CHAPTER 2

The Reject Swordsman & the Swordcraft Academy

I heard a voice.

“All…up! It’s morni…ke up!”

Though I couldn’t make out what it was saying, I got the sense it was calling me.

I opened my eyes slowly and saw the blue sky above me through bleary eyes. I had been sleeping faceup.

Huh? What was I…?

My hazy vision slowly came into focus, and my other senses returned to me as well.

I became aware of the cool ground, the smell of the grass, my parched throat, the bright sun—and a voice calling out to me.

“Allen! Allen, wake up! What are you sleeping out here for?!”

The matron of my dorm, Ms. Paula, was staring down at me.

“?!”

I jumped up in a panic.

“What year is it?! What month?! What’s the time…?!” I asked in a panic.

She sighed in exasperation.

“What in heaven’s name are you talking about, Allen? Are you still dreaming?”

“Uh, well…I guess it’s over, then.”

I had finished my billion-plus years of training and returned to the real world.

“Oh yeah, where’d the Time Hermit go?!”

I spun around to look for him but didn’t see him anywhere.

“Huh…?”

“Time…what now? Allen, are you sure you’re okay?” Ms. Paula asked gently as I stood there, dumbfounded.

“Uh…yeah, I’m fine. Sorry…”

“You were twisting and turning in your sleep… Did you have a nightmare?”

“I…guess I did.”

Maybe it was all just a dream. No, it had to have been a dream. Logically, there was no way a 100-Million-Year Button could exist.

“You can tell me about it if you want. That will prevent it from coming true.”

“…I don’t remember much about it. Sorry.”

That was a lie. I couldn’t have remembered it any more clearly. She would laugh at me if I told her something so nonsensical, though.

“Is that so? Then get your butt back to the dorm! Breakfast has been ready for ages. If you don’t eat soon, I won’t clean up after you!”

She spun on her heel and walked back toward the dorm.

“I-I’m sorry…”

As I apologized and started to follow after her, I stopped in my tracks. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a red button shining enchantingly. My eyes were not deceiving me. Where had I seen it before…? Right.

“The 100-Million-Year Button?!”

I trembled.

So that wasn’t a dream?!

I gulped, then gently picked it up.

I took one, two, three deep breaths to ready myself, then slammed my hand onto the button.

Nothing happened.

“Well, that’s not surprising…”

The Time Hermit, the 100-Million-Year Button, the World of Time—it all must have really been a dream. I shouldn’t have expected any different. This was reality, not a children’s tale. Tossing the button back down onto the ground, I then noticed something.

There was a gash on the button that looked like it had been inflicted by a large sword.

Huh…? Was that there before…?

I was about to move toward the button to take another close look at it, but…

“Allen! Quit your dillydallying and hurry up!”

…Ms. Paula’s booming voice called out from ahead of me.

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

Leaving the strangely shining button behind, I followed her back to the dorm.

Paula Garedzall was the matron of the dorm I lived in. Standing about 198 centimeters tall, she had a large build and a face with powerful features. She was wearing a pure-white apron over a black shirt, with her sleeves rolled up to bare her arms, which were three times bigger than mine. Though she looked scary and difficult to approach at first, she was actually a very nice person.

I put my hands together in thanks after scarfing down the breakfast she made for me.

“Thank you for breakfast.”

“My pleasure! You wiped that plate clean. That’s good for your growing body!”

She slapped me on the back and laughed heartily.

“So, Allen, how is school going?”

“?!”

My heart leaped out of my chest at her question. It reminded me that I had a duel with Dodriel this morning at nine.

“Wh-what time is it?!”

“Let’s see, it’s ten minutes to eight,” she said, pointing at the clock on the wall.

“You can’t be serious…”

Even if I hurried, it would take me three hours to reach Grand Swordcraft Academy from here. Making it in just over an hour was an impossibility. A lot more rode on duels at swordcraft academies than one’s word—there was an established system built around them. If a contestant arrived even one second late for the start of a duel, they lost by default.

I probably… No, I definitely won’t make it in time.

But I couldn’t just go to my room and sulk about it. Not going was not an option. At the very least, I didn’t want it to look like I fled from that jerk Dodriel.

“I-I’ll see you later!”

“Be careful out there, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

I dashed out of the dorm and ran like a man possessed. I wasn’t going to stop until I reached the academy.

…Huh? I feel like I’ve gotten in better shape.

I seemed to fly through the landscape around me.

After I arrived at the academy, I headed straight for the Duel Office in the Second Building.

“S-sorry I’m late! I’m Allen Rodol—I was scheduled to have a duel this morning at nine! Did you already process it?!” I asked hurriedly, spittle flying from my mouth.

The bespectacled receptionist looked at a piece of paper and tilted his head in confusion.

“Hmm? You’re here considerably early. There’s still an hour before your duel.”

“…Whuh?” I responded dumbly. “An hour early… Are you sure?”

That was beyond impossible.

I left the dorm at ten to eight. There was no way I could have reached the academy in just ten minutes.

“Yes, look here.”

He pointed at a clock on the desk, which definitely read eight o’clock.

It really is only ten minutes later… Maybe the clock at the dorm is broken…?

Regardless, I had made it. That meant I had at least escaped disqualification.

Now all I had left to do was to show off the fruits of my labor by giving Dodriel my best shot.

After arriving at Grand Swordcraft Academy earlier than expected, I passed the time by going to the cafeteria and eating my usual discount meal of rice and seaweed. For some reason, I had gotten very hungry again, despite having just eaten breakfast. I waited until five minutes before our start time, then headed to the gymnasium, the designated location of our duel.

I couldn’t have expected what I saw when I arrived.

“What in the…?!”

Despite the early hour, the gym was packed with students beyond capacity.

“Look, the Reject Swordsman just arrived!”

“He’s finally gonna be sent packing! Watching him wave his sword around like a total idiot every day made my eyes bleed!”

“We’ll all have to thank Dodriel for getting rid of this parasite!”

Jeers rained down from my fellow classmates. They were so loud that I wanted to plug my ears.

“H-how did…?!”

I stood there in bewilderment and then heard an obnoxious laugh. Turning toward the voice, I saw Dodriel and his followers standing in the middle of the gym. He sneered mockingly, ignoring my obvious discomposure.

“Ha! I have to say I’m impressed you decided to show up instead of fleeing, Allen.”

“D-Dodriel! What the hell is this? No one told me this was going to happen!” I asked, pointing at the students filling the gym.

“What can I say? This caught me by surprise, too… Word of our duel must have leaked somehow. There are some really sick people out there, you know?”

He gave an exaggerated shrug.

“Y-you asshole…”

Undoubtedly, he had been the one to spread word of the duel throughout the academy, gathering so many here. I bet he wanted to humiliate me in front of the whole student body. Just how awful could one person be?

“Kick that Reject Swordsman’s ass!”

“AAAH! I love you, Dodriel! You can do it!!!”

As the students clamored for Dodriel’s victory and my unsightly defeat, a male professor entered the gymnasium. Though he seemed surprised at first by the number of students and their deafening cheers, he ignored them and walked toward us without a word.

“Now then…the appointed time has arrived. On my mark, the duel between Dodriel Barton and Allen Rodol will begin.”

It looked like he wasn’t even going to question these circumstances. The conditions of a duel needed to be equal for both sides. It was obvious that I would be at a disadvantage in this environment.

The academy is supposed to be neutral. If they don’t say a word about these unfair circumstances…

That meant they wanted to get rid of me, too.

Crap…

Surrounded by enemies, all I could do was grit my teeth.

“Ahem. Are both of you ready? Okay—begin!”

He started the duel with relative disinterest. The environment could not have been more unfavorable for me, but I had to fight.

“Try to last longer than a few seconds, okay, Allen? I want to torment you until you’re sobbing and begging for forgiveness!”

He drew the sword at his hip and smiled sadistically.

“Take me lightly at your peril!” I shouted in response.

Unsheathing my blade and holding it at my navel, I took the most basic of swordcraft stances—the middle stance.

The air between us tensed, and our gazes met.

I took a darting glance at his sword. The beautiful pattern on his blade was clearly visible from a distance. He was always boasting that some master craftsman had forged it.

My sword, on the other hand, was only worth one thousand guld—the lowest-quality blade that money could buy, which you could find just about anywhere.

I probably can’t beat him… No, I definitely can’t.

I was no match for his sword, skill, or innate talent.

But that doesn’t mean I’ll just surrender!

Even I had pride as a student of the sword—and as a man.

I will not withdraw in disgrace after he insulted Mom!

With a renewed fire burning inside me, I glared directly at Dodriel.

His sword was specialized for offense, designed to rain down a barrage of attacks so powerful that its opponent wouldn’t be able to counter. If we crossed blades directly, I wouldn’t stand a chance of winning.

I just need one devastating counterattack!

He was a prodigy, but he was still human. He could still make mistakes.

That means I just need to focus on enduring his fierce attacks!

My strategy would be to search for an opening amid our intense duel, then attack with all my strength. I might have been incapable of winning, but I could at least try to wound him. That was my thought process.

All right, come at me!

I readied myself and waited for him to charge.

Unexpectedly, however, he did not attack. Actually, he was standing farther away than usual and was making no move to approach me.

…What the heck is he plotting?

This was suspiciously unlike him.

“Allen… What did you do?!”

The sneer he had been wearing was gone, replaced by a rigid glare.

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand the question.”

“How dare you play dumb with me, Reject Swordsman!”

Dodriel gritted his teeth in anger and began sliding his feet to circle around me while maintaining a sizable distance. I held my stance and kept him in the center of my vision.

He’s not normally this patient.

I knew as much about him as he knew about me.

Dodriel had a short temper and tired of things quickly. Despite his being a true prodigy, there was no way he would suffer this boring staring contest for long. I was sure he would rush at me at any moment.

One minute passed, then two, and he suddenly changed his stance.

Here he comes!

“RAAAAAAH!”

Dodriel gave a tremendous yell and ran directly at me.

“…”

While feeling as though I might be overwhelmed by his monstrous intensity at any moment, I braced myself and watched him carefully. However, what unfolded next was quite strange.

…Huh?

I waited for him, but it was taking him quite a long time to reach me. I then realized that he was intentionally moving in slow motion, like a kid in a pretend sword fight.

What is he thinking…?

I quickly reasoned out the answer to that question.

Oh, I see… I’m not even worth taking seriously…

He was making a show of how I wasn’t worth the effort of using his full skill.

This was depressing. I wouldn’t have thought he would take the ridicule this far. I’d hoped that in a duel, at least, he would give me an honest fight.

Dammit…

Clenching my fists tight, I gritted my teeth in an effort to hold my temper. A few seconds later, he finally reached me and attacked.

“Autumn Rain Style—Rainy Season!”

He thrust his sword repeatedly with bland and crude movements that practically invited me to evade them.

I can avoid these effortlessly.

His attacks were so slow, I felt like yawning. I dodged each one with a minimal amount of movement.

“Huh?!”

Dodriel quit thrusting his sword, then jumped back immediately with his face as white as a sheet.

“A-Allen…? How did you dodge all my attacks? Your luck must be running high today…”

“…What?”

“But I’m warmed up now. My next attack will be thrice as fast! Luck won’t save you again!”

“What the heck are you—?”

My question was cut short.

“Autumn Rain Style Secret Technique—Downpour!”

He pointed his sword directly at me and charged again. This time, he came at me with one central thrust instead of a succession of quick ones.

I…guess this maneuver is faster than before? Maybe?

It still felt like a child playing with a toy sword.

What bothered me more than anything was how he was leaving himself completely open to attack as he charged, as though he was provoking me to take a swing at him.

How much more are you going to insult me?

Fed up with his constant provocations, I raised my sword up high.

“Will you take this seriously?!”

I brought my blade down, intending it as a simple threat, but it somehow turned into a seven-part slash attack.

“What the? Huh…?!”

Every one of my attacks connected, knocking the sword from his hand and sending him flying back into the wall of the gymnasium. The place grew so quiet that you could hear someone swallow.

“…What?”

That was all I could manage to say after this unexpected development.

“D-Dodriel Barton has been knocked out! Allen Rodol is the winner!”

The gym remained dead silent even after the male professor serving as the referee declared the result of the match.

That…wasn’t a dream…?!