The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-244

Chapter 244 National University League (9)

The reactions of those around Vikir winning against Bollason were quite mixed.

“Ah, that’s a shame. They were evenly matched.”

“But he had a poker face, and Bollason was struggling a lot. So, did Vikir actually win?”

“Maybe he’s just good at controlling his expression.”

“Their strength seemed similar, right? Both of their hands didn’t move from the center.”

“But isn’t it possible that Vikir has lost some strength now? I should give it a try.”

However, some were keenly observing the situation.

Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire, who knew Vikir’s strength, were among those.

“Vikir was quite considerate.”

“It’s a method of winning gracefully.”

“But even if it’s Vikir, can he beat all those people?”

“Considering how he used a bow, his arm strength might be impressive. But that number seems overwhelming.”

“I’m worried about big brother… He really stimulated the competitive spirit of the guys from Varangian.”

Meanwhile,

Amid everyone’s attention, Vikir was reminiscing about the past.

‘I miss the old days sometimes’

Vikir recalled the time when he served in the military before regression.

During the era of destruction, various individuals gathered in the military division of the Human Alliance.

Among them were rough mercenaries from the north, mostly skilled arm wrestlers.

Daily arm wrestling competitions took place in the military division of the Human Alliance army.

Vikir had seen friends who were thin and lightweight easily defeating muscular friends with heavier body weight.

“In arm wrestling, strength is important, but technique is even more crucial.”

More precisely, the technique of concentrating strength only on the necessary parts is essential.

Of course, Vikir’s pure strength alone was formidable enough to overpower students even professors from Varangian without using Aura.

…Grrrrr!

In front of him, another muscular figure was twisting and turning, groaning.

Vikir still kept his arms fixed in the center without making any movements.

‘His lower body is weak. Like this, he’ll never be able to fully exert strength in his hands.’

Despite being able to overcome it, Vikir didn’t move his arms from their position.

Then, the figure that had been groaning while holding Vikir’s arm eventually gave up.

Once again, a draw was declared just before the match was about to end. It was a scene similar to the one with Bollason.

“Hey, what’s this? Why do you guys keep surrendering in final moments!”

“The strength was similar! His arm didn’t move from the center!”

“These matches always end in a dull way.”

“Yeah, just like with Bollason earlier, it was boring.”

The initial reactions of the Varangian students were like that.

However.

“…Forfeit.”

“Ugh, he’s not budging! What kind of strength is this?”

“I-I’ll forfeit, so let go of my hand!”

“…I also forfeit.”

After all those who challenged Vikir declared forfeit one after another, the atmosphere changed.

“…Could it be him?”

“Is he intentionally allowing them to challenge him?”

“It’s unbelievable! How strong do you have to be to withstand like that without moving an inch from the center?”

“It’s absurd! Step aside, let me try!”

Those who couldn’t believe it and tried to directly challenge Vikir found themselves unable to push his arm back even by 1mm and were forced to declare forfeit one by one.

When the number of those declaring forfeit surpassed thirty, an odd fervor began to circulate within the arena.

“The first years are wiped out!”

“What’s with that monstrous strength? Is such a thing possible in this weight class?”

“Even the second years are getting knocked out!”

“It’s like pushing against a rock. Can’t move at all!”

“Unbelievable! Even the third-year seniors lost.”

The clash of strength against strength. However, Vikir received everyone with his unchanged expression.

They poured their strength freely, and leaped, but couldn’t overcome the mountain that was Vikir.

Even when they wanted to release their hands, he gave such force to his grip that they couldn’t let go, leading to an increasing number of Varangian students, exhausted and frustrated, declaring forfeit as they succumbed to the pressure.

“…Unbelievable.”

Watching this scene, Dolores half-opened her mouth in astonishment.

It was an unbelievable sight – fighting on par with Varangian’s warriors without using Aura, even overwhelming them.

Seeing Varangian’s students, who had subtly ignored Colosseo’s students, being successively thrown into disarray, it was a fact that, as the student council president, Dolores was subtly finding satisfaction.

“Hmm. Hmm!”

Dolores covered her mouth with her fist, coughed lightly, and glanced sideways with a sly smile.

But there, standing with a stern expression, was Bakilaga.

…However, the light shining in Bakilaga’s eyes was not humiliation but curiosity.

Soon after, a massive dinosaur, knocking aside small puppies, walked forward.

“Hey, rookie.”

Bakilaga stood in front of Vikir.

“It seems like you’ve got some strength. Can you have a round with me too?”

His words instantly flipped the atmosphere in the arena.

All students from Colosseo and Varangian swallowed nervously, turning their gaze towards Vikir. Even the student council president, Dolores, did the same.

…However.

“Step forward.”

Vikir’s response was brief.

?

Upon hearing that response, a question mark popped up in Bakilaga’s and all the spectators’ heads.

After a few seconds of silence, Bakilaga finally grasped the meaning of what Vikir said.

“…Ah. Stand in line, you mean?”

Nodding, Vikir gestured towards the Varangian students who were standing in front of him.

“Exactly. You should have joined the line if you came late.”

Bakilaga turned and stood behind the Varangian students, scratching his head with a blank expression.

“Okay. Stand in line.”

Those who watched this scene had to swallow their expectations.

It was already impressive enough that Bakilaga, student president of Varangian, stepped forward. But to ask him to stand in line? How much confidence must one have to make such a statement!

In front of Vikir, there were still about six Varangian students in line, but as soon as Bakilaga stood behind them, they automatically declared forfeit.

Bakilaga chuckled and sat in front of Vikir.

“Our school’s atmosphere is a bit like the military. In a way, it’s like a huge mercenary army. So, the hierarchy is quite strict.”

“…”

“But since I became the student council president, I’ve eliminated many absurdities and bad habits. However, the hierarchy is still strict.”

So when Bakilaga stepped forward, other students instinctively stepped back.

It was like wolves following the leader.

And when Bakilaga, the leader, showed up, the trust that Varangian students placed in their student council president was truly immense.

“Can you imagine him losing?”

“He already subdued fourth-year students when he was in the first year. Our president will definitely win!”

“Fighting! Colosseo! Bakilaga! Fighting!”

Carrying the cheers on his back, Bakilaga occasionally flashed a smile.

“Did you believe you could face six Varangian warriors in front of me, even though you were facing me? That implies you still have enough strength, correct?”

“…”

Vikir didn’t respond. He simply placed his arm on the table made of stone.

Bakilaga still had a smiling face. However, his smile faded slightly the moment he held Vikir’s hand.

Thud!

The strength and weight could already be felt.

“…!”

Bakilaga, realizing that Vikir’s grip went far beyond ‘using some strength,’ instinctively grabbed the corner of the table with his opposite hand.

It was the first time he had been surprised by someone else’s strength since entering Varangian.

Soon after, a bang! Grumble grumble…

Arm wrestling began.

Oh-ohhhhh!

Cheers echoed from the surroundings. Colosseo and Varangian students gathered together, cheering enthusiastically.

Bakilaga’s and Vikir’s arms were tightly locked in the center of the table.

However, Bakilaga didn’t fidget like other Varangian students. Even Vikir’s arm, unlike before, trembled slightly.

Arms meeting in the center of the table, barely shaking. To an observer, it seemed like they weren’t exerting any force against each other.

But in reality, between their grasped hands, powerful strength and strength, muscular power and muscular power were fiercely colliding and intertwining.

A bead of cold sweat ran down Bakilaga’s cheek.

“…This guy is strong.”

And Vikir continued to gaze steadily at Bakilaga.

‘At least he’s not at a student’s level.’

Vikir also held Bakilaga in high regard.

In pure muscular strength, the other side had the upper hand.

But Vikir had technique.

Adjusting the angle of the arm and shoulder to prevent the opponent from using shoulder strength and guide them to use only arm strength, shaping the grip to maximize the power of the forearm muscles, strategically placing the ring and middle fingers, distributing weight through triceps and shoulders, and more.

Moreover, the protection and experience gained by slaying numerous monsters under Stix river’s blessing had made Vikir’s muscles tougher and heavier.

Despite Bakilaga’s immense strength and weight, Vikir’s slender wrist held firm without yielding.

Seeing that, Bakilaga smiled as if in admiration, “Like a seasoned veteran who has been through countless battles. You look like you’ve been through countless hardships. Why is that? Who are you exactly?”

However, the smile disappeared from Bakilaga’s face at Vikir’s subsequent response.

Tic!

Vikir unbuttoned a button on his attire, revealing a choker around his neck. He spoke briefly, showing the choker.

“Hunting ground.”

The moment Bakilaga heard Vikir’s words, his eyes widened as if about to tear.

And in that very moment…

Crack!

The table where Vikir’s and Bakilaga’s elbows had been touching split with a loud noise.

The thick stone table, which had been carved from a rock that had been in this location since the inn’s construction, couldn’t withstand the force of the two boys’ struggle and shattered into pieces.

The innkeeper muttered in disbelief as he stared at the shattered stone table, “Goodness… this table was carved from the original rock that was here when the inn was built.”

The power struggle between the two boys has destroyed the rock that had remained unchanged since ancient times.

Silence hung in the air as everyone was left speechless by this astonishing sight.

Then, “Hahaha-”

Laughter erupted.

Bakilaga, with his hands covered in dust, released his tense grip and looked towards Vikir.

The gaze was fixed on Vikir’s neck.

Eventually, he spoke.

[You are the pride of the forest. don’t forget it]

It was a language that was difficult to understand, or rather, a language that was initially unknown. However, Vikir understood it.

“You are the pride of the forest. Don’t forget that.”

It was the language of Ballak. Vikir recalled the information that Sinclaire had told him about Bakilaga.

‘His grandparents were from the Red and Black Mountains,’ he thought.

The choker that Aiyen gave Vikir was a symbol that only the best hunters in the tribe could possess, was on his neck.

Before reverting, Vikir recalled “Bakilaga,” one of the great heroes of the Human Allaince. ‘He faced discrimination as a barbarian since his first year,’ he thought.

Finally, Bakilaga, with a smiling face, patted Vikir on the shoulder.

“Great strength, newcomer! It’s late, so we should rest for tomorrow’s competition! Hahaha.”

He lowered his head towards Vikir and whispered softly.

“Your girlfriend over there is glaring at us with hawk eyes, so I can’t suggest a rematch.”

Confused, Vikir turned his head. Dolores was glaring at Bakilaga.

‘Why on earth is she so angry?’

When Vikir and Dolores locked eyes, Vikir lightly nodded.

“…?”

While Dolores was tilting her head at what the two were talking about, Bakilaga turned back with a smiling face.

“It was a splendid match, Colosseo! Although we were completely defeated in the first-year strength duel, it won’t be easy for you in tomorrow’s competition! A warrior’s battle is not just about strength!”

Cheerfully shouting, Bakilaga walked towards the lodging, followed by all Varangian Students.

Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, and others stood in their places, feeling a poignant emotion.

“Well, is this a battle between men?”

“Bakilaga is also quite impressive. He’s a real man.”

“There’s something heartwarming about it! I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s match!”

And then,

“He fucking ate everything.”

Hearing Bianca’s words, the students of Colosseo quickly turned their heads.

All the food on the buffet had disappeared.