Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: End-of-Term Report Card (6)
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And yet, his grades weren't improving.
She had heard he’d mastered Schema a month ago, but his rate of enhancement was so slow that she questioned if it was even true.
“Even if I’m in last place, you never know until you try. Who knows? Maybe things will work out surprisingly well once I give it a shot.”
“Heh, right. That sounds just like you.”
Tess had never seen Rian get nervous. It was a strange feeling, seeing Rian, the least skilled of them all, remain so calm before a test that could cost him his limbs.
‘Then again, he was like that back then, too.’
Tess had gotten to know Rian during their probationary period.
Swordsmen are, by nature, fond of battle. With 300 such kids gathered in one place, the atmosphere was tense from the very first day. The instructors didn’t particularly interfere with what went on inside the barracks. And so, as expected, a few wolves began to bare their fangs.
The hierarchy was established in an instant.
Those who had learned Schema were in the first group, those with superior physical abilities were in the second, and those who were neither were in the third. The problem was the cadets who couldn't even make it into the third group. They were boys who had no interest in the sword but had been pushed into the academy by their parents.
Richard Geiger, the leader of the first group, relentlessly tormented those boys. His already savage nature had been unleashed now that he was in a military academy that legally taught killing techniques.
Tess paid it no mind. She was in the first group in terms of skill, and the dozen or so female cadets were exempt from the power struggles.
At the time, Rian was in the middle of the second group.
At that level, he wasn't in a position to be bullied, but Rian didn't associate with anyone. He had only one reason for applying to the sword academy. Graduation didn't matter. He was only thinking that he had to somehow build his skills and become a swordsman worthy of Shirone.
“Hahaha! Hey, run! Faster!”
“Neigh! Neigh!”
One day, inside the barracks, the cadets from the first group were racing on the backs of the weaker boys. Every time they gleefully struck the buttocks of the boys acting as horses, a whinny would burst out.
Some cadets frowned at the sight, but most were engrossed in cheering as if watching a real horse race. It was a race with actual, albeit small, amounts of money on the line. Besides, if they showed the slightest disapproval, they could easily become the ones crawling on the ground.
“Faster! I’m gonna win! I’m gonna win!”
Geiger, who was in the lead, was ecstatic. True to his nature of never accepting defeat in anything, he was giving his all, even in a race that was just for fun. As the finish line came into view, his caning grew even stronger. The cadet who had become his racehorse had to crawl until his knees bled, tears streaming down his face.
“Neigh! Neigh!”
“Yeah! I’m first—!”
Just as he was about to cross the finish line, a blurry afterimage appeared in Geiger’s vision. An instant later, a strong impact struck the bridge of his nose.
“Ugh!”
Kicked without warning, Geiger fell from his racehorse’s back. In that time, the other riders crossed the finish line one by one.
“That’s enough. Is this place your playground?”
Geiger clutched his throbbing nose and glared at the blue-haired boy.
“You son of a…!”
Ogent Rian.
As far as Geiger knew, his skills were mediocre even for the second group. His pride was wounded when he realized he’d been struck by a guy who hadn't even learned Schema.
“What are you? You want to die?”
Rian didn't answer. His taciturn nature hadn't changed even after entering the sword academy. If he had nothing to say, he wouldn't invent words.
“Look at this bastard…”
Geiger stood up, his eyes filled with killing intent. It was a volatile situation, but the terrified cadets couldn't bring themselves to step in.
Of course, there were also those who felt no need to. Tess was one of them.
This was a sword academy. In a group dedicated to learning the arts of war, standing up for the weak changed nothing. In the end, the situation would be resolved according to the hierarchy of power.
“Oh, isn’t that Rian? He finally went and caused trouble.”
Tess looked behind her. Another female cadet, a girl who stood a head taller than most of the boys, was positioned like a wall.
“You even know his name? He doesn’t look very strong.”
“He’s weak. But stubborn. The other day, the second-group kids pooled some money together. For Geiger’s birthday. But the only one who didn’t chip in was Rian.”
“Aha, so he was on his bad side?”
“He was probably looking for a reason. But honestly, I’m surprised. I thought he was the quiet type, but he’s surprisingly hot-headed.”
“Hmm…”
Only then did Tess take a closer look at Rian. He was still silent, but he didn't seem to have any intention of backing down.
‘So there are kids like him. The kingdom really is a big place.’
Her interest ended there. Having grown up under the influence of her father, a commander of occupied territories, she had seen countless eccentrics from a young age.
No matter how much one championed their convictions, if their sword wasn't strong, they would inevitably break. That was the iron rule of this world.
“Hehehe. What’s wrong, has the cat got your tongue? It’s too late for regrets. You didn’t really think you’d get away with this with all your limbs intact, did you?”
“Let’s go outside. It won’t be good for my evaluation if an instructor finds out.”
Geiger was dumbfounded. The guy who should be begging for his life was instead suggesting they fight where the instructors wouldn't see them.
“Fine, you got it. Follow me. The rest of you, follow too. I’m going to show you all exactly what happens when you mess with me.”
Geiger led Rian to an empty lot behind the building. The first through third groups stood behind Geiger, while only the kids from outside the groups stood on Rian’s side.
But they had already lost their will to fight. No, they hadn't come with the intention of fighting in the first place. They just hadn't been able to join Geiger's group. In their hearts, they resented Rian for escalating things this far.
“Hey, anyone who doesn’t want to get beaten up, come over here.”
Geiger offered them a pardon. The cadets didn't even hesitate. They scurried past Rian to the other side.
“Hahaha! Pathetic lot. Hey, Rian. What are you going to do now? They all ran away. You’re the only one left.”
“To rely on numbers. You were rotten from the start.”
“What did you say?”
“A knight fights when he must fight. You don't even have the right to be a knight.”
Geiger snorted. In a war, knights would bite and tear at each other like dogs anyway. Chivalry was nothing more than wrapping paper used by the survivors to glorify themselves.
“Alright, let’s see if your fists are as strong as your mouth. I’ll take you on myself. And don’t relax. Me fighting you alone means I’m going to kill you.”
Rian raised his fists and took a fighting stance. In contrast, Geiger walked over nonchalantly, as if on a stroll.
“I’ll take one hit. You go first.”
When Geiger beckoned with his finger, Rian threw a punch. In that instant, Geiger dodged the attack and struck Rian in the abdomen.
“Gah!”
Rian’s eyes widened at the gut-wrenching pain. It felt like a heavy rock had been slammed into his stomach. Was this a fist enhanced by Schema?
“Idiot. Why would I let you hit me?”
Geiger mocked Rian, but he was surprised he hadn't ended it in one blow. He had been too careless. With that thought, he unleashed a flurry of punches with his full strength.
Rian was on the verge of fainting. It was a bare-fisted fight, but Schema itself was a deadly weapon. It felt like being beaten by a soldier in heavy armor.
As Geiger’s fist buried into his abdomen, Rian’s feet lifted off the ground.
When he landed again, even with his great resilience, Rian couldn't stay standing. His body, bending from the knees, plummeted toward the ground.
‘Just as I thought…’
Geiger shot Rian a sneer. At that moment, Rian shot forward like an arrow and dove into his space.
‘What? He’s still standing?’
Geiger was flustered. Rian hadn't learned Schema. And he knew from the feel of his fist that the blow had landed squarely. Without a Schema defense, he should have lost consciousness already.
Rian focused his attacks on Geiger’s torso. Aiming for the face would be too easily dodged. But if he obscured his opponent's vision with his broad back and attacked from below, even Geiger couldn't counterattack rashly.
The strategy worked, and Geiger was forced to retreat step by step. His abdomen throbbed with each punch that landed.
‘What is this bastard?’
For Geiger, this was a no-win situation. The very fact that he was in a chaotic brawl with someone who couldn't even use Schema was a disgrace.
“You son of a bitch!”
Geiger lost control. He grabbed Rian’s shoulders, pushed him back, and then began swinging his fists like a madman. Dull thuds echoed through the empty lot. The cadets watched the one-sided beating with pale faces.
When Geiger came to his senses, Rian was lying crumpled on the ground like a rag. But he still wasn't unconscious. When Rian’s fingers twitched, a fire ignited in Geiger’s eyes.
“Aaargh! This is so annoying!”
Geiger’s kicks rained down on Rian. Finally realizing the gravity of the situation, the first-group kids rushed over.
“Hey, stop! You’re really going to kill him!”
“Let go! I’m going to kill him! Die, you bastard!”
Rian’s reactions gradually slowed until, finally, he stopped moving. Geiger looked around. Seeing the fear on the cadets' faces seemed to cool his anger slightly.
“Listen up! This is what happens when you defy me! Hey, bring me a rope!”
Rian was stripped naked, leaving only his pants on. His hard, muscular body was covered in bruises. Geiger decided he needed to make an example of him and hung the rope-bound Rian from a tall tree.
Blood dripped from Rian’s face as he hung curled like a shrimp.
“Hahaha! He looks just like a worm on a fishing hook, doesn’t he? Why’d you act up when you don’t even know your place?”
“Hehe. Man, that must be so embarrassing. He got what he deserved for acting all high and mighty.”
Jeers erupted from all around. The atmosphere was as if they had just won a war.
Tess frowned. Even if the weak were fair game, to inflict such humiliation on someone…
Besides, there were girls of the same age present. What was Rian thinking right now? No, how deeply must his heart be wounded?
“Ugh…”
Rian regained consciousness. He hadn't passed out, but he wasn't exactly in good shape either. Countless cadets were snickering. They were acting as if they were watching a monkey at the zoo.
Tess’s eyes met Rian’s. She tried to maintain a composed expression. In his state, even pity would feel like a wound. But Rian, breaking her expectation, smiled and winked.
“Ah, my apologies. In front of the ladies, too.”
Tess still kept a nonchalant expression, but inside, a strange chemical reaction was taking place.
“Haha! What’s he saying now? Still putting on a brave face in this situation. He was just an idiot, wasn’t he?”
“Hey, hey! Be honest. Do you think acting tough after getting beaten to a pulp makes you look cool? You look ridiculous right now.”
“Aren’t you embarrassed? Huh? To be in that state in front of the girls. I’d rather bite my tongue and die.”
Rian looked down at the cadets. Despite the countless taunts, his gaze was calm.
“It’s fine. Even if it’s humiliating.”
“Haha! Well, guys like you have to live like that forever. Or wait, are you a pervert? You’re secretly enjoying this, aren't you?”
Rian spoke calmly.
“Because I’ll be able to forget it soon enough.”
A silence fell. An inexplicable, uneasy energy dominated the quiet.
“I fought with everything I had, so I have no shame. As time passes, I probably won’t even remember a day like today. But… can you all really forget?”
No one answered. All of their hearts were beating fast.
“The sight of you all, tucking your tails between your legs without even trying to fight, will probably follow you for the rest of your lives. And you’ll regret it. ‘If only I had fought back then,’ you’ll think, ‘If only I had stood up.’ But you know, don’t you? You can’t turn back time.”
The cadets’ faces trembled. It was a different kind of fear from the one Geiger’s violence inspired.