Episode 28: Royal Lytisia Academy Knight Cooperative Exam

“We will now begin the knight cooperative exam between Squad 8 and Squad 27.”

Finally, this moment has arrived.

In the arena where wooden fences, fake building structures resembling houses, and barrels are haphazardly placed, Emma, Erett, and I stand side by side.

This is probably a battlefield simulating urban warfare.

The location for combat in this exam is randomized.

It’s about seeing how you can move in sudden combat situations.

And apparently the matchings are also completely randomly drawn from all groups.

You don’t know who you’ll fight until right before.

As a result, our opponents are Group 27.

One is a red-haired young man. He has quite a muscular physique, looking very much like a warrior.

In contrast, the blue-haired young man has spindly arms and legs. But that literally condescending gaze is a notable gesture of someone who performs combat analysis. He’s probably the agile rogue type who toys with opponents.

The remaining blonde young man—or rather, someone with a boyish appearance—has nothing particular that would allow me to estimate his role. However, there is one part that especially catches the eye.

That left eye with a thin, sharp pupil like a beast’s.

That’s probably a magic eye.

It’s a special ability one has congenitally separate from the unique magic Celestia, and can grant magical effects to one’s gaze.

There was a character with that among the romance targets in the game, but this is the first time I’ve met an owner of one in this world.

The troublesome thing about magic eyes is that you can’t judge their effect by appearance. You don’t know the trick until it’s used.

…I should be on guard.

“Magic and swordsmanship may be used without restriction. However, if you violate the prohibited matters listed in the advance explanation, the exam will be immediately halted and punishment given. Victory conditions are making all opposing members unable to battle, forcing them out of bounds, or making them surrender. Judgment of combat inability will be done at the exam proctor’s objective discretion—”

The exam proctor’s rule explanation begins.

It’s stiff and long-winded, but basically: there are rules. Fight.

And beat the opponent until they cry.

It’s a simple story.

“Now then, that concludes the explanation. Everyone—”

Here it comes.

I glance at the two beside me.

Emma seems to have noticed and nods while showing her teeth in a grin.

As for Erett… she seems quite consumed by nervousness, standing still while muttering something.

Well, as long as we move according to plan, there’s no problem.

“—Begin.”

The exam has started.

***

Immediately, Erett heads to the front line, and I follow her.

Emma is in back, forming a vanguard-midguard-rearguard formation.

In contrast, the red and blue opponents approach simultaneously. Yellow seems to be in rear support.

“Deep Darkness…!”

While releasing an ominous abyss from her left hand, Erett crosses swords with Red’s greatsword.

Blue seems occupied with dealing with the magic.

The characteristic of dark magic is that while stealing the opponent’s vision, it can also greatly削reduce their remaining magical power.

It has quirks to use as a main weapon, but for a quick-sword type like her, it’s optimal as an auxiliary function.

What’s a bit surprising is that despite her small body, she can deflect strikes from that giant frame.

She said she was confident in swordsmanship, but even with her timid personality, she apparently has enough skill to say that.

“Ah, hey Zack, don’t go ahead! The other side has that ‘Test Breaker’!”

“ORAAAAAAAH!”

Red launches a fierce attack on Erett in a way that suggests the blue one’s warning while dispelling the darkness isn’t entering his ears at all.

…As I thought, I’m known as Test Breaker.

I’m not satisfied with it but… well, whatever.

The moment the red one entered our territory, it became a 3-on-1 structure.

“Wind Arrow.”

“Blaze!”

When I generate arrows of wind, flames light upon them.

It’s from Emma in the rear.

A cooperative play of magic and magic.

…Well, I could do this much alone… but right now it’s an exam.

We’ll show cooperative play and earn points.

“Wha, this is bad?!”

“See, I told you!”

Countless burning thrusts rain down on the red one.

The blue guy finally returns to the battle line, but it’s already too late.

With this, one rider is defeated—

“—!”

The instant the arrowheads were about to pierce,

the magic arrows extinguished as if blown out.

What?

I adjusted the strength. They’re not weak enough to decay and vanish.

Something must be interfering.

I observe the front.

Red and Blue are attacking Erett again.

I should help. I’ll go to the vanguard too.

…But before that, that boy in the back.

He’s glaring at us with a solemn expression.

It’s not a matter of leisurely watching.

That’s probably his role and the cause of the magic being erased.

“Emma, Erett! The enemy rearguard has the Magic-Breaking Eye! Be careful!”

A magic eye that destroys magic.

It’s straightforward and simple, but truly troublesome.

“N-no way! Should I draw my sword too?!”

“No, I’ll go forward! Emma, use healing magic on Erett!”

I can’t say for certain, but even though it’s powerful, it should be difficult to use repeatedly.

The proof is that blonde boy’s expression lacks composure too.

I can see cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Then, it shouldn’t be the case that all magic gets canceled.

“Haah!”

I charge into where three swords are clashing.

Just as two blades are about to swing down on Erett, I cut between them.

“Arcs-san…”

“We’ll proceed with the plan as is, Erett, use magic!”

“Y-yes!”

Taking over the sword fight, I receive the combined attacks of Blue and Red.

Meanwhile, Erett retreated.

“Heh, can’t you guys fight with cooperation?”

“Being looked down on as if one person is enough!”

As I parry the attacks, Red and Blue say this while laughing.

It’s a taunting tone but… are they trying to create an opening this way?

“Trash talk? Not bad.”

“Ha, can you stay so composed? Mr. Test Breaker!”

“Come on, don’t you notice you’re being pushed back?”

The two don’t stop grinning.

Well, it’s true as they say, I am gradually moving backward.

Whether that counts as being pushed back is another matter.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Ah, did it show on my face? No, I was just thinking it’s amazing. Even though you were held back by one woman earlier, you can still talk so big.”

“Y-you bastard!”

The giant, who’s completely become a boiled octopus partly due to his hair color, intensifies the force of his attacks.

In exchange, the precision that wasn’t there to begin with has been further lost.

“Wait, Zack…”

“There you go. Even while saying we can’t cooperate, you guys can’t do it either. Your sword and sword don’t mesh. While attacking together, you’re canceling each other out.”

“SHUT UUUUUP!”

Red’s greatsword, further enraged, is completely eating into Blue’s longsword.

This guy… even though he started the taunting, his resistance is way too low…

“Well, get along a bit better. I’ll help you out—ha!”

Deflecting the attack greatly, I thrust my left hand toward the giant’s face.

Then taking a short breath, I chanted this:

“Charm.”

A pink wave is released.

Red, taking it directly, gradually loses focus in his gaze, becoming dull-eyed, as if the light dwelling in his eyes has disappeared.

At the same time, every bit of light was lost from Red and Blue’s vision as well.

***

“Uwaa, I can’t see, it’s dark…! And… is that you, Zack?! Why are you holding me down, you—”

“Ah, uh…”

“Uwaaaah, don’t touch weird places!”

The two grappling before my eyes.

It’s a bit unsightly, but it’s due to hypnosis on Red and impaired vision on Blue.

“…More effective than I imagined.”

I thought this earnestly while scratching my cheek.

The strategy we discussed beforehand was to restrain them with Emma’s Sparkle and my attacks, steal the enemy’s vision with Erett’s dark magic during that time, and finish them off.

But it became irregular due to the opponent charging more than expected and there being a magic eye user.

This is the result.

Using Erett’s Charm that I copied with my Celestia to manipulate the enemy, and sealing the other’s vision with dark magic to rob them of combat power.

For doing it spontaneously, it went well… but I didn’t think it would result in such a hellish scene.

“Arcs-san… you’re amazing… you can use unique magic better than me…”

“Well, I feel like it was just luck this time though.”

Erett, treated by Emma’s magic, drops her shoulders without confidence.

To that, I said so from my heart.

That’s actually true. It’s rare for things to fit together this well.

“Such modesty… I’d like to give you my Celestia…”

She laughs self-deprecatingly with a “tahaha…”

…Well, it’s like I’ve been given half of it already.

My unique magic’s copy—or rather Replicate—can retain magic once used.

So from now on, I can use Charm at any timing.

Well, of course, there won’t be many opponents or situations to use it, and since it becomes my own weakness each time I use it, I won’t use it willy-nilly.

By the way, I haven’t told Emma and Erett about this.

I just said I can copy.

As I said before, Celestia is an important trump card.

Explaining it in detail is risky.

At least not now, but you never know when they might bare their fangs. If they know my weakness when that happens, it becomes a big disadvantage.

It might be a bit dishonest, but well, this is also tactics.

“…Now then, shall we finish this?”

I point my sword tip at the necks of the two grappling.

I can’t exactly behead them, so it’s a signal that I’ve killed them.

“Zack, Raidrich, combat unable!”

The exam proctor’s call echoes.

Two eliminated.

Only the magic eye boy remains.

“That’s how it is, you know? 3 on 1, I recommend surrendering here.”

I say in an inciting tone.

“You jest. As a knight—I fight the enemy before me until my life is exhausted.”

However, the magic eye boy draws the sword at his waist without faltering.

“It’s not a loss yet, Mr. Test Breaker. The match isn’t decided yet.”

…As expected, he won’t fall for such taunting.

A knight must not retreat before the enemy—it’s a basic principle that appeared on the test.

“HAAAAAAAH!”

Electricity courses through his entire body.

Just like that, he kicks off the ground at super speed like lightning.

“Blaze!”

“Deep… Darkness!”

Emma and Erett react immediately, intercepting with magic.

…But it’s no good.

It’s a cornered animal’s last gasp. He’s outputting magical power with all his heart and soul.

It can’t be stopped so easily.

…I wanted to appeal more of our cooperation, but it can’t be helped.

“Imperial Blaze—”

I raise my sword and chant magic.

In an instant, explosive purple-tinged flames dwelt in the sword.

The brightness of the world relatively decreases, and conversely, the area centered on me is filled with extreme light.

The wind, the plants and trees.

Emma, Erett, the exam proctor.

Everything present stops their actions, wondering what’s happening.

Among them, only the boy who doesn’t stop charging—toward him, I released it.

“—Slash.”

A flowing, simple horizontal line.

However, the slash released with supreme flames burns through the air, time, and space…

And then toward the body of the boy who became lightning—