School Violence (2)
After finishing his training at the training grounds and returning to his quarters, Zeron found Lunalind waiting for him.
"You've returned, sir."
"Yeah, something the matter?"
"As I mentioned last time, but I'm certain you've forgotten, so I came to remind you."
"Huh?"
Zeron tilted his head. Had she said something before?
"The first-years' field training begins in two days. The location is Lempit, not too far from the capital. It should last about a week."
"Oh, right. I think I did hear about it. Classes move separately, right?"
"Yes. Each class will be led by their homeroom instructor."
"Oh, thanks."
"Then I'll take my leave."
As Lunalind bowed at the waist, Zeron nodded and headed for his room. It would be good to let that bastard David know he was heading outside the academy. After all, that was why the man had gone to the trouble of planting him here as an instructor.
- Lempit? Yeah, got it. I hadn't heard anything from Medeia, though.
"I don't know either. They might be planning to tell the students later."
- Well, whatever. Thanks anyway. I'll send some guys over just in case.
"Is that necessary?"
- You never know.
"Do what you want."
After the short exchange, Zeron fell into thought for a moment. Field training, huh... Well, the training itself would probably go fine. As for people coming from Viscount Matein's household... he'd tell them to wait a bit. They could manage on their own for a day or two.
"Ah, whatever."
Zeron threw himself onto the bed. He figured he should have a drink and wash up before sleeping, so he quickly cleaned himself and closed his eyes. He had class tomorrow.
*
"Hey, you're here."
"That arrogant attitude of yours is still the same!"
The class began with the ill-mannered young lady's sharp complaints. Zeron glanced sideways at the little brat. Her complexion looked haggard, and she seemed lost in worry even now. It really bothered him. Damn, she really couldn't trust people.
"Hey, kid. Want to take a break? You can sit over there."
When he pointed to the folding chair, the kid glared at him but shook her head.
"I'm fine... Just do it."
"...Alright."
Zeron drew his sword and stood in front of the training dummy, pondering for a moment. Showing them something should give them an idea, at least.
"Watch this first. I'll show you roughly."
He gripped the sword in an upper stance and stood before the dummy. In his mind, he pictured himself from the dream—surpassing his usual skill, reaching for the realm beyond.
Kwaaaack—!
The sword swung. He didn't make it fast. If he did, the students wouldn't see anything at all.
Thud. The dummy's upper body fell away, and then—crack—the area around the cut was horribly crushed and mangled.
"See that?"
"See what? Didn't it just shatter because you couldn't cut it cleanly?"
"Yeah, shut your trap, you amateur. Hey, that gloomy kid over there—Ed, was it? You get it?"
When Zeron asked, the gloomy bastard nodded. He really understood? That was actually more surprising.
"Wasn't it the instructor's mana that crushed the area around the cut? Even without deliberately emitting anything like Sword Qi, just the mana that naturally dwells in the blade."
"Close enough. The point is I didn't try to destroy the dummy. It's just that the nature of my mana is like this."
If you went further, you'd reach the realm of will. But even Zeron couldn't handle that properly yet, so he skipped it.
"Everyone's mana has different properties, so trying to explain how to grasp that is too much. Just know that it exists and pay a little more attention in your daily training. Whether your sword feels sharper than expected, lighter, or if the cut area grows hot. Things like that."
"Can't you just show us and explain it directly?" the rude girl asked.
"Nope."
"Then shouldn't you do exactly that?"
"That'd be a pain in the ass for me."
"...Aren't you an instructor?"
"Originally, realizing these things yourself helps more, you idiot. If someone else tells you, you might miss the insight that comes with it."
"Hmm..."
The rude girl nodded, seemingly convinced. It was half sincere, not just an excuse.
"So now you get it? Let's just do a thousand horizontal cuts."
The rude girl grumbled. She could just do it if he told her to. Sometimes it seemed like she actually enjoyed fighting with him.
"Isn't that the sort of thing you can assign as homework? Be honest—you're just doing this because teaching is annoying, aren't you?"
"You know me so well."
"This delinquent instructor...!"
"Hey, I'm still correcting your posture, aren't I? That's enough, right? Opportunities like this don't come often. Huh?"
A Master was personally correcting her form. If other people knew, they'd pay a fortune just for the chance. Probably.
Zeron, who had been frowning, suddenly had a good idea. While the students silently began their horizontal cuts, he spoke to the rude girl as if he were adjusting her stance.
"Hey, hey, that's not it. Keep your arm closer to your dantian. No, no, a little more. There. Bend your waist more."
"...Is this correct? It doesn't feel right."
"Hey, who swords better—you or me? Huh?"
"...You do. For now."
"Then bend your waist more."
"Like this...?"
The rude girl gathered her sword in front of her lower belly and bent at the waist. Zeron barely suppressed the smirk tugging at his lips and continued.
"Yeah, bring your legs closer together."
"This stance would ruin my balance in a real fight..."
"Hey, who swords better than me?"
"Grr...!"
Only then did the rude girl politely bring her legs together. Zeron nodded with a satisfied grin.
"There. You bow so well~"
"Huh...?"
The rude girl stared at him blankly. She finally realized he'd been messing with her. Her face flushed bright red.
"You... you really—!"
"You fell for it. What, are you retarded?"
"Kh...! I can't take it anymore! You! Are you really that good with a sword?!"
"Of course. Obviously."
He nodded confidently. After all, he'd never met anyone better than him with a blade in his life. There had been a few, but they'd all fallen far behind him long ago.
"Fine! That thing you always emphasize, right? The basics!"
"Oh, that? Dodge, block, get hit less painfully, and hit well?"
"Yes...! That! You can only attack once! And you'll match your level to mine!"
"Wow, what a cheap bastard. You want to win that badly?"
"No...! Isn't it obvious when our ages differ by twice as much?!"
She kept yapping, so he told her to shut up since he understood. He'd win anyway.
"Alright. Come at me."
"Hah...!"
"Wow, this kid. I haven't even drawn my sword yet."
Zeron clicked his tongue and shook his head. Whoosh—! The practice sword swept past with murderous force. Even though it was a practice blade, it was still steel. A normal person would have their head explode if they took that hit.
"Pretty savage."
"Shut up...!"
A vertical cut. He stepped diagonally to dodge, then bent at the waist to avoid the following horizontal slash. The rude girl used the momentum to spin once and thrust her sword like lightning.
"Slow."
He twisted his body slightly and evaded.
"Grr...! Stop dodging like a rat and take a hit already!"
"You literally told me not to attack!"
"You said I could do it once!"
The rude girl ground her teeth and charged again. Another vertical cut. Zeron pivoted on his left foot. Whoosh—! The practice sword sliced through empty air with a vicious sound.
"I win, right?"
Zeron smirked. At some point his sword, now held in a reverse grip, rested just beneath the rude girl's chin.
"...Isn't that cheating?"
"How so?"
"You said you'd match your physical abilities to my level."
"I did, you bitch."
"I didn't even see you draw it from the sheath."
"Because I drew it without you seeing it, dumbass."
When Zeron sneered, the rude girl clutched the back of her neck.
"Stop tacking on those kinds of words every time you speak, you scoundrel...!"
*
Today, too, he wrapped up class after playing around with the rude girl. The only thing that weighed on him was the kid's condition. She'd been depressed all day, sighing heavily.
"Hey, kid. Follow me for a second."
"...Why again? I have to go to class."
"It's break time."
He took her hand and led her into an alley. The kid looked around warily and narrowed her eyes.
"What are you planning this time?"
"This kid."
He pinched her cheek. The sensation was still insanely addictive. No exaggeration—it felt better than the bouncy breasts of that curvaceous blonde woman he'd spent the night with on his way back to the academy. And hers had been pretty big.
But the kid's reaction was different from usual. She simply stared at him with a sullen expression. This was close to a full-blown sulk. Maybe even a catastrophic one.
"I'll show you something amazing."
"I'm not in the mood."
"I don't show this to just anyone. I'm only showing you because it's you."
At those words, the kid glared at him, turned away with a huff, then let out a deep sigh and looked back.
"What is it? It better not be lame."
She was clearly pouting with worries piled mountain-high, yet she was still surprisingly gentle. Seeing that, Zeron recalled someone's face and drew his sword.
"Here, watch."
*
Medeia sullenly turned only her head to look at him. She felt like she was going to lose her mind from how frustrated she was. Did he even realize what he'd done? She might understand to some degree, but to lay hands on a noble's body? In the worst case, he could really lose his head. Physically. Even she, who wasn't well-versed in outside matters, knew that much. It wasn't something anyone wouldn't know. What on earth had he been thinking? Or did he really not know? Had he been that much of an idiot, blinded by affection?
Medeia pouted. If it were up to her, she'd grab that tuft of hair and yank it as hard as she could. But she barely held herself back with her broad-minded patience. Still, since it was Zeron oppa. She'd let it go just this once. That's what she told herself.
"Here, watch."
Uncle Zeron extended his sword.
'What is he trying to show me now?'
It better not be something lame. I'll really stretch his lips out like a duck's beak.
It was then.
Whoosh—!
A red current surged from Zeron's blade. Medeia's heart sank. Even though she knew he wouldn't do anything like that, for a brief moment her neck felt cold.
"...What is it? Sword Qi? That's impressive. But so wha—"
The Sword Qi began to converge. The current gathered into a single shape, and within the red interior, a brilliant star rose.
The miracle of Sword Qi embracing a star. The proof of a Master, and the certification of a swordsman.
"Sword... Gang...?"
The red energy took clear form as it settled into the blade. A jagged, saw-like vicious shape. It looked as if a red malevolent star had descended to the earth. The faint pressure made it hard to breathe. Her skin felt like it would split open and bleed at any moment. She couldn't dismiss the grinning uncle's face before her eyes. This feeling like her neck would be severed instantly. No—like her throat would be torn out. A beast. A monster. Some enormous, ferocious thing. A monster that would flash its savage eyes and snap her slender neck in one bite.
She was going to die. Her legs trembled. Strength left her and she nearly fell on her backside. At that moment—
Whoosh—
The Sword Gang vanished, and the oppressive pressure disappeared with it.
The uncle chuckled in annoyance.
"How about it? Do you find me a bit more reliable now?"
What a ridiculous thing to say. A Master. The pinnacle of swordsmen, of which there was only one in the kingdom. No—now there were two. A superhuman who could look down upon all people, excluding the Empire's Grandmaster.
Medeia could only open and close her mouth wordlessly.