Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: King of All Weapons
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The A-Class training hall within the academy.
A few individuals were now entering the hall.
At the Grand Royal Academy, nicknamed ‘Groa,’ discrimination in nearly every form was a fact of life.
The very fact that training halls were divided by class was enough to show just how meticulously Groa practiced this discrimination.
And this discrimination was ingrained to the bone, evident in the sheer scale of the A-Class training hall and its various facilities and equipment.
It was a kind of mechanism designed to make students strive of their own volition.
A harsh form of discrimination meant to encourage ambition.
That was why Cheon-seong was taking it all in, his eyes wide open.
Stepping into the A-Class training hall, a place he couldn't normally enter, he intended to make the most of it.
“I expected some students to visit the training hall on the first day, but I didn't think such a varied group would show up together. I am the training instructor in charge of the A-Class hall. Avalanche.”
As the man with a sturdy impression spoke, his name sounded quite familiar.
“To introduce myself, my trait is Unique-grade, level 8, and I currently serve as a member of the 6th Imperial Knight Order. That's enough for introductions. Feel free to look around or begin your own training. The hall is open until 9 PM. If you have any questions during your training, you may ask me for advice.”
At the instructor's calm words, the rest of the group looked on in awe.
And among his credentials, the most striking was undoubtedly his trait level: 8.
In this world, a person's trait was their value—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was almost everything.
Considering the difficulty of leveling up increased exponentially with each level, a Unique trait at level 8 was, objectively speaking, an incredibly high level.
“Instructor. We've come to the training hall today for a duel. Would it be possible for you to act as an observer?”
“A duel?”
“Yes. Although it's a duel, we'd like you to oversee it to prevent any unforeseen accidents.”
The one speaking so fluently.
...The fact that it was Glacia left me momentarily speechless.
I'd noticed it during the entrance exam, but Glacia was not someone who was bad at speaking or stumbled over her words.
Anyone could see she was articulate.
She usually used a vague manner of speaking in normal conversation, so seeing her speak more eloquently than anyone when it mattered just felt strange.
*Is this some new form of discrimination?* The thought even crossed my mind.
“A duel, you say. Excellent. I can serve as an observer.”
Watching Avalanche agree so readily, I let out a small sigh internally.
*So I really have to do this.*
In the end, it felt like things had truly gotten out of hand.
*With an instructor present, I probably won't die during the duel.* But even so, I couldn't hide my grim feelings.
An extra who has to fight the protagonist.
What is this...
“So, which students will be dueling?”
As the instructor looked on with curiosity, I slowly opened my mouth.
“That would be me.”
“That would be me.”
My head snapped to the side at the voice that rang out almost simultaneously with mine. Leonhardt was there, his gaze meeting mine with a slightly surprised expression. I did my best to feign composure.
My first duel at the academy, and it's against an A-Class student. Not just any A-Class student, but the protagonist of this novel... It was a bleak situation, but there was no escaping it.
Somehow, the situation had been orchestrated this way.
“An A-Class student dueling a C-Class student. If this duel is the result of a dispute or conflict between classes, then I, as an instructor, cannot permit it. Even if you feel forced into it, you have the clear right to refuse. Student Han Cheon-seong? Answer me properly.”
The instructor's expression turned cold as he asked, a stark contrast to before. I calmly nodded.
“This duel is not the result of a dispute or conflict. It is a proper duel, which we both agreed to.”
I was semi-coerced into it, but it was technically true that I had agreed of my own free will.
“...Judging by your demeanor, it seems you're not lying.”
Seeing him gauge my true intentions by looking into my eyes, I let out a faint smile and tried to appear as composed as possible.
I had to ensure Glacia's interest in me didn't fade.
Her interest stemmed from her inability to understand me, and I had to do my best to keep that interest from dying out.
To me, Glacia was the best, and perhaps the last, connection I could rely on.
She was the greatest hope I could look to while in C-Class.
Therefore, standing before her now, I couldn't show even the slightest hint of weakness.
…
Under the instructor's guidance, we made our way to a dueling arena situated in a corner of the vast academy training hall.
A rectangular outline was drawn, and the dueling area itself was slightly raised from the rest of the ground. Looking at the arena, I felt a truly strange sensation.
“This dueling arena has nearly every weapon a student could want. For the purpose of this duel, you must only use the weapons provided in the training hall. Students, keep that in mind.”
This was the one rule that was common from A-Class all the way down to D-Class.
For combat classes, weapons existed to suit each trait, and the specific weapons required varied greatly from person to person.
In addition, weapons also had grades.
Weapons obtained from a regular blacksmith were not assigned any grade. The iron spear I used in the entrance exam was a prime example.
But things were different within the academy. The armaments crafted in the academy's workshop all possessed a mystical power. This was inevitable, as the people making them were blacksmiths with high-grade traits.
And their grades were the same as the grades of our traits.
Grades ranging from Common, Rare, Unique, all the way to Legendary.
And beyond that, there were even ‘Signature-grade’ armaments that only special individuals could possess, unattainable within the academy.
Lost in thought, Leonhardt and I walked over.
*Step. Step.*
Before long, we were each able to choose our weapons.
Since both Leonhardt and I had close-range traits, the swords and spears were located right next to each other in the weapon selection area.
*Clink.*
The moment I gripped the spear, made entirely of a grayish material, I instantly felt the item's effect.
*
---
**Training Spear**
**Grade:** Common.
**Item Effect:** Increases Agility by 1.1x when equipped.
*\*Due to the item's effect, your Agility stat has been changed to 11.*
---
*
As expected of a world inside a novel, it was amusing to see the stats of such an unrealistic item displayed so concretely.
“It's just for training, but this is nice.”
“I agree. The sword I'm holding is pretty good too.”
I glanced at Leonhardt, who had replied right beside me, and gave a slight nod.
*Someone once said, if you can't avoid it, enjoy it.*
Even if I'm utterly crushed in this duel, I have to show my best.
I decided to at least protect my ‘confidence’.
“Students, take your positions.”
At the instructor's words, Leonhardt and I slowly walked apart, creating distance between us.
We faced each other and took a deep breath.
A crowd had already gathered around us.
Aside from Glacia and Yumia, who had come with us, other A-Class students were taking their places nearby as if watching a spectacle. It just made me uncomfortable.
*I have to fight a duel where my defeat is already guaranteed.*
And I have to show everyone my losing side.
Then, I bit my lip and steeled myself.
*It's fine. Don't be scared. Just don't make a fool of myself.*
Glacia might have brought up the duel out of the blue, but she couldn't have done so with the expectation that I would win.
She was well aware that I had a Common trait while Leonhardt had a Legendary one.
So, all I needed to do was perform better than what's expected of my Common-grade trait.
There was no need to be obsessed with victory.
“It seems you are both ready for the duel. Before we begin, each student will state their name and trait. Student Leonhardt, you first.”
At Instructor Avalanche's words, Leonhardt raised his sword and slowly nodded.
“Leonhardt Rorient. My trait is Sword of the Azure Sky. It is Legendary-grade, level 2.”
As soon as he finished his introduction.
“Wow.”
“Legendary…”
“I wonder how strong he is.”
Murmurs of admiration came from the many students who had gathered to watch the duel. My heart grew heavy.
Outwardly, I held my spear calmly, but what was this? It felt like some kind of public humiliation.
“Next, student Han Cheon-seong.”
At the instructor's prompt, I calmly opened my mouth.
“Han Cheon-seong. My trait is Spearmanship. It is Common-grade, level 3.”
...I calmed myself as I spoke the words I would have to repeat countless times in the future.
“Legendary and Common?”
“Is this duel for real?”
“I heard he just accepted it.”
Hearing the murmurs that had already started, I fixed my gaze completely on the tip of my spear.
To anyone watching, the difference between us was obvious.
The absurd gap between Legendary and Common. Moreover, my opponent was the one who could be called the protagonist of this world.
Indeed, Instructor Avalanche's expression had become grim.
Normally, he should have announced the start of the duel right after the introductions, but his eyes showed hesitation.
When the instructor subtly met my gaze, I simply returned it with a calm expression.
"..."
"..."
His eyes seemed to say that it was okay to give up, even now. But instead, a small smile escaped my lips.
I had no intention of backing down now.
To come this far only to say I give up would be the greatest humiliation imaginable.
Regardless of our skill levels, my self-respect would be completely crushed.
Even if the tip of this spear shatters when our blades clash, I didn't want to give up before we even crossed weapons.
*Right. Even if I lose, I can't avoid this duel.*
I didn't want to, for my own sake.
No matter how great the gap between our grades, I no longer looked down on my trait, Spearmanship.
Through repeated training, I had come to know that this trait of Spearmanship actually had countless advantages.
—The King of All Weapons.
Among close-range weapons, the spear was considered the finest.
Some might argue that the sword was the King of All Weapons.
But having swung and thrust my spear thousands of times over the past two months, I thought there was nothing more ridiculous than that claim.
Against an opponent of equal skill, a sword could ‘never’ match the trajectory and direction of a spear's thrust.
The fundamental difference in reach, combined with the concentration of force at a single point, meant that a skilled spearman could finish an opponent in a single exchange. It was an enormous difference in armament.
In reality, the Spearmanship trait held an ‘overwhelming’ advantage when limited to close-range combat.
Although this world valued magic and various ranged traits, completely neglecting close-range traits like Spearmanship, this was an exception.
When facing another close-range trait, the Spearmanship trait was in a league of its own, transcending its grade.
*Shhhk.*
As I slowly aimed the tip of my spear at Leonhardt, I had not the slightest intention of losing easily.
“Begin the duel.”
With the instructor's voice, the duel began.
At the same time, Leonhardt suddenly spoke.
“Han Cheon-seong. You can attack first.”
Hearing the apology in his voice, an unexpected thought crossed my mind.
This…
*I think I might actually win.*