Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

Episode 16 Inter-Grade Tournament

Episode 16 Inter-Grade Tournament

“Greetings, my cadets.”

Olympia Academy’s lecture hall.

Inside, the main auditorium was now filled with countless students.

From 1st to 4th year, the reason they were all gathered, regardless of age, was one.

The notice posted on the administrative office wall—for the Inter-Grade Tournament.

The one who had brought them together, Vice-Principal Chiron, continued his speech.

“I’d first like to thank the cadets who applied to participate in the Inter-Grade Tournament. I hope you will find satisfying results.”

“……”

“As there are some cadets who have just enrolled, I’ll explain the procedures of the Inter-Grade Tournament.”

The rules of the Inter-Grade Tournament are simple.

The academic staff pairs up the students for 1-on-1 matches, taking their abilities into consideration.

Since it’s only one duel to the end, the key is how well you’re evaluated within that match.

“……Therefore, you must showcase your maximum performance during that one opportunity. The better your performance, the better your evaluation.”

As mentioned before, the Inter-Grade Tournament scores are determined by ‘how good of a performance was shown’.

For instance, let’s assume that the past match record between A and B is 99 to 0.

If B were to overturn that absolute disadvantage and win at the Inter-Grade Tournament, they’d gain an overwhelmingly high score.

Or, even if there’s an obvious gap between your skill and your opponent’s, if you put up a good fight, you’ll also receive a good evaluation.

Therefore, the winning condition for the Inter-Grade Tournament can be simply defined.

“To show the most outstanding performance within your grade. That is the qualification of the winner.”

Chiron finished his explanation with that.

—The academic staff will pair us up? Is that okay?

—Who will my opponent be? As long as it’s not the top student.

The newly enrolled students, still unaccustomed, whispered among themselves, and Chiron smiled gently.

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll be matched with those of similar ability. The top students will be matched with other top students.”

*Sigh—* At those words, the new students breathed a sigh of relief.

I knew it.

‘This isn’t something to be happy about, is it.’

If the skill difference between all matchups is similar, then ultimately the top student has the advantage to win.

If you want to win, you have to overcome an unfavorable skill gap.

That’s my strategy for aiming for the win too.

‘After all, my perspective is that I’m always at a disadvantage.’

As an understudy, no matter who I face from the Knight Department, I’ll always be the underdog.

That’s why there’s a high chance that the second-year champion will be me, not the top student.

“Vice Chairman, then, can’t I choose my opponent myself?”

“Hmm?”

Someone raises their hand in the middle of Chiron’s explanation.

Everyone’s gaze turns toward them. I was just the same, intrigued by the interesting remark.

A somewhat cruel-looking face, muscles clinging to his body, and a sword at his waist.

I remember who he is.

‘Isn’t that Jackson or something?’

That b*stard who got thoroughly thrashed by me right after I possessed this body.

“Not by the academy, but I would like to choose my opponent myself.”

“Hmm… I admire your spirit, but choosing an opponent with a difference in skill…”

Chiron’s brow furrows slightly.

Jackson’s statement was quite irrational.

‘What’s he thinking, that guy.’

The academy doesn’t pair people of similar skill levels for no reason.

For example, if the opponent is stronger than me, it reduces my chances of performing well.

Then it would be difficult to get a high score.

Or if the opponent is weaker than me, there’s no point in performing well.

I created a situation where I was bound to be dominant. There’s no way they’d give me a high score.

‘…Looks like he has some ulterior motive.’

Therefore, Jackson’s statement doesn’t belong to the category of actions judged by common sense.

It should be viewed as having a little more ‘intention’.

A firm purpose of wanting to meet someone.

“I have someone I absolutely must meet. Is that possible?”

“Hmph. If that’s what you wish, then I shall grant it. Goodness, I’ve never seen a student like you before…”

Kiron, after the continuous request, finally conceded.

He probably thinks that Jackson has some competitive fire, that he’s aiming for an opponent stronger than himself, or something…

‘Well.’

Is Jackson really someone that ambitious?

He didn’t really seem like it.

*

“Who do you think his opponent will be, Herak? It’s too obvious for me, so it’s boring.”

“You would think so.”

We leave the great hall and walk outside.

The inter-grade exchange is held over two days, and today is the turn of the 3rd and 4th years, so our schedule is free for now.

We happened to run into Penell, whom we know, and are heading back together.

“The top student has to participate, they say… I don’t really want to. It feels like I’m going to get beat up.”

“That’s too bad.”

Penell’s lips next to me are pouting.

She’s been constantly defeated by the top Knight student, Apollo, until now.

She’s participating again this time, supposedly to protect the pride of the 2nd-year magic students, but she probably didn’t really want to.

“And what about you, Herak? Why did you participate?”

“Why, can’t I participate? Don’t tell me you’re saying that since I’m an alternate, I should stay put?”

“Eek? Of course not!”

Penell jumps at my playful teasing.

She frantically waves her hands to correct herself, as if she worried that I might misunderstand her words.

“I just, well, I was curious. I was so curious why Herak suddenly participated in the inter-grade exchange.”

“Well, I guess so.”

I guess I would be curious too if I were her.

The very last student of the 2nd-year magic department. A drop-out with no talent for magic.

But then he participates in the inter-grade exchange.

It’s practically like throwing yourself into a pit of fire. A moth-to-a-flame kind of move.

“I have my reasons. You don’t have to worry too much about it.”

The deeper reason, that we *had* to win or I’d be expelled, well, I couldn’t quite get into all that.

I skirted around it so Penell wouldn’t worry too much.

This sweet kid doesn’t need to have her time wasted by some substitute.

With that in mind, I chuckled softly and tried to reassure her.

Penell’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she abruptly turned her head away.

“Yeah, uh-huh……”

And then she started fidgeting with her fingers, wouldn’t you know.

Her fingers, laid on top of her big chest, intertwining this way and that.

‘…What?’

What’s up with her?

Penell’s shy words that followed explained everything.

“I see. Herac, you said it even at the library, so…”

‘Ah.’

The day we went to the secret room before.

I said something when I met Penell and Berry at the library then.

I’ll win, even if I have to bet my life. So stop worrying and get some rest.

‘That was just me stating the facts, though.’

There wasn’t any other intention.

I certainly didn’t say it with any bad intent to captivate Penell.

But Penell was still off in her own world, it seemed.

She fanned her cheeks with her hand, muttering to herself.

“Winning, yeah, it’d be best if I did it… But if I can’t, I guess it’s okay to leave it to you, Herac…?”

“……”

No, get a grip, Penell, please.

What’s she doing getting lost in her own thoughts like that?

And so, this strange situation formed, inexplicably.

Penell, swimming in her own misconceptions, and me, agonizing over how to respond.

Our standoff didn’t last long.

“Hello!”

A shout echoes loudly across the open space.

A female student, her voice ringing clear, rapidly approaches us.

“Finally, a chance to snag an interview! …or so I thought, but what is *this*?! What on earth is happening?”

She has the same fiery red pigtails as Irina.

But unlike her, she doesn’t have twin pigtails tied high; her back hair is left down. Two-side up.

Looking into her similarly burning red pupils, I flipped through the pages of my memory.

‘Ruby Duer.’

She was a first-year student in the magic department. Probably second or third place, I think.

Anyway, Ruby was circling us, tracing a path in a ring.

And her mouth never stopped, she just kept chattering away.

“This is a scoop, a scoop! The top student of the second year in the magic department, Senior Fennel, and the substitute, Senior Herak, having a secret rendezvous! I simply *have* to ask about this!”

“……”

Come to think of it, this kid was in the newspaper club.

I remember her as the oddball in ＜The Song of Sword and Magic＞ who was always glued to the protagonist.

She’s the type to not miss out on anything that’s a hot topic or interesting at the academy. Of course, that role was usually the protagonist, so it was natural that she would cling to them.

She had a lot of lines in the script… but it’s no different in reality.

Ruby tapped closer and immediately pulled a notebook from her chest.

With her pen poised, she quickly fired a question at Fennel.

“Okay, Senior Fennel! Question for you. What is your relationship with Senior Herak?”

“Uh, wh-what?”

“Hehehe. You can’t deny it? A reporter’s instincts are usually not wrong. Looking at the way Senior Fennel is looking at him right now—”

“……N-No, it’s not like that!”

Fennel shouts shrilly at Ruby’s mischievous question.

Her cheeks are already flushed a deep red, practically steaming, and her eyelashes are glistening with tears.

‘This won’t do.’

If this continues, something bad is going to happen.

Mostly in that I’ll get tangled up with Fennel and chewed out by all the other academy students.

I was late, but I was trying to intervene to prevent a troublesome event from happening—

“……A-Actually, we’re not a couple yet!”

Fennel’s bombshell statement left me speechless.

“……”

“Indeed, I see. So you’re not together yet. Noted, I’ll be sure to write that down!”

“……Ah! No! That’s not it! Let me say it again, listen!”

“Hahaha! No, once a statement is recorded, it cannot be deleted. It is a journalist’s duty, you see. Thank you!”

Watching Penell belatedly make a crying face and cling to Ruby, who brightly refused her—

‘…This is going to get annoying.’

It felt like I was about to get cornered by those magic users who were worried about Penell.

Especially that black-haired girl with glasses, I had a feeling she’d grill me, and I couldn’t help but sigh.