Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Thank You, Senior (2)
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[You have taken hold of the Broad Dao of the 'Swordsman Who Deflects Anything.']
Material: Steel
Quality: Rare
Owner: Yuri (4-Star)
Memory Preservation Rate: Medium
Note: This was the sword of a swordsman who could deflect any attack—arrows, fists, blades, or anything aimed at her body—in whatever direction she desired. While wielding this sword, you might find it a bit easier to deflect attacks yourself.
[Your current swordsmanship level is 3-Star. Memory synchronization rate adjusted to 'Standard.']
[Training is required!]
Ban smiled. It seemed like the perfect sword for him right now.
He had realized it during his fight with Shade. To stand a chance against Shade, Ban needed to reach the 3-Star realm, where he could handle Qi naturally.
Some might call it obvious. A swordsman who wields Qi versus one who doesn't—when one wins, it has to be the former.
But Ban was someone who had defied that "obvious" truth. He had beaten Hazelrek, who handled Qi better than him, and withstood Yeoryeong's barrage of strikes—albeit controlled—without a single scratch.
Even so, he couldn't handle Shade.
Why?
'I'm weak on defense.'
It was inevitable. Never mind Jensen's Overhead Slash or Lucas's thrust—even the Cho Swordsmanship, which sought to cleave through shields or blades in a single stroke, was far from defensive.
Luke's swordsmanship, which excelled in every direction, was at least seasoned in defense, but honestly, that sword didn't fully embody Luke's skills. Plus, it was a sword he'd used before reaching his full strength.
Against someone cloaked in Qi and charging with killing intent, blindly parrying by reading their sword path had clear limits. It relied solely on talent and instinct.
Take Yeoryeong, for example. He'd held his own against her so far because she had no intention of killing him. If she'd unleashed her full power to cleave him in two...
Unless he possessed the Cho Clan's monstrous strength, he needed his own weapon to counter that raw force. Mastering Qi more skillfully could help, but Ban believed the foundation lay in swordsmanship.
In that sense, this sword was perfect. Ban smiled. Without even swinging it once, just gripping it made him feel like he understood what kind of swordswoman this Yuri had been.
'A beautiful sword.'
The blade. The technique. And its owner.
On top of that, the memory preservation rate was medium. Compared to the swords he'd mainly used so far, which were mostly in poor condition, this one seemed like a surprisingly solid choice.
'Shame about missing out on those 5-Star swords.'
Rarely, there were swords whose former owners had been 5-Star swordsmen. But with his current 3-Star level, they weren't efficient.
Defense first. As Ban reached for the Broad Dao with that thought—
"Nice view, huh?"
A voice came from behind. Ban leaped back in shock, kicking off the ground. A brown-haired man with a gentle, affable face was looking at him.
'...I didn't sense him at all.'
Even focused on the sword, he should have noticed someone right behind him.
If the man had wanted, he could have cut him down at any moment. No excuses about being careless. As Ban tensed and stared, the man shook his head.
"No need to tense up. It's Hay. Second-year soon. Nice to meet you."
"Ah, you're a senior. I'm Ban. First-year this year."
"No need to introduce yourself. Not just in the Knight Department—pretty much every student at the academy knows your face and name. So, what do you think? Of these swords."
"They're amazing. I never imagined there'd be this many different kinds..."
"Right? That's because these are all swords our graduates carried throughout their school days."
Hay spoke with a peculiar expression.
"It's tradition. No idea how it started, but every knight trainee leaves the sword they used here."
"...So it's fine if I borrow one?"
"Sure, if you want. Just don't sell it. But why a Broad Dao? They're not exactly common."
"I want to get used to all kinds of swords."
It might have been a flimsy excuse, but Hay didn't seem suspicious. If anything, he grinned like he'd been waiting for those words.
"Oh yeah? I see. That's the spirit. Want to spar with me, then?"
"Spar?"
"It'll be fun. You're this year's champion, after all. Makes sense—I was last year's."
Ban's eyes lit up at that. Hay grinned back as Ban unconsciously gripped the Broad Dao tighter. Yeah. A true swordsman had to feel their blood pumping at a time like this.
"Let's see what you've got, underclassman."
"...I'll learn from you."
Ban gripped his sword. Last year's champion meant at least Shade-level skill. Maybe more, considering a year of academy training...
Could he win?
No—how far could his swordsmanship take him against someone who'd survived a year in the Citadel Academy, a den of monsters?
A stiff tension, half excitement, half nerves, coursed through his veins. Ban quietly glared at Hay, who held a one-handed sword while clasping his left hand behind his back.
Arrogance? Or just his stance? Either way, Ban couldn't bring himself to charge recklessly.
Hay watched Ban, smile never fading, and spoke in a soft tone.
"Impressive. Classes haven't even started, and you're already thinking of training. Most would slack off after enrolling."
"...I'm not much for playing around."
"So think of this as some early tutoring from me."
"Tutoring in what?"
Ban swallowed hard. By now, other students were gathering, eyes gleaming with interest. It was understandable—Ban was more famous than most great clan heirs among the freshmen.
They said his potential rivaled the academy's best. Maybe a commoner would finally claim the top spot after so long.
Ban sensed this fight would heavily influence his academy life. Time to show his true strength. He couldn't afford to embarrass himself.
Hay spoke.
"The level of the academy you'll attend."
"...I'll learn from you."
The words barely left his mouth before Ban charged. He wouldn't yield the first move. Hay clearly held the skill advantage.
He held nothing back. He'd already revealed everything in the tournament, and his ability meant his arsenal would only grow.
Jensen's Overhead Slash. Oben's thrust. Cho Swordsmanship. It all unfolded in an instant. The fluid link between thrust and slash drew nods of admiration even from the upperclassmen nearby.
Anyone would be impressed. To have such skill before learning a thing at the academy.
Yet Ban's sword didn't connect.
He couldn't comprehend it. It felt like a sure hit, no escape possible—yet when he blinked, Hay was already out of reach.
He'd been channeling Qi for ages. At a speed ordinary people couldn't follow with their eyes. Most freshmen would black out without even registering the blade.
Still, Hay was relaxed.
"Excellent."
A brief compliment.
"But not enough."
Followed by a sigh.
Before Ban could bristle at the pity in Hay's eyes, his hairs stood on end. Something was coming. Something terrifying, unimaginable.
Then the world went dark.
§
When Ban came to, the first thing he saw was Yeoryeong's pitying face. She was crouched by his head, looking down at him. Ban stared blankly and mumbled.
"...What?"
"What do you think? You lost. Cleanly. The others had a good laugh while you were out."
"I lost? Me?"
Ban looked dumbfounded. He didn't deny the defeat, but he hadn't even sensed Hay attacking. One moment, he was facing Hay; the next, the sky—and Yeoryeong's face like the moon beside it.
"Tch, don't lie there in our clan uniform. Get up. Now."
"Hay... senior?"
"Gone. Ages ago. You gonna stay down?"
Yeoryeong offered her hand. Ban took it and stood. Only then did he notice the other students snickering at him.
"...Did I look like a total idiot?"
"Nah, just weak."
"Oh."
"You should pick your opponents better. But don't sweat it. The gap between second- and first-years is huge. And... I heard Hay scares off even other great clan guys."
"More than Senior Urong...?"
Don't be ridiculous. My brother's the strongest in the world.
So rational usually, yet classic Cho Clan supremacist when it counted. Ban grabbed Yuri's fallen Broad Dao and sighed.
'...He's farther than I thought.'
He hadn't expected to win, but this one-sided beatdown was another story.
"Why challenge a senior before classes even start? Thought you could win?"
"No, I just... wanted to fight."
"No chance. Even I struggle. Train hard. You're still a scrub."
"...Fair enough."
The confidence from his tournament win deflated overnight. Only now did he truly grasp that this academy gathered geniuses.
And how meaningful a year here would be.
'...What kind of classes make them that strong?'
He couldn't wait for the new year to start.
But until then, training.
That day, Ban didn't let go of the Broad Dao until nightfall. Even after dark, it stayed in his arms.
Yuri's swordsmanship, deflecting everything, stood at the opposite pole from everything he'd learned. Normally, adapting would be impossible.
But he wasn't normal.
Just holding Yuri's sword let him peer into her life. Empathize. Understand. Things that would take hundreds, thousands of words... transmitted in a single swing.
The 'medium' memory preservation was an overwhelming advantage in her techniques. Syncing with her memories, Ban didn't just see how she parried—he read the swordsmanship of her opponents too.
How to respond to their styles.
How to deflect overwhelming power.
When to dodge, when to counter.
Some were even Cho Clan swordsmen.
She didn't always win. She got cut plenty when she failed to deflect. But those failures became Ban's medicine.
New year approaching.
"...Annoying."
Yeoryeong grumbled after sparring with him for a while.
The Cho Clan sword—once just frantically parried—
Ban could now deflect it.