Chapter 26
“The Battle Ridge Festival Begins! Cross Class’s Triumphant March”
Academy Events Arc: Battle Ridge Festival III
The autumn sky was clear and blue. In the central plaza of the Royal Roselia Academy, enormous spectator stands had been built.
Nobles and commoners alike had come from the royal capital, and the Battle Ridge Festival had grown into a full-blown national event.
“Wow… there are so many people…”
“It really feels like a festival!”
The students of the Cross Class fidgeted nervously, caught between tension and excitement.
The headmaster took the stage and raised his voice.
“By my authority, I hereby declare this year’s Battle Ridge Festival open! Contestants of both the Swordsmanship Division and the Magic Division—show us your full strength!”
A roaring cheer shook the plaza.
But—
The moment the name Cross Class was announced, faint murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Huh? Weren’t they banned from competing in the Magic Division?”
“Yeah, that’s what I heard. Guess they had no choice but to enter the sword competition.”
“They can’t even swing a sword properly, can they?”
Mocking gazes fell upon them.
The students’ shoulders shrank a little.
“Hey, don’t mind ‘em.”
Kai chuckled lightly and patted one of their shoulders.
“People’s opinions are just data. You can overturn data with results.”
“Sensei…!”
At those words, determination returned to their faces.
◆◇◆
First Match.
One of the Cross Class students took up his sword. His opponent was from a combat-specialized class.
“Hey, aren’t you from that magic-class reject group? No way you can win with a sword!”
The opponent sneered.
The referee raised his hand.
“Begin!”
The opponent swung down with a huge arc—
—but the Cross Class student smoothly lowered his hips and thrust forward at a precise 30-degree angle.
ZBAAAN!
The strike slipped past the guard, and the wooden blade’s tip drove straight into the opponent’s chest.
“Guhah—!?”
Gasps erupted from the stands. The referee, startled, shouted:
“Winner—Cross Class!”
“Th-that was just luck!”
“Yeah, a total fluke!”
◆◇◆
Amid the restless murmurs, the second match began.
Another student stepped up.
As soon as it started, the opponent charged—but at Kai’s shout of,
“Forty-five degrees! Half-step back!”
the student followed the vector perfectly and struck, knocking the opponent’s sword flying.
“Wh-what the…!?”
Cries of astonishment burst from the audience.
◆◇◆
The third and fourth matches went the same way.
With precise formulas and pattern-based movements, Cross Class’s swordsmanship was efficient, elegant—and overwhelming.
“Why… why are they so good!? They’re from the magic class!”
“Their sword forms are flawless…!”
The mood in the stands began to shift.
◆◇◆
Then came the fifth match—
Rutia’s turn.
“Hmph! No one can stop my sword!”
Her opponent was a confident third-year, a known expert in swordsmanship.
Even the audience murmured, “Yeah, no way she wins this one.”
The referee gave the signal.
The opponent lunged swiftly—
—but Rutia heard Kai’s voice.
“Seventy-five degrees! Keep your weight back!”
ZBAAAN!
Her sword deflected the attack perfectly and flowed into a reverse diagonal slash.
The opponent’s blade flew from his hands.
“Winner—Cross Class!”
“Kyaaa! Lady Rutiaaa!!”
A chorus of shrieks rose from the spectators.
Cross Class swept through their first round undefeated.
The atmosphere of the entire arena had transformed.
“What is that class!?”
“They’re using math to control swordplay!”
“Their teacher’s no ordinary man…!”
Kai just shrugged and smiled.
“See? Told ya. Data gets rewritten by results.”
Rutia puffed her chest proudly and clung to his arm.
“Of course! After all, we’re Kai-sensei’s students!”
“Hey, hey! We’re still in the middle of the tournament!”
“That doesn’t matter! I’m enjoying my moment as the victor’s wife!”
“Stop calling yourself my wife already!”
Laughter rippled through the audience, and the name Cross Class spread through the academy like wildfire.
