The Escort Knight Who Is Being Obsessed Over by the Villainess Wants To Run Away

Bonus 8. Children of the Imperial Family (3)

The Academy’s first gymnasium, where the athletics competition is held, is a circular stadium modeled after the Giudecca.

One difference between the duels held in Giudecca and those held in the Academy is that there are ample safety measures in place.

This is a protective measure first developed by Elijah and Epona, and later improved by Amor.

It boasts performance that even knights who fight in real battles use.

So, in the academy where you fight with wooden swords, you never get seriously injured.

Still, the participants’ parents were uneasy.

Just because there are no serious injuries doesn’t mean there are no injuries at all.

Besides, it wasn’t very pleasant to see a child physically competing with another person.

Judah and Elijah also respected Fides’ will.

Free sparring is a very precise game because of its risks.

Middle school 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade. It’s like that.

And then there’s the middle school integration, where only the strongest of that age group participate.

Fides was a strong team that advanced to the finals of the middle school integrated competition.

It was amazing that first-year students participated in the integrated competition, but it was the first time that they were nominated for the championship.

After the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year games.

Soon it was time for the middle school integrated finals.

Host Jerry knows Fidesz’s skills.

I have guided you several times.

He also emphasized that this final was unusual because he was looking forward to it.

“The finals of the Unified Free Sparring are always a match between third-year students… but this time, for the first time, a first-year student has advanced to the finals. It’s really special.”

Two contestants came out with his introduction.

“First grade, class 3, middle school, Fides! And third grade, class 5, middle school, Bogi!”

Two boys wearing leather armor and holding wooden swords.

Fides looked up at his opponent.

‘You’re tall.’

In just one semester of the first year, Fides cleaned up the entire first year.

Since then, this topic has always been a hot topic among first-year students.

‘Can Fides win against second and third graders?’

Fides was also curious.

First of all, the second graders were completely wiped out in the lower division games of this athletic meet.

The remaining ones are the third grade.

Is it possible?

The results were about to appear before our eyes.

The third-year students I met at the bottom of the finals were all taken care of, and the giant in front of me was the last obstacle.

look.

Even among the first-year students, he is overwhelmingly larger than himself in terms of physique.

Almost the same size as an adult.

“Player, forward!”

Fides stood facing the view.

While the referee was checking the two men’s weapons, Bogi said.

“Abstain.”

Until the finals, the two had met several times and had a strange war of nerves.

“It’s a great achievement to have come this far. But give up now. It won’t work on me. I don’t want to beat up the prince like an animal in front of many people. I’m not saying this to provoke you, I’m being sincere.”

Fidesz laughed out loud, as if he was in awe.

It wasn’t a provocation, but it sounded like one.

I decided to respond to that.

Open one eye wide and stick out your tongue.

He said with a mischievous expression.

“Eat some candy, senior. I’m going to win.”

The crowd’s cheers erupted in excitement.

It’s not a distance where you can hear the voice.

But Fidesz’s actions and expressions alone were enough to understand the situation.

He smiled broadly, as if it was a satisfactory answer.

“I knew you would do that.”

Fidesz had no intention of backing down.

I hate giving up more than losing.

It wasn’t just for that reason.

‘If you don’t have confidence in yourself, why are you running away?’

I was very confident that I could win.

“Player, behind. Are you ready?”

Two boys standing at a distance.

The referee checked the condition.

The two nodded at the same time.

“start!”

The duel has begun.

*

Falling wooden sword.

There is no day.

But it is strong enough not to break.

So it’s rather a blunt instrument.

Besides, the opponent is taller than you.

Attacks that fall from a high place are equally heavy.

Fides slid his sword into his hand.

The actions are smoothly linked.

Strike the opponent’s abdomen like flowing water.

The thing I pictured in my head did not come true.

The opponent gave me strength and I held on.

‘Strong.’

A weight class gap that has not yet been overcome.

It cannot be subdued by force.

Still, there is a chance of winning.

Fides thought of his father.

Father Judah, the strongest man in humanity, excluding the great wizard Elijah who possesses asymmetrical power.

When he first asked him to guide him and spar, Fides cried.

I thought my dad hated me.

I didn’t know you would hit me that hard.

Now Fides knows.

That was considerate.

To hold a sword.

If you decide to harm someone, you must be prepared to get hurt yourself as well.

At that time, Judas was surprised and tried to calm her down, but he also warned her firmly again.

Taking up a sword means that you will have to face something worse than this.

So, it has come to this point.

look.

Big and strong.

But Fides had dodged, been hit by, and blocked hundreds of sword strikes bigger, stronger, and more terrifying than this.

It’s not just Judah.

Galahad.

And the guards.

Everyone helped me grow.

Still, the person who helped me the most was my father.

The wall and the goal of life.

I thought back to my teacher’s words.

‘It’s foolish to try to overcome them head-on. It’s inefficient. If it’s overwhelmingly possible, it can be a psychological warfare to suppress the opponent’s initiative, but if not, find another way.’

‘how?’

‘It’s a beggar who breaks the balance.’

Force is direction.

If the balance is upset, the direction becomes scattered.

Force without direction is meaningless.

As Fidesz pretended to push, Bogie gained more strength.

If you want to give strength, you have to be close.

The feet naturally come forward.

Fidesz was waiting for that moment.

He slid the sword sideways as if throwing it.

The balance of the view that is momentarily forward-looking.

I take a step forward to avoid falling.

Fides stepped forward as if he had been waiting.

He struck the back of Bogie’s neck as he fell over, slipping sideways.

“Ugh-!”

The fallen figure even missed the sword.

Fidesz struck the back once more, but it was shallow.

He rushed at Bogi, who had just gotten up, and stabbed him in the neck with his sword.

‘Don’t give me any room!’

But, it failed.

The sight of him holding a wooden sword and holding on.

This is possible because it is a weapon that kills the day.

If it had been a real sword, he would have already died, but such an assumption was meaningless in this match.

I tried my best not to let it be taken away, but in the end I dropped the sword.

Instead, he couldn’t even hold the sword.

It flies far away and falls.

Bogi smiled brightly and ran towards me.

Fidesz read the source of his confident smile.

‘If it’s a bare-handed fight, the difference in strength is absolute! … That’s what you’re thinking.’

But, unfortunately, Fidesz was more than prepared for this situation.

The view is of a fist being extended powerfully.

Fides calmly carried out the secret technique he had learned from his father.

It has to be proven.

That I am not inferior to anyone.

You have a responsibility to show it to those who have believed in you.

‘The sword is just a tool to be used. You shouldn’t rely on it.’

You should always consider the possibility of fighting naked.

Especially when the sword is not drawn, the hand is faster than the sword within a certain distance.

‘One hand on your sleeve, the other on your collar.’

Reach out and grab it firmly.

Use the power and body weight of the running horse as it is.

As you pull, rotate your body backwards and bend your upper body as if you were rolling it.

Those who knew Judas well saw in his appearance a resemblance to the young Judas.

‘Carrying a load.’

As if he was being swept away by a current, he was sucked into Fides and hit the ground with his whole body.

thud-!

A dull, heavy sound.

Make the stadium ring.

“Ugh…!”

The pain spreads from my back and taps my organs.

The view was breathless, stopped and panting.

“Haa, haa… .”

Fides looked down at the creaking sight.

After taking a deep breath, I realized the situation belatedly.

‘I succeeded…! And…!’

I won.

The moment of realization.

“Wow!”

The shouts pierced my ears.

Thousands of spectators were cheering.

It’s so hot it makes your skin tingle.

In the middle of it all, Fides stood breathlessly silent.

I was speechless because I had goosebumps all over my body.

The referee shouted.

“Game over! The final winner of the middle school division, Fides!”

The cheers grew louder.

Fides saw his family in the distance.

Sister Amor, who shouts wildly.

Donum, whose eyes sparkled with excitement and who was jumping up and down.

Spey’s eyes widened in admiration and surprise.

Elijah’s mother smiles proudly.

Maria and Galahad, who had been worried, sighed in relief and smiled.

And, Father Judah.

Contrary to expectations, he looked at Fides with calm eyes.

It’s not that I’m not happy.

Just. Just.

This feeling transcended the simple word joy.

Judas just smiled and nodded.

Even though it wasn’t your doing, you feel happy and thrilled as if it were your doing.

I also felt very refreshed.

Fides laughed just the same.

Although we didn’t say anything, our hearts were connected.

‘Dad, I did it.’

‘Yeah. I saw it all. From beginning to end. What you did. You did a great job. I’m proud of you.’

Fidesz looked away after having had enough time to interact with his family.

Where the guards gather.

Look at where Richard and Beninita are sitting.

To be exact, Erin who is there.

Fides smiled and raised his right hand.

A yellow handkerchief was tied around his wrist.

There is this kind of culture at the Giudecca Stadium.

If you receive a handkerchief and win the game, the relationship between the man and the woman will continue.

People who participated in this sports competition also imitated it.

Richard looked at Fides and asked Erin cautiously.

“… Did you give that to me, Erin?”

“… … .”

Erin answered with silence.

Richard grabbed the back of her neck.

I didn’t know whether I should like it or not.

Erin blushes and smiles secretly, while Fides boasts of having won with confidence.

Judah laughed heartily at the sight.

I’ll keep an eye on Richard, but it’s not something I want to know about now.

‘Our son. He’s a man.’

I was just so proud and impressed by my children.