“…Noah of the Swordsmanship department advances to the finals first!!”

Nigel, who had been sneaking a peek at Noah’s match through the tent window, stood up from his seat at the announcer’s loud voice.

Noah barely defeated a 3rd year student specializing in wind magic with a single wooden sword.

Using the wooden sword to create wind, he changed the trajectory of the wind and instead sent it in a way that was disadvantageous to his opponent, causing them to crumble under their own wind.

It was a result that came from understanding and experiencing both magic and swordsmanship well.

Noah, who usually smiled at Nigel vacantly, remained expressionless throughout the match, only grinning again happily when he spotted Nigel.

‘Isn’t he ashamed despite being the heir to a marquis family?’

However, thoughts about Noah were quickly forgotten.

‘Now… it’s time to face Jayden Galloway.’

The Galloways. A family that abused a young child simply because his eye color was different, driving the child to run away to an orphanage on his own when he couldn’t endure it anymore.

Yet a family that, due to the gazes around them, nonchalantly introduced him as the family heir and eldest son whenever there was a family event.

Jayden, the second son of that family, monopolized love alone, unlike his half-brother whose face couldn’t be found with a hint of darkness.

Zeronin, as if they weren’t even family, would only mutter that he was fine with no incident whenever he returned from a family event, despite his eyes becoming lifeless.

Nigel felt a strong sense of kinship with Zeronin, who seemed so foolish and overlapped with himself, yet kept his distance from him.

‘If Zeron finds out about today, he’ll nag again.’

He says not to meddle in family matters, but it was something Nigel had already resolved himself to do.

Even if Zeronin cursed at him every day, Nigel would not regret this choice.

Nigel took the two wooden swords lying side by side in the corner of the tent and left the tent.

Outside the tent, Jayden was waiting for Nigel. Nigel’s face soured upon seeing Jayden.

“…What is it?”

“That’s harsh, underclassman. Openly showing distaste the moment our eyes meet.”

“You said you liked it when I openly showed my dislike, so I tried showing it a bit more.”

“It still hurts the same.”

So what?

Nigel barely swallowed his inner thoughts.

Jayden spoke to Nigel in a friendly manner, not minding his furrowed brows.

“Underclassman, want to make a bet?”

“No. I have no intention of doing anything with you.”

“Hmm… how about the winner grants the loser a wish? Sounds like a good offer.”

“Be quiet, and speak after winning first.”

Nigel walked past Jayden and stepped onto the arena.

“Then, you’re accepting the bet?”

Jayden grinned and followed Nigel up.

“By the way, what’s your relationship with the Beselion heir?”

At the sudden mention of Noah, Nigel’s eyes widened.

“That’s… why do you ask?”

“I thought it would be interesting to know.”

Jayden raised an eyebrow.

“You resemble senior Oliver in that aspect.”

“Wow, underclassman. Wasn’t that too harsh just now?”

“I said it to make you feel bad.”

Nigel held one wooden sword in his hand and put the other in the scabbard he had been wearing.

Buuu!

The horn sounded, signaling the start of the match.

“Underclassman, you’re not using magic?”

Jayden asked in confusion as Nigel picked up the wooden sword.

“Of course I have to use it.”

A deep yellow flame of mana that quickly broke the fighting spirit of the two emerged from Nigel’s fingertips.

Swish.

Nigel focused his mind on the mana flame.

The mana flame slowly climbed up the wooden sword, enveloping it.

“The wooden sword feels better in the hand than mana.”

Nigel opened his eyes and smiled meaningfully.

It was the moment when the results of the special midnight training he had practiced in the dormitory for days just thinking about beating Jayden shone through.

‘I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it because of the chocolate, but thankfully the mana stabilized.’

Nigel adjusted his grip on the wooden sword and charged straight at Jayden.

Clang!

The two wooden swords clashed tightly.

Nigel’s mana enveloping the sword helped it withstand Jayden’s force.

“Underclassman, how about transferring to the Swordsmanship department?”

Jayden spoke admiringly.

“What unlucky nonsense is that?”

Nigel pulled out his sword and retreated.

Then he threw the sword wrapped in mana with all his might.

The wooden sword, unable to endure Nigel’s unstable mana, perhaps due to the aftereffects of the chocolate, burned the wood as it flew towards Jayden.

Bang!

Unfortunately, Jayden nimbly moved his feet and easily dodged the sword. The sword that had burned with mana left a dent in the corner of the arena as it disappeared.

Tsk, Nigel clicked his tongue and drew a new wooden sword from the scabbard.

Whoosh.

Soon, a second flame attached itself around the wooden sword.

Although Jayden’s signature was delicate and agile swordsmanship, putting Nigel, who was clumsy at controlling mana, at a disadvantage the longer the match went on, Nigel didn’t mind much.

Nigel’s goal was not victory, but to hit Jayden as hard as he could even once.

This time, Jayden approached Nigel.

Thwack!

Nigel reflexively raised his arm and barely blocked Jayden’s sword, whose trajectory was invisible.

“Wow~ Good reaction speed?”

Nigel’s sword automatically filled with strength at the sight of Jayden speaking leisurely.

Jayden chuckled and lightly deflected Nigel’s sword, then quickly thrust his own.

Clang!

Nigel blocked Jayden’s sword again and retreated. However, Nigel’s sword that had taken the impact was on the verge of turning to ash.

“This isn’t something you learned, but something you were born with.”

Jayden muttered as if in admiration.

“By the way, underclassman, what will you do? If this wooden sword burns, you’ll lose your weapon.”

He spoke worriedly, immediately noticing the state of the wooden sword.

‘Yeah, it’s not for nothing that Galloway is attached to your name.’

Nigel thought.

The Galloways were a family that made a living with potions for generations.

But… there was something Jayden had overlooked.

Crack.

Nigel gripped the wooden sword that was about to crumble at any moment and quickly approached Jayden. Jayden readied his stance with a face full of curiosity.

Nigel grabbed both ends of the wooden sword that seemed like it would break at any moment and thrust it out horizontally.

Surprised by the unheard-of technique, Jayden was flustered but immediately raised his sword vertically to block Nigel’s.

Whoosh.

Nigel’s sword immediately turned to ash and disappeared. And Jayden’s sword, having lost its balance of power, was about to directly hit Nigel’s head.

However, Jayden did not change the direction of his sword. He had anticipated that Nigel would easily dodge his sword with his innate reflexes.

But… even though the sword was aimed at his head, Nigel remained standing in place.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t dodge. It was that he didn’t dodge.

From the beginning, Nigel’s goal was not to raise the honor of the department, win the Sword and Magic Tournament, or avoid getting hurt. It was simply to hit Jayden hard once.

Sensing that this could lead to a serious injury at this rate, Jayden hastily broke his stance and twisted the direction of his sword.

“…Finally found it.”

Nigel, having discovered Jayden’s opening, grinned and only then moved his frozen body as if nothing had happened.

Bam!

The sound of a bare fist colliding with something echoed through the arena.

Nigel’s fist had hit Jayden’s face.

No, to be precise, it was more accurate to say that Jayden had not dodged Nigel’s fist.

Jayden was thrown out of the arena by the recoil from Nigel’s punch.

Buuuuu!

With the sound of the horn, the audience sent a resounding cheer to the winner.

Due to a ring out, this match was Nigel’s victory.

‘As expected, when beating someone, you have to use your fists.’

Nigel looked at his reddened hand and the red mark imprinted on Jayden’s left cheek with satisfaction.

At that moment, Jayden abruptly rose from his spot.

“Ha, hahaha! Ahahaha!”

And he burst into laughter out of nowhere, holding his cheek.

…Crazy bastard.

‘Did he lose his mind after getting hit?’

Nigel turned his gaze away from him.

At some point, the two announcers who had stepped onto the arena each grabbed one of Nigel’s arms and raised them up.

“The winner advancing to the finals is! Nigel of Magic!!”

“With this, both Magic and Swordsmanship have 1st years taking the final spots!”

“Our seniors will have to get nervous, won’t they?”

“Exactly! Isn’t this the first time since Her Highness Princess Adeline and the current Marquis Beselion that 1st years have made it to the finals of the Sword and Magic Tournament?”

“The Beselion heir has continued that tradition.”

Nigel’s feelings became complicated upon hearing those words.

“Then! We will take a short break, and see you soon at the finals! Everyone, feel free to bet to your heart’s content!”

Nigel was finally able to break free from the two.

Below the arena stood Jayden, his cheeks flushed for a different reason.

“Underclassman, congratulations on your victory. I was secretly hoping you would win… my, my, I lost spectacularly.”

He burst into laughter again.

…Crazy bastard.

Nigel frowned at him.

“Haha! Calling me a crazy bastard, isn’t that too honest?”

Oops, I thought it was a mutter to myself, but it seems my mutter came out aloud.

“…Mistake.”

As Nigel turned his head and made an excuse, Jayden grinned.

“So, I’m already curious about what your wish will be, underclassman.”

“You’re okay even after getting beaten by an underclassman and losing?”

“It’s fun. What wish will you make to someone you hate so much?”

“You’re even worse than Oliver. Ah, this isn’t a mistake.”

Even at Nigel’s sarcasm, Jayden paid no heed and opened his mouth.

“Haha, I guess I resemble Oliver a lot since we’re friends. Even the way of speaking. …And being the troublemakers of the family.”

‘What bullshit is a young master who grew up receiving lots of love saying?’