“It seems you still haven't figured out your place.”
Levi narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of a threat. “A commoner from the countryside who was lucky enough to get admission into the academy actually thinks they can stand on equal footing with nobles?”
“This has nothing to do with nobles or commoners.”
Irene furrowed her brows. “You knocked over my breakfast, so you should compensate me. It's a very simple concept.”
“Logic?”
His gaze fell upon the longsword wrapped in coarse cloth behind Irene's back. He carefully sensed the almost imperceptible magical fluctuations on the girl, and suddenly looked as if he had discovered something amusing.
“I see.”
“You don't even have a speck of decent mana on you. No wonder you can only show off by carrying a piece of scrap metal everywhere.”
He raised the staff in his hand, the red magic crystal embedded in its tip sparkling under the lights.
“The Imperial Magic Academy trains mages, not country bumpkins who only know how to swing chunks of iron.”
“The admissions office is really getting more and more careless, actually letting trash like you slip into the academy...”
Irene's expression stiffened slightly. A trace of unease flashed through her originally clear blue eyes.
She, of course, knew her magical talent was very mediocre.
Her master had once spent three days teaching her the most basic illumination spell. In the end, other than making her eat five extra bowls of rice because she meditated for too long, she hadn't made any actual progress.
But it was fine as long as she knew it herself. Being ridiculed for it in public was still very vexing.
“Ugh... what an annoying guy,” she muttered in a low voice.
Irene pursed her lips, pushing down her unhappiness. She raised her face slightly and looked at him defiantly.
“I'm not very good at it right now.”
The girl paused, then earnestly emphasized, “Only temporarily.”
“Besides, I got that admission invitation after passing the exam.”
“Since the academy accepted me, it means I'm qualified.”
She reached out and gripped the hilt behind her back, as if she had finally found some confidence. “Furthermore, my swordsmanship is very formidable.”
“Pfft—”
The fat lackey behind Levi couldn't help but burst out laughing.
“This is the Imperial Magic Academy. What's the use of formidable swordsmanship here?”
Irene's cheeks puffed up slightly.
She seemed to want to retort, but couldn't find the right words. After struggling for a while, she could only repeat stiffly, “My swordsmanship really is very formidable.”
Low chuckles rippled through the surroundings again, and the girl's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
Very well. I've already reasoned with them. But these guys don't seem to understand.
Then I suppose I'll have to rely on my fists.
Irene tightened her grip on the hilt. Just as she was about to say something, she saw the brown-haired youth suddenly raise his staff.
The red magic crystal at the tip of the staff glowed slightly, and a wisp of flame rose from it.
It wasn't any actual offensive spell, just the most basic condensation of mana. However, in such a cramped carriage, it still caused the surrounding crowd to instinctively take a few steps back.
“Since you're so confident, why don't you let me see—” Levi's words were suddenly cut short before he could finish.
Irene moved.
She didn't draw her sword, nor did she throw a punch.
With just a swift step forward, her slender figure nimbly crossed the distance of less than a few meters between them.
The brown-haired youth only felt his vision blur. In the next moment, a fair hand had already clamped down on his wrist.
Clack.
The staff was firmly pinned to the dining table, and the flame that had just ignited at its tip was instantly extinguished.
“...?”
Levi froze.
He instinctively tried to pull his arm back, but no matter how much strength he exerted, his pinned wrist didn't budge at all.
Under his struggles, the grip clamped down even tighter. He could even hear his joints groaning under the unbearable pressure.
Levi's eyes widened in disbelief.
Are you kidding me? Even a thick-skinned snow-maned bear doesn't have this kind of strength!
Is this woman... some magical beast in human skin?!
Irene also looked at him with some dissatisfaction.
“Offensive spells are not allowed on the train.” She raised her hand and pointed to the notice posted on the carriage wall.
【Private dueling is strictly prohibited inside the train. Releasing destructive offensive spells is strictly prohibited.】
The crimson characters were written loud and clear.
“Didn't you see it?”
“I—I wasn't planning on casting an offensive spell at all!”
“Oh.”
Irene thought about it and felt that what he said seemed to make sense.
Thus, she released the youth's wrist.
With an ugly expression, Levi pulled his hand back and massaged his already numb fingers.
His years of experience in talking big made him unable to resist mouthing off: “You only succeeded by relying on your strength to launch a sneak attack. In a real head-on duel, a fellow who doesn't even know magic like you wouldn't stand a chance against me!”
Irene, who had just let go, reached out again. Levi instantly retreated two steps like a startled rabbit.
“What... what else do you want to do? I... I'm telling you... private duels are not allowed on the train!”
“Didn't you say you wanted a head-on duel?”
She tapped her lips, seemingly thinking seriously for a moment, and then proposed, “Once we reach the academy, we can get off and have a match.”
Irene appeared very reasonable. “I heard the academy has dedicated dueling arenas, so we won't damage anything or affect others.”
“Of course, you can prepare your magic in advance, and I won't launch a sneak attack.”
“...”
Levi opened his mouth, speechless.
Does this white-haired woman not know how to take a hint and let things slide?
The lively discussions and occasional sneers from the surrounding onlookers made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Who wants to duel a crude, barbaric woman like you!
“Lord Levi.”
The lackey behind him suddenly leaned in and whispered a warning in his ear, “The patrolling conductor seems to be coming this way.”
The train was managed by the Imperial Magic Academy, so starting a conflict inside the carriage was no small matter.
Feeling as if he had been granted a grand pardon, Levi quickly took the exit offered to him.
“Consider yourself lucky today.”
Irene tilted her head in confusion. “So we're not fighting?”
“...”
“Also, my breakfast.”
“Compensate her!” Levi spat out through gritted teeth.
The lackey hurriedly fished out a few silver coins from his robe, intending to throw them over carelessly, but stiffened and changed his movement under Irene's gradually furrowing brow.
He bent down and obediently placed the silver coins on the table.
“Is... is this enough?”
Irene did some serious calculations, took one of them in the end, and pushed the rest back.
“Too much.”
She then pointed at Levi's tall boots.
“Also, apologize.”
The youth's face turned from blue to white. He gritted his teeth, and only after a long while did he extremely reluctantly mumble, “Sorry.”
“I can't hear you,” Irene said, her brow furrowing.
“I'm sorry!” This time, the youth lowered his head and raised his voice.
Only then did Irene nod in satisfaction. The confrontational aura around her dissipated, and she returned to her original, slightly airheaded self.
“It's fine,” the girl even responded very politely. “It's good that you correct your mistakes.”
Levi nearly choked on his own breath. Who the hell asked for your forgiveness!
In the end, he didn't dare to cause any more trouble, leaving the dining car with his two lackeys in a dejected manner.
The crowd spontaneously parted to make way. Only after their figures had completely vanished did the suppressed chatter break out in the carriage once more.
“How did she get over there just now?”
“So fast...”
“People who can get admission into the academy really aren't ordinary folks...”
Irene stood in place, quietly pricking up her ears.
Hearing someone praise her speed, the girl instinctively straightened her back. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly, though she quickly tried to press it down.
There's nothing to be happy about. This is only natural~
My swordsmanship was very formidable to begin with.
Even though I didn't use my sword at all just now~
Humming a little tune, Irene pretended not to care as she squatted down to pick up the shattered porcelain pieces on the floor one by one, placing them on a tray to prevent anyone from accidentally stepping on them and getting hurt.
When she saw the steak completely soaked in the soup, her eyes drooped visibly once more.
“Ugh~ what a waste...”
Lynn took all of this in.
【Endure】, 【Ignore】, 【Retaliate】.
Even without a player to choose for her, Irene ultimately took the third path.
Though she didn't directly draw her sword and send the other guy flying with a combo like in the game's CG.
He had wanted to complain about the game's script since long ago—who in their right mind fights on a moving train?
But... this is indeed the protagonist in my memory.
Upright, yet not rigid. Competitive, but not overbearing.
She usually seemed a bit airheaded, but once someone poked at her sore spots, she would immediately raise her quills defiantly.
This was Irene Durandal.
The monster who wasn't proficient in magic, yet ruled an entire era with the sword in her hand.
Lynn rubbed his chin. Although the current Irene had already shown a monster-like physique, compared to the Sword Saint in the late-game who could cleave mountains with a single strike, she was clearly far from fully grown.
I wonder what traits she has right now.
No, just thinking about it makes my heart itch like crazy.
As long as he met the physical contact requirement, he would be able to see all of Irene's traits.
Such a human-shaped gold legend was right before his eyes.
If he didn't take advantage of this, would he even be human?
A sweet, cloying voice came from across him, interrupting Lynn's contemplation.
“Young Master.”
He looked up.
Lilian was cupping her cheeks with both hands, gazing at him with a beaming smile.
The smile on the girl's face was as sweet as a begonia flower blooming in spring, but the silver fork in her hand had already been unconsciously bent into a dangerous angle.
“Is that white-haired girl very pretty?”
“...Mediocre.”
“Young Master has been staring at her for a long time~”
“I was just recalling some things.”
“Is that so~”
Lilian nodded thoughtfully, then cast her gaze toward Irene, who was not far away.
White hair, pretty, capable of fighting.
And she seems a bit simple-minded.
Isn't this a completely different track from Lilian's!
Formidable enemy! An unprecedentedly formidable enemy has appeared!
【Emotion Points +100】
Lynn's eye twitched.
Wait... what kind of weird things are you imagining again?
And in the middle of the aisle, as if sensing Lynn's burning gaze, Irene turned her head.
Their gazes met from across the crowd.
A trace of confusion first surfaced in those light purple eyes, and then they visibly lit up.
She licked her lips, staring straight at the mountain of stew piled in front of Lynn.
Lynn's handsome face, which usually worked like a charm, had finally failed.
This woman...
She is definitely just looking at my food!
Rate on N.U.
