Chapter 15
Chapter 15 - The Returner’s Promotion Battle (1)
Rewriter Note(s): [1] “Omae wa mou shindeiru . ”
But nothing happened . The barbarian felt no resistance as the glaive completed
its sweeping downwards arc . The only thing he had struck was air .
“Gruuh . . . ?” The barbarian stared quizzically at Pram . He hadn’t cut so much as
a single hair on his head . A glint of silver was now jutting out from the wooden
wall behind Pram . Something sharp with the silhouette of a crescent curve . The
barbarian snapped his neck down to look at the glaive in his hands . Except, it
wasn’t a glaive anymore—the blade was cut clean off . He was left with a
wooden rod .
Pram raised his rapier . “Shall we go again?”
The barbarian flung the wooden handle aside and closed the distance with a
swing of his fist . In an instant, his knuckles were close enough to obscure
Pram’s entire head from view . Pram wove to the side, letting the punch rocket
past him like a battering ram, and seamlessly vaulted into the air with a
backflip . With all the grace of a seasoned acrobat, he landed behind the
bewildered giant, and followed up with a swing of his rapier . [1]
The giant spun around and raised an arm to block the blow with his gauntlet,
but Pram’s rapier drew a perfect arc around his guard, and thrust into the pit of
his stomach . The now hapless giant tried to retreat, but Pram was faster . The
rapier plunged into the barbarian’s solar plexus . Tough as his body may have
been, it was a decisive blow to a vulnerable weak point . The giant’s body
quavered, his legs gave out from under him, and he collapsed into a crumpled
heap .
Desir nodded silently, as if confirming something he’d already known . “Looks
like it’s over . ”
“Nonsense,” screeched Ujukun . “That door is made of Kichlean steel . There’s
only one person here who can open it, and I’m pretty sure he’s in no condition
to do so . ” Kichlean steel was famed for its unyielding tensile strength . It was
also proportionately heavy . A door of this size would likely require the strained
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efforts of half a dozen men to even budge . “Which means you’re stuck here
until my guards arrive,” cackled Ujukun .
“Oh, I don’t know about that . ” The Blanchume rapier streaked through the air,
making short work of the door’s hinges . The door flattened with a thunderous
crash . Apparently, even Kichlean steel was no match for Blanchume . As the
pair made their exit, Desir turned to the dazed Ujukun . “Looks like it’s
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definitely over now, doesn’t it?”
They’d only been running for a few minutes but Desir was already out of
breath .
“Alright, I think we’ve lost them . I really need to exercise some more . I can’t
believe I’m this weak . . . ” Desir muttered between stilted breaths . Though, his
lack of breath did little to damper is cheerful voice . “Good thing we got the
sword back, right?”
While nodding, Pram moved his hand to the rapier at his waist without even
realizing it . The pale rapier glittered like starlight, or even moonlight . He pulled
out the sword, and couldn’t feel the slightest weight . A truly incredible feeling .
“So you’ve decided to use the rapier?” Desir said, recalling how Pram had
fought with the rapier a few minutes before .
He’d held the rapier, and subdued the barbarian giant with overwhelming skill .
The fact that Pram had took up the rapier again was especially meaningful to
Desir .
“The situation was too urgent so I had no choice, but . . . ” Pram was still
hesitating . He eventually let out a sigh . “Why would my father hide something
like this in that old, worn-down Kemubin?”
That was the cause of this entire ridiculous incident . If he’d made it obvious
from the start that it was in fact a Kemubin, Pram would never have had any
reason to resent his father .
“Your father made a wise choice, Pram . ”
Pram raised his head at Desir’s words .
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“A Blanchume sword is an incredible thing . Imagine if word got out that you
owned it . Over a hundred people just like Ujukun would have come to hound
you,” explained Desir .
“But there was still a chance I would never have found out,” said Pram .
“He left it behind because he thought you’d figure it out eventually,” said Desir
assuredly . Pram’s father always believed that Pram would realize, as long as he
kept carrying the rapier around .
“How can you be so sure?” asked Pram .
Desir grabbed the rapier, and pointed at the grip . Pram looked at it . On the
Kemubin that had the shape of an old, worn sword, there were written some
unreadable words . The reason they were unreadable was because they were
incomplete . When the Blanchume was revealed and the rapier showed its true
form, the words on the grip took shape . It looked like there was a hidden
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mechanism on the grip as well as the blade .
Pram read the words slowly .
Do not lose your way, my little bird .
The Alpha Class’s private restaurant was on a high floor, the view overlooking
Hebrion Academy . A cold breeze blew in from the open window . A colorless
night view lay outside . The stars shone solemnly in the deep dark .
Romantica shuddered in the cold .
“Here’s your order, madam,” said the waiter .
The lights glittered yellow and the waiters moved between the tables like birds
flying in and out of their nests . The menu was seafood—a salt-grilled fish and a
crab gratin were laid in front of Romantica, and she thanked the waiter with a
smile .
“The Alpha Class meals are so much better, right?” said Doneta Hadun, seated
across from her .
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She hadn’t known that he’d arrived . She guessed he’d come while she was
looking out the window . There was nothing strange about the fact that he was
there . In fact, what was strange was the fact that she was here . Without the man
sitting across from her, she could never have even set foot in this place .
“At long last . I’ve wanted to see you all this time,” said Doneta warmly .
“I see,” responded Romantica curtly . Romantica waited for Doneta’s food to
come out . A moment later, Doneta’s food was laid in front of him, and they
both raised their forks . The grilled fish tasted good, and the gratin was slightly
greasy, but its flavor was exquisite . The two of them didn’t say anything for a
while, savoring the food .
“So, what did you want to talk about?” asked Doneta .
There was no reason to hesitate . Romantica placed a wooden dagger on the
table . It was decorated with all sorts of ornaments . Romantica explained
herself, “I came to return this . ”
Doneta pushed up his glasses and looked at the Kemubin as if it were his first
time seeing it . Romantica pushed the Kemubin toward him . Doneta showed no
reaction for a moment . No rage, no annoyance . He merely collected his breath,
and pondered why he had gotten rejected . Only a third-rate noble would show
his emotions on his face . “I thought there was no reason for you to refuse-”
“You thought . ” Romantica looked at Doneta with her wind-touched green eyes .
Doneta’s heart started racing as he looked back at her gaze . “If you’re perhaps
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uncomfortable with dating me, you don’t have to worry about that . ”
“I did hesitate for that reason at the beginning . But it’s not because of that,”
said Romantica .
“You mean there’s another reason?” asked Doneta .
Romantica nodded . “I joined a nameless party in the Beta Class . ”
“Beta Class . . . ” Doneta looked at her with disbelief . He mumbled to himself, as
though he couldn’t even understand what he had just heard . “Beta Class, you
say . . . ”
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“Yes . A commoner’s party . The people you regard as trash,” said Romantica .
Doneta slammed his fork on the table . Everything had grown cold . The air
blowing in from the window, the soup on the table, the atmosphere between
them . “I don’t understand . Did you get blackmailed?”
“Maybe . . . ” Romantica shook her head . “No, this was my decision . ”
“Then you weren’t thinking rationally,” said Doneta . He opened the Kemubin .
A golden necklace slid out into Doneta’s palm like a snake .
“I don’t have any regrets,” said Romantica . She stared at Doneta with renewed
vigor .
“Don’t be hasty . There’s still time,” smiled Doneta .
Romantica took a deep breath . “I’m not taking back my decision . ” Doneta’s lips
were upturned, but he wasn’t smiling . Romantica did the same . “I honestly
think I made the right choice . I didn’t want to join that party at first, but I
changed my mind as time went on . This party is fun . The leader trains us
diligently . My skills are improving quickly thanks to him . ” With each word,
Romantica became more sure that she made the correct choice .
“If it’s improving your skills, our party can do that as well,” refuted Doneta .
“Of course, that’s only one of the reasons . Doneta, do you remember how you
told me the Beta Class were all worthless commoners, nothing but trash?”
asked Romantica .
Doneta paused . “I don’t see why you’re bringing that up . ”
“The reason,” explained Romantica . She breathed in deeply filled up her lungs .
Glittering red snake eyes stared back at her . She breathed out, and said the
words that sealed her fate . “ . . . is that I’m a commoner . ”
Doneta slammed his fork down into the table . A sharp clang slammed into
Doneta’s eardrums . All of the concern and affection washed off of his face . A
slight look of scorn could be seen on his face . Romantica could no longer find
the slightest affection in his eyes .
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“Hm . ” He let out a slight cough . In a split second, he regained his poker face
after realizing his mistake, but it was too late . His feelings toward commoners
was close to physical repulsion, and he couldn’t contain it immediately . Just as
somebody wouldn’t need a reason to hate cockroaches, he didn’t need a reason
to hate commoners . A look of panic showed on his face—he looked desperate .
“That’s a lie . ”
“Your reason for thinking that?” asked Romantica .
“If you were truly a commoner, you would have kept your mouth shut and
joined my party . That would be the only way a commoner like you could have
entered the Alpha Class,” explained Doneta .
“That’s right,” Romantica admitted it . “But when they found out I was a
commoner, at least they didn’t look at me like you . ” Doneta was right—if she
joined the Blue Moon Party, she would have an easy time entering the Alpha
Class . In contrast, Desir instead invited her to his party even though he knew
she was a commoner . There was no discrimination . She didn’t have to lie, or
fear that she would be outed for being a commoner .
“I see . ” Doneta opened his mouth . “Of course . You’re all the same trash, after
all . ” His bitter tone was reflected in his demeanor .
“Trash . . . you’ve got that right,” said Romantica . Her voice carried the same
bitterness as Doneta’s, as she answered him, her voice filled with remorse .
“Nobles will always hate commoners . They hate and despise them as if they’re
biological enemies . I know very well why you nobles can’t stand commoners .
“It’s the same reason Hebrion Academy is an aristocracy instead of a
meritocracy—the same reason why Alpha and Beta aren’t divided based on
rank, but status . The reason is that you nobles are afraid of the birth of a new
Republic . ”
“ . . . Watch your mouth . ” Doneta whispered back immediately . His eyes shifted
side to side and he looked around to make sure nobody was paying attention .
Romantica ignored him and laid the final nail in the coffin . “Times have
changed . The Shadow Worlds have toppled the balance . Anyone strong enough
can acquire magic crystals . You’re all living in a castle of sand and it’s
crumbling . ”
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Her voice now reinvigorated, Romantica said, “You live in constant fear, not
knowing when everything will collapse . ”