Chapter 28: Preparation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 28: Preparation (3)
A day at the academy begins with a vigorous run.
Instructor Lee Won-bin’s morning assembly training—designed to turn every cadet bald from stress—had long since become routine.
I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but I had moved beyond simply blending into the academy; I was now at a point where I actually enjoyed life here.
“One, two, three, four! Your voices are too quiet! Again!”
““““Yes, sir!””””
The cadets shouted their responses and cadences with spirited energy. Looking at them now, it seemed no different from any other morning training session.
Chloe was sitting on a chair placed at the edge of the training grounds.
She had her steel crutches propped up beside her and gestured toward me. I responded with a faint wave before taking my place at the rear of the formation.
The man leading the cadets from the front, blowing his whistle, slowed his pace and pulled up beside me.
“Your feet are slow. Did you injure your legs during the exam as well?”
“No, sir.”
He wore a green tracksuit with three white stripes running down the sides. On anyone else, such an outfit would look ridiculous, but on this man, it looked as stylish as high-end functional sportswear.
I could see the bulging muscle fibers beneath the fabric. His body was ideally balanced, to a degree that was hard to believe for an old man with hair turned completely white.
Furthermore, he was a handsome elder with impeccable, sharp features. He must have broken countless hearts in his youth.
Sword Emperor Siegfried von Nibelung.
Half a century ago, he achieved distinguished feats in the subjugation of the 4th Corps Commander, Basmon, and is considered humanity’s strongest asset.
If there were anyone comparable to him in terms of martial prowess, it would perhaps be the Spear Saint, Richard de Myura.
However, since the Spear Saint was someone whose stats were entirely focused on strength, some believed he might have the upper hand in raw physical power, but most people sided with the Sword Emperor.
In the latter half of Miracle Blessing M, during the 2nd Human-Demon War, the Sword Emperor is the man destined to inherit the title of Sword Saint—a title that was once the unique epithet of Aaron Nibelung, the right hand of the Hero of the Origin and the first Sword Saint.
Not only that, but he is a character whose importance grows exponentially from the middle of the story onward as he becomes Leon’s sword master.
‘The Sword Saint.’
As far as I knew, even Leon von Reinhardt, who was draped in protagonist buffs by the end, never managed to inherit the title of Sword Saint.
The community was once flooded with posts from users trying to get those two brilliant characters attached to their nicknames.
However, there wasn't a single post claiming success in obtaining the title. One user even captured and uploaded a response they received after inquiring with the game company, and the sentence was quite a sight.
『The acquisition of that title by the protagonist, Leon von Reinhardt, is designed to be systemically "impossible." We apologize for any inconvenience.』
Siegfried, the next Sword Saint.
Whenever he gripped a sword hilt, everyone looked up at him with eyes full of awe. He was a veteran swordsman who had reached a realm that was the very embodiment of a man’s romance.
…But.
This Sword Emperor, the object of everyone’s envy, was currently matching his pace with mine, a mere academy cadet. The metal whistle hanging from his neck jingled like a bell.
To put this situation into perspective, it was like jogging side-by-side with a four-star general, the Army Chief of Staff—no, the actual feeling was even more intense than that.
If you were a veteran who had completed military service, it was a situation so chilling it would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
And what about me, the one experiencing it firsthand? Even if I hadn't gone to the military, it would be one thing, but as someone who had completed his full service, this was incredibly awkward.
The pressure was so great I couldn't even keep my breathing steady. Sweat poured from my crown and ran down my cheeks.
Even the burly Instructor Lee Won-bin was watching us, looking anxious and walking on eggshells. The jealous glares being shot by the other cadets were an added bonus. I clicked my tongue softly and ignored their gazes.
“A warrior’s foundation comes from physical strength and endurance. No matter how talented a warrior is, they cannot display their true power without a sturdy body and fierce tenacity. It is only when these seemingly trivial training sessions form the bedrock that you can grow further. Do not try to use tricks; follow properly.”
“…Yes, sir.”
His way of speaking reeked of the "back in my day" vibe. When my voice trailed off, the Sword Emperor’s expression hardened as he barked.
“Your voice is too small! Have you not finished weaning off your mother’s milk yet!”
“I will correct it!!”
“Good.”
Satisfied with the volume, the Sword Emperor nodded and sprinted toward the front at an incredible speed.
A cloud of dust kicked up behind him. Following the shrill blast of the whistle, the cadets scurried after the Sword Emperor like a pack of mice.
He must be over seventy, yet he showed no sign of fatigue; he must be taking some excellent herbal medicine. While the Sage Medea maintained her youth by constantly manifesting her unique blessing, the Sword Emperor seemed to be flying about as if he were outrunning old age itself.
‘Is he aging backward?’
I shook my head to clear the stray thoughts.
To begin with, this man was a mysterious figure who extremely avoided exposure even in the game. Yet, strangely enough, my encounters with him were frequent.
Even high-ranking nobles would bow their heads just to try and get a word in, but he sought me out as if he were just going for a stroll in the neighborhood.
It was the same at the entrance ceremony, and the same a few days ago.
Not only did he visit me every single time I was hospitalized, but now he had even taken the position of co-lead instructor for the Wolf Class.
If I at least knew the reason, I’d feel less aggrieved, but there was no way that man, famous for his taciturnity, would tell me.
I thought I was finally returning to daily life after barely surviving a brush with death during the first exam.
But this was an anomaly among anomalies.
The main story of Miracle Blessing M, which had begun to warp bit by bit, had now veered completely off track.
“…Ha.”
I didn't want to think about complicated things… but a faint sigh escaped me due to the anxiety surging in my chest.
After the running drill ended, all the cadets sat on the dirt floor of the training ground and looked up at the Sword Emperor. Their eyes were sparkling with anticipation.
Some cadets had their cheeks twitching with excitement, while others swallowed hard, waiting for his lips to move.
There were even groups from the Dragon and Castle classes who had skipped their own lessons just to catch a glimpse of the Sword Emperor.
The Sword Emperor crossed his arms and looked at the cadets. His stern face held a trace of seasoned benevolence.
His brilliant golden eyes moved slowly as if measuring them. The cadets were screaming inwardly, praying that the Sword Emperor would look at them.
Then, the Sword Emperor spoke in an intellectual voice.
“It is important to use knowledge to face an enemy. However, in the field, one’s head usually doesn't follow as well as one thinks. A magical beast’s attack will not wait for you to have time to think.”
The Sword Emperor gave a small nod toward Instructor Lee Won-bin. Following the signal, Instructor Lee brought out various steel weapons and laid them on the ground.
There was a wide variety, from basic double-edged swords to spears, hand axes, and even bows. For some reason, a Daixo Sashimi knife was also tucked among the weapons.
“From now on, the use of personal armaments is strictly forbidden in training, excluding field practicums. Instead, pick a weapon from here that fits your hand and tame it.”
Shock spread across the faces of those listening. An armament inherited from one's family was like an alter ego to them.
The Sword Emperor’s declaration to ban such armaments must have felt like being told to give up an arm.
The cadets murmured for a moment at his words, then a male student with piercings cautiously raised his hand to ask a question.
“Sword Emperor, sir, I have a question. May I ask why you are forbidding the use of armaments? I believe it is better for the future to become accustomed to the armaments we inherited from our families.”
Despite the student’s bold question, there was no sign of offense on the Sword Emperor’s face. Rather, as if he liked the question, he smoothed the frown between his brows and spoke.
“A good question. However, the basics are important in everything. The more one relies on a high-grade armament, the more the user tends to neglect the basics and slack off on training. And they inevitably mistake the performance of the armament for their own strength.”
“I would think that all the more reason to master the use of the armament and supplement one's shortcomings.”
The student asked back in a tone full of feigned humility, sensing an opportunity. His ulterior motive to get into the Sword Emperor’s good graces was plain to see.
“No matter how good a weapon one possesses, if the user’s ability is lacking, it is merely pearls before swine. Furthermore, a master does not blame his tools. That is all.”
I flinched, feeling a sense of déjà vu. A sense of pride welled up in me, and I found myself nodding.
The student who asked the question looked like he didn't understand, but he seemed overwhelmed by the Sword Emperor’s aura and didn't ask any further questions.
“When you master the basics, the armament will naturally become an extension of your hand. Cadets who become proficient in handling ordinary weapons are highly likely to receive high evaluations in the class advancement exams at the end of the year.”
“R-Really!?”
“I guarantee it.”
When the Sword Emperor said that, the cadets’ faces were flushed with excitement. They belonged to the Wolf Class.
The strongest man in humanity had personally given his word to those who were starving for advancement.
Without exception, the cadets rushed forward and picked up tools made of iron rather than enchanted armaments.
Some tilted their heads, perhaps finding the sensation a bit unfamiliar. However, most were chuckling and testing their weapons with practiced swings.
Belatedly, I brushed off my seat and stood up. After the rush, all that was left were a trident that looked like a farming tool and two sashimi knives.
I scratched near my eyebrow with my index finger and tucked the two sashimi knives into my waist.
The Sword Emperor caught sight of that out of the corner of his eye.
‘As I thought, that man is….’
After confirming that every cadet had a weapon in hand, the Sword Emperor spoke.
“To get you accustomed to your weapons, we will conduct student pairings today.”
The atmosphere among the cadets instantly became unsettled. No matter how much they aimed for realism, sparring with cold blades outside of a subspace was bound to be daunting.
“You all entered the academy to grow into respectable soldiers, carrying on the will of the Hero of the Origin, Balor Joaquin. You cannot grow into a true warrior without accompanying elements of danger.”
As if he had anticipated the reaction, the Sword Emperor continued calmly with his arms crossed.
“However, if you blindly point swords at each other, your heads will roll in unison. Therefore, before the pairing, I will personally demonstrate a sparring session.”
“Whoa, we get to see the Sword Emperor’s sword?”
“Crazy, I’ve only seen it on Neotube, but to see it in person!”
“Daaaamn, Sword Emperor! I knew I could count on you!”
The male students whistled and cheered. The commotion was loud enough to be heard outside the training grounds.
“Quiet, quiet! Everyone, sit down!”
Instructor Lee Won-bin, sweating profusely, quieted the male students. However, it was not enough to dampen the heated passion of youth. Lee Won-bin sighed, covering either his forehead or the top of his head with his hand.
I wanted to offer him a word of comfort. It must be hard enough leading the class with the Sword Emperor, but now he even had to play the role of the Sword Emperor’s opponent for the demonstration.
Lee Won-bin’s hair seemed especially sparse today. I felt sorry for him in many ways.
Lee Won-bin hesitantly gripped a double-edged axe. But then, the Sword Emperor gestured for him to step back.
Lee Won-bin tilted his head with a dubious expression. Then, the Sword Emperor turned his gaze toward the cadets.
Soon, his eyes stopped on me.
“Cadet Kang Geomma, step forward.”
That single sentence came out of the Sword Emperor’s mouth.
Immediately, multiple gazes focused on me.
…Damn it.