Chapter 2. Academy
"Hey, Andre. What's with that look on your face? ...Did you see a ghost or something?"
The lizardman instructor Aslan clapped the dazed Andre on the shoulder and sat down across from him. Andre slowly lifted his head, shaking it in disbelief.
"Aslan... listen."
"What is it?"
Aslan leaned in eagerly, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. The lizardman figured maybe the usually mild-mannered humans had finally caused some big trouble. But the content of Andre's words was completely different from what he'd expected.
"Suppose there's an Earthling. ...You know what an Earthling is, right?"
"Of course. Those weaklings. ...So what?"
"But what if that Earthling was a real swordsmanship genius—something utterly ridiculous?"
Pffft. Aslan snorted in mockery. Andre, thinking he might be a bit slow, quickly tried another analogy.
"No, I mean, like a goblin being a genius mage?"
"As if that could happen. If you're gonna use an analogy, make it a believable one."
"No, just—hypothetically. Tell me what you think."
The lizardman instructor hummed, tapping his long snout with a finger. His tongue flicked out occasionally like a snake's, sly and probing.
"How much of a genius?"
"...A genius among geniuses. The greatest on the continent."
"Come on, seriously..."
"Ah... forget it. Never mind. ...Anyway, you guys lack imagination."
"You think this is funny?"
"I said forget it."
"Damn, always so pissy."
Andre grumbled as he left the instructors' room. Aslan had told him to bring back something tasty on his way back later. Andre half-heard him, half-ignored.
The human instructor stepped outside and walked. The sunset sky was darkening with the approach of night from afar. Uncharacteristically, he let out a heavy sigh and looked up at the heavens.
...Maybe even "genius" wasn't enough to describe it.
Andre, who had lived a fair number of years, had seen plenty who prided themselves as geniuses. Most with such labels were indeed exceptional, but there was always something slightly lacking.
...Time. That was it.
No matter how highly touted, no one could transcend time. Even the greatest genius couldn't turn ten years into a hundred.
By that logic, Kang Ji-hyuk should have been the same. But that strike clearly didn't belong to someone barely past twenty.
The instructor had felt an overwhelming weight of years in it. How the hell was he supposed to make sense of this?
After much deliberation, Andre concluded that the Earthling was beyond his comprehension. The stereotype that all Earthlings were weaklings had been utterly shattered here. Not just a genius, but one transcending imagination.
As a swordsman, he had always hoped for someone to reach the pinnacle of the continent with the blade. Maybe that was becoming reality.
Andre paced around the instructors' area for a while before heading to the office of Ralop, the academy's manager. Fortunately, he was still working.
"Manager."
"Andre? What's the matter?"
"I have something important to report."
"Speak."
The instructor hesitated on how to phrase it.
"Something astonishing has happened."
"...Astonishing?"
Only then did Ralop slowly lift his gaze from the papers and look at the instructor.
"Another buffer mage appeared?"
Buffers were rare, so Ralop had already heard from Andre about it. In the second week, when roles were assessed, the occasional rare talent would emerge. Ralop guessed it might be something like that—the timing was perfect.
But Andre shook his head immediately.
"No, not that."
"Then?"
"A... tremendous genius has appeared."
"Tremendous... genius?"
That was the only way Andre could put it right now.
"Yes. I figured I should report it..."
"Do they show great potential?"
"Yes."
"Got it. Submit a detailed report later."
There were usually three or four such "geniuses" per intake. Ralop assumed this was just another one.
Andre didn't like lumping this monumental existence with mere ordinary geniuses, but there was nothing for it now. He'd have to settle for that and withdraw.
"Keep a close eye. If they're exceptional, I might write a recommendation."
"Understood."
"I know you have a good eye for talent."
"Thank you."
The instructor bowed and left Ralop's office. He'd made the report, but oddly, his mind felt even more unsettled. He returned to his quarters and lay down to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come.
Kang Ji-hyuk swinging his sword replayed endlessly in Andre's mind. His chest burned strangely.
After tossing and turning, he finally bolted upright. He gripped his beloved sword and swung it slowly.
No, that's not it. He didn't do it like that.
It was the exact same swing, yet he couldn't grasp the subtle difference. The instructor became completely immersed, losing track of time as he swung repeatedly.
He swung this way and that all night, lay down to think, then swung again. He pulled an all-nighter.
Yet he didn't feel tired. He focused on perfecting that strike even a little more.
Ding-dong-dang-dong. The dawn bell rang.
Oh shit. Andre hurriedly dressed and headed to the trainees' dorms.
When the instructor arrived, they were already ready to head to the mess hall.
"Looking pretty good now."
He casually praised them and led them to breakfast. His gaze kept drifting to the Earthling, Kang Ji-hyuk.
...Why did his eyes keep going there? What the hell was that guy's deal? Was he really an Earthling? ...A human?
Questions swirled in his chest. But he suppressed his curiosity.
After breakfast, they returned to the dorms, prepared for training, and split off to their respective instructors by specialty. Andre stood before his five trainees again.
Basics again today. Rolshar looked annoyed, like again with this? But orders were orders.
Ji-hyuk noticed the instructor staring holes into him again. Must really want to watch. Fine... watch all you want.
No point hiding it anyway. Eyes wouldn't wear him down.
Right now, he had no time for trivial stares. Physical conditioning and adapting to this changed body came first.
He practiced the basics one by one, building muscle. Mana-enhanced strengthening varied by one's physical state, so he couldn't neglect conditioning. Balanced development was key.
Nights, he accumulated mana via meditation, shattering and remaking his mana vessel repeatedly for a larger, sturdier one. Like building muscle.
Thanks to the effort, Ji-hyuk felt his body changing daily—for the better, of course.
...Days flew by like arrows.
The second week of basics ended, and the third week began. No dramatic changes, just deeper combat training.
Andre demonstrated basic sword forms. Everyone knew far more advanced ones, so they followed easily. Still, he stressed linking basics into these forms was crucial.
"Basics aren't inferior. They're the foundation. A weak base can't support a sturdy building. Master these perfectly."
Andre was again half-mesmerized by Ji-hyuk's execution. The other trainees seemed to sense something special about him now, though not as acutely as the instructor.
The third week of sword training passed.
On the first day of the fourth week, Andre announced team leader selection. They'd need one to lead from next week's field exercises.
Rolshar stepped forward confidently. No one as talented as him.
But there was another contender.
"I'll nominate myself."
Hwang Ja-woo, the martial artist. Rolshar's face twisted instantly.
Andre scanned the room, subtly glancing at Ji-hyuk. But he had zero interest in the hassle of leadership.
"Really no one else?"
Team leader would be one of those two.
...The problem was how.
"How about the winner becomes leader?"
Rolshar proposed boldly to Andre. The instructor didn't care about the method. He asked Hwang Ja-woo, who nodded with a calm smile.
"Just what I wanted."
Ji-hyuk had seen this coming. Cram young hot-blooded guys in one room, and hierarchy fights were inevitable. These two often clashed verbally, but Hwang always backed down, avoiding brawls.
In leadership, Hwang seemed better than the power-hungry noble.
...At least in command. Skill was another matter.
Rolshar had skill from elite training, despite his shitty personality.
The two glared, smirking bitterly. Hwang looked thrilled for a legit chance to smash him.
"Follow me."
The five trainees followed to the training grounds. The three non-combatants huddled in the corner, leaving the fighters and referee instructor.
"Who do you think'll win? You've trained with them."
Ungorap asked Ji-hyuk.
"Hard to say... they're evenly matched."
Fights between scrubs were unpredictable—upsets anywhere.
The duel began. Near even. Hwang had a slight edge in skill, but not decisive.
Ji-hyuk figured Hwang had better odds, but Rolshar fought calmly. Hwang grew frustrated.
Despite his humble facade, he had high self-regard. That impatience became his downfall.
Rolshar seized the opening flawlessly. Shitty personality, decent talent.
Victory decided. Rolshar stood before the instructor, beaming.
"You win. Congratulations. You're team leader now, Rolshar."
"Thank you!"
Hwang looked bitter but couldn't deny the loss. Excuses would just make him look pathetic.
"...Congrats."
"Yeah, you weren't bad."
Rolshar sneered. Hwang shot him a glare, then stormed to the corner.
Anyway, Rolshar was thrilled, subtly showing off to Anna. Everyone knew he liked her.
"Back to positions."
Anna and Ungorap headed to their instructors. The two lizardmen joined soon after.
Aside from Rolshar nearly provoking Hwang into a fight, the fourth week passed smoothly.
...And the morning of the fifth week—field exercise week—dawned.