Chapter 19
Silence.
The noisy crowd fell silent in an instant.
""....""
Mocking lips closed, and wide eyes locked onto one side.
Standing at the end of their focused gazes was black hair.
It was the boy wearing a Mask.
The air inside the Arena turned icy cold.
"...What was that, just now?"
"What just happened?"
Murmurs leaked out bit by bit from the Spectator Seats.
Shariel's attack had vanished without a trace.
The fiery demon that had been blazing just a moment ago had died down.
As if it had never existed, as if it had been nothing more than a single ember.
"No way...."
"He blocked it? Elisha's attack...?"
Gazes became focused.
The overwhelming firepower that Shariel had displayed.
-Huh... As expected of the Top Student? I can feel the power all the way from the Spectator Seats?
-Isn't that dangerous? It's not at a level a mere Class E Cadet can deflect, right?
-Isn't he going to get hurt at this rate?
Those who had been muttering about it were now struck dumb.
Mockery. Contempt. Worry. Even those looks shattered completely.
The countless pupils spread across the Spectator Seats shared only a single sight.
The boy.
And, the smiling Mask.
"W-what just happened? Did anyone get a good look?"
"...It disappeared. Shariel's Magic, without any warning."
"What? Is that even possible?"
"Didn't Shariel just make a mistake?"
"Does that make sense? Making such a basic mistake? Someone who is the Class C Top Student?"
Stirring voices.
The opinions bouncing back and forth soon led to a single answer.
"Then... did that guy block it? He blocked Shariel's flames?"
"Nonsense. It wasn't firepower that a mere Class E level could block."
"Besides, isn't that guy an overall E rank? How could someone like him...."
"He didn't get lucky and deflect it, nor did he just endure it. He literally dismantled it. He perfectly reverse-engineered Shariel's attack and tore apart the Mana structure itself."
"Fuck, is that even possible?"
The Waiting Area wasn't the only place buzzing.
Those who were similarly watching the exam.
Cadets from other classes, and the Faculty who were serving as the Proctor for the exam.
"Hoo...."
A white-haired old man letting out a quiet gasp of admiration.
He was the Dean of the Grandia Academy.
He stroked his neat beard, as if he had discovered something fascinating.
Other Professors were also seated beside the old man.
"Just as reported before, he is a mysterious child. It was a truly perfect Dispel. But perhaps what's more surprising is that no energy could be felt from him at all during the process."
""....""
"Something that is neither Magic, nor Physical Arts, nor Sorcery, not even Black Magic...."
He had taken up the pointer and met countless children, but this was a first even for the old man.
To think it was a power activated without any precursor or energy.
To think its source couldn't even be grasped.
Truly, is it not like the authority of God?
"Certainly... giving Javert the role of watcher was the right choice."
A soliloquy quietly chewed over.
The Dean did not speak any further.
He simply paid a little more attention to the sparring match before his eyes.
'The authority of God... he says.'
Along with a thought of unknown meaning.
***
Whoosh-
The opponent had attacked once, and this side had defended once.
It was a brief clash, but the atmosphere within the Stadium had shifted.
I was merely smiling quietly.
Clink-!
[The item Mask of the Evil God has been activated.]
Only the mechanical sound lingered in my ears.
A blue screen appeared before my eyes.
[Mask of the Evil God]
-Effect: Nullifies attacks directed at the wearer three times. Only activates while worn.
-Remaining charges: 2/3
-Time remaining until charge: 47 hours, 59 minutes, 13 seconds
I didn't let it show.
Because what I needed to focus on right now was the sparring match before my eyes.
I stared at the fluttering red hair.
"...."
Did she feel the chill?
Shariel's gaze had completely changed.
Beyond those sinking red pupils, mockery was no longer visible.
"You... what kind of trick did you just pull?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Your ignorance is clumsy. The previous attack wasn't something a mere Class E Top Student could block. What kind of trick did you pull to scatter my Magic? And without even leaving a scratch on you, at that."
"I was lucky."
"Bullshit...! Explain it properly!"
"Well. There's nothing really to explain...."
I smiled.
I smiled at her.
My Mask also had its corners of the mouth torn in a bizarre way.
"Couldn't it just be that your Magic was pathetic?"
Mockery.
Just like the one she had worn until a moment ago, just like the one everyone else had directed at Class E.
"Seeing as it was blocked by a mere finger."
"...What did you say?"
Shariel blanked out, at a loss for words.
I smiled in response to that gaze.
The Top Student of the lowest class.
Excluding the theory section, all Stat ranks at E.
A piece of trash with specs everyone would laugh at.
Such trash was mocking the girl, the Class C Top Student.
"How dare you...."
It's not easy to stay unfazed in this situation.
Being ignored in return by the very target you looked down upon.
This scratches one's pride and shatters their mentality.
Especially for someone as arrogant as Shariel, the effect is bound to be doubled.
"How dare you...! How dare you! How dare you! A mere Class E trash, looking at me with those eyes...!"
Shariel's eyes rolled back in fury.
Her pupils reddened as they became bloodshot.
Whoosh-.
The girl raised her bow once again and set a flame upon the bowstring.
The blazing Arrow had become even stronger than before.
'Did I provoke her too much?'
But you provoked me too.
You bullied my lackeys.
Thinking idly, I rummaged through the Inventory inside my Robe.
'Where did I put it? I definitely had a mountain of them piled up....'
I took the first attack head-on for the impact, but I couldn't repeat this method.
Because the stock of the [Mask of the Evil God] was too precious.
'Well... it does recharge on its own as time passes, but still.'
I wanted to avoid a situation where I used up all the stock.
Since it takes 48 hours just to recharge a single stock.
Who knows what kind of situations might arise, why would I use them all up?
Since my body is weak, I'd probably just drop dead if I took a single surprise attack from somewhere.
'I need to maintain at least two stocks at all times.'
Thinking that, I pulled out an item from the Inventory.
Following that, a colorful stick was pulled out.
A light thing with a plump grip.
Shariel, who had been watching this, muttered.
"...A Balloon?"
"Correct."
That's right.
It was a Balloon Sword.
Something I had made a ton of previously.
I aimed the bouncy tip of the sword at the girl.
"A weapon containing my soul. I will face you with the Absolute Balloon Sword."
"...."
Well, it's because I don't have a usable weapon yet.
The one I originally intended to carry around is still undergoing the refinement process.
I plan to use this guy as a substitute today.
It was soft and fluffy, so it felt nice to the touch.
Getting hit by this would probably feel less bad.
"You...! I'll make you regret this!"
Did she not realize my consideration?
It seemed she just took it as a move to provoke her.
"I'll make you a mess until you're crying and begging...!"
Zip-.
Slender fingers released the bowstring, and the Arrow was fired.
The fiercely blooming flame tore through the air as it rushed forward.
I quietly raised the tip of my sword.
'Shall we try this.'
I took out a watch from my Inventory.
An item that was basically provided in the original work as well.
[Ordinary Watch]
-You can check the time.
I had been repeatedly storing and taking this thing out for a while now.
Continuously. Inventory, hand, Inventory, hand. Repeating this process.
I was initiating the Activation to trigger a specific Bug.
And that warm-up was already completed long ago.
'Now.'
Click-.
I pressed the button on the watch.
The next moment, the flow of time slowed down.
It wasn't exactly an abstract expression or anything.
"...."
The world slowed down.
Like setting the exact value to about 0.2x speed.
The rushing Arrow, the reactions of the spectators, even the other movements....
The scene flowed as if in slow motion, and only I was aware of that fact.
'Slowdown Bug.'
It was a Bug that slowed down the overall speed of the game.
A Bug where not only the characters, but monsters, effects, and sounds all slow down.
If I utilized watch control like just now, I could manifest it for about 5 seconds at a time.
I opened my eyes wide.
'I can see it.'
I could see everything.
Every scene was clear.
My body also slowed down with it, but my perception alone transcended the moment.
The trajectory of the fired Arrow, the angry expression of the girl, the heat, even a single speck of fluttering dust.
'It's possible.'
I carefully raised the tip of my sword.
Even the slowly exhaled breath was nothing more than a momentary lingering thought.
Beyond the opaque colorfulness, I saw the world.
Swish-.
What I was going to unfold from now on was the most basic combo mixed with this Bug.
I swung my sword toward the Arrow that had come right before my nose.
Exact timing, exact position, exact angle.
Because the perceived time was slow, I was able to react fully.
'Done.'
Bzz, bzzzt-.
Right after, faint noise static clung to the surface of the Balloon Sword.
The Blade rippled like a haze as I swung it, brushing right past the Arrow.
'Parrying.'
The colorful Blade grazed the flame.
Swish-.
The next moment, the trajectory of the Arrow slightly shifted.
An attack that seemed like it would reach me, only to miss.
Not a single speck of soot existed on my body.
'Good.'
Parrying.
A technique that intercepts the opponent's attack and deflects it away.
This was closer to a trivial trick than a Bug, but it seemed to be judged as a Bug when manifested in reality.
Since an effect similar to when a Bug occurs was flickering.
"Wh-what was that just now...?"
As I shook my hand, I heard agitated mutters.
Shariel. Her red eyes were shaking.
Astonishment was clearly revealed on her face.
"You deflected it? My Arrow, with th-that Balloon sculpture...?"
"Sculpture, you say. Doesn't it look exactly like a sword?"
"Nonsense.... How could that...!"
This was a combo.
The extreme of Parrying, utilizing Slowdown.
I purposefully teased her, smirking.
"Oh my... was our great Class C Top Student someone who couldn't even pop a single Balloon?"
"N-no. That can't be...."
"This is just an ordinary Balloon, though? Moreover, a Balloon held by an unprecedented man who is the Class E Top Student, with an overall E-rank Stat. Not being able to leave even a scratch on it, is that perhaps due to your terrible competence?"
"Shut up! Shut up...!"
Gritting her teeth, Shariel pulled the bowstring taut.
I just returned the exact words she had said earlier.
I don't know what she's getting so worked up about.
Boiling Mana heated up the air above the Sparring Ground.
Twang, swoosh-!
An Arrow was fired once again.
This time, it wasn't just one, but an attack spreading out into dozens of branches.
"Trash should act like trash! Quietly drop dead...!"
Crim flames completely filled my vision.
It was a brutal sight, but I did not step back.
Instead, I merely stepped forward confidently.
The watch was already inside my palm.
I pressed the button once more without hesitation.
Click-.
My slowing vision.
I took a step, and then another step.
With every step I took, I swung my sword.
Swish, swish, swoosh-.
The Arrows deflected away with weak popping sounds.
Keeping their turn, they missed their trajectory one by one.
Derailed flames exploded behind my back.
"Hmm."
Boom! Bang, kaboom-!
Even with the aftermath storming from behind, I did not turn my gaze away.
The smiling Mask merely stared at the girl from beginning to end.
After striking away the final Arrow like that, the gap between the two of us had halved.
"This isn't the end, right?"
I asked subtly.
Just as she had done, containing mockery on the tip of my tongue.
"Because if it is, I think it'll be too boring."
"...."
I smiled.
Shariel's eyes were tainted with Fear, although just a little.
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