Chapter 40: The Bet

The sound of clashing swords echoes in the training ground. The match between Bianca and Gloria seemed to be a seesaw battle, evenly matched. No, if anything, Bianca seems to be pushed back… That’s right! That Magic Sword drains the opponent’s stamina and magic power! It doesn’t seem to have the strength from the game yet, but that Magic Sword is a troublesome one that grows by stealing power.

“Ah, umm! Gloria‘s sword is a Magic Sword, isn’t it!?” “It seems so.”

I appealed to the Grand Master that the sword Gloria was holding was a Magic Sword, but he brushed it off as if saying, ‘So what?’ Huh?

“There is no rule against using a Magic Sword in a match. Discerning whether a sword is a Magic Sword beforehand is also a knight’s ability. There was a chance to point it out before the match. Bianca neglected that, so she cannot complain.”

Nu, guu. If you put it that way, perhaps it’s not a violation of the rules, but… Or rather, why does Gloria have that Magic Sword? In the game world, which is ten years later, the Magic Sword ‘Discord’ was held by another male member of the Knight Order. Does that mean this Magic Sword passes from Gloria to that knight member’s hands after this? The Magic Sword ‘Discord’ is cursed to erode the wielder’s mind and cause them to lose their sanity in exchange for strength. And it steals power from defeated opponents, growing into an even more vicious Magic Sword. Judging from Gloria‘s condition, the mental erosion doesn’t seem to have progressed yet, but if she keeps using it, eventually… Could it be that by the start of the game, Gloria had already lost her mind and become invalid? It’s possible for a child with an immature mind. And then ‘Discord’ passed to that slasher knight?

“Come now, come now, what’s wrong! I haven’t even gotten serious yet!” “Kuh!”

With an expression of delight, Gloria launches a rush. Isn’t she already starting to show mental abnormalities? I feel like I’m seeing glimpses of it during combat. Bianca is managing to weather Gloria‘s attacks, but just barely.

“Quite tenacious, aren’t you? Then how about this?”

Gloria‘s figure vanished—fuh. Eeeeh!? For a moment, I thought she jumped up, but no one was in the air either.

“Kuh!?”

When she appeared next, Gloria was right in front of Bianca. Bianca managed to catch the descending sword and parry it to the side. However, the returning blade seemed to graze her, and the thigh part of her trousers was torn.

“Was that Gloria‘s [Gift] just now?” “It is a Gift granted by the God of Invisibility, Invisible. Though only for a mere second, she can make herself transparent.” “Is it okay to use [Gifts] in a match?” “Even in a match, one only gains experience by fighting as if it were actual combat. If this were actual combat, we couldn’t say [Gifts] are prohibited.”

The Grand Master answered my question. In actual combat, there will be enemies who use [Gifts]. If training is meant to deal with that, there is no reason to prohibit [Gifts]. However, transparency is ridiculous. It seems she can only do it for a short time, but having that done in the middle of a sword fight would be tough. You have to move by predicting from Gloria‘s prior movements. In manga and such, you’d know by killing intent or presence, but Bianca probably can’t do that yet. Though the Grand Master or Julia-class people would probably handle it nonchalantly.

“…This is bad. Bianca got her leg hurt.”

Jean, who had come beside me before I knew it, was watching the match with a serious expression. Got her leg hurt? Since there’s a barrier, she won’t get injured, right?

“Just because she doesn’t get injured doesn’t mean there’s no pain. If slashed with full force, there’s pain from the impact. Besides, when the body receives an attack inside the barrier, that part gradually becomes paralyzed. If you can’t move, you lose. Otherwise, the match wouldn’t end.”

Come to think of it, that’s true. If both remain fine even after taking hits due to the skin barrier, no one would fall, and the match would go on forever. So paralysis is for that purpose. Apparently, vital areas don’t get paralyzed, though… In actual combat, this means Bianca received an injury to her leg and is having trouble moving. Indeed, Bianca‘s movements have become dull. She doesn’t seem to be putting strength into her right leg which took the hit.

“Yaa!”

Bianca swings her sword horizontally with all her might. Gloria backed away with composure to dodge it, but just then, Bianca‘s sword tip extended—nyu.

“Tch!?”

The expression of composure vanished from Gloria, who dodged by a hair’s breadth. So close! If it extended just a little more, it would have reached her neck! It seems Bianca has become able to extend metal with [Elasticity] too. Or was it a coincidence?

“You little…! I won’t hold back anymore! Take this!” “Tch!”

Face dyed with anger, Gloria raised the Magic Sword ‘Discord’. I saw something being absorbed from Gloria into the Magic Sword, which peeked a black aura from its blade. With a dull sound—Giin!—Bianca‘s sword, which caught ‘Discord’, snapped in two. With a dry sound—Gararan—the broken blade fell to the ground. Staring at her own broken sword and Gloria‘s sword held against her neck, Bianca fell to her knees on the spot.

“That’s it! Winner, Gloria!”

Cheers erupted from the surroundings. Gloria laughed loudly in satisfaction, while Bianca hung her head. She lost…

“Hmm. Bianca has improved her skills. To think she pushed Gloria with a Magic Sword that far.” “…Does that mean if she had a similar Magic Sword, Bianca would have won?” “Well, who knows. Victory depends on the luck of the moment. We won’t know unless they fight.”

The Grand Master was vague. Doesn’t that mean she won due to the difference in weapon performance in the end? But that Magic Sword sucks the life out of its owner; I think it’s dangerous to let Gloria keep it.

“How is it? Do you understand your own immaturity?” “Kuh…!” “If you feel ashamed, why don’t you decline the position of personal attendant? Wouldn’t that be better for Lady Sakuraile too? Do you not understand that it is beyond your station?” “Wait a minute.”

Unable to tolerate words kicking Bianca when she was down, I walked over to the two. I stood in front of Gloria as if protecting Bianca.

“Listening to you earlier, you speak as if Bianca lacks ability, but could you correct that?” “Correction or whatever… Bianca actually lost to me, didn’t she?” “You were able to win thanks to that Magic Sword, right? Bianca‘s sword is a normal sword, you know? That doesn’t measure legitimate strength, does it?”

When I said that, Gloria shrugged slightly as if mocking me. Somehow, that’s irritating.

“These are hardly words befitting the ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’. For a knight, the weapon they wield is also part of their ability. I thought Lady Sakuraile, who possesses the [Holy Sword], would understand that.”

I don’t think the Holy Sword is my own ability even a little bit, but well, I understand what she’s trying to say. But that sword is no good.

“Then, as the ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’, I’ll say this. That Magic Sword will shorten your life, so you should throw it away, you know? Besides, where did you get such a dangerous Magic Sword?” “W-Wherever is fine, isn’t it… It’s useless to say such things to try and take this sword from me!”

Gloria faltered. It’s a Magic Sword with a history. It certainly wasn’t obtained through legitimate routes. Now, what to do… If Gloria continues to use that Magic Sword like this, she might die if things go poorly. If Gloria dies, there is a high possibility that the Magic Sword will pass to the slasher knight afterwards. In that case, I want to retrieve or destroy it here, but…

“Then, let’s do this. The Squire Joint Match is in one month. If Bianca beats you in that match, how about you let go of that Magic Sword?” “Lady Sakuraile!?”

Bianca, who had been hanging her head, looked up. An anxious gaze was directed at me, but it’s okay, don’t worry.

“You say strange things. Even though you just saw this girl lose miserably.” “Bianca‘s true ability isn’t just this. If you’re afraid of losing, you can refuse, you know? Even a fluke win is a win, and surely you’d want to quit while you’re ahead.” “What did you say!?”

I deliberately provoked Gloria so she couldn’t refuse. Judging from how she got worked up during the match, I saw that this girl has an impulsive personality that flares up easily. Despite liking to provoke others, she isn’t used to being provoked. Gloria thought for a while, and eventually, a smile floated on the corner of her mouth.

“Fine. I’ll take that bet. In exchange, when I win, will you make me Lady Sakuraile‘s personal attendant?” “How selfish…! Don’t be ridiculous! There’s no way such a thing would be allowed…!”

Bianca tried to object to Gloria‘s proposal, but I held up my hand to stop her.

“Fine. I’ll ask Father for you. Though I think it’s pointless. Because Bianca is definitely going to win.” “Lady Sakuraile!?” “Ahaha! This is something to look forward to! Everyone, please be witnesses! Bianca-san, do your best in training! Let’s meet again in a month!”

Gloria left while laughing loudly. I glared at her back… no, at the Magic Sword hanging at her waist. I definitely won’t let it grow. I won’t let any slashers roam this capital. I took the depressed Bianca‘s hand and returned to Estelle and Jean, who had been watching the match.

“Lady Sakuraile! Why did you make such a promise! I…! I lost! On top of this, if I am dismissed as Lady Sakuraile‘s personal attendant, I…”

Bianca is distraught. I only said ‘I’ll ask Father’, I didn’t promise to fire Bianca, though. Sneaky? Say whatever you want. That said, I don’t think Father would make Gloria, who isn’t from the ‘Royal Faction’, my personal attendant, but in the worst case, there is a possibility that both Bianca and Gloria become personal attendants. Well, I’ll take measures so that doesn’t happen.

“I told you, right? You lost because she had a Magic Sword. Then it would be fine if we have a Magic Sword too.” “Eh?”

That’s right. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A Magic Sword for a Magic Sword. And if it’s a Magic Sword of a higher rank than that Magic Sword ‘Discord’, our victory is unshakable.

“Oi, oi, I understand the feeling, but Magic Swords aren’t something you can get that easily, you know? This is why amateurs are…”

Jean let out an exasperated voice. Suddenly, guilt crossed my mind for Jean who knows nothing, but I can’t overlook that Magic Sword here.

“I’ll apologize in advance. Sorry, Jean.” “Ha?”

Because the Magic Sword I’m about to obtain is originally something you were supposed to get. The Magic Sword ‘Fortissimo’ that Jean obtains in the Jean route of ‘Starlight Symphony’. I decided in my heart to obtain it as Bianca‘s Magic Sword.