Even though Jusin went straight to the teacher and didn't call for others, around half of the student body gathered around the training ground anyway.
It wasn't difficult to figure out the culprit, though.
Amelia Edemsworth was lurking around, politely greeting all who arrived, just like a caring host of a housewarming party.
The thing was, she wasn't the only person acting out of line for the occasion.
There was a number of upperclassmen sneering at the future hero from the side. Their disrespectful and mocking body language was displayed so openly that it wasn't necessary to hear what they were talking about to get the gist of it.
The future hero was tense.
Not because of the imminent duel but because of that bunch.
"..."
Like a nervous tick, Rotsard's face scrunched for a snarl for a split of a second, but the bleached-blond-haired boy managed to relax his expression, as if donning a stone mask.
Do they have no shame?
Acting like some filthy peasants in public.
*tack*
One of those upperclassmen threw something at Justin.
Nothing much, a piece of paper crumpled into a tiny ball, and it fell short of reaching its target…
"...!"
…but the future hero still flinched and glanced nervously towards the group, like a skittish prey animal…!
"..."
Rotsard's blank expression didn't exactly change, but his eyes widened, and even without him circulating mana, the temperature around him seemed to drop.
"...no… It's okay… as long as he is making progress like in the story…"
Rotsard relaxed his curled fingers and breathed out… or rather growled out, as he was too agitated to completely relax.
As for the judge, the same teacher who supervised Justin and Rotsard's last duel took the position and called both participants.
He gave the exact same explanation as last time, while certainly glancing over at Rotsard a disproportionate amount of time when mentioning cheating.
"Did either of you make a contract with a fae since the last duel?"
The teacher asked for confirmation, acting a bit odd for some reason.
"Unfortunately, no."
"I'd rather sell my soul to the deofol."
Justin's answer was kind, although a little timid, while Rotsard didn't hold back at all as he figured out he should start setting things up properly for what had to happen so the world would be saved.
"!!!"
He certainly caused a reaction as both the teacher and the future hero flinched and stared at him in horror.
"...student Vallhall, I will have to notify the principal about that remark…"
"Understandable. Just keep in mind that I still haven't recovered my natural mana barrier."
The teacher cleared his throat and spoke in a hesitant voice, but the bleached-blond-haired boy merely shrugged his shoulders and pointed out.
"So be it. And about you fighting bare-handed against a training sword…?"
For some reason, this time around the teacher seemed to be far more talkative, causing Rotsard to furrow his brows and glare at him.
"Teacher, with all due respect, the last person I faced with my swordsmanship succumbed to the injuries and died in the aftermath of that sparring session."
'?!"
"...!"
The boy straightened his back and revealed in an indifferent voice, causing the teacher to flinch and his opponent to shiver.
"After a single exchange, might I add."
Rotsard sighed, more to himself than to be informative to the other two.
"Is this enough of an interrogation, or am I supposed to disclose more private information for your amusement, teacher?"
"Let's get it going."
Rotsard scoffed before facing Justin once more, making the teacher straighten his back and nod.
Honestly… has the world randomly conspired against Rotsard just to infuriate him that very day?
"Focus."
"Y-yes…!"
"BEGIN!"
Rotsard clicked his tongue, glaring at the future hero and making him tense up, right when the teacher called for the start of their encounter.
The bleached-blond-haired boy didn't attack, instead giving his opponent the time to compose himself and take the first move…
"..."
An upward diagonal slash that Rotsard dodged by a hair's breadth, with his beastly yellow eyes focused solely on the blade.
*WHOOSH*
"?!"
Or so it seemed, as Justin trembled and haphazardly sidestepped to the side when Rotsard's hand erupted vertically, right by his elbow, producing a ridiculously menacing sound!
"GHH!"
The future hero's surprise turned into agitation, and he gritted his teeth while throwing a counterattack. A horizontal slash that was dodged by his razor-focused opponent with a quick step back.
The next couple of attacks from the future hero resulted in consecutive dodges while the stone-faced Rotsard never took his eyes away from his opponent, barely paying attention to the blade itself.
All the dodges were such close-shaves that it actually seemed believable that it was Rotsard's luck in addition to distracting and throwing off Justin's composure at the start of the duel.
"OOHH~!"
That sentiment amongst the onlookers was reinforced with the next attack connecting, although only brushing, against Rotsard's shoulder as he wasn't fast enough.
Without armor and with a real weapon in his opponent's hands, that wouldn't be something a normal person would just walk off on a battlefield.
"YEAH!"
"Out of luck already, Valhall!"
The audience got so comfortable that they started openly mocking the bleached-blond-haired boy.
"Haaa~"
But a couple of attacks later, when Justin went for an upward vertical slash and seamlessly connected it with a downwards one, Rotsard turned to the side.
While letting the blade tear off a button of his shirt, he blocked the back of Justin's blade with the curled fingers of his left hand while also placing his right hand on the future hero's chest and simply straightening his arm…