"Correct, to be exact, he's an half-elf."
The princess cleared my suspicion.
"Half-elf huh..."
"Why, first time seeing one?"
"Yes, it is."
Another thing that catches my attention is that there's more than one sword hanging on his belt.
There are two swords there.
"Whoa, that's the Twin Sword- Vermillion Leo... that first year is so unlucky to have met him on his first match..."
"Don't say that yet, that first year is a special case you know?"
Hearing the talk around us, I asked yet again:
"Twin Sword? Is that a title?"
"Yes, it's a title."
Instead of the princess, Cecilia answered me this time.
"Have you heard of an adventurer?"
"Yes? Of course..."
I said that, but I only know it from the Isekai novel I read back in earth, although I'm not sure if it's the same or not.
"For adventurer, titles are given officially by the merchant association's headquarter for S-rank adventurer and higher, and it will be written on their adventurer card.
But, there are some cases where there are adventurer with unique disposition out there who have quite an achievement despite not being an S-rank, hence people will start giving them an unofficial title such as the Twin Blade, since he's using two blade."
"I see... then, I guess Jaesuk's opponent is quite a strong one?"
"Vermillion Leo is a B-ranked adventurer."
"What's the standard compared with the academy student?"
Cecilia took a long look at me before answering,
"After graduating the three years period of the academy, average people will usually be among C-ranked adventurer."
"Which means that Vermillion guy is stronger than an academy graduate?"
"Yes."
"That sounds bad ay..."
We then turned our attention to the arena, where they're getting ready to fight.
---
I stood in the arena waiting for my opponent to arrive.
But when he did, I was surprised.
Half pointy ear and two sword on his belt.
'Is he an elf?'
I thought to myself.
I quickly got rid of unnecessary thought and focused myself once again while holding my sword.
"Is that not your own sword?"
He suddenly asked me, then I answered:
"The academy gave it to me, so I guess it's kind of like my own?"
"..."
After being quiet for a while, he took of his belt which has his sword hanging and put it aside.
Then he asked for a couple of sword from the referee to which is the same sword as the one I'm using.
"What is the meaning of this?"
I asked.
"It's not fair if I fight against you with my sword. That one is a bit special after all..."
After saying that, he started to get into stance.
Thinking that it makes sense, I got into position as well.
After we both got into position, he suddenly showed a totally different expression on his face.
Before, it looks like he was an aloof person, but now it's like a tiger staring at it's prey.
'He's strong...'
Right after that thought cross my mind, the match started.
I uses body strengthening straight away, and he also did the same.
I dashed toward him first to take the lead, but that was a mistake on my part.
He simply parried away my swung with one of his sword, and smoothly slashed his other sword towards my abdomen which cut my clothes and make me bleed a little.
'He slashed through my body strengthening!'
I got surprised at the fact that my body strengthening is easily broken like that.
Looking at him still in his stance, he seems relaxed but I can tell that he has no opening at all.
I looked towards where my friends are sitting, and Alex noticed it.
He said something and even though I can't hear it, his mouth movements seems to be saying:
'Beat him up.'
I then smiled at that, thinking that it's classic line coming from Alex.
Since it seems to be I can't lose this one, I decided to do this seriously.
Realising that something about me changed, my opponent then seems to be strengthening his stance as well.
He then decided to make the first move.
He spun while holding both his sword on each hand which create a tornado like movement towards me.
I then crouched my body and kicked his legs which broke his balance, and using that opening, I swung my sword with the intention of slashing one of his arm.
He quickly regained his balance and evaded my swing, and counter attacked me again using that two sword of his.
Now we're just literally clashing sword towards each other.
I can't seem to create an opening, and my opponent is pushing me back.
Having no other choice again, I decided to use my magic that I've been practicing secretly.
I stepped back and not going to lose that chance, my opponent did the same but towards me trying to end the match there.
But he didn't expect me to show up my left hand with a ball of fire which explodes towards him.
(Boom!)
The explosion causes a smoke which I can use to block his view, or so I thought.
He came out of the smoke quickly while blocking covering his lower face with one of his hand, then I jumped from inside the smoke to behind him thinking that he must be panicking.
Contrary to my expectations, it's like he expected me to do that and turned around while slashing his sword straight away.
The result of that is both our sword collide into each other, but because I'm attacking from top, he got thrown back and fall to the ground.
Not letting go of this chance, I created a fire ball again and throw it towards him a couple of times.
(Boom!)
(Boom!)
"Huff... Huff..."
I catches my breath while waiting for the smoke to disappear.
When I finally saw him, he now looks haggard with the mana that formed his body strengthening has cracked in some area.
"You... you can use magic as well? Are you really a first year?"
"Yes, I am a first year indeed."
"What a monster..."
He smirked after saying that and got into stance once again.
"Let's finish this..."
I nodded my head and poured my remaining mana onto this final attack.
Mana then started to cover my sword, but then it turned into fire form that covered my sword which surprises me.
My opponent seems surprised as well, but his two swords also starts to glow with mana and we dashed towards each other.
And then, our sword collide.
---
(Boom!)
"JAESUK!!"
Looking at the explosion caused by their sword colliding, I can't help but shouted Kim Jaesuk's name.
"Oh shit, that's a big explosion!"
I then tried to jump towards the arena, but Cecilia held me back.
"Alex, Relax! Do you think the guards there are just for show?"
After saying that, I realised there are multiple guard around the arena paying attention to the match.
"If they're not taking action, it means that the power they're displaying is not enough to danger each other's lives."
"I see.. my bad..."
After saying that, I got back to my seat and the smoke finally disappeared.
It then revealed two figures, one standing and the other one is using both of his swords as a centre to stand his ground.
Kim Jaesuk is the one standing while still maintaining his body strengthening.
Vermillion Leo is currently in haggard state while catching his breath.
"WHOAAAA!"
Cheers then erupted from our surrounding.
It seems like everyone is surprised that Kim Jaesuk is the one that's standing.
"Whoa, I can't believe he won that one..."
I also exclaimed in surprise.
"Yeah, it's surprising. He has good swordsmanship, quick thinking, good reflexes, and the ability to wield both sword and magic... seems like he's gonna get famous even outside the academy after this..."
Cecilia also stated her opinion.
I turned around to look at Adrian and the princess' reaction to find that they have the opposite reaction of each other.
Adrian's eyes is sparkling while looking amazed at Kim Jaesuk's performance, while the princess is currently looking at Kim Jaesuk seriously while probably thinking about something.
'Seems like she's gonna do whatever it takes to get Jaesuk to join her faction...'
After turning my attention toward the arena again, Vermillion has already decided to give up the match, therefore announcing Kim Jaesuk as the winner.
They then walked towards each other and shook hands while saying something that can't be heard.
The cheers erupted once again, and I stood up from my seat.
"Where are you going?"
Cecilia asked me, then I answered.
"I'm gonna get ready. It's my turn to impress people next."
After saying that, I walked towards the preparation room.