VCAM 31

Chapter 31

 “Mock Battle — Teacher vs. The Duke’s Three Siblings”
(Academy Event Arc: War Tomb Festival, Part VIII)

The grand plaza of the War Tomb Festival still pulsed with heat and excitement.
Everyone—spectators and judges alike—was left gaping after witnessing Professor Kai’s “Absolute Magic Defense.”

And right then, Rutia stormed up to him.

“Kai! Fight me seriously—at full strength!”
“Wait, milady, I don’t think—”
“I’ve already decided! No holding back!”

From the audience came a chorus of cheers:
“Let’s see it!” “A duel between Professor Kai and Lady Rutia!”

Even the academy headmaster nodded gravely.
“…Very well. A mock battle will be permitted.”

◆◇◆

At the center of the stage,
Kai sighed and reluctantly picked up a wooden sword.
At the same time, he held a piece of chalk in his left hand and began sketching equations in the air.

“Right hand for the sword, left hand for magic. What a busy teacher…”

Rutia swept her crimson dress aside and readied her blade, her eyes sharp with determination.

“Begin!”

Rutia lunged forward.
Her dazzling thrusts flashed like lightning—but Kai tilted his sword lightly, parrying them with ease.

“Wha—so fast?!”
The audience murmured in awe.

Rutia unleashed a flurry of strikes,
but every blow was deflected just before impact.
Kai defended effortlessly with one hand.

“Milady, your strength’s more than enough. But your rhythm—it’s too predictable.”
“Kh…!”

At that moment, two shadows leapt onto the stage.

“It’s unfair for our sister to fight alone. Her brothers will join her!”
“And I’m in too!”

Rutia’s older brothers—Wilhelm and Julius—drew their swords and stood beside her.
The crowd erupted.

“Professor Kai versus the Duke’s Three Siblings!”
“Woooaaahhh!”

The three attacked in perfect sync.
Wilhelm’s heavy swings.
Julius’s swift twin blades.
Rutia’s elegant thrusts.

A relentless assault that would have crushed any normal opponent in seconds—

—but Kai met the brothers’ blows with his right-hand sword,
while his left hand danced across the air with formulas.

“F = ma. Mass equals force. So I just redirect it lightly.”

Clang!
He deflected Wilhelm’s blade and sent him staggering back.

“tan θ = y ⁄ x. Adjusting the angle… there.”

Whip!
Julius’s twin blades were flicked aside, throwing him off balance.

At the same time, light rippled from Kai’s left hand.

“Sine wave—fluctuation cancel!”

Rutia’s magic spell dissolved into mist.

The audience gasped.

“What…?! Even the three of them attacking together can’t touch him!”
“And he’s overpowering the two brothers with just one hand!?”

Wilhelm lunged again.
“Block this if you can!”
Kai calmly shifted his stance, redirecting the force.

ZWAAN!
Wilhelm’s sword flew into the air and stuck into the ground.

“What—!?”

Julius rushed from the side, blades flashing.
“I won’t let you lay a hand on my sister!”

Kai stepped back half a pace and swung diagonally.

CLANG!
The twin blades were knocked away, and Julius stumbled.

Only Rutia remained.
Sweat glistened on her brow as she thrust desperately.
Kai caught her strike effortlessly with one hand—
and aimed the tip of his sword gently at her chest.

“Match over.”

The entire arena fell silent.
Then, a second later—an explosion of cheers.

“Professor Kai’s too strong!”
“He beat all three of the Duke’s heirs by himself!”

Rutia bit her lip in frustration—but soon smiled brightly.

“…As expected, you truly are the best teacher—and the best man.”

“Yeah, yeah. But ease up on the wife act, will ya?”
“No! I just proved I’m the perfect wife for you, Kai!”
“You proved it in the weirdest way possible!”

The crowd roared with laughter and applause,
and the mock battle ended in a thunderous ovation.