Chapter 8

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 8

Chapter Title: Dungeon (3)

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[Go first.]

Agnes gripped her sword tightly.

In her eyes, she saw the rapier-wielding statue knight kicking off the ground and leaping toward her.

The axe-wielding knight statue stood motionless, watching her duel with the other statue.

[Don't take your eyes off the duel!]

A great shout.

The knight was already in front of her before she knew it.

The next strike followed.

Clang!

But Agnes's sword easily deflected the rapier.

The rapier was sliced clean in half with a single swing.

"Your weapon's broken."

Agnes stepped back with her right foot and twisted her body.

It was faster than she'd expected, but a statue was still just a statue.

She could see it clearly enough and block it...

Slash!

A thin line appeared on her cheek.

And red blood trickled down from below it.

The rapier had grazed her cleanly, without her even feeling the pain.

Agnes blinked in surprise.

[Focus. Even if you're walking Lenoc's path, we don't accept mediocrity.]

The knight's rapier had already regenerated.

Stone fragments floated in the air.

Agnes felt chills run down her spine.

'I didn't notice at all.'

What if that rapier had gone for her throat?

A neat hole would have appeared in her neck, and she'd have died instantly.

"...My apologies."

Agnes wiped the blood from her cheek.

It stung a little, but it seemed to snap her mind back into focus.

The knight had clearly called this a duel.

One who walks Lenoc's path.

That was surely just another way of referring to a magic swordsman.

Agnes drew upon her energy.

Two paths she could choose now that she'd awakened to mana.

Mana power and aura.

Mages chose mana power and wisdom to follow the energies of nature.

Knights chose aura and the body to strengthen their innate energies.

That was the established truth, the natural order.

However, the first magic swordsman,

Lenoc, thought differently.

'Why not use both?'

Great inventions always begin with simple questions.

And thus, the magic swordsman was born.

Aura clung to Agnes's blade, overlaid with a Rank 2 ice spell.

Her sword shimmered, emanating cold air.

The knight burst into laughter at the sight.

[Simultaneous deployment! Yes, that's what it means to walk Lenoc's path.]

The knight admired Agnes's sword.

At the same time, his arm moved into position.

A stance familiar to her.

[Knight Ilione challenges the magic swordsman to a duel.]

A duel challenge stance.

She twitched the corner of her mouth upward and

"Magic swordsman Agnes accepts the challenge."

Accepted the duel.

"A genius is a genius, no doubt."

I'd even been inwardly worried she might miss it.

But there was no need for concern.

Agnes was undoubtedly a genius.

I had no idea how much further she'd grow from dueling Ilione.

But at least she wouldn't be dismissed as a magic swordsman within the academy.

A magic swordsman capable of simultaneous deployment was inherently a step or two above ordinary knights or mages.

[Will you not fight?]

As I stood watching the duel quietly, the axe-wielding knight statue approached and asked.

I stared at him blankly before tossing out my response.

"She's the only one walking Lenoc's path."

[That doesn't explain the look in your eyes. Are you perhaps aspiring to become a magic swordsman as well?]

His perceptiveness was annoyingly sharp.

I checked the distance to Agnes to ensure she couldn't hear.

"Yes, I plan to walk the path of the magic swordsman."

[Then why not Lenoc's path? All magic swordsmen trace back to Lenoc...]

"Because I don't plan to stop at just magic swordsman."

[...What?]

The statue's expression didn't change, but if it could, it would have looked utterly dumbfounded.

As a knight himself, the statue understood my words immediately.

[You plan to master every weapon?]

"Yes."

I answered curtly.

If a magic swordsman wields both magic and sword,

I would wield every weapon.

This was a method even the protagonist Lee Han couldn't employ.

And it was something only I, with the Genius trait, could achieve.

[Do you think that's possible?]

I nodded lightly.

At the same time, I opened my trait window to confirm the Genius trait once more.

No matter the weapon, I could reach the pinnacle.

In other words, I could freely wield swords, blades, spears, axes, scythes, and more.

Of course, my main weapon would still be the sword.

"You don't believe me?"

[Would you, in my place?]

"No."

How could anyone?

The knight spoke as if to say, "See?"

[Even simultaneous deployment for a magic swordsman requires exceptional talent. And you want to go a step further?]

"You don't have to believe me... but what if I prove it?"

[I'll give you the elixir assigned to me.]

"An elixir?"

I feigned surprise.

In this dueling arena,

both knight statues possessed elixirs left by Lenoc.

They dueled to aid those on the magic swordsman's path, rewarding victory with the elixirs.

Even destroying the statues wouldn't matter, thanks to their restoration magic—they were perfect training fodder.

"Show me that elixir first."

[Liars are always so suspicious...]

Deals like this require certainty. What do you know?

The knight grumbled as he slowly opened his hand.

A hole formed, and something like wooden roots emerged.

...One day per year, huh.

That 60-year root was my two months' lifeline.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠always thought elixir exchange rates were awful.

Quests hadn't popped since entering the academy either...

I needed to raise my physical stats, but elixirs were holding me back.

For now, that sensation from consuming the Fragment of Black Dragon's Inner Core.

The clue had to be there.

So I needed to gather lifespan as much as possible...

"Haa..."

[It doesn't matter if it's true or not. I wasn't believing you anyway.]

"No, it's true."

The problem was proving it would cost more lifespan.

But this time, maybe just 15 days.

"What weapon should I demonstrate? I don't have a spear or dagger right now..."

[Sword. A sword will suffice. Strike me once.]

I rolled my eyes, then gripped the sword hilt.

The blade slid smoothly from its sheath.

The only weapon I could wield was this lightweight enchanted sword.

Which meant I needed that 'magic' as soon as possible.

I steadied my breath and assumed a stance.

The lightweight enchantment made the sword feel weightless, but my cursed stats wouldn't hold it long.

[Ho.]

The knight raised his axe in surprise.

Spinning it half a turn, the flat side shielded his face like a buckler.

A clear intent to purely block my strike.

Then destroying that defense would be the polite response.

I closed my eyes and channeled mana into the sword.

No need for simultaneous deployment like a magic swordsman.

My focus was solely on the sword.

I felt mana settle into the blade, and my blood surged.

Due to the rapid mana drain.

But my body was Terminally Ill.

I could reinforce it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by sacrificing lifespan.

The strength in my grip felt different.

Not quite on par with the 50 days I'd used against the instructor,

but a sufficiently powerful force.

"Grip that axe tight."

I drew mana from my body.

Intermediate-level energy coursed through my veins and vented into the air.

My hand began to tremble.

Was 10 days still too much to handle?

'Canceling now would just backlash and cost more lifespan.'

Then I'd have to burn more.

Slowly, I controlled the energy.

At intermediate level, everyone gained a color for their mana.

I'd chosen mine too.

Crackle. Zap.

Red flames on my right arm.

Blue mana on my left.

Opposing colors merged on my blade.

Lightning stimulated my body. Since I'd already offered life, no blood sprayed.

I thrust the sword forward.

A violet bolt of lightning cleaved through the air.

A single sword stroke grazed the knight's axe.

Boom!

The axe and the statue's head flew off together.

"Hoo..."

I calmed the rampaging purple lightning and sheathed the sword.

The statue had self-repair, so no issue there.

"Uh, uh..."

As I gathered my energy, a familiar voice sounded.

Turning sharply, I saw Agnes staring at me, her face full of shock.

I met her eyes and knew instinctively.

I'd have to explain this one.