chapter 7
007 – Charlotte, Charlotte
The interview date, November 1, was fast approaching.
In the meantime, Tigris meditated or practiced swords without leaving even a single step in the penthouse.
There was so little news that Baiton came to see if Tigris was still alive.
Tigris came out wearing a sword and a coat to cover the sword.
“Lenny. You are cleaning up here and resting.”
“I will serve you . . .”
“In the Imperial University, it is forbidden for any person except related persons to enter. Clean up the house and taste your favorite chocolate cake.”
Tigris said as he got into the elevator.
“If there is chocolate cake left in the refrigerator, I will punish you.”
“yes···! All right!”
When Tigris disappeared in the elevator, Lenny ran back and opened the refrigerator door.
In the refrigerator, two pieces of sweet chocolate cake, which one would not know if they were eating together, were showing off their smooth appearance.
“Heh heh heh… chocolate cake! You are all dead!”
Tigris arrived at the Imperial University while Lenny was having a double date with chocolate cakes.
When Tigris got off the black chariot, the people’s eyes widened.
– Are you a magazine model?
– What grade are you in? Shall I go and talk for a while?
– Idiot! You look like a high-ranking aristocrat. If you speak the wrong way, your neck will fly away!
As he was contemplating whether or not to talk to Tigris in his unique and uncontrollable atmosphere, Tigris stood in front of the guard.
“For what purpose did you come?”
“I have an interview with the swordsmanship instructor.”
“Show me the notification of the results of the first document screening and the family identification plaque.”
Tigris showed us the first document screening notice and family name that he had just received.
The guard nodded his head when he looked at the wolf plaque and documents, the symbols of the Norberd family.
I was informed beforehand that Tigris was 19, so there was no need to ask unnecessary questions.
“Has confirmed. The interview location is the Demiola Ballroom. The Demiola gymnasium…”
“I know, so I don’t have to explain.”
“Ah yes. All right.”
Tigris took back the documents and the wolf pack and entered the entrance.
The month of November was when students were attending, so I could see students everywhere.
Wizards wore dark blue robes, and knights wore light suits and carried weapons such as swords or spears.
The students all looked at Tigris as he passed by.
Seeing that he was carrying a sword inside his coat, it seemed certain that he was a swordsman.
However, the coat is a symbol of the adventurer.
The Imperial University did not teach adventurers, only wizards, swordsmen, and administrators, so adventurers never came.
The strangest thing is that Tigris was too young and sweet to be called an adventurer.
– Look at him. Aren’t you so handsome? Who is it?
– You look the same as us, but the atmosphere is strange just looking at cancer, isn’t it?
– Shall we talk? what grade are you in?
– hey. What if it’s just a school guest?
– is it?
The men spit as Tigris passed by.
– Who is that geisha old-bi-looking guy, and he carries a sword in his coat like that? Is he a knight?
– Well, first time? Are you a freshman?
– Freshman is a jerk. It’s November now.
– hey. go and talk
Then a woman stood in front of Tigris.
The golden hair was contrasted with Tigris’ black hair.
The woman looked at Tigris with a dissatisfied expression on her face.
“Tigris? Why are you here?”
Tigris knew who this woman was.
Charlotte di Friedharden.
She was the only daughter of the Count of Frigharden who gave Tigris ‘Summer of Friharden’.
As I faced her shining wall, I suddenly remembered her end.
With a slender body covered in blood from all kinds of weapons, the glittering walls faded and lost its light.
– I couldn’t see… so everyone ran away…?
– If you are a hero, you must protect it… Overcome… protect those people
– Can you promise me?
A knight who never let go of his sword to protect the elderly, children and the sick until the day he died.
Charlotte was alive.
“… it’s been a long time. shallot.”
“What···? shallot?”
Charlotte clenched her fists at Tigris.
Hung!
Tigris avoided Charlotte’s fist by taking a step back.
Tigris’ hair fluttered in the wind that flew in late.
“Don’t pretend to be close and shorten your name! Baby!”
Tigris became so emotional that he accidentally called out the name he had called on the battlefield.
Charlotte said as she brushed her hair back.
“Well, that’s fine.”
Charlotte took off the glove and threw it into Tigris’ chest.
The gloves slid down Tigris’ chest and fell to the floor.
“I, Charlotte di Friharden, challenge myself to a duel for my honor.”
“…why?”
“her! Why?”
Charlotte’s eyebrows furrowed in absurdity.
“Don’t you remember Schubert last year? You insulted me because you looked at my swordsmanship and looked like you were dancing!”
Tigris had a bad relationship with Charlotte.
If there was no common enemy of mankind called Rota and Arfem, we would never see each other forever.
I belatedly remembered that it was after I defeated Charlotte at the ‘Schubert’ meeting of the swordsmanship families last year.
Charlotte clearly remembered Schubert held last year by the Norbert family.
When he heard the news that the genius Tigris had made two rings at the age of 18, he took Schubert as Norbert.
That evening, a swordsmanship demonstration site called Schwert’s Flower.
Charlotte showed off the swordsmanship that he had sharpened and finished splendidly.
Applause poured in from all sides, and Charlotte returned to her seat happily.
Then, Tigris opened his mouth.
– If you’d rather swing a sword like that, you’d better dance. Only the shell is rubbed, the kernel is empty.
Tigris thought he was talking to himself, but Charlotte certainly heard it.
No, it must have been something I was told to listen to.
That day, Charlotte challenged Tigris to a duel.
The result was a disastrous defeat for Charlotte.
In the end, he lost to Tigris, who was two years younger than himself when he was 20.
Charlotte shouted at Tigris, who was staring blankly at her.
“Pick up your gloves now!”
It will be different from last year at Schubert.
Charlotte worked hard to defeat Tigris.
He also reduced his sleep and trained his swordsmanship.
We haven’t increased the number of rings yet, but that’s enough.
Because swordsmanship skills grow not by the number of rings, but by the weight of the drops of sweat.
Tigris said, looking into Charlotte’s blazing wall, not the gloves.
“I have something to say first.”
“If you’re going to make a fuss to avoid a duel, you better shut your mouth right now.”
“I apologize for insulting you.”
“···What?”
Charlotte’s head went blank for a moment.
“What are you…? apologize?”
“Yes.”
“You want to get out of a duel like that? Obviously I…”
“I am not trying to avoid a duel. It is right to accept a duel to regain our honor.”
The duel has already begun from the moment the gloves are thrown.
If Tigris avoided Charlotte’s duel, not only would her honor be tarnished, but her family could also be dishonored.
For Tigris, who was more aristocratic than anyone else, there was no option to avoid a duel.
Tigris pulled out a handkerchief from his arms and picked up his gloves.
Then I brushed off the dust on my gloves.
“But it is true that your skills are lacking.”
“… my skills aren’t good enough? Do you think you deserve to say that?”
“I defeated you that day, so you think you have the answer?”
“not now!”
Charlotte hated herself for thinking that he had changed for a moment.
He was still an arrogant, broken-hearted dog-like bastard.
“If I win you today, you will have to get down on your knees and apologize to me.”
Tigris took out his pocket watch from his pocket and checked it.
30 minutes left until interview time.
It was time to finish the duel.
“good night. Is it possible right now?”
“Of course!”
There were a lot of people nearby, and there was an vacant lot for a duel.
They will be the observers to prove today’s duel.
Charlotte pointed to one person.
“Aiden! You are the witness.”
The red-haired man nodded his head.
“It doesn’t matter to me, how will the duel end? You know that life and death are not allowed in school, right?”
“I will go on the same basis as Schubert. Do you agree?”
Tigris nodded.
Schubert’s fighting standards were simple.
You must not seriously injure your opponent or take your life.
Instead, the match could be ended if he admitted defeat or was stunned or if the observer saw that he had clearly lost.
The two stood facing each other in a flat open space.
It was a duel that happened suddenly, but people flocked in like clouds.
It was a duel between Charlotte and Tigris, no one else.
Charlotte de Friharden.
A current sophomore in the swordsmanship department, a top-ranking A-class knight with two rings.
It was an article in which it was evaluated that there was no student who could defeat Charlotte, not only in the same grade, but also in the third and fourth grades.
There, it was rumored that he had a good personality enough to go volunteering every semester.
Therefore, it was the first time for the students to see her angry like this.
So who is Tigris?
Although he was still only 19 years old, he was a swordsman genius who made three rings.
Personality is the opposite of Charlotte.
His face was not well known as he did not take a single step from Norverd, but rumors circulated that he was arrogant and arrogant.
It was a well-known fact that Tigris insulted Charlotte.
As a result, all the students shouted at one person with one heart and one accord.
“Charlotte, just crush it!”
“Charlotte must win!”
“Charlotte, cheer up!”
When Aiden, the initiator, raised his hand, the voices of the audience subsided at once.
It was because there were four questions and answers that the observer must answer before the start of the glorious duel.
“We use only our swords as weapons. Do you agree?”
“To agree.”
“Are you two going to settle this through an amicable conversation?”
“none.”
“The duel is played by life and death, not life-and-death. Also, if you inflict irreparable wounds on your opponent’s body, you will be dishonored. Do you agree?”
“To agree.”
“Finally, after the duel is over, tell each loser what you want.”
Charlotte recalled the damp grass pressed down on her right cheek.
He remembered the feel of the soiled feet on his back and the sad blade of a knife on his neck.
– You can’t beat me for the rest of my life.
Charlotte looked at Tigris’ arrogant eyes and said.
“Get down on your knees and apologize for the insults of that day. The best way to get your knees, forehead, and palms touching the ground!”
Tigris remembered the hot blood temperature.
It reminded me of her strong will, which had turned into a rag and had no dark corners on her body, but never sent a single monster.
“Until I finish my job as a swordsmanship instructor at the Imperial University, learn the sword faithfully from me.”
Not only Charlotte, but all the students doubted their ears.
“What? Are you a swordsman?”
“okay. The reason I came to Imperial University today was to interview a swordsmanship instructor.”
“under···! No way! No matter how much you say you got 3 rings, you just got them. But teach us?”
“That is for the school to decide. It’s not your business.”
Charlotte grabbed the sword and broke it.
“I don’t know what use a swordsmanship instructor would lose to a student.”
“Do you think the game has already been won?”
“Then do you think the number of rings and swordsmanship skills are the same?”
“Up to three, there is not much difference. But with your dog, it’s definitely different.”
Charlotte chuckled.
“Are you talking as if you were four?”
“It’s long. A duel is about the outcome.”
“under! Why are you saying the right thing?”
Charlotte looked at Aiden, and Aiden nodded.
Charlotte and Tigris drew their swords from their scabbard.
Both Charlotte and Tigris were suspended.
‘I will never give up.’
Charlotte had no intention of experiencing the humiliation of that day twice.
One year and five months of staying up all night for revenge was pain itself.
Today was the day to be rewarded for that painful time.
Aiden lowered his hand, making sure the two were fully prepared.
“start!”
blah blah blah!
The two clashed their swords against each other as if they had made a promise.
strength versus strength.
Charlotte pushed Tigris so hard that the Auror Ring was overloaded.
However, Tigris did not retreat even a single step.
‘You can’t win by force.’
From birth, Charlotte was a woman and Tigris was born a man.
There was an unavoidable weight class difference.
Besides, since Tigris has three rings, he couldn’t beat Tigris in a strength fight.
Charlotte and Tigris pushed their swords against each other, stepped back slightly, and clashed again.
This time, it was technology, not power.
As soon as Tigris and the sword collided, Charlotte changed the direction of the force and struck it strongly upwards.
Charlotte, the torso of Tigris, aimed at Tigris’ side with her shoulder.
It was strong enough to break ribs if not avoided.
‘There is no way a young man who has not properly dueled with another person can properly respond to such an anomalous attack.’
However, Tigris avoided the anomalous attack by simply turning sideways very easily.
It was an amazing reaction.
Rather, Charlotte, whose center of gravity was shifted forward, became dangerous.
‘shit!’
Charlotte kicked her leg at Tigris’ counterattack as she walked on the bridge.
As Charlotte’s body floated in the air, it gave a rotational force and swung the sword towards Tigris’ body.
“The action is too loud.”
At Tigris’ words, Charlotte was terrified.
But his body was already floating in the air.
Tigris avoided his feet and at the same time grabbed Charlotte’s right hand with his left hand, and plunged it down to the floor while holding him in his arms.
thud!
“Uh-huh!”
His vision was blurry for a moment in the suffocating pain.
Then, a cold, cool feeling on your neck.
Tigris spoke into Charlotte’s ear.
“I won.”
The right hand holding the sword was suppressed by Tigris’ left hand, the body was firmly fixed by Tigris, and the sword held by the reverse sword was touching Charlotte’s neck.
It was a complete defeat.
“The anomalous movement was good, but it was the handshake that tried to overcome the anomaly with the anomaly. You should have secured the auror to the bridge then to defend against my attack.”
Charlotte didn’t hear anything from Tigris.
Tears covered my eyes from the humiliation of just losing.
Tigris realized that giving Charlotte his advice now would be of no use, so he just stood up.
Then he took out a new handkerchief and handed it to Charlotte.
“Shut up, you bastard!”
Charlotte shrugged off Tigris’ handkerchief.
Charlotte gritted her teeth and stood up.
A drop of tears glided down his cheeks, but he quickly wiped them away.
I didn’t want to show him tears.
“Are you trying to teach me that you’re going to be a teacher? Do you think you’ve already become a swordsmanship instructor?! I haven’t even become a swordsmanship instructor yet…! And only now that I have won once this time… or twice…”
“Charlotte.”
Tigris’ low voice quietly rang through Charlotte’s head.
It was because Tigris had magical power in his voice.
The burning anger quickly evolved.
Tigris opened his mouth as Charlotte calmed down.
“Succumb to defeat. Charlotte. Others are watching.”
Charlotte looked at the eyes full of eyes around him.
Everyone was looking at Charlotte with a confused look.
When he lost to Tigris at Schubert that day, it was the same kind of eyes that people sent.
If this duel was a play, the role was fixed.
Tigris is the villain.
Charlotte is a sailor.
As in a fairy tale, when a good person overcame a bad person, they should applaud, but the villain won.
The audience did not know how to react.
Charlotte’s head went blank like a rookie actor who made a mistake during a performance.
“Charlotte de Friharden.”
Tigris’ stern voice brought Charlotte to consciousness.
“You and I are nobles. If you are a noble, keep your dignity like a noble. You are not a 21 year old girl. You are born nobler than anyone else, and you have a responsibility to become an idol for all people.”
Tigris’ eyes were not those of the winner.
He was neither intoxicated nor excited about the victory.
It was just aristocratic.
“Being defeated does not mean losing your honor. You lose your honor when you don’t win over defeat.”
Tigris took the last handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Charlotte.
He later realized that the act of handing over a handkerchief to the winner of a duel was an aristocratic manner of ‘forget everything from the past and make peace.’
Charlotte didn’t like Tigris who always pretended to be noble and noble.
But thanks to that, my complicated head was organized.
Charlotte snatched Tigris’ handkerchief.
Then he wiped away the flowing tears and wiped the dirt off his cheeks.
Bang-!
Then he unwrapped his nose and handed it to Tigris.
“I lost.”
Tigris was satisfied with her strong eyes, who recovered quickly like wild grass despite a bitter defeat.
“Then call me later.”
As Tigris just turned around, Charlotte exclaimed.
“hey! Take a handkerchief! hey!”
“It’s a gift from a winner to a loser.”
“What?! This bird…! hey! hey!”
Tigris had no intention of responding to his provocation.
Soon it was interview time.