Chapter 83 (1/2)

It was a few days after the incident with the Eastern Dormitory.

The boys of the Northern Dormitory were sitting in the dining hall at their wits end.

They had found out later that this was something of a tradition between the two dorms. Five boys would be chosen from each dorm, and they would show off their swordsmans.h.i.+p before the various Division Leaders.

However, it was something decided between the actual knights themselves and was by no means public. For this reason, the Northern Dormitory boys hadn’t known about it.

As for how they were faring with this news―――

―――they could only be described as terrified.

“Why are they matching up the Northern and Eastern Dormitories? The difference is just so…”

“It’s like all of the talented people from our cohort are gathered there. Once you let five whole members up, it’s basically a dream team…”

They all grumbled complaints.

“To begin with, why the h.e.l.l did they place six of the top twelve over there.”

“Doug used to be there too, so it’s really seven. To compare we only have Gorms…”

That they were a “collection of losers” had a grain of truth to it.

And as if that wasn’t all, some information gathering with their seniors had led to some unwelcome news.

“They said that it isn’t true that the losers are gathered in our dorm but… apparently the coordinator for the Eastern Dormitory… When he was a knight apprentice, he lost three times in a row to the Northern Dormitory and has quite a grudge about it. Since then, he’s been s.n.a.t.c.hing up the best talents for his one.

“Not only that, but for some reason, he’s weirdly fired up this year and wants us to suffer three defeats in a row…”

“What the h.e.l.l!”

“He’s barking up the wrong f.u.c.king tree!”

Shouting began all across the room.

“And what the h.e.l.l is our own dorm coordinator doing…”

“You know him. ‘What’s important is how hard you try once you get in.’ That’s why he’s…”

“So it’s just our bad luck…?”

By now, the boys had just about realised their situation.

“I mean, I get that the training we’re putting in now is just as important as anything, but… does that really mean they have to throw all the talented guys over in the Eastern Dorm…?”

“Honestly, it’s really only Gorms and Doug that have any chance.”

“Apparently our success rate is like 10%…”

“I hear we weren’t even supposed to know about it until now, but those guys got told in advance.”

“I bet they’ve been training for this.”

No matter how much further it was discussed, things still seemed bleak.

“Aahh… We’re done for… I so don’t wanna fight…”

“What if I get called a shame to all knights in front of my Captain or something…”

“I’ll pa.s.s on that, thanks…”

And so, the boys all continued slouching in despair.

But in one corner of the room, Gorms spat,

“Keh! Running scared before even fighting? You’re all f.u.c.king pathetic.”

Remié gave a troubled smile and tried to soften the blow.

“But I can understand how they feel. Lots of them train at the same dojos and have been in the same compet.i.tion as those guys, so they know just how much stronger they are.”

The apprentice knights were certainly acting pathetic, but they had plenty of reason to.

For the students who went to the same dojos as the elite members of the Eastern Dormitory, training at the dojo gave them first-hand experience on the talent and skill of these swordsmen. As for those who had seen them fight in compet.i.tions, pretty much all their opponents were defeated without any chance of victory.

The boys of the Northern Dormitory had trained reasonably hard these past few months, but it was by no means enough to catch up to those elites.

“That doesn’t f.u.c.king mean I have to accept whatever those Eastern Dorm b.a.s.t.a.r.ds want to say to me. I’m going there to win.”

“Yeah. We’ll help however we can.”