Chapter 19: What on Earth Is the Mind’s Eye? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: What on Earth Is the Mind’s Eye? (2)
What on earth was the Mind’s Eye?
Whenever Jin returned from training with Luna, his mind was invariably filled with that single question. Pondering a problem without an answer for too long naturally led to headaches and a stifling feeling in his chest.
His struggle continued into the next day.
Luna’s training had to have some kind of effect. A ‘genius among geniuses’ like her wouldn't put him through such awkward exercises for nothing.
Ugh, my body feels even heavier because I spent all night thinking about the Mind’s Eye. I should work up a good sweat during the spars to clear my head.
Had Luna performed the same training when she was fourteen? While heading to Garon’s training ground, Jin thought about his eldest sister’s past.
Since there was a nineteen-year age gap between them, he hadn't been able to witness her growth firsthand. However, he had heard plenty of rumors about her legendary, stormy adolescence.
Well, regardless, my sister is making me do this because she believes I can handle it.
Seven in the morning.
The cadets were gathering at the training ground one by one. Since ‘practice spars’ were scheduled for today, a strange tension hung in the air.
Sparring results accounted for a significant portion of the criteria used to evaluate Guardian Knight cadets. Good grades were a direct path toward becoming a Guardian Knight with a high salary and special treatment. The cadets had no choice but to be on edge.
The atmosphere is fierce. Everyone looks like they’re ready to half-kill their opponent. But Vellop is… hah.
Jin shifted his gaze toward Vellop, who was crouching in a corner.
True to form, the timid boy was incessantly glancing around with anxious eyes. He looked like an herbivore searching for a place to hide from predators.
What exactly is his problem? No, how did he even pass the Guardian Knight cadet exam with a personality like that?
Since he had passed the exam, Vellop must have been considered a genius in the outside world. Jin found it difficult to understand why such a person was so timid.
Well… maybe he thought he was a genius until he got here, saw so many people better than him, and lost his confidence. Or maybe he was just born that way…
Jin shook his head vigorously to clear his thoughts.
My head is already full enough with Luna’s puzzle. I’m going to make sure that guy doesn't get expelled anyway, so I should stop worrying about him.
As soon as Garon arrived at the training ground, the cadets snapped into ranks. After a brief session of calisthenics and warm-ups, Garon began announcing the order and schedule for the spars.
“Today, everyone will spar three times! You will rotate partners for each match. Then, the ten best performers among the winners will face Young Lord Jin one by one.”
“Yes, Instructor!”
Currently, no cadet in Garon’s training class could defeat Jin. Therefore, Jin faced multiple opponents in this manner whenever there were spars.
“Garon, when will I be promoted to the Intermediate Training Class?”
From the Intermediate Training Class onward, the cadets were taught directly by a Runcandel Elder rather than a guest instructor like Garon. There was also a massive gap in skill compared to the Beginner Class, starting with the fact that the use of live blades and Aura was permitted during spars.
Jin felt it was about time he moved up.
“Madam Rosa mentioned that if the Young Lord defeats all ten opponents today, she would approve you moving up early next year.”
“Is that so?”
He spoke as if it were no big deal, but facing ten Runcandel Guardian Knight cadets—and the top ten winners of the day at that—was no easy feat, even for Jin. These ten were on a completely different level from the cadets in the swordsmanship academies of other kingdoms or mercenary training groups.
“Eddington, Mark! You two are first. Get ready!”
Two boys with eyes burning with fighting spirit stood facing each other in the center of the training ground. As the spar began at Garon’s command, Jin carefully observed their movements.
As expected, they’re all quite skilled.
Their movements were fluid yet powerful. Even amidst the tension, they showed composure in calculating their moves. They were Runcandel cadets for a reason.
Swish, whoosh!
Though they were using wooden swords, the sound of them cutting through the air was sharp. Even without a blade, a clean hit would likely shatter the skull of an ordinary person in an instant.
“Gah!”
The wooden sword of the boy named Eddington struck his opponent’s flank. With a sickening thwack and the sound of ribs snapping, Mark collapsed, his body trembling.
The Runcandel medical team, waiting on one side of the training ground, loaded Mark onto a stretcher.
This was how the spars went. They only ended when an opponent was completely suppressed or rendered incapable of combat.
“Winner, Eddington. Rest over there and wait. Next, Fields and Sierra…”
Nine spars passed in that manner. The tenth match was between Vellop and a girl named Mesa Milkano.
Naturally, Jin watched Vellop’s spar intently.
Vellop is stuck on the defensive again today.
Mesa, on the other hand, was pressuring Vellop like a madwoman. Since she was a top-tier talent in the training class, this was a natural outcome. It was also a familiar sight, as this wasn't the first time Jin had seen Vellop spar.
“Attack me, Vellop Schmitz! Are you just going to keep running away like a coward?” Mesa shouted, swinging her wooden sword.
Suddenly, Jin felt something.
He realized that Vellop’s movements were ‘better than expected’… and that this realization was a result of his own perception having sharpened.
Vellop, you little rascal. You’re not just being pushed back; you’re going easy on her!
Jin stood up abruptly without realizing it.
It looked as though Vellop was barely blocking the attacks by a hair’s breadth, but there was a definite sense of composure hidden within his movements.
During those twenty exchanges, Vellop had at least three opportunities to counterattack. It wasn't a coincidence; he clearly created those openings himself. But why?
Why was he only dodging?
While Jin pondered this, the other cadets only seemed interested in when Mesa would finally finish Vellop off. They thought there was nothing to learn from such a one-sided spar—especially one involving him.
…Could that be it?
Jin focused once more on Vellop’s movements, from the way he dodged and blocked to his facial expressions.
He looked miserable. His fearful eyes darted around anxiously, and his tightly shut lips made it seem like he just wanted to escape.
However, his movements were superior to Mesa’s. Even if he appeared to be losing at a glance, there was a relaxed grace underlying his actions, meaning he could turn the tide whenever he wished.
The fact that he wasn't launching a counteroffensive despite this created a jarring dissonance for Jin. None of the other cadets noticed.
Where did that dissonance stem from? Jin soon found the answer.
He’s not afraid of getting hit or losing.
Humans do not feel fear in front of an opponent who is clearly weaker than them. And in Jin’s eyes, Vellop was stronger than Mesa.
Vellop is afraid he might hurt his opponent. That’s why he’s fighting so passively.
If that wasn't the case, there was no way to explain this bizarre spar.
Given his personality, he wouldn't be going easy on her out of arrogance. He just doesn't know how to handle the situation, so he ends up only defending, which makes it look like he’s being toyed with.
The moment Jin reached his conclusion, Vellop’s wooden sword was knocked from his hand and clattered to the ground. Simultaneously, Mesa lunged and struck his jaw with her knee, ending the spar.
“Finished. Winner, Mesa. Wait over there.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
After the spars continued for another two hours, it was finally Jin’s turn. Garon had selected the ten best performers from among the twenty-four winners.
“Please get ready, Young Lord.”
“Understood.”
As Jin stepped into the center of the training ground, the cadets’ eyes sharpened. To them, Jin was the youngest of the Runcandels whom they would one day serve, as well as a monster possessing terrifying skill.
Glimpsing Jin’s prowess during every spar was the highlight of training for the cadets.
“Eddington, Sierra, David, Mesa… face Young Lord Jin in that order.”
Jin gripped his wooden sword and faced his first opponent.
Hmm, so I have to defeat ten of them.
His best record so far was eight. If he could beat that by two today, he could head to the Intermediate Class with his siblings early next year.
Of course, in a real battle rather than a spar, he was confident he could handle twenty people, let alone ten. But during spars, he couldn't use Spirit Energy or magic. He had to win purely with swordsmanship. Naturally, he couldn't kill his opponents either.
Even those Tona idiots went to the Intermediate Class a year ago.
Of course, the Tona brothers hadn't been promoted before him because they were more skilled. They had only overwhelmed Jin in the very beginning; after a year, they were routinely and pathetically crushed whenever they sparred. They had been promoted after earning merits on ‘missions’ with their other siblings.
Besides, Jin had judged that there were still things he needed to learn in the Beginner Class. And today, after seeing through Vellop’s movements, he felt keenly that his judgment had been correct.
“Here I come, Young Lord Jin!”
“Right, Eddington. Come at me.”
Whoosh!
Dashing like an arrow, Eddington thrust his wooden sword at Jin. It was a surprise attack, born from the reasoning that he could never win if he didn't seize the momentum from the start.
It was a blunder.
Jin lunged toward the wooden sword aimed at his chest. Simultaneously twisting his body to the side, he stepped on Eddington’s foot and swung his own wooden sword at the boy’s neck.
But Eddington hadn't become a Runcandel cadet by luck alone. He reflexively tilted his head to dodge the attack.
“Kh!”
He didn't dodge it perfectly. Jin’s wooden sword grazed past Eddington’s ear instead of his neck.
I missed, but it’s not a bad outcome.
Eddington, having created some distance, gripped his sword again. But because of the attack that grazed his ear, his eardrum was ringing, and his sense of balance was temporarily impaired.
If this were a one-on-one spar, Jin might have waited a few seconds. But he had nine more people to face. He immediately pressured Eddington and ended the first match. Since he was just finishing off an opponent who had already lost his balance, there was no need to break bones or inflict great pain.
“……I lost, Youngest Lord.”
“Good work, Eddington Wez. Go to the medical team and have your ear checked.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Next, Sierra! Begin the spar immediately!”
As Garon shouted, the second spar followed.
“I look forward to our match, Young Lord Jin.”
“Likewise, Sierra Camaro.”
The second spar didn't end as quickly as the one with Eddington. The ten opponents Garon had chosen were arranged in order of increasing strength.