I, Bellange, am the heir of the Fraser Household. A count household from the frontier.
Our family gained prestige since we were a viscount household, but one day my grandfather accomplished an incredible feat, and we were promoted to counts.
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 tanned, and my hair darkened for some reason.
One day, at a noble's house, I was studying in something called primary school.
One of my playmates was none other than Prince Regulux.
I fought him casually since he was a prince.
I thought he was just another weakling until he threw down his weapon and said to me.
"Could you take me seriously? I know you're strong, but this is very disappointing. Please don't treat me like a fragile child."
It was the first time someone asked me to be serious.
I was happy and ended up accidentally breaking his arm.
In the infirmary, he was laughing.
He said to me while showing his arm in a cast.
"Hahaha, you're so strong. I'm sure you could defeat a monster with your bare hands."
Those words made me understand that I am truly someone strong. And that I must use that strength to show how reliable I am.
For that reason, I accepted the duel. I'm not interested in the fourth prince, nor the Rosenberg daughter, nor the dwarf in front of me.
I'm only interested in showing His Highness that the words he said motivated me to become 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.
◇
(The idiot Bellange was giving me a strange look for some reason.)
(Having rested after my fight against Oscar, now it was time to face the brainless gorilla.)
(His stats in the game were very high.)
(So high that his intelligence and magical power were minimal.)
(The steed this guy used was an outdated model of the Gawain type.)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 this, careless and using weapons that broke after using too much force.)
(But, better that way.)
(Defeating you in the air will be a piece of cake thanks to that.)
"Hey."
He suddenly started talking.
My plan to defeat him in the air was destroyed in seconds by what he said.
"I want to fight up there. It's better for us since it seems you're also the type who fights on the ground and at close range."
"That's why you were running away from those two, isn't that right?"
(That was the smartest thing this muscle brain has ever said in his life.)
(At the same time, the worst possible answer for me.)
(I should say no, but that would only waste time arguing with him about why I don't want to go.)
(In short, they're going to kick my ass if I don't fight in the air.)
"Very well."
(I replied with the stupidest thing I've ever said.)
And so, we got on our Pegasus to go straight to the mountain top and fight.
"The third match between Razel Bartlet vs. Bellange von Fraser, begins!"
◇◇◇
The stands were excited.
"I can't believe the duke's son lost."
"I'm more surprised that the god mage's grandson lost. That really was a surprise."
"It seems that boy's luck has run out. He'll fight with a weapon against the Fraser son."
"The winner is more than obvious."
The girls heard how people were already declaring Bellange the victor over Razel.
Elize trembled.
Lily said nothing, just put her hands together to pray.
"Razel-kun..."
Meanwhile, two figures watched the third match with interest.
"It seems this match will be interesting this time, 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 muscles; it won't be easy for him, but I can't say if he'll be the winner either. The duel will tell."
Everyone eagerly awaited this match.
Even Cid watched the screen with irritation.
"Razel, why did you accept? You know Bellange is strong."
Even as he said that, he was focused on something else.
His eyes stared fixedly at his half-brother and the most dangerous person of all.
"The real danger is Lambert. Razel, don't you dare lose."
◇
We reached the top, got off our steeds, and walked to the center.
The wind blew strongly.
We couldn't hear anything but the sound of air hitting our faces.
"Don't think it'll be easy just because those two were careless."
Bellange spoke to me as he tore the sleeves off his clothes.
(If I remember correctly, in the game he did it because he liked his arms to get oxygen.)
(A terrible excuse for fan service.)
(But it was believable since this guy was an idiot.)
His weapon was a halberd, a mix 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, and when I took my weapon out of the bag I brought, he burst out laughing.
"Hey, seriously? Aren't you mocking me?"
He laughed because once again I was using my bat.
(I already had two winning streaks thanks to this guy.)
(A third wouldn't hurt, besides. I don't want to show my trump card here.)
(And even more so if they don't leave me any choice.)
(For that reason, I'll be serious with you.)
(Come on, I'm waiting for you.)
Bellange finished warming up and with both hands wildly swung the spear.
"Ora, ora, ora, ora, ora!"
"Let's have a good fight!"
The spear generated much more noise than the wind in my face.
When he finished swinging it, the tip pointed at me.
"Give me a good fight!"
With those words, Bellange quickly lunged at me.
He 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 he could defeat monsters alone.)
(Even if they were high-level.)
(But right now I was...)
"You're too slow."
(Bored by how slow he was.)
I dodged his aerial attack.
In fact, that was the strange thing.
Not just because I could see it.
(This guy should have used magical reinforcement to make his attack heavier and harder to block.)
(But I did it.)
Once the halberd hit the ground, he realized I wasn't there.
He looked around and then noticed my presence.
(I didn't even understand what happened myself.)
(I hadn't activated my Eagle Eye.)
He gritted his teeth, annoyed.
"You got a bit lucky; don't think it'll happen again!"
"How strange..."
My mouth released unexpected words.
I backed away as I watched Bellange wildly swing his weapon.
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 not faster than Bellange, but you're better than Professor John."
"Even so."
"It's strange."
The halberd cut the air from top to bottom.
Left and right.
There was even an unexpected spin where he turned halfway so the acceleration of the blow was stronger.
Still.
Even with that move.
I dodged it.
As if I could see a bullet coming at my chest.
I dodged it.
(What is happening?)
(I don't have my Eagle Eye activated, but Bellange's attacks seem very visible to me.)
(Just in case, I decided to repel one.)
"Eat this thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!"
Bellange wildly swung his weapon like a forward tornado.
I used only one hand, the one holding the bat.
I stopped his attack with a light strike.
"Oh..."
I was more astonished than Bellange himself.
He was stunned for a few moments.
Then, he regained his senses and showed his teeth, angry.
His halberd swung so wildly it almost escaped his hands.
"Faaaaaaaall!"
"Why won't you fall?!"
"Why?"
Bellange began to despair.
Sweat marked his forehead.
I wasn't sweating a single drop.
To make it worse.
We hadn't even been fighting for three minutes.
I inadvertently murmured something.
"Maybe... I've become much stronger than them."
(As I am a guardian among the shadows and fought many strong guys.)
(I have obtained the most cliché power of all. The power of hard effort.)
(I have trained since childhood.)
(Fought monsters for B-rank adventurers.)
(And yet, I thought I was weak.)
(But this guy, who I've heard is one of the strongest in the academy, is desperately trying to hit me.)
(Maybe I'm even stronger than Lambert himself?)
(No, Lambert is a monster.)
(But what if it's true?)
(What if I'm much stronger than these guys?)
(Does that mean I can handle the demon kings on my own?)
(I would only need Lily to hear the voice of the goddess Alexia while she is with me.)
(In that case.)
"Let's end this."
Using my bat like a whip, I stopped Bellange's attack instantly.
His weapon now pointed at the sky.
He didn't understand what was happening.
Now I raised my bat and said the same thing I did to those two.
"Your problem in the game was always that you think using your muscles makes you very strong. The strong are those who don't show off... maybe?"
"It doesn't really matter."
Those were the last words I said to Bellange.
My bat hit his head so hard I had to jump slightly because he was so tall.
The blow was so strong that his head sank into the ground.
Only then did a small crack appear.
At the same time, I felt the mountain move.
It must be from the vibration of the blow.
The healers came to check on him; his nose was bleeding heavily.
The referee came and, after making sure he was still alive. Because he was; his eyes were white and his nose was bleeding, but he was alive.
"T-The winner is Razel Bartlet! Bellange is out of combat!"
(I myself couldn't understand what was happening; I returned on my steed to prepare for the next match.)
Then, I felt a murderous glare.
That glare was so strong that for the first time all day, my heart beat at great speed.
The murderous glare came from Lambert.
He stared at me fixedly and meticulously.
"It seems that, truly, the sword that protects 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; it's my turn."
"Cid, I—"
I was going to tell him I wanted to fight Lambert, but he stopped me with his serious look.
"It's my turn."
(It seems Cid is more desperate than I am to fight this guy. I'll let him have his whim because, if he beats him, only the weakest and most annoying one will remain.)
I went to sit down and drink water while Cid prepared; I could see him and Lambert staring at each other.
◇◇◇
In the stands, everyone was amazed; no one could believe what happened.
Not even the girls could say a word because of how astonishing it was.
The two sword saints were left speechless.
Especially Christina, who unintentionally almost opened her eyes.
"I-Impossible. That boy moved faster than the Fraser son's attacks. Something like that... Who exactly is that boy?"
"That's true. It was amazing, but the fun and winning streak are over. It's time for the sword that protects the prince to step onto the battlefield."
"Lambert von Attley. Knighted at a young age and baptized as the Gray Knight. Undoubtedly, this match will be more intriguing than the others."
The battle with Lambert was what left the audience most speechless. Since the prince's personal guardian would come out to hunt his prey.
Lambert's face, for the first time, showed an expression. It was rage and hatred towards his enemies. The magical power around him made the atmosphere visible.
"Each and every one of them is incompetent. For His Highness's sake, I will be the one to finish them both."