WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Oblivious

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Weakest Knight Became a Swordmaster, But Only in Dungeons ◈

Chapter 18: Sparring (1)

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Five pairs of wings protected the Empire of Eskrad.

Several prominent figures from the five knight orders collectively known as the Imperial Five Wings sat in the upper seats of the sparring hall, accompanied by two or three members of their orders.

The seats occupied a spacious room above the arena and overlooked the sparring grounds.

The commanders of two orders and vice commanders acting in place of the commanders for the other three had all attended.

That alone proved that every one of the Imperial Five Wings was interested in this sparring test.

Several knights from other Magic Knight orders were present as well.

“I never expected the White Wing Commander herself to come observe!”

Wearing a red knight uniform and a luxurious cloak, Cloel, the reddish-brown haired commander of the Red Wing Knight Order, warmly addressed the woman in white sitting primly.

She was an elegant woman. Fox ears perked atop her head, marking her as beastkin.

Her hair was pure white, and long white lashes extended from her gently closed eyes. Snowflake-shaped earrings hung from both ears.

She wore the white knight uniform that symbolized the White Wing Knight Order.

Lucia, commander of the White Wing Knight Order and the pinnacle of the Imperial Five Wings.

The Magic Knights glanced anxiously toward the White Wing Commander.

“But White Wing Commander, you cannot see, can you? How do you plan to judge the cadets?”

Cloel asked.

The White Wing Commander turned toward him with a gentle smile and answered in a calm voice.

“Because I cannot see, there are things I can sense.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

It was such an obvious, formal answer that Cloel let out a small laugh.

“Still, I had heard that you normally had no interest in sparring tests like this. Is it because of that fairy’s contractor after all?”

“Yes. I couldn’t help becoming curious.”

According to myth, a single fairy ruled over the highest-ranking magical beasts, beings once called walking disasters.

Vermea, the Fairy of Crimson Flowers.

That mighty being had appeared in the world, displayed its power, and chosen a young girl as its contractor.

And that girl had grown up and enrolled at Griffin Knight School to become a Magic Knight.

It was Elise Lorendia.

“Ha ha! Even the White Wing Commander feels that way!? Well, there can’t be a single knight here who isn’t interested in that cadet!”

Just as Cloel said, the greatest focus of the Magic Knights gathered here was Elise, the fairy’s contractor.

How skilled was she really? Filled with anticipation, the Magic Knights watched the sparring grounds closely.

“Next!”

Instructor Logan, a man with black hair and a rough beard, served as the referee.

First-year cadets entered the arena in the order they were called and fought their matches.

“Ahhh, I didn’t want to use this here! Watch closely, and don’t tell anyone...! Wait, don’t fall yet! You have to see my hidden power before you gooo!!”

“Henry Twislope, victory!”

Henry Twislope, Lara’s twin younger brother, claimed victory with obvious disappointment.

“Hrrrngh!! Face the attack of Turak, brave warrior of the Blue Mane Tribe!!”

“Aaagh!”

“Turak, victory!”

Barbarian Turak raised his right fist before the unconscious cadet and claimed victory.

“Aaaah! I surrender, I surrenderrr!”

“Wow, I won...!”

“Violet Blackgarden, victory!”

Violet Blackgarden celebrated her victory shyly.

After every match, the cadets offered polite applause.

“Some of these cadets are already on par with active Magic Knights. They have such distinct styles too.”

“Hmm... Still, that Barbarian and necromancer are unpleasant to watch.”

At a member’s remark, Cloel clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Next! Theodore Garniel and Ron Hazely! Step forward!”

At Logan's summons, two male cadets entered the sparring grounds.

Light-brown hair. The last-place cadet infamous as Griffin Knight School’s weakest student. Ron Hazely.

Reddish-brown hair. The son of the Red Wing Knight Order’s commander and a mid-ranked cadet. Theodore Garniel.

“Oh! Can everyone see him!? That’s my son, Theodore!”

Cloel shouted excitedly.

“Theodore Garniel... But his opponent is strange.”

Wearing a blue knight uniform, the female vice commander of the Blue Wing Knight Order stood at ease as she watched the arena and voiced her doubts.

Cloel looked puzzled.

“Blue Wing Vice Commander, what is it? Is there a problem?”

“I have memorized the information on all first-year cadets. Ron Hazely is known as a cadet so weak that he’s called the weakest. He placed last in the entrance exam, and his mana capacity is at the bottom of the knight school. I’ve even heard that he only recently reached Second Tier.”

Cloel’s mouth fell open.

“That can’t be right... Hasn’t he already passed through two rounds of culling? How could such an incompetent cadet still be here?”

“I don’t know the exact details of the tests, but I heard he survived through luck. It’s a famous story. I suppose he’s at least clever enough to use little tricks.”

“Hmm...?”

Cloel frowned.

“Hey, Instructor Rachel.”

“Yes.”

Among the staff assigned to assist the visiting Magic Knights, a woman with short red hair and a pointed hat answered indifferently.

It was Instructor Rachel.

“Is what the Blue Wing Vice Commander said true?”

“It is.”

“Why? I would like an explanation for why someone like that is facing my son.”

“As has always been customary, the sparring groups were arranged by setting ranges based on the cadets’ mana capacity, then assigning opponents randomly within those ranges. That is all.”

“Haah, is that so...? Theodore is still lacking in mana for the heir of House Garniel. His potential manifested far too late for his talent.”

Though he understood logically, Cloel’s gaze remained unfriendly.

“Still, I can’t help being displeased. I was looking forward to seeing a high-level match from my son, only for him to face someone like that... Tch. There’ll be nothing to see.”

“If that’s what you think, then that’s unfortunate.”

“No, don’t worry about it. Please understand, Instructor Rachel. I’m simply a little disappointed. That’s all.”

Cloel waved his hand as though being considerate toward Rachel.

However, he had misunderstood the meaning behind Rachel’s words.

‘Nothing to see, huh...? I don’t know about that.’

Rachel held back a mocking smile.

‘Now then. What will you show us this time, Ron Hazely?’

Her interest was focused entirely on Ron.

And on the sparring grounds...

Ron and Theodore stood apart, facing one another with mock swords in hand.

“Ron Hazely, huh? His luck is awful.”

“This match will end quickly.”

“Could this be a record?”

“Ron wasn’t completely hopeless when I saw him before. Maybe he’ll last a little?”

“Theodore looks like he’s been waiting for a chance to crush Ron...”

“Want to bet how quickly Ron Hazely loses? I say it ends in under ten seconds.”

The first-year cadets whispered as they watched the arena.

A mid-ranked cadet versus the last-place cadet. The result was obvious to anyone. Everyone expected Ron to lose.

Meanwhile, Theodore glanced toward the audience.

Elise Lorendia, the female cadet he had a crush on, came into view.

But Elise wore a meaningful smile as she looked only at Ron.

Theodore felt a sharp pain in his chest.

‘Damn it. I shouldn’t have looked.’

Forget it. Focus on the sparring match.

Theodore turned his gaze back to Ron.

‘Ron Hazely...’

Why was Elise, the top-ranked cadet and a fairy contractor called an unmatched genius, showing interest in Ron instead of him?

What was special about that last-place cadet, who had only survived two expulsion crises through luck and disgracefully clung to his place here?

‘I’ll crush him completely.’

He would show Elise and every other cadet once again that Ron was nothing more than a bottom-ranked cadet with nothing special about him.

With that vow, Theodore stared coldly at Ron.

Instructors with mana at the ready and healers stood close to the arena.

If either contestant showed signs of suffering a critical injury, they would intervene immediately.

“The match ends at once if one side can no longer continue, leaves the arena, or surrenders! And surrendering is only possible after one minute has passed since the match began! Understood!?”

“Yes!”

As Instructor Logan repeated the rules he had announced for every match, Ron and Theodore answered together.

Logan glanced toward Ron.

‘He’ll probably lose. But...’

He couldn’t help looking forward to what Ron would show.

Ron’s performances until now had left quite an impression on Logan.

Instructor Logan grinned.

“Now, ready!”

Ron and Theodore took their stances.

The air tightened.

Then...

“Begin!”

At Logan’s shout, Theodore kicked off the ground and shot forward.

Theodore thought,

‘First, bind him.’

He would force Ron into a defensive posture.

Whoosh!

Ron dodged Theodore’s fierce sword strike.

‘He dodged. A wise choice, Ron Hazely.’

Binding was a common swordsmanship term.

It referred to a technique that induced an opponent into taking a particular stance, then unleashed effective follow-up attacks suited to that stance.

Ron knew well that Theodore’s style was to attempt a bind at the start of battle.

So Ron didn’t need to think. He focused only on evading.

Shing!

Seizing an opening, Ron swung his sword in a counterattack.

At that moment, Theodore’s mind raced.

His excellent dynamic vision grasped every detail—the angle and trajectory of the strike and the force behind Ron’s sword.

Based on that information, mathematical calculations ran through Theodore’s mind.

Like a chess player, Theodore looked ahead to his next move.

Clang!

Boom!

“Urk!”

Theodore blocked Ron’s strike with his sword and kicked him in the abdomen.

With a burst of air, Ron’s body flew away like a ball. He only stopped after rolling across the ground several times.

The cadets gasped. As expected, Ron had lost the first exchange.

“There is a considerable gap in their basic physical abilities.”

The Blue Wing Vice Commander spoke flatly as she watched the spar.

“Oh, come on... At this rate, he’ll lose without even touching Theodore once.”

Cloel sighed.

“Hoo...”

On the arena floor, Ron let out a deep breath and got to his feet.

His abdomen throbbed, but he was already used to this much pain, so it didn’t matter.

Theodore pointed his mock sword at Ron with a cold expression.

“Ron Hazely. Don’t even think about surrendering easily. No... I’ll finish this before one minute passes and you’re allowed to surrender.”

“Seriously, all that boasting...”

You really are looking down on me again.

Ron gave a mocking smile and adjusted his stance. Then he began running sideways along the edge of the sparring grounds.

“Stalling for time... How pathetic.”

Theodore rushed toward Ron in annoyance.

The distance between them quickly closed. In that instant, Ron stretched out his left arm toward Theodore. Mana rose from his hand.

“!”

Fwoooosh!!

Flames spread from Ron’s left palm.

It was basic flame magic, with power befitting Second Tier.

It wasn’t enough to threaten Theodore, but...

‘I can’t see him!’

For a moment, Ron’s figure was hidden behind the flames.

Theodore needed to read Ron’s movements to calculate his next move, but the fire obstructed his sight.

What would Ron do next? Keep running? Rush in with an upward slash? A horizontal cut? Or...

Whoosh!!

“!”

The flames split below him.

Ron shot through the gap, skimming low along the ground as he swung his sword. His target was Theodore’s shin.

Theodore kicked off the ground with a movement like a spinal reflex and barely avoided the strike.

Screech! Ron’s body slid past Theodore.

Ron immediately rose to his feet, smiled, and clicked his tongue.

“Ah, that was close.”

“More little tricks...? But Ron Hazely, you’re not the only one who can use flame magic.”

Fwoooosh!

Flames surged along Theodore’s sword.

Ron likewise wrapped his blade in fire. Its mana density and power were both weaker than Theodore’s.

They swung their swords at each other at the same time.

Fwoooosh!!

The flames sent forward with their strikes collided. Theodore’s magic was superior in both scale and force.

In an instant, Theodore’s flames swallowed Ron’s magic and surged forward.

Then...

Whoooosh!!

“!”

A fierce gale bored into the center of the flames.

Revealed through that gap was a light-brown haired swordsman, his body scorched, clothes torn, and covered in dust, yet the unyielding will in his eyes had not gone out.

Ron Hazely.

‘Wind magic...!’

Ron’s wind magic could not completely drive back Theodore’s flames, but it was powerful enough to force its way through them.

There was no time to think. As Ron swung his sword horizontally, Theodore quickly blocked the strike.

Clang!

“That was your best move, but what a shame.”

Ignoring Theodore’s mockery, Ron continued attacking.

Whoosh!

Clang, scrape!

Ron’s sword strikes pressed forward relentlessly.

Their trajectories continuously traced the forms of Lightwing Sword, one of the Imperial Knight sword styles.

Ron’s blade sharply targeted Theodore’s openings, but his absolute physical ability was lacking.

More than anything, Theodore found it extremely easy to read Ron’s moves.

Theodore had also learned the sword style, and he knew Ron had mastered at least Lightwing Sword.

‘His goal is an out-of-bounds victory.’

More little tricks again.

Theodore gave a hollow laugh and calmly received Ron’s strikes while measuring the distance to the edge of the arena.

Shing!

‘Now.’

During the barrage of strikes, Ron’s sword lowered.

Theodore loaded his sword with heavy mana, raised it high, and rushed toward Ron.

To continue the forms of Lightwing Sword, using the sword technique Wing Unfurling was effective. This was exactly the right timing.

But there was no way Ron had learned that technique. Even Elise, the top-ranked cadet, had not succeeded with it yet.

Theodore calculatedly targeted that opening and brought down his sword with overwhelming force to end the match.

A blow from Shatterflow Sword, meant to crush its target.

If Ron raised his sword to defend, Theodore would crush him along with his defense.

‘I won... Huh?’

But Ron’s eyes were strange.

There was not the slightest trace of panic.

Instead, they were as calm as a windless lake, as though everything was going according to his plan.

Then Ron’s sword, wrapped in silver mana, rose upward.

Screeech!

‘What!?’

A crack appeared in Theodore’s expression.

For an instant, Ron’s blade precisely scraped along Theodore’s blade.

Even the mana pouring from their swords locked together, making Theodore feel as though his sword was being drawn into Ron’s blade.

Then...

Clang!!

Theodore’s sword was violently knocked away, scattering mana through the air like sparks.

Lightwing Sword, Wing Unfurling.

“...!”

The White Wing Commander turned toward Ron with a surprised expression.

Though she could not see, she had felt a strange familiarity from him.

‘He used Wing Unfurling...!?’

Theodore’s eyes widened. Everything he had been certain of had been overturned.

The straightforward, powerful strike he had launched to end the match had become his own undoing.

It was difficult to respond immediately to Ron’s next attack. The recoil was too great.

Still, if Ron followed up with a form of Lightwing Sword, Theodore could endure getting hit once.

That would not leave him unable to fight or knock him out of bounds.

As Theodore made that judgment in an instant...

Ron spun, riding the upward momentum of his own sword after sending it upward with Lightwing Sword, Wing Unfurling.

‘What is that movement...?’

It was not Lightwing Sword.

Then what was it?

Whoosh!

An illusion of red flower petals fluttering before Theodore’s eyes appeared.

He recognized it at once.

‘Elise’s Flower Dance Sword...!’

Fwoosh!

Ron’s sword spun with tremendous force, its momentum further enhanced by violently erupting wind magic.

It struck Theodore squarely in the chest.

Flower Dance Sword, Butterfly Wind.

Crack!!

Boom!!!

“Urgh!”

With a chilling sound of breaking and a thunderous blast, Theodore’s body flew away.

Thud, thud! Theodore rolled across the ground several times.

“Cough, urgh...”

Theodore braced himself against the ground and groaned. It hurt. His ribs felt broken.

But he could still fight. Ron had revealed all his hidden trump cards, so Theodore would not be caught off guard again.

‘Now, now it’s over. There’s no way I’ll get hit again...!’

...If the match continued.

“Theodore Garniel, out of bounds!”

“...!”

At Instructor Logan’s shout, Theodore looked around in shock.

Only then did he realize it. He had been knocked beyond the sparring grounds.

“Haah, haah...!”

Ron struggled to catch his breath as he looked at Theodore, while Theodore stared blankly back at Ron with stunned eyes.

The first-year cadets and the observing knights alike stood speechless with their mouths open.

Cloel had risen from his seat without realizing it, staring at the arena with wide eyes.

‘Ron Hazely, you crazy bastard...’

Only some instructors, including Rachel, trembled as they held back laughter filled with amazement.

“Ron Hazely, victory!”

A result no one had expected spread through the hall from Instructor Logan’s mouth.

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