Walking into the classroom, I could see the classes had already been filled with students.
"Brother, I will be going to my class now," Diana said as she left my side. "Okay."
/TOK/
As I opened the door of the classroom, an awkward atmosphere welcomed me. Students seemed to exchange cautious glances, their voices hushed in whispered conversations. Even my appearance didn't gather any attention almost, as everyone was dead silent.
'What happened again?' I thought as I looked around, only to see Emma fuming on the back of the seat…. 'Ah…. They caused a scene, finally, huh?'
It had been a month after the first event, and the moment Emma heard about what had happened from Celia, Arthur was immediately ostracized.
'But it wasn't this severe.' I thought, looking at the dark circles under Arthur's eyes. It was evident that something happened yesterday. 'Probably they had a talk or something…. But it does seem like Arthur was not getting better.' I thought.
In a way, the existence of the protagonist was something to take importance, considering the strength of the enemies was increasing. 'But, with such a way of looking at the world, there is no way he would be useful.' I thought, remembering his performance at that time.
'In a way, no matter how handsome or good mouthing you are, if you don't have guts, your value as a boy will deplete. Especially if you are a chicken that abandons his partner to death.'
I thought as I walked back.
Reaching my seat, I saw Emma throwing me a bunch of quick gazes, but I ignored her; after all, I had nothing to do with her no more.
After that day, since I learned the strength of the demons and enemies was increased, I had been doing nothing but training. Normally, the first semester of the academy didn't have many demon-related events aside from this one and the one that was going to happen on the exam.
However, it mostly contained academic events like practical lessons, theoretical discussions, and thesis preparation. There you would be learning how to fight, starting from barehanded to armed. That was also the case for magic, potioneering, etc.
And today was a day where two of these events were stacked.
'Sword spars and Magical Spars.' As I thought to myself, suddenly, the door swung wide open, revealing the imposing figure of Instructor Alder. He was a man with a bulky body and a serious face that commanded respect from the students.
His voice echoed through the classroom as he addressed the gathered students, his tone firm and authoritative. "Attention, class. Today, we shall delve into the art of swordplay and put your skills to the test in our sword sparring session." The room fell into a hushed silence, everyone's attention now focused on the instructor.
His presence exuded a sense of discipline and expertise, demanding the utmost respect, and reminding me of the guys from the military. Even though I was not someone that went to military service, some of my relatives served in the army.
Instructor Alder continued, his voice resonating with a deep authority. "As we have already discussed the theory of swords and its advantages, today you will hone our practical skills against each other."
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"As you all know, the sword is a type of weapon that is mostly used in the world; therefore, whenever you encounter an enemy, it is highly likely that he/she is going to use a sword."
"Sword sparring is not just about physical strength but also about finesse, strategy, and quick thinking. It tests your ability to anticipate your opponent's moves and react accordingly. Today, you will pair up with your training partners, and I expect each of you to give your best effort."
As he spoke, the awkward atmosphere inside the class had already dissipated, instead being filled with the feeling of anticipation.
In the end, no matter how pacifist one was, everyone dreamt of using a sword at least once. Therefore, the prospect of testing their swordsmanship skills against their peers created a charged atmosphere in the classroom.
Instructor Alder's gaze swept across the room, his eyes lingering on Arthur and then Emma for a moment before moving on. "Remember, the purpose of this exercise is not just to defeat your opponent but to learn from each other. Be respectful, observe your partner's technique, and offer constructive feedback. Only through such interactions can we grow and improve as warriors."
Saying that he pointed towards the door. "Now, let's move to the sparring grounds." Just like that, everyone left the classroom, reaching for the training grounds.
"Before we begin, I want each of you to find a partner for today's sword sparring session," Instructor Alder announced, his voice projecting authority. "Choose wisely, as your partner will be instrumental in your growth and development as a swordsman."
Hearing this, I just stood there without doing anything. 'I wonder who will be the person that is left alone.'
After all, no matter who came before me, unless they were from the main cast, there was no way they would be able to defeat me in a spar. Well, unless I close my eyes and don't use my arms. 'But, that didn't mean I didn't have a partner. After all, Aliya was here.'
"Huh?" Suddenly, I heard a surprised sound of people around me as I turned my attention to the source of the commotion.
There I could see a red-haired girl and a blonde-haired boy looking at each other.
Emma's eyes blazed with anger and frustration as I could see her fiery mana flowing around her. In a fit of wrath, she unsheathed her sword and flung it to the ground in front of Arthur, her voice cutting through the air with an angry tone. "Pick it up and be my partner."
The atmosphere around them grew heavy with tension as all eyes turned to Arthur, awaiting his response. But to everyone's surprise, Arthur's expression was different. This time around, his face was adorned with a crooked smile instead of the melancholic expression he had before.
"I'm sorry, Emma," Arthur said, his voice not containing even a tinge of sadness. "But I've already made arrangements with someone else as my sparring partner." As he said that, a young girl came beside him. But I could see the fear inside his eyes.I think you should take a look at
The fear of facing Emma right now… It was not the fear of facing his sins or facing the feeling of guilt, but rather just simply a fear of pain…..
Emma's anger flared, her fists tightening at her sides. "And who is this 'someone else'?" She spoke, as she didn't even cast a glance at the girl. "Are you sure you are not afraid of me?"
Arthur's smile widened the hint of mischief in his eyes. "Afraid? Me? Never, Emma," he replied, his voice laced with a playful tone. "I-I simply thought it would be more interesting to spar with someone who can offer me a c-challenge." But his voice tingled at the end, making him look like a clown in my eyes.
'What is this clown doing?' At that point, even I couldn't understand what he was doing since it didn't make any sense. 'Is he trying to make her jealous or something?'
'But, she is surprisingly able to hold herself quite well.' I thought, seeing Emma clenching her fists and glaring daggers at Arthur. 'The Emma I know would have already punched him in the face right now.'
/SWOOSH/
Just as I thought, a punch flew through the face of Arthur instantly, proving me right.
/THUD/
"Enough."
But just as the blow was about to connect, a hand swiftly intercepted it, halting its momentum. Instructor Alder had stepped in, his serious face conveying a stern message. His gaze shifted from Emma's fiery glare to Arthur's startled expression.
" Instructor Alder's voice boomed through the classroom, demanding attention. "This is not the way we conduct ourselves here. We are here to learn and grow, not to engage in personal disputes."
Emma's hand slowly retreated; her anger tempered by Instructor Alder's intervention. She took a step back, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation. It was clear that she had crossed a line, even if her initial anger was justified.
'Well, that is the Emma, I know.'
"I won't say anything to you, as you are no longer little kids that need to be taught how to behave." With his words finished, he signaled the chambers.
"Enter the chambers and put your bracelets on. Then you can carry on your spar."
""""UNDERSTOOD!""""
With those words, everyone entered their chambers with their partners.
"I will leave it to you…"
"Hmm?"
Before I could proceed, I heard a small whisper behind me coming from a familiar voice.
There, Aliya had a smile on her face as she nodded her head slightly, making her way to the chamber with one of her friends.
Leaving Emma and me alone without partners….
---------------------A/N-----------------
Hope you liked the chapter. The last two chapters were quite long, and I tried to give details while also progressing the plot.
You can see how much of a bastard Arthur is now, and the next chapter will have good scenes and stay intact.
You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
https://discord.gg/XJEgBRM3C
Check out my new book if you are interested.
This time it will have a modern hunter theme, where MC will be driven by the feeling of vengeance.
The name is; Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest
