I’m the Only Male Knight in a Chastity-Reversed World, and When I Enrolled in a Female Knight Academy, I Somehow Got Treated Like a Hero — Dominating with an Unparalleled Skill That Makes Me Stronger the More Sex I Have - 45

Chapter 45: Deciding the Members

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The Knight Academy the next day. With the Supreme Sword Festival drawing near, the classroom was buzzing with talk about it.

“Every last one of them’s fired up,”

Berga said as she looked around the room.

The Supreme Sword Festival was, so to speak, the culmination of everything they had trained for as knight cadets up to this point. Whether they could achieve good results there would decide their future paths. Of course everyone was taking it seriously.

“And what about you, Berga?” I asked.

“I like festivals,” she replied. “They get people pumped.”

She said it while flexing her arm.

“And if I get good results here, I can make my name echo through the whole academy. No way I wouldn’t be fired up for that.”

“It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to learn about Nee-san’s charm,” Frau added. “Frau will do her utmost as well.”

Frau popped her head out from behind Berga.

“Although the one who understands Nee-san’s true worth best is Frau.”

She snorted proudly, her possessiveness on full display.

“Let’s show everyone how amazing the Straiga family really is,” Berga said.

“Yes, ma’am!” Frau replied.

Just as the sisters were warmly reaffirming their bond, the classroom door opened, and Cassandra—our homeroom teacher—appeared with the attendance book slung over her shoulder. The noise died down. Standing at the podium, Cassandra slowly surveyed the students, then snorted as if she could see straight through their thoughts.

“Looks like your minds are completely occupied with the Supreme Sword Festival.”

A smile formed on her lips as she continued in a solemn tone.

“As you all know, the Supreme Sword Festival will be held next month. Only a handful of representatives from each class may compete in the main event. Not everyone gets to participate. Only those who survive the class selection will be allowed to stand on that grand stage.”

The students all listened intently.

“And as for how we’ll decide this class’s representatives… Class A will conduct a team battle, with teams of four.”

At those words, murmurs rippled through the room.

“A team battle…!?”

“Isn’t it supposed to be individual combat…?”

“Even for knights, situations where you fight alone are rare. On missions, coordination with others is the norm. Of course, that doesn’t apply if you’re an absolute powerhouse like me.”

After saying that, Cassandra addressed the students again.

“Team formation is free. Find partners you like and form a team. Decide by after school today and submit your member list.

“You may use this lecture period to discuss team formation. I’ll excuse myself. Having a teacher around would only distract you.”

With that, Cassandra left the classroom, the attendance book still over her shoulder. She acted as if she were being considerate, but in truth, she just didn’t feel like teaching. Having known her for several years, I could tell that much.

Once Cassandra left, the atmosphere in the classroom shifted. Students exchanged glances. When one student stood up, it was the signal. Everyone moved at once. Teams of four. In the end, victory would be decided by who you chose as the other three members. Some teamed up with close friends, while others tried to approach top-performing elites. Everyone had their own strategy.

No one gathered around me. It was as if a hole had opened around my seat, like the eye of a storm. During the previous magic power measurement, my result had been recorded as “no data.” The magic power I gained through my unparalleled sex skill probably didn’t count as my original magic power, so it couldn’t be converted into a measurable value.

But to my classmates, it must have looked like my magic power was overwhelmingly inferior, even within this class. For a knight, magic power was paramount. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that magic power defined a knight’s strength. On top of that, I was a man.

People might look at me with curiosity, but in a battle where their future was on the line, they likely didn’t see me as someone worthy of having their back.

So what now? If I didn’t find a team by the end, would I be grouped with the leftovers? Well, even in the worst case, that would be fine. As long as I made it through on my own, it wouldn’t be a problem. As I stood there with my arms crossed, thinking that, an arm suddenly draped itself over my shoulder from behind.

“Yo, Kreto. Let’s team up with us.”

“Berga, are you sure? Teaming up with a guy like me?”

“Of course. Guy or girl, that doesn’t matter. We’re comrades. We’ve been through life-and-death situations together, haven’t we?”

Berga flashed a grin, showing her teeth.

“And besides, we know your strength better than anyone. You’re strong. That’s why we want you on our team.”

“Frau also judges that teaming up with Kreto-san is preferable to partnering with others. Nee-san will be pleased.”

“Yeah, that’s basically it.”

“Alright. If that’s the case, let’s team up.”

“Nice. Then it’s settled.”

“That means we need one more member.”

“Who should it be?”

“Well, I’d like to say Sophia, but…”

Berga glanced toward the center of the classroom.

“That’s some serious competition.”

Students were swarming around Sophia.

“Sophia, team up with me!”

“No, with me!”

“Please, join our team!”

Almost the entire class was trying to recruit Sophia. If you could get the top student of the year on your side, a team battle would become overwhelmingly advantageous. But if she became your enemy, your chances of becoming a representative would plummet. Naturally, everyone wanted her.

“E-even if you say that…”

Surrounded from all sides by desperate appeals, Sophia was flustered and confused. But the others paid no attention and continued pushing themselves on her.

“Come on!” 

“Come on, come on!”

“You’re all being unsightly.”

At that moment, a sharp, admonishing voice rang out. At the dignified tone, the room fell silent as if water had been poured over it.

“No matter how fervently you court her, it is meaningless if you lack appeal. Unfortunately, none of you possess brilliance befitting Sophia-san.”

Standing there was a young lady who looked every bit a refined noble. Her well-maintained, glossy hair was braided on both sides and swayed at her shoulders, shining like jewels whenever it caught the light. She wore her uniform elegantly, her posture straight as if a steel rod ran through her back. She exuded refinement and grace.

“Catherine-san…”

“Step aside. This is the path I shall walk.”

As Catherine advanced, the students surrounding Sophia were overwhelmed by her presence and retreated one after another. Like the sea parting, Catherine approached Sophia with unhurried steps.

“Who is that woman?”

“Catherine Clayborne. A young lady of House Clayborne, specializing in earth magic. She is the runner-up of the year, second only to Sophia-san.”

Frau explained.

“She was famous even before enrollment, right alongside Sophia. People say that if Sophia weren’t here, Catherine would almost certainly be the top student.”

One glance was enough to tell. Catherine was strong. Not just her magic power, but her very bearing marked her as a formidable warrior. Standing before Sophia, Catherine placed a hand on her chest and spoke.

“Sophia-san, in team battles, what matters most is who you team up with. Those with power should partner with others of equal power. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, I believe you’re right.”

“Ufufu. If you and I were to team up, we would be unstoppable. A golden pair destined for the main event would be born.”

Catherine then placed a hand on her chin and spoke with deep feeling.

“Sophia-san, I thought this from the moment I first laid eyes on you, that the only one who could stand beside you was myself. And now, that time has come.”

“Th-this is bad…”

“If those two team up, there’s no way we can win…!”

The surrounding students trembled in fear. Catherine suddenly thrust her hand forward and declared loudly,

“Now then, Sophia-san! Take my hand. Let us unleash our whirlwind upon the class competition—!”

“I’m sorry, but I must decline.”

“Eh!? Of course you would! Naturally—wait, what!? W-why is that!?”

“There is someone else I wish to team up with.”

Saying, “Please excuse me,” Sophia bowed politely and turned on her heel. Then, under everyone’s gaze, she walked over to us. Looking straight at me, Sophia spoke.

“Kreto-san. Would you be willing to team up with me?”

“I thought you didn’t like me.”

“Of course I dislike you, Kreto-san. However, if the goal is to reach the main event, I judged that teaming up with you all is the most rational choice.”

Sophia gave a faint smile. We might not get along personally, but she clearly acknowledged my ability as a knight.

“Not very honest, are you,” Berga laughed. “Well, anyway, that settles it.”

The four of us were now assembled. We were ready to face the team battle. However, there was one person who wasn’t satisfied. That person was Catherine, who had been rejected by Sophia.

“T-to choose someone else over me…! And to team up with a male failure who scored the lowest on the magic power test…!”

Being turned down hurt, of course, but more than anything, it seemed unbearably humiliating that Sophia had chosen me, a male underachiever.

“…I see. I understand now.. I understand your intention, Sophia-san. You believe that you alone are sufficient. That even with dead weight like a man, you can still carry the team to victory. That you do not require my assistance. How splendid.”

She had also arrived at a completely bizarre interpretation. Perhaps the shock had warped her perception.

“But Sophia-san! You underestimate my strength! Even you cannot win while burdened with dead weight! I will make you regret not taking my hand!”

With that declaration of war, she shot a sharp glare at me.

“Kreto Brightblade! I will never forgive you! You will pay for the humiliation you have inflicted upon me!”

For some reason, her hostility was aimed squarely at me. I hadn’t said a single word at her, though…

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー