In a hallway from the waiting room to the battlefield, slightly away from the people’s clamor.
While waiting for my turn, I sat cross-legged in the middle of the hallway.
I slowly inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my mouth.
Imagining myself merging with the vitality overflowing from the earth, I circulated my fighting spirit throughout my body.
My thoughts were on the battle with the genius noble girl.
I considered and discarded various strategies countless times.
Even if I fought normally, I would likely put up a good fight… but ultimately, I would lose.
The opponent has a vast array of magical cards, while I have only a single sword and my fighting spirit.
The fact that I can’t use magic puts me at a disadvantage, and on top of that, my only weapon is a sword.
Winning is not just difficult; it’s practically impossible by common standards.
Impossible, unachievable… that’s precisely why it’s interesting.
Throughout history, there have always been people who shattered the shackles of common sense and transcended the limits of impossibility to shine.
It may sound cliché, but there’s no such thing as impossibility for humans.
What’s needed is immense confidence and a touch of madness.
If you have that, everything might not go exactly as you wish… but you can lead a brilliant life.
…In my past life, I was filled with dissatisfaction.
I was not blessed with a good environment or talent, and I lived a life filled with lies.
The result was dying, pierced through the heart by a monster.
It’s not that I was afraid of death.
I didn’t have such an attachment to life.
It was just that… the path I had walked was marred by lies and regrets.
That’s why… that’s why I cherish desires like wishes, aspirations, jealousy, and obsession.
Long ago, someone said.
Desire is a tainted thing.
Long ago, someone said.
To eliminate desire and accumulate virtue is the true essence of humanity.
…That’s wrong; it’s completely wrong.
The essence of humanity is light and desire.
Wanting to achieve something, wanting to become someone… whether it’s mundane or noble, desire is desire.
Everyone struggles, writhes, suffers, yet continues to move forward.
Of course, some achieve their goals, while others tire out along the way.
However, those who expend their utmost effort shine brightly.
From kings, knights, scholars, and adventurers who left their names in history to nameless children.
Regardless of gender, age, or status, the essence of humanity remains the same.
That is my belief.
It’s merely a subjective opinion.
But it’s a fact that forms my foundation.
A distant commotion reaches my ears.
It’s not complete silence.
But that’s fine.
“Hah…”
I open my eyelids.
I feel my mind and body being pulled back to reality.
I face my palms upward and tightly clench them.
My grip, forged by daily training.
I grasp firmly, as if to seize my desires.
“Now, after a brief rest, it’s time for the finals! The final battle to determine the pinnacle of the noble sons and daughters, held once every five years, is about to begin!”
I stand up in that moment.
My stamina, fighting spirit, and motivation are all ample.
Now, I just need to unleash my chaos.
“—Contestants, enter!”
With the host’s words, I step into the battlefield.
From the opposite side, the genius noble girl approaches.
“As you know, the ones competing for victory are these two! The genius noble girl Arcelia Oriondor and the battle maniac Kraze Raynostia!”
Just like in the first round and the semifinals, we stop at a certain distance.
“Preliminary, main match, semifinals… these two have overwhelmed all! On one side, the young lady beloved by magic! On the other, the young lord shunned by magic! Although they seem to be opposites, their strength is real! However… this tournament is an unprecedented exception! And that’s due to the weapon strapped to Kraze Raynostia’s waist!”
All the spectators focus their attention on me.
“In this age of advanced magic, the weapon deemed a relic of the past is— a sword! Everyone scoffed at it; everyone laughed! Yet, we have been shown overwhelming strength!”
In the first-floor audience, I spot familiar faces.
Their appearances are far from clean.
Adventurers.
They look at me with faces full of expectation.
They want to see it.
They want to see a swordsman triumph over an overwhelmingly strong magician.
They want to see the potential that a swordsman holds.
“However… on the other side stands a noble girl rumored throughout the kingdom! Arrogant, self-reliant, a living embodiment of genius! No one has been able to stop her in the three matches so far!”
I lock eyes with the genius noble girl.
Within her emptiness… there’s a glimmer of hope.
“The genius noble girl Arcelia Oriondor! The battle maniac Kraze Raynostia!”
Finally, we’ve made it this far.
Captivated by the sword, obsessed with it, devoted to it.
I wield only a single sword.
“Final match of the magic martial arts—begin!”
Let’s begin.
Let’s fight.
Let’s challenge this monster known as the genius noble girl with nothing but my sword.
