Midterm Evaluation (6)
The first to charge was Selena.
Selena's wooden sword trembled with a shuddering vibration.
Although Yuri couldn't see the condensed mana, she instinctively knew how devastating its power would be.
Her face hardened.
‘If I get hit, it won't just be a broken bone. That's... cheating.’
However.
Watching Selena charge, Yuri's eyes widened in surprise.
‘Why is she swinging the sword like that?’
Even to Yuri, who was unfamiliar with swords, the posture felt awkward.
Yuri had always made an effort to thoroughly observe Zeke's every move, as instructed by the First Prince.
The swordsmanship she had witnessed.
The way Zeke wielded the bread.
Its trajectory was so neat and stable.
Compared to that, Selena's swordsmanship was...
‘Too clumsy... No, what am I even saying?’
Yuri shook her head, trying to ignore the dissonance.
‘Selena said she's been wielding a sword for a long time. So that must be right... What do I know, I don't know anything. What right do I have to judge Selena's swordsmanship...’
Finally, the wooden sword swung by Selena approached her head.
Yuri instinctively tilted her head back slightly, dodging the sword.
‘Huh?’
And the exposed opening.
‘I think I can swing at her waist here...?’
Once again, Yuri ignored her intuition.
Because it couldn't be true.
She had never learned swordsmanship before.
This swordsmanship class was the first time she had even held a wooden sword.
Moreover, she had been doing nothing but physical training for almost two months, so it was safe to say she had only held a wooden sword for a few days at most.
Of course, there were things like the wooden sword's hilt fitting strangely well in her hand, or Zeke's assigned training, the downward swing, feeling oddly easy, but that was it.
Even when other students were sweating profusely for hours, unable to accomplish it,
Yuri simply thought that this training just happened to suit her well.
Once again, Selena's wooden sword approached with a whooshing sound.
Yuri twisted her body once more, dodging the sword.
‘Hmm... I think I can move a little smaller.’
Zeke's movements automatically came to Yuri's mind.
Body movements that could be described as the epitome of efficiency, not a single movement wasted.
At first, she wasn't used to adjusting the distance,
so her clothes were slightly cut, and her skin was scratched by the rough release of mana, causing blood droplets to form,
but now Selena's sword grazed past Yuri's nose.
Somehow, Yuri was no longer afraid of Selena's sword.
‘Why...’
A thrill that ran up her spine.
‘Why, is this fun...’
Yuri unconsciously lifted the corners of her lips.
A sliver of joy sprouted in her life, which had been devoid of any pleasure until now.
It was a strange feeling she had never experienced before.
The act of barely dodging Selena's sword.
A little more.
A little more.
Just a little more.
Let me feel it.
However.
Suddenly, Selena's attack stopped.
A vivid wave of deep regret.
Yuri savored the joy that had ended as soon as it began.
Only then did Selena's appearance come into view.
She was now sitting on the floor, and Yuri's wooden sword was touching Selena's neck.
Selena had an expression of disbelief.
As if she were looking at a monster.
Ah.
Thump.
Yuri dropped the wooden sword from her hand and stumbled backward.
She returned to reality.
***
‘How is it? Fun, isn't it?’
Zeke watched Yuri and Selena's duel with his arms crossed.
Yuri imitating his movements based solely on visual memory.
Zeke lifted the corners of his lips.
Of course, it was still far from perfect,
but the fact that she could imitate him at all was a testament to Yuri's extraordinary talent.
When he first saw her.
That is, during the demonstration class that gathered minor students, Zeke didn't remember Yuri.
Her talent was too well hidden.
He realized her potential on the first day of physical training.
In fact, the fact that she had completed all the training in the demonstration class, which was designed to test the Soi Spoon, was remarkable in itself.
And when he trained her after sensing something strange.
Yuri Gilbert.
This girl was truly a gem.
She trained with quiet movements, seeking maximum efficiency while minimizing muscle and strength expenditure.
A peaceful expression amidst everyone else panting and struggling.
Of course, this resulted in reduced training effectiveness.
The body grows through the process of muscles tearing and recovering,
but she was consciously moving in a way that minimized the strain on her body.
After recognizing Yuri's talent, Zeke quietly observed her.
No matter how brilliant a rough gem she might be, if she was completely subservient to that gaslighting prince, the First Prince, he might have to give up on her.
Later, after Zeke gained the ability to freely use mana,
he used the [Eye of Judgement] to examine her.
[ Apathy 25%, Lethargy 20%, Depression 20%, Powerlessness 15%, Frustration 10%, Boredom 7%, Expectation 3% ]
LIFE 92.9% DEATH 7.1%
DEATH 7.2%
DEATH 7.3%
DEATH 7.4%
‧
‧
‧
The fate of death was slowly rising every time Zeke checked.
Zeke could gauge her emotions and fate to arrive at a single conclusion.
‘This isn't some accident or anything.’
Suicide.
In other words, she was contemplating taking her own life.
Of course, it was only a little over 7%, so it wasn't a serious situation yet.
'She probably just thinks about wanting to die from time to time.'
However, what bothered him was that it had recently risen sharply to 7% from what was originally around 3%.
This change in her occurred after she attended the Eustia Banquet.
‘That First Prince bastard must have done something related to the midterm evaluation.’
There was no benefit in putting pressure on himself there, so to relieve Yuri's burden, he told her to do whatever the First Prince asked.
At the same time, Zeke decided to fully incorporate Yuri Gilbert into his fold this time.
Zeke clicked his tongue.
‘I don't know why everyone here is so fragile.’
Like chicks that die if you don't pay attention to them.
That's how rare a material she was.
If she switched sides, she would be an incredibly reliable asset.
If she also became close friends with Soi and stood by her side, his movements could become much freer than they were now.
She effortlessly dodged Selena's desperate sword swings with minimal movements.
And then, a huge opening appeared.
Yuri moved her wooden sword towards Selena's neck.
And then she dropped the sword as if she had swung it unconsciously.
'Well, with her back exposed like that, how could the sword not go there?'
Zeke turned his head to observe the reactions of the other students.
As the results unfolded just as Zeke had told them before,
Iriel's eyes sparkled with the desire to become friends with Yuri, and Soi and Rosnante's eyes widened and their mouths hung open in disbelief.
This alone showed how much they had overestimated Selena.
Leaving them as they were wouldn't look good, so Zeke stepped forward.
“End of duel. Yuri Gilbert wins.”
“That's impossible. Something must be wrong!”
Those words came from Yuri, not Selena.
“Hmm? What's wrong?”
“I, no, someone like me couldn't have won. This, this is a coincidence.”
“Yuri Gilbert.”
Zeke stared intently at Yuri.
“Ugh.”
“It's neither a coincidence nor anything else. It's a legitimate victory based on skill. You did well.”
However, Yuri still seemed to have trouble accepting reality.
“So... was it fun?”
Zeke asked in a subtle voice.
“...Fun..., it wasn't fun.”
Yuri blurted out.
Zeke chuckled.
“Alright. Today's class is over. Everyone, continue your remaining training at home.”
* * *
After class.
Yuri Gilbert was summoned by the First Prince once again.
“What? You... won the duel against Selena?”
The First Prince asked, frowning.
“Yes.”
Yuri nodded.
“I distinctly remember you saying that Selena was incredibly strong before...”
“Yes... I did say that.”
“But you won. Against that Selena.”
The First Prince ran a hand through his hair.
“Hmm, as far as I know, you've never wielded a sword before. Did you suddenly gain enlightenment about the sword the moment you held it? Does that mean you're truly a swordsmanship genius, or... was the information you brought me wrong...?”
“…….”
“So. Which one do you think it is...?”
“The information... was... wrong...”
Yuri lowered her head and trailed off.
Ilios let out an ominous laugh.
“I was just about to meet with Count Gilbert today...”
“……!”
Ilios hinted indirectly.
Yuri bit her lip tightly.
“Why. Are you worried?”
“……No.”
“Don't worry, Yuri. I wouldn't tell your father that our Yuri is a fool who can't even do what she's told and demand that she be sent back to the Count's estate immediately...”
Ilios rose from his seat and slowly approached Yuri.
“I'll let this mistake slide. But, you know? If the same mistake happens again, I'll have no choice but to doubt you. So... don't make me doubt you.”
The touch of his hand stroking her ear sent shivers down her spine.
“You just have to follow me. Without any doubt. Unconditionally.”
It felt like sinking into a sticky quagmire.
Yuri had a bad feeling that she might never escape this person for the rest of her life.
As if nothing had happened, Ilios stepped back and smiled brightly.
“Well, even so, nothing changes. Yuri. Whether Selena is strong or not. It doesn't matter. But, don't forget to drug them.”
“Yes...”
Yuri had no choice but to answer with a dejected heart.
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