Chapter 16

A sharp noise faintly brushed past my ear. Dozens of silver sword strikes flickered in my blurred vision.

The silver lines rushed in with deadly force.

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“Tsk.”

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I stepped back.

While I barely dodged the relentless barrage, I blocked the attacks that pursued me stubbornly.

Sparks flew constantly from the black sword in my hand.

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*Boom, screech...! Bang!*

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Shards of steel clashed fiercely.

With each step I took, the surrounding terrain twisted. The underbrush transformed into blades that surged up, and the fluttering petals shot out like daggers.

The roses all around raised their thorns, blocking my path.

The smell of iron grazed my nose.

I groaned as I fended off the relentless shards.

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“...This is seriously annoying.”

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Was this the power of the continent’s greatest genius?

Even though she hadn’t fully awakened yet, she was strong enough to take down any average graduate.

Blocking another flying strike, I glanced around.

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*Clang!*

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The entire circular arena was enveloped by a barrier.

The ground, which had once been a flat surface of sand, had turned into the cold texture of steel.

The neatly bloomed flowers of swords swayed violently.

It was as if the entire place had become a garden made of steel.

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"The Ashen Garden."

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This was Charlotte’s ultimate move.

She created an absolute domain around herself, and within this space, Charlotte was almost invincible.

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It looked like a beautifully blooming rose garden.

But in truth, each flower was a sea of swords.

With a simple wave of her hand, the underbrush moved. Hundreds of sword blades surged in waves, like an ocean of steel.

I braced myself to avoid getting swept away.

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*Clang! Screeech...!*

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The sharp petals scraped noisily against my blade.

As I deflected the steel rain one by one, I could see the platinum blonde girl on the other side.

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“Hm.”

“Ugh...!”

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“Are you acting? Or are you really that weak?”

“I’m not sure what you mean... but... I’m doing my best...!”

“...Strange.”

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Charlotte tilted her head slightly, unsure.

For some reason, the young princess wasn’t lowering her guard so easily.

I sighed inwardly.

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‘Why is she acting like this?’

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My act had been flawless.

This time, I’d controlled my strength perfectly and thoroughly concealed my killing intent.

Not only that, I had cloaked myself in *Lies*, creating the perfect image of a weakling.

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*Clang!*

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Sparks flew from our swords once again.

Though it seemed like she was recklessly attacking, the strikes were carefully controlled.

She was definitely testing me.

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What exactly did Charlotte know?

Or rather... how did she know?

I continued moving, racking my brain for answers.

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‘At least it’s a relief.’

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If she was testing me, it meant she was suspicious.

But at the same time, she wasn’t certain.

I didn’t know why she was doubting my *existence*, but as long as she wasn’t sure, I just had to keep up the act.

After all, there was no way Charlotte could know the truth.

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“I’m curious about you. It’s difficult.”

“I don’t understand... what you’re talking about...!”

“But that’s why I want to know more.”

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*Thud!*

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A heavy impact struck my sword.

Her attacks were definitely getting stronger.

Was she increasing her output?

I wiggled my fingers as I felt the throbbing pain in my hand.

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“She’s definitely a genius.”

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Charlotte was one of the poster girls of the original game *The World Seen by the Little Prince*.

Her overwhelming talent made her one of the most highly rated playable characters. If it weren’t for me, she would undoubtedly have been the top student.

No wonder the other students were talking about me being a fraud.

To them, Charlotte probably looked like something beyond normal.

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“Maybe it’s because we’re still in the early part of the story, but... I think I’ve done enough.”

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I muttered to myself.

Now, how should I lose convincingly?

While dodging the steel shards swirling around me, I glanced at the magical devices scattered throughout the arena.

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The recording magic devices.

Although the arena was covered by Charlotte’s barrier, the internal situation was being transmitted through those devices.

The faculty members were probably watching closely.

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“It would’ve been nice if the other students could see this.”

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Unlike the entrance exam, there was no screen prepared for the students this time.

The devices here were solely for grading purposes.

In other words, no one except the faculty would know what was happening inside the barrier.

If an ordinary student had created the barrier, the inside would have been visible. But this was an *area* crafted by the Little Prince herself.

Not even the pupils of an ordinary person could capture its image.

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She wanted to confirm whether this boy was the person she thought he was. But at the same time, she hoped he wasn’t.

The petals of the garden fluttered sorrowfully.

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“Hah, hah...!”

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But the more the situation dragged on, the more confused she became.

Her instincts told her this boy was the one.

But watching him fight, he seemed like just another weak student.

Barely capable of breaking into the top ten, at best.

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“This is strange. Are you really just weak? Is there nothing you’re hiding?”

“I’ve already told you...!”

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Her certainty began to waver.

Charlotte wondered if it was all just a misunderstanding. Was she tormenting an innocent person?

These thoughts started to color her mind.

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Her resolve weakened.

Naturally, the force behind her attacks also diminished.

As her suspicion slowly faded, something bit her ankle.

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“Urgh...!?”

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Dizziness suddenly surged through her.

Her consciousness began to blur as if she were intoxicated by a strong drink.

The mana she had been controlling unraveled, and her concentration shattered into pieces.

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Charlotte stumbled briefly.

She swung her arm instinctively.

It was an unconscious movement brought on by her sudden dizziness, but the result was catastrophic.

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*Rumble!*

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The steel garden responded to her every move.

The larger her motion, the greater its power.

That was why Charlotte had been carefully controlling the flow of her movements from the start, barely lifting a finger.

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“W-wha...?”

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She hadn’t wanted to launch an attack that could seriously harm her opponent.

She had been adjusting her power carefully, but an unknown external force had interfered, causing her to lose control.

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*Slash...!*

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The ground roared.

In the vast arena, vines, roses, and all sorts of vegetation writhed and rose.

They intertwined and arranged themselves before becoming a massive wave.

And it wasn’t just a metaphor.

An actual tidal wave of steel surged forth.

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*Whoooosh!*

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Like a tsunami, the blades tore through everything in their path.

And standing in the path of the disaster was the golden-haired boy, frozen in shock.

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“N-no...!”

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Charlotte’s awareness returned at that moment.

She hastily moved her hands, but it was too late.

The flow of the garden was fiercer than ever, and there was no way to stop it now.

Not even a genius like Charlotte could halt it.

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‘This isn’t right.’

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She had wanted to test the boy.

But this wasn’t what she wanted.

She didn’t want to see anyone get hurt.

In Charlotte’s world, only one person was allowed to be in pain. Without hesitation, she reached out.

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“Hmph...!”

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If she couldn’t break the flow, she could at least divert it.

Charlotte redirected the target of the attack.

From the boy to herself.

The tidal wave that had been rushing toward the boy shifted direction.

Her clenched fists pulled the wave of blades toward her like a magnet, drawing it in.

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*Slash, whoooosh!*

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The violent roar of the storm.

Charlotte calmly looked up at it. There was no way to block it unscathed.

At the very least, she would end up in the infirmary.

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“This is going to hurt.”

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Charlotte murmured softly.

Even in this situation, she remained composed.

She was simply relieved that the boy wouldn’t be hurt.

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*Whooosh...!*

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A rose brushed past her nose.

She closed her eyes, bracing for the impact. A moment later, the sound of destruction echoed.

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*BOOM!*

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“...”

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But for some reason...

Despite the deafening noise, no pain reached Charlotte’s body.

Had she been injured so badly that she couldn’t feel anything?

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“...?”

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As that thought crossed her mind, she slowly opened her eyes.

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“Are you alright?”

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There was a boy bathed in sunlight, his golden hair gleaming.

When their eyes met, his rare white irises briefly flashed before narrowing back into slits.

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“Well, well... Can I consider this as you owing me one?”

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The boy, who held her in his arms, smiled cheekily.

Behind him, the garden of steel crumbled into pieces, scattering like dust.