The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 36: Letter from Brother

I circulated aura throughout my body and kicked off the ground.

Standing before me was Cornelia Zehabaruto, wearing a fearless smile.

She was the imperial princess. I crossed swords with her and knocked her entire body backward.

“Tch! You really do have a large total amount of aura, Luka.”

“You haven’t changed from before. Are you keeping up with your training properly?”

“Of course. But just constantly imitating Luka won’t get me anywhere. I have my own way of doing things—here!”

Saying that, Cornelia thrust her left hand forward. A red flash shot from her palm.

Immediately after, a massive ball of flame was approaching right before my eyes.

I instantly realized it was fire-attribute magic that Cornelia had activated. I increased my aura output even further and sliced through her magic.

Heat intense enough to burn skin split left and right, hitting the wall behind with a thunderous roar.

While healing the slight burns I’d suffered with prayer, I voiced my complaint to Cornelia.

“Hey, Cornelia.”

“Hmm? What?”

Cornelia, not thinking she was about to be scolded, tilted her head innocently. I narrowed my eyes and began my lecture.

“Why didn’t you use enhancement magic? You could have dealt much more damage if you’d used that instead.”

“Eh? Enhancement magic is still in practice, so it’s difficult to activate it on purpose.”

“You still have to do it. What’s the point of a mock battle otherwise? Use it even if it blows your hand off.”

“Y-you’re right…! Before I knew it, I’d become overly cautious~”

Whether my point had gotten through to her or not, Cornelia looked down very sadly. Then, the highlight disappeared from her eyes.

“Sorry, Luka. I wasn’t serious. I wasn’t desperate. As an apology, you can cut off my arm. I’ll have it healed afterward.”

“I don’t need that. More importantly, come at me with everything you’ve got. Let’s fight to the death with the intention of dying, but without actually dying.”

“Luka… hehe. I thought you’d say that.”

Having regained her composure, Cornelia and I crossed blades.

In the end, Cornelia was blown away by my enhancement magic. She slammed her entire body against the wall and was unconscious for a while.

☆

“…Mm, mmm?”

Cornelia opened her eyes.

Looking up at me first, she smiled.

“Luka, that was amazing. It hurt. It felt good.”

“First it should be ‘good morning,’ right? Are you feeling alright?”

I asked her as she sat up. Cornelia flexed her bicep to show off her energy.

“I’m fine~ Luka healed me with divine prayer, didn’t you? I’m full of energy!”

“I see. That’s good then. Thanks for being my partner again today, Cornelia.”

“No problem. I’ll do anything for Luka. Besides, it’s for my sake too.”

“But seriously, that was too much. The training ground is completely wrecked.”

The one complaining about my and Cornelia’s mock battle was Sheila Calera, who had been watching the fight from beginning to end.

Actually, she’d been hanging around with us a lot lately too.

Cornelia and her relationship still wasn’t good, but uniquely, even Cornelia acknowledged her talent when it came to magic alone.

“If it’s for Luka’s sake”—those were her words.

“Hah? Luka was the one who broke it, so they should be grateful if anything.”

“That makes no sense. There’ll be more complaints.”

“Let’s kill whoever complains. That’s the best solution.”

“Agreed. I get complaints when I use enhancement magic too. It’s subtly annoying.”

“Calm down, you two…”

Even Sheila, whom I’d thought would be the voice of reason, began going along with Cornelia’s troublemaking.

I stopped them and changed the subject.

“More importantly, there’s something I want to tell you two.”

“Something to tell us?”

“What what?”

Even though I hadn’t said anything yet, Cornelia was grinning happily.

Both would probably be pleased with the content, so I wouldn’t be letting them down.

“Do you know about the martial arts tournament being held west of the imperial capital next month?”

“Martial arts… ah, I know, I know. It’s an anything-goes serious battle, right?”

“A tournament that’s martial arts in name only—aura, magic, divine prayer, curses, anything goes.”

Both Cornelia and Sheila knew about it well. Then this would be quick.

“That’s the one. It looks interesting, so I’m planning to participate. I want the championship prize.”

“Luka is? Then I’ll participate too~”

“Yes, yes,” Cornelia raised her right hand to declare her participation.

She was exactly as I’d expected. What remained was Sheila, the magic genius. When I glanced at her, Sheila also nodded with a small “mm.”

“I’ll participate too. If magic is allowed, it sounds interesting.”

“Hmm. So I can finally blow you away at the tournament.”

“It won’t be like during training. I’ll thoroughly beat you up.”

“Try it if you can.”

Crackle crackle crackle—the two were already sparking in front of me.

Seeing this, I said with satisfaction.

“Both of you have good motivation. It’s a perfect stage, so let’s do everything we can. Destroy everything thoroughly, and we—no, I will win.”

I clenched my fist tightly, and the two smiled at me.

“I won’t lose either~!”

“Mm, I’m the one who’ll win.”

☆

I parted with Cornelia and Sheila and returned to my room. Just as I was thinking I wanted to quickly eat dinner and rest, my personal maid handed me a letter.

On the back of the letter was engraved the family crest of the Salvatore Duke House.

A letter from Lucius?

Thinking that, I checked the contents and—ugh—shrugged my shoulders.

“Nii-san is… coming to the academy?”