#208
Helmut
Episode 208
“Did all the children have fun? “Why are your skills like this?”
Asuka said triumphantly. He also finished most of his matches within one minute.
Asuka felt that the gap between herself and the other students had become wider than before.
Asuka had been diligently training since meeting Helmut. The speed at which his skills improved was also surprising.
When effort is added to talent, it is like gaining wings.
Asuka was also slowly leaving the academy level. If it weren’t for Helmut, he would have been able to monopolize all the attention.
‘The representative is either me or Asuka.’
Helmut decided that no matter how hard anyone else tried, it was certain.
Although there are two people from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, both of them will be from 2nd grade. Helmut and Asuka.
Asuka said with a grin.
“It must be a pity for those from the Principality of Rinosa. It’s an opportunity to compete in my home country. “You’re just unlucky.”
At that moment, a person appeared in Helmut’s mind. Charlotte.
“They said they were going to select one more person as a reserve and bring him in, so I don’t know if they’ll be there.”
“okay.”
Helmut responded briefly. If I do well, I might be able to join the reserve team.
If I went to Linosa, I would definitely find out about my relationship with Charlotte.
*
At the second round of selection, Helmut and Asuka met Charlotte.
As soon as she encountered the two people, her face hardened. Charlotte must have heard about that ‘rumor’ too.
Since she got along with her classmates without a fault, she must have suffered more from rumors than Helmut. Everyone has probably asked her that question at least once.
But even so, I couldn’t pretend not to notice since we were face to face.
She greeted the two people in a polite manner.
“hello.”
“What, you too? “Are there not that many people in first grade?”
Asuka was somewhat accepting of Charlotte’s skills. But even though he admitted it, he was just pouting.
Charlotte answered confidently.
“I am the top first year student in the swordsmanship department.”
“The seats won’t even be returned to first-year students anyway. “Isn’t it a waste of time?”
In contrast to the angry first graders around her, Charlotte was quite calm. Even though she wants to go to Master Li more than anyone else.
“You have to guess to know the long and the short.”
“Yes, yes. I guess so. Well, work hard!”
“Yes, you too.”
Charlotte didn’t react to Asuka’s obnoxious sarcasm, to the point where it was boring.
Helmut, who was looking at the two people, only then realized. The fact that Asuka spoke to Charlotte.
Even though it was a heated conversation, it was a moderate conversation for Asuka.
Although I didn’t even notice it. It wasn’t for nothing that Sian talked about a love triangle.
Asuka seemed to have interpreted his gaze towards me and raised her index finger towards Helmut.
“Don’t be so confident, too. “Because you don’t know what the outcome will be.”
“okay.”
Helmut answered indifferently. He doesn’t know if he goes into hibernation for about 10 years due to an unexpected event. That was the gap between Asuka and Helmut.
Soon instructor Patricia appeared and declared to them.
“Everyone, let’s play the game fairly. “The selected people will represent our Greta Academy, so I hope you will keep that in mind.”
The glances he gave Asuka seemed to have warned him in advance.
The instructors’ eyes are objective. They already knew who would be their representative.
Asuka snorted proudly. Her attitude was that she didn’t understand why she was being squeezed all the time.
Instructor Patricia sighed inwardly and declared.
“Then the second round of selection begins!”
In the second round of selection, two finalists will be selected after a two-day competition, including a loser revival match.
Since the purpose is selection, there is no separate award even if you rank high or are selected as a starter.
“Helmut! “Go up on stage.”
After a short wait in the waiting room, Helmut’s turn came. As he went on stage, he glanced around.
The academy’s attached stadium was more than half full. It looked full of excitement.
The students living near Baden seemed to have family members who came to support them.
At once, Basor came to mind. Although there is no scorching sun or excited spectators here, and there is no opponent to compete against, it is still a competition.
‘I think I quite enjoyed the martial arts competition, too.’
When you think of martial arts fighting, he comes to mind. The one person who cheered him on at the stadium every time.
Helmut looked around to see if Michael was there. The doll-like boy with bright blonde hair was striking even at first glance.
But he couldn’t be found.
‘Thank goodness.’
No matter how well-versed Michael was in the news, he would not come all the way to Greta Academy to watch a selection match that could not even be called a competition.
Like Michael said, he doesn’t go around having fun.
My first opponent was a third year student. He is also the top 3rd year student in the swordsmanship department.
Judging by the fact that the 2nd year valedictorian and the 3rd year valedictorian were assigned from the beginning, it seems that they were assigned randomly from the second round of selection. Completely in competition format.
The other person looked a little nervous but confident. I heard that there seems to be quite a difference in skill between the 3rd year valedictorian and the valedictorian. He is a typical honor student.
‘Anyway, even if you stick with me and fall, you’ll somehow make it to the loser’s resurrection match.’
Helmut thought lightly.
“You’re the valedictorian of the second year, right? I heard the name familiar. “We’ll have to see if his skills are as great as rumored.”
The other person narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Helmut nodded his head.
“However much.”
And in the match that soon began, the third-year senior dodged Helmut’s first sword, but was forced to kneel by the second sword.
‘The level is higher than that of second graders. If I had turned the angle a little more, would I have been able to finish it in one go?’
There is still room to ponder. Helmut glanced at the white-faced man and turned his back.
If you were at the top of your grade at Greta Academy, you must be quite proud of your talent.
It seemed like a huge shock to the second graders as it was their first time experiencing something so common. It wasn’t my business to know.
As Helmut walked out victorious, the third graders’ perspectives on him also changed.
I was astonished by the blank, or wary, gaze.
“What, are you finished already? “I heard your opponent is the valedictorian of his third year.”
Asuka, who was waiting, asked. Helmut nodded his head without saying anything.
“Okay, I’ll finish it quickly too.”
Asuka seemed to be feeling competitive and had a determined expression on her face. It was clear to her that she was an easy match for him.
*
The second round of selection took place at a fast pace. There weren’t many people to participate in the selection process anyway.
The first day’s schedule ended quickly, as it was far from a revival of the losers of Helmut or Askana.
Helmut finished the competition with almost no difficulty, and Asuka finished it with no difficulty.
On the second day, the final number of people is finally selected.
After the selection competition, you are free for a while until you leave for the general swordsmanship competition.
Asuka, who was waiting for her turn, suddenly muttered.
“Wouldn’t it be better to hold a selection competition for all grades?”
Even if all grades are integrated, it will remain the same for Helmut and Asuka to each occupy a spot in the starting lineup. That’s what I meant.
Helmut simply pointed out.
“If that happens, they will monopolize the number of starters in the upper grades. “Because that’s not good for academy exchanges.”
“Ah, I see.”
Speaking of other academy guys, how is this different from Greta Academy? Asuka looked uninterested.
It was only now that he came to think about it, but traveling to a different region to participate in a swordsmanship competition, living in a group, and interacting with other academy members were not suited to him.
‘It’s a bother.’
Above all, if you participate in a general swordsmanship competition, you may become known about yourself. Asuka didn’t like that situation.
As the representative of Greta Academy, it is not surprising that you have to live a life that is sure to be stuffy.
Even the crazy dog Askara cannot run wild anywhere else. He too has become quite quiet these days. However, just because he was from another academy, they would not have looked kindly on him as a commoner.
Now that the selection process is almost decided, I start to think about various things.
Asuka shook her head.
‘Still, I have to win the qualifying round.’
It was a matter of pride. And Asuka achieved what she wanted.
“Asuka wins!”
Charlotte looked down at the dropped sword. Sadness and regret flashed in his eyes.
In the last match of the second round of selection, her opponent was Asuka.
It was Charlotte who, with her unique tenacity and her swordsmanship that matched her opponent, overcame a difficult defeat and even became the 3rd grade valedictorian in the resurrection battle.
Although she said her skills have improved while preparing for this selection, it was a huge feat.
That was also because the third-year senior was in shock from losing to Helmut with just two swords.
Asuka grumpily held out her hand.
“wake up.”
As she stood up holding his hand, Charlotte’s face showed regret.
‘This is it… … .’
I tried my best, but I failed to go to Linosa as a proud starting member. Asuka asked after seeing her expression.
“I guess you really wanted to go to Linosa?”
“That’s right. “I’m from Linosa too.”
Asuka opened her eyes wide.
“Are you from Linosa?”
“I thought you knew because you were a friend… … Wasn’t it?”
“He’s not kind enough to tell me that. Well, anyway, good job.”
Asuka let out a somewhat dissatisfied look and turned around.
But he was lost in thought for a while.
*
When the selection process was over, instructor Alan called them.
“Well done to both of you. “As expected, they did a great job.”
“I guess the instructor knew we would be selected?”
When Asuka asked somewhat provocatively, Instructor Alan nodded.
“All the instructors made the same prediction. Because we’ve been watching you guys. Anyway, let me briefly talk about the general sword fighting competition again. “If you have any questions, please ask.”
However, as his explanation continued, Asuka frowned.
“What, the swordsmanship competition continues until vacation?”
He looked troubled and scratched the back of his head.
“I can’t do that. “I have places to go during vacation.”
There were places I had to go, but I didn’t want to be tied down to the academy life because it was a sword fighting competition until vacation.
Helmut is so talkative that he is so busy practicing his swordsmanship that he won’t even talk to you properly.
‘That won’t be very fun.’
There were many reasons why I didn’t want to go or why I shouldn’t go. Instructor Alan tried to persuade.
“Asuka, this is your chance to make your name known on behalf of Greta Academy. It will be an even better opportunity for you, a commoner. “You will gain honor by performing well in the general swordsmanship competition.”
Asuka entered school as a commoner. Because he was admitted that way, no other information about him was known even to Greta Academy.
Asuka hid herself completely, if at all. It’s hard to think that a guy who runs wild like that without any culture is not a commoner.
Asuka snorted.
“I don’t need fame. “My skills are my honor, right?”
I was already sick of the fact that there was someone around me who spoke harshly about my reputation or status every time I was on vacation.
