The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 237 National University League (2)

Colosseo Academy, Varangian Academy, Mage tower, Temisquira Women’s College.

Only a few days remain until the start of the national university league hosted by the four prestigious academies.

Before that, students from Colosseo Academy embarked on a journey to ‘Mage Tower,’ the venue for this competition.

“Ugh! It’s been so long since I went out! Finally stepping out beyond the imperial capital! I thought I’d die waiting until the vacation. Although I’m not going to Usher Lake, but I’ll have to be satisfied with this. Perhaps, one must have a broader perspective, rather than a wide view…”

Bianca, adorned in a flashy floral shirt, shorts, sunglasses, a straw hat, and stylish sandals, pulled a large suitcase while singing a tune.

Judging by her enthusiastic mood, she seemed quite spirited.

Tudor, observing her, seemed displeased and remarked, “If someone saw you. They would think we’re going on vacation to some resort. What if your grades suffer, and you lose in the tournament?”

“Is the person saying that wearing a swimsuit under their skirt?”

“Wh-What are you talking about? Are you crazy? How do you know if I’m wearing a swimsuit or not?”

“I saw it when your skirt fluttered in the wind earlier.”

“You pervert! Why were you looking?”

“If we’re going to get technical, you’re the bigger pervert for wearing a skirt.”

“In our Donquixote Clan, it’s a tradition for men to wear skirts!”

“Well, anyway, I didn’t like seeing it, but you walked ahead and forced me to see it. And it’s not like you were wearing panties bro, chill.”

“I’ll sue you!”

“Sue for what? What’s there to sue for?”

“I’ll sue you for defamation!”

“I’ll file a complaint for assault then. Your swimsuit attire almost blinded me; my vision was impaired by it.”

Tudor and Bianca continued their bickering today as well.

Seeing this, Sancho, Figgy, and Sinclaire laughed as usual.

“Both of them are full of energy today.”

“They’ll surely make a fierce couple.”

“They already seem to have that affection. They’ve been childhood friends since forever.”

The university league, the ‘Olympiad Survival Challenge,’ is typically hosted one by one in order by four universities. This time, it was Mage Tower’s turn, located in the eastern part of the continent.

Mage Tower is in the ‘Dortsmile’ region in the southeast, known for its mild climate and rich tourist attractions such as deserts, forests, caves, valleys, and the sea, making it famous as a resort.

To reach this warm and cozy place, today, the students of Colosseo Academy are riding on a train.

Venetior Station. Platform 9 and 3/4.

Soon, the train entered the platform.

[Ding ding ding didi ring ding didi ding ding ding~ The Continental Circulation, the Continental Circulation Train is entering. This station is Venetior, Venetior Station. The doors to exit are on the right. Please be careful when getting off, as the distance between the boarding area and the platform is wide. Thank you for using our mana train today. Have a good day.]

Breaking through the hazy steam emitted by the burning mana stones, a giant steel serpent approached the platform and came to a stop.

Upon this sight, Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire each exclaimed.

“Wow, this is amazing. It’s my first time riding the mana train.”

“Hehe. Tudor, you have a bit of a rustic side. I rode it once when I came to enroll.”

“To be honest, it’s my first time too! I’ve used a teleport scroll before, though.”

“Once you’re on the train, don’t show such dumb reactions. Inside, students from Varangian and Temisquira have been boarding since the previous station.”

“Since they’re all rivals, we should board with a strong determination, not underestimating anyone.”

The students of Colosseo Academy, suppressing their excited hearts, boarded the train with stern expressions.

The exterior of the train was hot and solid. A warm heat was transmitted to the soles of their feet from the moment they climbed the stairs.

However, upon entering, the heat was not felt at all.

A magically maintained space with a constantly pleasant temperature.

Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire, though somewhat tense at the thought of encountering opponents for the competition, were either unlucky or fortunate – the train compartments were completely empty.

“Oh, it seems they’ve divided the platform so that only Colosseo Academy students can board. We’ve chartered this compartment!”

Everyone nodded in agreement with Tudor’s words. While it was fortunate that there was no conflict, on the other hand, it was a bit disappointing.

At that moment.

“Hey, there they are!”

With the sharp eyes of an archer, Bianca pointed towards the window.

While the train was stopped, some people outside were either buying something or observing the surroundings.

They were divided into two groups—one consisted of students wearing thick and sturdy plate armor with chainmail underneath, making an impressive appearance.

About 99% of them were robustly built males, each carrying shields, axes, greatswords, warhammers, and more on their backs.

They were the students from the Varangian Academy.

“It’s like Sancho x 10. What are you doing without your armor over there?”

“Haha, that’s true. The attire is familiar in the northern regions.”

Tudor looked at Sancho next to him and chuckled, and Sancho also smiled stylishly.

On the other side, female students were wearing white uniforms with cloaks adorned with drawings of Roses.

About 99% of them were strong-built females, each carrying shields, axes, greatswords, warhammers, magic wands, magic books, and more on their backs.

They were the students from Temisquira Women’s University.

“…They look formidable, don’t they?”

“I heard those sisters are really skilled in combat.”

Bianca and Sinclaire also swallowed their saliva.

These were the warriors from Varangian and Temisquira who would compete in this tournament.

Regardless of gender, they all looked formidable, and it was evident that the upcoming battles wouldn’t be easy.

And around that time.

Whoosh—

With the miraculous sound of mana stones burning in the furnace, the train started moving.

Giant cogs, powered by the force of mana, turned vigorously and clanked as the train began its journey.

The train started running towards Mage Tower, far in the distance.

* * *

Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire found their assigned seats on the train ticket and soon settled into the compartment, which had transformed into a cozy room. In the center of the train compartment, a round table was placed, and individual spaces were divided for each person.

The students of Colosseo Academy were now able to sit or lie down on plush sofas and spend a long time traveling. Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire marveled at the rapidly passing scenery of Venetior outside the window.

“Wow, it’s really fast.”

“I’ll go to the snack cabin and get some eggs and soda. These are things you should have on a train journey.”

“Dang! I already brought some!”

“Oh, Figgy knows a thing or two.”

“Wow, it feels like going on a trip! It’s like a prelude to the vacation!”

And suddenly, the friends thought of another friend who wasn’t present – Vikir. If he had been there too, the mood would have been even better, but unfortunately, he wasn’t in the same seat, creating a slightly subdued atmosphere.

Tudor was the first to speak up. “Vikir, that traitor! Betraying us again to team up with others! I’m really upset this time!”

“It’s a prearranged agreement; there’s nothing we can do. It’s a bit disappointing not to be in the same team, but seeing him prioritize promises is a good sight. If it’s Vikir, he’ll surely consider our promise just as important.”

“By the way, where is Vikir’s seat?”

“He’s probably in a compartment quite far from us, maybe next to the seats occupied by the Temisquira students.”

“Huh? I hope nothing will happen to him.”

Vikir’s current seat was in a train compartment far to the rear. Right behind that compartment were the participants from Temisquira Women’s College.

“I hope he doesn’t get into trouble just because he’s there.”

“Maybe it won’t be trouble or a fight but rather a potential romantic interest?”

“Right. Vikir is quite handsome. He was already famous outside Venetior, you know?”

“…I heard that at Temisquira, being an all women’s university, there’s a strong desire for handsome men.”

“It’s similar to Venetior being an extremely male-dominated university; the desire for beautiful women is probably equally strong there.”

As the friends shared thoughts about Vikir, a somewhat worried atmosphere lingered in their conversation.

“By the way, Vikir might face various problems.”

“True. Rather than external factors from Temisquira, it’s his fellow teammates inside that could make things difficult for Vikir.”

“I agree. Even if Granola is taken into consideration…”

“To team up with the so-called ‘Insane Dogs of the Cold Department’—HighBro, MiddleBro, LowBro…”

“Those guys are definitely planning to take advantage of our friendr! It was the same during the midterms!”

Vikir’s current team was known as the ‘Hellish Team.’

HighBro Le Baskerrville.

MiddleBro Le Baskerville.

LowBro Le Baskerrville.

Granola De Reviadon.

Vikir.

These five were on the same team.

“It’s certain those guys are trying to exploit our brother! Just like during the midterms!”

Although Vikir was a commoner, he found himself in a team with the three notorious brothers from the Baskerville Clan, including Granola, who was known for his pompous attitude.

Friends were worried about what kind of humiliation and hardship Vikir might be facing alone.

…However.

In the rear compartment of the train, a scene unfolded quite different from the friends’ concerns.