't even take an hour for the ten sparring matches to end.
Every single freshman who went up on the arena was repeatedly hit all over their bodies by the wooden swords wielded by the third grade students and collapsed.
Nubes, sitting in the Group B seat, turns his head to Bellum, who is behind him.
"Bellum, you have an older sister in the academy, right? Haven't you heard anything? Is this midterm exam originally about getting beaten up by seniors and ending it?"
"I don't know either. I haven't heard anything like that from my sister."
"Then are we the only class getting beaten up like this?"
"I don't think so... That fox-like bitch."
"Who?"
"My sister. She definitely didn't tell me on purpose. How this exam is conducted."
"Why didn't she tell you?"
"Why else? To come without knowing and get beaten up a lot. Because she would have done the same thing."
Professor Stella's shout was heard.
"Stop! That's it."
The last student in Group C was already lying on the arena and couldn't even get up.
It took only 5 minutes to get to this point.
As if it were a familiar sight, two staff members carried a stretcher and went up to take the freshman student down to the arena.
A temporary infirmary tent was set up below the arena.
"Okay, that's the end of Group C's sparring. Next, Group B, get ready."
Thwack! Thwack!
"Agh!"
Group B's sparring also progressed in the same pattern.
The only difference was that the hands of the third grade students beating them up became even fiercer.
Still, since they weren't making attacks that would kill or cripple them, Group B's sparring time was longer than Group C's.
There were some students who managed to block one or two attacks, and they were generally tougher than the students in Group C.
"Ugh..."
After Bellum was also carried out on a stretcher, it became Nubes's turn.
His opponent was also a muscular male student from the third grade.
"I'm Nubes Arbo from the first grade."
"I'm Baron Mirion. But why are you in Group B with that body? Just looking at your muscles, I thought you would be the ace of the first grade."
"The other friends are better."
"Really? You're beating around the bush saying you're not good."
"Please take care of me."
"Ha. Take care of you? You saw your friends sparring until now. It's the same for you. Prepare to get beaten to death. This is the academy tradition. You have to feel the difference in skill in every bone to become more desperate."
Tada.
The third grade Baron Mirion raised his wooden sword and leaped forward.
"Huff, huff."
Baron Mirion heavily heaves his shoulders and takes deep breaths.
"Agh... What kind of guy is this."
On the other side, Nubes Arbo, whose whole body was covered in bruises, was standing with his sword.
Aura cannot be used in this sparring match.
And the only weapon they have is a wooden sword.
Therefore, it is not easy to launch a strong attack that would deal a fatal blow.
Because the wooden sword would break.
Of course, the wooden sword wielded by a third grade student at Elton Academy is definitely different from the one wielded by an ordinary person.
However, the muscles and external force of the freshman Nubes Arbo were also not those of an ordinary person.
He had been pounding away with all his might for over 20 minutes, but Nubes had not yet fallen.
It wasn't that he was blocking Baron's sword with excellent swordsmanship.
He just had crazy toughness.
'He's got crazy toughness. I must never get involved. If I put even a little more force into it, the wooden sword will break. I need to knock down that beast-like guy quickly.'
Whether he knew Baron's mind or not, Nubes was just firmly holding his ground.
"You bastard. You're amazing. I admit your toughness."
"If it were a real sword, I would have died from the first attack. You're amazing, senior."
Nubes had no intention of speaking sarcastically.
But it was enough for Baron Mirion, who had become the only third grade student who had not been able to knock down a first grade student for over 20 minutes, to hear it as a sarcastic tone.
'You arrogant bastard, just a big troll.'
Baron's sword began to cut through the air again.
Thwack! Thwack!
Bonita frowned.
"Is that really a senior? Now he's openly aiming only for vital points."
Davian as well.
"What kind of senior is that? He's a complete thug."
Clang!
Nubes barely managed to block Baron's wooden sword, which was stabbing at his solar plexus.
Bonita exclaimed softly.
"Hooh, Nubes. He's not just mindlessly big, is he? Is it because he's a swordsman?"
"That third grade's sword has already lost its composure."
"I know that too, Davian."
A while later.
Eventually, Professor Stella's voice echoed.
"Stop. 30 minutes have passed."
The training ground became quiet as if cold water had been poured on it.
Only after a few seconds did cheers erupt from the first grade camp.
"Woah!"
"He endured! He endured! He endured 30 minutes against a third grade!"
"Finally, hope is in sight!"
"Is someone going to win at this rate?"
"Eh, that's a bit... Anyway, good job, Nubes! Nubes Arbo!"
"Nubes!"
"Nubes!"
The first graders chanted Nubes's name.
"Quiet."
Professor Stella's low and cold voice.
"What's so good that you're all excited about? Standing there for 30 minutes without hitting a single blow, is that sparring? Reflect on yourselves. First graders."
With Professor Stella's one word, the first grade camp quickly became dejected.
"Nubes, go get treatment."
Thud.
Nubes, who was heading to the infirmary, knelt down on the spot.
Bellum, who happened to be coming out of the infirmary after finishing treatment, saw the scene and jumped onto the arena.
"Are you okay? Nubes?"
"Yeah. Just help me up, Bellum."
"Help you up? Just lie still. The staff will bring a stretcher."
Nubes shook his head.
"No. Help me up, Bellum. I endured for 30 minutes so I wouldn't be carried out on a stretcher. I really thought I was going to die..."
"Ah..."
Bellum helped Nubes, who looked twice as big as himself, get up.
"Good job, kid. You worked hard. You're amazing, our big guy."
"One... person has to endure."
Despite Nubes's good fight, the remaining Group B sparring also ended one-sidedly.
Next is Group A's sparring.
The first turn was Billy's.
A 2-star swordsman from a commoner background.
The main character who was thoroughly beaten by Rex Flumen in the first swordsmanship department sparring class.
There were rumors that he had been doing personal training harder than anyone else since that day.
His friends often said that he wouldn't lose even if he fought Rex again.
But.
It was not enough to close the gap with the third grade students.
"Cough!"
Billy ended up with both knees and both hands on the floor in less than 5 minutes.
The first grade camp became noisy again.
"What is it? Is it because it's Group A?"
"I didn't even see that senior's sword properly."
"It seems to be on a different level than before. It's amazing from the start."
"How can there be such a sound when he swings a wooden sword?"
"That's right. It sounded like a real sword."
"It looks like Billy's shoulders are completely shattered?"
Thus, starting with Billy, the Group A freshmen began to be beaten more harshly than any other group.
"Davian."
"Huh? Why, Bonita."
"What kind of tradition is this? It's just bullying and demoralizing the freshmen."
"That's what I'm saying. They're beating us up now because they were beaten up too. Like in the army."
"The army? How do you know about the army, Davian?"
Because I've been there.
I was a top marksman despite looking like this.
But there's no need to go into details.
"Ah, I heard it from somewhere."
"Anyway."
Bonita Fortis continues speaking with a determined expression.
"Let's... win."
"I wasn't planning on losing?"
Bonita turned her head and stared intently at Davian.
Soon, a chuckle leaked out.
"Yeah, Davian, you're right. I wasn't planning on losing either."
Comments
Post a Comment