Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Swordsmanship Lecture.
The official name was Practical Swordsmanship and Weaponry Lecture.
Even though guns and cannons had appeared on the battlefield, swords still dominated. Guns were slow, and cannons were limited. Swords, on the other hand, were always at hand and the most reliable way to kill.
Nobles learned swordsmanship as a basic skill. In combat, there was no technique as efficient as swordsmanship, and it symbolized a noble’s dignity and refinement.
Ophelienne also took swordsmanship lectures.
Those who had taken them before often shared the same advice:
“Don’t expect to get a good grade from Professor Wilhelmine.”
“I’ve never seen anyone get the top grade in her class.”
Professor Wilhelmine was notorious for being cold and impassive.
Every person had an innate aura. Some were like lions, overflowing with charisma and able to lead. Others were timid like rabbits.
Wilhelmine was a wolf. She radiated the aura of a lone, wandering predator.
“Matthias Vinla Moretti.”
Through her jet-black hair, her blood-red eyes looked down on me. Blood seemed to flow beneath her expressionless face.
Professor Wilhelmine was a head taller than me. A black, military-style jacket fit her frame perfectly. She rested an arm on the hilt of her sword, her weight on one leg, her eyes narrowed.
All students’ gazes were fixed on her. First lecture, and a scion of a prominent noble family was late—this was no ordinary incident.
“Do you have anything to say?”
“….”
There was only one way to handle this.
“I’m sorry, Professor.”
I bowed sincerely to Professor Wilhelmine. A genuine apology. The way to soothe someone’s anger is to admit your mistake and apologize. No need to overcomplicate things; apologies solve many problems.
Her gaze lingered on me quietly.
“Don’t be late again.”
Had my apology worked? Her rigid voice seemed to soften slightly.
“Yes, Professor.”
“And stay behind after class.”
“…What?”
“Go in.”
I turned with a sense of unease.
“Hyaa… I’m sorry, Mati…!”
Tiana suddenly grabbed my hands and apologized.
“Why are you apologizing, sis?”
“My prayers weren’t strong enough… I asked for you not to be late, but you were, and you got scolded.”
Tiana’s eyes glistened as she clutched her cross. This girl was too pure for her own good.
I shook my head.
“That’s not your fault. I’m the one who was late.”
“Were you too nervous yesterday?”
Tyborn wiped his sweat and asked.
“Maybe.”
I nodded and picked up my practice sword. Not sharp, but a heavy steel blade.
Students had already grabbed weapons suited to them. Tiana had a bastard sword for one hand, while Tyborn and I carried two-handed longswords.
Class had started without orientation, and everyone was sweating.
“Mati, we were sparring before you came. Class was sparring!”
“Sparring?”
“Yeah! Pair off and duel. I was paired with Tyborn.”
“But that leaves an odd number.”
“Right… maybe with the professor…?”
“Would you like to duel with me?”
At that moment, a lively pink-haired girl approached.
All eyes turned to her. She smiled brightly.
“Hello! I’m Joy. Joy Levette.”
“I’m Tiana. This is my brother Tyborn, and this is my brother Matthias! Want to duel with us?”
“Yes. I didn’t have a partner anyway, and you’re short one person, so it works.”
“Alright! Okay with you all?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Me neither.”
Joy pointed at me.
“Then I want to duel with Matthias, is that okay?”
“Sure. I don’t mind.”
I shrugged. Joy Levette… a name I hadn’t heard before.
‘Just a minor character?’
Her personality and looks were too distinctive to be a mere extra.
‘Then could it be…’
I recalled the person I tried to find on the train.
‘No way a girl like that…’
I watched Joy run up with a bright smile.
“Hah!”
Clang!
Swords collided. I tried to parry, but her strikes were heavier than expected.
I lost my balance. This was a perfect opening for her. But Joy hesitated, letting me recover, then attacked again.
Clang!
This time lighter. Even I, not particularly strong, could deflect it.
“Whoa!”
Then she fell and dropped her sword. Her skirt fluttered slightly, revealing a hidden spot, almost as if staged.
“Ah… I guess not. Too strong.”
“….”
Joy smiled mischievously as she got up, accentuating her legs. A faint burn scar on her inner thigh was visible.
At that moment, I realized.
I lowered my sword. My eyes narrowed at ‘him’.
‘That bastard.’
Where did this acting come from?
The academy was full of incidents. Among them, there was always a helper-turned-traitor at a critical moment.
‘Henry Balte.’
An eighty-year-old assassin from the Black Moon faction had infiltrated the academy.
Yes. That pink-haired girl was Henry Balte. An eighty-year-old assassin disguised as a young girl.
“You wouldn’t be looking at my panties, would you?!”
Joy pouted mischievously. Attractive, yes, but knowing her—his—true identity made it utterly disgusting.
“Again… ah!”
Joy fell again, and once more, her underwear was exposed. Even something heavier between her legs was visible…
‘Please.’
I shut my eyes tight. This was torture.
Inside that body was an eighty-year-old killer with no mercy. Comparable in swordsmanship to a master swordsman. And he was trying to seduce me.
‘Why approach me?’
“Ouch!”
Ignoring Joy (Henry) pretending to stumble, I thought.
The conclusion was clear.
‘…Because she’s engaged to my sister.’
Henry’s purpose in infiltrating the academy: assassinate the emperor.
The academy provided access to the highest level. I was indirectly involved with the royal family.
Still, it was deeply disturbing. Imagine being seduced by a pink-haired girl, only to know it was an old assassin.
‘Disgusting.’
Luckily, the duel with Joy (Henry) ended quickly. I suggested switching partners.
Joy panted on her knees.
“Haa… haa.”
The boys glanced at her, then looked away, embarrassed. Poor things.
I sat on a bench to rest. As I drank water, I overheard students talking about Professor Wilhelmine.
“…Professor’s scary. Scarier than the royal guard I saw before.”
“True. Her gaze just now was terrifying.”
“I wonder what family she’s from? She sounds so young.”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m not from the empire.”
“She’s the granddaughter of the emperor.”
“What? A princess?”
“Shh! Be careful what you say.”
“Wh-why?”
“…She’s not officially a princess anymore. The emperor destroyed the records.”
“Destroyed the records?”
“That’s all I can say. There’s a gag order on this topic.”
I rested enough and approached the Filrun siblings.
“Mati, do you know anything about the professor? She’s a noble, after all.”
Tiana wiped her sweat and asked.
“Not much.”
The Filruns were curious too. Terrifying in reputation, but little was actually known.
“A princess, Your Highness.”
Joy said calmly.
“A p-princess?”
Tyborn’s eyes widened.
“The emperor’s daughter?”
“No, granddaughter. Hehe, if she were his daughter, she’d be an older lady by now.”
Joy laughed and looked at the professor, a cold woman with black hair.
“Ah… right. But why did you leave the royal family?”
No answer came. Joy smiled wryly instead.
“There. Decide your sparring partners quickly.”
Wilhelmine warned us lazy students.
“Matthias. Duel me this time.”
Tyborn boldly raised his sword. I also drew mine, ready to duel.
Clang! Jing!
Our swords collided. Tyborn pushed with raw strength. Despite my effort, I couldn’t beat him. Staying up all night didn’t help; I lacked strength and skill. Every aspect favored Tyborn.
‘Even with Mukseong, I can’t win.’
Mana primarily enhanced physical strength. But I had too little to maintain it for more than ten seconds.
“Huff, huff… good work, Matthias.”
“You too. Strong.”
Looking over, Tiana and Joy were finishing their duel, evenly matched.
Other students circled them to watch, enjoying the clash of a perceived weaker versus stronger opponent. Their looks helped too.
“Hah!”
“Hyah!”
Tiana staggered Joy’s defense, forcing her back. Joy stepped incorrectly and fell, her skirt revealing her underwear naturally.
“Ooh…!”
The boys made excited noises. Pathetic creatures.
“Ouch… lost. Hehe…”
“Are you okay, Joy? Not hurt?”
“Yeah! But you’re stronger than you look.”
“Oh? Haha… maybe.”
Tiana scratched her head shyly. Joy dusted her knees.
‘…That acting… amazing.’
It must have been a full-performance act. I felt some self-loathing, knowing his true identity.
Clang! Swish!
A practice sword rolled to my feet.
Apparently, Yuri lost her sword against her opponent. That was the third duel.
An ambitious boy stepped up against Yuri, but couldn’t last a single move. Her rapier slipped through his defense and stopped just before his throat. He swallowed nervously.
“…lost.”
He accepted defeat and left.
Yuri hadn’t broken a sweat. She flicked her silver hair back like a doll.
Students whispered.
“Insane…”
“Disciple of the Sword Saint, remember?”
“She’s a girl and that strong?”
“Who knows.”
“You try it.”
“What? Embarrassing…”
Yuri stood, waiting like a champion for challengers. No one met her gaze; they didn’t want public humiliation.
Clack.
I stepped forward.
“?”
Yuri tilted her head. Her silver hair brushed her shoulders. She looked puzzled.
“You?”
Not “someone like you?”—just a pure question. The skill gap between us was immense. I couldn’t compete with her.
“Not allowed?”
“No, fine. Let’s go.”
She nodded gracefully. Shame is fleeting, but learning is eternal. My swordsmanship couldn’t reach her level, but I wanted to face her.
The first-year strongest, and future Sword Saint. Duel with her would be invaluable.
The Roschka Codex included not just mana techniques but sword knowledge.
[My swordsmanship isn’t systematically organized. Rather than explain in detail, I’ll describe my insights.]
[The first strike matters in any fight. Pour everything into it. Here’s my first attack: rest the sword on your shoulder, lower your body, watch for a gap. When you see it, inhale, then exhale while striking with speed and weight. This has felled many enemies. Works well.]
I rested the longsword on my shoulder, leaned forward, legs wide. My eyes locked on Yuri.
‘Hoo.’
Exhaling, I stomped the ground. My shoulder sword descended toward Yuri with force.
Yuri remained still, blinking at me. Her sword hung down.
Was my attack too fast? Could she not react?
‘I won…!’
Thunk!
She lost consciousness.