Volume 5 Chapter 44, Part 2 The Frog Struggling Towards the Bottom of the Well
"...Magic, huh?"
Just as Luke muttered, there were already several shadows of Livia in the mist.
If it were just a simple illusion, it wouldn't be a threat to Luke.
But it seemed to be that kind of magic, as he could sense multiple presences in the fog.
The shadows in the mist all turned their swords toward Luke and lunged at him at once.
A sharp metallic clang echoed through the area.
As the mist cleared, there stood Luke, blocking Livia's strike with his sword.
"No way. You stopped that too?"
Livia, who had taken a big step back, was sparkling with excitement, saying, "Amazing! Amazing!" But Luke wore a bitter expression.
"I never thought I'd have to draw my sword against a lady."
"That just means Livia's strong, right?"
With a smile, Livia's eyes sparkled even brighter as she said, "Lucas is strong too."
"After all, you're the first person besides Julius to stop Livia's attack."
Luke let out a deep sigh in response to Livia's joy. "Well, thanks for that."
"Though I'm sure there are plenty of people in some countryside who could stop your attacks."
Livia narrowed her eyes at Luke, who snorted. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Are you still going on with that joke?"
"It's the truth. Guess I'll have to teach you. The 'depth of the well you're in is deeper' than you think."
The two crouched down, each enveloped in their fighting spirit...
"Both of you, sheathe your swords──"
Principal Lucius appeared, accompanied by the Dark Side and the Knights.
Completely interrupted, Livia's killing intent flared, but this time, a shadow appeared behind her.
"L-Lady Livia... You'll be tarnishing Sir Julius's reputation."
At the timid voice of the shadow, Livia let out a big sigh, sheathed her sword, and raised both hands in surrender.
Lucius slowly approached Livia, who was in full surrender mode, and spoke.
"First, may I have your name?"
"I'm Livia. Livia Forsteria."
At Livia's introduction, everyone except Luke stirred.
"...So you're the famous second-generation [Sword Saint] who's been making waves in the empire lately?"
Lucius held his head in his hands, while Livia, completely indifferent, remarked, "Looks like it," as if her own title were someone else's problem.
On the other hand, it was Luke who seemed intrigued by Livia.
"Huh. [Sword Saint], huh..."
Under Luke's probing gaze, Livia pouted and said, "People just started calling me that."
"Let's get back on track. What brings you to the academy this time?"
"Brings me? Oh, right, I came to see the [Red Battle Demon]."
Livia clapped her hands as if she'd just remembered, then shifted her gaze to Luke, "Well, right now, I'm more interested in Lucas."
"──You're Miss Hartfield's attendant, aren't you? Thanks for keeping the intruders out."
Lucius bowed his head, but Luke shook his, knowing he was partly to blame for letting them in.
If Luke hadn't taken the bait, Livia might not have forced her way in.
It was all hindsight now, but the fact remained that he'd fallen for the provocation.
"No one's hurt, and... you said Julius, right?"
Lucius turned his gaze to the shadow lurking behind Livia and let out a loud, obvious sigh.
"This time, I'll settle it with a stern warning to the other party."
At Lucius's decision, the surroundings buzzed with murmurs, but Luke found it reasonable.
The person in question had the [Sword Saint] as their guard, after all.
With no harm done, it was undoubtedly better for the academy to handle it quietly.
Luke himself had no interest in the other party's background or the negotiations, but he trusted that Lucius wouldn't involve students like Cecilia in any future disputes.
(Guess my job's done here...)
As Luke thought, Lucius bowed to him once more, then began walking toward the main gate with Livia, the dark side, and the knights in tow.
On the way, Livia glanced back at Luke and waved, saying, "See you later!"
Watching her retreating figure, Luke sighed and called out, "Hey."
Livia stopped and turned around, causing the whole group to halt.
Luke felt a little guilty for causing a delay, but he'd covered for the academy's security, after all.
He hoped they'd let him have this small bit of selfishness as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Livia, huh? You're lucky the [Red Battle Demon] isn't here."
Luke scratched his head, and Livia frowned, asking, "What do you mean...?"
"If that guy was here, you'd be gone without a trace by now."
Luke laughed through his nose, and Livia grimaced, saying, "That's a lie!"
"It's not a lie... and here's the proof──"
Luke wrapped himself in a serious fighting spirit.
The air crackled with tension, making a few Knights tremble, and Livia, facing it head-on, widened her eyes in shock.
"By the way, that guy's pressure is nothing like this. If I really went all out... against him, I can't see any way to win."
Those weren't words from someone radiating such terrifying fighting spirit.
But Livia instinctively knew it wasn't a lie.
"Neither of us. We're still far from surpassing him."
Luke let out a deep sigh, dispersing his fighting spirit, but there was no hint of resignation in his eyes.
Luke chased after Randy, but his true target wasn't just his back.
Luke's real goal was to surpass the man who lived at the bottom of that deep, dark well.
The man sitting in the depths of the abyss was someone Luke couldn't possibly reach at his current level.
Randy and Harrison were in the same boat.
Both of them, along with Victor's Knights, had been chasing that figure for a long time.
Until now, Luke had been following Randy's running style.
But with that method, Luke couldn't keep up with his stride.
In fact, the gap between him and Randy was only getting wider.
But now, a glimmer of hope appeared for Luke.
It was the woman who bore the name of the [Sword Saint].
She drew her sword, showing a level of skill that was still beyond his reach.
"So, if you're up for it──"
He saw a path through the name of the [Sword Saint] and her swordsmanship. He would change his stride, align with Randy, and surpass him to reach that abyss.
"──Come at me *again*," Luke snorted.
Livia's eyes sparkled as she asked, "Is that okay?"
"There's nothing good about it. You're not serious yet, and we're both still in the middle of the night."
"Eh. I was pretty serious about that"
Livia is sulking, but Luke shakes his head and is convinced that Livia still has some strength in reserve.
It's Luke's intuition, knowing that he has crossed swords with him.
There's still something hidden.
If he can pull it out, Luke might be able to see the next stage.
A new sword technique and an opponent against whom you can seriously challenge it.
It's definitely a good stimulus for both of them.
As if sensing Luke's determination, Livia nodded and smiled, saying, "I understand."
"Well, I'll come and play again."
"Yeah. Then, come at me with all your might"
Livia waved back at Luke, and then she was taken by Lucius and the others and disappeared across the schoolyard.
"...But anyway, [Sword Saint]. That's cool..."
The sky Luke looked up at was a vibrant crimson color, cloudless.
* * *
Meanwhile, Randy...
"Archbishop Ridley. This guy tells some really funny jokes. Yeah, you're amazing. I think you'll be a great comedian. I guarantee it. Yeah, yeah, do your best. See you later──"
"He's a really interesting guy."
"No no. You're more interesting than me, so please overlook it!"
...He was desperately trying to escape somehow, and resisting with all his might.
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