Martial 14

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The day after Eugene told the deans he wanted to become a magic swordsman, the academy was abuzz with unprecedented excitement.

“Did a child of the Bedia family really say he wanted to be a magic swordsman?”

“No way, it must be a lie. There’s no way a child of the Bedia family would say that.”

“No, it’s true. Eugene Bedia said he wants to become a magic swordsman.”

From the first-year students to the instructors, Eugene’s name was on everyone’s lips within the academy.

Gnashing his teeth, Antonio Bedia, who was in his dormitory, ground his teeth upon hearing about Eugene.

Already displeased with the fact that Eugene was in the same academy as him, the rumor that Eugene wanted to become a magic swordsman made him feel even worse, as if the family’s honor was diminished.

***

Male Students’ Dormitory 5.

Team 5, led by Eugene, was nervously watching Eugene’s reaction with surprised and troubled faces.

“Say something?”

“No, it’s just…”

Sighing, Eugene spoke as Aaron continued to stare at him.

“Are you really going to become a magic swordsman?”

“Why? Is it not allowed?”

“No, that’s not it, but…”

“Don’t worry, just because I receive magic swordsman training doesn’t mean our team will be excluded from the exams or face more difficult tests.”

“Oh, really?!”

Eugene shook his head at Aaron and the other team members who suddenly smiled. Until now, they were worried because they thought their exams might be affected.

“But are you really going to become a magic swordsman?”

“I don’t know how many times I’ve been asked that question.”

Ken Pelven, who was sitting next to Eugene, asked curiously. He had heard the rumors but was still curious if Eugene, a child of the Bedia family, was really aiming to become a magic swordsman.

“Yes, I am going to become a magic swordsman.”

“Why on earth?”

“I don’t know!”

Finally, unable to hold back, Eugene snapped in frustration. From the dining hall in the morning to his return to the dormitory, everyone he met had been asking him if he was going to become a magic swordsman.

“It feels like I’ll even hear it in my dreams…”

He should have asked the dean to keep it a secret. Somehow, not only his class but also the instructors knew about it.

“So, what kind of training will you receive?”

Rohen, who was sitting across from Eugene, tilted his head. Although it was known that Landbard Academy had training for magic swordsmen, no one actually pursued it, so no one knew what the training entailed.

“It’s nothing special. Just learning swordsmanship and magic together.”

“Wow, that sounds hard just hearing it. But you seem unfazed?”

“Not really.”

Eugene nonchalantly scratched his ear. How simple could it be? He just had to train in swordsmanship and magic together. Of course, he intended to train in swordsmanship (劍法) and qi (氣) instead of magic and swordsmanship.

“But if you become a magic swordsman, what happens to the formation?”

As Rohen muttered to himself, the other team members simultaneously looked at Eugene. The first test was a party test, where they had to hunt monsters in formation. If the team leader was a knight, they led the formation; if a mage, they stayed in the rear. But Eugene, being a magic swordsman, used both swordsmanship and magic, making it tricky to form a proper formation.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be at the forefront.”

With him present, there would be no problem regardless of the formation.

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

The bell signaling the start of morning classes rang, and the students left their dormitory for their respective classes.

“See you later.”

“Yeah.”

Eugene lightly greeted Rohen and Ken, who waved at him, and headed to the training hall.

Unlike other students, Eugene’s classes took place in a simple training hall, which barely qualified as an educational facility.

Bowing, Eugene greeted the instructor, Deiker, who was already there.

“So, you really decided to become a magic swordsman.”

“Yes.”

“Sigh… I see.”

Schwing.

Crash!

Without further questions about Eugene’s decision, Deiker drew his sword and planted it in the ground of the training hall.

“Do you know what is most important for a knight?”

“Endurance.”

“Um?”

When Eugene answered the question confidently and without hesitation, Deiker’s eyes widened slightly. 

Typically, when asked, “What is the most important thing for a knight?” most young students would say “swordsmanship.” 

This is understandable because swordsmanship is indeed crucial for a knight. 

However, that is not the correct answer. 

For a knight, the most important thing is the endurance to perform swordsmanship. 

Yet, Eugene, who wasn’t even a knight, had given the correct answer immediately. 

“That is… correct. You are wise.” 

“Thank you.” 

In truth, Eugene had either guessed correctly or knew the answer. 

What this means is: 

In the martial arts world of Zhongyuan, the most important thing for a martial artist was the endurance to perform swordsmanship, rather than the swordsmanship itself. 

Therefore, in Zhongyuan, when teaching young students in martial arts schools, they first trained their endurance. 

‘And I thought it would be the same here.’

“If you know that, let’s move on to the next step.”

Clang.

Deiker pulled the sword from the ground of the training hall. 

“From now on… watch my movements closely and try to follow them.”

Swish!

Swish, swish, swish.

Hoo.

Swish.

Deiker demonstrated the swordsmanship at a moderate speed in front of Eugene. 

“Did you watch closely?”

“Yes.”

“Now try to follow.”

Deiker’s command seemed insane. 

He showed the swordsmanship once and then expected it to be followed exactly? 

Moreover, it was directed at someone who wasn’t even a knight but a mage. 

However, this instruction was not Deiker’s independent decision but one passed down from the deans. 

The swordsmanship Deiker demonstrated was the basic swordsmanship that all knight students learned and knew upon entering the academy. 

The academy does not teach the basics. 

As mentioned earlier, students learn basic swordsmanship or their family’s swordsmanship and build up their endurance and aura before entering the academy. 

The same applies to mages. 

Therefore, the deans did not intend to teach Eugene the basic swordsmanship in detail. 

“Everyone entering this academy has already learned this basic swordsmanship. So, if you want to advance at the same pace as your team members, you will have to perform this swordsmanship.”

Eugene let out a slightly exasperated chuckle inwardly. 

Even if all knight students entering the academy knew the basic swordsmanship, it was unreasonable to impose this requirement on someone who had been a mage. 

“If another mage besides me had decided to become a magic swordsman, they would have given up immediately.”

“I don’t expect you to perform it perfectly right away. I will give you two days to practice this swordsmanship…”

Step, step.

Deiker tilted his head as he saw Eugene walking towards him. 

Thump.

“What are you…”

Deiker frowned as he watched Eugene slightly withdraw while holding Deiker’s sword.

But then…

In that moment,

Swish!

Swish, swish, swish.

Hoo.

Slash.

Eugene began performing the basic swordsmanship that Deiker had shown him without any mistakes.

From the distribution of power when moving the sword, to the foot placement when thrusting, and even the body movements when retrieving the sword,

Eugene executed the basic swordsmanship perfectly as demonstrated by Deiker.

Thud.

“Is this good enough?”

As Eugene finished the basic swordsmanship and lowered his sword, Deiker’s mouth hung open in astonishment.

Although he had received instructions from the deans and had given Eugene an almost impossible task, it was nearly impossible for a mage, who knew nothing about swordsmanship, to master the basics in just two days.

It wasn’t just about holding and moving the sword; performing swordsmanship required a certain level of physical endurance and understanding of the connected movements according to certain principles.

Yet, Eugene had flawlessly executed everything.

“How… how did you do that?”

“I just watched and followed.”

Eugene answered nonchalantly.

In truth, he had not known the basic swordsmanship beforehand; he had simply mimicked what Deiker had shown him.

‘There’s no way I couldn’t follow such simple movements.

After all, he had been the Heavenly Demon (天魔).

He had reached the level of unity of body and sword (身劍合一), where the sword and he were one.

He could perform basic swordsmanship, which young knights learned, even in his sleep.

“Did you use Strengthen magic?”

Deiker asked if Eugene had used Strengthen magic, which increased muscle strength and endurance.

Without it, it would be impossible to move such a heavy sword so smoothly.

“No.”

“Then… did you train your endurance?”

“Yes.”

“When? And why?”

Why would a mage build up enough endurance to perform swordsmanship?

“Since I aimed to become a magic swordsman before entering the academy, I trained my endurance.”

“I see… so you knew the basic swordsmanship?”

“No, I really just followed what you showed me a moment ago.”

In the Bedia family, known for their magic, he had no way of learning swordsmanship.

In fact, it was difficult for him to even handle a sword.

“Well… then…”

Quickly,

Deiker brought something human-shaped from the end of the training hall and placed it in the center.

“This is a sword golem.”

The human-shaped object Deiker brought was a golem holding a sword, used by knights for training.

A black golem the size of an adult man.

“This golem is made of Black Steel. Your task is to either destroy it, incapacitate it, or subdue it with swordsmanship. Since you passed the basic swordsmanship test right away, I’ll give you a week.”

Of course, a week was still a very short time.

To break a golem made of Black Steel, one had to be at least a 1-star level 4 or 5 knight.

“I was surprised you followed the basic swordsmanship right away, but… this golem will be difficult.”

Mutter.

“What?”

Deiker tilted his head, looking at Eugene who was muttering softly.

And at that moment,

Crash, crash, crash!

Boom!

“Hoo…”

Eugene took a deep breath after sending the golem flying far away.

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