Chapter 19
Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Wall of Reality
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Leaving behind the disappointed Lea, I walked alongside Serin.
Click-clack.
I matched my steps to Serin's as we headed somewhere.
We passed through the bustling corridors filled with students and arrived at the academy's training grounds.
From there, we walked for quite a while through areas accessible only to professors and staff.
Before I knew it, we had arrived at a certain place.
"This is..."
"Rowen probably has no idea what this place is for, right?"
The space was dyed entirely in white.
On one side, items radiating an extraordinary presence were neatly arranged.
Perhaps to contain their immense power, the room was filled with dense mana that pressed down on my body.
"This is my personal training room. It's embarrassing to say it myself, but those who have reached a certain realm can't train in ordinary places—the shockwaves would destroy them."
Serin's faintly smiling face as she began explaining the space.
I never imagined I'd end up here...
Serin's personal training room.
In the game, after Serin blocked the great demons invading the academy and lost her life...
While the protagonist, who inherited her will, was intensely training to confront the Demon King's army...
The headmaster approached the protagonist, who was pushing himself to the limit, and spoke.
-"Serin left a final gift for you..."
Following the headmaster to Serin's training room, the protagonist made great strides in his training using the various artifacts she left behind.
Of course, I had no intention of letting Serin sacrifice herself recklessly, so I never expected to come here...
A golden opportunity had arrived in the most unexpected moment.
"And these items over here are artifacts I obtained while subjugating demons during my time on the battlefield. They're imbued with their power and grant various effects to the wearer."
Serin's slightly boastful demeanor, as if showing off proof of her efforts, resembled...
A child proudly introducing their treasures.
However... each of the artifacts she introduced emanated overwhelming energy that bore down on me.
"Urk...!"
I recalled that high-grade artifacts possessed their own will and tested their users.
In the game, superior artifacts had stat restrictions that prevented equipping them.
But right now, just looking at them made me feel like I might lose consciousness.
The mana filling the room was already overwhelming, and now the artifacts were adding to it.
If not for <Tenacity>, which provided unyielding spirit, I might have collapsed.
"Ah! Sorry, Rowen. I got too excited on my own. Bringing someone else to the training room is really a first for me... These items seem too advanced for you yet."
Noticing my grunts for some reason, Serin turned around and thinly spread her aura to block the artifacts' energy.
The pressure crushing my body vanished in an instant, and I exhaled the breath I'd been holding.
"Ugh... No, Professor Serin. You've given me such a precious opportunity, yet I've shown such a pathetic sight. I'm sorry."
"I didn't expect this either. I'm really sorry, Rowen. I just wanted to show you that these things exist..."
Her words about it being the first time bringing anyone else to the training room didn't seem like a lie.
She seemed genuinely apologetic, surprised that I was struggling this much.
"If I could, I'd lend you one of these, but it might burden your body. Once you've built up your strength, I'll definitely help you use one."
"Really? I'm truly grateful just for your words."
To lend me one of these artifacts.
I couldn't handle it yet, but if I could endure their power, it would greatly aid my future training.
Expressing my thanks to Serin, who offered so readily, her apologetic expression finally eased a bit, as if she felt relieved.
More importantly, Serin looked at me as if there was something even more crucial to discuss.
"Actually, the reason I called you here today wasn't for the artifacts. I said earlier I'd teach you my swordsmanship, right? I thought it'd be better to start learning it as soon as possible."
Since it was difficult swordsmanship, she seemed eager to begin as quickly as possible.
For me too, learning swordsmanship in this world for the first time, starting sooner was better.
Still, curious about how she would teach me, I couldn't hold back my question.
"Then, could you tell me how you'll teach you're swordsmanship?"
"Hmm, this is my first time teaching this swordsmanship to someone. Experiencing it directly would probably be best."
After pondering for a while, Serin made her decision and looked at me intently before speaking.
"You probably have a talent for it, so you'll grasp it quickly. Your fighting style matches this swordsmanship well too. Here, use this sword."
With that, Serin lightly picked up a sword from nearby and handed it to me, then took a normal longsword herself and assumed a stance.
In that moment, all the mana in the room seemed to roil and scream.
She was just lightly loosening up with the longsword in one hand, yet even that casual motion conveyed an untouchable power.
"Don't be too tense. This spar is for teaching, so approach it thinking you'll pour out everything you have. Don't worry about me. I've only shown pathetic sides so far, but I'm one of the strongest in the empire—you can count me on one hand."
Seeing me stiffen rigidly, Serin smiled lightly to ease my tension.
Hearing that, I realized I was worrying needlessly, and a laugh escaped me unwittingly.
I was fretting over distractions instead of trying to learn even a little more.
And against her, the empire's Knight Commander, no less.
I'd forgotten because I was with my favorite character, but Serin was a powerhouse who faced two great demons even while injured.
It would be rude not to give my all in this precious time.
Sorting my thoughts, I gripped the sword Serin handed me tightly and prepared for the spar.
"Hoo..."
Calming my breath steadily, I swung the sword around to circulate blood through my body.
Swish, swish!
Confirming my body had loosened as the sword sliced through the resistant air,
I circulated aura through every corner of my body, ready to launch at any moment.
Serin waited for my preparation, gripping her longsword with both hands and taking her stance.
At the same time, I kicked off the ground hard.
——!
Gathering all my energy into my legs for explosive acceleration, I closed in on Serin in an instant.
Using that momentum, I thrust the sword tip into her opening.
Normally, we'd exchange light blows to feel each other out.
But to gain the upper hand against Serin, I had to finish it before her stance fully formed.
Clang!!
However, as if she'd anticipated everything, Serin effortlessly deflected my strike.
Her sword then headed straight for my nape.
"...!"
Just before it severed my neck, I barely twisted away and caught my breath, preparing my next move.
Raising my head to look at Serin, it felt like a beast stood before me.
Even just in stance, I felt like I was slowly being devoured.
Her flawless form nearly made me lose my will to fight.
But I quickly steadied myself and charged with sword in hand.
Hoping for luck against a fully prepared Serin was absurd.
I had to go all out while the heat from our first exchange lingered.
Reaching Serin again, I began slashing with full power in every strike.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!!
The clash of metal echoed through the training room.
To an onlooker, it might seem I was dominating with a flurry of rapid strikes.
But as the one fighting Serin, I was being overwhelmed by her relentless strength.
Serin wasn't using aura or her superior physical prowess out of consideration for me.
My thrusts merely slid off her blade.
And before I knew it, small wounds were accumulating on me.
Like a man thrashing in a swamp, desperate to escape.
Despite my best efforts, I felt myself sinking deeper into Serin's swamp.
"Haaah!"
Continuing like this would only lead to suffocation as my body locked up.
Realizing this wouldn't do, I gathered all my aura and swung.
The blade, abruptly changing trajectory, aimed to cleave Serin.
Just before my all-out best strike landed.
"...!!"
Kagagak!!
With a different sound, my sword bounced away instantly.
I'd thought she couldn't block it...
But Serin's blade danced like a butterfly, calmly parrying mine.
Perhaps because it was a direct clash, the force I couldn't deflect shook my entire body through my grip.
"Urgh..."
My breath caught sharply, vision blacking out for a moment.
Before I knew it, my legs gave out, and I knelt.
Barely lifting my head, I saw Serin leisurely sheathing her sword.
"Indeed... there's something about you, Rowen, that even I can't let my guard down against."
Her soft, praising voice consoled me.
But unlike her warm tone, my mind grew colder.
Seeing her stand without a hint of strain after taking my full-power attack felt like cold reality closing in.
What talent?
Reality seemed to mock me: you're just lucky your knowledge caught Serin's eye.
I had no strength left to stand, and my hands were torn and bleeding.
Anyone would say I'd reached my limit. Admit the result.
But... I had too much I wanted to do to accept reality and give up here.
To make everyone happy, including saving Serin before me, as the greedy person I am.
I couldn't give up here—I had to stand somehow and prove myself first.
"Rowen, that's enough. Your last attack was one even I couldn't block without aura. You could call it your victory..."
"No. I can... still do it."
With that, as always, I picked up my sword once more.