After the graduation exam, the academy went quieter than expected.
There was talk among cadets about Professor Jack Arlesi’s sudden retirement, but that was it.
An official document stating that he was dismissed from his professorship by the president’s authority after being discovered to have committed corruption.
Most of the cadets’ reaction was that they knew he would be like that, pointing out that his personality was not that good.
His assistant, Pilar, was also found to have participated in corruption, so he resigned from his position as an assistant and was kicked out of the academy.
There was no talk of black magic at all.
Originally, it was supposed to cause a big stir that would turn the entire academy upside down, but somehow even Jack Arlesi kept his mouth shut and was quietly taken away by the knights of the empire.
‘That’s amazing.’
Ren saw the atmosphere at the academy and was impressed by the president’s abilities.
The influence within the academy seemed significant.
It was not only Jack Arlesi who joined the cadets, but also his gang, including Senna and Nocturne.
Due to the viciousness of Nocturne and his gang, it became public knowledge that they were involved in the death of Sena’s younger brother, and Nocturne and his gang failed the graduation exam and were suspended from school for one year.
Sena also failed the graduation exam due to maliciously cutting off Nocturne’s shoulder during a confrontation.
Rumors that Senna was involved in black magic also never spread.
Ren approached Senna, who was sitting on a wooden chair in the academy’s backyard, looking downcast.
“Ren.”
“I hope you learned a lot from this. “If it weren’t for you, President, the aristocrats’ hatred of commoners within the academy would have worsened thanks to you.”
That was why the rector did not associate Senna with black magic. The commoners within the academy were already unable to properly display their courage due to the influence of the nobles, but once this incident occurred, there was no turning back.
That didn’t really fit with the president’s ideology.
Her ideology was that talented people, whether nobles or commoners, should develop and keep up with the changes in the world.
“sorry… … .”
“I just need to know.”
“I am!”
Ren was about to turn and leave, but she got up and caught him.
“I am… , Can I visit Ren when I graduate?”
“I’ll accept it if you get first place in next year’s graduation exam.”
At those words, her dark face brightened.
“I will definitely do it!”
“It won’t be easy. “Unless you reach the level of a full-fledged knight.”
Ren thought of Urucan under Charles Buckeller.
A guy who inherited the blood of the giants. Ren has already confirmed his talent.
‘Come to think of it, that guy also used an axe.’
Will Senna be able to defeat Urucan? If she becomes the current Nocturne within a year… , No, if it becomes a little stronger than that, it is enough to aim for first place.
“I will never lose again. “The sword and the heart.”
“You just need that mindset.”
Len headed straight to Charles Buckeller’s professor’s office.
This was because he said he would give me an analysis report analyzing Ren’s swordsmanship from the past.
“Are you here? Please sit down.”
He even showed me a picture of Ren that his child had drawn himself.
“oh… … .”
Ren let out a quiet exclamation.
It was a detailed analysis of each and every scene seen in that short moment.
“ha ha ha… , I did my own analysis, but you can just watch it for fun.”
“no. “Let me take a look.”
Ren, who had not expected much, sat down and read the report with interest.
Charles Buckeller was even more interesting because he was not a swordsman himself.
It was fascinating to see that the sword was interpreted from a new perspective and analyzed in a thoroughly calculated manner from a third party’s perspective.
“Actually, I found Lord Ren’s swordsmanship really fascinating while analyzing it.”
“What do you mean?”
“As you can see from the report, I analyze swordsmanship by thoroughly calculating the angle of the arm, the strength of force according to the body’s center of gravity, wrist movement, and the most efficient attack route for each situation.”
“I found that part interesting too.”
“Because there is probably no swordsmanship analyst like me.”
Charles Buckeller said with a slightly smug look on his face.
“I’m dead and I don’t think I’ll ever wake up.”
“hahahahaha, everyone has their own abilities. What was surprising to me while analyzing it was that Ren’s swordsmanship was extremely accurate and consistent.”
“Is this a compliment?”
“It may or may not be a compliment.”
Buckeller said, rubbing his chin.
“As you can see, the direction, angle, strength, etc. of the ideal sword I thought of were very accurate. All ordinary tests have subtle differences. Even the sword masters of the empire are the same.”
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“… … okay.”
Ren immediately realized that it was due to the system’s compensation effect.
“yes. “Lord Ren’s swordsmanship is so diverse, and it’s hard to pinpoint which swordsmanship is the right answer. I don’t want to say anything, but I think that sometimes the clumsiness between perfection can be fatal.”
“The awkwardness between perfection… … .”
It was not something that was easily understood.
Usually, a moment’s mistake determines the outcome of a fight.
Especially, even if you are a senior knight or even a lieutenant, the moment you show a clumsy attitude, your head will be taken away in an instant.
“Please just listen lightly. In fact, I don’t tell this story to other prosecutors, but I wanted to tell Lord Ren this story.”
“Why do you only do this to me?”
“I think Lord Ren pursues perfection too much. If you only look in one direction, there may be things you don’t see. When you reach the end of perfection. “If I fall one step short of reaching Lord Ren’s goal, would Lord Ren be able to return?”
“… … I do not know.”
“It’s just my opinion. “You don’t have to think too deeply about it because it’s just a fantasy made up by a scholar who only thinks about theoretical aspects.”
Len looked at the report with Charles Buckeller, talked a little more, and then went back.
‘I feel like I know something… , it seems like it’s not… … .’
At the entrance to the academy stands Mecken, a knight of the Three Swords.
“Ren! “I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Let’s go.”
The 3 Sword Masters were on a mission to the Black Sea under the Emperor’s orders, so they could not be seen until after the Academy’s judging panel.
I also need to wear the emperor’s gold plate, but I haven’t thought of any specific request yet, so I decided to hold off.
‘There isn’t enough time.’
There are about four days left until the sword initiation ceremony begins in earnest.
Even if we left tomorrow, we would not have time to get to Vale, the Arjen family’s territory.
Even if you prepare now and leave right away, the sun will start to set.
Ren had no choice but to leave tonight.
“The Grealish mercenaries are waiting.”
“Me?”
“yes. “He said he would like to join us if the post-Academy schedule is okay, so he is waiting for us, so he is now a guest at our mansion.”
“Let’s go first.”
Arriving at the mansion, Ren met Eric and Albino waiting for him.
“What’s your schedule?”
“The schedule is up. “Things got a little messy, so I ended up having to stay in the empire for about two more weeks.”
“But why do you want to follow me? “Wouldn’t it be okay to just rest comfortably in the empire?”
“If we stay still, our whole body itches and we can’t stand it. “I heard that Ren is returning to the Arzen family this time. Is that true?”
The albino speaks with bright eyes.
“that’s right.”
“I wanted to visit Arjen’s territory once. “I thought it would be a good idea to stop by while attending Ren.”
“Okay, we’re leaving in two hours. “Get ready.”
“yes? “The sun is going to set soon and you’re just leaving?”
“I don’t have time. “If you don’t like it, quit.”
“It’s okay. “I’ll be ready right away.”
Eric dragged the albino to the members.
Ren packed his luggage in his room, filled his stomach with a simple meal, and then rode in the carriage prepared by Eric and Albino.
Instead of going through the southwest gate they had previously passed through, they went down to the gate located at the end of the continent.
The land of the empire, which covers the entire easternmost part of the continent, and the Black Sea, a large inland sea that separates the central and eastern parts of the continent.
To the east of the Black Sea is the territory of Arjen.
The Empire manages and monitors the Black Sea, but this road is attacked by monsters from the outer and inner seas more frequently than expected.
Because the inland sea is so large, even the empire cannot manage it thoroughly.
So, if you are unlucky, you may be attacked by monsters, so more people than you might think prefer not to go this way.
“Hwihwihwi―.”
However, Albino and Grealish’s members are enjoying their leisure time and admiring the magnificent inland sea.
“Isn’t it too leisurely?”
“Oh, honestly, how high is the probability that monsters from the inland sea will come out?”
“… … “Don’t say such ominous things. It’s like something happened every time you said something like that.”
Wow!!
Suddenly, in the darkness of the Black Sea far away, a large monster emerged from the surface of the sea, making a splash.
“I told you not to say weird nonsense!”
“What kind of sh*tty cases are there? “As soon as I say that, a real monster comes out?”
Albino and Eric were embarrassed and stuck their heads out toward the carriage behind them.
The members also put their faces out and waited for orders, as if they had confirmed that the monster had come out.
“First of all, the distance is still quite long, so let’s slow down and pass quietly, right? “It’s night now, so you might not be able to see us.”
Eric nodded at the albino’s words, ordered the carriage behind him to slow down, and held his breath.
Ren just stared at the monster.
As Albino said, there was no need to move first.
Sigh! Sigh! Sigh!
They begin to climb up the cliffs of the Black Sea with their long legs.
“Miss, why are you coming this way again!”
The albino scratched his head and glanced at Ren.
The albino, who had been paying attention to the situation as if he had been summoned for no reason, hesitates.
“It would have been better to go out and deal with it before it got near the carriage. “I will go and-”
“done. “I’ll go.”
Ren opened the carriage door and took out his blood sword.
A monster whose entire body is surrounded by a thick shell. The intention was to strike at a vital point and deal with it at once rather than straining at this late night.
“We don’t have time, so let’s do it quickly.”
Ren climbed down a steep slope that was almost like a cliff and leapt onto the monster’s head.
“Krrruk!! Karak!!”
The Black Sea monster emits an incomprehensible roar and pulls out three long tentacles from between its shells and swings them.
Powerful enough to instantly break a rock. Ren approached while avoiding the stone fragments bouncing in all directions and breathed energy into his blood sword.
Ren’s eyes glow red and red lines are drawn in the air. Ren swung the blood sword along the lines and dots that pierced the darkness.
Suddenly! Suddenly! Suddenly!
The tentacle is cut off, and dark red blood, shrouded in darkness, is sprayed in all directions.
While the bewildered monster flinched, Ren approached him and thrust his sword into the gap in the shell between its head and body and breathed energy into it.
With the sound of internal organs exploding from inside the shell, the Black Sea monster sheds death and falls from the cliff.
Pakak!
Gwijutsu – clinging to the wall
At the same time, Ren, who pumped energy into his feet and increased friction with the stone wall, leaping as if walking on the ground, got back on the carriage.
It took only 15 seconds to deal with the infamous monster of the Black Sea and return.
Albino and Eric, who were making a fuss about the monster just a moment ago, look at Ren with dumbfounded faces.
“Aren’t you crazy?”
“what?”
“Oh, that’s the monster of the Black Sea. Ah yes. hahahaha.”
After half-listening to the albino’s excuse, Ren sat down and closed his eyes as if nothing had happened.
Seeing Ren like that, Albino whispers to Eric next to him.
“Captain, how long do you think it will take to catch that thing?”
“… … I don’t know. “I have no intention of going down that cliff in the first place.”
“What if it went down?”
“If I had gone, I would have fallen into the sea with that guy.”
“… … “You’re crazy, right?”
“… … Right.”
“It’s noisy, so speed up again, because it’ll be annoying if monsters come up again.”
“yep!”
At Ren’s words, the albino urgently stuck his head out the window.
In the back carriage, the crew members, like them, stuck their heads out and looked blankly at the Black Sea where the monster had fallen.
“Hey guys .. hey guys! “I’ll speed up, so catch up quickly!”
“Yes!!”
After a light incident, Ren and the 3rd mercenary unit arrived in Vale after traveling for 3 days and nights.
While the mercenaries stayed at Vale’s territory, Ren headed to Arjen’s mansion.
‘It’s been a while.’
The feeling was new. How on earth are you coming back here after so many years?
Thinking back to my past life, decades had already passed.
Ren approached Arjen’s iron door.
The two knights guarding the place block him.
“Stop. “Who are you?”
There was no way the knights would know Ren’s face. It’s already been more than 10 years since he left the mansion.
“This is Ren Argen. Get out of the way. “I came to participate in the sword’s initiation ceremony.”
While the two knights, surprised by the name Ren Argen, hesitated to understand the situation, Ren took a step forward.
“Stop! “Identification has not yet been confirmed-.”
Ren easily dodged the sword being swung from both sides without even looking at it, grabbed the knight’s wrist, twisted it, and snatched the sword.
“Ugh!”
He then grabs him by the collar and throws it to the knight on the other side.
Ren pointed his sword at the two knights who had fallen in an awkward manner and spoke in a low voice.
“Open the door. “Before you pay for the crime of daring to point a sword at me.”
As soon as he said that, the iron door moved.