A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

“Although my body and soul now belong only to the Lord.” Shar glanced at the deacon.

"That's good then," the assistant priest said, bowing his head.

"Well, let's go to the academy and see what the students are up to." Shar licked her index finger, her eyelids lowered.

The corners of her mouth curved into a beautiful arc.

---

"Bree, what a beauty!" Naruko was even more excited than Bree.

“Shay has always been beautiful,” Bray said calmly.

After learning that Bray was alright, Levy started wagging her tail happily, but she didn't participate in the conversation.

"Who is that person?!"

“My ex-girlfriend,” Bray said.

"What?!?!" Naruko exclaimed in shock, jumping up and down in surprise.

"How is this possible? Don't joke around. A man as listless as you, who makes people lose their appetite, actually has a girlfriend!?" Naruko's face was full of horror.

“That’s a beautiful girl just like me!” Naruko said shamelessly.

“Correction: you’re not a pretty girl.” Bray looked at Naruko with disdain.

"Hey, tell me more! Here, take the pen! Write down your story!" Naruko's gossip spirit was ignited.

"Thump!" Bray slammed his fist into Naruko's head.

Bray's smash made Naruko wonder if she would faint at any moment.

"What are you doing?" Naruko said angrily, rubbing her dizzy head.

“There’s nothing to say, it’s all in the past.” Bray closed his right eye slightly.

What bothered Bray was the sharp pain that had just come from his left eye socket.

The left eye was taken by a demonic curse and sacrifice, and there is no ordinary way to restore it.

But it shouldn't be this late in causing Bray to feel such intense pain.

In that instant, it was clear that his left eye resonated with something, causing the aftereffects of the curse to take effect.

“Was it the moment Shar touched my eyes…” Bray murmured.

"Hey, Bray, what are you talking to yourself about?" Naruko shook her head, and her ponytail swayed along with it.

"Hey, wake up! Don't hit so hard next time, okay?" Naruko complained.

“Sorry, I don’t know how to control my strength,” Bray said.

"Bray, the game," Levy reminded Bray of something important.

Yes, Bray is also going to the Imperial Academy to watch his sister's match, and of course, the princess's as well.

“Okay, let’s go.” Bray shrugged.

If Levy hadn't reminded him, Bray might have continued arguing with Naruko until dawn.

What a terrifying woman.

"Yeah, yeah, I want to see the level of the campus competition here." Naruko swung her arm, full of enthusiasm.

“It’s not you who’s going to take the stage,” Bray retorted.

During their conversation, Bray and his two companions entered the Imperial Academy.

Today is the opening day of the competition, and the number of people in the entire college is several times greater than the last time.

That's understandable, since it's a once-a-year occasion.

Many outsiders come to see just how good the students at Imperial Academy are.

The final battle is a random match between students from different combat-related departments.

As for the humanities students, it's a different form of final exam.

The assessment for literature majors is definitely not as exciting as that for combat majors. After all, how exciting can written tests and speeches be?

"Bro! Over here!" Lux jumped around in the crowd, catching Bray's attention.

"Hasn't it started yet?" Bray asked as he walked up to Lux.

"Of course not, I'm taking you to see Virginia's match now."

"From Virginia?"

"Come with me! It should be soon!" Lux pulled Bray along, and they walked quickly.

"Wow! Me too! Levy, hurry up and catch up!" Naruko shouted.

“Hmm…” Levy followed Naruko with a blank expression.

To be honest, Levy had absolutely no interest in this kind of competition; she'd rather eat.

---

"Next up is the fifth match in District 13," a female host announced on stage.

It was supposed to be a final exam, but it was being conducted like a formal combat competition.

Of course, winning or losing isn't the most important thing; what matters in a battle is demonstrating your skill level.

Teachers' evaluations of students ultimately determine their final grades.

"Virginia Will, against Slovakia!"

Virginia stepped onto the stage in her boots and bowed to the students opposite her.

She was wearing combat mage attire, not her usual mage robes.

The mage's combat robes have a shorter hem for easier running, and there's no extra cloak.

Even without the elaborate decorations, Virginia's mage robes were still pleasing to the eye.

Combined with Virginia's already exquisite face, it was simply a picture-perfect scene.

Jack on the other side was also stunned for a moment.

Virginia is so beautiful.

"Battle begins!" the host announced.

Virginia then stomped her foot on the ground.

The heels made a crisp sound as they struck the marble arena.

"It's time for a fight, are you ready?" Virginia smiled, bringing the other person back to their senses.

"!!" Only then did Jack come to his senses; it was time for battle.

Visage yawned from below the stage and unceremoniously marked several crosses on Jack's score sheet. Having already given the necessary greetings, Virginia didn't linger any longer.

If she's slow, Virginia will definitely lose points too.

Virginia glanced at the stands and spotted Bray's voice.

"Mr. Bray, are you looking at me properly now?"

"You absolutely can't embarrass yourself, Virginia!"

“Water Mist.” Virginia cast a spell in a short time, coordinating her gestures and chanting.

He opened his eyes, and his gaze was filled with unwavering determination.

Thick water mist enveloped the surroundings, making it impossible for Jack, who was on the other side, to see his surroundings.

Against melee enemies, disrupting their vision first is a good strategy.

Visage, sitting in the audience, frowned slightly.

“Very strong practical experience; this is not something you can come up with on the spot.” Visage tapped his pen.

Even as Visage was murmuring, Virginia had already made her next move.

Spells can be cast using hand gestures or words, although some spells only require one of these.

Virginia's hand gestures are constantly changing as she murmurs spells.

The sound wasn't loud, but it could still be heard on the competition stage.

Jack, of course, heard it too.

Jack, still enveloped in the mist, finally realized what was happening and decided to break free of the fog.

If Virginia were to complete the spell, it would be terrible.

He's a melee fighter; if he can't find the opponent's exact location, what's the point of fighting?

A close-quarters attack could turn the tide of battle!

Unfortunately, when Jack burst out of the mist, he found no one in front of him.

At some point, the instant Jack burst out of the mist, Virginia rushed into the mist as well.

“Clear Vision!” Virginia exclaimed softly.

Even through the mist, Virginia can now see clearly what's happening outside.

Although it only lasts for one minute, it's more than enough!

"Flood Cannon!"

A jet of water shot out from the mist, and Jack burst off the arena.

Virginia breathed a sigh of relief, ending the fight.

"The winner is Virginia Will!" the host announced crisply.

Battles between mages and warriors usually end relatively quickly.

If either side is too weak, they can easily be instantly killed by the other.

However, when the difference in strength is not significant, it often turns into a long battle.

Judging from the battle, Virginia and Jack were quite different in strength.

"His strength is in the B-rank adventurer category, which is relatively low, but he's still a formidable young man," Visage said.

There is a huge gap in strength among adventurers of the same level, and even in battles between people of the same level, it is common for one to be completely crushed.

Just because Lux easily defeated that C-rank adventurer doesn't mean she's qualified to be ranked B-rank.

To advance to the next level of adventurer, one's strength must undergo a qualitative leap.

Virginia bowed to the teachers below the stage, then gracefully walked down from the arena.

She had just caught a glimpse of Bray watching from below the stage, and she was undeniably excited.

He was preoccupied with whether Bray had seen her fighting stance.

It shouldn't be as embarrassing as it was back then, right?

To overcome her fear of the ruins, Virginia worked exceptionally hard to improve herself.

---

"I've gotten stronger," Bray muttered to himself, his eyes lowered.

"What did you say, bro?" Lux looked at Bray.

“It’s nothing, Virginia is really amazing,” Bray said.

“Of course, Virginia is one of the strongest in the academy, and she has a good chance of breaking into the A-rank,” Lux said proudly.

“It’s not you,” Bray said, pinching Lux’s little nose.

"Don't pinch my nose!" Lux slapped Bray's hand away.

"Go find Virginia, come quick!" Lux grabbed Bray and started running again.

Naruko and Rei exchanged a glance, and then Naruko, in a high-pitched voice, spoke in a mature tone.

“Levy, look, that guy Bray only sees his sister.”

“Mm.” Levy agreed wholeheartedly and, unusually, responded to Naruko.