Chapter 11: Verbal Fencing

*Clang Clang Clang*

The sound of swords clashing rapidly echoes throughout the dojo. I am currently facing the princess of Oriana Kingdom, Rose Oriana, in a spar. She is a beautiful young lady with long blond hair styled into several drills, which is currently tied into a ponytail for the duration of this fight.

At first I dismissed her as weak and unimportant because she came from Oriana, the kingdom of art and culture that looks down on Spellswords. In fact, I found it strange that the princess of such a country would attend a spellsword academy. I found out later that she is actually quite talented with the sword and as part of my socializing routine, I sparred with her quite a few times. Her swordsmanship style is more graceful than Claire Kagenou's, though Claire seems to have better magic control. I wonder where she learned it.

*CLANG* I disarmed Rose Oriana by knocking her sword off her hands.

"Winner, Claude Normann!"

"That was a good fight, Princess Rose."

"Indeed, Mr. Claude. I still have a lot to learn before I could match you it seems. Your swordsmanship is unique and… beautiful."

"Thank you."

"Umm… If I may ask… Are you familiar with… Stylish Bandit Slayer?"

"Who?" Who the hell would use such a cringy name?

"N-Nevermind!" With that, she left. Weird.

2 years have passed since I started attending the Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy. A few things happened in these past few years.

Firstly, I managed to create the security camera spell but after I did it, there were no more invasions on my dungeons! Curses! I wanna watch! So far only three dungeons were raided. Did I hide the other dungeons too well? Hmph. It's fine. I'll need the undead troops I placed in those dungeons as my secret reserve troops anyway. Took a while but I've replenished the undead guardians on the three dungeons that were raided. If only a war would start somewhere. I would've been able to obtain plenty of fresh corpses!

I've also upgraded them so they should be stronger and smarter now. Their limited intelligence making them behave like video game NPC enemies must've made fighting them all too easy so this time I made sure to give them some fighting instinct so they can better respond and adapt to many combat situations.

Secondly, I noticed a mysterious company emerging out of nowhere. Their products started booming, gaining so much popularity among aristocrats and citizens of Midgar. The company's name is Mitsugoshi. I wouldn't pay much attention to it if not for the fact that they sold many products which are definitely from Earth! The modern clothes design, the beauty products, the pastries… heck they even got a fast food restaurant chain called McRonald that sold burgers! They definitely have a reincarnator like me!

You would think that in order to achieve economic dominance I would've done what they did but… I was too busy with magic and Cult politics, okay? Can't deny that I've neglected economic powers though, unless you count my enchanted weapons business. Still, I suppose with them around I don't have to be the one to bring modern products to this world. In time I could just swoop in and take over the company and force whoever is supplying them with Earth's knowledge to serve me in order to achieve economic dominance.

But that should come after Gettan made his attempts. He has been managing the Major Corporate Alliance, or MCA for short, for a while now. The MCA was formed by several merchants in Midgar in order to prevent monopoly of every industry by the Mitsugoshi. Of course they are affiliated with the Cult. I won't interfere with his schemes. For now, I'll just enjoy the burgers as I watch and admire the schemes of my fellow villain as it unfolds.

Thirdly, I invaded the Lawless City and subdued their three rulers, Juggernaut the Tyrant of the Black Tower, Yukime the Spirit Fox of the White Tower and Crimson the Vampire Lord of the Crimson Tower, making them my subordinates. Without the Cult's knowledge of course. The Lawless City is a den of criminals so chaotic that even the Cult of Diablos didn't think it was worth taking over and resort to just hiring their criminal gangs once in a while. I took over it because it sounds cool and I do want to try being the boss of a criminal syndicate of some kind. For that reason I conquered the Lawless City as the well dressed old gentleman, Don Jon. (I used illusion magic to create that appearance).

Yukime was the most cooperative as she barely put up a fight and even resorted to seduction… which didn't work on me obviously because I know what game she's playing and I'm not having it. It didn't affect me okay? I totally didn't stare at her boobies! Nope! Ahem!

Moving on. I expected Juggernaut to put up more resistance as befitting a musclehead like him but he apparently has good instinct and realized he can't win against me, submitting to me pretty easily.

Crimson was the most resistant to my demands despite being the weakest of the three rulers. What a joke, being weaker than mortals despite being a vampire. I defeated him swiftly and captured a few vampires for experimentations as punishment for his defiance and he was not happy about that. For now he will obey me. I suspect he is biding his time and I'm excited to see what villainous schemes he has in store.

Fourthly, the group that the Cult refers to as "Shadow Garden" continues to grow and they caused several damages to Cult operations and bases. Their capabilities are so remarkable that the Cult and the Templar almost couldn't compete with them in terms of securing the Possessed. They even got Saint Victoria aka No. 046 before I could when she started suffering from Demonic Possession and was about to be executed by the Church.

I still haven't met them though, and not for lack of trying. Such a shame. I would like to see how they work their slime weapons. Whoever invented this slime method is a genius. I would've tried using slimes myself since it has amazing magic conductivity that surpassed even Mythril, not to mention it's extremely versatile, but Sergey Gorman accused me of colluding with them years ago. If I started using slimes in my arsenal, my rivals in the Cult would have a reason to jeopardize my position within the Cult.

And finally, my sister Charlotte is finally attending the Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy. She wrote a full page letter (essay) about how excited she was to finally be able to attend school with me and what activities we're gonna engage in together at school one night before she departed from our home. Claire Kagenou also wouldn't shut up about her brother finally coming to school. I'm starting to feel pity for this brother of hers.

Alexia Midgar is also attending the academy this year. I haven't met her since I defeated Iris years ago despite our parents trying to arrange meetings so we could socialize due to several reasons that I suspect were merely excuses she made in order to not meet me. I also haven't met Iris since our last duel due to her busy schedule. She already graduated from the academy and I heard she also won the Bushin Festival years ago and have distinguished herself in the Knight Order. I wonder how strong she is now.

As I walk through the school, I spotted Alexia, all grown up and wearing the academy uniform, her platinum white hair still with the twintails. She definitely has grown more beautiful.

"Good morning, Princess Alexia. Fancy meeting you here." I greeted.

"Good morning, Mr. Normann." Alexia greeted back with a fake smile.

"Claude is fine, Princess."

"Alright. Mr. Claude."

"It's been so long since we last saw each other. Have you been doing well since then?"

"I've been doing fine. I'm sorry I wasn't able to answer your invitations due to various circumstances. Surely you would forgive me, right?" Oh, so you wanna play this game? Let me show you my verbal fencing skills that I honed by speaking in front of a mirror!

"Of course. I understand that the schedule of a princess such as yourself is always full and thus I couldn't possibly ask more out of you. Even your sister is SO busy with her duties."

"Y-Yeah… She is." Replied Alexia awkwardly, trying to hold back her frown and maintain her fake smile. So mentioning your sister and implying how much better she is compared to you is enough to break your composure? Heh. Too easy.

"Although, I do hope you can manage your time better and make some time for your subjects. Making connections is a princess' duty too after all. Your sister seems to be successful on that front with how much connections she is making in the Knight Order."

"Y-Yes. You're exactly right." Replied Alexia while struggling to maintain her fake smile.

"Have you been practicing your swordsmanship well? I bet it would help you with making connections if you excel at swordsmanship like your sister did."

"Yes. I've been practicing just fine. Thank you for your concern. What about you, Mr. Claude? Surely your victory over my sister years ago didn't lead you to become arrogant and neglect your training?" Ohh… She's pissed.

"I mean, you didn't accomplish much since then and didn't join many tournaments besides local ones in your territory which could be rigged for all I know. Even I participated in the Bushin Festival once despite my busy schedules, you know?" Ohh… such venom. So you're barely pretending this time. But damn, what a comeback.

"The one where you lost to your sister?" I retorted.

"Yes…" Replied Alexia after being reminded of an unpleasant memory.

"I assure you that I didn't neglect my swordsmanship. Just like you I've been busy." Being an executive of a shady organization ain't easy, you know?

"Busy? With what?" Alexia retorted, this time with a cynical smile.

"Something…. personal… that you need not concern yourself with." She got me there so I have to resort to being vague and mysterious. That seemed to shut her up at least.

"And I plan on attending this year's Bushin Festival. Perhaps it will ease your mind if I defeat Princess Iris once again."

"Hmph. I wish you luck on that tournament, then."

"Thank you, Princess Alexia. Anyway, I won't take more of your precious time. 'Til we meet again, Princess."

She didn't reply and just glared at me as I walked away.

That bastard! He's even more unpleasant than that Zenon! I swear I can practically sense the wickedness he hides underneath that fake smile! At least I got to him in the end! But I refuse to become engaged with him! Absolutely not!

I must find a way to make both him and Zenon stop bothering me! What should I do?

"P-Pwincess A-Alexia…!"

Huh. Another confession. It has become such a tiresome routine that I was here before I even notice.

"I-I like you! P-P-Please go out with meeee!"

That was the most pathetic confession I've ever seen in my life. And I've seen a lot of pathetic confessions. But... Hmmm... I can use this boy.

"I understand. I've been waiting for someone like you for a long time. Let's get along, shall we?"

"Eh?"

Author's Note:

Finally time skip. Cid is in school now and Zenon will soon make his move. I also explained why Necromancer couldn't use slimes in this chapter, which is connected to his encounter with Sergey Gorman in previous chapters.

Also, Claude didn't know the name Stylish Bandit Slayer because he only knows Minoru as the Balaclavas/Ski Mask Berserker, the name that the biker gangs called Minoru as.

And finally he met Alexia again! Hope you enjoyed their brief interaction.

Hexylen:

Artifact Ideas:

Artifact Lockbox: Comes in Rarities Uncommon, Rare, Very Rare, Legendary.

Resets once a day with new puzzles to solve if not completed. The last solver may open at any time. Requires 3 hours of concentration to gain 3 attempts to solve (Determined by dice roll, U12, R14, VR16, L18). If failed, the box will lock for the day and emit a load alarm noise, becoming unable to be solved until the next reset.

Comb of Beardmancy (RHolder will grow a magnificent beard of 12 inches in length, as well as being able to grow a beard on any nearby character to a slightly shorter length. (If you aren't fond of the Comb of Beardmancy, give it time, it'll grow on you).

Kettlebird (UTeapot is enchanted to look, sound, fly, and feel like a pelican. Instinctively will seek out tea leaves and water before looking for a sufficiently hot place to roost (usually a fireplace or stovetop). Once heated, it will find the nearest cup to regurgitate the tea.

Unfortunately the Kettlebird is not very intelligent, and has a tendency to overfill itself. If over encumbered, the Kettlebird will drop to the floor and whine pitifully until someone comes to pick it up and drink its tea.

Last item (for a certain physically challenged ShadowBra/Binder of Contentment (LUndergarments enchanted with subtle transmutation magic. Upon receiving a verbal command, the item will activate and transform into the ideal version of the wearer's chest. The undergarment will then no longer be visible, look and feel no different from the wearer's own flesh, and transmit the same sense of touch to the wearer as their own flesh. No time limit or duration for the undergarment, but must be washed and maintained as any other piece of clothing.

All artifacts are not owned by me, but are homebrew D&D items found online. All rights and privileges belong to their original creators.

Suggestion to make all Artifacts lockboxes, so that the rewards will be even more annoying to gain. Also, artifacts should be goofy gimmicks but with various real world applications, for example Binder can be used to disguise oneself with no one being the wiser, with a possible series of other body items (like a face/head changing mask) to make a near perfect, seamless disguise. (Items are still clothing, so they can be destroyed with enough force).

Answer: Great idea! I like the lockbox idea. Will take that into consideration!

CrazedGammaMan1721: I can't wait to see what will happen when Cid and Necromancer Meet.

Answer: Soon.