Chapter 33. 16. It Wasn't Full Power
The semifinals of the Sword Arts Tournament were held at a different venue.
Since high-ranking officials were observing and even more ordinary spectators were coming to watch, the original venue would have been difficult to accommodate everyone.
The new arena had a wider stage and more spectator seats. Magical projections were also planned so that even people in distant seats could watch the matches more vividly.
In truth, they hadn't intended to invest this heavily in a Sword Arts Tournament targeting only first and second-year students.
However, the participants who had reached the semifinals were of such high caliber that this decision was made to widely promote the Knight Department of Tarajan Academy.
Moreover.
"Hmm, it's been a while since I've watched matches of students who aren't even proper knights..."
"Hahaha, I'm certain you won't be disappointed."
Sir Buccal, a high-ranking knight of Xenas, which could be called the continent's strongest nation, was also in attendance.
There was no reason not to pay attention. The Department Head continued speaking with a smile filling his face.
"Though they are still students, their level is quite high. Today the second semifinal match will proceed, and tomorrow the third-place match and finals will be held..."
"Tomorrow won't be necessary. It's a bit tiring to attend consecutively..."
Sir Buccal said with a slight shake of his head.
Since the two semifinal matches would allow him to see the skills of all four participants anyway, he thought there was no need to come out tomorrow as well.
In truth, he hadn't wanted to come out even now. He only came because his schedule happened to align, and it would have been impolite to bluntly refuse the Department Head's request.
He looked down at the stage with a tired expression.
'To think a small country like Tarajan would have any talent...'
Compared to Xenas's prospective knights, they fell far short.
Of course, he didn't voice those thoughts aloud.
He simply smiled awkwardly and exchanged trivial conversation with the Department Head.
***
'I am.'
Teoro Shutgarn stretched his body. At the same time, he looked at his opponent, Cal Krone.
He still had a relaxed expression. To the point of occasionally sending smiles to the female fans throwing glances toward the waiting area. Though he didn't like that attitude, the current him had no right to say such things.
'I wonder, how close have I gotten to Cal Krone.'
He couldn't know. Cal Krone hadn't shown his true skills throughout all his previous matches.
Of course, the same was true for himself, but that absolutely didn't mean their skills were equal.
Sweat seeped from his hands.
His chest felt tight from nervousness.
'...Lumian doesn't look comfortable either.'
Probably, that guy was also tense about Cal Krone's skills.
He could fully understand. Both were monsters, but still, the weight had to tip slightly toward Cal Krone for now.
'No, let's not weaken already.'
Teoro quietly closed his eyes.
He had changed. He was different even from right after learning a new method of utilizing aura from Lumian. His skills, grown through sparring with Boomer, were sufficient to take pride in.
'Even if I can't win, let me at least hold him back.'
"Cal Krone, Teoro Shutgarn. To the stage!"
In a flash, Teoro opened his eyes. His complicated mind settled and calm was found.
Cal Krone went up to the stage first, and Teoro followed behind him. In a state as tranquil as the surface of a windless lake.
Cal Krone didn't like that.
So he threw a stone. To create ripples.
"Looks like you're confident? Different from usual?"
"Because of the magical projection, voices can be heard in the audience seats too."
"Ah, really? But why does that matter?"
"It means stop talking nonsense and just hold your sword."
Teoro shot back coldly. Cal Krone made a surprised expression saying "Oh," and whistled.
That was the end. Neither of them said another word.
The referee asked the two who were simply staring at each other.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Good. Match begin!"
Swish!
Before the referee's words even finished, Teoro rushed forward. The eyes of the spectators watching the match went wide.
Teoro, who had always maintained a calm demeanor until now, unfolding matches focused on defense, evasion, and counterattacks rather than offense, was charging in first. It didn't suit him. Some thought he couldn't withstand Cal Krone's pressure and was making a reckless move.
But that was a wrong assumption.
Teoro wasn't being reckless. He wasn't doing something that didn't suit him either.
He was simply showing the card he had been hiding until now.
His figure had already approached near his opponent.
Cal Krone thrust his sword aiming for the middle.
Sweek-
A thrust so smooth that even the sound of wind couldn't be heard. It was a timely attack where most people wouldn't be able to overcome inertia and would be skewered as is.
However, Teoro wasn't a mediocre talent. Sliding smoothly like water flowing along the ground, he rotated and seized Cal Krone's left side.
Cal Krone, slightly admiring this, moved his sword. It was in vain. Teoro continuously evaded his attacks and finally obtained the proper timing to attack.
Sword energy poured down as if fire was spewing forth.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Once, twice, three times! Powerful attacks never seen before erupted from Teoro. Sword clashed against sword, and spectators wore surprised expressions.
The sight of him pressing the opponent roughly and quickly was like watching Boomer Simpson.
Someone murmured.
"Looks like flowers exploding in succession."
Cal Krone didn't agree with this.
His movements were still like water. The motions were so smooth that no gaps were visible, and it was difficult to land effective hits.
However, there was one difference from before: he was now applying the properties of water to offense as well, not just defense.
'It's like a waterfall.'
Heavy and fierce attacks continuously pouring down from above!
That's right. This was certainly not fire.
Teoro, without losing his style, had created another weapon while embracing all his existing strengths. It was an amazing thing. A faint smile began to form on Cal Krone's face.
'This is fun?'
He was definitely different from last year's Teoro. The pressure felt when swords clashed, the sensation of cutting through empty air in vain, everything was incredibly new.
Cal Krone, immersed in the fresh shock, exchanged several dozen exchanges. This was the first time a fight with a fellow student had been this enjoyable.
But that thought didn't last long.
When the 99th sword clashed, Cal Krone's expression returned to ordinary.
He had now grown tired of it.
He thought with eyes that had turned cold.
'Still, it was decent.'
He hadn't expected to feel this much enjoyment in a Sword Arts Tournament where third and fourth-years didn't participate. That's why he was grateful to Teoro. Enough to want to hug him after the match ended if possible.
But now he had enjoyed enough. Continuing to chew on the same food, the taste was starting to become bland.
Fortunately, the meal wasn't over. Tomorrow's match with Boomer remained. Since Teoro had shown a performance that exceeded his expectations, that guy would surely entertain him too.
'So, let's end this now.'
Cal Krone glanced at the audience seats.
Numerous fans worrying about him came into view.
He liked it. The fact that many people were immersed in him was a very pleasant thing.
Part of the reason he had exchanged blows with Teoro was also because of them.
The direction of making a flashy revival in a crisis situation was a typical cliché, but that's exactly why it worked well.
Having finished his thoughts, Cal Krone smoothly drew up his aura.
At the same time, a mysterious energy completely different from aura also flowed throughout his entire body. It was a feeling of a bewitching fragrance being overlaid.
Whoooom!
Teoro's sword cut through empty air.
It wasn't anything special. The waterfall continues to flow. If you can't hit, you just swing once more, twice more. That's all. Teoro thought so.
But the situation started to flow differently from his thoughts.
Cal Krone, who had been desperate to block, stopped defending at some point. Swords didn't clash against swords. He began avoiding all of Teoro's attacks with only evasion.
It was so leisurely as if flowing on a river. Teoro could no longer chase the opponent's movements.
"Kugh!"
The frustrating situation was expressed as a groan. Of course, he hadn't given up.
More roughly, more quickly! Teoro struggled to catch Cal Krone who was swaying here and there. He didn't care that his aura was bottoming out, that his muscles were screaming. Eyes showed fighting spirit close to killing intent.
But it was in vain.
The river dried up. The stream thinned.
A single flower petal rode up the waterfall that had weakened considerably. That flower petal, without a single wound, rather left its mark on the waterfall with its rich fragrance.
Swish, sweek.
Two sword strokes tore through Teoro's front.
It was merely a graze, but everyone knew. That it was due to Cal Krone's mercy.
The referee's shout echoed throughout the arena.
"Match end! Second-year Class A, Cal Krone, victory!"
"Kyaaaaaah!"
"Cal Krone! Cal Krone!"
"As expected! We believed in you!"
Women shouted loudly to cheer for Cal Krone upon seeing his victory confirmed.
Teoro was also popular with women for his handsome appearance, but he couldn't surpass Cal Krone's stronghold. No women paid attention to him who had been defeated.
Of course, Teoro didn't care about such things at all.
He was just annoyed at Cal Krone, who was still far away, and at himself for being only this much.
He said.
"You were hiding much more power than I thought..."
"You too. Phew."
Cal Krone added a word while playfully exhaling.
"Don't be too disappointed. You were the most fun among recent opponents."
***
'That guy, he must be pretty upset.'
Lumian looked at the stage with a serious face.
Teoro, always expressionless. Now too was the same. No particular emotion was revealed on his face.
But Lumian, who had been by his side for quite a long time, could tell. That his mental state was very poor.
"Hmm, Cal Krone... he's strong as expected, huh?"
"..."
"Well, it's not like him being strong is anything new. I should just do well. Friend, you'll help me, right?"
"I got it, so just be quiet."
Lumian scolded Boomer. His expression was still stiffly hardened.
But in fact, the reason his mind was uncomfortable wasn't because of Teoro.
Lumian already knew. The fact that Teoro's skills fell far short of Cal Krone. That he was unilaterally defeated was unfortunate, but since it was something he had already expected, there was no shock.
What was unexpected was neither the match's outcome nor Cal Krone's skills.
Lumian closed his eyes tightly and thought.
'I said it felt unsettling all along...'
Sadly, what Cal Krone had been hiding wasn't just his skills.
Lumian could feel it. As the match continued, as people's interest concentrated more and more... the energy surrounding Cal Krone grew stronger and stronger.
It was at its peak when he slashed Teoro's chest area.
At that moment, he was emitting an ecstatic flower fragrance like a drug, without exaggeration.
Cal Krone's tremendous attention-seeking power that overwhelmed even Teoro's sculpted appearance.
Lumian, having witnessed that, wore an endlessly sorrowful expression.
'That bastard... until now, it wasn't full power!'