Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Tomorrow (1)
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Thursday afternoon at Endex was peaceful.
The incident from last night in Recor Dak had spread across every news outlet in the world, but Endex showed no signs of it.
The special experience didn't factor into College Board scores anyway, and the casualty was from another mana high school.
Compared to some dead senior from another school, Endex's college entrance exams were far more important right now.
"Welcome, everyone. It's already the third week of Swordsmanship Studies."
Was it because of that?
Instructor Gioli started the class as if nothing had happened.
"There are a lot more people today—they're all your seniors from Endex, now university students."
The sword training hall was packed with cadets. They were all dressed in the uniforms of the knight departments at prestigious mana universities.
"These generous seniors made time in their busy schedules to help with your assignments, so give them a round of applause."
Clap clap—The seniors clapped back. The cadets looked a bit smug.
"We'll pair up two at a time to check your assignments."
At the mention of pairing up, I instinctively glanced around. My eyes met Elise's. Her expression froze cold in an instant. Genuine killing intent swirled like a sharp blade in the wind.
I quickly turned my head away.
What's wrong with her all of a sudden?
"We'll go alphabetically. Each pair heads to a training room. Training room one: Gai-il and Kiton. Room two: Gerkken and Baran..."
A name caught my ear amid the list.
"Training room thirteen: Sion and Soliet."
"......"
I turned to Soliet. She stared straight ahead.
We headed to training room thirteen and stood there.
A male cadet was waiting by the door.
"Haha, look who it is. Long time no see, Soliet?"
He spoke to Soliet first. His smiling face was quite handsome.
"Yes. Long time no see, Stegen."
Stegen?
I knew the name. From before—no, from my past life—I'd seen him once in the council knight order.
He probably wasn't a bad guy. I remembered him being pretty funny.
"Come on, you'll be my junior next year. Shouldn't you call me senior?"
Stegen laughed haha, but Soliet's expression didn't change.
"Haha......"
A bit embarrassed, he looked at me next to Soliet.
"What's your name again?"
"Sion."
"Oh, right."
And that was it for me.
"Let's head in first."
Stegen opened the training room door.
"......?"
My head suddenly spun. My legs wobbled. The wound on my side from Recor Dak throbbed sharply.
I nearly fell but barely caught my balance.
"......"
Soliet glanced at me and entered the training room.
"Ugh, anemia maybe."
I shook my face and followed her.
......Edshilla National Mana University Knight Department, first-year cadet.
A former four-star high school student who enrolled this year in the continent's top university, and a current three-star knight prospect honing the way of the sword.
'Stegen Ren Joel' felt tension he hadn't in a long time.
It was almost like the heart-pounding nerves before his college entrance exam.
Probably because of Soliet.
He'd watched her from afar even as an Endex student, but back then, exchanging a few words was the extent of it. Soliet had always been on a lofty pedestal. Even as fellow nobles, their levels were worlds apart. She was like a flower on a cliff, distant and unattainable.
But now was different.
He was now a first-year cadet at 'Edshilla National Mana University Knight Department' with a guaranteed future.
And she bore a wound too deep right now. She'd been through such a harrowing incident and time.
If only he could fill that sorrow and loss. If only he could craft a story like in the movies...
"......Shall we get started then?"
"I don't mind."
"Yes."
Soliet and—what was it, Saion?—anyway, the guy answered.
Stegen glanced at the grading sheet.
[Sion Askal]
Sion, huh.
"You first."
Stegen pointed at Sion.
Soliet would be perfect anyway, so using Sion as a teaching aid would let him show off his experience and skill as an 'Edshilla National Mana University Knight Department first-year cadet.'
"Pick up a wooden sword."
"Yes."
Sion Askal took up a wooden sword.
"Hm. Stance looks good."
Straight posture, and his build wasn't bad either. A bit scrawny compared to most swordsmen, but his reach seemed oddly long.
"Well, you know the Five Basic Forms, right?"
"It was homework, so I've practiced."
"Show me."
He executed the Five Basic Forms in the air.
Triangular Slash. The wooden sword smoothly traced three sides. Steady rhythm in his advancing steps.
Circular Slash. A round arcing slash whipped through the air. Wind rustled his clothes.
Whirling Entry. First strike straight, second diagonal, third surging up to form an 'N'.
Quick Thrust. Seven stabs in 1.5 seconds. Exactly passing grade.
Chop. Upright blade slicing straight down. Heavy sword wind in one stroke.
"......"
'Edshilla National Mana University Knight Department first-year cadet' Stegen was a bit surprised.
Sion Askal's forms were straight out of the textbook. Every motion textbook-perfect, no flaws.
This wasn't good.
"......Hm. Not bad. You mimic well. Textbook stuff."
'Edshilla Mana University Knight Department first-year cadet' Stegen adjusted his strategy.
Sion tilted his head.
"Isn't textbook passing?"
"Passing... yeah. But do you want a life of just passing, junior?"
"If possible, sure."
Just maintaining the status quo, huh. Stegen wagged his finger side to side.
"No. Textbook's just the basics. Sticking to basics won't make a great swordsman. You need variations on the basics. Get it?"
"......Yeah."
"Doesn't seem like it. I'll show you from Triangular Slash. Stay there."
Stegen raised his wooden sword. He leaned his weight forward, fencing-style, stepping quick—tatat!
Three sides slashed almost simultaneously.
Looked like a fast Triangular Slash, but stopping there made you a novice.
His blade tip carried 'spin.' A mini-whirlwind actually tousled Sion's hair.
"How's that? Call it 'Spin.' Rotation on the tip amplifies the load on the opponent."
Tough technique. Blade path had to trace a perfect curve, or it'd go wide.
"No need to swing hard—power doubles. See how masters barely swing but each strike hits like a truck? All thanks to 'Spin.'"
"......Huh. Maybe."
Sion seemed disinterested. Stegen felt offended.
Doesn't he know how valuable this lesson is? Even at his own dojo, only top trainees learn this—worth tens of thousands of ren.
"......Yeah, watching won't cut it. Block it. Raise your sword."
Stegen gritted his teeth slightly. Sion raised his wooden sword too.
"Think you can take it?"
"I'll try."
"Good."
Stegen launched the Five Basic Forms—Triangular Slash right away. Planned to land one solid hit.
Wooden swords, after all.
"Hup!"
Tararak—!
Three friction sounds in one second. Clear traces on three sides. Spin and vibration definite.
But not a single touch on skin.
All blocked.
"......What?"
Clean defense that surprised even him, an 'Edshilla Knight Department first-year cadet.'
"Hm~"
The guy muttered in admiration, like he had no idea what he'd done.
"Spin really packs more power. Didn't know."
"......Y-Yeah? See?"
"Can I try it?"
Sion wiggled his sword as he spoke. Stegen asked coolly,
"Sure, why not. But... junior, where'd you learn swordsmanship?"
"My dad's a knight."
"Really? Which order—"
"Low-rank."
"......"
Low-rank knights were basically civil servants. Bottom rung nobody called knights. Took a whopping fifteen years to promote to mid-rank.
He, an 'Edshilla Knight Department cadet,' would hit high-rank just passing graduation.
Stegen swept back his hair.
"Give it a shot."
He raised his wooden sword.
With Soliet watching, no mercy. Time to properly school the junior.
"I'll go slow but solid."
Sion gripped his wooden sword tight.
"Whatever."
Distance: about five steps. Plenty for Stegen. Whatever nonsense, he could see and counter.
"Here I go."
In a flash, the guy's foot left the floor.
First Step.
Simply put, 'first foot.' Fully, 'breaking stillness to take the initial stride.'
Unlike other steps, First Step meant shifting from probe to combat—huge dynamic switch.
Tied directly to initiative, a key stat...
—!
Sion's body sprang like a spring. Closed five steps in one.
The slash coming right in his face—Triangular Slash's first stroke.
Vertical from upper right to lower left.
Kung—!
Stegen blocked as usual, but the clash boomed like a howitzer.
Kwaa—!
Eardrums buzzed. Rotation at the tip burst the air.
"Guh!"
Impact insane. Saliva flew. Shoulder and arm twisted wildly, support foot shoved back.
"......Urk."
As he clenched his teeth unwittingly, second stroke incoming.
Horizontal push from lower left to right. Too risky barehanded with that spin.
Shit, activate Mana Body?
Hesitation met the second strike.
Kuung—!
Like a bomb this time. Grip actually split a bit. Sword face charred black.
Not over yet.
Triangular Slash's final, upward third.
"......"
'Knight Department cadet' Stegen watched the wooden sword bearing down. Serrated like a saw blade, whirlwind spinning—seemed slow to his eyes. Like slow motion... wait.
This life's flashing before me, right?
Udeuk—!
Sensing mortal threat, the sword halted. Gale scattered instantly.
"......"
Stegen swallowed unwittingly.
"Felt that."
Sion muttered, then dropped his sword. Stumbled to the corner and flopped on the floor.
"......"
"......"
Stegen and Soliet blinked at him.
Soliet spoke first.
"What are you doing?"
Sion looked over. His face had gone pale blue.
"Pushed too hard yesterday..."
Didn't finish before passing out.
No, fainting?
Or dead?
"......Soliet. You know this guy well?"
Soliet pointed at Stegen's hand instead of answering.
"Blood."
"......Blood?"
"Blood's flowing from your hand."
Stegen looked. Blood streamed from his grip.
"Ah, it's fine. This junior suddenly used Mana Body..." Haha.
'Knight cadet' Stegen thought so.
Had to be Mana Body.
Obviously Mana Body.
Otherwise, that power impossible. Couldn't be.
Who swings bombs barehanded?
"Still... he hits hard. Got talent. Aspiring knight, huh?"
'Cadet' Stegen tried to play it cool, glancing at Soliet.
"......"
Soliet said nothing.
"......"
'Ca' Stegen silently gave full marks to Sion Askal on the sheet.
"Alright, your turn now, junior Soliet. Five Basic Forms check."
Seemed his love to heal Soliet's wounds was off the table, but 'Stegen' didn't care.
With his credentials, plenty of other great girls out there.
Cliff flowers look best from afar—who climbs a cliff for one?
"......That's a lot of blood."
Soliet frowned slightly. Stegen checked his grip.
Drip drip drip—
Like a faucet.
Stegen chuckled.
"Nah, it's fine. Just, ah~ Should've activated Mana Body myself~"
Trying to seem casual, he swept his hair with the hand. Blood smeared his whole head.
"Ah, oops. But you know, junior Soliet? Knight combat power varies at least twofold, up to fivefold with Mana Body. I'm the type where on/off makes a big difference... If I'd used Mana Body, hahaha. Ah~ Saion here's sneaky. Activated without a word?"
"......"
Soliet was speechless.