How to Live as a Martial Arts Writer in a Fantasy World

36 – 36. The Mock Battle

36.

As the inter-grade competition approached, the daily lives of the students chosen as class representatives were inevitably busy. This was the same for Leyla von Princeton, who was chosen as the representative of the first-year magic department, and Stella von Evans, who was the representative of the knight department.

As soon as the lecture ended, the representatives gathered and focused on final checks.

“3rd-year knight department representative is, as expected, senior Albert. Can we beat them?”

“Thank goodness senior Elrion from the magic department is on our side.”

Elrion Grad von Rustal is the eldest son of the Rustal Duke.

He’s been competing with Albert Elring von Muller of the knight department for a long time, enough to call them friendly rivals from the first grade.

“Weren’t the 2nd-year seniors mostly from the magic department?”

“Yes. Anyway, senior Albert will be in the vanguard. They probably plan to leave the vanguard to Albert and sweep the rest with a big spell from behind. Among the second year seniors, is there anyone who can follow Albert?”

“Senior Albert, I heard that he became even more monstrous after the third year. Can we win?”

“Don’t lose confidence before it starts, let’s come up with a strategy. Stella!”

“Hmm? Did you call me?”

Stella, who was swinging a wooden sword and calming her mind, walked towards the first-year students as they called her.

“Look at this, we are not sure how to fill our ranks. It’s supposed to be bodyguarding the princess.”

“Ranks?”

“We have to face Senior Albert. There aren’t many on our side who can face him.”

Stella slightly frowned at the words of the other students who had been chosen as representatives.

Albert, as someone who also pursued the path of the sword, was certainly an object of admiration. But when faced with the prospect of crossing swords with him, she had no clue on how to go about it.

Stella asked,

“How many of us are assigned to the vanguard?”

“Five, including you, Stella.”

“The second-year seniors… Even with Albert, the vanguard is just three, isn’t it?”

“They are that confident in Albert.”

“Honestly, if senior Alice was at the academy, Albert would have been assigned to our side.”

Stella let out a bitter laugh at the name of the Muller triplets, who had been mentioned frequently lately.

“By the way, Stella, you seem to hang out with Allen Muller quite often. Can’t you find out any strategies to deal with Albert?”

“I don’t really hang out with him. I simply run into him a lot because I’m assigned to guard the princess. Aside from that, we don’t have much private interaction.”

“That’s a shame.”

“But considering the havoc that was wreaked recently, do you think Allen will be willing to help us when asked?”

Stella responded to the question,

“It seems to be difficult for the time being. We openly insulted Allen Muller. I think it’s disrespectful from a fellow knight student.”

“I see…”

“We need to find a way to cope with Albert. Senior Elion said she would do her utmost if she was fighting against Albert.”

“But really, the problem is breaking through the second-year seniors’ vanguard. Just because of Albert, the entire balance is ruined.”

Overhearing the conversation of the students of the same grade, Stella left her seat.

She was feeling suffocated.

“Could I stand against Albert?”

Even if the swordsmanship of the Evans family had been handed down to her, Albert was greater. He was the eldest son of the Muller family, the swordsman of the empire.

Among the other knight students, he was rated higher than Alice Scarlet von Muller, the older sister of Allen, who Stella admired.

“There’s no answer.”

Even Elion Grad von Rustal, a fellow third-year magician, couldn’t stand a chance against Albert in close combat.

Elion, who is recognized as a close combat magic expert, even publically declared that she has no chance against Albert. So it’s highly unlikely that Stella and five other first-year students would be able to compete against him.

Furthermore, it’s not like the remaining two would just stand by idly while the five of them were against Albert.

The more Stella thought about it, the more her head ached.

Suddenly, her thoughts turned to Allen.

‘…In retrospect, I was being too reckless.’

Could it have been because the admiration for Albert and Alice was too strong?

There were too many mistakes in Alan’s actions.

There were misunderstandings made arbitrarily. Although apologies were made, there seemed to be no proper conversation with Alan afterwards.

Sitting on a bench set up outside the training field, Stella heaved a sigh and looked up at the sky.

“What are you doing?”

Startled by Alan’s sudden appearance in her line of sight, Stella hastily rose from the bench.

She would’ve butted him out of the way if it wasn’t for Alan stepping back.

Alan grumbled as he rejoined the ever-unaffected Meia.

“A dungeon trap? If you bumped into anything by mistake this time, it wouldn’t be the nose but the head.”

“Alan Mueller?”

“I heard all the guys who were practicing for the scrimmage are here, and there you are wallowing in self-pity.”

“What are you doing here…?”

Alan shrugged his shoulders.

Behind him, the emotionless face of Meia could be seen.

“I came here to watch the scrimmage practice.”

“Leisure time… you seem to have a lot of it.”

“I guess it’s a privilege of the humanities. It’s not like anyone doesn’t know that the knight department and the magic department are the two pillars of the academy.”

At Alan’s words, Stella gave a bitter laugh.

“Is the scrimmage practice going well?”

“The practice is so-so, but it’s a headache having to go against the senior Albert.”

“Is he going against my brother? He must be dying.”

“That’s why it’s a headache. Senior Elion also participates, but at this point we have hardly any way to fight senior Albert.”

Upon hearing her words, Alan grunted and rested his chin on his palm.

“Don’t you have a separate strategy?”

“Can’t say we have one…”

“How many people do you have in the vanguard?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Looks fun. I’m taking a course in military tactics?”

“You’re not in the knight department yet you’re taking a course in military tactics, quite unique.”

“Humanities department has a 24-point system. Damned if I want to take it, I have to even take courses from other departments as a minor to get to it. Horrible.”

Allen shook his head as if it gave him a headache just thinking about his grades.

Most cadets enrolled in Knight School attend the Tactics course, but the proportion that seriously engages in the class is small.

Even the professors who lecture the course often downplay its importance, indicating that a basic understanding is adequate.

Even though the course can be useful for leaders who command armies rather than knights focusing on improving their own fighting abilities.

However, Allen’s motivation to attend the tactics course is purely out of curiosity.

“So you’re saying you’re going to help me with the opposing team?”

“Why, not interested? Well then, just go.”

“Do you have a way to deal with senior Albert?”

“Why do we even have to deal with him?”

Allen tilts his head as if it seems strange.

“We just throw them a decent bait and hit the guys in the back. Remember, the opposing match is not a war. It’s a contest with rules.”

“A contest with rules…!”

“It seems like your head is hard because it’s crushed under your brother’s name. You don’t have to beat him. Why are you even trying to?”

Allen tapped his forehead with his index finger.

“Of course, beating your brother would result in honor. But so what if you focus solely on him in the team match, and end up losing? What’s the point?”

“As far as I know, there’s almost no record of a first-year student winning the inter-grade match. Even the princess doesn’t participate.”

“That’s obvious. It’s contradictory to fairness. Can you swing your sword against royalty?”

At Allen’s question, Stella shook her head.

It was absolutely impossible for her, who was serving as the princess’s guard.

There probably wouldn’t be a single person who could dare to swing their sword at the royal family, unless Stella.

Unless they had a grudge against the empire.

“Of course, I don’t mean we can’t use the princess strategically. Assuming that the princess participates, that is.”

At Allen’s words, Stella furrowed her brow.

“You’re going too far, Allen Muller.”

“Don’t you get it? If you want to win, you should not be particular about ways and means, even if it’s deemed dishonorable. Do you understand what I mean?”

“What exactly does that mean?”

“It means that even if it looks cowardly, if you want to win, you have to do it.”

“But isn’t that dishonest and far removed from a fair game?”

“Will you still say that when facing an opponent you can’t beat? Will you lose and die? You are the princess’s guard. If you die, who will protect the princess?”

At Allen’s words, Stella had nothing to say and shut her mouth.

“Well, this conversation has veered off a bit. I’m not sure how many representatives there are among the second-year seniors, but among the first-year knight candidates, is there anyone stronger than you?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Are you sure?”

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“None of the exchange students from Kunlun made it as representatives. I am the strongest.”

“Hmm, you say so.”

Allen strokes his chin, appearing amused.

His eyes filled with curiosity.

“Then the leftover ones are the bait. You just need to distract them.”

“Do you mean me?”

“The important thing is that the rest of the four shouldn’t be defeated against my elder brother. Is everyone gathered in the practice yard?”

“Suppose so.”

At Stella’s words, Allen laughed.

His smile was like a mischievous boy who had found a toy. At least that was how Stella felt.

“I’m also a bit interested in playing the counter raid, so help me out. Though, Meia will probably help more.”

“Miss Meia?”

“What should I do, my lord?”

At Meia’s question, Allen answered.

“Well, what could you do? The contest is just a week away, right?”

“I believe that’s the case.”

“Well then, for the next week, give them a hard time. After all, practical experience is the best.”

“W-What are you saying, Allen Muller?”

To Stella’s question, Allen answered nonchalantly.

“If you want to win, try obtaining victory against Meia at least once. It would be a bit disappointing if only Meia and I were here, so go and find some people who fit the team. Let’s have a practice match.”

“A practice match…”

Allen said with a serious expression.

“Of course, if you show results in the practice match, the chances of winning will increase a bit. If not, you’ll be trampled on. If you don’t want your pride crushed, every representative needs to give their all, right?”