Chapter 224: Fighting Spirit and Challenge!
The genius knight Stella Vermillion had lost.
This fact lay before all the spectators.
Even after the unconscious red-haired girl was carried away by the waiting medical staff and some time had passed, the entire arena remained silent.
That lightning-fast drawing technique had stunned everyone.
Meanwhile, Luke, standing on the stage, felt an intense fighting spirit directed at him.
Scanning around, he immediately found its source.
Brown hair braided into two plaits hanging behind her, paired with large glasses - a girl who at first glance looked like a country girl.
This brown-haired girl wasn't unfamiliar to Luke, or rather, no student at this school could be unfamiliar with her.
'Thunder Princess/Raikiri' Todo Toka, the student council president of Hagun Academy.
If Luke had to name his most interesting opponent at the school right now, it would be none other than her - even the current Kurogane Ikki fell slightly short of Toka.
Seeing the intense fighting spirit in the girl's eyes behind her glasses, Luke smiled happily.
Unfortunately, both he and she knew they couldn't fight here.
As student council president, Todo Toka was currently ranked first among Hagun Academy's students.
Unlike freshmen Luke and Stella, bearing the school's 'honor' and 'responsibility', she couldn't engage in duels casually.
A private match might be fine, but in such a public venue with many spectators, even if Toka herself didn't mind, Principal Kurono wouldn't allow it.
'Hagun Academy Student Council President Defeated by First-Year Before School Starts' or 'Hagun Academy Student Council President Bullies First-Year Before School Starts'.
Neither would be good news.
Shinguuji Kurono, who came here as principal aiming to revitalize Hagun Academy, would never allow them to duel at this point.
So after exchanging glances, they looked away.
However, Luke, whose interest was piqued by Toka's fighting spirit, felt somewhat unsatisfied.
Honestly, the mock battle with Stella had disappointed him a bit.
In both combat experience and technique, she was extremely inadequate in his eyes.
But considering the girl's age, he could understand.
However, regarding Stella's specialty - 'power' - Luke wasn't very satisfied.
Probably considering the surrounding spectators, Stella had clearly held back during her later outburst.
Otherwise, with her terrifying magic reserve, one strike should have been enough to blow away the entire training ground.
This left Luke, who had been looking forward to facing the original story's female protagonist, quite regretful.
And now Todo Toka has re-sparked his interest.
Feeling somewhat frustrated, Luke thought for a moment, then turned his attention to Kurogane Ikki.
"Kurogane-san, as future roommates, how about a friendly match?"
Luke's sudden challenge awakened the spectators from the daze caused by Amakakeru-Ryū-no-Hirameki.
"Hey hey, what was that sword strike just now? Did anyone see it clearly?"
"Not really, I couldn't see how that guy drew his sword at all."
"Are all A-rank knights such monsters?"
"Look, he seems to be challenging someone, who's the opponent?"
"Kurogane Ikki? That F-rank failed knight? Huh, are they roommates? Weren't this year's dormitories assigned by strength?"
The previously silent training ground suddenly became noisy.
However, Luke ignored them, merely gazing quietly at Ikki.
Faced with the challenge, Ikki didn't speak, he just silently stood up.
"Do you have any chance of winning?"
As Ikki stood, Shinguuji Kurono asked him.
Ikki understood her meaning.
The arena was already badly damaged, whether it could continue being used depended entirely on Principal Kurono's decision.
If Ikki felt he had no chance against Luke, he could simply decline the challenge, and Kurono could use the venue as an excuse to silence everyone.
However, Ikki rejected her suggestion.
"As a swordsman, how could I choose to avoid a challenge?"
"Winning or losing doesn't matter - being able to spar with such a powerful swordsman is something I've always dreamed of."
Ikki looked at Luke, his emotions difficult to calm.
How many years had passed - was it one year, or two? Perhaps three years, or even five?
How long had it been since anyone had been willing to cross blades with him in honest practice? The weight of those lonely years pressed heavily on his heart.
So, when he heard Luke's challenge, Ikki nearly teared up.
He could clearly feel the intent contained in Luke's gaze.
No malice, no mockery, no disdain, no sympathy, no pity.
There was only anticipation.
This was exactly what he had been dreaming of encountering these past few years.
Since the existence of the name 'Kurogane Ikki' came to be, no one had ever treated him as an opponent.
At this moment, Ikki himself didn't know what emotions were surging in his heart.
But finally, these emotions all transformed into a fighting spirit burning fiercely in his heart.
Seeing the boy in this state, Kurono decided not to stop him.
Stomping her foot slightly, the entire badly damaged Training Ground Three returned to its original state under the power of 'time'.
Kurono gave Luke a look that said 'destroy the venue like that again and you'll be sorry', then picked up her electronic device to begin new authorizations.
Since school hadn't officially started, many of the school's facilities were in a semi-open state.
The training grounds were among these.
During holidays, students wanting to use the training grounds needed authorization from relevant teachers.
Moreover, the current applicants were special cases like Luke Ashburn and Kurogane Ikki.
Not to mention Luke and Stella's sensitive status as exchange students, even Kurogane Ikki using the training grounds would be almost impossible under the Kurogane family's oppression.
Kurono's authorization was mainly to prevent trouble for Kurogane Ikki afterward.
...
Soon, Ikki stood opposite Luke just as Stella had earlier.
But unlike the aggressive Stella, Ikki appeared somewhat embarrassed.
"Um, thank you very much, Luke-san, for being willing to spar with me..."
"I... how should I say... anyway, really, really thank you!"
Ikki seemed to want to express gratitude for his challenge, but since he had gone too long without experiencing kindness.
So long that he had almost forgotten how to express gratitude.
Seeing his struggling expression, Luke smiled and said:
"Don't think too much about it."
"If you really want to show your gratitude, then give me a surprise with that sword in your hand."
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