Overpowered in the Wrong Genre

Chapter 16 – Genius vs. Promising Talent (4)

[Translator – Late Dreamer]

[Proofreader – Seeker]

Chapter 16 – Genius vs. Promising Talent (4)

The characteristic of the Luminous type was its ability to scatter its power over a wide area. This was particularly useful when entering Dark Gates.

However, for that very reason, the Luminous type wasn’t suited for 1:1 combat.

It lacked sufficient firepower to focus on a single opponent. At best, it could blind or cause minor burns. That’s why most Luminous Awakened focused on support roles.

‘… Or so many would think!’

But Luciel, standing in the middle of the training ground was different.

“Hehehe!”

With a playful smile, she wore an expression of anticipation that Tiamat found endearing.

Some questioned whether she was a Combat type rather than a Luminous type.

With flashes erupting with every movement, it was understandable.

But that was just an illusion caused by her hair color, not the reality.

More importantly, they wouldn’t even be able to speak if they saw a true Luminous Awakened.

— Shwaaaak!!

Light scattered in all directions and struck the pre-installed barrier.

If this were a marketplace instead of a training ground then all spectators would have been injured or worse, temporarily blinded.

Luciel’s ability, which had been radiating intense light as if to incinerate the entire training ground.

It converged back into a sword form and struck at Deus.

If he retreated, it would spread out again, blocking all his senses.

‘That’s what makes Luciel so formidable! Covering the entire area with her Luminous ability, while simultaneously focusing that light into a point and sublimating it into swordsmanship. It’s an unbelievable combat sense.’

That wasn’t just a sword. It wasn’t swordsmanship bound by distance.

Why had Luciel become Saber’s sole disciple?

Because she had the qualifications. Because she possessed the talent!

With each burst of light, a deafening roar and flash engulfed the surroundings.

Most students had long since lost track of the scene within the training grounds.

Only the teachers and a few exceptional students could still follow the action.

‘At a point where other students would have long been defeated. A moment when even our teachers would find it difficult and consider resorting to a battle of attrition…’

Tiamat turned her gaze from Luciel to her opponent, Deus.

‘Of course, our student Deus is different!!’

Look at that face. Did it belong to someone facing a swordsman of light?

Far from being tense, he wore a faint smile. As if his heart was pounding with excitement.

He was glad to finally meet a worthy opponent!

— Ka-ang!

— Kang!

“… .”

Wielding her sword of light, Luciel narrowed her eyes.

Indeed, she was pushing him harder with just swordsmanship alone.

For every step she took forward, Deus took one back.

When she attacked him, he defended nothing more.

That was the problem. She was giving it her all, and that was all there was to it.

He retreated when being pressed, and blocked when attacked. Nothing beyond that.

There were no openings, not even a hint of confusion and tension.

He simply followed her movements with his eyes.

Even when he retreats only returns to his original position.

‘What, in the world…’

With each swing of her light sword, the training ground’s walls were sliced off.

The barrier shook and the students beyond it grew increasingly fearful.

The clouds above, spared from the light’s reach, had all evaporated.

She had displayed the best of her swordsmanship and ability.

If it were any other opponent, even a teacher, she would have pushed them to the brink by now.

She might not have guaranteed victory, but she would have had a decent chance.

‘I’m not physically exhausted. My ability is working fine. It’s a close match, but that’s all. Defeat isn’t imminent. But… why…’

Why did her confidence in victory keep getting chipped away? She was the one wielding the sword, while her opponent didn’t even have a proper weapon. Yet it felt like she was the one being cut, stabbed, and bleeding!

— Chaeng!

In the end, it was Luciel who created distance, not Deus.

“….”

After a brief pause to catch her breath, Luciel spoke.

“Junior, may I ask you something?”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Are you really a student?”

There were cases, weren’t there? Graduates who infiltrated the Academy under the pretense of observing the curriculum.

Luciel herself had experienced it once, during her second year. She had been completely fooled and the answer she received when she questioned why was absurd. They said they were bored and wanted to check out the level of the juniors.

‘I can’t rule out that possibility.’

In fact, it was highly likely. With his extraordinary skills and sturdy physique.

It was hard to believe he was an ordinary student!

“Are you perhaps a graduate of the Academy, unknown to me?”

“Not at all. I’m truly a new student who just enrolled.”

“… On your honor as a junior?”

“Of course.”

[Translator – Late Dreamer]

[Proofreader – Seeker]

If that were true, then this junior was even more terrifying.

Unable to voice that thought, Luciel could only offer an awkward smile.

“With this level of skill, the teachers should be writing recommendation letters to send you to the dispatch team”

“They did. Professor Tiamat, in fact.”

“Professor Tiamat?”

“Yes, Senior.”

So? What happened? Deus shrugged at the question.

“I declined.”

“Why?”

Because the Oath bound to my left arm wouldn’t allow it. And honestly, I can handle those tasks on my own.

Deus combined all those answers into a smile.

“I’ll be joining eventually, anyway.”

His answer was confident that it even felt a bit arrogant.

But Luciel didn’t perceive it as arrogance.

Instead, she mirrored his smile, delighted by his response.

“That’s admirable, Junior.”

It was a shame. According to the school rules, he couldn’t join the dispatch team until next year.

By then, she would no longer be at this school.

‘It’s disappointing. Such a shame.’

She wanted to witness his exploits in the dispatch team firsthand.

He was already a monster; she wanted to see how much stronger he would become.

“It seems this won’t end anytime soon. What do you say, Junior? Shall we settle this with the next strike?”

“That’s what I was about to suggest.”

He was bold and straightforward. A true man, a rare sight these days.

This time, she smiled not as a senior looking at a promising junior, but as a woman looking at a man.

“Then shall we conclude this, Junior?”

Luciel gripped the light sword with both hands.

— Ssssss!!

The sword grew brighter, while the surroundings darkened.

It was absorbing the light, like the onset of night.

Was this the secret technique of the top student, the fourth-year head?

Deus, having warmed up, slowly took a step forward.

“Unlike my senior, I don’t have such incredible techniques.”

Just putting all his strength into a single, solid punch.

It might be called a ‘serious punch’ like he had seen somewhere.

[PR/N: ONE PUNCH MAN!?]

— Shaaaaaaaa!!

Finally, the area was enveloped in pitch-black darkness with only Luciel’s sword shining.

Like a hero cutting through the darkness, she raised her sword and gazed straight ahead.

And beyond it, a warrior was charging to extinguish that light.

Genius and promising Talent. Sword and fist. Warrior and light.

When they finally collided at a single point, erupting in a roar and flash—

[Warning. Warning. The barrier has reached its limit.]

[Evacuate immediately. Repeat, evacuate immediately.]

The barrier surrounding the training ground could no longer hold, emitting warning sounds.

It had reached its breaking point, urging everyone to flee!

“Wh-What?!”

“Eeeeeek?!”

“E-Evacuate! Everyone, evacuate!!”

After the teachers evacuated the students and everyone gathered quickly escaped, a massive explosion, unlike anything they had ever experienced, engulfed the training grounds.

***

The next day.

— Nyaaaaaang!!

“Oh, Jojo! You seem a bit faster today?”

Deus played with his cat, a satisfied smile on his face. Watching him for a moment, Yurishia cautiously spoke up.

“W-Will it be okay?”

“What?”

“The Academy… it’s in chaos.”

Chaos. Yes, that was the perfect word.

The sturdy training ground and barrier were completely blown away. The top student, no, the Empire’s princess had fainted.

And most importantly, ‘that issue,’ the one causing the teachers the most headaches had arisen.

“The real chaos for me is something else.”

But Deus, oblivious to everything else, opened his mouth to complain.

“Why are they serving fish cutlets for lunch today? Isn’t that crossing the line?”

“… .”

“They put in all those nationalistic elements, why did they have to mix in the military? I just don’t get it.”

Unable to comprehend his words, Yurishia chose silence as her response.

Meanwhile, Deus continued to vent his frustration about the cafeteria’s lunch menu, declaring, ‘Fish cutlets are definitely the devil’s vomit.’

“Jojo, what do you think about fish cutlets?”

— Haaak!!

“How about fish cake soup?”

— Haaaak!!

As expected, Jojo. You deserve this Chum.

Jojo devoured the Chum offered by Deus.

[Translator – Late Dreamer]

[Proofreader – Seeker]