Chapter 16

Chapter 016

Since they would have to face each other in class for an entire semester, there was no point in telling lies like, "I'm actually from a famous magic family, but my dream was to be a Swordmaster." It wouldn't benefit either of them.

Moreover, since the White Tiger Tower students were wary of him, he needed to ease their suspicions.

- I'll just tough it out and get my grades, so you don't need to worry about me!

"......"

However, the other person's expression was very subtle and complex.

To be precise, it seemed like they were struggling to determine if Yi Han was lying or not.

"Y-Yeah. I'm from the Moradi family. Call me Moradi."

"Got it. Nice to meet you, Moradi."

Yi Han shook Moradi's hand lightly.

Moradi was on the smaller side, but the calluses and hardened skin on his palm reminded Yi Han that he was from a knightly family.

'Wait. The Moradi family... '

The Moradi family.

Yi Han had heard of this imperial knightly family a few times.

He had heard that they guarded the cold northern regions with iron discipline and would stop at nothing to achieve their goals...

'...But this doesn't seem to match the family's reputation.'

"?"

Moradi looked at Yi Han with a puzzled expression.

'Well, there's no rule that a family's reputation must always match its members.'

Compared to the earlier student who had picked a fight out of spite without caring about their family, Moradi seemed more reasonable.

'I need to win over the other White Tiger Tower students and ease their suspicions.'

* * *

Bijian Sword (碧巖劍).

This was the name of the sword technique Yi Han had learned from the old knight Alarlong of his family.

As the name suggests, Alarlong's sword technique was solid and steadfast.

- The sword techniques in the world are countless. Some are fast, some are slow, some are sharp, some are blunt, some are heavy, some are light, some are simple, and some are complex. There's no need to learn them all, and I don't have the ability to teach them all. The sword technique I will teach you is the path of the sword I have learned and believed in. One day, if you continue to walk the path of the sword, you will find your own way.

Yi Han, who had only been practicing sword techniques for less than ten years, had a vastly different level of experience compared to Alarlong, who had been practicing for decades.

So, while Yi Han couldn't fully understand everything Alarlong said...

Yi Han had one advantage that other nobles didn't have.

He did exactly as he was told.

To the point where Alarlong was surprised, Yi Han followed instructions, and as a result, his sword technique was solid and without any unnecessary movements.

"Bijian Sword? Your foundation is very solid."

Professor Ingeldel also praised Yi Han's posture.

"Which family are you from? Bijian Sword is definitely..."

"I am from the Wodanaz family."

"...?"

Professor Ingeldel was momentarily taken aback.

Was the Wodanaz family's sword technique Bijian Sword?

Recalling what the Wodanaz family was, Professor Ingeldel asked curiously.

"May I ask why you want to learn sword techniques?"

"As an imperial noble, isn't sword technique a basic form of cultivation?"

Ingeldel smiled wryly at the answer.

It wasn't a wrong answer, but it wasn't one Ingeldel liked.

To a born swordsman like Ingeldel, sword techniques were a matter of life and death, not a form of cultivation for nobles.

"At first, I also thought and learned that way. But the more I learned, the more I realized that sword techniques are as deep and meaningful as magic. That's why I came here to learn more."

"...Full marks!!"

"Excuse me?"

"It's nothing."

Ingeldel waved his hand.

He had inadvertently revealed his true feelings at the unexpected excellent answer.

For someone from the Wodanaz family, a famous magic family, to take sword techniques so seriously was impressive.

His attitude was much better than that of some of the White Tiger Tower students who only cared about appearances.

'Did it work?'

Yi Han keenly observed Professor Ingeldel's expression.

Compared to the crazy Principal, Professor Ingeldel was easy to understand and a kind person.

For Yi Han, who had been through many tough professors, winning over a simple person like Professor Ingeldel was easy.

Even if he came here to get good grades, he had to hide his true intentions in front of the professor.

"Excellent attitude."

"Thank you."

"Your words make me want to work hard too. I will take you seriously. Now, raise your wooden sword."

"......"

Yi Han slightly regretted giving such a good answer.

* * *

Professor Ingeldel relentlessly beat the students.

At first, the students were complacent due to his gentle and kind attitude, but after a few hits, they angrily charged at him.

Ingeldel beat them again, making them cower like cornered mice.

'Wow, he's not playing around.'

Yi Han's sword technique still had a long way to go, but he could tell how formidable his opponent was.

Alarlong, who had taught Yi Han, was an excellent swordsman, but Professor Ingeldel was no less impressive.

If Alarlong was a rock-like swordsman who didn't move, Ingeldel was a fast-flowing water-like swordsman.

What was amazing was that he could move like this despite having a prosthetic arm and leg.

The students, who had practiced their family's sword techniques for a long time, couldn't keep up with Professor Ingeldel's movements and were mercilessly beaten.

"The movements of Ziyun Sword (紫雲劍) are too monotonous. The core of dual swords is their complexity and intricacy! Don't just swing your swords; think more before you swing."

"Gaoshanyue Sword (高山月劍) should be faster and sharper! When you thrust, don't hesitate; throw your body forward with all your might."

Moreover, as a professor, Ingeldel recognized all the sword techniques the students performed.

There were hundreds of famous sword techniques in the empire, and if you counted those passed down within families, the number was incalculable.

Yet, Ingeldel knew the names of all these techniques.

"Let's take a break."

"......"

"Ugh..."

"Damn..."

The students groaned and lay down on their sides. They were too exhausted to even curse.

Yi Han's muscles ached, and his body felt numb.

- Bijian Sword is a rock-like sword technique. Do not be swayed by any attack.

- Professor, how can I not be swayed when you're so much better than me?

- I will continue to attack. Defend yourself! Go! Go! Go!

Ingeldel found and attacked Yi Han's weak points, which Yi Han didn't even know existed.

Yi Han had to defend himself vigorously to survive.

'No matter how I think about it, I must have misspoken...'

When the break came, Yi Han couldn't help but think that.

No matter how he thought about it, he seemed to have been hit more and more persistently than the other students.

Of course, it could be because of his sword technique, but his intuition told him otherwise.

He had already experienced what happened when he got on a professor's bad side in "Understanding Basic Alchemy."

Should he have just kept quiet?

'I didn't expect to get beaten up more for getting good grades.'

"Wodanaz?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Come out and spar with me."

"......"

Yi Han thought he had definitely misspoken.

To be called out by the professor to be beaten up while others were resting.

However, Ingeldel didn't call him out to beat him.

"This is Derkyu from the Choi family. The two of you will have a simple sparring match."

"!"

Not only Yi Han but also the resting students were surprised.

Why those two?

'That's the guy who picked a fight with me earlier.'

Yi Han looked at Derkyu with a grim expression.

The guy who had picked a fight with him for listening to lectures from another dormitory didn't look good.

Moreover, he was the type who would recklessly charge in without considering the consequences, even knowing Yi Han was from the Wodanaz family.

"Understood, Professor!"

Saying that, the orc glared at Yi Han as if he wanted to kill him. Yi Han inwardly clicked his tongue.

'His true intentions are so obvious.'

His desire to use this opportunity to step on the unlucky student from another dormitory was clear on his face.

While Yi Han couldn't understand why the professor had specifically chosen him among so many students...

'He can't have picked me because I'm from another dormitory. He seemed to like my answer earlier.'

Given the situation, Yi Han had no intention of backing down.

He could have lived comfortably in his family's mansion, but he had learned sword techniques from Alarlong, enduring beatings, so he wouldn't have to endure them now!

* * *

The reason Professor Ingeldel chose Derkyu and Yi Han was simple.

They were the two most outstanding students among the current class.

Sword techniques were not something you could just learn and immediately use.

The core techniques of sword forms required thousands of repetitions and practical experience to understand.

For example, if you tried to change the trajectory of a thrust aimed at the opponent's chest to hit their neck, a reasonably intelligent enemy wouldn't let you.

Before you could do that, you needed to feint, target the lower body, or use other subtle movements to make the technique effective.

Understanding a sword form meant you could apply it effectively.

Just being able to understand and apply the sword forms you learned made you a match for most mercenaries.

Most mercenaries swung their swords wildly, relying on instinct and strength without understanding what they were doing.

In this regard, the two students had reached the level where they could understand and apply the sword forms they had learned.

They could even infuse their weapons with a small amount of magic.

Even for someone from a knightly family, this level of skill at their age was enough to ensure success as a knight.

'How difficult must it have been for someone from the Wodanaz family, a famous magic family, to practice sword techniques to this level!'

While Derkyu from the Choi family was understandable, it was surprising to see a student from the Wodanaz family, a famous magic family, excel in sword techniques.

This made Ingeldel even more impressed.

'Sword techniques are as deep and meaningful as magic. This student must have felt that way and came here with determination to learn.'

Ingeldel had misunderstood Yi Han.

He thought Yi Han was so dedicated to sword techniques that he had secretly practiced them despite his family's disapproval.

In fact, the Wodanaz family didn't interfere much with Yi Han learning sword techniques from Alarlong.

The Wodanaz family was a place where everyone did their own thing without interfering with each other.

But to Ingeldel, who didn't know this, Yi Han was a commendable and pitiable student.

Now that they had met, Ingeldel felt responsible for guiding Yi Han on his path of the sword.

'Choi family's Gaoshanyue Sword is a fast and sharp sword. In contrast, Wodanaz's Bijian Sword is a heavy and strong sword. They have completely opposite styles. Sparring against each other will be very beneficial. A rival who can match you in the path of the sword is invaluable.'

Of course, Ingeldel was aware that the White Tiger Tower students were hostile towards Yi Han, who was from another dormitory.

But he believed this would resolve itself over time.

If they were beaten like dogs by Professor Ingeldel, they wouldn't have time to be hostile. They would only hate Professor Ingeldel!

Ingeldel sincerely hoped that the two most outstanding students would positively influence each other, and that this positive influence would spread to the other students.

Swish!

As Ingeldel was thinking this, he saw Yi Han kick up dirt and throw it in Derkyu's face.