Chapter 12
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Eccentric Trainee (3)
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The location for their mock battle was the same log bridge arena where Roin had wrecked everything last time.
All the fixtures except the bridge itself were still under repair.
First, Lepid raised his practice sword.
His enemy was on the log bridge.
That phrase naturally came to mind in this standoff.
Of course, the two weren't exactly enemies.
Instructor and trainee.
They were more like master and disciple.
Of course.
I don't think of it that way.
The practice sword Roin chose was a dagger.
Even if he had all of Rodri's power, his current build wasn't Rodri's body.
With a child's frame, a shortsword was far easier to wield than an arming sword, rapier, or longsword.
In contrast, Lepid opted for a longsword.
With all preparations complete, the two climbed the stairs positioned at either end of the log bridge.
They faced each other, swords raised in ready stances.
Before the duel began, there was one thing Roin wanted to confirm again.
You did promise to give me a pass for going out, right?
Yeah. I promised, so don't worry.
Issuing a single outing pass for one trainee was well within Lepid's authority.
The goal of the outing pass was already achieved.
Just exchange a few light moves and call it done.
Roin had no intention of dragging this duel out.
It was just for warming up.
But Lepid approached it with a different resolve.
He wanted to learn more about who Roin really was.
Swordsmen could gauge an opponent's skill by clashing blades.
Just how much potential did Roin have?
Lepid was eager to find out.
Edna raised the blue and red flags.
Ready!
The two lowered into stances.
Begin!
The moment the signal dropped, Roin charged at Lepid first.
Tadadak!
Even on the extremely narrow log bridge, Roin advanced without hesitation.
He was fast, too!
In the blink of an eye, he closed right in.
Lepid swung his longsword at Roin.
It wasn't a real blade.
It's just practice gear. It'll sting a bit, that's all!
Upon enrolling in Loud Swordsmanship Academy, students signed a pledge.
It was a consent form related to injuries, like the one from the entrance exam.
Lepid swung the longsword horizontally with full force.
But Roin had already read the attack just from how Lepid gripped his sword.
As if he'd been waiting, Roin dropped low.
Whoosh!
The longsword whistled past his head by a hair's breadth.
Lepid's eyes widened.
He dodged?
It was hard to believe.
He'd swung at his maximum speed.
Yet Roin evaded it effortlessly.
Before Lepid could recover, Roin's counterattack followed.
A dagger had shorter reach than a longsword.
It was actually on the short side.
The one with the dagger had to close the distance no matter what.
Slipping into Lepid's guard, Roin angled his dagger's blade.
His gut's wide open!
Lepid swallowed dryly.
He quickly stepped back.
He created distance while dodging Roin's strike.
They'd only exchanged one clash.
But from that single blow, Lepid realized Roin's skill was no joke.
That strike was sharp.
If his dodge had been even a fraction slower, Lepid would've lost a point right there.
But I'm an instructor. Can't end this pathetically.
It wouldn't look good.
Meanwhile.
Roin, resetting his stance, whistled inwardly.
Not bad.
For a senior knight, he had solid skills.
Even with Roin's child body, few could dodge that perfectly exploiting gap so cleanly.
Amid it all, Lepid tossed a question at Roin.
Where'd you learn that swordsmanship?
Roin grinned and replied.
From Gillion.
Hearing that, Lepid clicked his tongue.
Kid's got some thick skin.
Lepid wasn't an idiot.
The swordsmanship Roin just showed wasn't Gillion's style, nor the Leyden family's.
No way Lepid wouldn't recognize it.
Yet Roin kept insisting on his flimsy lie like it was gospel.
That only fueled Lepid's competitive spirit more.
Getting fired up over a nine-year-old brat. Ridiculous.
This time, Lepid moved first to land a blow.
This was no longer just a spar.
It was a fight for pride!
Roin casually dodged the incoming longsword.
Even on the log bridge, his movements showed no restriction.
Lepid found it astonishing.
At this level, it was like a god had blessed Roin with perfect balance.
Talent like this at nine years old.
His curiosity about Roin intensified.
Meanwhile.
As time passed, Roin felt a strange pressure.
The eyes of his peers, the assistantsincluding Lepidwatching him were filling with shock.
Roin had never planned to hide his skills.
He'd walked a similar path in his previous life before reincarnation.
So he knew all too well.
Interference is gonna ramp up.
Just like now.
Lepid and the assistants would keep testing him from here on.
It was starting to get annoying.
Roin just wanted to lay low, pass the junior and mid knight exams right away, and be done.
Plus, drawing too much attention would surely catch the eye of the royal castle or knight orders.
If they dragged him off as a squire the moment he finished school...
That would be a real hassle.
Gotta maintain this until my growth spurt ends...!
Spend that time focusing on beauty in peace.
To do that, he needed minimal interference.
But Lepid's intensity bordered on obsession.
This flow ain't good.
The deeper it went, the worse the obsession would get.
Time to decide.
Don't like it, but no choice.
Roin came up with an impromptu plan.
He kept dodging Lepid's attacks.
Then.
Suddenly, Roin's left foot missed the log bridge and hit empty air.
Losing balance, his body plummeted below.
Splash!
In his pristine uniform, he dove straight into the muddy water.
Lepid stared down at Roin in stunned silence.
Roin poked his head out of the muck and looked up at Lepid.
You really are the instructor. I lose.
You lost?
Yeah.
For someone who'd lost, his expression was way too relieved.
As if saying: That enough playtime? Now leave me alone.
......
Lepid knew.
Roin had fallen on purpose.
But Roin played the act, climbing out of the water.
Gotta get this dry-cleaned. Whew.
Face like steel.
Roin asked the assistants.
My clothes are soaked. Mind if I change and come back?
Huh? Oh. Y-yeah, go change.
Thanks.
He even slipped away from the scene naturally.
Lepid stared blankly in the direction Roin vanished.
His grip tightened on his sword.
He'd dirtied his uniform, but thanks to that, Roin got his outing pass.
On a day with no classes, he headed to the school gate with the pass in hand.
Roin's steps seemed especially light today.
Nice weather. Perfect for shopping for hand cream.
He showed the pass to the guard at the entrance, who promptly let him through.
The moment Roin stepped out, he heard the guards murmuring.
Why give an outing pass to a brand-new enrollee already?
Who knows. Some unavoidable circumstance?
It hadn't even been a month since enrolling in the swordsmanship academy.
Yet Roin already had permission to go out.
Highly unusual.
All thanks to Lepid.
Gave him his fun once. He won't bother me anymore, right?
He could only hope.
Once outside, Roin beelined for shops selling beauty products.
As expected of a big city. So many stores.
Branches of various brands lined up.
The Leyden family estate was pure countryside.
He'd wanted beauty items but couldn't buy them.
Here, he could shop to his heart's content.
How blissful.
But there was a catch.
Need money.
The Leydens weren't that wealthy.
So when he first arrived, his allowance was meager.
Asking for more money feels awkward.
Once he became a junior knight, he'd qualify for missions and rewards.
But right now, he was just a trainee.
He needed a way to earn pocket money.
There's that villa I bought in Endla.
Back in his Rodri days, Roin hated staying in inns or palaces when traveling.
Because of his ugly face being seen.
So he'd bought private villas in major cities for himself.
Endla would have one he favored.
Around here, I think.
He planned to grab a few valuables from there to sell.
Beauty products were pricier than expected.
To buy what he wanted, he'd need a decent sum.
It's my stuff. Selling my own things. Should be fine.
Retracing his memory, hastening his steps, a massive mansion appeared.
The nameplate bore the emblem symbolizing Hero Rodri, clear as day.
But a problem arose.
What're those guards?
No one should be home.
No reason to post guards.
Yet guards were stationed, rotating shifts to protect Rodri's villa.
A lot of them.
Did I hire that many?
No way.
At most, a manager and three guards.
With owner Rodri gone.
No reason for them to keep guarding.
Something's off.
Just in case, Roin approached a guard.
He'd ask directly what right they had to guard his villa.
Then.
The guards suddenly bustled.
A carriage approaching from afar.
They bowed deeply upon seeing it.
The figure leaning out was someone Roin knew all too well.
You're here, Sir Dian.
Dian.
Roin's best friend of twenty years appeared.