Chapter 60

The Martial Arts Exhibition began with the Archery division.

Twenty men at a time competed for points, firing 15 arrows each at a target roughly 110 centimeters wide, positioned 60 meters away. During our journey from Ebba-berg to Dresden, I had received several martial arts lessons from Lady Clara, but archery skills aren’t acquired overnight. I ended up with a pathetic result—barely managing to hit the target with a single shot.

TL/N: Yoshioka’s POV

Senpai’s turn ended. The result: 1 out of 15 arrows hit the very edge of the target. Honestly, I’m impressed he hit it at all. It was probably a fluke.

If I tried it, things would likely be much worse. I have a feeling I’d miss every single shot. Actually, before even worrying about accuracy, I doubt I could even get the arrow to reach the target.

I have zero interest in the results of this tournament. Since it doesn’t matter, maybe I’ll just go through the motions and get it over with as quickly as possible.

Just as I was thinking that, someone who failed to hit the target even once got slapped by the “Sow Orc.” If someone got hit by an arm that thick, their neck bones might actually snap. No matter how much I might like older women or being pushed around, Commander Beckle is a bit too much for me.

Sigh… I want to see Petra again. She told me that if we met again, she’d do something “even better” for me next time. I wonder what that meant? Ehehe…

Oh, yes! Is it my turn? Fine, I guess I have no choice. I don’t want to get hit, so I’ll just use my magic to discreetly rack up some points.

TL/N: Fiene’s POV

Following Mr. Kota, Mr. Akito finished all 15 of his shots. Compared to Mr. Kota only hitting the target once, Mr. Akito hit it 10 times. However, I know the truth: Mr. Akito was using Wind Magic to subtly correct the trajectory of those 10 arrows. Personally, I think he should have just gone all out and hit with every single one.

When I asked him why he missed on purpose, he told me that “a wise hawk hides its talons” and that it was part of the “Aesthetic of the Hidden Sage.” As usual, it’s hard to follow what Mr. Akito is talking about.

If it were me, I wouldn’t hesitate to aim for first place. After all, the top three performers get rewards: the blue scarf, which is proof of being an elite soldier, and a cash prize. I don’t think I can break into the top ranks in anything other than my specialty, archery, so I have to give it my all right here.

Focus, focus!

…I think humans are prone to distracting thoughts exactly when they need to concentrate most. Why did I have to remember Lady Clara and Mr. Kota’s kiss at a time like this!?

…But man, that was incredible. I never thought Lady Clara could make an expression like that. Even I would have fallen for her in that moment. Besides, that was the first time I’d ever actually seen someone kissing. I can’t beat Lady Clara in anything else, but to think she’s already caught up to me in romantic experience, too…

I remembered my own first kiss and felt a wave of gloom. To think it’s already been a year since then.

Last winter, a boy named Ivo, whom I’d taken a slight liking to, called me out. I remember how dark it was inside the barn at twilight and how fast my heart was racing. Looking back now, I wonder what I ever saw in Ivo, but back then, I guess I was just a girl who longed for romance.

“I like you. Will you go out with me?”

The confession was simple, but being my first time, I was over the moon. Ivo was decent-looking and a good hunter, so I wasn’t opposed to the idea of being his girlfriend. When I agreed right there on the spot, he suddenly moved in for a kiss. A part of my mind thought, Isn’t this a bit too fast? but swept up in the atmosphere and pushed by his forceful attitude, I ended up letting it happen.

Well, that part was fine. If it had stopped there, it would have remained a lovely event—a page in Fiene’s “Diary of the Heart” as a bittersweet memory of youth. But that jerk Ivo got carried away and reached for my chest. And he went right under the clothes!

“That hurts, dammit!

Squeezing me like you’re trying to crush a grape!

My mind went totally blank for a second from the shock, but once he pinched the tip, I snapped right back to reality.

As Ivo sat there huffing and puffing while groping my chest, I drove my fist upward with everything I had, right into his jaw.

From confession to breakup in exactly ten minutes. I left a knocked-out Ivo in the barn and walked home alone. That was my ‘first experience’…

Ugh, just thinking about it makes me furious! I’m going to imagine the target is Ivo’s face and let ’em fly!“

The archery division wrapped up before noon. Fiene put up an incredible fight for the Clara Platoon, securing 2nd place out of all the participating soldiers. I guess that’s what you expect from a former hunter. For a hunter aiming for an animal’s vitals, there is no second arrow; it’s one shot, one kill. If you fire every arrow with that mindset, your accuracy is bound to skyrocket. Her physical training is one thing, but her mental discipline and focus are on a completely different level.

“Fiene, do you have any tips for staying focused?”

“…It’s a secret.”

Why does she look so angry?

By the way, the soldier who took 1st place was a direct subordinate of Commander Beckle.

Next up was the sparring matches using training weapons. This was a team battle—five-man squads in a group format. You could use any weapon you liked, but projectiles like bows were strictly forbidden. Since we didn’t belong to a specific squad, I figured we were safe from participating, but then Commander Beckle personally ordered us into the fray.

“Sergeant Emma Petersen, Corporal Hinoharu, Corporal Yoshioka, Fiene, and Hans—you five will form a squad.”

Wait, what? Why us, and why now!? It’s obviously just a way to pick on us.

“Gufufu. You have three non-commissioned officers on your team. It wouldn’t do to set a poor example for the subordinates by putting on a pathetic show, so make sure you fight with everything you’ve got.”

She gave us a nasty, sneering grin.

“Senpai, did you do something to make the Sow Orc hate you?”

“Hey, I’m a gentleman even to a female monkfish.”

They might be ugly, but I don’t discriminate—I’ll eat ’em up just the same.

“She’s clearly doing this as a slight against Lady Clara. Look at the tournament bracket,” Emma said.

I checked the posted bracket and saw that our first round was against Commander Beckle’s direct unit. To make matters worse, Beckle herself was participating as the ‘General’. It was a clear setup to humiliate Lady Clara’s subordinates. Perhaps the Sow Orc is afraid that Lady Clara might take her position as Company Commander.

“Is it even allowed for a Company Commander to participate, Emma?”

“Normally, no. But Commander Beckle prides herself on her martial prowess. She likely wants to show off in front of her superiors.”

Apparently, there’s an unspoken rule that nobles who can use magic don’t participate. Since Commander Beckle is a non-magic user, her participation isn’t an issue. Lady Clara, of course, isn’t joining. If she did, she’d probably win the whole thing even without using magic.

The rules for the team battle followed a winner-stays-on format, with the order being: Vanguard, Second, Center, Vice-Captain, and General. The first team to have all five members defeated loses.

“I assume Emma should be the General.”

She’s a noble and holds the highest rank as a Sergeant. You have to be mindful of things like that.

“Yes. I would appreciate that. As a member of the Petersen family, I cannot afford to be disgraced.”

Nobles and their vanity.

“Now, as for who goes first as Vanguard…”

“Hans. You go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

With Emma’s merciless command, Hans was chosen as the Vanguard. Despite his timid face, Hans is surprisingly skilled. In the archery contest earlier, he ranked 27th out of 789—well within the elite tier. Yoshioka was 229th, and I was 734th.

“Hans, can we count on you?”

“Leave it to me. I’ll fight with everything I have.”

Emma is really too hard on him. He seems like the type that older women who like ‘shota’ types would adore. Then again, I hear Emma dislikes men in general, so maybe it’s unavoidable. Though she seems to have accepted us unconditionally ever since the Lord Seraphim incident.

“Alright, who’s the Second—”

“I nominate Senpai.”

“I think Sir Kota should do it too.”

Both of them pushed the role onto me before I could even finish the sentence.

“If I go out there, I might end up using magic, you know? I hate getting hurt.”

“I’ll fight properly, but I’m not very confident in my chances,” Fiene admitted. She’s a sniper type, so that’s fair. As for Yoshioka, I feel like he’d cause a huge scene. If it leaks that he can use magic, he’ll be recommended for knighthood immediately. But if you’re knighted right now, you get sent straight to the front lines against the Kingdom of Portand. In peaceful times, we’d jump at the chance for a title, but because of the war, we have to keep our magic under wraps.

“Yoshioka, you understand, right? Use attack magic, and it’s off to the front lines with you.”

“That’s why you have to work hard as the Second, Senpai!”

Well, I’ll give it my best shot.

Lady Clara came down from the stands to join us.

“I heard you are all participating. What is the meaning of this?”

“It’s Commander Beckle’s doing.”

I explained the situation to her.

“I see… Listen, all of you. Do not hold back. Fight with everything you have.”

Basically: ‘Don’t worry about her being your superior.’

Actually, I’ve been wanting to test out my Staff Arts skill to see what it’s worth. When I spar with Lady Clara, I’ve managed to reach a point where I can hold my own for a bit, but I’ve yet to land a single solid hit on her. Against Beckle’s team, though… I don’t need to hold back. I think I’ll go all out.