Elze headed to the dormitory to treat Astin's injuries and have a quiet talk.
As it was a rule that all children of noble families stayed in single rooms, Astin was also staying in a single room.
There, they would pay their own expenses to hire a servant or maid, and they would throw away all the basic items provided and replace them with expensive ones, which was the general way nobles used their dormitories.
But Astin was different. Elze was speechless when she entered Astin's room.
The room was neatly organized, but everything was old and cheap. Not only were the basic items provided used, but even the items that had to be purchased with personal money were all of low quality.
The old books were all used, and the clothes were also in poor condition. Looking at the paper and the pencils that were written on tightly without leaving even a corner, Else felt like crying. She hadn't asked yet, but it seemed like she could see how Astin had lived at Aquis University.
“I, I’m sorry... Sister...”
Astin couldn't raise his head in front of Elze. Seeing his only brother looking down at the floor without even making eye contact broke Elze's heart.
“Astin...”
Elze barely managed to call Astin's name, but she had no idea what to say.
She believed that Austin would do well on his own. She had been sending him enough money to make sure that he was not lacking, and she could tell from his report cards that he was consistently at the top of his class and that he was doing well.
But all of that was just Elze's thoughts. The reality of Astin that she saw when she came to see him was bleak. Elze tried not to cry and spoke in a choked voice.
“Where did you spend all the money your sister sent you?”
Astin, who had been bowing his head, muttered softly.
“How do I spend that money?”
The moment she heard those words, she felt sad. Astin continued to mumble in a voice that sounded like it might burst at any moment.
“It’s money that my older sister Elze worked hard to earn while living abroad, but I know how difficult it is for our family...”
"No!"
Elze couldn't stand it anymore and cut him off. Elze grabbed Astin's shoulder and said.
“Not anymore, Astin. Not anymore!”
At Elze's words, Astin just shook his head quietly.
“There’s a chance you might get divorced, and who knows what will happen in the future? If I could save up some and give it back to my sister as an emergency fund...”
“Astin!”
Elze felt as if her heart was breaking. It would have been better if Astin had been just like other kids his age, ignorant and immature. Then he would have lived comfortably with the money she sent without thinking.
But the thoughtful and deep Astin could not do that. Feeling guilty about Elze, he tried to find something he could do for his sister. That's why he lived in poverty and endured the bullying.
He needs to graduate quickly so he doesn't become a burden to his older sister.
“Listen carefully, Astin. Look straight at your sister.”
Astin's shoulders hunched at Elze's angry voice. However, he hesitantly raised his head as Elze told him to. Elze looked Astin in the eye and spoke clearly.
“Never do that again. This is not for your own good. And I have more money than you can imagine. When you come home during the holidays, I’ll show you how rich Targayel is now. Got it?”
Astin nodded at Elze's words that were constantly being hurled at him. Elze let out a sigh. Then she asked the question she was most curious about.
“...Why do they bother you?”
Astin hesitated and spoke cautiously.
“Those kids, they’re the swordsmanship club.”
“Swordsmanship club?”
“Because I bear the name of Targayel...”
Hearing that, she could roughly guess the circumstances. Among those who wield a sword, no one did not know the talent of the sword that had been passed down through generations in Targayel. And it was also true that Targayel was falling apart when the talent of the sword was cut off.
Teenage boys tend to want to prove their position by trampling on others. For them, who were full of childishness, Astin would have been a good prey.
Her head was burning with a fever. She should have just laid down and hit the back of each of those guys' heads right there.
While she was bubbling with anger, Elze's eyes caught a glimpse of a small flyer on the desk. It was a promotional flyer that clearly listed the events of the academic festival.
“Swordsmanship competition...”
At the very front of the flyer, there was a large phrase written, “Aquis Fencing Competition.” And underneath that, there was a small phrase written, “General public participation is welcome.” Elze picked up the flyer. She read the fencing competition section carefully and asked Astin.
“Does the swordsmanship club have to participate in the swordsmanship competition?”
“Ah, uh. It’s mandatory, so...”
Elze clenched her fist. With a squeak, the leaflet was crumpled mercilessly in her hand.
“Uh, Sister Elze...?”
Astin looked at Elze anxiously. Shan must have scolded them, but that was Shan's doing. The sister's anger at seeing her only sibling being bullied did not subside that much.
“Yeah, so you’re saying that even ordinary people can participate...?”
I've found everything. Elze smiled crookedly.
Elze finished talking to Astin in the dormitory, treated him neatly with a few medicines, and even gave him some pocket money.
Although Astin stubbornly denied the need, Elze forcefully gave him the money. She even made him promise to write a report in the next letter about what he had bought with the money.
“And Astin, spend some time with Shan tomorrow.”
“The Count and I?”
Elze said calmly to the surprised Astin.
“Yes. I’ll talk to Shan about it, so you can buy new glasses and some dorm stuff.”
The people who were the biggest obstacles to Elze's plan were Shan and Astin. The two had to go on a date together under the pretext of getting closer to his brother-in-law.
Of course, an ordinary person would not dare to ask Shan to do such a thing, but Elze, who secretly felt comfortable with Shan, did not feel at all that her thoughts were strange. She was only worried about how she could ask Shan to do it so that he would listen. Elze, who was planning this and that in her head, added, “Oh, right.”
“Oh, and don’t ever say my nickname in front of Shan.”
“Nickname? Elze?”
“Yeah, absolutely not!”
After giving Astin a strong order, Elze asked what event Astin was participating in. As expected, Astin was participating in an academic presentation.
The academic presentation on the research project conducted during the semester was one of the main events of the Aquis Academic Festival along with the swordsmanship competition. It was a high-level event with many prominent scholars in attendance and in-depth Q&A.
“Tomorrow is the swordsmanship competition, the day after tomorrow is the academic presentation...”
Elze, who muttered to herself about her schedule, promised to definitely go see the academic presentation and then returned to her dorm. As soon as she returned to her dorm, she gathered Elijah and others and made a bombshell announcement.
“I’m going to the fencing competition.”
All of Elijah's friends were surprised by Elze's words. Rapine put on his gun and asked a question.
“Are you talking about the swordsmanship competition hosted by Aquis University?”
"Yes."
The swordsmanship competition held as an event during the academic festival at Aquis University was famous.
The Aquis swordsmanship competition, which even ordinary people could participate in, was a gateway to becoming a knight. It was often an unknown mercenary, knight, or ordinary people who participated to make a name for themselves. If they achieved good results in the competition, they would receive calls from many noble families, so they would even come from abroad to participate.
Students in the swordsmanship department of Aquis University were required to participate in the swordsmanship competition. The purpose of the swordsmanship competition was to provide students who lacked practical experience with an opportunity to gain experience by pairing them with experienced opponents.
The match was decided fairly. However, since all the students were from noble families, the ordinary participants were only there to teach.
When a student and an ordinary person competed against each other, it was a basic rule to treat them gently enough to win, and to protect the student's pride to some extent in the process.
“Chief, I understand how you feel, but... We will take care of it.”
Rapine carefully tried to dissuade Elze. Elijah had also been hiding as an escort earlier, so he had seen the scene where Astin was being treated. He knew what Elze was thinking, but it was natural for him to worry that something might go wrong.
“No! I have to hit them with my own hands.”
But Elze was adamant. Rapine tried to convince Elze logically.
“The swordsmanship competition is tomorrow. What are you going to say to apply?”
“Are you saying you are a knight of Targayel?”
“What about Shan Kiraxus?”
“I’ll tell Shan to go on a date with Astin tomorrow. As for the escort, Liv will follow Shan, and you guys will follow me, so it’ll be fine.”
Before Rapine could say anything else, Elze spoke earnestly.
“Rapine, help me.”
When Elze made a pitiful expression with her eyes drooping, Rapine, who was trying to stop her, shook his head. Of course, Rapine was the only one who tried to persuade her rationally, while Tarkun and Ivanna had been sticking close to Elze's side and urging her on.
“Should I put some poison or something on the sword?”
“Ivanna’s words sound pretty good, Captain. Why, something like a poison that makes you suffer rather than kill you.”
“There is something like that. When used alone, it is nothing, but when two are combined, it becomes extremely toxic.”
Ivanna, an alchemist, also had a thorough knowledge of poisons and antidotes. Ivanna explained in detail what kind of poison was what, and what kind of poison was like this. Just hearing the stories was so horrifying that Tarkun, who was listening from the side, had a tired expression.
But that wasn't what Elze needed right now.
“...It was poisonous.”
"Sure?"
Elze, who had been lost in thought for a moment, spoke in a solemn tone.
“I need a disguise.”
Shan returned to his quarters late at night, seemingly having taken care of other business. Elze, who had been busy preparing for the swordsmanship competition with Elijah and the others, quickly hid the things she had been preparing when she heard that he had returned.
And somehow, very naturally as if they had planned to do so from the beginning, the two of them made time to have a quiet conversation.
The place was Shan's bedroom. It was surprisingly smaller than the room Elze and Ivanna were using. Naturally, she thought he would have a bigger and better bedroom. As it turned out, Elze's room was the best in the accommodation they were staying in.
After sitting across the table in silence for a while, Elze and Shan opened their mouths at the same time.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“It’s tomorrow.”
The two people who spoke at the same time looked at each other. Elze said to Shan.
“Let me speak first.”
And Elze's eyes grew wide at the words Shan brought up.
“I’d like to spend some time with Astin tomorrow.”
It was a very kind word for Elze. But there was no reason for him to tell her that he wanted to spend time with Astin first. Shan smiled at Elze's curious eyes and said.
“There’s something I want to talk about with the guys.”
“...”
It was a very suspicious answer, but Elze had no choice but to accept it since she had been planning to ask Shan anyway. Elze also asked him to buy new dormitory supplies for Astin tomorrow. Shan promised to contact the top of the Machangs and take care of it.
“Tomorrow I’m going to go see the academic festival with Elijah and the others.”
At Elze's words, Shan said okay without asking any further questions. Elze, who had been thinking of an excuse for what she would say if he pressed her, was even more embarrassed when Shan readily agreed.
But she was afraid that if he asked, “Why are you letting me go so easily?” Shan would sense something strange and question her. Elze chose to just ask.
After talking about tomorrow's schedule and the arrangements for the escort, etc., she was at a loss for words. In the quiet atmosphere, Elze felt she had to tell him now.
“Shan.”
His eyes were still fixed on Elze. His gaze was always unbending as if it was digging into her body. She felt a little embarrassed when she realized that they were alone in the space. Elze tried to cool her slightly flushed face and spoke to him.
“Thank you for today.”
Thanks to Shan today, Elze was able to take care of Astin.
Elze couldn't step forward and spread the word while Shan and Astin were watching. If she had simply stepped forward as Countess Targayel, the children would not have listened to her words.
If Shan hadn't stepped in, things might have gotten more complicated. Elze was truly grateful to him. However, Shan raised his eyebrows at Elze's thanks.
"So?"
"Yes?"
He asked leisurely.
“Just in words?”
No, then are you asking for money? ...They say the rich get richer! This is someone who has money rotten to the core.
Elze looked at him in bewilderment, and Shan tapped her lips with his finger. At first, she blinked because she didn't understand. But soon she realized what he meant by his mischievous grin.
“No, that... what..."
Elze stuttered in embarrassment. But Shan was already waiting. He added one more thing.
“For a newlywed couple, we don’t have much skinship.”
Instead of responding that they weren't just any ordinary newlyweds, Elze thought hard about it. Still, considering the efforts Shan had made to earn points, she thought she could turn a blind eye to this.
After thinking about what to do, she decided to pretend she lost and let it go.
“Just this once.”
Elze carefully placed her hands on the table and leaned toward where he was sitting. She would at least close her eyes, Shan was looking straight at Elze. She held back her embarrassment and kissed him gently.
The moment their lips met, she tried to pull away and run away, but she couldn’t. Shan’s hand slid into the back of her neck. The force with which he pressed her wasn’t strong, but Elze couldn’t move.
The purple eyes that met her gently curved. A warm and soft feeling, along with something soft, brushed her lips and dug inside. His fingers swept along her neck bone. Her back tensed because of the feeling of slowly rubbing and caressing the protruding part. Slowly, their lips parted, and her eyes met his.
“...”
Seeing him smirking, Elze ended up screaming and backing away.
Elze's goal for participating in the fencing tournament was very simple.
She only supports the students of the fencing club unconditionally! She was planning to give up without any regrets after she defeated the last student of the fencing club.
“Phew...”
Elze felt her chest, which was wrapped tightly in bandages. It felt awkward to be dressed as a man after such a long time. She tied her chest as tightly as possible and covered her hair with a short, messy black wig.
Her face, which had been made up to look black, was twice as swollen. Ivanna had made her face swell with a light poison. Add to that her dull black attire, and no one would have guessed that she was the Countess of Targayel.
“The swordsmanship competition will now begin!!”
The host's words were met with cheers from the crowd. The roar was deafening. Perhaps because Aquis University was so wealthy, there were all sorts of things on campus. The place where the fencing competition was held was a circular stadium similar to the Colosseum. People sat in a circle and the matches took place in the center.
Elze sat in the dark waiting area under the audience and watched the fencing competition unfold. Looking at the match list, it seemed that she would be meeting quite a few fencing club students. She could hear the large mercenaries sitting next to her chatting away.
“Is it because there are fewer civilian participants this year than in previous years? I’m competing with a lot of the noblemen...”
“I’m worried. Dealing with the young masters is difficult, really.”
The heavens are helping me, Elze smiled in satisfaction.
The mercenaries looked back at Elze, perhaps sensing that she was listening attentively. They were startled by Elze's bizarre appearance but soon began to talk to her, perhaps out of boredom.
“Is this your first time participating in a competition?”
Elze rolled her eyes and answered briefly, lowering her voice as much as possible.
“That’s true.”
“Oh, I see. A mercenary?”
"Knight."
“Knight? Where?”
“Targayel.”
“...What!”
The man who had been talking to her was startled and looked at Elze again. Then he expressed considerable disappointment at Elze's pitiful appearance.
“From Targayel... Ahem.”
He didn't say anything special, but it wasn't hard to guess the meaning of the cough he added at the end. Elze just shrugged her shoulders. What good would it do to explain it so painfully? A punch was better than a hundred words.
“Ugh!!”
Even in the face of his curse, Elze did not waver. Instead, with her eyes cold and cold, she shifted the iron sword she was holding with both hands to her right hand. Then she slowly opened her mouth.
“When the opponent is far away...”
The voice was clearly heard even amidst the cheers of the crowd. The two hands became one hand, but the iron sword became faster. The iron sword cut through the air like a swift bird. The sound of the air being torn apart rang out. Chesian swatted away the sword that was rushing at him urgently.
“Block with a mangosh and cut with a rapier.”
It was on a different level from the attacks he had seen so far. The moment he parried the attack, his wrist started to sting and Chesian almost dropped his sword.
But the game wasn't over yet. Elze was pushed into Chesian's range.
“If the opponent gets close...”
Chesian gritted his teeth and swung his rapier to attack. However, his decisive attack was blocked by the iron sword in Elze's right hand. Elze's eyes glowed blue.
“Block with a rapier, cut, and stab with a mangosh!”
Chesian opened his eyes wide. Elze's left hand, which was not holding the sword, extended. There was nothing in that hand. However, Chesian felt it clearly. The cool feeling of the Mangosh touching the base of his neck.
“Ugh... Aah!!”
Chesian reacted belatedly and stepped back in confusion. The rapier and mangosh fell from his hands and fell to the floor with a dull clank.
Dropping the sword would have been shameful, but there was no time to care. Chesian hurriedly felt for the line of his neck.
However, it was just an intangible energy passing by. After confirming that his neck had not fallen off, Chesian sat down on the floor with a face that looked like he was about to cry.
“Ugh... gasp...”
Before she knew it, Chesian's face was covered in tears. Elze slowly walked away. Then she stood in front of Chesian, who was sobbing and breathing heavily.
Chesian, who had slumped down, looked up at Elze with a blank expression. Elze, who was looking down at him with her back to the bright sunlight, was dazzling. Chesian opened his mouth blankly, shivering.
"Ah..."
Elze said to him with a look of disapproval.
“This is how you use a rapier and a mangosh, kid.”
As it was a rule that all children of noble families stayed in single rooms, Astin was also staying in a single room.
There, they would pay their own expenses to hire a servant or maid, and they would throw away all the basic items provided and replace them with expensive ones, which was the general way nobles used their dormitories.
But Astin was different. Elze was speechless when she entered Astin's room.
The room was neatly organized, but everything was old and cheap. Not only were the basic items provided used, but even the items that had to be purchased with personal money were all of low quality.
The old books were all used, and the clothes were also in poor condition. Looking at the paper and the pencils that were written on tightly without leaving even a corner, Else felt like crying. She hadn't asked yet, but it seemed like she could see how Astin had lived at Aquis University.
“I, I’m sorry... Sister...”
Astin couldn't raise his head in front of Elze. Seeing his only brother looking down at the floor without even making eye contact broke Elze's heart.
“Astin...”
Elze barely managed to call Astin's name, but she had no idea what to say.
She believed that Austin would do well on his own. She had been sending him enough money to make sure that he was not lacking, and she could tell from his report cards that he was consistently at the top of his class and that he was doing well.
But all of that was just Elze's thoughts. The reality of Astin that she saw when she came to see him was bleak. Elze tried not to cry and spoke in a choked voice.
“Where did you spend all the money your sister sent you?”
Astin, who had been bowing his head, muttered softly.
“How do I spend that money?”
The moment she heard those words, she felt sad. Astin continued to mumble in a voice that sounded like it might burst at any moment.
“It’s money that my older sister Elze worked hard to earn while living abroad, but I know how difficult it is for our family...”
"No!"
Elze couldn't stand it anymore and cut him off. Elze grabbed Astin's shoulder and said.
“Not anymore, Astin. Not anymore!”
At Elze's words, Astin just shook his head quietly.
“There’s a chance you might get divorced, and who knows what will happen in the future? If I could save up some and give it back to my sister as an emergency fund...”
“Astin!”
Elze felt as if her heart was breaking. It would have been better if Astin had been just like other kids his age, ignorant and immature. Then he would have lived comfortably with the money she sent without thinking.
But the thoughtful and deep Astin could not do that. Feeling guilty about Elze, he tried to find something he could do for his sister. That's why he lived in poverty and endured the bullying.
He needs to graduate quickly so he doesn't become a burden to his older sister.
“Listen carefully, Astin. Look straight at your sister.”
Astin's shoulders hunched at Elze's angry voice. However, he hesitantly raised his head as Elze told him to. Elze looked Astin in the eye and spoke clearly.
“Never do that again. This is not for your own good. And I have more money than you can imagine. When you come home during the holidays, I’ll show you how rich Targayel is now. Got it?”
Astin nodded at Elze's words that were constantly being hurled at him. Elze let out a sigh. Then she asked the question she was most curious about.
“...Why do they bother you?”
Astin hesitated and spoke cautiously.
“Those kids, they’re the swordsmanship club.”
“Swordsmanship club?”
“Because I bear the name of Targayel...”
Hearing that, she could roughly guess the circumstances. Among those who wield a sword, no one did not know the talent of the sword that had been passed down through generations in Targayel. And it was also true that Targayel was falling apart when the talent of the sword was cut off.
Teenage boys tend to want to prove their position by trampling on others. For them, who were full of childishness, Astin would have been a good prey.
Her head was burning with a fever. She should have just laid down and hit the back of each of those guys' heads right there.
While she was bubbling with anger, Elze's eyes caught a glimpse of a small flyer on the desk. It was a promotional flyer that clearly listed the events of the academic festival.
“Swordsmanship competition...”
At the very front of the flyer, there was a large phrase written, “Aquis Fencing Competition.” And underneath that, there was a small phrase written, “General public participation is welcome.” Elze picked up the flyer. She read the fencing competition section carefully and asked Astin.
“Does the swordsmanship club have to participate in the swordsmanship competition?”
“Ah, uh. It’s mandatory, so...”
Elze clenched her fist. With a squeak, the leaflet was crumpled mercilessly in her hand.
“Uh, Sister Elze...?”
Astin looked at Elze anxiously. Shan must have scolded them, but that was Shan's doing. The sister's anger at seeing her only sibling being bullied did not subside that much.
“Yeah, so you’re saying that even ordinary people can participate...?”
I've found everything. Elze smiled crookedly.
***
Elze finished talking to Astin in the dormitory, treated him neatly with a few medicines, and even gave him some pocket money.
Although Astin stubbornly denied the need, Elze forcefully gave him the money. She even made him promise to write a report in the next letter about what he had bought with the money.
“And Astin, spend some time with Shan tomorrow.”
“The Count and I?”
Elze said calmly to the surprised Astin.
“Yes. I’ll talk to Shan about it, so you can buy new glasses and some dorm stuff.”
The people who were the biggest obstacles to Elze's plan were Shan and Astin. The two had to go on a date together under the pretext of getting closer to his brother-in-law.
Of course, an ordinary person would not dare to ask Shan to do such a thing, but Elze, who secretly felt comfortable with Shan, did not feel at all that her thoughts were strange. She was only worried about how she could ask Shan to do it so that he would listen. Elze, who was planning this and that in her head, added, “Oh, right.”
“Oh, and don’t ever say my nickname in front of Shan.”
“Nickname? Elze?”
“Yeah, absolutely not!”
After giving Astin a strong order, Elze asked what event Astin was participating in. As expected, Astin was participating in an academic presentation.
The academic presentation on the research project conducted during the semester was one of the main events of the Aquis Academic Festival along with the swordsmanship competition. It was a high-level event with many prominent scholars in attendance and in-depth Q&A.
“Tomorrow is the swordsmanship competition, the day after tomorrow is the academic presentation...”
Elze, who muttered to herself about her schedule, promised to definitely go see the academic presentation and then returned to her dorm. As soon as she returned to her dorm, she gathered Elijah and others and made a bombshell announcement.
“I’m going to the fencing competition.”
All of Elijah's friends were surprised by Elze's words. Rapine put on his gun and asked a question.
“Are you talking about the swordsmanship competition hosted by Aquis University?”
"Yes."
The swordsmanship competition held as an event during the academic festival at Aquis University was famous.
The Aquis swordsmanship competition, which even ordinary people could participate in, was a gateway to becoming a knight. It was often an unknown mercenary, knight, or ordinary people who participated to make a name for themselves. If they achieved good results in the competition, they would receive calls from many noble families, so they would even come from abroad to participate.
Students in the swordsmanship department of Aquis University were required to participate in the swordsmanship competition. The purpose of the swordsmanship competition was to provide students who lacked practical experience with an opportunity to gain experience by pairing them with experienced opponents.
The match was decided fairly. However, since all the students were from noble families, the ordinary participants were only there to teach.
When a student and an ordinary person competed against each other, it was a basic rule to treat them gently enough to win, and to protect the student's pride to some extent in the process.
“Chief, I understand how you feel, but... We will take care of it.”
Rapine carefully tried to dissuade Elze. Elijah had also been hiding as an escort earlier, so he had seen the scene where Astin was being treated. He knew what Elze was thinking, but it was natural for him to worry that something might go wrong.
“No! I have to hit them with my own hands.”
But Elze was adamant. Rapine tried to convince Elze logically.
“The swordsmanship competition is tomorrow. What are you going to say to apply?”
“Are you saying you are a knight of Targayel?”
“What about Shan Kiraxus?”
“I’ll tell Shan to go on a date with Astin tomorrow. As for the escort, Liv will follow Shan, and you guys will follow me, so it’ll be fine.”
Before Rapine could say anything else, Elze spoke earnestly.
“Rapine, help me.”
When Elze made a pitiful expression with her eyes drooping, Rapine, who was trying to stop her, shook his head. Of course, Rapine was the only one who tried to persuade her rationally, while Tarkun and Ivanna had been sticking close to Elze's side and urging her on.
“Should I put some poison or something on the sword?”
“Ivanna’s words sound pretty good, Captain. Why, something like a poison that makes you suffer rather than kill you.”
“There is something like that. When used alone, it is nothing, but when two are combined, it becomes extremely toxic.”
Ivanna, an alchemist, also had a thorough knowledge of poisons and antidotes. Ivanna explained in detail what kind of poison was what, and what kind of poison was like this. Just hearing the stories was so horrifying that Tarkun, who was listening from the side, had a tired expression.
But that wasn't what Elze needed right now.
“...It was poisonous.”
"Sure?"
Elze, who had been lost in thought for a moment, spoke in a solemn tone.
“I need a disguise.”
***
Shan returned to his quarters late at night, seemingly having taken care of other business. Elze, who had been busy preparing for the swordsmanship competition with Elijah and the others, quickly hid the things she had been preparing when she heard that he had returned.
And somehow, very naturally as if they had planned to do so from the beginning, the two of them made time to have a quiet conversation.
The place was Shan's bedroom. It was surprisingly smaller than the room Elze and Ivanna were using. Naturally, she thought he would have a bigger and better bedroom. As it turned out, Elze's room was the best in the accommodation they were staying in.
After sitting across the table in silence for a while, Elze and Shan opened their mouths at the same time.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“It’s tomorrow.”
The two people who spoke at the same time looked at each other. Elze said to Shan.
“Let me speak first.”
And Elze's eyes grew wide at the words Shan brought up.
“I’d like to spend some time with Astin tomorrow.”
It was a very kind word for Elze. But there was no reason for him to tell her that he wanted to spend time with Astin first. Shan smiled at Elze's curious eyes and said.
“There’s something I want to talk about with the guys.”
“...”
It was a very suspicious answer, but Elze had no choice but to accept it since she had been planning to ask Shan anyway. Elze also asked him to buy new dormitory supplies for Astin tomorrow. Shan promised to contact the top of the Machangs and take care of it.
“Tomorrow I’m going to go see the academic festival with Elijah and the others.”
At Elze's words, Shan said okay without asking any further questions. Elze, who had been thinking of an excuse for what she would say if he pressed her, was even more embarrassed when Shan readily agreed.
But she was afraid that if he asked, “Why are you letting me go so easily?” Shan would sense something strange and question her. Elze chose to just ask.
After talking about tomorrow's schedule and the arrangements for the escort, etc., she was at a loss for words. In the quiet atmosphere, Elze felt she had to tell him now.
“Shan.”
His eyes were still fixed on Elze. His gaze was always unbending as if it was digging into her body. She felt a little embarrassed when she realized that they were alone in the space. Elze tried to cool her slightly flushed face and spoke to him.
“Thank you for today.”
Thanks to Shan today, Elze was able to take care of Astin.
Elze couldn't step forward and spread the word while Shan and Astin were watching. If she had simply stepped forward as Countess Targayel, the children would not have listened to her words.
If Shan hadn't stepped in, things might have gotten more complicated. Elze was truly grateful to him. However, Shan raised his eyebrows at Elze's thanks.
"So?"
"Yes?"
He asked leisurely.
“Just in words?”
No, then are you asking for money? ...They say the rich get richer! This is someone who has money rotten to the core.
Elze looked at him in bewilderment, and Shan tapped her lips with his finger. At first, she blinked because she didn't understand. But soon she realized what he meant by his mischievous grin.
“No, that... what..."
Elze stuttered in embarrassment. But Shan was already waiting. He added one more thing.
“For a newlywed couple, we don’t have much skinship.”
Instead of responding that they weren't just any ordinary newlyweds, Elze thought hard about it. Still, considering the efforts Shan had made to earn points, she thought she could turn a blind eye to this.
After thinking about what to do, she decided to pretend she lost and let it go.
“Just this once.”
Elze carefully placed her hands on the table and leaned toward where he was sitting. She would at least close her eyes, Shan was looking straight at Elze. She held back her embarrassment and kissed him gently.
The moment their lips met, she tried to pull away and run away, but she couldn’t. Shan’s hand slid into the back of her neck. The force with which he pressed her wasn’t strong, but Elze couldn’t move.
The purple eyes that met her gently curved. A warm and soft feeling, along with something soft, brushed her lips and dug inside. His fingers swept along her neck bone. Her back tensed because of the feeling of slowly rubbing and caressing the protruding part. Slowly, their lips parted, and her eyes met his.
“...”
Seeing him smirking, Elze ended up screaming and backing away.
***
Elze's goal for participating in the fencing tournament was very simple.
She only supports the students of the fencing club unconditionally! She was planning to give up without any regrets after she defeated the last student of the fencing club.
“Phew...”
Elze felt her chest, which was wrapped tightly in bandages. It felt awkward to be dressed as a man after such a long time. She tied her chest as tightly as possible and covered her hair with a short, messy black wig.
Her face, which had been made up to look black, was twice as swollen. Ivanna had made her face swell with a light poison. Add to that her dull black attire, and no one would have guessed that she was the Countess of Targayel.
“The swordsmanship competition will now begin!!”
The host's words were met with cheers from the crowd. The roar was deafening. Perhaps because Aquis University was so wealthy, there were all sorts of things on campus. The place where the fencing competition was held was a circular stadium similar to the Colosseum. People sat in a circle and the matches took place in the center.
Elze sat in the dark waiting area under the audience and watched the fencing competition unfold. Looking at the match list, it seemed that she would be meeting quite a few fencing club students. She could hear the large mercenaries sitting next to her chatting away.
“Is it because there are fewer civilian participants this year than in previous years? I’m competing with a lot of the noblemen...”
“I’m worried. Dealing with the young masters is difficult, really.”
The heavens are helping me, Elze smiled in satisfaction.
The mercenaries looked back at Elze, perhaps sensing that she was listening attentively. They were startled by Elze's bizarre appearance but soon began to talk to her, perhaps out of boredom.
“Is this your first time participating in a competition?”
Elze rolled her eyes and answered briefly, lowering her voice as much as possible.
“That’s true.”
“Oh, I see. A mercenary?”
"Knight."
“Knight? Where?”
“Targayel.”
“...What!”
The man who had been talking to her was startled and looked at Elze again. Then he expressed considerable disappointment at Elze's pitiful appearance.
“From Targayel... Ahem.”
He didn't say anything special, but it wasn't hard to guess the meaning of the cough he added at the end. Elze just shrugged her shoulders. What good would it do to explain it so painfully? A punch was better than a hundred words.
Ironically, he was set to be Elze's first opponent.
“The knight of Targayel, Vanes! And the mercenary Achilles!”
The audience cheered at the host's words. Elze, who was still unfamiliar with the pseudonym Vanes, hesitated for a moment and then moved again. Achilles and Elze faced each other in the center of the Colosseum. Achilles clicked his tongue and said.
“Oh my...I guess this is fate. I hope this will be a good match.”
“..."
Elze didn't respond to him at all. At the referee's signal, he and Elze drew their swords. Feeling empty in one hand, Elze clenched and unclenched her left hand and then grabbed the sword with both hands.
She would have liked to use a rapier and a mangosh, but she couldn't. If Elijah had entered the country and a Targayel knight had been running wild with a rapier and a mangosh, Shan would have been suspicious.
So yesterday Tarkun went to the weapon shop with Ivanna and bought an iron sword. The iron sword felt heavy and dull in the hand.
But even this was enough for Elze to commit a massacre of innocent people. In fact, among the people who appeared in this kind of competition, Elze could have won with just one wooden table leg.
"Start!!"
The referee's loud voice announced the start. Achilles did not rush in right away but took his time. He looked as if he had already won. Elze raised her sword without saying a word. She had planned to deal with the common people roughly anyway. They were not on Elze's radar.
Let's finish the common people as quickly as possible. And according to Elze's determination, Achilles was knocked out in one go.
“...?”
It was a victory and defeat that happened so quickly that at first neither the referee nor the audience understood what had happened. Elze's first match ended with a vague declaration of victory.
But the next time, and the next time, whenever Elze entered, the match ended at lightning speed. Elze never wasted her strength against ordinary people. She simply finished them off with a single blow.
“Wow!!”
The crowd cheered at the knight Targayel's brilliant performance. The exhilaration of finishing off a foe with a single blow was refreshing to watch, and the crowd now began to cheer on the knight Targayel.
And Elze finally met the swordsmanship student she had been desperately waiting for.
“Yes, the most notable student in the Aquis University Swordsmanship Club! Parnon’s Chesian!”
This is it.
A boy stood in front of Elze with the host's loud voice. Elze remembered him clearly. He was the one who spat on Astin.
As Elze was sharpening her knife inwardly, a hollow laugh burst out of her mouth.
"Ha?"
Our Chessian master was holding a rapier and a mangosh in both hands.
After Elijah's Elze became famous for her rapier and mangosh, wielding a rapier and mangosh became a hot trend. However, the original dual swords had clear limits, and the more you delve into them, the more difficult it becomes, so it wasn't a swordsmanship you could just carelessly attack.
Elze could guarantee it. Elze was probably the only person in the entire continent who could properly use a rapier and a mangosh.
“Are you laughing?”
Chesian, who heard the empty laughter, frowned and sternly reprimanded Elze for her rudeness.
“Are you making fun of my rapier and my mangosh? Let me show you my skills.”
It was Chesian who was doing his best to make wrinkles in front of the pupa. Listening to the host's long-winded explanation, it seemed like this guy was the captain of the swordsmanship club. He was said to be so good that he was predicted to be a candidate to win this competition.
Up until now, he has shown that he is not at all inferior to other ordinary people in matches, and he is skilled in handling the difficult rapier and mangosh, and he also does this and that...
The host praised Chesian so much that it seemed as if he was from the Parnon family. Only when the audience began to boo, unable to bear the boredom, did the host stop praising Chesian.
“Now, now. Then, let’s start the game now!”
Elze crossed swords with Chesian. Chesian snickered at the sight of the cheap-looking iron sword. The iron sword had already been through several matches and looked to be getting worse.
He was seen winking at the iron sword and Elze. It was clear that he meant to make fun of his rapier and mangosh with something like this.
"Start!!"
Swords clashed with the announcer's shout. The audience was stirred by Elze's appearance of not dealing with the opponent in one blow.
Elze was able to gauge Chesian's skill in one glance. Judging from the fact that he was able to strike an iron sword with a rapier, he had some strength. For his age, his attacks were quite fast, but to Elze, they were like a slow snail.
Elze simply parried all of his attacks as if she were playing a joke. Chesian’s breathing became unsteady as he continued to attack, and his hands began to twitch. Chesian’s eyes shook.
“Gasp, gasp...”
Chesian seemed to have the momentum, but he was flustered by the way the game kept getting tangled up. On top of that, his opponent was pretending to attack but was secretly hitting Chesian with the back of his sword, guard, and pommel, almost to the point of beating him up.
Before he knew it, bruises were forming on Chesian’s hands and arms. Every time he got close, he got hit, so Chesian swung his mangosh while keeping a distance.
“The knight of Targayel, Vanes! And the mercenary Achilles!”
The audience cheered at the host's words. Elze, who was still unfamiliar with the pseudonym Vanes, hesitated for a moment and then moved again. Achilles and Elze faced each other in the center of the Colosseum. Achilles clicked his tongue and said.
“Oh my...I guess this is fate. I hope this will be a good match.”
“..."
Elze didn't respond to him at all. At the referee's signal, he and Elze drew their swords. Feeling empty in one hand, Elze clenched and unclenched her left hand and then grabbed the sword with both hands.
She would have liked to use a rapier and a mangosh, but she couldn't. If Elijah had entered the country and a Targayel knight had been running wild with a rapier and a mangosh, Shan would have been suspicious.
So yesterday Tarkun went to the weapon shop with Ivanna and bought an iron sword. The iron sword felt heavy and dull in the hand.
But even this was enough for Elze to commit a massacre of innocent people. In fact, among the people who appeared in this kind of competition, Elze could have won with just one wooden table leg.
"Start!!"
The referee's loud voice announced the start. Achilles did not rush in right away but took his time. He looked as if he had already won. Elze raised her sword without saying a word. She had planned to deal with the common people roughly anyway. They were not on Elze's radar.
Let's finish the common people as quickly as possible. And according to Elze's determination, Achilles was knocked out in one go.
“...?”
It was a victory and defeat that happened so quickly that at first neither the referee nor the audience understood what had happened. Elze's first match ended with a vague declaration of victory.
But the next time, and the next time, whenever Elze entered, the match ended at lightning speed. Elze never wasted her strength against ordinary people. She simply finished them off with a single blow.
“Wow!!”
The crowd cheered at the knight Targayel's brilliant performance. The exhilaration of finishing off a foe with a single blow was refreshing to watch, and the crowd now began to cheer on the knight Targayel.
And Elze finally met the swordsmanship student she had been desperately waiting for.
“Yes, the most notable student in the Aquis University Swordsmanship Club! Parnon’s Chesian!”
This is it.
A boy stood in front of Elze with the host's loud voice. Elze remembered him clearly. He was the one who spat on Astin.
As Elze was sharpening her knife inwardly, a hollow laugh burst out of her mouth.
"Ha?"
Our Chessian master was holding a rapier and a mangosh in both hands.
After Elijah's Elze became famous for her rapier and mangosh, wielding a rapier and mangosh became a hot trend. However, the original dual swords had clear limits, and the more you delve into them, the more difficult it becomes, so it wasn't a swordsmanship you could just carelessly attack.
Elze could guarantee it. Elze was probably the only person in the entire continent who could properly use a rapier and a mangosh.
“Are you laughing?”
Chesian, who heard the empty laughter, frowned and sternly reprimanded Elze for her rudeness.
“Are you making fun of my rapier and my mangosh? Let me show you my skills.”
It was Chesian who was doing his best to make wrinkles in front of the pupa. Listening to the host's long-winded explanation, it seemed like this guy was the captain of the swordsmanship club. He was said to be so good that he was predicted to be a candidate to win this competition.
Up until now, he has shown that he is not at all inferior to other ordinary people in matches, and he is skilled in handling the difficult rapier and mangosh, and he also does this and that...
The host praised Chesian so much that it seemed as if he was from the Parnon family. Only when the audience began to boo, unable to bear the boredom, did the host stop praising Chesian.
“Now, now. Then, let’s start the game now!”
Elze crossed swords with Chesian. Chesian snickered at the sight of the cheap-looking iron sword. The iron sword had already been through several matches and looked to be getting worse.
He was seen winking at the iron sword and Elze. It was clear that he meant to make fun of his rapier and mangosh with something like this.
"Start!!"
Swords clashed with the announcer's shout. The audience was stirred by Elze's appearance of not dealing with the opponent in one blow.
Elze was able to gauge Chesian's skill in one glance. Judging from the fact that he was able to strike an iron sword with a rapier, he had some strength. For his age, his attacks were quite fast, but to Elze, they were like a slow snail.
Elze simply parried all of his attacks as if she were playing a joke. Chesian’s breathing became unsteady as he continued to attack, and his hands began to twitch. Chesian’s eyes shook.
“Gasp, gasp...”
Chesian seemed to have the momentum, but he was flustered by the way the game kept getting tangled up. On top of that, his opponent was pretending to attack but was secretly hitting Chesian with the back of his sword, guard, and pommel, almost to the point of beating him up.
Before he knew it, bruises were forming on Chesian’s hands and arms. Every time he got close, he got hit, so Chesian swung his mangosh while keeping a distance.
“Ugh!!”
Even in the face of his curse, Elze did not waver. Instead, with her eyes cold and cold, she shifted the iron sword she was holding with both hands to her right hand. Then she slowly opened her mouth.
“When the opponent is far away...”
The voice was clearly heard even amidst the cheers of the crowd. The two hands became one hand, but the iron sword became faster. The iron sword cut through the air like a swift bird. The sound of the air being torn apart rang out. Chesian swatted away the sword that was rushing at him urgently.
“Block with a mangosh and cut with a rapier.”
It was on a different level from the attacks he had seen so far. The moment he parried the attack, his wrist started to sting and Chesian almost dropped his sword.
But the game wasn't over yet. Elze was pushed into Chesian's range.
“If the opponent gets close...”
Chesian gritted his teeth and swung his rapier to attack. However, his decisive attack was blocked by the iron sword in Elze's right hand. Elze's eyes glowed blue.
“Block with a rapier, cut, and stab with a mangosh!”
Chesian opened his eyes wide. Elze's left hand, which was not holding the sword, extended. There was nothing in that hand. However, Chesian felt it clearly. The cool feeling of the Mangosh touching the base of his neck.
“Ugh... Aah!!”
Chesian reacted belatedly and stepped back in confusion. The rapier and mangosh fell from his hands and fell to the floor with a dull clank.
Dropping the sword would have been shameful, but there was no time to care. Chesian hurriedly felt for the line of his neck.
However, it was just an intangible energy passing by. After confirming that his neck had not fallen off, Chesian sat down on the floor with a face that looked like he was about to cry.
“Ugh... gasp...”
Before she knew it, Chesian's face was covered in tears. Elze slowly walked away. Then she stood in front of Chesian, who was sobbing and breathing heavily.
Chesian, who had slumped down, looked up at Elze with a blank expression. Elze, who was looking down at him with her back to the bright sunlight, was dazzling. Chesian opened his mouth blankly, shivering.
"Ah..."
Elze said to him with a look of disapproval.
“This is how you use a rapier and a mangosh, kid.”
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