Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World -
Chapter 128
Chapter 128.3. The Third Year at the Academy - Martial Arts Tournament's Main Event (3)
On the first day of the main competition, four people, including Harriet, were eliminated, while Lambert, Felix, and Talvit advanced without issue.
The next day was a rest day, and then the day after, the two semifinal matches—mine against Lambert and Felix against Talvit—were held.
Two months had passed since Lambert's declaration.
At last, this day had come.
Thinking about Lambert's resolve, I would have preferred to face him in the finals if possible.
Second place wouldn't be a bad result.
As I pondered this, I waited silently by myself in the waiting room.
Then, the time for the match arrived.
When I stepped out to the arena, Lambert, dressed in leather partial armor, was already waiting.Perhaps intending to watch, Felix was also standing at the opposing entrance.
As the crowd cheered, I walked toward Lambert.
"I wish we could have faced off in the finals."
"Anywhere would be the same. I must defeat you if I am to win."
My thoughts were promptly dismissed without a second thought.
A mere city tournament.
On the other hand, maybe the only value lies in victory.
"Altar, give it your all."
I looked up at Lambert's unexpected words. He was staring at me with intense eyes.
A little surprised, I met his gaze.
"You saw the mock battle with Harviss, didn't you? Can you surpass him?"
"I will surpass him. I must. That man and you."
"I see."
He replied with just that, and I turned my back.
It's impossible, Lambert.
Neither Harviss nor I can be surpassed so easily by mere willpower.
After that, without exchanging words, we waited for the signal to start in our designated spots.
After a short while, the referee came to the center.
He explained the prohibitions and confirmed that both of us were ready.
"Now, the semifinal match: Lambert Alois Keiten versus Altar Les Reedwald!"
The cheers erupted.
Lambert and I calmly drew our swords.
And then—.
"Begin!"
The referee gave the signal to start.
Despite the rising cheers, we remained calm.
Without a word, we advanced, stopping at a distance just enough for our swords to reach.
The tense atmosphere silenced the entire arena.
A cold wind blew in, stirring something.
A small clang echoed, and we moved as if repelled by it.
Our simultaneous horizontal slashes clashed at the roots of our swords.
A loud metallic sound rang out, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Fueled by the heat that drove away the chill, Lambert and I swung our swords.
This was completely different from the battle with Harriet.
We stood firm and exchanged blows.
With deadly force, swords were repeatedly swung down and up.
As the clash continued, our swords became worn, their edges growing sharper.
Cloth armor and partial leather armor were damaged, and blood seeped from our limbs.
This was no longer a mock battle.
Yet, neither of us stopped, continuing to strike at each other.
Suddenly, I noticed movement from the referee at the edge of my vision.
Was he going to call for a sword exchange? No.
Lambert had aimed several times at my head.
For me, this was proof that he was fighting seriously, but the referee seemed hesitant to stop it.
This could be seen as a violation of the rules.
I'd better put an end to his indecision.
I aimed a horizontal slash at his head, and Lambert blocked it with his sword.
That was the line drawn.
Attacking the head is a violation of the rules. Even an attempted strike would disqualify us both.
The next match between Felix and Talvit would become the final.
Such a decision would not be made lightly.
The match continued, but the referee still seemed unsure.
We couldn't afford to play around any longer.
It was time to move on to the next stage.
I quickly drew back my sword and launched [Double Strike].
A simple slash followed by an attack skill—this was my intent.
But then—.
The numbness in my hand made me freeze.
Lambert had deflected my [Double Strike] with his own [Double Strike].
It was a forceful move, but it was still a defense.
I lightly leaped backward to put some distance between us.
"I'm impressed. Has one been completed already?"
Lambert didn't answer, his lips tightly sealed.
Was this a repeat of what I did in my fight with Harviss?
It seemed like he was trying to surpass that moment for real.
But how did he perceive the skill activation?
The preparatory motion was minimized to its limit.
With Lambert's speed, it shouldn't have been possible to react in time—wait, the referee.
I deliberately aimed for his head again.
He must have anticipated that I would act based on the referee's vibe.
What a remarkable man.
I tightened my grip on the short sword and exhaled slowly.
Then, let's push forward just a little more.
"Don't let me push you back."
Before the words finished, I increased my speed and slashed.
He reflexively swung his sword downward, but there was no way it could hit me.
At a speed faster than Harriet, Lambert was being thrown off balance.
However, he immediately discarded the rash attack.
He fortified his defense and switched to a counterattack, taking advantage of a tiny opening.
His judgment and quick switching were impressive, but it still wasn't enough.
He couldn't catch me.
His counterattacks continued to miss, and Lambert gradually became purely defensive.
His arms and sword rose to avoid lethal blows, but his gauntlets were covered in cuts, and the skin not protected by armor was torn open by the dulled edges of our swords, fresh blood dripping down.
The pain from the forced cuts was more intense than the wounds themselves.
Still, Lambert's resolve didn't waver.
"Over the past three years, we've fought in mock battles countless times. The result should have been clear. You haven't surpassed Harviss. Yet, do you still want to fight at full strength?"
"I do."
At that one word, I stopped attacking.
I watched my bloodied friend, his eyes filled with determination and resolve.
Slowly, I stepped back and readied my short sword.
"Alright then. Show me you can surpass me, Lambert."
I took a deep breath.
Then, I activated [High-Speed Movement].
The cheers and wind sounds seemed to stretch out slightly.
In the slow flow of time, I moved.
At the same time, I saw Lambert move as well.
He made a deep stepping motion.
Was that—[Rock Slice]?
I felt a brief pain in my chest.
In the Harviss battle and the Goblin Leader fight, I slipped past my opponents.
Even with high speed, it was a skill that couldn't be adapted.
Lambert must have thought that way—no, he bet everything on it.
No matter how bad the odds were, this was the only chance he had.
I'll stick with you to the end, Lambert.
While running, I activated [Heavy Strike].
In the center of the arena, [Rock Slice] and [Heavy Strike] collided—two swords shattered, and fragments grazed my cheek.
Ignoring that, I slammed the remaining sword toward Lambert's abdomen.
I continued moving, deactivating [High-Speed Movement].
Lambert, still in the position of the strike, moved farther away.
He tightly gripped the shattered sword, his expression hollow.
Then, he bounced slightly on the cobblestones, coming to a halt.
The arena became as still as if struck by water.
In the midst of that, the referee glanced at the assistant referee.
The assistant referee was stunned, but upon noticing the look, he hurriedly shook his head.
"The winner is—Altar Les Reedwald!"
A sparse round of applause followed the referee's declaration.
Gradually, it grew louder, transforming into a resounding cheer.
The cheers shook the arena.
Even hearing it, I felt nothing.
"Let me confirm. You didn't use any magic, correct?"
Suddenly, the referee spoke to me.
Ah, so that's what that exchange was about earlier.
The assistant referee must have been a user of [Magic Search].
"I didn't use magic, and I don't have any magical tools. Would you like me to undergo a body check?"
"Then—"
"Please wait."
At the voice stopping him, both the referee and I turned our gazes.
Felix, carrying the unconscious Lambert, was looking at us.
"Alter-sama didn't use magic. I guarantee it as one of Lambert's subordinates."
The referee glanced between Felix and me with suspicion.
[High-Speed Movement] wasn't against the rules.
First of all, with high agility and a high rank in [Max Speed Enhancement], I could achieve the same speed.
The cheat-like nature of [High-Speed Movement] is in how everything related to speed—mobility, acceleration—becomes uniform and increases.
For a straight line, even top adventurers or high-level monsters could match it—but ah, I see.
I forgot again. I was thirteen.
I mocked myself internally, returning my gaze.
"What will you do? I don't mind undergoing a body check."
"No, I apologize for the suspicion. I trust you both."
With that, the referee walked away.
Seeing the suspicion lift, Felix bowed to me.
Then, he carried Lambert and left the arena.
I silently watched his retreating figure.
As long as Lambert had consciousness, he wouldn't accept any form of loss.
But for now, it was time for the next match.
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