The next few days were busy yet fulfilling. I spent my mornings in classes focused on strength-training, my lunches with the Student Council, my afternoons in classes focused on Soul Attire strengthening, my time after school with the Practice-Swing Club, and my nights training on my own outside the dorm. Those days passed by in a flash, and before I knew it, the Sword Master Festival had arrived.
Just like last year, we gathered in the Student Council room, then went straight to the National Crusade Coliseum, where the knockout stage was being held. Liengard had named the building an important cultural property, and it was only opened to the public for certain events like the Sword Master Festival.
“Man, this takes me back…,” I said, the sight of the coliseum reminding me of last year’s intense duel against Idora Luksmaria from White Lily Girls Academy. That was when I heard a voice with a slight northern accent behind me.
“Oh my. If it isn’t the chairwoman of Thousand Blade Academy. I thought I recognized that overly muscular physique from somewhere. How does it feel to know you’re guaranteed to lose in the first round?”
I turned around and saw Ferris Dorhein. She was being followed by a group of Ice King Academy students.
“Well, lookie here. It’s the Ice King Academy chairwoman. Remind me, wasn’t it your school that lost to some no-name opponent last year?” responded Chairwoman Reia.
Ferris and Chairwoman Reia approached each other, smiles plastered on their faces. They lasted all of about two seconds before beginning to fight like schoolgirls.
…Haah, not again, I thought, sighing internally. These two were like cats and dogs.
“Long time no see, you piece of trash.”
“Oh God! It is such an honor to see you again!”
“Hey, Shido. Cain.”
Shido was just as unfriendly as ever, while Cain still treated me with overbearing reverence.
“We’re gonna meet in three days in the championship. Don’t you dare lose to anyone else before you get there. I wanna slaughter you myself,” Shido spat.
“Sounds good,” I said. “No slaughtering, though. Let’s have a clean fight this time, okay?”
He was clearly fired up for a rematch, and I had to admit, so was I.
“You idiot! Dummy! Cake-faced vixen!” Chairwoman Reia yelled.
“You total musclehead! Your vocabulary is sorely lacking! Is there anything between those ears of yours, you dimwit?!” Ferris shouted.
The fight between the two chairwomen had escalated to something of a climax.
Ahh… This is embarrassing. They paid no attention to the other people on the busy street as they leveled insults at each other. I found myself overwhelmed by the cruel reality that they were the leaders of our respective academies.
The other Thousand Blade and Ice King students were all determinedly looking away from the fight. I figured they probably all felt the same way as me.
“…Chairwoman Reia, that’s enough. Let’s continue to the venue,” I said.
“Madam, we should be off,” said Shido at the same time.
We worked together to cool the chairwomen’s tempers and put an end to the embarrassing commotion. The Thousand Blade group went to the west gate to sign in, while the Ice King group headed off to the east gate.
“I’m the chairwoman of Thousand Blade Academy, Reia Lasnote.”
“Wonderful. Please wait while I register you,” the receptionist responded.
As the chairwoman got us checked in, I heard someone approach me from behind.
“Oh, Allen.”
I turned around and saw Idora leading the group from White Lily Girls Academy.
“Good morning. Looks like we got here at the same time,” she said.
“Yeah. Good morning, Idora and…Chairwoman Kemmi?!”
Kemmi Fasta was in the middle of the group, her mouth gagged and her hands bound with rope. She had a sign around her neck that said I AM A CRIMINAL.
“Idora, why is she wearing that…?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about it. She fell back into bad habits, is all,” Idora said.
“Ah, then I guess it’s for the best.”
This was Kemmi we were talking about. She’d probably been up to no good again.
“You’re also a captain, Allen?” Idora asked.
“Uh-huh. Does that mean you are, too?”
“Sure am. We’ll meet in the semifinals if thing go well for both of us.”
“Yeah.”
We were on the opposite side of the bracket from Ice King, but on the same side as White Lily.
“I have something to tell you,” Idora said.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I’ve trained more than you can imagine since I lost to you. I’m definitely going to win this time,” she said, a determined look in her eyes.
“I’ve trained a lot, too. I look forward to meeting you in the captain’s duel,” I said.
“Same here.”
Idora and I shook hands, our competitive juices flowing.
✦ ✦ ✦
Once we’d registered, Chairwoman Reia went to the seats reserved for the heads of the academies. The students participating in the tournament gathered on the stone stage and listened to the opening ceremony address.
“Hrmm, that concludes my opening comments. Thank you very much for your time and patience,” the Sword Master Festival Executive Committee member said, ending his long speech.
The contestants from each academy shuffled off to the locker rooms as a female announcer addressed the crowd.
“All right, the knockout stage of the Sword Master Festival is finally here! Are you all as excited as I am?! The fierce battle for supremacy among the swordcraft academies is about to begin!” she called out, her voice carrying clearly around the coliseum.
The stadium erupted with deafening applause.
…I’ll never cease to be amazed by these crowds. My eardrums felt like they were going to burst, and I felt the sound vibrate in my stomach. It was even louder than last year, which I hadn’t even thought was possible.
“This year’s Sword Master Festival kicks off with a match for the ages! As I’m sure you’re all aware, it’s a showdown between two of the Elite Five Academies! From the west gate, we have Thousand Blade Academy! They’ve been mired in a long slump, but an influx of spectacular talent led by the young Allen Rodol could turn their fortunes around!”
My teammates and I stepped into the arena.
“Next, from the east gate, we have the ever-dominant Divine Emperor Academy! Their team, led by Shin Rex of the Seven Holy Blades, is the strongest group of swordsmen we’ve seen in modern times!”
The students from Divine Emperor Academy who we’d read about in the scouting reports walked through the east gate opposite us. First came Dreyfus Einberg, then Godric Emerson, Nemenen Tottoru, Medi Malum, and finally the problematic… Huh?
One person was missing.
Divine Emperor’s captain, Shin Rex, wasn’t there.
“Uhh, I have a message from the chairwoman of Divine Emperor Academy… Their captain, Shin Rex, seems to be feeling unwell—or perhaps just drowsy—and is sleeping in the locker room!” the announcer said.
…Would it kill the guy to show his opponent some respect?
“Okay, putting that aside, let’s move on to the first duel! It’s Thousand Blade’s Lou Lorenti versus Divine Emperor’s Dreyfus Einberg!”
The crowd went wild.
“Good luck, Lou!” Shii said.
“You only get an opportunity like this once a year, so go out there and enjoy it!” Lilim encouraged her.
“Give it your all…!” Tirith said.
The third years cheered her on…
“Do your best, Lou!” I said.
“We’re with you!” cried out Lia.
“Nerves are your worst enemy. Just do what you always do,” said Rose.
…and we three second years did the same.
“I will! Thank you all so much!” responded Lou. She smiled happily and walked to the stage in high spirits.
Dreyfus Einberg of Divine Emperor Academy took the stage after her. Just as the scouting report said, he had a large build and looked like a proper knight.
“Are you both ready? On my mark… Begin!”
And with that, the duel between Lou and Dreyfus kicked off.