I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 77

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 77

The final opponent was Louifilip Grizzly, the second-year prodigy.
Already a powerhouse who had defeated the fourth-year vice-champion in the semifinal, the crowd had surged in with the prospect of witnessing the Royal Academy’s first second-year Sword Tournament champion, spilling far beyond the Spectator Seats.
As Kaien climbed into the Training Grounds for the match, Louie, who had ascended moments before him, was warming up—bouncing in place, stretching his legs, moving with complete ease. There was no trace of tension about him, only natural poise.
Soon, catching sight of Kaien, Louie called out in a loud voice.
“Kaien! I finally get to meet you!”
“At last. Looking forward to this, Louie.”
Kaien smiled gently and offered his hand. Louie grasped it without a moment’s hesitation.
“A duel between third-year top and second-year top. I’m going to fight you with the intention of winning, so please be ready!”
Golden eyes gleamed with an almost belligerent hunger as they fixed on Kaien. He met that pure gaze without flinching.
“So am I.”

With a whistle, the final began.
“Hah!”
Louie charged without a shout, driving his blade forward with full force, and Kaien gasped at the power. Louie was laughing. Those eyes burned with such pure, almost mad intensity that they seemed to reveal how utterly consumed by swordsmanship he was.
Louie swung again. Blocking the heavy blade, Kaien’s eyes narrowed. An attack of absolute directness—he had sparred with Louie several times before and knew it well. That very straightforwardness and honesty was Louie’s weakness.
Whoosh! With a sound like splitting wind, Kaien’s blade suddenly shifted its trajectory.
The strike came from an angle Louie could never have predicted. He didn’t see Kaien’s blade at all. Yet in that instant, Louie twisted his body to the side and barely evaded the attack. His reflexes were extraordinary.
“Ugh!”
But he hadn’t fully escaped. His long hair, which had draped past his shoulders, fell in strands. The blade that had grazed his shoulder had sheared through his hair and torn his shoulder guard as well.
“You’re strong as advertised, senior.”
Louie said with a wry smile, gripping his shoulder with one hand. Between his fingers, bright red blood was visible.
‘Did I cut too deep?’
Kaien’s eyes drifted toward the Spectator Seats without thought. His brother was hurt. Surely she’d been shocked.
Sure enough, the girl’s face had gone pale as a sheet.
“Ah!”
“You can’t lose focus during a match.”
In the next instant, Louie’s blade came for his throat. Kaien barely knocked it aside with the guard of his sword. With a scraping sound and the rasp of his feet sliding back, Louie retreated.
“Senior.”
Louie grinned as he rotated his injured shoulder.
“This is a real sword match. I’m sure you’re prepared for injuries of this level yourself, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
He answered tersely, resetting his grip on the hilt.
Right—there was no room to let his attention wander. He had to focus on the opponent before him. And especially if that opponent was Ber’s brother.
The exchanges continued.
Sparks occasionally burst from their clashing blades, and with both fighters’ bodies drenched in sweat and their ragged breathing, the broad Training Grounds grew hot and tense.
In the prolonged close combat, even the spectators fell silent. With everyone holding their breath, the grounds filled only with short shouts and the sharp ring of clashing steel.
Sweat seeping from Kaien’s hand made his grip slip slightly. Louie didn’t miss the opening—his blade lunged forward, aimed with precision at Kaien’s right eye. Kaien barely deflected it with his blade, turning his head, but Louie’s sword still grazed across his cheek.
“…”
He retreated, regulating his breath and wiping his cheek with his hand. Blood was coming, though the wound seemed shallow—he felt no pain from it.
There was no time to rest. Louie closed the distance again with speed. Clang! Kaien drove Louie’s blade far back with all his strength. Louie, equally drenched in sweat, nearly lost his grip on impact.
As Louie reasserted his hold, Ber’s face flashed into view at his side.
The girl was chewing at her lower lip anxiously, both fists clenched tight. And those dark eyes held only one thing: Louie.
Why did that sting? A longing surged in him, followed swiftly by an aching, unnamed desire.
Someday.
He wished for a day when they could exchange greetings and talk naturally.
He wished for a day when his reflection would live in those warm eyes.
Crack. Thinking such thoughts, he tightened his grip. As Louie’s blade came at his throat, he sidestepped and raised his sword hand as if to counterattack.
Indeed—extraordinary reflexes. Louie read the intent behind even that small movement with precision and twisted his body to the right to avoid. But Kaien’s attack did not follow through.
“…?”
With a blade stopped just before his throat, Louie froze in place. Strength drained from his legs, and he buckled to the ground. A sharp sound rang out at his feet—his sword had fallen from his hand.
Both Louie and the referee stared at Kaien in bewilderment. The match had ended with such sudden, unexpected finality.
The moment the referee blew the whistle, a tremendous cheer erupted from the Spectator Seats.
“Waaah!”
But what reached Kaien’s ears first was a loud, piercing shriek that cut clean through the deafening roar.
“What was that just now? Your blade just appeared right in front of me! How did you do it?”
“Wait, hold on, careful—I’m still holding the sword,”
“What technique was that, amazing! I’m not leaving the Training Grounds until you teach me, okay? Senior!”
Louie bounded to his feet as if his legs had never weakened at all, rushing at Kaien and clinging to him. Kaien barely got his sword into its scabbard and tried to restrain him, but Louie showed no sign of settling down.
Louie pressed ever closer, desperate to uncover the secret of victory, while Kaien leaned back, dodging the advancing face.
Laughter began to bubble up from the Spectator Seats at the sight of the two wrestling.
Soon, catching sight of Ber laughing along with the crowd, Kaien’s own lips curved upward in happiness.

***

Thus the Sword Arts Department’s Harvest Festival Sword Tournament concluded with Kaien Nuarel’s victory.
Kaien descended from the Training Grounds wearing the Medal—the emblem of championship—pinned to his left chest.
“Kaien.”
The moment he came down the steps, a familiar voice reached him.
“…Father.”
Kaien could not hide his surprise—his father had been in the Spectator Seats, and yet had not left even after the awards ceremony.
“Tournament champion. You’ve accomplished what even I could not. Well done.”
A stiff compliment, awkwardly delivered. No smile touched his firmly pressed lips.
“…Thank you.”
Kaien bowed his head toward his father in gratitude.
He had come to watch the tournament. He had witnessed the awards ceremony. For now, this was enough.
Yet his father, about to turn and leave, inexplicably stopped.
“We will proceed with the formal procedures shortly.”
“Pardon?”
“The Surname Recovery for Raul and Marinella. And the appointment of the next Marquis.”
“…”
“There is no one but you fit to be the next Head of House Nuarel, Kaien.”
At this declaration—one he could never have imagined—Kaien stood frozen, unable to speak a word. The Marquis, observing his son’s state, furrowed his brow in something like bitter anguish.
“It seems I have wronged you greatly.”
The Marquis spoke carefully, unable to meet Kaien’s eyes.
“What I did was an insult to Lea’s memory. I apologize with utmost sincerity.”
With that, the Marquis turned and left the Sword Arts Department Courtyard.
Only after his father’s figure vanished entirely from sight could Kaien breathe again.
It was an apology.
Just now, that was his father’s apology to his mother.
“Ah…”
Kaien nearly collapsed to the ground but managed to lean against the Training Grounds railing instead.
Something unreal had just come to pass.
Today’s miracle had been crafted by one person.
Kaien’s eyes moved slowly. To the right side of the Training Grounds. To where Ber stood beside Louie, smiling with pure happiness. And as he gazed at her, he thought:
Mother’s sorrow has been healed.
Ber.
Even if I gave everything I have for you, I would have no regrets.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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