The Sword That Swings to Survive
“Professor Aipman, may I come in?”
“It’s Erewon, not Aipman. Come in.”
I had stopped by Professor Aipman’s office after lunch, just before the afternoon lecture began.
“Did you eat lunch?”
“I didn’t. My appetite’s not back yet.”
“It’s all your fault, then.”
“My fault? If I’ve done something to offend you, Professor Aipman……”
“Done it? You did it! We settled our duel without a word to each other beforehand!”
“That was unavoidable. The other side requested the duel first. If I’d refused even after they asked, my life as a professor would have ended.”
“But that’s not the point!”
Aipman shot to his feet.
“There’s no regulation against dueling professors, but the reason is that this has never happened before!”
I didn’t reply while the fiery old man was still raging.
He had favored me openly and changed my plans a lot, yet he still cared for me.
I simply waited for the stubborn old man to calm down.
“Still, it’s fortunate.”
“What’s so fortunate?”
“That you’re alive. Even though you’re temporarily filling a professorship, you’re still a student of the Academy. It’s fortunate that a student of our Academy is safe.”
“Thank you. But what about the other two professors?”
“Of course I’m concerned. But even with the rules allowing you to end lives at will, you chose not to kill them.”
I had felt that impulse.
But it wasn’t necessary, and I was experienced at controlling my emotions.
The best path was the one that avoided bloodshed while achieving better results.
“So you’re forgiving me, then?”
“Forgiving? No, I simply passed over it.”
“In any case, I came here for two reasons. First, I wanted to report back. And second, I’d like you to hear the conditions I set when I entered the Academy.”
“Irinid and Taria….”
“I already know. You wanted to spar with the two students who are the strongest in the Academy. But now I’ll ask again.”
The light in Professor Aipman’s eyes had changed since the first time he saw me.
It was still cautious, even as he acknowledged my abilities.
“Why do you want to spar with them? From what I know, no one in the Academy can match you with the sword. And since you’ve reached the 6-Circle, there’s no one who can follow you into the realm of mana.”
“In the past my motive was impolite. But now that you’ve taken the professorship, it’s a good excuse. As your professor, I want to show the two of them the path ahead.”
Aipman watched me quietly.
“That’s not what I’m asking. I want to know what grand picture you’ve drawn beyond that.”
‘As I thought…….’
This old scholar hadn’t just become headmaster.
Instead of growing dull with age, he had grown wiser and deeper.
It was the perfect example of a man who had matured beautifully.
“Why do you want to know that?”
“I have the same motive as you. As a professor, I want to show you the path ahead.”
“First, I intend to reach the 7-Circle.”
“And?”
“……”
When I stayed silent, Aipman fixed me with an intense stare.
The will to hear an answer, no matter what.
“I said that the one who helped me reach this level at my age would have to reach 7-Circle to help you.”
“What? Someone who helped me?”
Aipman’s eyes trembled.
He was probably thinking of someone he had met while wearing a mask.
“Tell me the details.”
“I heard you were doing forbidden research. On narcotic plants.”
Even though the topic was dangerous, Aipman nodded.
That meant he had made up his mind.
“But I don’t know the rest. You only said that I need mana above 7-Circle to help you.”
“What’s your relationship with that person?”
“He helped me for no reason. I don’t even know who he is.”
That was enough.
I had told him all I could.
The narcotic plant that dulled the senses until they became hazy, eventually causing hallucinations and impairing the mind—Morfe.
In my past life, Morfe’s improvement succeeded only after the war it sparked in the Empire had swept the world.
But by then too many lives had already been lost.
Regrettably, the data stored in Aipman’s lab at home had played a major role after the Empire suppressed him for abandoning the research.
Aipman continued to stare at me after I finished speaking. Then he turned toward the tea set.
“If your business is done, you may leave.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And prepare. I’ll tell Irinid and Taria that they’re to spar with you soon.”
Professor Aipman boiling water to brew tea.
I bowed to his back and left the headmaster’s office.
My original plan had changed, but everything had gone smoothly.
Revealing that the prince and princess of the Knight Kingdom Solea possessed extraordinary abilities.
Building a framework to nurture talent more effectively.
And Aipman’s Morfe research.
In my past life, perhaps development had been accelerated by the war’s casualties.
Improving Morfe was important for saving lives, but in this life the best method was to prevent the war altogether.
‘Still, this meeting was sooner than I expected…….’
It had come much faster than I thought.
“Why are the two students here?”
The advanced swordsmanship lecture in the afternoon.
Irinid and Taria had naturally joined the students.
“Professor, thank you for your time.”
“Here again? Shorty Professor.”
Only three students had enrolled in the advanced swordsmanship lecture.
Angela and the other two.
But Irinid and Taria had entered the lecture without prior registration.
“I haven’t received either of your enrollment forms.”
“I’ll write them, but I’ll decide later how to take the lecture. After I check how good shorty Professor is.”
“Taria, what do you mean? You’re going to check how good my skill is?”
“Exactly, Professor.”
Irinid answered in a calm voice.
“You requested to spar with us, didn’t you?”
Remembering that I had told Aipman I would report back after lunch.
Probably Aipman had mentioned the entrance exam story.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“We were curious too. Who defeated the old men from Doria and Seviche? Even Akan, they say.”
“To be precise, I didn’t completely defeat them. When I dueled Professor Doria and Professor Seviche I used no mana, and neither did I when I fought Professor Akan.”
“That’s why we’re curious.”
Taria stood up from her seat.
Holding a spear that looked impressive at first glance.
“When learning martial arts, there’s no better way than to clash with your body rather than just studying theory. Don’t you agree, shorty Professor?”
“Of course. I agree with that part. But what does that have to do with Taria deciding to stand up without being asked?”
“It has to do with it.”
Irinid stood up as well.
“Please teach us one move. We’ll decide how we’ll attend your lecture for the rest of the semester.”
I held back the laughter rising in my throat.
That meant Aipman didn’t need to prepare a separate venue.
Right now they wanted to fight.
If I was going to teach them as a swordsmanship professor, I would have to show them the path with my skill and enthusiasm.
But if not, I would continue as I had so far—train on my own terms during lecture hours and rake in the credits.
‘It might look like they’re trying to get credits for free. But these students have been at the top for too long. So…….’
“You must be thirsty.”
The words left my lips. Irinid and Taria’s eyes widened.
“There’s no martial artist stronger than you at the Academy. You’ve been waiting endlessly to graduate with guaranteed graduation, and that free time felt too wasteful.”
Taria smiled thinly.
“You read our minds perfectly. That’s why this dispatch has been so enjoyable.”
Irinid nodded.
“It’s a shame it’s only for a month.”
“I’ll satisfy that regret. Even though I’m temporarily holding a professorship, I can’t leave students who want to learn. I’ll fulfill my duty.”
I clapped my hands, dispelling the heavy mood.
“Students, today’s lecture will be held in the lecture hall. There’s no better lecture than watching masters clash firsthand. Watch the skill of the two best students in our Academy.”
I had already dueled two professors today, eaten lunch, and taken a short rest. Now I had to fight again.
It wasn’t easy for heart or body, yet my overflowing energy gave me strength.
“Hot stuff. Fifteen years old, right? Pretty impressive for a shorty Professor.”
“Taria. You’ve received the impolite request from the professor. Still, do you have to speak so rudely?”
“No, it’s fine. Taria is about to become polite.”
“What? Why me?”
Veins bulged on Taria’s face.
‘The best medicine for crushing unnecessary pride is to let them lose even when provoked.’
“Taria, I clearly never said you could stand up during the lecture.”
“What’s that got to do with it? You were the one who asked to spar with us.”
“You’ve acted without following the professor’s instructions.”
I picked up the sword I had set aside.
Since the duel before lunch, the magnificent sword case my master had arranged belatedly.
I also wanted to swing Regret more vigorously in a long time.
“I’ll sit you down. As the professor in charge of swordsmanship, I’ll crush your skills with my own.”