I, Bellange, am the heir to the Fraser Household. A house of earls of the frontier.
Our family gained prestige since we were a house of viscounts, but one day my grandfather did an incredible feat and we were promoted to earls.
Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away and it was my old man who received that title.
He always made me follow this principle.
"If you are not the strongest, then you are nobody."
With those words I was raised to be very strong.
My skin got tanned and my hair got darker for some reason.
One day, in a nobleman's house, I was studying in something called elementary school.
One of my playmates was none other than Prince Regulux.
I fought him plain and simple since he was a prince.
I thought he was just another weakling until he threw down his weapon and said to me.
"Can you take me seriously? I know you are strong, but this is very disappointing. Don't treat me like a fragile child please."
It was the first time someone asked me to be serious.
I was happy and ended up inadvertently breaking his arm.
In the infirmary, he was laughing.
He would say to me while showing off his cast arm.
"Hahaha, you are very strong, I'm sure you could defeat a monster with your bare hands."
Those words made me realize that, I am really someone strong. And that I should use that strength to show how reliable I am.
For that reason, I accepted the duel, I am not interested in the fourth prince, nor the Rosenberg's daughter, nor the short guy in front of me.
I am only interested in showing His Highness that the words he said to me, motivated me to be stronger.
For that reason, I will win.
I will use the strength I was born with and crush this worm and Prince Regulux's brother.
◇
That idiot of Bellange for some reason was giving me a strange look.
Since I already rested after my fight against Oscar. Now it was my turn to face the brainless gorilla.
His stats in the game were very high.
So much so, that his intelligence and magic power were minimal.
The steed this guy was using was an outdated model of the Gawain type.
It was second hand or used. You could tell at a glance how rusty it was in some parts.
This guy was always like that, sloppy and used weapons that broke after using a lot of force.
But, better this way.
Defeating you in mid-air will be a piece of cake thanks to that.
"Hey."
He suddenly started speaking.
My plan to defeat him in the air was destroyed in seconds by what he said.
"I want to fight over there. It's better for us since it seems like you're also the type to fight on the ground and at close range."
"That's why you were moving away from those two, isn't it?"
It was the smartest thing this muscle brain had ever said in his life.
At the same time, the worst answer for me.
I should say no, but that would just waste my time talking to him about why I don't want to go.
In short, I'm going to get my ass kicked if I don't fight in the air.
"Very well."
I replied the stupidest thing I said.
And so, we hopped on our Pegasus to go straight to the top of the mountain to fight.
"The third match between Razel Bartlet vs Bellange von Fraser, begins!"
◇◇◇
The stands were thrilled.
"I can't believe the duke's son lost."
"I'm more surprised that the grandson of the wizard god lost. Now that was a surprise."
"Looks like that boy's luck ran out. He'll be fighting with a gun against the son of the Frasers."
"The winner is more than obvious."
The girls could hear how people were already giving Bellange the victory over Razel.
Elize was trembling.
Lily said nothing, just put her hands together in prayer.
"Razel-kun..."
While two figures watching the third match with interest.
"Looks like the match this time will be interesting, instructor, who do you think will win?"
"It's hard to say considering what he's done so far. But the Fraser boy is a mass of muscle, he won't have it easy, but I can't say if he'll be a winner either. The duel will tell."
Everyone was looking forward to this match.
Even Cid was looking at the screen with irritation.
"Razel, why did you agree? You know Bellange is strong."
Even if he said that, he was focused on something else.
His eyes were staring at his half-brother and the most dangerous person of all.
"The real danger is Lambert, Razel, don't you dare lose."
◇
We got to the top, got off our steeds and walked to the center.
The wind was blowing hard.
We could hear nothing but the sound of the air hitting our faces.
"Don't think you'll have it easy just because those two were careless."
Bellange was talking to me while ripping off the sleeves of her clothes.
If I remember correctly, in the game he was doing it because he liked her arms getting oxygen.
A lousy excuse to show fanservice.
But it was believable since he was a jerk this guy.
His weapon was a halberd, a cross between a spear and an axe.
The weapon was bigger than him.
He had to use both hands to wield it.
We were both stretching, when I pulled my weapon out of the case I brought, he burst out laughing.
"Hey, are you serious, you're not making fun of me?"
He laughed because I was once again using my bat.
I was already on two winning streaks thanks to this guy.
A third one wouldn't hurt, either. I don't want to show my trump card here.
And even more so if you leave me no choice.
For that reason, I'll be serious with you.
Come, I'm waiting for you.
Bellange finished exercising and with his two hands he waved the spear wildly.
"Ora, ora, ora, ora, ora!"
"We're going to have a good fight!"
The spear generated much more noise than the wind in my face.
When a finished waving it, the tip was pointed at me.
"Give me a good fight!"
Bellange with those words quickly lunged toward me.
I was less than a meter away, he took a big leap.
"Warriors must fight on solid ground!"
I should be scared of this guy.
He was always so strong that he could defeat monsters alone.
Even if they were high level.
But right now I was...
"You're so slow."
Getting bored with how slow he was.
I was dodging his aerial attack.
In fact, that was the weird thing.
Not just because I could see it.
This guy must have used magic reinforcement to make his attack heavier and hard to block.
But I did.
Once the halberd hit the ground. He realized it wasn't there.
He looked at the two of us and then noticed my presence.
I myself did not understand what happened.
I didn't activate my hawk eye.
He gritted his teeth at how annoyed he was.
"You got a little lucky, don't think it'll happen again!"
"That's weird..."
My mouth released unexpected words.
I recoiled as I watched Bellange wave his gun wildly.
He was moving very fast, his feet kicking up dust were proof of that.
But I was confused.
"... It's strange, I should be defending myself from your attacks. You're no faster than Bellange, but you're better than Professor John."
"Still."
"It's weird."
The halberd cut the air up and down.
Left and right.
There was even an unexpected twist where it made a half turn so that the acceleration of the blow was stronger.
Even so.
Even with that movement.
I dodged it.
As if I could see a bullet coming at my chest.
I dodged it.
What's going on?
I don't have my hawk-eye activated, but Bellange's attacks become very visible to me.
Just in case, I decide to repel one.
"Eat thiiiiiiis!"
Bellange was wildly moving like a forward tornado with her weapon.
I only used one hand, the one holding the bat.
I parried her attack with a light blow.
"Oh..."
I was more astonished than Bellange himself.
He was stunned for a few moments.
Then, he came to his senses and bared his teeth at how angry he was.
His halberd was flailing so wildly, it almost slipped from his hands.
"Faaaaaall!"
"Why don't you fall!"
"Why?"
Bellange was beginning to despair.
Sweat was marking her forehead.
I wasn't sweating a drop.
To make it all worse.
We weren't even three minutes into the duel.
I inadvertently muttered something.
"Maybe... I've become much stronger than them."
Since I'm a guardian among the shadows, and I fought against many strong guys.
I have obtained the most cliché power of all. The power of hard effort.
I've trained since I was a child.
Fought monsters for B-rank adventurers.
And, still, I thought I was weak.
But, this guy who I heard was one of the strongest in the academy, is desperately trying to beat me.
Maybe, am I even stronger than Lambert himself?
No, Lambert is a monster.
But what if it's true?
If I'm much stronger than these guys?
Does that mean I can take care of the demon kings on my own?
I would just need Lily to listen to the voice of the goddess Alexia while she's with me.
In that case.
"Let's get this over with."
Using my bat as if it were a whip, I stopped Bellange's attack instantly.
Her weapon was now pointing skyward.
I didn't understand what was going on.
Now I raised my bat and said the same thing to him as I had to those two.
"Your problem in the game was always that you think using your muscles makes you very strong. The strong ones are those who don't brag about it... maybe?"
"It doesn't really matter."
Those were the last words I said to Bellange.
My bat hit her head so hard that I had to jump slightly because of how high it was.
The blow was so hard that his head sank into the ground.
Only there, a small crack was generated.
At the same time, I felt the mountain move.
It must be because of the vibration of the blow.
The healers came to see him, his nose was bleeding badly.
The referee came and after making sure he was still alive. Because he was, his eyes were blank and his nose was bleeding, but he was alive.
"T- The winner is Razel Bartlet! Bellange is out cold!"
I myself couldn't understand what was going on, I was returning on my steed to prepare for the next encounter.
Then, I felt a murderous look.
That look was so strong, that for the first time all day my heart was beating fast.
The murderous look came from Bellange.
He was staring at me meticulously.
"It seems that, indeed, the sword protecting the prince is the most dangerous."
I returned to my place and Cid approached me.
"Good job. I have no idea what happened, but rest up, it's my turn."
"Cid I-"
I was going to tell him I wanted to fight Lambert, but he fell me with his serious look.
"It's my turn."
It seems Cid is more desperate than me to fight this guy, I'll let him be capricious since, if he beats him, only the weakest and most annoying will be left.
I went to sit down to drink water while Cid was getting ready, I could see how he and Lambert were staring at each other.
◇◇◇
In the stands, everyone was stunned, no one could believe what happened.
Even the girls couldn't say a word because of how amazing that was.
The two sword saints were left with their mouths hanging open.
Especially Christina, who unintentionally almost let her eyes open.
"I-Impossible. That kid was moving faster than the Fraser son's attacks. Something like that... Who exactly is that kid?"
"That's true. It was amazing, but the fun and winning streak is over. It's time for the sword that protects the prince to take to the battlefield."
"Lambert von Attley. At a young age knighted and christened the grey knight. No doubt this encounter will be more intriguing than the others."
Lambert's battle, was what the audience was most speechless about. For, the prince's personal ranger will be out to hunt his prey.
Lambert's face, for the first time showed an expression. It was anger and hatred towards his enemies. The magical power around him made the atmosphere become visible.
"Each and every one of them is incompetent. For the sake of Your Highness, I will be the one to finish them both off."