Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World

In the midsummer grasslands, I faced off against Talvitt, a third-year student from Lapnas.

After asking for his name, which I had long forgotten, and confirming that this was indeed a duel, I posed an important question.

“Before we fight, I need to know. How did you figure out that I’m a student of Cartilar?”

“It was just a hunch. You know Harvis Lazfall, right? The man who won the tournament three years in a row and left Serene undefeated. There’s a rumor that a first-year student has caught his eye. It’s something we know well around here.”

Was it because of the exchange at the tournament?

The story must have spread from that third-year student from Lapnas who fought Harvis two years ago—now a fifth-year.

“I didn’t believe it. Harvis was overwhelmingly strong. There’s no way a first-year could get his attention. But when I saw you, I thought you might be the one.”

“Does anyone else know?”

“Since I wasn’t certain, it’s just me.”

Lapnas has many nobles as well. It would be troublesome if my parents found out, and I don’t want any unnecessary hassle.

“Please, keep this to yourself.”

“Very well. Now, are we done with the small talk?”

As he spoke, Talvitt readied his two-handed sword.

Normally, mock battles are fought with wooden swords, but using real ones is fine.

I won’t get hurt anyway.

Taking a step back, I drew my short sword.

Talvitt was a man who seemed to have traded some of his strength for dexterity from Zelette.

With superior strength and physique, he wielded heavy weapons with ease.

He could be seen as a lesser version of Marcant, but the experience gap is too wide for a fair comparison. Zelette is a closer match.

Talvitt’s strength was 15, equivalent to Roland’s when I was younger.

I don’t know how much the middle-aged knight, who is still diligently training, can lift now, but his physique isn’t lacking. If they had compared strength back then, it would have been a close match.

My strength is 14.

It seems close, but with my average height and build, I’m at a disadvantage beyond the numbers.

There’s also a significant difference in weapon weight.

So, I continued to dodge Talvitt’s fierce attacks with footwork and body movements.

My agility was 21 compared to his 11. This was one-sided.

As I ducked to avoid a sweeping blow, I felt a slight admiration.

With so many of his attacks dodged, one would expect him to get angry, but he remained calm.

Swinging his two-handed sword, he narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out my movements.

His attacks gradually became sharper.

He wasn’t just a brawler, but even so, he couldn’t close the gap in agility.

I let him attack as much as he wanted and, when the time was right, deflected his powerful [Strong Flurry] with my [Double Strike].

Then, I pointed my returning blade at his neck.

“One more match!”

“Next one’s the last.”

Talvitt challenged me again.

However, no matter how many times we fought, the result was the same.

I effortlessly dodged his wild swings, and when I tripped him and pointed my sword at him as he fell, he knocked it away.

“Not yet! I haven’t lost yet!”

“You’ve lost. Twice now.”

Despite that, he kept slashing at me, so I jumped back to gain some distance.

“Enough. I’m leaving.”

As I turned my back and headed toward the gate, Talvitt followed, shouting.

In the end, it was back to where we started before the mock battle.

Talvitt kept shouting, “Fight me,” in the summer grasslands.

His noisy behavior felt oddly nostalgic.

I had a similar experience two years ago.

How many times was it back then? I fought so many times that I lost count.

And somehow, I was beginning to understand Talvitt’s personality.

Though he keeps shouting for a fight, he never strikes when I leave my back exposed.

He didn’t make a fuss when there were many people around.

He’s a rough, self-centered man, but his nature isn’t all bad.

I glanced back at the shouting Talvitt.

His enthusiasm was something, but—

Maybe I should teach him that there’s always someone better.

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