Academy Faction (3)
The next day.
I stood beside Yurek.
The old swordmaster glanced over with a subtle nod.
"Why don't you just grab a chair and sit down like everyone else? You're on equal footing with me, after all."
"Pardon?"
"You kids all call him Professor Kirian. While he's refining the Infinite Tool Sword, he's no different from me. Heh heh heh!"
"……."
It had come completely out of left field when the children asked if they could continue refining my version of the Infinite Tool Sword.
And 'Lazy Yurek's' response had been even more unexpected.
"Well, no reason not to. In fact, I'd love if Kirian stuck around tomorrow to keep tossing out ideas. What do you say, Kirian? Up for it?"
They meant to build on the parts I'd fixed.
In other words, the remaining three children would use their own opportunities to join the refinement of the Infinite Tool Sword.
And Yurek declared he'd oversee it with me at his side.
I was exhausted, but there was no reason to refuse.
'This is my chance to tweak the Infinite Tool Sword to my exact tastes.'
I agreed immediately.
Only then did I notice the children's faces—and I was a bit taken aback.
Expressions brimming with an inexplicable fervor.
"Thanks, Kirian!"
"Let's climb together!"
"Honestly, I didn't expect you to care about us like this. I've got a new respect for you, Kirian."
What on earth were they talking about?
I was swept along in a daze, and only later did Hierniorn fill me in on the full story.
⟨Hierniorn⟩
[Those children think you stepped up to refine the Infinite Tool Sword as a sacrifice for the faction and for them.]
What? A sacrifice? Why?
[Isn't that the result? If you'd chosen the Thousand Illusion Martial Sword that only you know and received guidance on it, you'd have grown alone... But by picking the Infinite Tool Sword everyone knows, now we can all grow together.]
No, I went with the Infinite Tool Sword because the Thousand Illusion Martial Sword didn't need fixing.
[Well, whatever your intent, that's the outcome. You've earned quite the misunderstanding, but it's not a bad thing.]
A sacrifice?
I scratched the side of my head at the absurdity and stood beside Yurek.
I wasn't sure if this was okay.
Anyway, as things dragged on haphazardly, Libiel's turn began—
"What are you doing? No, turn to the left. Relax your elbow!"
"Oh, right. Like this?"
"Sharper! Wider stance! Where's that momentum to overwhelm your opponent? Keep your eyes open."
"Ugh... Professor Kirian is scary..."
Swordsmanship instruction and refinement kicked off simultaneously.
It looked like we'd be in this training hall until the sun went down.
Word that Lazy Yurek was revising Eternalism's foundational swordsmanship spread through the faction like wildfire.
That it was at Kirian's request, with all the first-years pitching in, followed suit.
Most just scoffed.
"Isn't Eternalism's swordsmanship hopeless from the start?"
"Would've been better if they'd kept the Holy Hero's techniques intact."
"What a waste of time..."
But a few were different.
Leonir and Bastion, crossing blades in the training grounds, for instance.
"What do you think, Leonir?"
"About what?"
"You're going to pretend you don't know?"
"Be specific, Bastion."
Clang!
Leonir's heavy sword sent Bastion flying back.
They paused to catch their breath and thought of Kirian.
"Having the young master entrust the Infinite Tool Sword to Professor Yurek strikes me as a bold gamble."
"Does it? Why?"
"Swordsmanship is like a living creature. Tamper with one part, and it risks clashing with the rest. Botch it, and the whole thing falls apart."
"Hmm."
Leonir nodded lightly.
It was true enough.
A half-baked fix was worse than none.
That was why the Infinite Tool Sword had gone unchanged through Eternalism's long history.
To revise it properly meant overhauling everything—and no one with the talent had stepped up.
This time was no different.
"A sloppy patch job could backfire. And since Professor Yurek won't linger in Eternalism, the final product's quality is anyone's guess."
"They only called him in briefly this time?"
"Yes. He was teaching the crown prince of Silverrat Kingdom, but he came at the family head's summons for just a few days."
Bastion worried that Yurek tinkering with the Infinite Tool Sword might even be dangerous.
But Leonir thought it over and shook his head.
"Somehow, I doubt those two will half-ass it."
"Those two?"
"Professor Yurek and Kirian. They're refining it together. Didn't you know?"
"……?"
Bastion's eyes widened at Leonir's counterquestion.
He lowered his sword with a sigh.
"When did you scope it out?"
"Huh? What?"
"Playing dumb again. No fun."
"Heh heh heh..."
Leonir chuckled playfully.
In that instant, he kicked off the ground and charged.
He exploited Bastion's momentary lapse perfectly.
Claaang!
A resounding clash of metal—and he disarmed the Discipline Captain's greatsword.
It was the Ghost Shadow Bloom technique he'd taught Kirian recently.
Learned from Habara Wong and practiced daily without fail, executed with fluid perfection.
But there was a twinge of regret.
'Kirian's version felt even smoother, somehow.'
Jealousy of his adoptive son's talent would be ridiculous.
Leonir had recognized Kirian's extraordinary gifts earlier than anyone.
And he knew Professor Yurek's quirks well.
"I win."
"As always, congratulations."
"Sarcastic much?"
Leonir smirked, extending his mana to retrieve Bastion's sword.
The victor's leisure in handing it back.
"No need to rush. Let's watch and see."
"You sure that's wise?"
"Yeah. Kirian's sharper than we give him credit for. And..."
An old memory surfaced.
The time 'Lazy Yurek' revealed his true nature and tried to recruit Leonir.
"Yurek won't slack off either. Not if he knows what's good for him."
Three days flew by in a flash.
The refinement progress sat at exactly ninety percent.
Libiel, Mihaden, and Lorang had all burned their opportunities on improving the Infinite Tool Sword—
"Professor Yurek, could you take a look at my swordsmanship too? I'm really into it."
Even sixth-year Obri stepped up last, clinging to Yurek's pant leg and throwing a tantrum.
All to nudge the Infinite Tool Sword's completion a bit higher.
By now, everyone knew its true value.
But Lazy Yurek lived up to his name.
"Sorry, can't do it. I've got dinner with Rohbark before I head out—no time left. Shame for me too."
Half a day more, and the refined Infinite Tool Sword would be complete.
He flatly refused, claiming no more time.
Hierniorn, watching, clicked his tongue.
⟨Hierniorn⟩
[What a heartless one. After three days of toil together. Doesn't even want to see the finished product?]
It had been quite the ordeal.
Yurek, lounging in his chair gesturing vaguely, might disagree—but I'd handled correcting the children's shaky Infinite Tool Sword forms too.
It hadn't been a vacation, and I wanted to see the final version.
But no point begging Yurek.
The refined Infinite Tool Sword was already fully formed in my mind anyway.
"Thank you for your hard work, Professor."
So I bid farewell without a hint of regret.
Yurek turned, arching a brow.
"I'm leaving the Infinite Tool Sword unfinished, and you're not bummed at all? Kirian?"
"……I am."
"Liar."
I flashed a grin, and Yurek chuckled before turning away.
He left one parting shot.
"Kirian the Professor will handle the last ten percent. It'll be as good as if I'd done it myself—so trust and follow him. Got it?"
"……!"
"No reply? Because he's not 'Professor' anymore?"
"Yes, Professor!"
The children's resounding response.
Eyes sparkling with overwhelming expectation fixed on me.
Yurek, who'd just rechristened me professor, snickered and waved.
"See you around, Kirian."
"Safe travels, Professor."
After lunch, I wrapped up the Infinite Tool Sword refinements and taught the children.
Even Obri, who seemed disinterested in swordsmanship, absorbed it intently.
Everyone threw themselves into practicing in the training hall.
"Not like that—here, twist outward?"
"Right. Use the rotation to whip it around."
"Whoa, it's faster!"
"……."
A strange feeling washed over me.
Watching the children drill the swordsmanship I'd devised.
An unfamiliar emotion bubbled up.
⟨Hierniorn⟩
[Heartwarming, isn't it? That's the thrill of raising disciples, Tiberian.]
Disciples? It's not like that.
[Kekeke! Such a stubborn one. You'll get it someday.]
Get what?
I ignored the cackling Hierniorn and turned away.
I reunited with Yurek—who'd said "see you"—at dawn that day.
The moment I entered my dorm, the shadow asserted its presence, rippling by the window.
The other children were still in the training hall, practicing the refined Infinite Tool Sword.
"……."
I hung my outer coat on the rack, gripped Nirvana's hilt, and turned.
Lips split in a grin from the dark silhouette, a voice emerged.
"It's me, Yurek."
"I know."
"Oh ho, were you waiting for me? You knew my true nature?"
"……."
Lazy Yurek.
From our first meeting, I'd sensed he wasn't human.
My automatically activated Transcendental Eye had caught the unnatural flow of nearby mana particles.
No human could forcibly seize ambient mana and absorb it through their skin.
"You possess a dragonkin's heart, don't you?"
"Right. Not surprised? Well, being from the Kirchheis family, you've probably seen dragonkin before."
No, this was my first.
'Dragonkin.'
Monsters who grafted a young dragon's heart into their chest for immense power.
I'd guessed it from their close ties to the Kirchheis family.
Composing myself, I spoke.
"You said you had no time during the day—what brings you here?"
"Come with me."
"Pardon?"
"I'll give you a dragon's heart. You'll grow several times stronger in an instant. Near-immortal vitality too."
"……."
Become a dragonkin?
In my past life, I might've jumped at it.
Power at any cost, back then.
But now was different.
I still craved strength, but the type and method mattered.
I couldn't end up like Ulfrik.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'll pass."
"Why?"
"I've heard dragon hearts outgrow their hosts over time, requiring periodic replacements. Each time, you must reforge your Mana Heart... Fail to find a new one, and your chest explodes in agony."
"……."
"Seems the risks outweigh the gains to me."
Maybe a bit cheeky.
But Yurek chuckled like before and nodded.
"Rohbark's grandson through and through. Gutsy. Even without knowing you're under protection."
"……?"
"Whatever. Just testing you. Truth is, I came to give you this. Take it."
Something flew from the shadow.
I caught a glass vial of pitch-black potion.
"What's this?"
"Dragon's Tear."
"……!"
"Call it a bribe. For down the line."