The Academy Faction (1)

Kirchheis Castle's family head office.

A new report was placed atop the several maps spread across the table.

Rohbark skimmed it quickly and let out a hollow laugh.

"Good lord. Unbelievable... Leonir actually taught his cultivation method to Kirian?"

It sounded like anger at first glance, but there was an undercurrent of subtle intrigue ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in his voice.

Bastion picked up on it but showed no sign, merely bowing his head.

"Yes, family head. That's what we've been informed."

"And there were no issues at all?"

"Fortunately, yes. Young Master Kirian is said to have mastered it in an instant."

"Incredible. Beyond belief."

Rohbark's eyes sharpened.

He slowly crossed the office to the bookshelf and pulled out a single volume.

Memories of old rivals, stored via the Record spell.

The section marked 'Habara Wong' lay open.

"That cultivation method is extremely dangerous. Something no ordinary child could even attempt."

"I believe it's thanks to Sir Leonir's devoted instruction."

"Ha! Who are you trying to fool with that nonsense? Do you think devoting yourself to teaching and learning is enough to master that man's technique? From no less than 'Habara Wong'?"

Bastion fell silent for a moment.

In truth, Rohbark wasn't wrong in the slightest.

—The Desert Lion, Habara Wong.

He had been one of the previous generation's Eight Great Seats and the empire's top knight.

His free-spirited nature, impossible to predict, had kept him from holding the position long.

But his qi cultivation method, which tapped into the human unconscious, was no joke—something not just anyone could handle.

Talent was one thing, but above all, it demanded an iron will.

Rohbark chuckled dryly.

"At this rate, we could say that man's swordsmanship belongs to our family now."

The family head's gaze skimmed the next page.

It was densely packed with the lion's brilliant array of sword techniques.

Techniques now etched into Leonir's body and mind.

Swords once aimed at House Kirchheis.

"Absurd, but amusing."

Habara had long refused to take Rohbark's direct disciple.

Back when he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was disguised as an ordinary professor at the Imperial University, hiding his true name.

Rohbark had tracked him down and successfully foisted Leonir upon him by force. Leonir proved his talent and became Habara's direct disciple.

Now Kirian had inherited it.

The lion's swordsmanship had effectively become House Kirchheis's own.

"But if Kirian gets too absorbed in swordsmanship because of this, that'll be a problem."

"Family head."

Bastion spoke up at Rohbark's muttered words, his brows slightly furrowed.

"If I may be so bold as your former drill instructor, Young Master Kirian has as much talent for swordsmanship as he does for magic. It might not be a bad idea to hold some expectations there..."

It was something he'd sensed firsthand while training Kirian.

But the old family head laughed sharply.

"More nonsense. Why not just say he's Allmaster material while you're at it? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He won't have enough time focusing on just magic—swordsmanship too? Tsk!"

"..."

Bastion had no reply.

It was the perspective of a grand mage who had long surpassed the Noble Wall.

But letting Kirian's sword talent go to waste would be a shame.

Rohbark stared at his subordinate for a long moment, then chuckled and fell into thought.

The office air grew heavy.

"Fine, then. If you're so insistent, why not summon 'that guy' to evaluate Kirian's sword talent?"

"Pardon?"

Kirian's aptitudes had already been tested before.

Asena Mazel, who had vanished amid imperial pursuit.

She had used Probing Insight herself and reported it.

The 'that guy' Rohbark meant now was someone entirely different.

"It'll be a growth opportunity for those passionate about swordsmanship too."

"You don't mean the 'Lazy Yurek,' do you?"

"That's right, that slovenly fellow."

Rohbark slid the book back into the shelf and continued.

"It was Yurek's judgment that led me to entrust Leonir to Habara. When it comes to instructing swordsmanship, isn't he the best?"

The continent's foremost sword instructor.

Known as 'Lazy Yurek.'

Bastion, who knew his true nature, could only gape in shock.

"Family head, please reconsider. He's far too dangerous."

"Ha! Name one expert who's not."

Rohbark replied nonchalantly.

He already knew what would happen.

"If Kirian's talent is genuine, the guy will try to win him over. Just like he did with Leonir."

"...If that's all he tries, we'll be fortunate."

What if he tried to kidnap Kirian?

Rohbark chuckled at Bastion's worried sigh.

The family head walked to the window and gazed outside.

Summer rain began to fall over the vast lands.

"Contact Yurek. Offer him suitable compensation."

"Understood."

"I'm truly curious what evaluation he'll give Kirian—and how he'll instruct him."

He meant it.

If the boy had as much talent for swordsmanship as magic...

'He'd truly be Allmaster material.'

The old family head chuckled and shook his head.

Lightning flashed amid the pouring rain.

Professor Schud Rapens had summoned us early that morning.

The kids gathered in the classroom, rubbing sleepy eyes and munching on bread from the diligent head chef.

"Libiel, the assignment from yesterday—did you finish it?"

"Lorang, it's not 'did you finish,' it's 'did you do it?' Nope, still not. It was too hard."

"Then let's tackle it together. Strength in numbers!"

"Oh, yeah? Where'd you get to?"

"You kids quiet down! Shut up and eat your bread!"

"Mihaden, idiot? You gotta open your mouth to eat bread."

A bunch of noisy brats, every one of them.

I'd finished my share, propped my chin on my hand, lost in other thoughts.

After winning my bet with Leonir.

I'd gone to Elman Bykers and said:

"I want to start researching the Seven Great ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dilemmas, Archmage."

The first step, at last.

The seven problems handed down through House Kirchheis.

Unsolved by anyone but Ulfrik Kirchheis, 500 years ago.

When I brought it up, Elman Bykers nodded with a kindly smile.

"Ho ho, no need to rush as a first-year... but starting early never hurts. Here you go."

The dilemmas themselves were simple enough to fit on one sheet.

Like this.

Just glancing at them made my head spin.

Whether they could even be solved.

Or if they were mere symbolic magical pipe dreams.

No one knew.

But the fates of those who tackled them recklessly were infamous across the continent.

An ant pit devouring mages.

If Ulfrik hadn't solved one, it would've been worse—with six still unsolved.

But Elman Bykers just laughed it off.

"Just be careful. Do experiments only after theory verification. Most accidents were from carelessness."

Didn't those screaming mages who met grim ends take care?

Or was Elman a bit mad, like all dilemma researchers?

Anyway, he was tackling 'Wrath's Dilemma.'

Just as perilous—one slip and you'd turn into a raving lunatic.

Was that even possible?

Using human wrath as an energy source was established magic.

But refining it into fuel? No method existed.

And it naturally intertwined with 'amnesia' embedded in bio-energy for proper control.

Other ways fell short, making wrath energy notoriously tricky.

"So, which dilemma will you focus on? I'd recommend 'Lust' or 'Envy'—they have the most recent data."

I said I wasn't sure yet.

I'd decide after reviewing them one by one.

I just chuckled at Hierniorn's words.

Ulfrik was a pioneer, sure. 'Yeah, a pioneer of depravity. Who else ever thought to inherit the Demon King's power? Right? Truly groundbreaking.'

The phoenix deflated, at a loss for words.

Praise Ulfrik in front of me, and this is what happens. 'Which dilemma to pick...'

I was deep in that contemplation.

That's when Professor Rapens opened the classroom door.

His face was oddly flushed.

"Everyone, pay attention."

An elderly man followed the professor in.

Tanned face and sturdy build that belied his age.

"For the next week, this visiting professor will guide and evaluate your swordsmanship."

Everyone tilted their heads at Rapens's introduction.

Visiting professor?

The man on the podium grinned at us and tossed out a line.

"Name's Yurek. Take care of me for the week."

"...!"

A strange silence blanketed the room.

The three kids—excluding me—were blinking like mad.

"Th-the Boring Yurek...!"

"Not Boring, Lazy! Lorang!"

"Wasn't he an external instructor at the Extremism faction...?"

I knew the name too.

Sword instructor from the Human Empire.

His own skills were top-notch, but his teaching drew money like a rake.

'Oh?'

But why were the mana particles moving like that?

I quietly watched the podium, and my eyes met Yurek's.

He crossed his arms and grinned.

"Yeah, Lazy Yurek—that's me. Worked at Extremism until a few years ago, Explosionism and Continuum too..."

He paused, then lifted his head slightly.

The old sword fox's eyes reflected the mansion's scenery.

"Eternalism's a first for me. Eternal Mansion—only heard rumors. Pretty impressive, huh?"

Why had Yurek, who only frequented major factions, come here?

He got straight to it.

"Alright, starting today, I'll bump your swordsmanship up a notch each."

"...!"

"First up: Kirian Kirchheis. Let's see your sword."