Window Leap and Sword Showdown
Lunchtime had ended, and thanks to the professors giving us the day off for the first day, I headed back to the dorms.
Fortunately, there wasn't much buzz about me beating up that one student.
Lucky break, I muttered, flopping onto my dorm bed.
"Hmm, this place seems manageable enough."
...That thought got wrecked the very next day.
~Nananana~ Na~ Nan~
"Fuuuuck...... Who the hell set the alarm to that cheesy melody......"
The annoyingly sweet chime yanked me out of sleep,
"Ughhh......"
and in my half-dead haze where I couldn't even tell if I was breathing or not, I somehow washed up and threw on some clothes.
"Ugh, my stomach hurts......"
Sleep-deprived and starving, my whole body felt like lead.
With my gut twisting in knots, all I could think was how badly I wanted to go home.
"First period......"
I stuffed my major textbooks into my bag, snatched up Eodukshini snoozing spread-eagle on the desk, and shoved him in my pocket.
"Yaaawn."
First period was Basic Combat.
No classroom—instead, it was on the wide open field in front of the dorms, so no need to climb all the way to a lecture hall.
Lemme see... If I head out now, timing should be perfect.
Three minutes before the first-period bell.
I flung the window wide open.
Whoooosh—
The cool breeze hit me, snapping me awake a bit.
I narrowed my eyes, gauging the distance to the back field from the dorm.
Lemme see, range...
Not far at all. Height's only about four stories.
Good to go.
Clunk.
I hooked my foot on the windowsill.
Right on cue, Eodukshini poked his face out of my pocket, groggy from waking up.
-Ugh, my stomach...... I'm starving...
"You scarfed down five servings by yourself last night? The lunch lady looked baffled."
-Eh, happens. But what're you doing?
"What else? Heading to class."
Eodukshini glanced around.
Then he freaked out and yelled.
-Wait a sec! This is a window?!
"Yeah. So?"
-So?! Why the hell are you going out the window!
"It's closer and easier."
-This isn't a door— GYAAAAH!
I cut off his nagging mid-sentence—obvious where it was headed—and leaped out.
Thud!
Safe landing.
Short drop, low height.
The ground dipped a bit, but the island-wide magic was already patching it up.
"Ahh, refreshing."
-Ughhhh......
Eodukshini, half-dangling from my pocket, looked ready to die, though.
"Snap out of it, dude. Can't be that weak."
-Weak my ass...... Who the fuck goes to class out a dorm window!
"Me."
-GRAAAAH! You psycho owner!
Music to my ears first thing in the morning—Eodukshini's screams.
"......What the hell is that guy? Did he just jump out a window?"
"...Looks like it? But why's he totally fine?"
Normal humans don't leap from four stories.
No! Even falling, you'd expect shattered legs, knocked out from impact, or at least some flailing to brace.
At first, the students thought he was suiciding. But seeing him land solidly on both feet, they all looked horrified.
Psycho...
Not just students watching him.
A man perched atop a trembling student in chair pose muttered lowly.
"...Really cutting loose, huh? Not stopping him?"
"S-Sorry..."
The student—in chair pose—was the one Adria had kicked yesterday, then got payback-beaten by me. He bowed his head.
The man shook his head.
"Nah. No need to apologize. Right? It's your incompetence at fault."
"N-No...! It's my fault......"
"Yeah?"
The man looked away from him.
Originally, he'd planned to use this pawn to ambush Adria. Wound her, get counterattacked, whatever—make trouble as a disposable tool.
Adria was an imperial princess and an idol. Exposed to media, even minor incidents could dent her image.
Real or fabricated.
If not for that guy...
Without Eugene butting in midway, he could've diminished her influence.
And Eugene? Total madman, intentionally or not.
Look! Who the hell commutes to class via dorm window?
Who beats every student senseless!
Too thin to pin on Adria...
Not enough.
No matter how forced, some things just don't stick.
Adria's influence wasn't huge, but not negligible.
Fine then.
Just eliminate him.
The man's eyes gleamed blue.
"Th-That psycho......"
"Why hasn't a ghost dragged him off yet......"
Whisper whisper whisper!
"You wanna yap all day? Huh?"
They shut up and backed off as I approached, then resumed whispering once I passed...
Should I just flip the whole lot?
Ashy swallowed hard, eyeing the veins bulging on my hand.
"?"
-?
"?"
Why the gulp?
I stared at Ashy, who averted her gaze and turned away slyly.
"Hey?"
"Y-Yeah? What?"
Her playing dumb was ridiculous, but no time to chat.
"Everyone here?"
Perfectly timed—the professor arrived, and class started.
You and me later.
I-I don't know anything!
Postponed for now. I turned to the professor.
Eroy looked unchanged from our first meeting.
Worn training robes. But her aura screamed true swordmaster.
"Everyone here?"
"Yes!"
Tense, booming reply from all.
Why so disciplined?
"Hm? Two missing."
"Y-Yes?"
"Short two headcount. Late? Anyone wanna claim no friends?"
Students exchanged scared glances at her words.
......Why's everyone like this?
Ashy looked baffled too. Only Eodukshini seemed to guess.
-......Didja beat up some students?
...Possible?
One student hesitantly raised a hand.
"......Mosik's not here."
"Mosik. Ah, Mosik Karma. Got word from him earlier. The other one..."
A male student with bangs long enough to blind rushed up.
Huh? That guy's
the one I beat yesterday.
Panting raggedly, he bowed.
"S-Sorry."
"Something came up, huh. Still, late is late..."
Eroy pulled a wooden sword from her robes and handed it over.
"Basic overhead strike stance. Thousand swings."
"......Pardon?"
"Not enough? I can up it."
"N-No!"
One line, and I pegged her type.
Hardass drill sergeant!
"Alright, rest of you?"
"Yes!!"
"Full sprint. Hundred laps. Go!"
"Go!!!"
"?!"
What? Why's everyone so boot-camp gung-ho?!
"Hah, hah, hah......"
Yahan wiped sweat streaming down his jaw, gasping. Physical prowess? His pride.
But.
What the hell is that monster...
Eugene and Ashy? In another league.
Hundred laps full tilt, yet no fatigue.
Not a drop of sweat, casually chatting.
Me, losing in stamina too...?!
Heir to House Horain.
Sole blood of the missing Sword Saint!
Yahan gripped shaking legs, forcing upright. Pride wouldn't let him drop here.
"Up, everyone. Lying down when beat makes it worse."
"Y-Yes......!"
Eugene—ignoring Yahan's fire—watched them obey mid-lap with a dubious look.
Definitely looks like ass-kicking residue?
Otherwise, these punks wouldn't listen so well.
Eroy grinned, twisting her scarred face in satisfaction.
Hm. That mug alone might enforce discipline.
"Professor."
"Hm?"
A stocky guy in neat uniform approached.
Mosik Karma bowed to her.
"Sorry. Late to class."
"Ah, Mosik. Fine. You messaged ahead."
"No. Late is late. I'll take due punishment."
"Really? Good. Wooden sword. Thousand overhead strikes over there."
"Yes. Finish quick and join."
"Great, Mosik."
Mosik meekly took position and started basic strikes.
Damn, tough bastard.
Once-transformed folks different? As I inwardly admired, Eroy gathered us.
"Alright, spread out. First day—gauge levels, get friendly."
Naturally, I paired with Ashy...
"I'll pick pairs."
...but rotten luck teamed me with Yahan.
Yahan wiped jaw sweat, glaring at me.
Right here, right now...!
Crush him, reclaim pride.
Gripped wooden sword tight.
"Behold my skill!!"
"Uh, yeah. Go for it."
My deadpan boiled his blood, but he exhaled steady, stance set.
Mind cleared, locked on sword.
"Oh......"
Interest sparked in my eyes.
Punk thug till now—stance flipped his aura.
Step closer, he'd slice you.
Wooden sword, but sharp as live blade this instant.
That's swordsmanship?
Dove in stupidly with that?
"Hah!"
Yahan exhaled, thrusting straight.
House Horain: swift, sharp quicksword.
Fluid variants, adaptability!
Clean... but
Lacking.
Raw talent? Sure. But basics, sword intent? Weak.
Still, stuff to learn.
Swish! Swish swish!
Dodge, twist body, parry his blade bit by bit.
Ecstasy lit Yahan's face.
It lands!
Too fast, sharp for him to react.
I can win!
But he missed it—my eyes turning red.
Dodged a few, then I halted, mirrored stance, thrust head-on.
Yahan smirked inwardly, powered grip.
Taking Horain blade frontal? Peasant move!
Any Horain-savvy student dodges endless, never clashes direct.
Power, speed—unmatchable. Felt blades meet, flowed to stab chest.
Claaang!
"?!"
Should've slid off—halted by brute force.
His sword nearly flung wild.
Yahan yanked back. Hands numb from grip. Looser hold? Dropped it.
What the—?
I didn't stop—stepped forward, same stance!
Quicksword?!
Yahan scrambled defensive.
Like swarm of hornets—my blade poured.
Swish! Shwish! Swish swish!
What?! What the hell?!
Seen my sword before.
Brute hacks—no technique.
But now? Stance shaky still. Yet each swing stabilized, power ramped.
Perfect copy.
From mere glances, mimicking Yahan's style.
Whack!
"Kuh!"
Wooden sword flew from Yahan's grip. Mocking his clutch, it hit dirt free.
"......"
"......"
Odd silence rippled through students.
Except Ashy.
"Head!"
"Ow!"
In the hush, a shocked mutter.
"......W-What? House Horain just lost? In swordplay?"
"That guy... sword skills were supposed weak..."
I frowned, test-swung a few times, eyed Yahan.
Then casually:
"Mosik'd probably beat you."
Dead serious.
Skill? Mosik might lag. But grit, poise? Mosik superior.
Not born genius—frail, seized chance, remade self.
Mosik's build screamed three weeks hell-training.
"......Don't insult me."
"Not insult—truth."
"Hoo... Sir Eugene. Long time."
"Oh, Mosik. Good?"
"Well. Body not adapted yet—stiff."
"Prob from thousand overheads..."
Shadow loomed behind chatting me.
Eroy—pleased—grinned, tapped my shoulder.
"As expected of my pick. Come here."
"?"
"I'll spar and teach you direct."
......Can't I just go solo?