Regular Sparring
'When exactly is now?'
I ignored the voice coming from behind.
I stopped in the middle of the corridor and stared silently at my reflection in the window.
Smooth skin like white jade.
Green hair tied back.
And a nape free of scars.
No doubt about it.
I was ten years before that bastard killed me.
It felt just like I'd returned to that time.
"……."
As if to prove it.
The silver badge of Elysion Academy gleamed on my chest.
Second-year at the academy.
This was around when I started hanging out here, got close to that guy.
That's when I decided my growth didn't matter anymore— I'd fully commit to supporting Lorraine.
"Crazy."
A hollow laugh escaped me.
I only realized it after dying once, but back then, I was so damn naive.
I believed that for the world not to end in ruin, the novel's protagonist Lorraine had to succeed.
So I put my own growth on the back burner and lived solely for her.
"……."
I believed it.
That she was the hero who'd save this godforsaken world.
That Lorraine alone could salvage this twisted reality.
Simple story, really.
I'd just bet on the option with the highest odds of success.
Even if it ended with my head chopped clean off.
[Imperial Year 452, September 14]
I could tell the date from the calendar hanging on the corridor wall.
September 14.
My eyes flashed as memories resurfaced.
'Today, huh.'
A hazy past.
Ten years ago, but I still remembered it clearly.
The day of the Knight Faculty's regular sparring at the academy.
The day I got tangled in some senior's bullshit and broke my arm.
I had to skip training for a month because of the injury.
And Lorraine, seeking revenge for me, crushed the guy and boosted her fame even more.
"Zeek! I don't know what I did, but I'll apologize anyway. At least tell me why you're…."
I quickened my pace, ignoring Lorraine's persistent calls from behind.
My head was too full sorting through tangled thoughts.
That's when it happened.
"You two. What're you doing here?"
A grating voice echoed from the end of the corridor.
I turned to see a guy with slicked-back blond hair in my view.
'Kaiden Borzi, was it.'
A collateral branch of one of the empire's five great ducal families.
A typical third-rate villain who rampaged on family prestige rather than skill.
And today.
My opponent in the regular sparring.
"Ah… K-Kaiden senior…."
Lorraine, who'd stopped beside me, glanced cautiously at him.
Even as a collateral, he was ducal blood—and a senior.
She couldn't ignore the hierarchy.
"Yeah, yeah. Your esteemed senior, right? Looking pretty as always."
"Ah, ahaha… Th-thank you."
Unlike Lorraine, who bowed hastily.
I stood straight, locking eyes with the arrogant prick staring me down.
"Look at this shithead. Not greeting your senior?"
'Z-Zeek! Apologize already!'
Lorraine poked my side frantically, her face pale with panic.
Kaiden's expression soured, clearly displeased with my attitude.
"Rookie. You know I'm your sparring opponent today, right?"
"……."
As if I wouldn't.
The monumental day you broke my arm.
"Figured. And you're still acting like this."
"Z-Zeek…!"
Lorraine fidgeted anxiously.
Her face drained white, lips bitten tight.
She looked ready to apologize on my behalf any second.
"Kaiden."
"…Kaiden? Kaaai-den? You little shit, who the hell calls a senior by name…"
"Shut your mouth and get to the training grounds. I'll knock out all your front teeth there."
"……."
"……."
Silence blanketed the corridor for a moment.
Kaiden's face flushed red then purple in an instant.
Lorraine beside him gaped at me, mouth wide open.
"You little shit. What did you just… say?"
If I could go back in time.
This was something I always wanted to say to the bastard.
Back in academy days, I was too busy kissing senior ass to even dream of it.
'Feels damn good.'
"You… you…!"
His finger trembled as he pointed at me.
He looked like he'd snap and swing his sword any second, rage boiling over.
'Hah.'
If this weren't now, with all my foreknowledge.
I'd have cowered before that worthless prick's authority back then.
Worried it'd block Lorraine's path.
Or worsen my own situation, I'd have groveled with a fake smile and apology.
Academy or not, commoner or noble.
No discrimination, they said.
But his mana reserves built from childhood outclassed mine.
His swordsmanship training was leagues ahead.
Unlike genius protagonist Lorraine, I was a plain extra.
Lucky just to befriend her—that was all.
No family prestige, no skill.
Nothing superior to him.
'Doesn't matter.'
None of that shit mattered now.
I had a way to beat him.
"Wh-what? Knock out my… front teeth?"
Kaiden's face boiled crimson, on the verge of explosion.
If we weren't in the academy, he'd have drawn his sword already.
"This lowly scum's finally lost it! Daring to insult a son of the Borzi Ducal House?"
"……."
"Fine. I'll stomp you till you beg for death!"
"All talk. Lead the way if you don't want your tongue yanked too."
"You little—!"
I brushed past Kaiden, slamming my shoulder into him deliberately.
His body staggered from the force.
Bloodshot eyes glared, but I ignored it.
If it pissed him off that much, he'd follow to the grounds.
"Zeek! Are you insane? Kaiden sen— that guy's top-tier among third-years. And he wields the Borzi family's secret sword arts…!"
She caught up as I headed to the training grounds, grabbing my sleeve desperately.
Her face screamed she couldn't comprehend this situation at all.
"……."
Those worried eyes.
Back then, one look like that and I'd have laid down my life.
"Lorraine."
"Ah…!"
I coldly shook off her hand and murmured low.
"Worry about yourself. This isn't your business."
"…Zeek!"
Lorraine's eyes shook violently.
She was shocked—I'd never treated her like this before.
But right now, I had no bandwidth for her.
Not until I figured out why she betrayed me.
Until then.
Her footsteps stopped chasing.
Her gaze burned into my back.
I ignored it and headed straight to the training grounds.
Today was regular sparring day.
Students from S-Class down to D-Class gathered at the training grounds.
And.
Instructor Hermann, the supervisor, stared in disbelief at the man before him.
"Did I hear that right?"
"Yes."
He'd repeated it several times, no doubt.
Because what he was saying made zero sense.
"I'm here to sign up for regular sparring."
With that, he grabbed a training wooden sword from the rack.
The familiar weight settled perfectly in his grip.
His body wasn't at peak condition anymore.
But the experience battling ancient gods' minions was etched into his soul.
His swordsmanship hadn't vanished.
"Opponent: Senior Kaiden, please."
"Hmm…."
Hermann let out a heavy sigh, eyeing Zeek.
'I don't want to allow it.'
He glanced at Kaiden, already warming up in the center.
Kaiden gestured impatiently.
Come on, start already.
Don't waste time.
"……."
As an instructor—and academy professor.
Letting two with such a clear skill gap spar was wrong.
Especially against Kaiden.
He had skills befitting a great ducal heir.
But every opponent he'd faced in regular sparring ended up with injuries, big or small.
Arrogant, insolent, shameless.
Those idioms fit him perfectly.
His haughty personality, disdain for others, and the rumors swirling around him—all bad.
"Instructor! Let's get started!"
"…You sure?"
"Yes. Please."
Hermann rubbed his suddenly weary eyes.
Kaiden had already decided on Zeek—no canceling or swapping now.
His influence couldn't be entirely ignored, even in the academy.
'Just please, no serious injuries.'
"Approved."
Zeek nodded and stepped to the center.
"Ready to get wrecked, rookie?"
Kaiden stood smirking, all prepped with cocky ease.
"Anytime."
"Cheeky bastard… Only holding back for cute little Lorraine."
No need for more words.
The spar ahead would speak through results alone.
"Begin."
With the instructor's call.
Kaiden erupted mana and charged.
"Die, you lowly shit!"
Wooong—!
From the start, he ignored the sparring's purpose entirely.
Bluish mana cloaked the wooden sword, slashing through the air toward me.
'Fast.'
His movements were sharp, no question.
Impressive for a student his age.
But.
I gripped my sword hard, knuckles white.
Unfortunately for him, I saw it all.
How full of openings that attack was.
And exactly where to strike to make him crumple in agony.