CH.62 17-4. Rivals Resemble Each Other Because They Are Rivals
***
[The final day of the preliminary round of the Academic Year Exam has arrived!]
The shouts of the crowd echoed throughout Grand Hearts Academia.
As expected, Kainel and Ariel had both secured their spots in the main round without issue.
Now, it was my turn.
I glanced up at the bracket and saw my name clearly written.
“Licht vs. Leon.”
I was ready.
“Hey, underclassmen!”
“Nex?”
“Nex Senior! Hello!”
With his purple hair glistening, Nex Aureus approached us, waving like he was the star of the show.
“Why are you here?”
“Heh, I came to see Licht’s match, of course. I won my own match already, so I had time.”
“Where’s everyone else?”
With a sly grin, Nex glanced at Mardol and smirked knowingly.
“Shar’s still in her match, but she told me not to watch. Said she didn’t want me seeing her in a ‘rough state.’ Hehe, like she’s ever not cute.”
“Oh? You know Mardol too, Nex oppa?”
“Yep, we’ve been close since childhood.”
Hearing this, Ariel’s eyes flickered with suspicion, glancing at Mardol as if searching for something.
“Oh, it’s starting!”
But her doubt didn’t last long.
The arena’s tension spiked as the announcement echoed.
[Up next, we have first-year student Licht, the top performer in the practical test!]
[And facing him… the son of the Commander of the Imperial Knights, the Holy Knight himself… Leon!]
***
I made my way into the arena.
Standing opposite me was Leon, a man with blond hair and golden eyes, just like his father, the “Lionheart” Reinhardt.
His armor bore the emblem of a lion on his chest, unlike Mardol’s glass armor. His equipment looked lighter but more specialized.
“So, you’re Licht, huh? The guy who topped the practical exam?”
“Nice to meet you, Leon.”
I stepped forward and offered my hand for a handshake.
But Leon?
He just stared at my hand like it was something dirty.
“Yeah, no thanks. I’ve got places to be, so let’s make this quick.”
“…What?”
As if my confusion didn’t matter, Leon turned away and waved to the crowd.
“Ladies! Your knight is here!”
“Sir Reinhardt!”
The crowd erupted.
Among them, a small section of women with different-colored hair were waving enthusiastically.
“Kyah! So cool!!”
A woman in a light-blue cloak, a girl dressed like a rogue, and a noblewoman with a drill-like hairstyle were all cheering as if they’d been waiting their whole lives for this.
‘Don’t tell me…’
I suddenly had a bad feeling.
“Wait. Are you… dating all of them?”
“Of course I am. They’re all mine.”
“…”
“You see, all my sweet Madonnas hate it when I spend time with other guys, so I have to end this match quickly.”
“…No way.”
I had tried.
I really did.
I even gave him a chance to clarify.
But there it was.
A walking harem protagonist cliché.
“Anyway, don’t hate me when I crush you, alright?”
“…Hahahaha.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Slowly, I reached for my sword.
Sreeeeng.
The “Pure Love Imbuer, Model 2” was drawn from my waist, glinting with a cold, metallic sheen.
Leon’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the blade but quickly shrugged it off.
“Jealous, huh?”
“…Jealous?”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
Was this guy for real?
“Love sure is light and cheap for you, huh?”
My gaze sharpened as I pointed the tip of my sword at him.
“…What did you just say?”
[Let the match begin!]
The sound of the starting horn echoed through the arena.
I immediately positioned myself.
“Drake-Style, Form 4 — Vacuum Slash.”
My body tensed as I gathered wind pressure into my sword.
A violent torrent of air condensed at the blade’s edge, the raw force of it distorting the air around me.
[It’s the legendary “Vacuum Slash” of the Dragon Slayer, Drake! The technique is said to have been inspired by the Emperor himself!]
The air burst apart as the pressure released, ripping through the ground like a tidal wave of force.
The arena was filled with explosions of dirt and debris as the attack surged straight for Leon.
“Whoa, you’re being pretty rough, huh?”
“Talk less. Fight more.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The shockwave sent clouds of dust billowing everywhere, obscuring Leon’s form.
“…That should’ve done it.”
Or so I thought.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A familiar sound echoed from within the dust cloud.
“That’s it?”
Emerging from the smoke, completely unharmed, was Leon.
He twirled his blonde hair, an unimpressed look on his face.
“You’re good, but you didn’t think it’d be that easy, did you?”
In his hand was a massive cross-shaped shield, large enough to cover most of his body.
“That shield… it’s the Lionheart’s shield, isn’t it?”
[It’s the Lionheart’s famous shield! Passed down from generation to generation of the Imperial Knights, its legacy is still alive today!]
His posture shifted.
Gone was the lazy playboy smile.
His eyes, like those of a wild beast, locked onto me with renewed focus.
The atmosphere grew tense.
This was the “Lion’s Heart” I had heard so much about.
“Tch. My hair’s all messed up now. This is why I hate fighting guys.”
As he adjusted his hair, he shifted into a combat stance, the light of divine energy gathering around him.
“Sacred Lion.”
With a roar, the energy condensed into a white lion-shaped construct that materialized in front of him.
It let out a ferocious roar and charged straight at me.
The ethereal lion’s fangs glowed as it aimed to devour me whole.
“I told you, Leon.”
I moved calmly, waiting for the right moment.
“Love isn’t something you take lightly.”
I shifted into Drake-Style, Form 3 — Wing Parry.
This form specializes in redirecting an opponent’s momentum using their own power.
As the lion lunged at me, I shifted my stance, letting its weight and force flow through me.
Then, with one smooth motion, I threw its power back at Leon.
“What the—?!”
His eyes widened as the spiritual lion turned around, charging straight toward its master.
“Checkmate, lover boy.”
Boom!
A loud explosion shook the arena as Leon was thrown backward.
Dust and debris scattered everywhere.
As the smoke cleared, I saw him sprawled out on the ground, coughing.
His golden hair was ruffled beyond repair.
“This is why I told you, Leon.”
I sheathed my sword, dusting off my shoulders.
“If you treat love like it’s a cheap toy, it’ll come back to bite you.”
The crowd erupted.
“Licht!!”
“Take him down!!”
“Show that playboy some real love!!”
Even his “Madonnas” were booing him.
Serves him right.
“…So embarrassing.”
Leon, still flat on his back, muttered to himself.
“That was amazing, Licht!!”
Ariel clapped, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
“You’re incredible!”
“…You’re like a mini-Drake.” Mardol chuckled softly.
But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nex covering his mouth.
He was holding back a laugh.
‘That punk saw everything, didn’t he?’