Episode 177
Episode 177
When Lee Han suddenly clicked his tongue and turned cold, the apprentice knights were greatly shocked.
The Wardanaz had truly been deceiving them all along!
"Wardanaz... I... I trusted you! I respected your honor!"
"You lot who haven't even survived a single day at Einrogard dare to act arrogant and dismissive, and now you're spouting nonsense about respect?"
At Lee Han's sarcastic retort, the White Tiger Tower students burst into cheers.
"That's right! Wardanaz!"
"Well said! What's this nonsense about respect?!"
It was a bizarre situation where the White Tiger Tower students were cheering for Lee Han.
But the apprentice knights, who didn't understand their relationship, misunderstood once again.
"Cowardly bastards...! They used Wardanaz, who isn't from a knight family, to catch us off guard, is that it?"
"???"
"Uh, no, we didn't tell him to do that?"
The White Tiger Tower students panicked as the accusations suddenly turned toward them.
They weren't particularly close with Wardanaz to begin with, and he wasn't the type to act on anyone's orders anyway.
He just decided to use deception on his own!
"Wardanaz! Explain! When did we ever tell you to do that?!"
Lee Han nodded at the White Tiger Tower students' words.
"Right. These friends absolutely didn't order me to do that. Would students from honorable knight families ever do such a thing? Stop making such ridiculous assumptions."
Of course, the apprentice knights didn't believe him.
"We'll see about that!"
"You cowardly bastards!"
"......"
"I tried."
Lee Han shrugged his shoulders.
The White Tiger Tower students glared at him for that.
Labda of the Enge Family was considered the most skilled among the apprentice knights.
As such, while other students and apprentice knights dropped out one by one, he remained until the end to face Lee Han.
Now their duel was no longer just a simple spar.
It had become a battle of pride—whether the knights who entered the magic school would win, or the apprentice knights dedicated to the path of the sword would prevail!
'Hmm. Thinking about it, I got unnecessarily heated.'
Lee Han thought to himself.
Honestly, Lee Han just needed to secure good exam scores, but he'd ended up needlessly provoking his opponent.
All because the other guy kept blabbering about how life at the magic school wasn't that hard...
Labda gripped his sword with a tense expression.
Unlike Lee Han, Labda was extremely nervous.
Lee Han had already secured a perfect score in the midterms, so even if he lost, he had nothing to lose.
He was from the Wardanaz family—what dishonor was there in losing a sword fight? Anyone who mocked him for that would be the crazy one.
But Labda's situation was different.
If he lost to his opponent, he had too much to lose.
Not only would it mean defeat for all the apprentice knights gathered here, but he would become the guy who lost in swordsmanship to a mage...
"Labda. Calm down. Your opponent is from a mage family."
"You heard how he won. Just watch out for tricks. You know that, right?"
"Of course."
Labda stood up.
He would win!
No matter what it took!
"Wardanaz. There'll never be another time like this, but just for now, I'll cheer for you."
"Win this!"
"Thanks. Your half-hearted cheers are really boosting my motivation."
Compared to the tight-knit unity of the apprentice knights, Lee Han and the White Tiger Tower students had a rather dry relationship.
In fact, some White Tiger Tower students were still debating, 'Do we actually want Wardanaz to win?'
"By the way, what kind of swordsmanship does that guy use?"
Lee Han asked, looking back.
Since Lee Han wasn't from a knight family, his opponent would be fighting without knowing much about him...
But that wasn't Lee Han's concern—he intended to fight knowing everything about his opponent.
"The ever-changing Absorbing Sword."
Giselle answered.
All the swordsmanship styles of the Empire had their own distinct characteristics, but the Enge Family's swordsmanship was particularly unique among them.
Not only were its transformations subtle and bizarre, but when clashing swords with an opponent...
"It feels like a suction force pulling you in, as if from a swamp."
Unless you were a knight with ample real combat experience, facing this sword technique for the first time would inevitably leave you flustered.
"I see. Durgyu, what kind of sword technique is that guy using?"
"That bas—"
Giselle was furious.
What reason could there be for asking again after she'd just explained it?
After she'd gone out of her way to tell him, how dare he doubt—
"Don't misunderstand, Moradi. It's not that I don't trust you. I just thought Durgyu might have a different perspective since he's faced him directly."
"Y-yeah, Moradi. Wardanaz probably didn't mean anything bad by it."
The White Tiger Tower students hurriedly tried to defuse the increasingly hostile atmosphere.
Durgyu asked quietly,
"Really?"
"No."
"......"
One of the mediating friends turned his head and asked,
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing! Here, Lee Han. I'll tell you everything I can about your opponent!"
Durgyu hastily changed the subject.
At this rate, they might end up fighting their White Tiger Tower friends before even facing Labda.
"Begin!"
At the signal, Lee Han stepped forward.
Durgyu's advice had been similar to Giselle's.
-Instead of the usual repelling force when swords clash, you'll feel a suction pulling you toward your opponent. Lee Han. Your balance will gradually erode, and by the time you notice, it might already be too late. You need to be on guard from the very start.
'So you can channel mana into a sword and use it like that.'
Given that he was among the most skilled squires and had even defeated Durgyu, it was only natural that he knew how to imbue his sword with mana.
Most likely, the mana infused in his sword created an effect that pulled his opponent's blade with each clash.
Though it sounded simple in theory, Lee Han, who had trained in swordsmanship for a long time, could guess just how intricate and advanced this technique truly was.
First, creating the effect of pulling an opponent's sword with mana alone was difficult—but to continuously execute it while disrupting their balance?
It required not just maintaining one's own swordsmanship but also the keen perception to read an opponent's equilibrium.
Pulling off something like that in the chaos of a swordfight would demand bone-grinding effort and training.
Lee Han revised his assessment of his opponent slightly. This wasn't something an ordinary slacker could pull off.
Of course, that didn't excuse his earlier nonsense about the Magic School not being all that difficult...
CRASH!
'What kind of monstrous strength is this?!'
Though Labda didn't show it, he was shocked by the stinging pain radiating through his palm.
-That bastard's nothing but tricks!
-Don't worry, Labda! You can beat him!
The cheers from his squire friends, trying to ease Labda's burden, lifted his spirits a little—but they weren't actually helpful.
After the first clash, as they stepped back and adjusted their stances, Labda could clearly gauge his opponent's skill.
He was at least as strong as Durgyu of the Choy Family, if not stronger!
'He's from the Wardanaz Family! A mage family!!'
Labda wanted to protest out of sheer frustration. Why on earth was someone from the Wardanaz Family this serious about swordsmanship?
Was it because they were an eccentric mage family?
Did swordsmanship even help with magic? Some said ancient sword techniques still held mysteries even swordsmen hadn't deciphered yet...
CRASH!
None of the lax or deceptive attitude Lee Han had shown earlier was visible now.
Instead, there was a murderous pressure, like standing before a massive boulder.
"......"
"...Maybe even being from the Wardanaz Family is a trick?"
One of the squires muttered, utterly astonished.
No matter how he looked at it, this wasn't the kind of swordsmanship you'd expect from a scion of a high noble family.
Unless he'd spent every waking moment swinging a sword...
'I've taken the initiative!'
Lee Han's eyes gleamed.
Fortunately, his opponent's delayed assessment of him had allowed Lee Han to seize the upper hand.
Lee Han knew his opponent well, but the fact that his opponent knew little about Lee Han was what decided the match.
'I'll press him hard and finish this before he can use any other techniques.'
Against an opponent with such varied swordsmanship, losing the initiative would be dangerous.
Lee Han intended to maintain the initiative he'd seized.
Of course, Labda had no intention of losing either.
'Somehow!'
Mana circulated through his entire body, imbuing his sword until it grew heavy. Labda barely managed to deflect the attack and unleashed his family's swordsmanship with all his might.
'Pull him in!'
He could feel it in his grip—the swordsmanship had been properly executed.
But...?
"???"
Labda stared at Lee Han with startled eyes. Lee Han flinched under that gaze.
'What's this?'
Seeing his previously expressionless opponent staring at him like that made him uneasy.
Was this psychological warfare?
'Anyway, I still don't know when he'll use the Absorbing Sword.'
Lee Han remained unfazed and launched another barrage of attacks.
It would be foolish to be swayed just because the opponent hadn't used it yet.
If there's a path to victory, follow it without hesitation!
Thud, thud, thud—
Labda's face gradually turned ashen. It was only natural—despite squeezing out and exhausting his mana, nothing had changed.
To anyone watching, Lee Han had the clear advantage.
Yet, Lee Han's expression wasn't exactly bright either.
'...This is bad.'
Cracks had begun forming along the hilt of his wooden sword.
Lee Han cursed himself.
'Still can't control my mana properly...!'
Blowing excessive mana into each strike had reduced his wooden sword to this state.
He had only himself to blame.
Unaware of Lee Han's inner turmoil, Labda gritted his teeth and prepared for a final counterattack.
It was a technique still somewhat difficult for Labda to fully execute, but to overturn this situation...
"Grahh!"
With a roar, Labda swung his sword. Sensing something different from before, Lee Han eyed him warily.
'Something's changed!'
When their swords clashed, a powerful suction force disrupted the mana imbued in Lee Han's blade.
And then... nothing happened.
"?"
"Ghk!"
Blood trickled from Labda's nose as he struggled to hold his sword after the collision.
It was due to excessive mana usage.
'I... can't let go...'
Normally, he should have released his grip.
But his insufficient skill had numbed his hand, leaving him unable to drop his sword.
Even worse, the technique he had unleashed was continuously draining Labda's mana through the sword.
'If this continues...'
Labda's eyes darkened.
Crack!
In that moment, both Lee Han's and Labda's wooden swords shattered simultaneously. Labda gasped heavily and collapsed backward.
"Hahk... Hahhk..."
"......"
Lee Han clicked his tongue in frustration.
'I had him.'
To end in a draw because he couldn't control his mana—after having the match in his grasp.
It couldn't be helped but to feel regretful.
'No. I should be grateful even for a draw.'
Lee Han changed his mindset.
Had he not used his wits at the last moment to break his opponent's sword along with his own, Lee Han's sword might have shattered first.
"Wo... Wardanaz."
"?"
"Thank you."
"???"
"You... you broke your own sword for my sake."
"?????"
Lee Han didn't understand.
What was his opponent even saying now?
'He didn't even use his family's swordsmanship earlier—is he not feeling well?'
Lee Han wondered if Labda had overexerted himself fighting Durgyu and gotten injured.
That was how absurd the statement sounded.
"Labda! Are you alright?!"
"Don't worry! You fought really well! It was just bad luck ending in a draw, but..."
"It's fine. And this match... I lost."
"?!?"
Labda explained to the shocked squires what had happened.
Once the explanation ended, the squires stared at Lee Han with wide-eyed astonishment.
Clap, clap-clap, clap-clap-clap—
Without anyone leading, they began applauding one by one.
Even the White Tiger Tower students, sensing the mood, joined in the applause.
Professor Ingoldel clapped. Bikelintz clapped.
Lee Han thought to himself:
'Once I graduate, I'm never associating with these knightly folks again.'