Chapter 35: Leisurely Hero Academy Life
"Tch, this is boring."
After seeing Shumira off, Siu finished his shower and tidied up the bedding before sitting down at his desk.
The dorm building had public baths, but each room came with its own small bathroom.
He'd taken a quick bath there, and for the bedding, he just gathered up the laundry that needed washing and handed it over to the staff. The employee blushed at the signs of his week-long debauchery, a hint of expectation in her eyes, but she wasn't his type.
'It's not like there aren't any women around, but picking just anyone could lead to trouble.'
In that sense, Shumira had been just right.
He hadn't said he'd take responsibility if she got pregnant for no reason.
"Still some time until dinner... Maybe I should go for a walk."
Siu was a loner.
He didn't have a single male friend he hung out with.
There were reasons on both sides.
They kept their distance and shunned him, and he kept away from them too.
The former wasn't just due to the era—it was also to prevent him from joining their nations or influencing them, to stop a talent who could become a high-rank member from being snatched away.
Of course, jealousy played no small part.
Some guys did approach him, but he pushed them away. Most were incompetent types hovering around hoping to snag some scraps from him. Even the ones with pure intentions—he just couldn't find a reason to get close to other men.
'None of them are to my liking, that's all.'
And so, in just a week, Siu was completely isolated from the guys.
He hadn't been particularly close to anyone in his first run-through anyway, so no regrets there.
And he wasn't totally cut off from his 98th batch classmates either.
"Oh, it's Siu."
"Hey, Siu!"
"Out for a stroll?"
Three women chatting in one corner of the garden spotted him and called out.
"Yeah. Did some exercise and came out for some fresh air."
He lit up and approached them warmly.
"You really love working out, huh, Siu."
"Yeah, no kidding... Well, that explains it...."
One of them eyed his body with a suggestive look.
"Eww, gross!"
The other two burst into giggles at her friend's gaze, and the one who'd been ogling spoke up.
"If you're bored, go hang out with some other guys at least."
"I don't have friends."
"That's on you. Besides, you get along fine with girls."
"Yeah, like us."
Siu just smiled without replying.
As they said, he kept things distant with the men—just light chit-chat—while staying pretty friendly with the women. Not all of them, but more than half were close enough for some playful banter.
"Oh, seeing you guys reminded me—have you seen Baek Hye-yeon around?"
"Baek Hye-yeon? Why think of her when you see us?"
"Yeah, she's not even that close with us."
"Pretty girls know other pretty girls, right?"
Siu shrugged nonchalantly.
It was a joke, but a flattering one, so they laughed it off.
"Anyway. Baek Hye-yeon's probably at the training grounds as usual."
"Cool, thanks. See ya later."
"Bye!"
Siu waved casually and headed toward the training grounds.
True to her reputation as the top sword-obsessed female candidate, she was practicing her swordsmanship even on the weekend.
Moreover, the academy was still only doing theory classes. Over the week, they'd learned from a few instructors about the background of wars he'd heard in the Palania Kingdom before, overviews of myths, and general common knowledge of this world.
'She said the sword she's using was personally selected from her affiliated kingdom.'
Impressive in all sorts of ways.
He passed through the garden blooming with all sorts of flowers and plants toward the training grounds.
Besides the group he'd just met, plenty of other candidates were out in the garden. Being the first week, they couldn't leave the academy, their movements were restricted, and this garden was right in the center of their allowed area.
He waved lightly to anyone he was on greeting terms with—guys or girls alike—and soon reached the training grounds.
'There she is.'
Whoosh! Whoosh!
No need to search; the sounds from one corner pinpointed Baek Hye-yeon.
A black-haired ponytail girl, already drenched in sweat from who-knows-how-long she'd been at it, was swinging her sword. Her strikes were sharp and precise, far beyond beginner level.
Even Siu, with his first-run experience, had to admire it.
'I never saw her at the end of the first run, but she's this good now—what must she have been like then?'
Stuck training and doing missions in Palania Kingdom, he'd heard rumors but rarely seen her in person. The last time he'd laid eyes on her, excluding the final war, was in the fifth year.
"……."
Lost in sudden memories of the past and her stunning display, Siu stared blankly.
Her routine ended, and as she approached to wipe her sweat, she noticed.
"You're staring way too openly."
"Ah... Sorry. It was just so impressive, I zoned out. Was that rude?"
At his polite demeanor, Baek Hye-yeon shook her head.
"No, actually, I'm grateful you say that."
She responded calmly.
If Siu's rep among guys was consistently bad, among girls it was mixed. But true to her nature, she didn't believe unverified rumors and treated him normally.
The vibe seemed decent, so Siu thought this was his chance. He'd wanted to approach her before, but no openings. She wasn't the type to make lots of friends—more of a lone wolf, hard to just walk up to.
'Now's the moment.'
"You learned that sword style on Earth, right? Not kendo."
"Yes. It's from my maternal family."
His interest piqued her, and she shared openly.
It was a rare case.
Not registered as intangible cultural heritage or anything. No strict one-person succession rules, but so few learners it was practically that. Lucky it survived to modern times.
"Of course, some forms were lost to actual combat... But I feel like I could restore them here."
She smiled softly as she said it.
Seeing her pleased, Siu recalled another mystery of this world.
Not just in this reversed world, but something he'd wondered in the first run too.
Why did all the summoned candidates have so little attachment to their home worlds?
Take him—he'd been yanked here right after discharge, but he had no burning desire to return to Earth. Rather than beg the goddess to send him back after the war, he'd rather just live well wherever.
'Do they deliberately pick people like that?'
Plausible.
All female candidates showed talent wherever they went; males had mana issues but were top-notch otherwise. Makes sense if the goddess had criteria.
"Han Siu, right?"
"Yeah. And you're Baek Hye-yeon."
"Correct."
Both famous, hard not to know names.
He was top male entrant; she top female. Even in just a week at the academy, they stood out.
"Planning to stick around here, Siu?"
"You?"
"Back to training."
Even after names, she paid him little mind. She'd answered his sword question, but that was it.
To hook her interest, he called out as she half-turned away.
"Then, could I ask for one spar?"
She froze.
"A... spar?"
Turning, her face showed faint displeasure.
Not asking for lessons—just a spar. Her pride, forged swinging a sword her whole life, was immense. A guy with no sword or martial arts experience acting casual rubbed her wrong.
"Just to be sure... You're not looking down on swords, are you?"
"No way. I've handled one a bit myself. Though it'd be nothing to you, Hye-yeon."
"……."
Her gaze turned icy as she sized him up.
He had the posture and movements of someone trained, sure. But no calluses, muscles from general fitness not swordwork. Generous estimate: just past beginner.
'I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but this guy...'
She knew his rep here too.
A once-in-50-years prodigy. Physical exam results leaked, so some candidates knew. Rumors spread fast; even friendless Hye-yeon had heard.
'Cocky because of it? Thinks he can do anything here? ...No, don't let your guard down, Baek Hye-yeon. You don't know yet.'
"Fine. Let's spar."
The top ranks' duel unfolded in the chilly air.
Siu grabbed a wooden sword from the corner rack as she led. Not long since his first-run final moments gripping one, but it felt awkward anyway.
'Wonder if my body can keep up. How much can my 10 years of training stand against current her?'
Time-wise, she had the edge—she'd started young. Her backstory sounded more wuxia or fantasy than modern Earthling.
But Siu had real battle experience against repeated strong foes.
"Begin... Ngh!"
Her wooden sword thrust instantly.
No mercy in her strikes.
She'd told herself no slacking, but deeper down, anger simmered. Teach this sword-flippant guy a lesson—her stab embodied it.
Clack!
"……!!"
Her ambush held some trickery, but Siu parried effortlessly in place.
Not easy, but her shocked expression was inevitable.
"Impressive!"
Pouring strength into a push, Siu swung relentlessly.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Not combos to pressure or chain—just full-power crushes each time, bearing down.
Not his style, but her ambush sparked his competitive fire. He had to win somehow.
Clack—!
"Ugh...!"
Hye-yeon paid for her lapse and arrogance.
His muscle and build advantage in heavy blows. She blocked two or three, but more wore her down. His brute force up close hampered her prized technique.
'How is this possible...!'