CHAPTER 70: WORLD TREE’S BRANCH [1]

"...He filled the entire duel ground with magic."

"There doesn’t seem to be any extraordinary technique. He just pressed it down with magical power."

"Brute force, but effective."

"How much magical power does he have?"

"It’s definitely not a method anyone can casually use."

"Why did he hide his skills all this time?"

Once might be a coincidence. But when coincidences repeat two or three times, they become inevitable.

Students who witnessed the dummy duel that ended instantly due to Gerhard’s performance were surprised by his skill, but there wasn’t the same shock as before.

It had already been publicly revealed in the first practical class that Gerhard had been hiding his strength until now.

Though they didn’t understand why he hid it.

"...This is an unexpected result."

Professor Balmon gave a light applause.

"It was a method that couldn’t be used outside the limited space of a duel ground, but it can be seen as an excellent utilization of the immediate environment."

At the academy, students are taught to use everything available around them.

Utilizing the limited space of the duel ground was also part of a student’s ability.

Starting with Gerhard and Luina, other pairs began to emerge victorious, one by one, as they caused their dummies to stop.

"53 seconds?"

"Ha, unbelievable..."

"Is that even possible?"

"Was Gerhard that skilled?"

Particularly, the reactions of Rudger and Carlo were more intense.

"How did you hide your skills all this time? I’m starting to wonder if you might even steal the second-ranked position."

"Don’t exaggerate."

"Exaggerate? It doesn’t seem like it."

Rudger smiled slightly at Gerhard’s response.

"It seems you’re accommodating your partner, are you aiming for the top position too? Carlo, if you don’t make more effort, your position might be taken."

"I won’t lose my position, Your Highness."

Angry eyes shot at Gerhard.

"The academy isn’t so lenient that one can easily become the top student just by showing a bit of prominence."

"That’s true."

It might be a bit disappointing then.

Carlo’s brow twitched at the low-muttered addition.

"Anyway, Almon. We need to step up too. Being the first and second-ranked, we can’t lose to the second and tenth-ranked, can we?"

"Of course, Your Highness. Anomalies are called anomalies because they have a low probability of occurring."

Almon smiled, showing his fighting spirit. Sparks seemed to fly from the gaze that met with Luina’s.

The difference was only in degree, but students who were in the rankings also had a sense of competition.

"That’s enough. Take your seats. Don’t delay the class."

The strange confrontation ended with Professor Balmon’s restraint.

Thus, all 100 pairs of students fought against dummies, but none surpassed the 53-second mark.

***

"Hmm, Luina."

"Yes."

"We have several dummies made by the Dragon Faith Order at our family home. If you want, I could bring them for practice duels."

"Really?"

Gerhard finally relaxed his tense heart at Luina’s brightened expression.

"Ah, no. That would be too much trouble."

"No, not at all, don’t worry about it."

Despite Luina shaking her head again, Gerhard decided to bring them anyway.

I’ll just bring them in front of her and say that since they’re already here, no one else would use them but her.

’I overlooked the knight’s competitive spirit.’

Gerhard blamed himself and resolved not to make the same mistake next time.

"But are you really revealing your hidden skills because of me?"

Just then, Luina asked a different question. Perhaps the conversation with Rudger was on her mind.

"Would you believe me if I said no?"

"Is it not because of me?"

"No, it is."

Though he had no intention of standing out in the separate classes he took, in places where he was with Luina, it was his intention.

"Because we’re a pair. Your goal is to be the top student, and since you’re going along with my forceful request, I think it’s right to give my best effort."

The reason was, of course, to prevent the worst future that was predicted.

If the being that triggers a malicious future were an unremarkable human, the most efficient thing would be to simply remove them, but when the opponent is a future Royal Knight... well.

If necessary, he’d build her a house made of gold.

’Of course, it would just be gold-plated.’

She wouldn’t break the house to check if it’s real gold.

"..."

For a moment, Luina hesitated, unable to find a response.

"...Your face seems a bit red?"

"That’s your imagination. Thank you for your hard work today. I’ll see you at the next joint lecture."

Luina quickly disappeared with large strides.

Hmm, did it sound like a flirtatious line?

Though it wasn’t intended, he thought it could be perceived that way.

’I can correct the misunderstanding next time.’

It wasn’t something to be particularly concerned about.

"Um, I hope I’m not interrupting at an awkward time?"

"Stop talking nonsense and let’s go eat, Gert."

"It’s the first time I’ve seen Luina react like that. So there was a reason you abandoned me for her?"

"That mouth of yours never rests, does it?"

The person leaning against the wall and clapping was a fellow named Gert Baller. Ranked sixth in the Knight Department, he was originally scheduled to be Gerhard’s pair.

But that became a non-event when Gerhard obtained the prophecy book and formed a pair with Luina.

"Isn’t that my charm?"

"A commoner showing no restraint in speech to a nobleman."

"Is that how you’re going to be? Didn’t you once say that ability was all that mattered?"

"That’s why I’ve kept you by my side until now."

"It’s because of me that I’m still by your side, young master."

"Not because of money?"

"The sponsorship is sweet too."

Gert didn’t hide his greed.

This personality was part of why Gerhard trusted Gert to some extent.

Nobody in the world dislikes money.

If they claim to, they’re either not in their right mind or have an even dirtier agenda.

Those who honestly show their desires, at least, won’t betray if their satisfaction is fulfilled.

Gerhard led Gert into a high-end restaurant owned by the Golden Turtle Company.