Chapter 409
Vwoong! Boom!
The moment Hector’s barrier gauge was shattered, the duel should have ended.
But Hector didn’t stop. He was unleashing a merciless onslaught at Simon.
“What the hell?”
Dick, the referee, flinched in shock.
“He’s the one who said to make it a fair duel, so what’s he doing now? Hey! Stop!”
Dick ran over to stop the fight, but Hector’s scale came flying straight at his head.
Dick flailed and barely dodged.
“Dick! Are you okay?”
“Whoa, that guy’s eyes are completely gone!”
Dick muttered from the ground, cold sweat dripping down his face.
“Dad! Please stop the fight!”
“What are you doing, Dad!”
Kamibarez and Maelyn urgently called out to their fathers, but they only watched the battle with hardened expressions. Richard was no different.
“If Simon wanted to cancel the match, he would’ve asked first.”
“Huh?”
“Simon’s determined to go to the end. We don’t have the right to interfere.”
Crack!
Meanwhile, Simon was blocking Hector’s relentless attacks, lost in thought.
‘It’s the power of chaos after all, isn’t it?’
Even Simon was a bit surprised. He hadn’t imagined this kind of effect during practice.
Though temporary, Hector’s mind seemed to have been corrupted by Chaos, driving out his reason. Just like when the Chaos Reaper had attacked Simon, its summoner.
‘Normally, taking down someone who’s lost their mind is easy. But—’
Hector was different.
Every movement, every step of his foot, was so precise it was hard to believe he was out of his mind.
The motions and combat logic were ingrained into his very body.
‘Amazing.’
These movements were purely the result of relentless effort.
In this moment, Simon genuinely thought Hector was amazing and worthy of respect.
Swish!
Then Hector’s fist became shrouded in darkness.
‘It’s Impalement!’
Simon quickly lowered his body, calculating the trajectory of the punch—
“?!”
—but his body was suddenly dragged forward, as if hooked by something, right toward Hector.
It wasn’t Impalement.
<Hector’s Original – Manpa (Grip Snatch)>
Crash!
Hector’s headbutt struck Simon squarely, and even his barrier shattered.
‘He used an original move here!’
With both barriers destroyed, they were now fighting bare-handed.
Because this was a duel evaluation, even the protective function of the uniforms was disabled.
Simon staggered, reeling from the blow to the back of his head.
‘Ugh! My consciousness...!’
Through his blurred vision, Hector charged in, laughing savagely with violet-tinted pupils.
“I will win! Simon Follentia...!”
Crack!
Hector’s nose bridge crumbled and blood splattered.
Simon’s lightning-fast kick had landed cleanly.
“Whoa!”
“Simon’s not losing at all!”
The Hayword brothers cheered.
Swish!
Simon climbed onto Hector’s shoulders, wrapping his legs tightly around his neck.
‘I’ll choke him out from here...!’
Grab! Grab!
But Hector’s arms slipped between Simon’s legs and began prying at the back of his knees.
Simon was surprised. Hector knew how to break the hold properly.
‘He’s even learned ground techniques?’
Back in the BMAT, Hector had struggled with Simon’s grapples. Clearly, he’d reflected and prepared since then.
Simon rolled off Hector’s back.
“Krahh!”
Immediately, Hector’s rock-like fists came crashing down.
Crack!
Simon tilted his head to dodge and countered with an upward kick to Hector’s jaw.
Thud!
Almost simultaneously, Hector’s low kick landed on Simon’s leg.
Crunch!
Their fists smashed into each other’s faces. Blood splattered, and both staggered.
“Grrgh!”
“Haah!”
It was now a battle of wills.
With all their darkness exhausted, the two faced off with bare fists, and the crowd was dead silent. Everyone was on the edge of their seat.
And then—
“...This is an insane fight.”
Despite shattered nose bridges and split lips dripping with blood, the two boys were smiling.
Pow! Pak! Tat! Tap!
Each clash of fists rattled the air, and every step kicked up sand from the ground.
“So, who’s winning now, Dick?”
Dan Hayword, the second brother, asked.
“Obviously Hector. The size difference is huge.”
Dick folded his arms.
Bam!
As he said, Simon blocked Hector’s kick but was launched like a ball and landed on the ground. Blood poured from one nostril, and his joints creaked.
‘There’s got to be a way... Ah!’
At that moment, he spotted a Chaos Spear lying in the sand. It hadn’t dissipated yet, probably due to its long duration.
‘Creating variables! This is why I love Chaos!’
Simon scrambled toward the spear, and Hector’s eyes widened as he gave chase.
Even in a dazed state, he instinctively knew Chaos was dangerous.
Fwip!
Simon bent down and grabbed the fallen spear.
“Ugh!”
Too rushed. His feet slipped on the sand, and he stumbled hard. Hector was already closing in.
Simon gritted his teeth and twisted his waist.
“Krahh!”
Vroooom!
He threw it with all his might.
But maybe it was too rushed—Hector simply tilted his head to dodge.
Crack!
Simon collapsed under a kick, rolling across the ground, covered in blood and sand.
Hector roared and climbed on top of Simon.
“Get out of there, Simon!”
“Finish it, Hector!”
Cheers clashed from Group 7 and the various factions. Hector raised his fist.
Thud!
Simon suddenly braced his legs and lifted his torso, causing Hector to lose his balance and slam his elbow into the sand.
Grab!
Grab!
Simon’s hands latched onto Hector’s waist, and his legs coiled around Hector’s body like a snake, flipping him to the side.
“That technique again!!”
Hector’s eyes turned bloodshot. Simon, now in the dominant position, was about to counterattack—
“!”
—but Hector grabbed both of Simon’s fists and, even while caught, started rising with sheer brute strength. His leg muscles quivered, threatening to burst.
‘He’s stupidly tough!’
Simon had no choice but to kick Hector’s face and roll away. Blood spewed from his mouth, and he staggered, but Hector didn’t fall.
Meanwhile, Simon had spent all his strength on that last kick. He crumpled to the ground.
“This is it!!”
Sensing victory, Hector raised his arm.
“...You didn’t forget, did you?”
Then Simon forced a smile.
“That a Chaos Spear lets you specify its final hit point.”
‘!’
Hector’s reason returned at the very last moment.
‘Don’t tell me... that thrown spear earlier...!’
Crack!
The violet spear struck him from behind, and Hector’s charging body bent unnaturally.
BOOOOM!
The Chaos Spear erupted in a violent purple explosion. Hector flew back, tumbling across the dirt.
“Whoa!”
“It hit perfectly!”
Cheers and silence rippled through the crowd.
Simon stood and looked back. Hector wasn’t moving anymore.
At last, a wave of relief washed over him.
“The winner!!”
Dick shouted in joyful triumph.
“In the end, once again, Simon Follentia!”
“Yaaaaaaah!”
Simon raised his clenched fist. His teammates and the Hayword brothers ran toward him, while the faction students rushed to Hector.
Thud!
The moment Simon raised his fist in victory, he lost consciousness and collapsed.
“Simon!!”
“Ugh, you idiot! You just got discharged yesterday! Why are you pushing yourself like this?!”
Kamibarez’s urgent cry was followed by Maelyn’s scolding.
“It was really a razor-thin margin.”
Dick let out a dry chuckle, glancing back and forth between the fallen Simon and Hector.
“......”
Then Richard walked up and stood in front of Simon.
‘Feel better now, Simon?’
Step.
At that moment, with a subtle presence, the large-framed Darkos Moore approached.
Just as Richard moved to react quickly, Darkos extended a hand instead of attacking.
“Hm?”
It was an offer for a handshake.
“...You’ve got a talented son. You must be proud.”
With those words and a slight smile, he resembled Hector.
Richard, who had been tense, smiled awkwardly and took his hand.
“Your son’s talent was also remarkable.”
Then he added,
“And, he’s not my son. He’s my nephew.”
“I’ll accept that.”
Darkos turned and walked toward the fallen Hector. Richard let out a soft sigh and looked at Simon.
As he’d said, Richard felt like he could burst with pride over his son.
‘I want to brag to everyone.’
He tilted his head back.
‘This kid is my son.’
The vampire lord Dietrich used haematopoietic magic to heal Simon and Hector’s wounds.
And as Maelyn stood by, worriedly watching over the unconscious Simon, Daniella approached her side.
“Maelyn.”
“Dad?”
Daniella’s eyes didn’t leave Simon’s face.
Then, at last, he looked at Maelyn and smiled.
“Your hair.”
“Huh?”
“It’s pretty. You should keep growing it out.”
“??”
Maelyn looked at him, bewildered.
Meanwhile, Dietrich, having finished the healing, stepped back and casually placed a hand on Kamibarez’s shoulder.
“This is my daughter, Kamibarez.”
“Ah, yes.”
“As the daughter of Ursula, I had planned to marry you off to a vampire no matter what, but I’ve changed my mind.”
Glancing sideways at Daniella, almost as if to mark his territory, he raised a thumb.
“In strength and in love, do not lose to mere humans!”
Kamibarez’s face turned beet red.
“W-What are you talking about?! All of a sudden!”
* * *
By the time Simon opened his eyes, it was evening.
‘Ugh!’
It was the same infirmary he had stayed in before.
When he shot up, Richard was sitting beside him, legs crossed, glasses on, reading a book.
“You’re awake, Simon.”
Simon quickly gathered his thoughts and asked,
“F-Father! What about the others?”
“They’ve already gone home.”
Richard closed his book with a snap and continued,
“They were all sad they didn’t get to say goodbye properly at the end.”
As he said that, he gestured to one side of the bed. On a sheet of paper were farewell messages from Group 7 and the Hayword brothers.
You could tell who wrote what just by the handwriting.
Dick’s messy, barely legible scrawl, Maelyn’s neat, noble script, Kamibarez’s note complete with cute emoticons. The Hayword brothers had left a few words too.
Simon smiled as he read the messages.
“Did you enjoy your time at Keyzen?”
“Yes!”
Simon answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“It was amazing. Ever since I entered this school, my life has changed like a dream!”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Richard stood up, satisfied.
“The infirmary doctor says you can be discharged. Rest for just one more hour, and then let’s return to Leshill.”
“Yes, sir!”
* * *
Simon had a few plans for the break.
First, there was one thing he had to take care of.
‘The dungeon-exclusive clearance rights I earned before.’
Back during the mission evaluation, when he attended the banquet of the Kingdom of Dresden, he won a duel against the third prince, Andre, and earned clearance rights for a dungeon.
The dungeon was the ‘White Tomb Dungeon’, where an ancient undead was suspected to be hiding. Feer, who knew the only way to access it, had decided to participate directly.
[Kuhuhu! I shall bring good news!]
Feer would be accompanied by Prince, Erzebet, and Akemius. Simon felt Herseba was enough to handle things from his side.
Simon had planned to go along after resting in Leshill for a bit, but due to his injuries—more importantly, because the dungeon was highly toxic—Feer insisted it wouldn’t help to bring a human along.
The ancient undead he was after this time was said to be related to “poison”.
So, the ancient undead group would raid the dungeon during break, while Simon, along with Herseba and Richard, would return to Leshill.
One problem, however, was the threat of a surprise attack from Magnus, the Legion Commander hostile toward Simon, during the break.
Of course, with Richard there, Simon would be safe in Leshill—but he didn’t want to cause harm to the territory or its people because of his personal situation.
He planned to recuperate at home for a few days, then slip out of Leshill under a reasonable excuse.
And so, Simon became the last second-year student at Keyzen to leave Roke Island via teleportation circle.
“I’m back!”
His birthplace, Leshill.
A mountain village so remote, the biggest news would be something like the neighbor’s cow giving birth.
Even the air tasted sweet. Simon took a deep breath.
“It feels good to be back, doesn’t it?”
“Of course!”
Walking down the familiar forest path he had taken countless times before entering Keyzen, Simon and Richard chatted warmly.
It didn’t take long to reach home.
Simon, excited to see his mother again after so long, ran ahead and knocked on the door.
“Mom! It’s me!”
Click!
He opened the door and stepped inside. The smell of food filled the air, and clattering sounds came from the kitchen.
“Simon! You’re home?”
Anna’s voice called out from the kitchen.
But there was someone else sitting at the dining table.
A woman with sea-colored hair, calmly sipping tea with her eyes closed.
She set her teacup down and said,
“It’s been a while.”
A person Simon never expected to see here.
“My nephew, Simon.”
A key figure in the moderate faction of the Holy Federation, known by the title Saint of the Divine Sea.
She had not only helped Simon in the Holy Federation but had also secured the necessary materials for Anna’s surgery.
“Lady Israfil!!”
The Saint Israfil had come, to the Dark Alliance.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters