Beni's Hidden Genius and the Sword Saint Debate
Even after all the students who'd received the handouts returned to their seats, the stares directed at Beni showed no sign of letting up. Especially the princess of the Croi-Treta Union, who'd lost her spot as the center of attention—she looked half-dazed, staring at Beni with eyes full of disbelief.
Does she really have no friends around her? I gave a wry smile as I watched. For starters, reaching the 4th Circle at that age wasn't something ordinary. Princess Saki, born with royal blood and raised in an ideal environment from childhood, was a 3rd Circle mage. And me? With my reincarnation cheat, the brutal training in the 2nd Combat Military Band, the know-how from my seniors, and the baptism of real combat—I'd barely scraped into the 5th Circle. Yet here was a mere commoner, who until recently had been scraping by just feeding mana into a magic train, a 4th Circle mage? At that point alone, she was a genius far beyond the norm. And considering her menarche was less than three months ago... Even if I told the truth, they'd probably think I was lying.
Anyway, Beni had talent so extraordinary for a mage... but no one here had known about it until she revealed it right now? Even accounting for it being less than a month since enrollment, how narrow was her social circle? I couldn't even fathom it. As for Riley's group... well, even if they hung out, it made sense they wouldn't ask about stuff like this. In my mind, the name "Riley" had become synonymous with plausibility itself.
The eye of that whirlwind of attention, Beni herself, seemed oblivious to the stares. She'd been tense when called up alone to get her printout, but that was it. Now back at her seat, she let out a sigh of relief, figuring she wouldn't draw more eyes. Probably didn't even realize how amazing her talent was, thanks to her severe lack of foundational knowledge. Was her low self-esteem part of it too? She probably thought since even someone as unremarkable as her could do it, it was just a matter of sooner or later—something anyone could reach.
Still oblivious to the stares, Beni just scanned the printout she'd received.
"......"
But even at a glance, her speed wasn't normal. Her eyes flew across the paper, flipping pages with a flick. If it were a novel and she had great speed-reading skills, sure. ...But this wasn't some easy novel. It was packed with insanely complex 3D diagrams—mental shredders that'd fry your brain just looking at them.
No matter how you sliced it, she wasn't seriously studying the content. Other students watching might think she was just skimming the overall structure before diving in. But knowing that wasn't the case? Probably just me and Beni in this classroom. Yael was out groaning from cramps anyway.
Photographic memory. Whether that term fit a world without photos was debatable, but that's how Dean Myurvel's words rang in my ears. Not the bland "perfect recall"—probably because it was limited to visual elements and such. Given how Yael meticulously noted every word during lectures, that tracked. Convert it to visual form once, then file it away in memory.
And why was that ability so incredible? Magic circles, obviously. The more spells you could cast, the bigger your edge in battle—that was a given. But mages didn't memorize hundreds or thousands because perfectly memorizing each circle was insanely hard. If it weren't, the academy would've drilled dozens of spells into every non-mage student and mass-produced magic swordsmen, right?
Not just rote memorization, but enough to deploy them meaningfully in real combat—mid-close-quarters frenzy. No wonder Yael recommended specializing in a few like backup weapons. But zero slot limits and zero delay? Beni should be grateful this academy had no grad program. If her aura talent were even average, the professors would've kidnapped her, shoved her into a magic swordsman build, and turned her into the Empire's next-generation trump card. Divine balance patch from whatever god ran this world, I guess.
Oh, and her hyper-speed circle openings? Thanks to this talent too. Up to 4th Circle, all possibilities were mapped out—so memorize the structures, and theoretically, success was guaranteed. Of course, "theoretically" since, excluding Beni, there was only one 3rd Circle mage, let alone 4th.
"Ughhh..."
While I was sizing her up... a groaning voice came from somewhere. No need to look far—the source was right next to Beni.
Riley, sprawled face-down on her desk—whoa, check out those tits getting squished—was grunting away. Spotting me looking, she locked eyes and shot her hand up.
"Teacher!"
"I've told you a million times, I'm not a teacher yet. What is it?"
"It's sooo boring! Can't you tell some stories or something?"
Her booming voice echoed through the classroom, so brazen it almost felt natural.
"Miss Riley. Aren't you disturbing the other students' self-study? As I mentioned earlier, if you're that bored, you're free to leave early."
"But real self-study's better at the library, right? My guess? No one's here 'cause they wanna study—they're just killing time till next class!"
Her follow-up left me speechless. It sounded plausibly right. I often noticed... Riley could be weirdly sharp sometimes. Beast instincts or whatever? Or maybe she just voiced her own thoughts, and they happened to match the vibe.
"Honestly, listening to teacher’s army stories would be better study than silent cramming!"
"Ugh......"
Another groan escaped me. The more I heard, the harder it was to argue. Teachers' anecdotes were fun back in school. Sure, in a normal high school, I'd shut up for the serious studiers... but this was the academy. Mostly knights-in-training for military life, exceptions aside. To them, army tales were insider lectures.
Students rarely got field stories. Professors were military, but begging for tales mid-class? Awkward. Opportunities like this were rare. Glancing around, others looked hooked too.
"Well, if that's the case."
After a moment's thought, I conceded.
"Any particular stories you're curious about? I'll share within declassified bounds."
Might as well let them ask.
"Uh... haven't thought that far......"
Turns out Riley hadn't planned ahead—shocker, 'Riley' and 'careful planning'? She scrunched her brow and groaned.
Should I poll the others? As I shifted my gaze... Riley's hand shot up again.
"Oh! I got one!"
"Yes? What is it?"
Locking eyes, she beamed innocently and shouted.
...Honestly, up to then, I'd slightly underestimated one Riley Tiwe Kuntak.
"Teacher! Between the Sword Saint and the Mountain Ogre, who do you think's stronger?!"
I never expected her to drop a Gald Cup bomb out of nowhere.
"Any particular stories you're curious about?"
Saki Barina, third princess of the Croi-Treta Union, perked up her ears at that.
Probably every student did. With nothing else to do, they'd listen to anything—but the storyteller was Yura Konstantia.
──Forerunner. Yura Konstantia.
Plenty stronger than her. Plenty with greater feats. Swap in fame or talent for those titles, same deal.
But... no one in this generation was as "colorful" as Yura.
What to ask for? She wasn't even entitled to request, yet Saki pondered anyway.
Tales of forerunners defying magic principles? Or as Nokgoe’s direct disciple and member of the Froggy Wanderers—who could rival even Gahan united? Or the intel bureau's nightmare, shredding a kingdom's spy network with one pencil, toying with them repeatedly? Or the pillar-breaker, thrown at the dragon with heroes?
Words swirled in Saki's head.
"Teacher! Between the Sword Saint and the Mountain Ogre, who do you think's stronger?!"
"What......"
But despite the fantasies, Groomha's barbarian dropping that? Shocking.
Humans love grouping strong folks with nicknames. Empire had the Five Swords, Union the Three Heroes... you know.
But even in those groups, outliers existed. Empire's Sword Saint, Union's Mountain Ogre—they were leagues above.
Add Groomha's Gahan: three monsters never missing from "world's strongest human" debates.
Usually called equal, no clear winner... but humans crave a #1.
In short... Gald Cups were eternal truth, any world, any era.
"......"
Saki saw faint bewilderment on Yura's face. Empire folk favored their Sword Saint, but not all students were Imperial. Union students included the 2nd princess, heavy influence on admissions.
"I've met both, so I was curious!"
Yura must've felt like a national pride bomb dropped randomly.
"Hm... In my eyes, I can't judge superiority. But as an Imperial subject, I root a bit more for the Sword Saint."
Yura's textbook-boring reply flowed out. Not a private chat—multi-national classroom. Expected.
Yura cleared the hurdle, coughed twice, and pivoted.
"Anyway, let's skip the nonsense and self-study."
Blocking any second bomb. Saki frowned unconsciously.
Ugh, chance to hear the forerunner's exploits, ruined like this? Blame the barbarian for creating it, sure... but emotions aren't logical?
"Beni, who do you think's stronger?"
"Uh, umm... I dunno?"
Oblivious to Saki's mood, Riley kept yapping—in a voice far from quiet. And to someone Saki disliked. Irritation crept in. Trivial things grated. Unrecognized, but plain jealousy.
"The warrant officer just said be quiet. Lower your voice."
Thus, she snapped.
"Oh, sorry. I'll hold back."
Riley apologized instantly and shut up.
Wait. If the barbarian plays nice, won't I look like the hysterical girl? Too late—spilled milk. No open insults to foreign royalty, but backstage gossip incoming. Frustration thickened; Saki clenched her fist secretly.
"......"
And... eyes watching from front, intrigued.
This venom... with growth, she could hit mass-produced Lieutenant Shtain level...?
For some reason, Yura Konstantia suddenly wanted to befriend her.
At that moment, Yura had overlooked a few things.
First: Saki's emotions showing enough for Yura meant others could read her mood too.
"Hah, figures the uncultured barbarian lacks manners."
Second: Some Union exchange students were opportunists, desperate for royal favor.
"What'd you say? I'll give you a chance to apologize!"
"Wh-what? No... did I say something wrong..."
"Hmph! No remorse! Then die!"
And third: Groomha upbringing didn't teach enduring insults.
Hiss... what now?
If Yael heard student spear-throwing happened in her one-hour absence due to cramps...? Yura pondered seriously.
"......"
"......"
Of course, after snatching the flying spear mid-air.
Central classroom desk. In one step, she stood atop it, casually shouldering the airborne spear, resuming thought.
"I see. Seems accumulated stress is the root."
She nodded as if enlightened.
Her amber eyes alternated between Riley and the provocateur.
"Need to vent? How about beating on me?"
"Teacher! Unlike that girl, I wanna apologize! So I can't die...!"
"...Miss Riley?"
Huh. Not quite.
The warrant officer could only tilt her head at the barbarian dropping to her knees without hesitation.