The Blade Wielded to Survive
“Everyone, thank you for listening to my long lecture. You may now go and get your lunch.”
“Professor Erewon, thank you for your hard work!”
The grateful words I heard after every lecture still warmed my heart. No matter how many times I heard them.
Before long, the number of students listening to my basic swordsmanship lecture had exceeded fifteen. This increase had begun the moment Angela transferred into my class. Although her mana was a bit lacking, she was clearly the most skilled among the students in swordsmanship. And what mattered most…
was her appearance. The firm muscles formed from countless hours of training while sweating bulged with healthy vitality, and objectively speaking, Angela was undeniably beautiful. When I glanced at the students while lecturing, I noticed many of them couldn’t tear their eyes away from Angela. Some stared blankly, others snuck glances in embarrassment. Even among the female students, there were those who looked at her with envious eyes. It bothered me a little that the students were focusing on Angela more than on me, but it was only natural for people to be drawn to someone handsome. Besides, my teaching style involved minimizing theory and bringing students up one by one so I could teach them directly. When they were just watching from their seats, it didn’t matter much. But when I taught them directly, it was quite harsh. Students receiving guidance had no chance to get distracted by Angela. However, an increase in my students meant fewer students in the other lectures. Eventually, the situation I had expected came to pass. It was when I had finished the basic swordsmanship lecture and was leaving the classroom to eat lunch.
“Your name is Erewon, right?”
Two people waiting in the hallway blocked my way and raised their voices. “I have challenged you to a duel.” “Me too!”
Sebich Gena, a professor, and Dolia Helkathos, a professor. Each was an expert in single combat and dual combat, and they both held the top two spots in popularity among swordsmanship lectures. My class had an average number of students, but the real problem was that students were also switching over from the other two professors’ lectures. Student numbers were a matter of pride for professors, and this issue was especially sensitive. That was why they had deliberately proposed the duel in the hallway where students passed by the most. Their intent was to publicly humiliate me.
“Very well.”
“W-what?”
“I said very well. When shall we do it? We can do it right now.”
The moment I accepted the duel cheerfully, the faces of the two professors darkened. Angela, too, and these two professors, too. Everyone who proposed a duel to me showed the exact same change in attitude. Proposing a duel meant they were sure they would win. But me accepting it cheerfully was in the same vein. ‘Because I can’t lose.’ In a fair fight, one should naturally avoid it. But I never avoid one. The opponent only then breaks the certainty they had held, and only then begins to tremble with fear. In fact, I sometimes enjoyed the joy of showing even arrogant people the cold reality.
“Moreover, if it’s a duel between professors, it will be good study material for the students. Isn’t that right?”
I smiled brightly as I spoke, and the two professors’ expressions gradually filled with anger. Sebich professor spoke in a low voice, one that only I could hear. “That braggart who received special treatment thanks to the dean… I was going to let him off with a simple apology and step back, but in the end he caused this mess!”
“Professor Sebich, I also feel like I received special treatment. So I’ll prove it. That I became a temporary professor is in no way a coincidence. But let’s eat lunch first. We can’t show a spirited performance if we’re hungry.”
My suggestion to eat lunch and then do the duel. Dolia professor latched onto this and shouted with all her might. “Hah! You want us to eat lunch before the duel? It seems you’re trying to back out because you’re scared of us!”
“Understood. Then let’s do the duel right now.”
“There’s no need to pretend to be unaffected. Little one, go eat your lunch slowly. After you lose the duel, your appetite will vanish.”
Even if I accepted the duel at their request, it looked like this. Rather, they were the ones trying to back out.
“Then let’s do this. We’ll do the duel right now, but if I win, I’ll treat the students listening to my lecture to a lavish and delicious lunch.”
“The students listening to your lecture? Good. Then add more. Treat all the students. Conversely, if you lose, what will you do?”
“You’re quite bold. What exactly do you want me to do?”
“It’s already decided. Step down from your professor position and leave the academy.”
I had planned to respond while smiling, but my brows furrowed at those words. Naturally, I gathered strength and asked while slightly clenching my teeth. “Of course, a professor without qualifications stepping down is natural, but how did the condition of leaving the academy come about? I am currently only a temporary professor and will eventually be a student.”
“You are lowering the academy’s prestige. Enrolling as a fourth-year student, and even being appointed as a temporary professor. All of it is wrong.”
“The academy values ability above all else….”
I stopped speaking in the middle. Upon thinking about it, there was no need to listen to these two idiots’ words any longer. It was faster to simply expose them once and for all than to continue with mere words.
“Haha, your mouth is shut now? Why did you stop speaking!”
“Little one, say something more. In the end you’ll reveal your true hand… huh?”
The two professors froze. It was because they felt the mana I was drawing in from within.
“Thank you very much for challenging me to a duel. Thanks to you, I can finally point my sword at you two.”
“T-this brat dares to raise his mana?!”
“It’s a duel, after all. Not a practice match, but a real duel. There’s no time. We must treat the students’ lunch, so let’s head to the lecture hall quickly.”
I led the way to the lecture hall, cutting off any more nonsense from the two professors. Angela and Lua followed right beside me.
“Oppa. Why did you have to accept the duel?”
“I know Professor Erewon’s skill well, but this….”
I shook my head firmly.
“You don’t trust me?”
At that, both Lua and Angela closed their mouths. They trusted my skill, but they lacked absolute confidence that I could win a duel against these two professors.
“I absolutely won’t lose. So let’s end it quickly and go eat a delicious lunch.”
Even though I said so, Angela still looked worried. But Lua nodded her head.
“I believe you, oppa.”
The duel location was the large lecture hall located beneath the academy. It was where all important events and ceremonies took place. It was also where the entrance exam was held. When the hall manager activated the magic device, a stage for the duel was prepared in the center. Students who had come to watch also filled the spectator stands that had risen near the stage. The interesting spectacle of a duel between professors and the chance to obtain expensive lunch if things went badly had brought almost all the students from the academy today. Sebich professor and Dolia professor, standing on the stage, were still smirking.
“Presumptuous. I was going to let you off if you asked for forgiveness, but in the end you caused this mess.”
“Among us, who do you want to fight first? I’ll grant your wish.”
“Both of you.”
“Wha….”
The professors’ expressions hardened.
“Both of you at once. The sooner we finish, the better we can save lunch time.” The professors’ expressions were bewildered by my words to fight both at once, and the students grew restless.
“You bastard! You crossed the line! Good. Then what rules do you want?”
“It’s simple.”
I remembered the rules Angela had suggested to me. When unable to stand on both feet or when declaring defeat. But I had slightly changed these rules.
“The one who cannot stand on both feet or cannot even declare defeat loses. For any other rules, whatever is fine.”
“T-this brat….”
The two professors began to panic. The rules I had stated carried the radical meaning of allowing even the taking of a life. Mana manipulation was not restricted either.
“Now backing out? If you’re unsure, I’ll change the rules.”
“No need! Since you brought this upon yourself, prepare yourself!”
“Of course I must prepare. What hesitation do you have? Let’s begin immediately.”
I felt mana rising. The killing intent-laden mana being drawn up by the two professors. They really intended to kill me if necessary. It had been a long time since I had felt killing intent directed at me. Honestly, I missed this thrilling feeling. The ideal of the swordsmanship I pursued, creating a path for survival. My sword grew even sharper when used to survive. I would win. And I would survive. Originally… it was impossible for me to lose to such idiots.