Episode 176
Episode 176
"Insolent bastards."
Giselle muttered under her breath.
At her words, Lee Han turned to look at her as if asking what she meant.
"Insolent? What do you mean?"
"You can see it in their eyes. Can't you feel it?"
The students of the White Tiger Tower, who weren't dull, had sensed it to some extent.
The gazes of the newly arrived apprentice knights weren't exactly friendly.
There was no need to be overly gentle with opponents they'd soon face in sparring matches. Unnecessary hesitation in battle would only be a hindrance.
But even taking that into account, the looks from these apprentice knights had crossed a line.
Arrogant pride.
Giselle, who had never once failed to secure the position of leader wherever she went, noticed the emotion in those gazes more sharply than anyone else.
"They're... looking down on us."
Durgyu let out a low growl as he spoke. Giselle nodded.
"Right. They are."
"Why would they look down on you?"
Lee Han asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
"Lee Han. Think about it. We're from knightly families, but we came to this school to learn magic. What do you think they'd make of that?"
"Ah, so they think, 'That guy uses both a sword and magic, so he must be twice as strong'?"
"......"
Giselle stared at Lee Han as if he'd lost his mind.
"Th-thanks. But young knights with narrow minds often look down on or pick fights with those who leave to study magic. I just didn't expect to see it firsthand like this."
"Hmm. I see."
Lee Han nodded.
Since knightly families generally knew each other by reputation, it was only natural that their heirs would butt heads over pride.
Given their youth, even the smallest things could wound their egos...
'What a pointless waste of energy. We'll all be working together eventually anyway.'
"Wardanaz. Doesn't this piss you off?"
As Lee Han sat expressionlessly, another White Tiger Tower student spoke up in an indignant voice.
How dare these outsiders pick a fight.
"Me?"
"Yeah! They're looking down on you too!"
"But I'm not from a knightly family, so why would I care?"
"......"
"......"
...Right.
Only then did the White Tiger Tower students remember that Lee Han wasn't from a knightly family.
He'd blended in so naturally that they'd forgotten...
"Choi."
One of the apprentice knights, who seemed to know Durgyu, approached and greeted him.
Durgyu gave a slight nod in return.
"Didn't expect to see you here."
"Same."
"I've heard a lot about Einrogard. They say they teach magic harshly. Did you even have time to train in swordsmanship?"
Though the words carried a mocking tone, Durgyu paid no mind.
Instead, he glanced at Lee Han.
"?"
'Hmm.'
Looking at Lee Han and then at the apprentice knight before him, Durgyu realized just how childish the knight's behavior was.
If it were Lee Han, he wouldn't waste time on such petty antics—he'd have already hurled a curse at his opponent by now.
"The hardship made me focus even more on swordsmanship. Though I've come to realize—having every convenience tailored just for sword training isn't necessarily a good thing."
There was genuine sincerity in his words.
Compared to the comfortable life back home—ample time, lavish meals, and soft bedding—his skills had improved far faster here at the Magic School.
A harsh environment.
Competition with exceptional peers.
These were the things that truly honed a swordsman.
His words seemed to strike a nerve. The apprentice knight frowned.
"Adversity perfects the sword. But the hardships you've faced are nothing compared to ours, Choi."
"Maybe. But the sword doesn't measure hardships to decide victory. Any further discussion should be settled with blades."
"Hmph! I was planning to show you anyway."
The apprentice knight turned away with an even deeper scowl.
Listening to the exchange, Lee Han turned to Giselle with a puzzled look.
"Where do those apprentice knights stay?"
"They probably stay at the knight order's building in the city," Giselle answered curtly.
"Do they not provide meals?"
"How could that be possible?"
"Are they forbidden from going out?"
"I told you, it's the knight order's building in the city. There's no way they'd be forbidden."
"...Then in what way do they claim to have suffered more hardships?"
Lee Han's voice had grown so cold it was chilling—enough to startle even Giselle.
Professor Ingoldel nodded as he observed the students, their eyes burning with determination.
Given their youth, it was only natural for their competitive spirits to flare up in such a situation.
Losing to apprentice knights around their own age stung their pride far more than being outmatched by the vastly superior White Poplar Knights.
Even Wardanaz was staring at the apprentice knights with a hardened expression—a face that showed firm resolve.
"Professor."
"What is it, Wardanaz?"
"We are students learning magic at the Magic School. Just like in the previous sparring session, I believe it would be proper to allow us to use magic."
Naturally, Professor Ingoldel had prohibited the use of magic in this sparring session.
Since their opponents weren't even full-fledged knights, there was no need to resort to magic. Focusing solely on swordsmanship was the right approach.
Of course, that meant the Magic School students might be outmatched by the apprentice knights, but...
Professor Ingoldel didn't mind that.
If their pride took a slight hit from losing this sparring session, it would only fuel their determination to immerse themselves in swordsmanship.
"No. This is a swordsmanship test."
"But Professor, even in a swordsmanship spar, you don't just swing a sword blindly. If the opportunity arises, striking techniques or joint locks are also used. Depriving us of magic is too harsh."
Lee Han's argument was persuasive.
Only a fool would think swordsmanship sparring was limited to just swinging a sword.
If necessary, one should be able to exploit openings with a well-placed punch or trip their opponent's leg to disrupt their balance.
In a broader sense, all of that still fell under swordsmanship.
While the apprentice knights had been training in such comprehensive techniques outdoors, the Magic School students had been practicing magic—so it was only natural they'd want to use it in the spar.
'Was I too harsh?'
Professor Ingoldel reflected slightly on Lee Han's words.
In his desire to strengthen his students, perhaps he had been too severe...
The elf professor raised his head and looked at Lee Han.
Then, suddenly, he snapped back to his senses.
He could immediately foresee the disaster that would unfold if he allowed this Wardanaz boy to use magic.
"No."
'Tch.'
Lee Han inwardly clicked his tongue in disappointment.
'If only I could use magic, I'd win easily.'
It wasn't arrogance—just a calm assessment.
Magic became even more effective the less the opponent knew about it.
The apprentice knights would have no idea what magic Lee Han was using. He could bind their feet with a Water Orb, follow up with a Curse, then finish them off with a lightning barrage...
'Too bad, but there's nothing I can do.'
Lee Han picked up his wooden sword. There was no point in dragging out an argument over something that wouldn't be allowed.
"...Wardanaz? Why are you the one stepping forward?"
The opposing apprentice knight looked at Lee Han in confusion.
Lee Han answered with an innocent expression.
"I'm taking swordsmanship classes for health and refinement."
"Ah... is that so?"
The apprentice knight nodded hesitantly.
Among nobles, learning swordsmanship for refinement or as a hobby wasn't particularly unusual.
Of course, such swordsmanship was mostly just for show—superficial compared to the real combat techniques of knights.
Once he thought of it that way, the tension drained from the apprentice knight's body. Even his grip on the wooden sword loosened. His entire demeanor radiated condescension.
Lee Han smiled faintly at the sight.
'If someone like this enrolled in the Magic School, they wouldn't last a week.'
"To think I fell for such a basic trick."
"Aren't the other White Tiger Tower students picking fights with you?"
The squire even expressed concern for Lee Han.
Since he wasn't from a knightly family, they didn't see him as competition.
"No. Everyone's been kindly helping me. Thanks to them, I'm still lacking but managing to keep up."
"Right. Knights always respect and help the weak."
The squire thumped his chest as he spoke. Lee Han thought to himself:
'Though the White Tiger Tower bastards ganged up on me three against one from the very first day.'
"Shall we begin then?"
"Alright. Be careful not to get hurt."
The squire stood with his wooden sword at the ready. Lee Han did the same.
Professor Ingoldel waved the flag.
Crack!
For a moment, the squire felt as if a boulder was charging at him. The power behind Lee Han's strike far exceeded his expectations.
Before he could react, the wooden sword in his hand shattered and flew away, while Lee Han's wooden sword stopped right at his throat.
"Do you admit defeat?"
"Victory to Wardanaz!"
Professor Ingoldel declared firmly, as if there was nothing more to see.
Only then did the squire snap out of his daze, blinking rapidly as he stammered:
"W-wait...!? What just...!?"
But Lee Han was already turning to walk away.
'Now that I've used a trick, I'd better make a quick escape.'
"Where are you going, Wardanaz?"
"Isn't it over?"
"The winners must face each other next."
Professor Ingoldel pointed to the opposite side, where squires who had defeated White Tiger Tower students were gathering one by one.
Lee Han instantly relaxed his posture, making it look sloppy.
But it was already too late. The approaching squires were whispering among themselves as they looked at him.
-So you're saying that Lee Han from the Wardanaz family defeated Sir Bikelintz?
-That's what I heard.
-Does that even make sense?
-Did he use magic or something?
'No way I can pull this off twice.'
Lee Han instinctively knew he couldn't coast through the next fight.
"Wardanaz. Let me ask you one thing."
"What is it?"
"Did you really defeat Sir Bikelintz?"
"I didn't do it alone. In fact, Durgyu and Moradi contributed more."
"But Sir Bikelintz said otherwise?"
"......"
Lee Han cursed Bikelintz inwardly.
What an unnecessarily honest knight.
"There are... hidden circumstances."
"What circumstances?"
"Well..."
"Begin!"
Professor Ingoldel waved the flag again. The two gripped their swords and took their stances.
The opposing squire had already won once and knew about Lee Han's victory, so he wasn't careless like before.
Lee Han spoke again.
"Actually, Sir Bikelintz—"
"!"
The squire instinctively leaned in when Lee Han opened his mouth. In that instant, Lee Han's Azure Rock Sword flashed.
The Azure Rock Sword, a heavy and powerful greatsword technique, was difficult to counter once the initiative was lost. The squire's stance crumbled under the weight of the relentless assault.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
After five consecutive strikes, the squire collapsed. Lee Han stopped his sword at the opponent's throat.
"Victory to Wardanaz!"
Lee Han turned away just as quickly as before.
No need to lock eyes with the squire glaring at him with murderous betrayal.
'Whew. Clean finish.'
Thankfully, it ended smoothly.
Since he hadn't taken a single solid hit in either fight, the midterm exam should naturally be a perfect score...
"Sorry, Lee Han."
"?"
"I lost..."
Durgyu apologized.
He had just lost after a fierce battle with a squire.
"...What about Moradi? Did he lose too?"
"Moradi ended in a draw. He and his opponent broke each other's bones."
"...You're kidding."
"Wardanaz. Take a short break and prepare for the final match."
At Professor Ingoldel's words, Lee Han sighed inwardly.
'Damn. Now I have to go to a third round.'
He had expected Durgyu or Moradi to handle the remaining squires, but one was still left.
Lee Han raised his head.
The gathered squires were whispering and staring at him. It was obvious what they were talking about.
"It's just swordsmanship I'm learning for culture's sake. Guess I got lucky to make it this far."
"Cut the crap, Wardanaz!"
"Tch."