Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Rules and Reputations
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"Ruan Bednicker."
I was second place.
Second place meant an additional eight points.
So, does that make it 20 or 21 points in total...? I wasn't sure.
I've never been good at remembering things that aren't particularly important.
In any case, my selection for second place drew stares and a ripple of whispers.
The noble brats, in particular, mostly shot me looks full of suspicion...
Hearing things like "sword salesman" mixed in, it seemed I still had a long way to go to clear my infamous reputation.
"Cadet Ruan didn't show outstanding results in monster subjugation, but he was the only cadet who accurately grasped the intent of the test and acted accordingly."
Evan, who happened to be standing nearby, asked reflexively.
"The intent of the test?"
"The Survival Teacher should have told you before he left, no? To survive, no matter what."
"Ah."
Survival.
That word probably popped into the heads of all the cadets.
"Among the cadets, only Cadet Ruan concerned himself with the lives of others. Regardless of the monsters he subjugated, he is more than qualified to receive the rank of second place."
The cadets nodded.
A few of them even glanced my way with grateful eyes; they were the ones whose lives I had saved.
"And in first place, Karon Woodjack. He subjugated the most monsters—the source of the threat—the fastest, and the most decisively. His skill was such that he could pass for an active hero. Congratulations."
Karon looked at the Martial Arts Teacher, a smirk forming on his infuriating face.
So the guy knows how to smile.
The Martial Arts Teacher smiled back and continued.
"Now, I will explain the special reward. Cadet Karon will be given the authority to add a rule to this training camp."
Karon paused, then asked.
"Add a rule, you say."
"Exactly as it sounds. For instance, one of the current rules of this training camp is 'Cadets with fewer than 10 points cannot use the evening dining hall,' correct? Cadet Karon has the right to change this."
The Martial Arts Teacher gestured with his finger as if painting a picture.
"For example, 'Cadets with fewer than 5 points cannot use the evening dining hall,' or 'All cadets can use the evening dining hall regardless of their points,' and so on."
At these words, a few cadets swallowed nervously and began to sneak glances at Karon.
They were probably the ones with fewer than ten points.
"Or how about this? 'No one other than the person in first place may use the evening dining hall.'"
"..."
"..."
Most of the cadets looked up at the platform with stiff faces.
Only then did they realize just how much power this special reward could wield, depending on how it was used.
After a moment of silence, Karon asked.
"Such immense authority must surely have its limits, I imagine."
"Of course. Anything absurd is impossible. For instance, something like 'Karon Woodjack's points will increase by one every hour'?"
"..."
"However, rules that are somewhat advantageous to yourself will be tolerated. After all, that is the purpose of this special reward."
"When must I decide?"
"There is no particular time limit, but it would be to your advantage to decide quickly. The rule only applies within this training camp, after all."
"..."
Karon fell into deep thought.
He seemed to be desperately racking his brain. For some reason, it felt like the guy had an excessive obsession with being number one.
Wouldn't he add a rule aimed at defending his current rank?
Having finished speaking, the Martial Arts Teacher changed the subject as if to lighten the mood.
"Anyway, today marks the third day of the training camp. Haha. Time really flies like an arrow, doesn't it?"
However, this sudden change of topic devastated the morale of most cadets.
"...Three days?"
"Not three months?"
"Th-that can't be right. It must have been at least three weeks."
"We have to stay here for another five weeks and four days? You're kidding, right?"
"H-hehe. Just kill me..."
It's true that a day in this training camp feels incredibly long...
But that also means the curriculum designed by the instructors is incredibly dense.
If it were a mess, it wouldn't feel this way.
"Everyone, quiet down. In any case, you must all be tired today, so the morning session will be replaced with a lecture on martial theory."
Wasn't it theory last time, too?
There was no order to stand, so most just nodded while remaining seated.
The Martial Arts Teacher also sat on the edge of the platform, meeting the cadets at eye level, and continued speaking.
"...As I've said before, the origin of martial arts is self-defense, a collection of techniques created to protect one's body from an opponent superior in physique, strength, and agility."
The Martial Arts Teacher began with the content from the last lesson.
The tedious review almost made me yawn.
There's nothing more boring than listening to something you already know over and over again.
Afterward, the Martial Arts Teacher began to speak about his own martial philosophy, which was an even more useless lesson for me.
Of course, listening to someone else's values is one way to broaden your horizons, but I had already established my own martial philosophy.
I was now in the process of refining it and planned to maintain this direction for the time being.
At this juncture, someone else's advice wouldn't be particularly helpful.
That's because I was in the process of subtracting, not adding.
So I let my gaze blur and began to properly zone out.
'First, the duel with the Hunting Teacher from yesterday...'
I sequentially recalled the martial art the Hunting Teacher had shown me, its characteristics, the flow of the battle, and my responses.
Along with conceptualizing the latter half of the White Sun Eclipse, I also replayed the battle with the monster in the dead of night.
During that fight, a few techniques I could use with the Seven Sins Sword also came to mind.
They were techniques I'd come up with on the spot, so they were far from complete, but they should be usable once refined.
But...
Could I really call the swordsmanship I came up with the White Sun Eclipse?
In truth, there might not be a reason why I couldn't.
The White Sun Eclipse was, from the start, a hodgepodge martial art, a complex mix of finger, fist, hand, palm, and foot techniques.
If it suited my aptitude, I would have definitely included claw techniques as well, so there was no reason I couldn't add sword, saber, and spear techniques to the latter half.
But separate from that, I didn't know if this was the right direction.
Is there even a qualification for a technique to be incorporated into the White Sun Eclipse?
If there is, what is it?
And how should I classify a martial art as complete or incomplete?
I was at a loss.
Being in the position of a creator for the first time, I couldn't help but see this thing called martial arts from a completely different perspective.
The White Sun Eclipse is already an outstanding martial art with just its first half.
Its destructive power is immense, and its character is distinct.
As the Martial God said, it is too focused on destructive power... but that too could be called a characteristic of the White Sun Eclipse.
Still.
'Something feels... lacking.'
So, for now, I decided to treat this unidentified sense of lack as the final piece to completing my martial art.
I don't know what it is, but once this feeling is satisfied, perhaps then I can finally say that the White Sun Eclipse is complete?
'I won't find it in the short term, though.'
This might be a problem I have to ponder for the rest of my life as a martial artist.
That's enough for now.
I opened my eyes slightly to cool my overheating brain...
"...?"
I felt that the atmosphere was somehow strange.
The Martial Arts Teacher was still sitting on the platform, but for some reason, Evan was standing in front of him.
'What's this situation?'
Just then, a suitable person to give me answers was nearby.
*Scoot, scoot.* I skillfully approached using only my butt, then tapped the target's shoulder.
"What?"
A sharp voice immediately shot back.
Just as expected from someone who's prickly year-round, 24/7, regardless of the situation.
"I just woke up from a nap. What's going on?"
"You were sleeping? You're really something else..."
"So what's the situation?"
Seren gave me a pathetic look and said.
"...That guy was explaining esoteric martial arts when the topic of Raven came up, and a bit of an argument broke out over it."
Raven must have been the name of the esoteric martial art of the Helvin family, Evan's family.
"An argument?"
"The Martial Arts Teacher called Raven a useless martial art and told him to abandon it immediately and learn something else."
I looked at Evan.
So that's why he was making that face.
Evan said with a stiff face.
"...I believe that no martial art can be absolutely strong in every situation and against every opponent."
It seemed the argument was still ongoing.
"As you say, Instructor, Raven's level of completion may be lacking compared to other distinguished martial arts, but you cannot conclude that it is a weak martial art."
"Not a weak martial art... How interesting. As I recall, your father, Sir Doze Helvin, who mastered Raven, never won a single duel despite countless attempts."
The Martial Arts Teacher said in a soft voice.
"If what you say is true, Cadet Evan, shouldn't he have won at least once?"
"..."
Evan closed his mouth.
In fact, the Martial Arts Teacher's words could be refuted.
Because what Evan said was true.
There is no such thing as a weak martial art in this world.
Only weak martial artists exist.
But...
Could Evan, who respected his father more than anyone in the world, say that?
That it wasn't Raven that was weak, but his own father?
"The Knight of Utter Defeat..."
Just then, a voice that sounded like it was suppressing laughter burst out from among the cadets.
The Knight of Utter Defeat was a famous figure.
A knight who had wandered the entire empire, challenging others to duels, claiming to have created a new esoteric martial art.
It was said that there was much talk in the empire at the time, as someone from a Great Family had done something that would have been mocked even if he were a wandering martial artist.
Most of the high-nosed nobles had frowned upon it.
He would have been criticized for lacking dignity even if he had achieved good results, but that knight had failed to secure a single victory in his countless duels.
Thus, the world had mockingly and contemptuously called him the Knight of Utter Defeat.
"Cadet Evan, I do not like to force things, but this time, for the sake of a young cadet's future, I will speak clearly."
The Martial Arts Teacher said, the smile gone from his face.
"If you wish to become strong, abandon Raven."
The surrounding ridicule pressed down on Evan's head.
I could see something like dark smoke rising from the top of Evan's bowed head.
Somehow, this looks a little dangerous.
***
The training camp schedule is ridiculously tight.
But even the most talented people will break if you only apply pressure.
Even amidst this grueling routine, there are moments to catch one's breath.
Mealtime is the most liberal time, aside from the rest period in the evening.
It's not that there are no instructors around, but they don't intervene unless a fistfight breaks out.
Even if you chat a bit loudly, they don't bother you during this time.
The cadets, who were initially cautious, seemed to have realized this, and now the dining hall had become quite a noisy place.
"You seem to have gotten on the bad side of an annoying guy."
Seren, having finished her meal, approached and said to me.
I knew who she was talking about.
"Seems so."
"Did you know him from before?"
"Of course not."
"Did you do something wrong?"
"No."
"Then is he just trying to keep you in check to protect his first-place spot?"
Seren's gaze shifted somewhere.
I could see Karon eating a short distance away, and for some reason, he was surrounded by people.
"He seems surprisingly sociable. He looks like some kind of lone wolf."
Seren snorted and said.
"You don't know what you're talking about. Humans form factions if even five of them gather. What's more, most of the brats here are nobles who've been learning politics since they were weaned. They can sniff out a handout better than a dog."
"He doesn't exactly seem like the type to give out handouts."
"He's strong. And good-looking."
I agreed with the first part, but the second was debatable, so I tilted my head.
"Good-looking? But he has a scar on his face."
"Whether he has a scar on his face or three eyeballs, handsome is handsome. In fact, such elements can sometimes determine the uniqueness of a truly handsome man."
"Hey. If people are cozying up to him because he's handsome, then I should be popular too."
At that, Seren sent me a pitying look.
"Do you ever look in a mirror?"
"..."
"Alright, well, you're not ugly. But don't you think you fall a bit short compared to Karon or your older brother? You have what I'd call... an almost-handsome face."
Despite Seren's shocking remark, I nodded nonchalantly.
"At least it's not an almost-ugly face."
"You're positive."
"Thanks."
"Anyway, that's not all. The deciding factor is probably the 'right to add a rule' that guy received today. Depending on how he uses it, they might be able to benefit too."
"Aha."
"The key point is, Karon is smart enough to use those guys flocking to him."
This girl...
She seemed so thoughtless, but she was analyzing things to this extent?
Seren tapped her head and said.
"From what I've seen so far, he doesn't really have any weaknesses. His strength goes without saying, and I saw when he fought the monster that his proficiency with his Blessing is already beyond a cadet's level. On top of that, he has the social skills to use those who approach him for their own gain. For just a ranger's son, he's strangely versatile."
"Hmm..."
"And a guy like that is most wary of you right now. You're probably going to have a rough time for the rest of the training camp."
Look at that smug expression on her face.
"...But don't fight too much. Just ignore him appropriately."
"Why?"
"Because soon, squabbles like that won't mean a thing."
I looked at Seren.
I once again felt that somehow frightened demeanor she sometimes showed at the training camp.
"Hey. Seren, you—"
"Take that back!"
Just then, a loud shout cut me off.
The voice was so booming it made my ears ring.
It was a voice I somehow recognized.
A kid with a small physique was grinding his teeth.
Across from him, a female cadet stood with her arms crossed, snorting.
"Why should I? It's all true. You were too scared to do anything."
"...I wasn't scared. My body just wouldn't move."
"That's what being scared is. This is why I hate giants."
Pointing at the woman shaking her head, I asked.
"That woman is definitely..."
"Sharle Rubietta."
"Right."
The youngest daughter of the Rubietta family.
And the one who fought Evan in the duel.
I'd seen her a few times from a distance, but this was the first time I'd looked at her so clearly.
'So hair like that is actually possible.'
It looked like a physical manifestation of a whirlwind.
I'd heard you have to periodically use a special tool to curl it like that to maintain it...
There are no such tools here, so won't her hair gradually become normal as the training camp progresses?
"I... inherited the blood of the great giant Ymir."
"So what? Is there anyone here who hasn't inherited the blood of a hero?"
Sharle said with a cold face.
"Of course, you weren't the only one who looked pathetic. But you're a giant, aren't you? A madman who can't even distinguish friend from foe when you go berserk."
"..."
"I have no intention of being killed by a giant, of all things. So if a situation like yesterday's happens again, don't try to act like you're going to fight. Just stay crumpled up in a corner. Got it?"
Mir ground his teeth again, but he couldn't offer any retort to her words.
Seren rested her chin on her hand and said.
"What are you going to do?"
"About what?"
"Which side are you going to take in this training camp?"
"Sides? I'm not a kid."
I looked at Seren and said.
"You're not going to pick one either."
"Hmph."
Seren snorted and said.
"You're right. Still, you'd be better off joining a faction."
"Why?"
"Because it'll increase your chances of survival."
Seren left those words and tried to leave, but no chance.
Ending things on such a vague note is the kind of development I hate the most.
I immediately tried to grab her wrist, but—Seren dodged slightly, causing me to grab a handful of her hair instead.
"..."
"..."
"Let go."
"Yep."
Even I couldn't bring myself to grab her again after that.