"The match is over!"
Ciel's attack suddenly stopped and jumped back to widen the distance. Eron did the same as soon as Sword Master Ent raised her hand. Why was this match suddenly stopped? Was it perhaps because one of their Health Points had reached the minimum allowed in the duel?
However, when Ciel looked at the Health Point status bar, both of them were still far from the minimum limit. At this moment Ciel preferred to lower the sword, then stood facing Sword Master Ent.
"The result of this match has been determined. I hereby declare the First Year Student, Ciel as the winner."
Eron stared at Ciel with eyes that almost popped out. Not only was Eron surprised, but Ciel and the other participants were shocked as well. Suddenly a huge round of applause rained down on the entire dueling arena. Ciel looked around, witnessing hundreds of students and several high-ranking nobles applauding. However, what caught his attention the most was Ash's figure that was on the verge of tears. Next to Ash, there was the figure of a white-haired girl who was smiling broadly at him.
What... just happened?
Ciel did not understand at all. He turned back to the Sword Master with a confused face.
"But, didn't I-"
"If your attack succeeds, you will definitely be considered to have violated the Canon." As if she had already guessed what Ciel was thinking, Sword Master Ent answered quickly.
"Your last attack power was huge and would have probably decreased almost twenty percent of your opponent's Health Points. You know what I mean, right?"
Although still surprised, Ciel nodded. He finally faced Eron, then gave a respectful greeting as a knight despite knowing the man would not return it. Who would a noble return a salute of honor to a commoner who defeated him?
This was definitely big news that would spread throughout the city within a day. Moreover, these people also knew that Ciel did not receive the Holy Task as a knight or swordsman. They would wonder how Ciel did it and why Ciel could complete his Holy Task.
While Ciel was thinking about all that, Sword Master Ent's voice came back. " First Year Student, Eron. I hope you keep your dueling oath to give them a letter of recommendation."
"Ah, that's-" Eron turned his gaze towards his friends who looked pissed off. "Can't this fight still continue? See? Our Health Points-"
"Eron Sczhunter." Sword Master Ent only called Eron's name calmly, but the man immediately lowered his gaze. "If this duel continues and your Health Points are drastically reduced by sixty percent, the Canon will immediately consider Ciel an offense. Do you think you can take responsibility for this duel?"
"But-"
"There is no exception. You should be able to accept that your opponent's attack power is much stronger than you. Accepting and respecting the abilities of other knights is a basic ethic established by the Canon. Do you realize that?" Sword Master Ent cut in sharply. "If you do not keep your promise, you will be expelled from the academy and deemed to have failed the Holy Task."
After Sword Master Ent said that, Eron's face was really interesting to look at. The man gritted his teeth to endure the embarrassment. Ciel was sure that if there was no Sword Master Ent here, Eron would have already grabbed the lapel of Ciel's uniform and beat him up like what happened yesterday.
In the end, Eron chose to quickly sheathed his sword and turned his body away from Ciel's presence without saying anything. Eron's friends immediately got down from the audience seats and followed Eron. Ciel could see Balt's glare at a glance, but Ciel didn't care. However, before completely leaving the arena, Eron turned back to face Ciel.
"In the next match, I'll make sure you're the one who gets the humiliation."
Ciel smiled a bit, then bowed slightly. "I'll look forward to it."
Eron only made a glum face before walking off again, then completely disappearing down the hallway. Ciel knew Eron was just bluffing and trying to get rid of the embarrassment he had endured today. However, Ciel didn't care about noble pride trampling on the honor of others. In the past, Ciel didn't think about that kind of thing at all. For him the discussion of honor and status was something out of his reach. However, that girl was different.
"Why, humans are both created by God and have their own duties. If there's a group of people who think they're superior, then they're cowards who keep hiding behind the status they were born with, right?"
Ever since hearing those words, Ciel began to believe that the laws and order in this world were not always right. Why would the Absolute allow a noble to step on a person of lower status than him and consider the act to be something minor? Ciel also wondered, what exactly was the benchmark for a 'small' or 'big' wrong according to the Absolute and Canon?
While he was lost in his thoughts, Sword Master Ent's voice came back to his ears. Ciel stood back up to face the Sword Master who wore a thin smile.
"Once again, congratulations to you, First Year Student, Ciel. I didn't expect that someone with no weapons and no inherited skills could do such a great thing."
Ciel bowed slightly, then smiled. "Thank you. It is an honor for me."
"Oh, there's no need to be so over formal with me." Sword Master Ent immediately patted Ciel's shoulder and asked the boy to stand up. "There's actually a lot I want to talk to you about, but it seems like it will be difficult when the place is still this crowded."
Sword Master Ent was right. Even though one of the duel participants had left the arena, the place was still crowded because of the victory of someone unexpected. The people who had doubted and underestimated Ciel's abilities were now looking at him with admiration, calling out his name. And even the students from among the commoners looked so happy with the result of the match.
"Come to my room tomorrow in the morning. I doubt that Eron will give you the letter of recommendation he promised, but don't worry. Since you've amazed me with your ability and determination, I'll be the one to officially give you the letter."
When he heard those unexpected words, Ciel's eyes rounded perfectly. Didn't he hear it wrong? A letter of recommendation directly from the youngest Sword Master that all knights admired so much? Moreover, Ciel had heard from Rune that so far, there was only one student who had received a letter of recommendation directly from Ent. If that was the case, Eron's letter of recommendation would be worthless!
Ciel immediately bowed his body ninety degrees. "Thank you, Sword Master!"
The woman laughed at Ciel's surprising response. Without any further reply, she quickly turned around and walked away from the arena and Ciel. To her, the letter of recommendation was the most suitable gift to give to a great knight like Ciel. Because she also believed that Ciel could become a knight free from the orders of the Canon and Absolute that Ent had considered to be her shackles.
"Yes, it's possible that you can be just like her."