Sword Master Who Leapt Through Time - Chapter 19



Only Krnovel

#19 Exchange Meeting

A rumbling sound, a kicking sound, the rustling of clothes.

From the direction of the Yeongju Castle Great Dance Hall, numerous human presences were felt.

Sir Inafar, a high knight of the Horizon Knights, saw us off.

“Until last year, I was in charge of Iodin’s protection, but I decided not to do so this year. Overprotection is not His Highness’s educational policy. Now that Lansen is here, the two of you can work together as a comrade-in-arms and deal with any situation that may arise.”

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

Sir Inafar looked at me and Iodin with pleased eyes, then turned away.

“Then, thank you for your hard work. I ask that you finish the exchange meeting well.”

“yes!”

“yes!”

After Sir Inafar left, Iodin took a deep breath and made a promise to me.

“Junior Lansen. You have to show a perfect image. If you can’t do it, it’s the teacher who will be criticized, not you.”

“Yes. Yes. Don’t worry, I’ve prepared enough.”

“I’ll believe you. But this batch is particularly high level, so I have to do better. 100 percent or more!”

“yes yes.”

“No, don’t answer so dryly.”

“You go in first.”

“Ah, ah! Wait! I’m not mentally ready yet!”

I left Iodine behind as he continued to nag, and opened the door to the Great Hall wide and went in.

Buzz buzz buzz

Fighting-

The moment I entered, silence fell on the large auditorium, which had been noisy with the sounds of numerous people.

‘Wow- look at those eyes.’

This was the part where I could understand why Iodine was nagging so much.

You said there were 1,820 people in total?

So many eyes were focused on me at once.

It wasn’t very favorable.

‘Are you him? The new disciple?’

This kind of blatant curiosity was noble,

‘You don’t look that strong? If we fight, I can win.’

This kind of triumph was cute.

What really bothers me is,

‘Let’s see how well you do.’

‘How can I embarrass you?’

‘I want to step on it… … Is there anything I can do?’

Clear hostility.

The expressions on their faces are like they’re threatening to tear you apart if you make even one mistake.

Those gazes that seemed to be looking down on me and evaluating me really bothered me.

This tendency was stronger towards the front row than towards the back row, and the trainees at the very front were looking at me with very sullen faces as if they were trying to pick a fight.

however,

‘… … What is this?’

There was one student who particularly stood out.

A boy wearing a hat pulled down low over his ears, the kind you’d only wear in winter.

The lime green hair was unique.

He was the only one who tried to make eye contact with me, his eyes sparkling like a puppy’s.

When our eyes met, he even started waving his hands.

‘… … Do you know me?’

It’s the nature of people to hear bad words before good ones… … That trainee’s gaze was so sparkling that he showed off an overwhelming presence even among these malicious gazes.

No matter how I look at it, it’s not a sphere… …Why are you so friendly?

“Junior Lansen. Get ready.”

Oh, I was distracted for a moment.

Before I knew it, Iodine had finished his welcoming remarks and came up behind me to give me a signal.

Okay, okay.

For now, let’s focus on the swordsmanship demonstration.

Damn it.

I went up to the podium.

One step.

One step.

With every step, the world is erased.

The countless gazes pouring down on me are erased,

The sunny sky cleared,

Complex situations and thoughts are also erased,

Only me, the sword, and the podium remain.

Woohoo-

I woke up the sword spirit, pulled out the sword energy, and took that energy into my body.

Expert Intermediate, the realm of physical swordsmanship.

The body transforms into a sword.

Swish-

The air parted as the movement progressed.

With air resistance gone, your body feels much lighter.

Woof-

The body becomes hard as a sword.

Taaang!

It is elastic like well-made steel. The changes in joints, especially wrists and knees, were new. It is firm yet flexible, flexible yet resilient.

Knock!

The center of gravity of the body moves freely, as if holding a sword short and long. It also becomes possible to assume a posture that is normally impossible, such as lying down with your feet on the floor.

thud!

Sometimes your weight gets heavier or lighter momentarily.

The five changes that can only be seen when the realm of physical examination has matured were manifested through my body.

‘It’s fun.’

I was so absorbed in it that I forgot that I was in the middle of a swordsmanship demonstration.

It’s a completely different taste from Aurora.

Aura is basically about enhancing the body’s output.

Like riding a galloping wild horse, the key was how to control and unleash that overwhelming power.

That has its own kind of exhilarating fun, but it doesn’t have this kind of subtle fun.

Sometimes by shifting the center of gravity, sometimes by using elasticity, killing air resistance, changing weight, and creating an effect comparable to the enormous power that Aura emits.

It’s as interesting as solving a puzzle.

What if we put an aura on top of this?

He was so absorbed in it that he swung his sword.

Skaang!

My prepared demonstration ended with a large horizontal slash.

Only then did I come to my senses and see the faces clearly exposed under the pouring sunlight.

There were some trembling expressions there.

‘What? You’re so good… … ?’

A deadpan expression.

‘Isn’t it true that you’re weak in swordsmanship because of your special constitution? Are you already skilled in using the sword?’

A surprised expression, as if it was unexpected.

‘How do you compare to me…?’

A frown as he compares his own realm with mine.

Whatever it is,

It didn’t seem like there was anything lacking.

Bam.

“You did well… …! You did better than usual? At this level, there should be no problem in a friendly match. But the level of these kids is high, so I’m nervous.”

Iodine’s bright face proved it.

She stepped forward and shouted.

“Okay! Then, next up is the friendly competition! Those who wish to compete, line up at the front!”

As soon as Iodine finished speaking, about 40 trainees lined up below the podium.

Wow… … There are a lot, right?

Did Iodine deal with this many kids every year?

I glanced at Iodine,

“Uh… … Huh? Uh… … .”

Her bewildered face was visible.

… … There aren’t usually this many?

I guess I looked quite unpleasant.

Soon the first challenger came up to the podium.

He was the top student at Setes Academy, one of the most prestigious schools in Glowing Steel, aside from Horizon Academy.

He glared at me, his breathing ragged with excitement.

‘But… … These guys. I’ve been feeling this way since earlier, but their gazes are really annoying.’

It’s not just that I feel bad.

‘Should I call it the eyes of a beast?’

There is a glimmer of light between the eyes.

It doesn’t look like a human one.

‘Dalkashu and Ksias’ eyes were like that.’

I don’t think he’s a vampire though.

Is it because of my mood?

It’s quite uncomfortable and unpleasant.

“I can’t admit it.”

He must have been about 23 years old. The young guy’s eyes widened in an unpleasant manner and he immediately started talking to me informally.

“You’re 27, you say? And now you’re a swordsman. Are you trying to show off? Sir Iodin already reached your level at 17. Sir Iodin may not know, but you don’t.”

okay?

“I will definitely beat you. I am more suited to the position than a vagabond of unclear origins like you… … I am the eldest son of the Tessier family! I am more suited to the position.”

Then, the guy cast his gaze to one side of the large military parade with a meaningful look in his eyes.

I followed his gaze and saw a familiar bald pig.

‘Cassigier?’

The Archduke’s older brother is here.

The bastard even nodded faintly at the young man in front of him.

The moment I saw it, it was like a play was running through my head.

‘You told me to embarrass you?’

Given Cassigier’s status, it would not have been a problem to roast these dreamy young men.

I guess he said something like, “If you curse me a little and show me a good performance in this friendly match, I’ll recommend you to the Grand Duke.”

Did you analyze my swordsmanship and point out my weaknesses?

Or maybe he ordered a wheeled battle to drain my stamina.

‘I don’t know what you prepared, but… … .’

Sling-

I drew my sword as instructed by Iodine.

‘I have no intention of being embarrassed here.’

Not my taste either.

I also had to conserve my strength.

If anything is going to happen, it will be today.

You’re going to fight 40 beastly challengers for no reason?

I don’t have the energy to waste that much.

therefore,

Iodine might hate it, but

Well, I’ll just listen to your nagging.

Wooooow!

A majestic wave radiated from my practice sword.

“That, that!?”

A look of embarrassment appeared on the face of the challenger who had been acting cocky in front of me.

Is this your first time seeing anything like this?

A dark blue haze rippled over the sword, which was dyed dark blue.

This is the Aura swordsmanship that will develop 10,000 years from now. Now, with the ancient swordsmanship added to it.

“You despicable! Don’t you even think about competing with pure swordsmanship?!”

“Junior Lansen!”

Even Iodine was surprised and tried to stop me, but I had already made up my mind.

“The starting signal. Didn’t it ring earlier?”

Oh my god!

One sword.

The challenger’s sword shattered into pieces and flew away with a single strike.

The defeated challenger, who had no time to do anything, collapsed and looked up at me with a vain expression.

I ignored him and blurted out a word down from the podium.

“next.”

* * *

Clang!

“next.”

Damn it!

“next.”

This is so much fun.

Iodin covered his eyes with his hand, and Cassiere, who had been watching from afar, gradually reddened his face and left the great parade ground while grumbling.

Since I started using Aura, no one has been able to even take my sword.

Seeing the challengers ahead of them being defeated without resistance, each prepared new plans and strategies and rushed in, but they were all beaten equally.

You get one too. He gets one too.

Their level is at best at the end of the physical examination.

To that extent, it is impossible to withstand the violent power of Aura.

When only the last challenger remained, complaints poured out from under the podium.

“This is foul play!”

“That’s not fair!”

“I cannot accept this kind of expedient!”

Iodine bit his lip as if he had expected it to happen.

She tried to intervene, but I spoke first.

“What is foul play?”

“Didn’t you win by using your special constitution rather than pure swordsmanship?”

“If you keep teasing me, you’ll end up with a special constitution.”

“Such nonsense… …!”

“With that kind of mindset, you’ll never be able to defeat me. Why? Even when you meet me on the battlefield, you’ll beg me not to use Aura.”

“that……!”

As soon as one was silenced, another attack came.

“His Highness the Grand Duke would not want this! His Highness the Grand Duke’s sword cannot be completely inherited by relying on such expedient means!”

Oh? You’re going to attack me using the Grand Duke as an excuse?

that’s right!

okay!

Right!

Shouts of agreement erupted here and there, as if they thought they had struck a chord.

I can only laugh.

If you hit an arch-duke with an arch-duke, that’s it.

“Well? Does the Master just want me to repeat his swordsmanship? Or did he take me as his disciple because he wanted to see me reinvent his swordsmanship?”

“That’s ridiculous… … !”

“Why can’t you? There’s Senior Iodin, right? The master’s perfect swordsmanship is something he inherited from his senior. I’m just improving it in my own way.”

“uh……?”

Okay, it’s a little stuck.

From now on, momentum.

As if to show the utmost pathetic emotion, as if to hammer in a slightly stuck nail!

“Have you really never thought about that? That I became your disciple because I have a special constitution. Huh? That’s what His Majesty the Grand Duke wants. But why can’t I use it? Huh? Explain.”

“Ugh… … .”

“Ugh… … .”

No one can refute and just blushes.

Easy win.

“ah……!”

In the midst of this, Iodine nodded as if he had come to some great realization.

‘… … Actually, I was just beating around the bush.’

Iodin seemed to think that what I had just said was indeed what the Archduke meant.

Well, that’s not important.

I said, looking at the last boy left under the podium.

“next.”

“Yes! I’m going up!”

A green-haired girl who answers cheerfully.

Among the students who were full of hostility, he was the only one who showed me endless kindness.

Oh my god!

“Ugh!”

Well, that doesn’t make any difference.

It was the same for a sword to break with one blow.

Another thing is the reaction after losing to me.

“Ha… … Hahahaha. Hahaha!”

The boy fell backwards as he smashed the sword into pieces and burst into laughter while lying down.

It was a refreshing laugh, as if ten years of resentment were being relieved.

“… …Why are you laughing?”

When asked, the boy sat up straight.

He shouted with eyes that were so sparkling that it was burdensome.

“I respect you! Lord Lansen is my role model!”

……suddenly?

When did you see it?

“Excuse me! Could you please sign this broken sword?”

Is this it?

Is it not the fierce wind that takes off a traveler’s coat, but the warm sunlight?

I, who had been ignoring the countless hostile gazes toward me, ended up hesitating and stepping back in front of just one sparkling gaze.