Chapter 20 - The Inter-year Exchange Competition (5)

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【Herak Leonhardt】

Gender: Male

Age: 21

Status: Olympia Academy 2nd Year Student

※ Status

Strength: 2.12

Stamina: 2.07

Agility: 2.15

Mana Capacity: 10

Mana Efficiency: 10

Mana Sensitivity: 0

※ Unique

【Ultimate Physique】 NEW!

【Twelve Star Cloud Fist】

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The status window I opened after finishing the Inter-year Exchange Competition.

It's become more convenient now that I can check stats to the decimal point. I can see at a glance how much they've increased.

I'm satisfied to see that they've already surpassed 2.1.

'Well, it's a different story in the latter half.'

Even the protagonist in the original work would experience slower growth rates as the story progressed.

My physical cheat should be similar to the protagonist's, so it'll probably increase slowly by then.

Of course, it doesn't matter at all in the early stages like now. Thanks to the physical cheat, it's rising rapidly.

Moreover, it's not just my stats that need to be checked.

There was already a notification on 【Ultimate Physique】, indicating that I had been designated as the winner of the Inter-year Exchange Competition.

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【Ultimate Physique】 NEW!

[Reward 'Cheat Selection' is given for winning the Inter-year Exchange Competition.]

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Cheat Selection.

The cheats I currently have with 【Ultimate Physique】 are 'Indestructible Body', 'Heavenly Martial Body', and 'Magic Slayer'.

Since they all boast overpowered performance, having a cheat with the same power as these would be perfect.

Let's open the list and take a look.

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[Cheat Selection]

※ Strong Heart: The vessel of a hero.

Exerts stronger capabilities than usual during combat and is immune to status ailments.

※ Berserker: A disposition that becomes stronger the more cornered one becomes.

Combat power increases explosively as health decreases.

※ Golden Ratio: A human modeled after the gods.

Beautiful due to the perfect harmony of all body parts from face to ankles.

...

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'Hmm.'

A list of useful-looking cheats appears.

Particularly eye-catching are 'Strong Heart' and 'Berserker'.

Both are cheats that are huge plus factors in combat.

They're so good it's a shame to compare them with entertainment cheats like Golden Ratio below. Why is Golden Ratio even there?

As I pondered which of the two to choose, one sentence particularly caught my attention.

※ Strong Heart: Immune to status ailments.

'Immune to status ailments, huh.'

Considering the various status ailments that exist in <Song of Sword and Magic>, this is an overpowered cheat.

Especially attractive is the ability to ignore the forced CC skills that story bosses unleash on allies.

'This is definitely better.'

Although I hope there won't be direct intervention in the story.

For the Act 1 boss battle at least, there's already no male protagonist. Since I must participate, choosing Strong Heart is the right decision.

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【Ultimate Physique】

※ Strong Heart: The vessel of a hero.

Exerts stronger capabilities than usual during combat and is immune to status ailments.

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Thus, 'Strong Heart' was added to 【Ultimate Physique】.

With this, I've overcome one worry.

It means I can prepare for the Act 1 boss battle with much more ease─

"He-ra-k, sir?"

"Yes."

My brain, lost in thought, is awakened.

A woman with pouting lips is sitting in front of me.

Brilliant braided golden hair, beautiful dress attire.

Princess Helene was fiddling with my hand.

"You weren't listening to me, were you~?"

"I was."

"Then what did I say?"

"You said I was your destined person."

"...Hmm."

Her lips pout slightly, looking quite displeased, but.

She can't say anything because the answer is correct.

'Yikes.'

There's nothing good about irritating the Princess's temper.

I should stop paying attention to the status window and focus on Helene.

"Forgive me. I was overwhelmed by the fact that the Princess herself is treating my hand."

"Hmm~. It's too obvious flattery, but I'll let it slide this time."

"I'm deeply grateful for your grace."

"My, my. Herak, you seem to have quite the talent for being a courtier."

Although she says that, she seems quite satisfied with my answer and grins broadly.

While doing so, she busily moves her delicate hands to wrap a bandage.

Where?

On my hand.

'...This is really burdensome.'

The honor of Princess Helene personally wrapping a bandage.

If it were any other student, she probably wouldn't even look at them.

This is only because Helene considers me her 'destined person'.

'【Heaven's Revelation】.'

Helene's unique power.

Because fate reveals the future to her, Helene's life has been without hardship.

The youngest princess, so beloved that she's not even involved in the succession to the throne.

Originally without any inconvenience in food, clothing, and shelter, and now even her future is pointed out one by one by 【Heaven's Revelation】.

Therefore, Helene was able to grow up extremely optimistically.

There are no hardships for her, and her life is simply about living as 【Heaven's Revelation】 tells her.

At least, that's what Helene herself would think.

That's why Helene likes her 'destined person'.

She genuinely falls in love with someone she's never met before, simply because the heavens threw them at her.

Because that was her life.

There's no reason for her to doubt.

'The problem is that it's me.'

Originally, that role should be played by the male protagonist, so why am I doing it...

"Fufu. Come to think of it, Herak's opponent ended up in quite a funny situation. To be defeated after specifically naming Herak. And with such a big difference in rank, I hear?"

"Well, he brought it upon himself. He'll have to take responsibility."

"As expected, as expected! Herak had an ace up his sleeve, didn't you? I believed in you~."

Helene smiled broadly, seemingly very pleased that I won.

Her remarks about Jackson are quite cold, but seeing this, I can feel her aspect as a princess.

Finally, after tying the knot on the bandage wrapped around my hand.

She puffed out her chest with an "Ahem".

As if asking for praise.

"There. All done. I was so surprised when Herak's precious hand got hurt. I wrapped the bandage for you, so you must be very careful, okay?"

"Thank you. ...But, is it alright for you to pay so much attention to a mere student? If someone sees, they might say something."

"Tsk! You shouldn't say such things. When I came to treat you right after the duel ended, you should just say 'thank you'~."

"......"

As Helene said.

After the duel with Jackson ended, my hands had some minor wounds.

Of course, my skin would tear after directly hitting metal and punching a person.

So I was just going to go to the infirmary for some light treatment, but...

Ah! Herak, could you come here for a moment?

What is it, Your Highness?

Fufu. I'm going to treat you. How could a royal stand by when my person is hurt?

...she said, catching me as I was about to leave the Colosseum and taking me to an empty room to treat me, which made me a bit dizzy.

Being treated by the Princess was a luxury that others would never experience in their lifetime.

"Shall we go back now~?"

"Are you thinking of observing the duels again?"

"Of course. Well, I wouldn't mind just watching Herak~. But as a princess, I need to maintain my dignity, so I should watch the 1st years too, right?"

Quite some time has passed since my duel.

By now, the 2nd year matches should be over, and the 1st years should be going.

'Come to think of it, I am curious.'

The main match of the 1st years.

The duel between Isolet, the top student of the Knight Department, and Irina, the top student of the Magic Department.

I'm very interested to see who will win.

"Alright. Shall we go?"

"Ah, before that~."

"Hm?"

As I was about to leave the room and return, Helene poked my side.

Beyond her slender finger. Helene's snow-white face smiles brightly.

She slightly extends her hand to me.

"Would you escort me?"

"......"

It's just a short walk, is an escort really necessary...

But I'm not so tactless as to say that, so.

"Of course, my princess."

"Fufu. You're more like a knight than a mage~."

I skillfully led her pale hand and guided her.

***

We ascend to the VIP seats where Helene was sitting.

It's not originally a place where students can sit, but who would stop us when the Princess herself brought me?

Even the instructors who tried to stop us eventually just cleared their throats and withdrew their words.

...Well, there were some instructors who did speak up.

"Student Herak! What on earth was that technique?"

"Herak. I'd like to ask about that body magic you created..."

"Hey. Would you consider stopping by my office for a moment? I have a good proposal..."

They all look like they're dying to know more about me.

But I didn't understand.

'What, body magic?'

No, that's just a cheat. A physical cheat.

It's not that I used magic, it's more like... how should I put it, when I moved my body, the mana responded accordingly.

I definitely didn't do it thinking it was magic...

But there's only one person who can cut off all these instructors' desperate love calls.

"Fufu. Would everyone please step back?"

Princess Helene.

At her smiling words as she walked with me tightly by her side, the instructors immediately closed their mouths and turned away.

Even the instructors of Olympia are powerless before the Princess.

It was a sad phenomenon of the class system.

"Here. Here, Herak."

"Yes."

The seat next to Vice Chairman Chiron.

In that seat where no instructor would dare to sit, Helene sits me down with her.

It's burdensome, but... what can I do? I have to accept it.

"Whose turn is it now~?"

"Isolet and Irina. The match between the top students, Your Highness."

Chiron kindly answers Helene's question, as she returned midway and doesn't know the matchups.

Indeed, as he said, an intense battle was already unfolding in the dueling arena.

Crash!

Numerous ice spears appear behind Irina's back.

It's a magic that even Penel, the 2nd year top student, used, but this is no less impressive.

The skill of a seasoned mage. As expected of the protagonist of the mage route.

Whoosh! 

Beyond the scene of the spears being shot at high speed.

The woman facing them and dashing forward is Isolet.

Crack, crack! 

The spears are shattered by Isolet's sword strikes.

It's an overwhelming shower of ice spears that would be difficult to defend against with just one sword.

Yet Isolet maintains her frontline, cutting through every single one without exception.

─Haa, haa.

Neither side has much stamina left.

Irina, whose mana is depleted from continuously casting spells.

Isolet, whose stamina is exhausted from defending against each one and somehow advancing.

They both breathe heavily, staring intently at each other.

Seeing this scene, I felt a new sense of emotion.

'This is it.'

Act 1 Chapter 4 of <Song of Sword and Magic>.

The top students of both departments meeting in the Inter-year Exchange Competition.

The male and female protagonists meet, confirm each other's capabilities, admire each other, and thus come to acknowledge each other.

Such a hot-blooded page of youth.

'Well, although they're both women...'

It doesn't matter that there's no man.

Just by sending such passionate gazes, they were already worthy of being protagonists.

However, what I'm concerned about is something else.

'Still, I need to know who the true protagonist is.'

Even if there's no male protagonist, surely there can't be no true protagonist?

Even if both Isolet and Irina are women, one of them must be the character who will lead the story of this world.

In the original work, the male protagonist took on that role by winning, so it should be the same for them.

'The one who wins is the real protagonist.'

I'm sitting here to witness that historic moment...!

─Amazing, Irina. I didn't know it would be this difficult to land even one attack... Honestly, I'm surprised.

─...Thank you for the compliment. The same goes for me, Isolet. I've never met such a tricky opponent before.

The heart-warming friendship of women acknowledging each other.

However, that's only for a moment.

─But it will be decided in the end. The winner of this duel, and who will become the senior's first disciple.

Isolet takes her stance.

Her hand firmly grips the sword hilt at a safe distance from Irina.

Then, a red light like a heat haze surrounds the blade.

A special power different from the blue aura that knights usually emit.

Just looking at it, the momentum is fierce.

─That's right. It's not that I particularly care about what you said... but if you're going to bet so much on this match, alright. I'll accept it.

Simultaneously, numerous spells are cast behind Irina's back.

Even though her mana should have been depleted from continuously casting spells until now.

Irina is wielding magic as if she's just started the duel.

'Wow. It's finally here.'

Right now, they're using the unique powers they obtained from the secret room.

Isolet's 【Charge】, Irina's 【Rewind】.

They bring out that power at the very last moment, finally giving their all to defeat each other.

Gulp─

Someone swallows their breath.

A fight of such high level that it's hard to believe it's between 1st years.

The audience's attention is focused on who will be the winner─

BOOM─!!!

Finally, with the blow exchanged between Isolet and Irina, a large cloud of dust rises in the dueling arena.

"What?! Who won?!"

"Damn it. Did Isolet lose...? Don't tell me our Knight Department lost even in the 1st year!"

"Of course Irina won! Today's championship goes to our Magic Department!"

The instructors watching the situation jump up from their seats and shout.

The dust cloud, chaotically intertwined with mana, is hard to see through.

Finally, as the dust that obscured the view clears, the figures of the two women beyond become visible.

"...Huh?"

Everyone was shocked.

─...

─...

They're lying down.

Both Isolet and Irina are lying on the ground, unable to move an inch.

A faint smile appears on their lips, which don't move at all as if they've lost consciousness.

That was a sign of how much they acknowledged each other.

It was a youthful smile born from meeting a worthy opponent, but─

─Yes, to put it simply, there is no winner in this duel.

Both sides lost consciousness and couldn't remain standing until the end.

As a result, perhaps thinking the same as me, Chiron announced:

[Duel over. This match will be considered a draw. Let's give a round of applause to both students who showed us such an intense duel.]

Clap clap clap...

The sound of students clapping and whistling continues.

It was a heartwarming ending where both the Knight and Magic Departments forgot their grudges and praised the duel, but─

"...Shit."

I couldn't help but mutter a small curse.

I had no choice.

...So, who's the true protagonist...?