11. Clues – 07

It was decided that the dance between Jin and Count Serias would be held at the gymnasium dedicated to class A.

It wasn’t something to hide, but it wasn’t something to gossip about in the neighborhood, so both of them made a tacit agreement to do the dance quietly and implicitly.

And for such a secret duel, the gymnasium dedicated to Class A was indeed the best place.

As it was a gymnasium for swordsmanship training, passers-by wouldn’t pay much attention to it even if it was rather loud, and since the gymnasium dedicated to class A was usually never visited by anyone other than Jin and Altina.

Before the duel between Jin and Count Serias, they decided to first check their physical condition.

Both sides were serious about this duel, and they also had reasons to win.

When it came to facing such an important duel, it was impossible to make unseemly excuses such as “I lost because I was in bad shape today,” and “I couldn’t show my full potential because my body was somehow heavy.”

“… Jin, are you really okay?”

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Meanwhile, Altina was showing a restless attitude, alternating between Jin and Count Serias.

From her point of view, this duel was nothing more than a pointless duel with no real gain.

Why the hell did Father say that Jin was asking for qualifications in serving as his teacher, and Jin accepted his father’s insistence meekly?

As much as his father himself used the expression ‘forced’, if Jin had also firmly refused, his father would not have been able to force him into a duel.

I was anxious. I was very worried that either Jin or Count Serias would be seriously injured in this duel.

… No, to be more precise, the fact that Jin might get hurt at the hands of Count Serias just felt frightening.

Altina knows it too. Jin is strong. Also very much. It’s hard to even imagine for her, who has just reached the level of a master.

No matter how much it is, it is said that Altina has the power to turn an ogre into powder in the blink of an eye, even though it is said that it is a job before Altina rises to the level of a master, and she has the concept of the implementation of various ideas including intentions. He is also a warrior who has risen to a level high enough to inform.

but… But this time the opponent is too bad.

No matter how much Jin is a genius who reached the level of a master at the age of a teenager, Count Serias was a different person from him.

It’s not that he’s overestimating him because he’s his own father. No, rather, being her own father, Altina was well aware of the potential of Count Serias.

The Count was also a genius who learned all of the ‘Song of the Sky’, a unique fighting technique that has been passed down from generation to generation in Serias, at a young age, and has already polished himself over several decades and opened the ‘door’ to rise to a higher level. The fact that he is the supreme strongman who is knocking.

No matter how strong Jin is, he is only in his late teens. However, the count was an absolute being who had already risen to the level of a master even before Jin was born and was resonating throughout the continent.

No matter how much I think about it, this is too reckless.

I don’t want to simply say who is weak and who is strong. In the first place, he wanted to say that the experience the two had accumulated so far was very different.

“Even now it is not too late. I’ll go to my father and explain him well. No, before that, it was okay not to accept a duel like this, right? Because of me alone, because of this me alone, there would be no need for you to endure such a loss… .”

“no.”

However, unexpectedly, Jin cut off Altina’s words and expressed his intention to refuse.

“Thank you for your consideration. However, this is absolutely necessary.”

“… Is it necessary?”

Is it necessary for him, who could be called his teacher, to cross swords with his father?

“Because this is well worth it.”

At Jin’s words, Altina’s face turned red.

Her face flushed red in a different way from when she stopped Count Serias earlier. For some reason, my heart is pounding.

And… It was a little bit, but for some reason I felt my heart pounding.

The fact that you were thinking of me as a woman in a special way, and the fact that only I wasn’t giving any meaning to this relationship with you… It was getting closer to Altina.

On the other hand, there was one person who was questioning Jin’s answer.

– value? What value is there in continuing to pretend to be Altina von Rudel Serias’ teacher?

To Erekaya’s question, Jin answered calmly.

‘It’s a story of loyalty. Or should I say it’s a story related to basic principles?’

– … duty?

‘I conveyed the realization of the future Altina to the current Altina. Then, no matter what, I became Altina’s teacher, and I have an obligation to lead her.

– Is that your loyalty and duty to Altina von Rudel Serias, your former lover?

‘maybe. Or, maybe it’s just my lingering feelings.’

That is just hypocrisy. However, in Erekaya’s eyes, only the stifling foolishness of being unable to throw away that hypocrisy even though she knew full well that she had no meaning was reflected.

– … It’s pitiful.

Yes. It was pitiful indeed.

The appearance of a foolish man who couldn’t shake off his lover even after decades passed, and a foolish woman who couldn’t realize who the man she loved was in love, made her feel so pitiful.

Does that woman know The fact that in his two eyes looking at him, his own image has never been reflected.

The fact that he was simply projecting the image of the person he once loved through her image.

The biggest enemy blocking oneself was none other than oneself. Where else can such a ridiculous and absurd skit exist in the world?

Whether or not he knew Erekaya’s feelings, Jin looked at Altina and smiled bitterly without realizing it.

“I will be back.”

Saying that, Jin lightly placed his hand on Altina’s head and quietly stood up on the stage where Count Serias was waiting.

From now on, it was time to be a little more serious than usual.

****

Jin and Earl Serias stood tall facing each other on the gymnasium.

He hadn’t uttered a single word since he entered the gymnasium until now.

The count, who was just staring at him with his sword abruptly lowered, was as if he were looking at a new sword.

Jin, who confronted him, was also just facing such a count without saying anything.

If there is a difference between the two, is it that the Count has a sword in his hand, but Jin has nothing in his hand?

“Are you not going to pick up a sword?”

At the Count’s question, Jin nodded calmly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Why not use a sword? It is simple indeed.

Originally, Jin did not use a sword. No, to be more precise, it wasn’t that he didn’t know how to use the sword itself, but the sword was not a good weapon for him.

Recently, holding a sword with Altina and facing her at the gymnasium was to master the ‘Dragon Dance’ taught by Erekaya, not because his main skill was a sword.

He didn’t use a sword when dealing with a kid like Hugo. It wasn’t even worth pulling out the sword for such a guy.

But on the other hand, I couldn’t use the sword even against a powerful person like Count Serias.

The opponent is an absolute person who is on the same level as him or has more skills than him.

While facing such an opponent, are you trying to fight with a weapon that you are not familiar with yet? There is nothing more arrogant and foolish than that in the world.

“It is to do my best in my own way.”

“The reason you’re fighting me barehanded rather than raising a sword is to do your best?”

“Yes.”

“You are arrogant. Then why not use Aurors? Could it be that you hurt me, or if that’s not the case, is it because I’m Altina’s father?

At those words, Jin sighed softly. Even though he’s come this far, he’s not really a master, and if he says he doesn’t know how to use auras, there’s no way he’ll believe what he says.

Then, at this moment, there is only one thing Jin has to do.

“That, Count, check it out.”

pounding-

It started with a very small movement. In the very center of the heart, the very weak magic power circled around, a tiny movement.

dismissal-

However, in the next moment, everyone gathered here had the illusion that they had heard a sound like lightning flashing.

… No, it’s not just an illusion.

That was the conclusive proof that a god had begun to dwell in the thunder soul that had been dormant in his veins until now.

I use all the means I have, and use all the methods available to me to defeat the enemy in front of me.

That’s the one and only reward for the past days you and I spent together.

‘Exceed.’

It was time to prove everything he had accumulated in this world over the past years to the opponent in front of him.