The Duty Of An Academy Student Should Be To Study - Chapter 62

Episode 62

Briley looked at Rose, who was visibly nervous and asked.

“Rose, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing… I’m just scared. Those are real weapons. What if they get hurt?”

“They’re wearing protective gear, so they shouldn’t get seriously injured.”

“But they might still get hurt, right?”

“Well, maybe that’s just the fate of people who wield swords.”

Rose unconsciously tightened her grip on her friends’ hands. She knew that the world of sword fighting was harsh, but watching a real duel up close was an entirely new experience for her.

Rebecca gently patted Rose’s hand.

“As long as it’s not a major injury, won’t they consider battle scars as a badge of honor? This is the finals, after all.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” 

Rose muttered, trying to calm herself down. It was only natural for fencers to receive minor cuts or bruises in the course of a match.

But imagining Jasper enduring such injuries right before her eyes sent a chill down her spine. It might be a routine part of life for him, especially as he aspired to become an imperial army officer after graduating from the academy.

‘Let’s hope he wins without getting hurt.’

With a tense expression, Rose swallowed hard and waited anxiously for the match to begin.

* * *

On the field of the stadium, flags bearing the symbol of the royal family fluttered. 

Thump, thump. 

The sound of drums echoed and spread, and the multitude of people shouted in unison.

Challengers and those accepting the challenge walked toward the center from opposite sides.

“Wow!”

At the ground-shaking sound, Rose trembled all over. She held her breath unintentionally and tightly gripped her knees with her hands.

In the championship match, both participants were wearing full-plate armor. While the use of firearms had increased, traditional knightly combat could still be witnessed in sword fighting competitions.

There were various weapons allowed in the competition, and they could choose the one they were most confident with for their participation.

One held a shield and sword, while the other wielded a two-handed sword. Their faces were hidden under helmets, but Rose could immediately tell which one was Jasper.

The person holding the sword in a proper stance must be Jasper. On the opposite side, Hex looked so massive that it was hard to believe he was human.

“Seriously… he’s huge…”

Describing his stature as merely large didn’t do it justice. With Jasper facing Hex, he looked like a human knight confronting a mythological monster.

Rebecca leaned in close to Rose and whispered,

“No, seriously, if that sword hits, people are going to fly. Even with plate armor, it looks like it would dent deeply.”

Rose, her lips parted in fear, stared at the scene in front of her. For an ordinary person, wielding a sword that looked difficult to even lift would require tremendous strength.

In a bewildered voice, Rose asked.

“H-How does this end? I mean, what do they need to win?” 

Briley answered from the side.

“The opponent has to surrender for it to end. Or they become completely incapacitated.” 

“…What?”

Rose shuddered, her shoulders trembling. 

‘How am I supposed to watch this…!’ 

Despite Hex’s intimidating size, she didn’t think Jasper would give in easily. That’s what worried her even more. They could get seriously hurt in a fierce battle.

‘He’ll win, right? He has to win.’

Rose involuntarily tensed up, and her heels lifted slightly off the ground. She felt the urge to fidget and roll her feet while sitting.

When she watched the finals last year, she didn’t feel this worried, but now her heart was pounding. 

First of all, Jasper’s opponent last year was an ordinary human, but Hex had a size that made it hesitant to call him human.

‘And… Jasper is my friend now.’

It wouldn’t be pleasant to see someone she cared about get hurt. Briley, noticing Rose’s nervousness, reassured her.

“Don’t worry too much. It’s just a competition, not a fight to the death.” 

“Huh? Uh, yeah….” 

“…Oh my, look at her. She’s completely out of it.”

Briley’s words didn’t quite register with Rose, who had lost herself in thought. Then, a signal announcing the start of the match shot up into the air.

Bang! A red firework burst in the sky, and at the same time, Hex and Jasper engaged in combat. Hex charged at Jasper with an intimidating force, his steps making a thudding sound that reached Rose’s location.

“Ugh….”

Despite being far away, Rose felt overwhelmed by Hex’s strength. She watched Jasper with one eye tightly closed.

Clang! Jasper calmly blocked the approaching sword as if it were coming down from above. While Hex’s movements were grand and threatening, Jasper moved with a minimal, smooth grace. It didn’t appear to require much effort even as he absorbed the blow infused with Hex’s weight.

Just from the first exchange, the audience began to buzz with excitement. It was said that you could often tell the outcome of a contest of strength just from the first clash.

Many had expected Hex to have the upper hand due to his strength, but Jasper was no pushover either. They used opposite styles of swordsmanship, making it difficult to evaluate who had the advantage. It was truly a close-quarters battle in the finals.

As soon as Jasper dodged an attack, he sought openings in Hex’s defenses. His body smoothly moved to the side, and his sword aimed at Hex’s abdomen.

Thud! However, despite his hefty build, Hex moved relatively quickly. With a loud sound, he stepped back and avoided Jasper’s strike.

The sound of sword clashes continued relentlessly for a while. Hex attempted to wear down Jasper’s stamina quickly by pushing with his immense strength. However, his large movements also left him vulnerable.

Jasper, on the other hand, skillfully parried Hex’s attacks with minimal effort and continually aimed for Hex’s weak points.

“Ah….”

Rose held both hands tightly together, following Jasper with her eyes. She was extremely nervous, and her mouth felt dry.

Jasper and Hex were still maintaining their tense states, but even a momentary lapse in concentration could lead to a quick defeat for either of them.

Jasper once again dodged Hex’s attack, then twisted his body and struck Hex’s back with the end of his shield. Clang! The clash of the shield and plate armor resounded loudly.

Despite the considerable force of the blow, Hex didn’t lose his balance. Instead, he turned his body to the side and pushed Jasper away with force.

Taking advantage of a moment when Jasper staggered, Hex swung the handle of the sword and struck Jasper’s chest. The entire audience erupted into chaos, with cheers and sighs mixed. Rose’s body tensed up, and her lips trembled.

As Jasper took a step back after being struck in the chest, Hex’s sword sliced through the air toward Jasper’s neck. Even if he aimed for a vital point, in the competition, they usually stopped the attack just before landing a blow. 

Rose was aware of this fact, but at that moment, it felt like the blade was going to pierce Jasper’s neck. Everything went dark before her eyes.

Rose unintentionally shouted in a trembling voice.

“J-Jasper…!”

At that very moment, Jasper leaned his body backward. With a swoosh, the sword passed just above the space right above his helmet. Hex, who had put all his strength into the strike, staggered briefly as his attack missed.

Jasper immediately straightened his posture as the sword passed, then swung his shield. Thud! The shield struck Hex’s side. Taking advantage of Hex’s momentary vulnerability, Jasper leaped forward and collided with him.

Hex’s legs got tangled, and he fell to the ground. Jasper pressed his chest with his foot and placed the tip of his sword in the small gap between Hex’s helmet and armor. Just a little more, and it would have pierced his throat.

It was evident that Hex, who had been a formidable threat just moments ago, had lost his strength. Hex released the sword and tapped the ground three times with his empty hand. It was a declaration of surrender.

“Wow!”

The stadium was filled with thunderous cheers. It was the moment when this year’s winner was decided. Excited spectators even leaped to their feet.

“Jasper! Jasper! Jasper!”

Everyone began chanting the name of the defending champion.

Rose sat there, her hands covering her mouth, stiff as a board. Rebecca patted her on the shoulder, and Briley got up and bounced around, but Rose remained dazed for a while.

“Jasper won! Rose, Jasper won!”

Even Briley’s exuberant voice felt distant as if coming from afar. Rose had been so tense, thinking Jasper might be seriously injured, that her body had suddenly relaxed, and her sense of reality had disappeared. It felt like her body was floating.

Rose’s mind snapped back to reality when Jasper stood in the center of the arena and tossed his helmet aside.

Jasper’s face, which had been concealed within the helmet all along, was finally revealed, and the crowd’s cheers grew louder. 

Jasper’s golden hair and face were drenched in sweat. He breathed heavily and shook his head slightly from side to side. The afternoon sun enveloped Jasper, making him glisten.

He was a painfully beautiful and strong figure.

Jasper’s gaze was directed firmly at one place. 

“Ah….”

Rose let out a subdued gasp as if she were entranced by something. She had an illusion that Jasper’s blue eyes were looking directly at her.

She thought it was an illusion. In this moment of his greatest radiance, she couldn’t believe that she was the one who had captured Jasper’s attention. 

However, Rose felt as though her body was frozen stiff as if ensnared by Jasper’s gaze. She couldn’t bring herself to turn away from him. Even though she couldn’t be sure if he was looking at her, it felt like she shouldn’t look away.