NOVEL WEB Ch. 110
Chapter 110
The coffee wagon was quiet. Most visitors had gone to watch the Cadet Duel Assessment. Couples and families strolled the Academy, keeping it from being too silent—perfect.
“Here’s your caramel macchiato.”
“Thank you!”
A young boy blushed, politely taking the coffee. Adorable. Master must’ve been just like him as a child.
Lilac smiled, scanning the wagon.
“That was the last order. We can rest for a bit.”
Bianca and Savo found seats, slumping down.
“Oh, looks like we’re done.”
Nerjin arrived.
“You’re back.”
“Sorry for stepping out during business, Miss Lilac.”
“It wasn’t busy.”
Lilac smiled reassuringly. Nerjin held out a clenched fist.
“A gift.”
“A gift?”
She cupped her hands beneath. His fist opened, dropping a folded paper.
Lilac’s eyes widened.
“M-Mr. Nerjin, this is…!”
“Wow!”
“….”
Bianca and Savo had received the same paper.
“A surprise for President Martin and everyone.”
The paper: Cadet Duel Assessment tickets! Not for the external stands, but seats inside the grand training ground!
“My old back aches. I’ll stay here, so take the kids and go, Miss Lilac. Walk Sebastian, too.”
“B-But, Mr. Nerjin, I’d feel too guilty…”
“It’s fine.”
He glanced at Bianca and Savo.
“Lilac-unnie! Let’s go! Come on! Hurry!”
“…!”
Bianca was ecstatic, and Savo’s eyes sparkled up at Lilac. Still guilty, she looked at Nerjin, who only smiled kindly.
“Miss Lilac.”
“Yes.”
“President Martin would be thrilled to see you. For your master, go with peace of mind.”
Her master. Master Martin. His face quickened her heartbeat.
“…Yes!”
Nerjin smiled warmly.
***
‘Polar opposites with Bord.’
‘Martin’s my opposite.’
Bord burned with resolve. A man conveys sincerity through combat! The chance had come, and he’d give his all!
“Martin! Let’s fight as Imperium Academy cadets with everything we’ve got!”
His passionate cry didn’t ignite my own.
‘…I’m not here for that.’
An encore would be a disaster. I was considering forfeiture, glancing at the stands, when—
‘Huh?’
There she was.
“Master!”
Lilac.
“Win!”
Holding cheer sticks, staring right at me… I saw her.
‘I can’t lose.’
Once in a lifetime, a fight you must win comes.
‘This is a fight I absolutely can’t lose.’
A fight I couldn’t back down from.
“Alright, Bord. Let’s… go all the way!”
“That’s it!”
Martin reloaded, swapping bullets.
‘That sturdy shield’s untouchable, but can I even hurt him?’
‘He’s too fast to hit. But he can’t hurt me either…’
Bord shifted from defense to offense.
‘Time to use it.’
‘Let’s change stance.’
Bord charged again, shield on his back, hands like cauldron lids thrust forward.
“Martin! Dodge this!”
Without the shield, he was twice as fast. His strikes were tricky. Blocking them, he’d learned how to attack.
But I’m me.
“That’s all? Disappointing.”
I sidestepped his grasping hands, kicked off, and used the recoil to leap away. Bord’s face hardened. Yeah, he felt toyed with.
“Block this.”
Mid-air, I fired a red garnet gem bullet. As Bord swung to deflect, his eyes caught the bullet’s red tip.
“Damn!”
Too late to realize it was different. The bullet hit his fist, triggering magic. A massive explosion engulfed Bord, red flames surging like waves.
“Look!”
“Martin can use magic?!”
“No, some special bullet.”
The crowd’s attention turned.
But the arena was our world. No time to mind the audience.
“Phew… Martin…”
Shivers ran through me as Bord emerged from the flames. His eyes were a bear’s—a giant bear, annoyed by tickles, now feeling pain and radiating killing intent.
“Barrier Deploy!”
‘No!’
I hurriedly loaded another garnet bullet and fired.
“Frontkeeper!”
Bang! Another explosion enveloped Bord, but—
A colossal mana giant rose from the flames. Nerjin’s enchanted flames didn’t scratch Frontkeeper, instead adorning it like decorative cloth.
“Frontkeeper!”
“The Tauforos family’s secret technique!”
Cheers erupted from the stands. All eyes turned. How could they not? A majestic mana giant graced the stage.
“Raaaargh!”
Bord slammed his hands down, spreading them wide. The giant mimicked him. A devastating area attack covering the arena. I dashed sideways, dodging the slam, then backflipped perfectly to evade the spreading arms.
Landing, I faced Bord and Frontkeeper’s ferocious glare.
“Alright… let’s do this!”
Martin knew this match would be long. But he had to win. Absolutely.
***
‘Strong.’
Martin and Bord’s match drew eyes soon after starting. Like an epic of a small gunner facing a mountain-sized giant, it gripped viewers’ hands.
“Cadet Gilbert, prepare!”
“Understood.”
But Gilbert couldn’t watch to the end.
“Cadet Elisha, prepare.”
“Yes.”
It was time to face his friend, the legendary archer of Harmadun, the Red Bow.
“Let’s do this.”
“Yeah.”
Their battle was fierce. Red arrows rained relentlessly, exploding and scattering across the arena.
Elisha, like a battlefield goddess, pressed Gilbert ceaselessly. She felt twice, thrice stronger than when they first met at the Academy.
But—
“Huff, ha!”
Elisha fell, panting. Gilbert stood.
His fearsome sword strikes deflected every arrow, toppling Elisha. The stands buzzed. Countless encores were called. Over half, no need to count.
“Encore!”
“Here too!”
“I want to see that cadet’s full strength!”
All 17 Platinum Knights in attendance shouted for an encore. The referee, swallowing hard, approached Gilbert.
“Cadet Gilbert, encore. Are you alright?”
Gilbert rose slowly. His breathing was ragged, muscles strained from the fight. But—
“Cadets Martin and Bord aren’t done yet.”
“Huh?”
“I’m fine. Let’s keep going.”
Gilbert won his second and third matches, even against second- and third-years, dominating effortlessly.
“Cadet Gilbert! Consecutive victories!”
“Beating upperclassmen with ease!”
“Unbelievable… At least Platinum Knight material!”
The referee teacher, thrilled by this heaven-sent talent, waved his arms, commentating.
“Incredible! Cadet Gilbert’s skills are phenomenal! Truly a super rookie!”
His monstrous ability to crush second- and third-years in under ten moves earned him the nickname Super Rookie.
“Come on, who’s next? Cadet Gilbert’s not tired yet. Encore requests are pouring in!”
And a fated battle loomed.
“…Gilbert…!”
“Cadet Kazaks.”
Kazaks and Gilbert crossed swords. In the original, they were rivals, growing together at the Academy, sometimes clashing, sometimes uniting against the end. This match was meant to be neck-and-neck, but…
“Urk!”
“Winner! Gilbert!”
In under a minute, after 50 fierce exchanges, Kazaks sprawled on the ground, staring at Gilbert in disbelief.
“Encore!”
“Encore!”
Gilbert surveyed the arena, breathing heavily. He waited for one person.
Countless events had shaped him.
When Dr. Keren and the demon count rampaged in Petrak Kingdom—
‘I did nothing. Even as Martin risked death, landing a critical blow with a trump card.’
When Helaine’s serial killings threw the capital into chaos—
‘I did nothing. While Martin solved it all, I didn’t even grasp the situation.’
During Marquis Vistavern’s terror incident, nearly killing many—
‘I was obsessed with saving everyone, saving no one. I ignored Martin’s advice, berated him—who saved many—to ease my guilt. I shouldn’t have.’
In the Defardly Liberation Army’s hideout—
‘I did nothing. Just a burden trailing Martin.’
Protagonists grow through trials. Powerlessness and guilt made Gilbert twice as strong as the original.
“…Encore.”
“Encore!”
“Requesting encore!”
Scouts in the stands roared for more.
Other matches were sidelined.
A commoner cadet had crushed Prince Kazaks, the top talent, and floored upperclassmen!
“Who’s next?”
At Gilbert’s dry tone, the referee scanned the arena and answered.
“Martin. Trash Martin is your next opponent.”
***
Bord finally burned out. Frontkeeper was a supreme technique, but its mana drain was immense, especially for the still-unpolished Bord. After 20 minutes, pouring everything in, he collapsed, and I won.
“Encore!”
“Trash? Who called him trash?! Encore!”
“Investigate Ulvhadin’s Martin, now!”
A flood of encore calls. Turning, I saw Lilac’s beaming smile.
‘So what if I’m tired?’
One smile from Lilac made it worth it. Surveying the arena, I knew encores meant likely facing another encore opponent. Who was left…
‘…Oh, no.’
I swallowed hard.
‘A monster?’
Gilbert, who’d tossed Kazaks aside, stood unscathed.
[Name: Gilbert Cosmos]
[Age: 17]
[Gender: Male]
[Traits: Justice, Good, Order, Integrity, Indomitable]
[User Perception: Hatred, Caution, Dismissal]
[Protagonist Buff Lv Max]
[Cosmos Empire Swordsmanship Lv 9]
[Swordsmanship Mastery Lv 8]
[Advanced Mana Cultivation Lv 5]
[High-Grade Martial Arts Lv 3]
[Combat Sense Lv 6]
[Poison Resistance Lv Max]
[Emperor’s Studies Lv 7]
I prided myself on my growth, but this was ridiculous.
Gilbert’s growth, without a system, was unbelievable. Nearly two or three times stronger than when I first saw him.
‘…Stronger than the original?!’
Laugh or cry? Great for the endgame, but dizzying considering we’re bitter enemies.
“Cadet Martin.”
“Yes.”
An assistant staff teacher approached.
“Head to Arena 10. Your next opponent’s there.”
Arena 10. I didn’t need to look. It was Gilbert.
Turning, I saw Gilbert’s imposing figure on the arena, his gaze fixed on me.