Chapter 27

"You're telling me you wielded a sword like this?"

Clang!

I parried the katana that Shinazaki swung again and countered.

“Grr!”

Shinazaki's brows furrowed as her mana field was cut by my counterattack.

“What the hell... Where did you get this kind of skill...!!”

Shinazaki Rin's reaction was textbook.

You're done for now.

In the red field of vision, a black line was drawn.

The sword path of the White Flame Sword Technique unfolded before my eyes.

I swung my sword along the path indicated by the Black Prince's talent.

Whoosh.

Black flames danced in the air.

Wait, if it's black flames, isn't that Black Flame?

‘I’m really going to lose it.’

Why black of all colors? It's so annoying.

Cursing inwardly, I pressed Shinazaki Rin.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Shinazaki Rin countered with the Shinazaki Ittoryu.

A fluid exchange of blows.

Black flames and indigo coldness, French swords and Japanese swords, clashed and tore through the air.

“Gah!”

Shinazaki Rin let out a textbook scream.

She hadn't adapted to my changed momentum yet.

But if this drags on, I'll lose.

Synchronization is an ability that can't be maintained for long due to its poor efficiency.

Without a decisive blow, the only outcome will be my synchronization shutting off and losing to Shinazaki Rin, leading to a terrible conclusion.

Unless...

‘I need to force a True Name Liberation.’

True Name Liberation.

Just the name sounds terrible and makes me feel like my limbs will disappear. This cursed special ability was inserted by the author who couldn't handle the power inflation in the later parts of the story, similar to the 'Second Awakening' in many RPG games.

It's an ability that shouldn't be usable at this point in the story.

But I know one way to force the True Name Liberation of Durandal.

The method Olivia used in Volume 11 of the original.

I use the Gift.

Rumble.

Pitch-black darkness devoured the blade of Durandal.

“What is this?”

Shinazaki Rin sensed the ominous atmosphere.

You're done for.

I activated the mana circulation method of the Black Light Sword Technique.

Thump, thump.

My heart pounded as if it would burst.

The mana circulation methods of the Black Light Sword Technique and the White Flame Sword Technique, similar yet different, ran simultaneously, tearing through my mana circuits.

“Gahhh!!”

It hurts so much.

Why do I have to use such painful techniques?

Cursing the author, I swung the darkness-enshrouded Durandal.

A loud explosion and a shockwave shook the field.

“Gah!”

Shinazaki Rin's face contorted.

Her hand holding the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi trembled.

Finally, the terrible recoil was returned.

Pssht.

The sound of steam escaping.

Complete darkness covered the blade of Durandal, and black flames rose from it.

[Durandal]

[True Name Liberation]

[The Flame-Imbued Magic Sword that Burns Darkness]

The true name of Durandal from the original story was etched in my mind.

Look at the naming sense.

What is a Flame-Imbued Magic Sword that Burns Darkness? It's embarrassing, really.

Then.

[...Brat. What's embarrassing?]

A man's voice echoed in my head.

The sword spirit residing in Durandal.

The Black Prince Raoul Napoleon Bonaparte.

The great hero who sealed his soul in the magic sword at the moment of death, awakened due to the True Name Liberation.

Of course, this was an expected situation.

His existence was included in my plan from the beginning.

‘Shut up and lend me your power.’

[I've been watching you from the beginning, brat. How do you wield a sword? You're worse with my Black Prince's talent than my beloved younger sister Olivia, who was five years younger. Even a beginner who just picked up a sword would be better at it.]

Now even a ghost is being a pain.

Clang!

I parried Shinazaki Rin's attack and transmitted my thoughts to the Black Prince.

‘You would know. My victory in this match will uphold the honor of your beloved sister.’

[I know. I don't like lending my power to a dark-skinned guy, but since it's for my beloved sister, I'll lend it to you.]

Rumble!

The blade vibrated as soon as the Black Prince finished speaking.

The arm holding Durandal moved on its own.

[Watch carefully, brat.]

The Black Prince's voice echoed in my head.

[This is the true power of the Black Light Sword Technique.]

With a middle school syndrome-inducing line, my vision distorted.

My ears felt blocked.

Time seemed to stop, and the surroundings moved in slow motion like a high-speed camera shot.

My sense of time stretched like a piece of gum.

I easily dodged the katana blade, which seemed to move incredibly slowly, and dove into Shinazaki's embrace.

“!!”

Shinazaki Rin's shocked expression was right in front of me.

The sword in my hand swung on its own.

[Black Light Sword Technique]

[Ultimate Technique]

[Black Flash]

Flash.

A black flash filled my vision.

In an instant, countless sword strikes from Durandal tore through Shinazaki Rin's mana field and shattered her full-body armor.

“Gah! Gahhh!!”

A terrifying scream echoed in my ears.

My vision and sense of time returned to normal.

[It's over.]

The Black Prince's voice echoed in my head.

He was right.

In front of me, Shinazaki Rin, with damage to the repulsion device in her chest and her full-body suit shredded, lay in a sorry state.

Her eyes wavered.

The cold mask of Shinazaki Rin, who had maintained a poker face, completely crumbled.

Flash!

A blue flash enveloped her body.

She had been judged combat-incapable and was forcibly teleported.

[Next time, don't forcibly summon me. Follow the proper procedures to call me.]

The Black Prince's voice faded.

[Durandal Offline]

The battle mode was forcibly deactivated.

The full-body armor turned into photons and was absorbed into Durandal's blade.

“Ugh!”

The backlash from the forced True Name Liberation and dizziness hit me all at once.

I supported my swaying body with Durandal as a cane.

[The winner is Kim Deok-sung. Congratulations!]

Mr. Mayuzumi's broadcast echoed in my ears.

I won again.

When did he come?

Shuou Hero Academy. Main Arena.

Sky Lounge.

The moment the match between Kim Deok-sung and Shinazaki Rin ended.

“See? I was right, wasn't I?”

Yoshizaki Seira, watching the screen, laughed seductively and shook her wine glass.

The red wine inside the glass swayed.

Ichiro's face stiffened.

“Why, are you surprised?”

Seira asked again, her voice playful.

Ichiro slowly began to speak.

“Yes, I am indeed a bit surprised. To think there was a student hiding such skill among the first-year students... And from a minor country, no less.”

His gaze fixed on Kim Deok-sung, who was being carried away on a stretcher.

“Of course, the C-rank aptitude penalty limits his combat endurance, and winning through forced True Name Liberation is a drawback. However, the fact that he was recognized by the sword spirit is a strength. He is a student with potential for growth.”

Ichiro analyzed coldly.

Unlike general superweapons like personal armaments and universal armaments, transcendent armaments have the spirit of the weapon residing within them.

Without the spirit's recognition, forced True Name Liberation is impossible.

In other words, the fact that he performed forced True Name Liberation means he has already been recognized by the spirit residing in Durandal.

‘A student with the qualifications to be the true master of Durandal...’

His gloomy green eyes narrowed.

Very few heroes possess the talent to be chosen by a transcendent armament.

The spirit's choice is a separate domain from aptitude.

No matter how high the aptitude, if the spirit of the transcendent armament does not recognize the user, the weapon cannot be used properly.

“Hmm? You're quite high on the Korean student? Aren't you upset about your daughter's defeat?”

Seira asked playfully.

Ichiro's eyebrow twitched.

“President, you still enjoy asking difficult questions.”

“It's a privilege of the elders.”

Seira, hiding her face with a fan, smiled.

The silent pressure of wanting an answer.

Ichiro closed his eyes.

If asked if he was upset, he would indeed be.

The prestige of the Shinazaki clan, which he had tried so hard to protect, was about to be trampled.

But.

“I can distinguish between public and private matters. And.”

“And?”

Prompted by Seira, Ichiro opened his eyes.

“The opponent's surname is not Kurosawa. That's enough. The only obstacle in my life is the Kurosawa clan.”

“Does that mean you would ally with any opponent as long as they're not the Kurosawa clan? For your goal?”

Seira's red gaze fell on Ichiro.

Even if the first duel against the Knight Princess was luck, the second match against Shinazaki Rin was not.

Luck, when repeated, becomes skill.

Ichiro's gloomy green eyes focused on Kim Deok-sung in the screen.

‘Kim Deok-sung, you are a student worth recruiting. I need to investigate your