Chapter 14 – Genius vs. Rising Star

It was week three of the new semester.

Yoram, once a riot of noise, was slowly settling back into its usual rhythm.

“This is insane! Absolutely insane!! A monumental event!!”

Yes. That’s how it would normally go.

“Hey! The swordsmanship club and the martial arts club are heading towards a mutual destruction battle!”

Overly exaggerated gestures accompanied the overly enthusiastic voice.

At first, everyone responded to the male student’s cry with indifference.

“What is it, what is it? Why all of a sudden a mutual destruction battle?”

“They’re fighting over a practice room? Is that really a mutual destruction battle worthy?”

“They’ll probably just bicker a bit and then stop. Don’t they do this every semester?”

Friendly club competitions were a common occurrence.

They were practically considered events at this point.

So, the students’ reactions were, perhaps, entirely expected.

“From the martial arts club, it’s the most promising freshman, Deus!”

Except. This time, it was difficult to simply dismiss it as another event.

“Huh? Wait a minute. Deus, as in, the one from the initiation ceremony….”

“That’s right. The male student who was unfazed even after taking the student council president’s power!”

“The monster who broke the measuring instruments and the barrier along with them… No, anyway, *him*?!”

The figure stepping forward from the martial arts club was no ordinary individual.

A freshman drawing attention from senior students and even the teachers.

“And! From the swordsmanship club! It’s Luciel… no! It’s senior Luciel!”

“Gah?!”

“No freakin’ way!!”

The highlight of it all was the swordsmanship club member facing off against this Deus.

A top student in her fourth year. The leader of the dispatched squadron. The undeniable strongest student in Yoram, Luciel.

A figure who rarely made public appearances due to her status.

A student who had joined a club, but generally refrained from participating.

And yet, she had suddenly announced her participation in the friendly competition!

“Wow. This is a must-see. Absolutely a must-see!”

“When is it?! Where?! How can we catch a glimpse of our senior Luciel?!”

It was inevitable that the students of Yoram would be consumed by the hype.

Deus was something, but it was Luciel who played the decisive role.

A woman who chose a life and duty as an ability user over being a princess.

With talent that stood out like a beacon, coupled with a beauty sculpted from light itself.

It’s no wonder everyone’s buzzing with interest, seeing such a figure step into the arena.

“Crazy. This is like, Beauty and the Beast, for real, right?”

“Idiot. That’s a romance novel. This is Beast *versus* Beauty.”

“Quiet, everyone! Why can’t you focus, huh?!”

Why are these brats so disinterested in class today?

What’s wrong with you lot! Pay attention! Or I swear, pop quiz?!

Only the teachers wore gloomy faces, tapping the blackboard with frustration.

While the whole cradle of students was in such disarray, what was the champion of the friendly match doing?

—*Nyaaang!!*

“Oh. Fast.”

Well, what else would they be doing? Playing with the cat, of course.

Another day, another dazzling spar with Jojo, the cat.

*I should stop*, they thought, but the *oraora-muda-muda* sound effects were a bonus.

“….”

And as always. Yurishia, stood beside them, quietly watching the spectacle.

“U-um, Dues.”

She opened her mouth, finally overcoming her shyness and timidity.

“A-aren’t you… worried? Or… nervous, maybe…?”

Worried? Nervous? Dues blinked, retracting their hand.

At that, Jojo let out a *‘Nyaang!’* and darted quickly to Yurishia’s side.

“Oh.”

“Ah.”

Unlike Dues, who had been unleashing rapid-fire paw strikes,

Jojo rubbed against Yurishia, purring like an eight-cylinder engine.

Dues crossed their arms and clicked their tongue at the scene.

“Typical male, can’t help himself.”

Whether Dues liked it or not, Jojo stayed glued to Yurishia.

Almost as if saying, “You’re better than that monster!”

“Hey! If you like Yurishia so much, go live with her! *I’m* the one who feeds you!”

“T-that’s too much. Don’t… don’t be like that. T-this child… still, she doesn’t treat me like Dues.”

In reality, Dues was the only one who traded paw strikes with Jojo.

She might rub against Yurishia now, but if Yurishia actually paid attention, she’d *huff* and run off.

From Dues’ perspective, it was like, “What’s with this delinquent cat?”

“Um, and… Jojo, about Jojo…”

“Yeah?”

“She’s not a boy…”

…H-huh?

“She’s a girl.”

“….”

“M-Missed that, did I.”

Deus, hearing Yrisia’s words, simply stared at Jojo.

Oh. Right, so I named a female cat Jojo.

Could it be? Perhaps those nyan-nyan punches that seem to be complaints when I’m around are actually…?

‘No. On second thought, it’s not like there are no girl Jojos around.’

So, I am innocent. You are still Jojo!

—Nyaaang!!

As if understanding Deus’s inner thoughts.

Jojo suddenly drew closer to him, unleashing an even faster series of nyan-nyan punches.

Of course, once again. The attack was completely blocked by a single index finger.

“Yrisia.”

“Y-Yes!”

“You just said that? Aren’t you worried? Aren’t you nervous?”

“Uh… yeah. About the friendly match opponent…”

“Not at all. Neither worried. Nor nervous.”

A nonchalant voice. He was so at ease that he looked like he always did.

Yrisia, seeing that, swallowed hard without realizing it.

“Those kinds of feelings are for guys who aren’t confident in their skills.”

Excitement, perhaps. Or maybe a thrill.

Worry, nervousness. Words so distant from his current self.

It wasn’t like the world was ending tomorrow in some apocalyptic drama, what for?

“S-Still, the opponent is the opponent…?”

“Doesn’t matter who comes. I win.”

Confidence beyond belief. No, even the word “belief” felt insufficient.

What could one call it, then? Natural order? Truth? I don’t know. I really don’t know.

However, one thing was certain. That was…

“Me too. I think so too.”

“Yrisia?”

“It’s not like I’m not worried at all, like Deus is. I am nervous. But! Still! I think Deus will win in the end! I-I’ll believe that!!”

“Oh, um…”

That wasn’t the kind of encouragement he was hoping for.

Deus scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward, and mumbled a thank you.

*

Afternoon classes were all finished. Students swarmed somewhere en masse.

Not the cafeteria. Not the dining hall. Nor the library, or the central plaza.

Today, their destination was the 7th Practice Arena of the Cradle. That was the place.

“Hey! Hurry! We have to get front-row seats!”

“No! The middle seats are the best! You can’t see as well up front!”

Again, friendly matches between clubs weren’t exactly rare events.

Today’s commotion started not with the friendly match itself, but with the people on the roster.

“But isn’t this a bit much? The martial arts club is sending a freshman, while the swordsmanship club is calling in the top student from the fourth year.”

“It’s not unheard of for juniors and seniors to spar, so shouldn’t it be alright?”

“Yeah, but the difference isn’t usually this drastic!”

“Hey. If you’re going to nitpick, the martial arts club boasting about their ‘one-day members’ is a problem too.”

The back-and-forth continued. Which club was at fault first?

The answer, in the end, was unanimous. Whatever the reason, we just need to sit back and enjoy the show!

“Alright, folks! Popcorn, freshly made by the Frying Club! Get yours now! Limited supply!!”

“Hey! What’s the Frying Club doing making popcorn! That’s our Snack Club’s territory!”

“Oh, really? It’s our Cooking Club’s, you darn heretics!!”

Amidst the excitement, a squabble broke out over popcorn sales and the sweet profits to be made.

Word is another friendly match between the three clubs might be brewing soon.

“I have no idea how this all started.”

“What are you talking about? I’m having fun. Isn’t this the very charm of the Cradle?”

Not just the students, but even the teachers wore faces of anticipation.

A rising star versus a prodigy. A prodigy versus a rising star. What kind of ending will this face-off bring?

“Alright! Everyone! Take your seats! Quickly, or we won’t start!”

Seizing the moment, the Events Club snagged the emcee position.

It wasn’t usually like this. Suddenly, the whole Cradle was caught up in the event.

“Welcome, all students, to this momentous occasion! Today’s match pits the Martial Arts Club against the Swordsmanship Club! Swordsmanship against Martial Arts! A friendly contest to determine the final victor! And representing each club are! A rising star and a prodigy. A prodigy and a rising star!”

Ugh! Just start already! When is this going to happen! I’ll finish my popcorn before it begins!

Ah, go slow! We haven’t gotten our popcorn yet!

As the chaos reached its peak, the crucial announcement finally came.

“So, without further ado! Let the friendly match! Cooommence!!― thiiiiiiiiiis!!!”

“Wooo!!!”

Deus pinched the bridge of his nose, the roar of the crowd filling the training grounds.

‘This is a real circus.’

This was beyond taming wild beasts, more like gladiators in a Colosseum.

He half-expected the students to start chanting ‘Kill! Kill!’ and giving thumbs down.

How had things escalated to this point? A weight settled in his chest.

‘…Whatever. Thanks to this, I can finally have a proper fight.’

The body he’d worked so hard to build, the oath choking his lifeline.

He’d wondered when he’d get a chance to use it all, and now the opportunity had arrived.

His opponent was the most highly-regarded student in the Cradle, the princess. No, the fourth-year senior.

Thanks to that, he can finally test out his skills without worrying too much.

“Let’s start with the Swordsmanship Club! Our Cradle’s pride and joy! The student who has never relinquished the top spot! The Cradle’s greatest swordsman! Give a warm welcome to Luciel Margretel-senpai!!”

―Wooo!!

A thunderous cheer. Applause even louder.

An ordinary person might have already felt crushed.

“And next! The Martial Arts Club! The rising star who made an explosive impression at the orientation! Destined to conquer all with a single punch! Please give a warm welcome to Deus!”

Conquer all, my ass. Stop adding such embarrassing descriptions!

―Clap, clap, clap!

Deus, standing in the training grounds, was the picture of serenity.

The cheers of the students, the applause, everything else, he’d long since swept aside.

The only thing that mattered to him now was the one standing opposite him. His opponent for the day.

‘…Indeed. You can feel the difference just by looking at him.’

They said he was close to the level of the Cradle’s instructors. He certainly deserved such praise.

Even without drawing his sword, you could sense his sharp aura, and the perfect balance of his physique.

He was strong. A figure nearing the peak of his abilities, at that.

Was this the feeling of facing a meticulously cared-for, sheathed masterwork of a blade?

‘Fortunate.’

Deus grinned.

It seemed he wouldn’t need to hold back his strength too much today.