Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Cutter Knife Blessing (3)
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Do you know what all those subculture protagonists have in common the instant they get their second chance at life?
They adapt right away.
No matter how much humans are creatures of adaptation, there's still a resocialization period.
Imagine living your whole life on kimchi stew and pork belly, then suddenly being told you can only eat stew and lamb from now on.
'You'd miss it bad. For a few years, you'd be craving soft tofu stew, right?'
Culture's the same way.
People from modern civilization, living under the rule of law and maintaining peace.
Drop them into a world with swords and magic, where death lurks around every corner, and realistically, they'd panic.
If avoiding everything was their daily routine, where's this munchkin energy supposed to come from?
"But I'm different."
"W-what the hell is this guy...!"
I'd lived my whole life yearning for the sword.
The sword was my truth, my destiny.
"I am, the bone of my sword..."
"Gang up on him! This ain't no ordinary punk!"
"Steel is my body, and fire is my blood."
I recited famous lines from some anime while swinging my practice wooden sword at the thugs.
It all started ten minutes ago.
-Hey, you here for the entrance exam?
-Yeah.
-Sorry, but you'll have to leave. Too many applicants for the spots.
These weirdos were blocking the entrance, trying to shove their little brother in, right?
They were decent fighters—most applicants got wrecked and limped away.
I was about to get annoyed at the hassle, but hey, good is good. Time to test how amazing this Heart Image I'd just awakened was.
All I had was a cheap wooden practice sword I'd bought for the exam.
Romantic qualification.
The exam was about to start without me anyway, so admission was off the table.
Sucks for Adel not getting that job, but since it's come to this, might as well have some fun before I go.
"How is he blocking all three of our attacks...! What trick did you pull?!"
"Can't you guys use Heart Image?"
"Ha! Heart Image? Don't bullshit us! Half the academy seniors graduate without ever awakening theirs!"
"......"
You can graduate from the academy without awakening Heart Image?
Made me even less eager to enroll.
Do they just suck students dry without teaching them properly?!
More importantly, these guys were academy students.
Empire's top educational institution, my ass—the level here was pathetic.
Just awakening one Heart Image made everything feel like slow motion; all their attacks were crystal clear.
Swordsmanship insight only applied to the Cutter Knife, so I was flailing the wooden sword wildly, but they still couldn't touch me.
"Time to sleep."
"Ack!"
I struck the last guy's crown and knocked him out cold.
"...That guy's really an examinee? Isn't he actually from the academy's disciplinary committee?"
"If he was, he'd be in uniform. He looks young enough to be a freshman, though."
"Impressive. He might've really awakened Heart Image..."
I came to and looked around— a crowd had gathered, buzzing with excitement.
'Better bail before this gets any louder.'
Sorry, Adel, but money-wise, if I hustle and work double shifts...
"......!"
Then.
Splat-!
I reflexively leaned back.
No time to think—pure survival instinct took over.
"Ho, so it was real."
"......"
I quickly put distance between us.
Where I'd stood, a shaggy white-bearded old man held a real sword.
His clothes were haphazardly thrown on; at a glance, he looked like some neighborhood drunkard.
But those sharp eyes were different. They pierced right through, flickering unnaturally... not an ordinary guy.
"Now we've got professional armed robbers? Security here's a joke."
"Even with all that killing intent, you dodged...? Who the hell are you, kid?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. Got dementia or something? Sounds like you swung just to test if I'd dodge."
"Heh, got a mouth on you too! I like it."
"...Guy's not right in the head."
His swordplay said he'd trained hard in his youth.
'Best to steer clear of crazies.'
Better run before more trouble brews.
No telling what backlash might hit if sparks fly.
"Ahem, hem."
Sensing my intent, he cleared his throat repeatedly and spoke.
"Sorry for testing you. But how about becoming my disciple?"
"Pass."
"...Do you even know who I am?"
"Why should I? You're the armed robber who tried to kill me."
"Look around."
Suddenly, around us?
I glanced about, puzzled, and yeah, something was off.
"I-is that... Lord Valerius?"
"That sword at his waist! No doubt... Why's the Sword Saint of the South here-"
The whispers boiled like a marketplace.
The students' eyes mixed awe and reverence.
'Sword Saint? This demented old man?'
Judging by the reaction, he was famous.
But so what?
Respect for elders is my creed.
But respecting an robber who tried to chop me? Not in my book.
And fame doesn't erase crime. That rubbed me wrong.
"Guess you're famous."
"Haha! Indeed. Having second thoughts now-"
"So, what now?"
The demented Sword Saint's eyes went wide at my words.
The crowd gasped, looking at me like I was insane.
Still, gotta say what needs saying.
"Being Sword Saint means you can swing at people as a test?"
"...Uh, y-yeah?"
"I'm out."
I slung the wooden sword over my shoulder and walked off without looking back.
"Wait, hold on! Hah...! Never seen a case like this."
The Sword Saint blocked my path, flustered.
"Now obstructing traffic too?"
"Not that! Uh, um... Right!"
He fiddled with his shaggy beard, then his eyes lit up like he'd realized something.
"You here for the entrance exam, by chance?"
"Can't you tell? But I was late, so no dice."
"Come with me."
"Famous guy pulling strings for admission-"
"Nothing like that! Academy profs can pick special freshmen at their discretion. I'm the new honorary professor. How's that? Won't even ask you to be my disciple!"
"Hm."
As I pondered, Adel's face flashed in my mind.
I could see her sighing over the failed job.
Like parents juggling housework and hard labor for their only kid's college exam, only to be disappointed.
"...Let's hear you out."
"Haha! Smart choice."
If you had to name one promising swordsmanship family in the Empire's heartlands, it'd hands-down be the Luminus Count Family.
The peculiar thing? Every branch and main line revered white Sword Aura as sacred.
'What's so great about that damn white...'
Aurora was a mutant among them.
The sole direct heir, yet she manifested thick, prismatic Sword Aura like it'd passed through a prism.
Maybe due to her dense Heart Image, even her hair tips changed color—seen secretly in the family as a symbol of ill omen.
-True nobility keeps the Heart Image white...
-Inheriting the patriarch's blood, yet such an ominous birth!
-Her Heart Image's stained with delusion and greed. No way that motley sword can lead the family.
Despite the elders' scorn, she walked the path of a clear genius.
Before twenty, she awakened Heart Image faster than anyone.
No one in the family could match her swordsmanship.
Just that prismatic Heart Image made them treat her as cursed.
The vicious contempt and discrimination drove Aurora to the edge.
'I need to get stronger. More, more...!'
If she had overwhelming power to convince everyone, even the patriarch wouldn't worry.
"Next, Aurora!"
So she applied to the Empire's finest, Kronbel Academy.
Rejecting family prestige and support—she'd prove herself starting here, alone.
As she stepped to the training ground's center, the air grew thick.
The sword drawn from her waist traced an arc.
The moment refracted prismatic Sword Aura adorned the air dazzlingly.
Clang-!
Dozens of exam magic golems shattered and rolled across the floor.
Aurora sheathed her sword in flawless form and intoned coldly.
"Is the next stage the last?"
"Fast. Starting right away?"
"Yes."
The surroundings were beyond shock—locked in uproar.
-S-Sword Aura? From a freshman?
-Awakened Heart Image? Monster. Top freshman spot's hers for sure.
Even the grading instructor couldn't hide a leaking smile as he noted the score.
'No idea where she's from, but no first-year in the swordsmanship club will top this girl, guaranteed.'
The instant the instructor brimmed with certainty.
Bang-!
The exam hall's back door burst open crudely.
"Hey! Sorry I'm late!"
"Who dares profane the sacred exam hall door... Gasp!"
A raggedly dressed old hobo.
But no one dared scorn him.
His face and garb were known across the Empire.
"S-Sword Saint Valerius?!"
"Hahaha! Might've disrupted the exam—sorry about that."
"N-no, sir!"
Aurora in the final exam area couldn't hide her surprise either.
'That infamous wastrel Sword Saint, Valerius?'
Even her usual impassive face cracked this time.
Excitement and anticipation swirled in her mind.
'...Perfect timing.'
Good call enrolling here.
Easy so far, but the final exam let her show her true power.
Impress him strong, get his support, and the family would rethink things.
...But.
"I heard you start next week."
"Hearts don't cut off so neatly. Just got appointed honorary prof—got itchy."
Valerius stroked his shaggy chin beard with his trademark sly grin, then continued.
"Heard honorary profs can pick special freshmen... Can I?"
"Professor recommendation special track? Allowed by regs, but who do you plan to...?"
No sooner asked, Valerius clapped a boy's shoulder with a thud.
"This kid! I vouch for him personally."
Aurora's eyes trembled faintly.
'...Him?'
She remembered.
On the way here, a boy she'd mistaken for a compatriot.
Cute enough, but his stance screamed amateur, eyes wild with madness—shady guy.
Glad not her type, no entanglements.
'How's he next to the Sword Saint...?'
Shed even thought he'd been disqualified for tardiness, pitiful.
"Handsy like a true robber."
"A-hem... Save my face a bit."
...Are they close?
He was whispering in the Sword Saint's ear, just the two of them.