How to Live as a Martial Arts Writer in a Fantasy World

37 – 37. Practice Match(2)

37.

“…So, we’re all supposed to attack this one maid? How much is he underestimating us?”

Selelene Von Astar, who was selected as one of the representatives among the first-year magic students, wore a displeased expression.

It’s not that I don’t know the rumors about Alan Edgar von Mueller.

He is the protagonist of the rumor that he single-handedly destroyed the Huangduo Academy, turned it upside down, and tore apart the recent fifteen journalism students, as well as being the youngest son of the novelist Shuren, Count Mueller.

And he is also famous for capturing the attention of the two princesses, Felicia and Lynn.

Alan chuckled at Selene’s reaction.

“Maia.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“They’re ignoring you, aren’t they?”

“What should I do?”

Alan said in response to Maia’s reaction.

“Do whatever it takes. Destroy them. Then it will be all right.”

“I understand.”

Maia lifted her skirt slightly.

Between the thin lines of white stockings that enveloped both sides, her white thighs were exposed. Maia pulled out two short swords hidden in the garters on her thighs and took a position in front of Alan.

An overwhelming aura that seemed to suffocate.

Maia’s will, which was filled with the determination to fulfill Alan’s orders, burst forth as a formidable aura.

Alan sat behind Maia in the chair, resting his chin on his hand.

“I’m going to sit here and not move. Whoever manages to break through Maia and touch me will score a touchdown. If successful, it’s your victory. Otherwise, it’s Maia’s victory. Time limit is 15 minutes.”

“What does it help us if we succeed in that?”

“At least you can gain experience in the art of restraining your eldest brother. But is that all that motivates you?”

Alan laughed as he looked at the students who were looking at him.

“Then how about this? If you win in the inter-class battle, the nine of you here will be given the rights to read the first edition of the four volumes before it is published.”

“What?”

“Really?!”

“I don’t need it!”

“Except Astal, you’re out.”

Selene had the expression that she had blurted out something by mistake, but the words that had been uttered couldn’t be taken back.

“Did I really not expect you to ask twice?!”

While Selene was grimacing, Alan casually spoke while looking at the pocket watch he pulled out of his pocket.

“Of course, if you don’t want that, I won’t do anything. Actually, I just thought it would be nice to get some material by watching you guys fight.”

“Are you saying that it will help us write a novel?”

“Any experience can inspire a novel. That’s why I promised to hand you the first edition.”

Allen smiled.

He formed a team with nine others, including the nine chosen as first-year representatives and Elleon Grad von Lustall. Watching their standoff against the representatives of the second year may put a little more power into his battle descriptions.

Getting about nine volumes from Karl shouldn’t be too difficult.

Allen said as he watched the representatives, who were in a state of intense enthusiasm.

“If you can’t breakthrough Meia within 15 minutes, consider our brother can’t either. The key point is, precisely, how much the five vanguards can hold Meia back. It won’t be easy, will it?”

Allen, having said this, propped his chin up.

“Begin, Meia.”

“Understood, sir.”

A bright aura sprang from the two short swords held in Meia’s hand.

Her eyes emitted a cold, combative spirit as she wielded the transformed twin swords, which changed from short to long.

“As per your command, I will oppose with all my power.”

“Get into formation!!”

“Damn, it’s late…!”

Meia pushed into the students, who didn’t even have time to form their ranks properly, like a wild beast.

***

The shaping of Meia’s sword erupted like flower petals.

Two out of five vanguards were already pinged and tumbled on the ground. They were the two who crossed swords with Meia first.

Considering how they couldn’t simply get up, it seemed they had received quite a shock.

The remaining three held Meia, and the other four sorcery students targeted her. As if to finish it in one go, intense magic sparkled from the end of their magical equipment – mage.

‘Fire…’

Meia retreats backward like a feather.

Meia’s fast-moving form leaves a trace. Not just one or two. It was as if several Meias were guarding Allen, like phantoms.

As if flower petals were becoming a snowstorm.

The magic targeted by the four sorcery students poured out simultaneously towards the traces.

A veil that manifested from the brooch-shaped magical tool pinned on Allen’s chest transformed into a protective shield. Above it poured the broken phantoms of Meia and fragments of magic.

But Allen’s gaze was fixed on Meia’s retreating form.

‘Huanhuanmeiyingbu (幻換梅影步)? Is it real?’

Allen couldn’t hide his astonished expression.

One of the masters of the Sahwang Sect that Shuren encountered used martial arts from Huashan (華山). This was briefly mentioned in the second volume, and the technique used there was Huanhuanmeiyingbu.

As the name implies, the unique method of Huaishan was to trick their opponents by switching between afterimages and reality. This is something he had written down.

“You’re insane. I thought this kind of thing only happened in novels…!”

When reading author pieces, there are cases in which technologies, cultures, or devices that appear in novels are implemented directly.

Although Allen himself referred to many novels, he knew that such things were used like clichés.

However, he never thought that martial arts would be implemented in a fantasy world.

And that wasn’t even Koon Ryung with its oriental image, but the West Country, Meia, who was closer to him, was going to implement them directly. He had never even thought of it.

“How many afterimages are you creating?!”

“Three of them are illusions! Don’t be fooled!”

“I can’t figure out what’s real!”

“Detect the real from the illusion… Argh!”

Selene, who was giving orders, is hit by the hilt of Meia’s sword that suddenly appeared behind her and kneels.

Meia, who neutralized the commander, overwhelms the other three in an instant.

“…uh.”

Rela bites her lip as she blocks Meia’s sword attack flying towards her with a magical barrier.

It’s a terrifying speed.

The mystical energy-infused sword attack was so powerful that it could easily tear apart the layered magical barriers.

She can’t stop the cold sweat from pouring down her forehead as her magic barriers were torn apart.

‘Is this, a maid?’

She had heard rumors about the servant of the Mueller family.

It was not an unfamiliar story to Rela.

However, she couldn’t understand that a swordsman who could easily break in after shattering a five-layered magic barrier was a mere maid.

“You can easily deploy a five-layer magic barrier… You must be Rela Von Princeton.”

With silver short hair, purple eyes, and a dark cape that stretched from her shoulders to her thighs.

Meia looked at Rela who was hiding her academy uniform as if she didn’t want to show it to anyone, while holding her sword relaxed.

White frost formed over Rela’s head.

“Princeton! Step back! “

“Evans…!”

The one who ran to help the cornered Rela was Stella, the only one who managed to get up again among the vanguard.

Meia, who blocked the sharp cutting attack with her left hand sword, took a short step.

Naturally, as her left foot positioned behind her right foot, Meia’s body rotates. In the process, she held Stella’s sword with her own, and naturally threw Stella towards Rela.

A hint of confusion crossed Leila’s eyes.

The chill surrounding her dissipates, and Leila and Stella tangled, rolling on the ground.

“Euk!”

“Kuek!”

Maya, in the meantime, has subdued the other two in a split second.

Two disenfranchised magic department students, toppled after being punched in the stomach.

The auras from Maya’s sword, who had dominated the remainder before Stella could rise, halted right before Stella’s eyes, turning into a blade.

“If you act so loudly in a confrontation, you would give your opponent a chance to respond. You need an amendment, Lady Evans.”

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At Maya’s words, Stella bit her lip.

Click. The sound of Allen pressing a pocket watch echoed quietly.

Maya retracted her aura and returned to Allen’s side, and behind her, the tragic sight of the first-year students was displayed.

Allen grinned at this, laughing quietly.

“I told you. It wouldn’t be easy.”

“What the hell, that maid… A maid that can use aura, isn’t that cheating!”

“That’s common sense in our family. Haven’t you heard? All the servants of the Mueller family are well-versed in swordsmanship.”

Casually dismissing Celine’s words, Allen put the pocket watch back into his pocket.

“6 minutes duration. Maya took 2 minutes to break through the front line, and 4 minutes to deal with the remaining rear magician. With this, do you think we can take on my brother and the second-year seniors? You couldn’t even last for 15 minutes.”

“Kuek…!”

It’s a fact.

Allen clucked his tongue, looking at Celine who couldn’t dispute and fell silent.

No matter how much it was a serious matter that five people couldn’t properly restrain Maya and were broken through, even if the third-year student Elrion Grad von Rustal, who sticks to the concept of a supporter for the first-year students, is absent.

Even if Albert stepped forward alone, it was obvious that he wouldn’t stand a chance with those services.

“Well, it’s anyway the result I expected.”

“Did you predict this?”

“Of course. Did you think Maya is just a simple maid?”

At the words of Allen, Stella shook her head.

That’s impossible.

Maya, who even makes Lin’s fiercely protective Shen wag his tail.

Allen looked around at the other students and said.

“And since you don’t seem to understand the current results, should I tell you something? Maya was personally taught swordsmanship by our mother.”

Everyone gasps at a nonchalant comment from Allen.

“The Duchess of Muller taught you herself?!”

“You may be weaker than my brother, but I can’t guarantee any of you will come out as the winner. Do you understand why I have selected Meia to be your opponent?”

There is silence.

Allen rises from his seat.

“One week. Excluding today, there are six days left, right?”

Allen chuckled.

“Try sparring with Meia. Whether or not you will win will depend on these next six days.”