Study 3

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‘Really, Father?’

‘Of course. My judgment is precise. You will grow into greatness. I’m saying this secretly, but your talent surpasses even your brothers’.’

‘Then I want to become the greatest knight in the Empire!’

‘Yes, yes. You most certainly can.’

For a moment, it felt like his life flashed before his eyes.

Dellev blinked blankly.

It was the third time.

This time, he was struck when his attention was distracted by the chalk that Ziel had thrown.

Murmurs filled the room.

“He lost again?”

“It didn’t even look like a loss. He just got slammed.”

“Three times already…”

It was humiliating.

Was it because he stepped forward so confidently, only to be defeated?

No.

‘What the hell is going on?’

In the blink of an eye, the instructor named Ziel vanished, and his body was slammed into the floor.

This had never happened before.

Even when he lost a spar, he could always tell how he lost.

But this time, he couldn’t see anything at all.

He blinked, and suddenly he was on the floor.

‘I’m the greatest talent of House Kundel…!’

The greatest talent who would surpass his brothers!

That pride was the source of Dellev’s very existence.

But that pride was thoroughly shattered.

“Distraction is the easiest way to succeed with an ambush. When something suddenly flies at your face, always suspect an attack from behind.”

Ziel continued his explanation in a flat tone, as if it were nothing.

The students thought:

‘Forget suspecting anything—there was literally no time to think…’

‘How is chalk that fast?’

‘Is that even possible?’

Thanks to that, Dellev barely managed to lift his body amid his disgrace.

“Dellev Kundel, now do you understand the importance of self-defense?”

This was humiliation beyond humiliation.

The kind that must never be left unresolved.

“No… I still don’t… understand.”

Ziel tilted his head.

He had clearly shown it, and yet Dellev claimed he still didn’t understand?

‘Does he lack aptitude?’

But as a teacher, it was his duty to guide even those lacking aptitude.

“Then let us try again until you do.”

“As many times as you wish.”

A poisonous determination burned in Dellev’s eyes.

‘This time, I’ll see it.’

But—

Bang!

He didn’t see it again.

Dellev was once more slammed into the floor.

He still couldn’t see the chalk.

Instead, the lights flickered off again and on.

‘This is insane…’

This time, it was even faster.

The moment the attack came, the lights went out, and as he hit the ground, they flickered back on.

“Your reaction is too slow. When you expect an attack from behind, your hands should already be positioned near your chest to respond quickly.”

Dellev shot to his feet.

As Ziel said, he placed his hands at his chest.

Not because he chose to—

But because his body moved on its own.

At this point, pride no longer mattered.

“I still… don’t… understand.”

Bang!

Boom!

Ziel struck him down over a dozen more times without letting him block a single one.

“Your movement was slightly faster that time.”

“It’s more effective to block with your palm turned outward rather than the back of your hand.”

“Don’t drag your feet. It slows you down even for a moment.”

Gradually, Dellev’s responses began to improve.

The lights turned on and off, chalk flew at him again and again.

“This time, it’s smoke. I’ll warn you in advance.”

Poof!

Even a smoke bomb was thrown, and naturally, Dellev went rolling again.

‘A smoke bomb now?’

‘Isn’t that only used in second-year advanced classes…?’

In the latter part of their second year at Sword School, students took mock combat training resembling real battle.

Smoke bombs were used there.

“Huff… huff…”

The students observing fell silent.

‘This instructor is insane…’

It was one thing for Dellev to keep charging in like that.

But what was that instructor?

Surely he knew who House Kundel was.

Why was he mercilessly slamming the scion of one of the Empire’s greatest houses into the dirt?

‘Does he have someone powerful backing him?’

To attack the Kundel heir without hesitation—

He must not fear even the highest noble houses.

‘The Imperial Family…?’

‘Or another great house…? Ludbekia? Rihart?’

On top of that, Ziel hadn’t moved a single step since the beginning.

Only Dellev was rushing in like a madman.

Bang! Bang!

“This is getting entertaining.”

One student, Celia Rihardt, watched with growing interest.

‘So he’s not just good-looking.’

House Rihardt.

Alongside House Kundel, one of the Empire’s most prestigious noble families.

In terms of talent produced, some claimed it even slightly surpassed Kundel.

Celia was the second daughter of House Rihardt, and like Dellev, was considered the greatest genius in her family’s history.

And from her perspective…

This instructor named Ziel Steelheart was quite to her liking.

‘Perhaps… I should add him to the candidate list.’

She was referring to candidates for a personal knight.

Bang!

Meanwhile, Dellev was slammed down once again.

He wasn’t seriously injured or exhausted.

He had simply been knocked over.

Dellev realized—

The instructor was focusing on knocking him down, not hurting him.

‘He’s mocking me.’

There was no pain.

It didn’t hurt much even when he hit the floor.

And yet his mind was in tatters.

“Rrrgh!”

Crash!

He was slammed again.

“Your counterattack is too slow. Your field of vision is too narrow. Look more to your left and right.”

And yet… strangely…

He wanted to keep going.

It felt like he was improving, bit by bit.

“That wasn’t bad. But you’re still too slow.”

“Huff… huff… What was slow?”

“Your right hand.”

Thud!

He was flattened again.

“You cannot assume I will always come from the right.”

This time, Ziel had attacked from the left.

“Still, that was your best movement yet, Dellev Kundel.”

The moment he heard those words, Dellev simply collapsed on the ground.

He was completely spent.

Ziel looked down at him and asked:

“Now do you understand?”

“Huff… huff…”

Dellev could only gasp for air, unable to speak.

“If you still do not understand, then try again next class.”

Ziel glanced at the clock, then turned to the students.

“I’ll end our first class here. The other students should also understand the importance of self-defense by now.”

Ziel thought so.

He believed he had shown them more than enough.

“In the next class, I’ll explain the basics of self-defense, so make sure you all bring your textbooks.”

With that, Ziel left the lecture hall.

But none of the students could stand up for a long while.

Including Dellev, who was lying on the floor—no one moved.

“L-let’s go…”

“Dellev, are you okay…?”

Kusman was the only one who ran over to help Dellev up.

“D-Dellev, you alright?”

“……”

Dellev raised only his upper body and stared blankly into space.

“‘Best,’ my foot…”

He was dazed.

Scenes from the last two hours flashed through his head without pause.

And yet, strangely…

Why was that?

It didn’t feel all that bad.

“This is the first time I’ve been slammed into the floor dozens of times like this…”

“No one’s ever had that experience…”

“But I don’t actually feel bad…?”

For a young lord from a noble house, this was a situation beyond imagination.

“Are… are you sure you’re okay?”

Kus had a thought.

Maybe Dellev’s head had gotten scrambled from being slammed too often.

***

Slurp!

Professor Elcanto’s office was steeped in leisure.

Six in the evening.

Professor Elcanto had finished all his classes and returned to his office to enjoy a restful evening.

He didn’t eat dinner.

His personal physician had advised him to reduce his food intake as much as possible.

‘I really did gain a lot of weight.’

Professor Elcanto kept knocking back cups of tea.

It was the only way to endure the hunger.

Every so often his eyes drifted to the box where he kept snacks, but he resisted with all his might.

He wanted to get back the sharp jawline he used to have.

“Right, I’ve been under way too much stress these past few years, so of course I gained weight.”

So many bouts of intrigue he had weathered to become a full professor.

It was a position he had won through struggle.

How bitter it had been to be passed over just because he didn’t come from a great noble house, despite his ability.

But all that hardship had ended a few years ago.

Among the full professors he was still at the bottom, but from here on out he expected a stress-free life where he could do as he pleased…

Knock knock.

“Um, Professor Elcanto. It’s your TA.”

“Oh, right. Come in.”

Professor Elcanto poured another cup of tea.

Of course, it was for himself, not the TA.

“So, what is it?”

He asked with the gentlest smile he could muster.

But at the TA’s next words, he shot to his feet.

“W-what?”

“W-well…”

“That damned instructor…”

His hands trembled.

His face flushed a furious red.

He could not contain the anger boiling up.

“Three, two, one.”

The TA, who had been counting down silently, squeezed his eyes shut and covered his ears.

“What on earth did he doooooooo!”

Clang!

The glass on the table shattered, and cracks spread across the display cabinet’s panes.

A roar suffused with mana.

It was a Battle Roar—the kind they said only a grandmaster-level fighter could use.

Why it had to erupt now of all times was beyond him.

With a weary look, the TA started counting the broken windows and cups.

‘We’re going to have to replace all of that again…’

Third year as a TA.

By now, he had resigned himself to fate.

“How dare some contract instructor lay hands on House Kundel!”

Professor Elcanto turned sharply toward the TA, still fuming.

“So he ‘demonstrated’ self-defense by slamming Dellev Kundel into the floor?”

“Y-yes…”

“This lunatic…”

Professor Elcanto clenched his fist tight.

‘One instructor is going to derail my entire life…’

Kundel.

Rihardt.

And the other great houses’ heirs were all special-care students at Edelvine Academy.

Why?

Because a substantial portion of Edelvine Academy’s finances were funded by donations from those great houses.

Which meant not a single incident—no matter how small—could be allowed to befall those heirs while they studied and graduated.

And yet… a major incident had just exploded.

“Why—why… why would he do that…”

Whether it was the Sword School or the Arcane School, liberal arts classes existed mainly to rack up credits.

First-years, who mostly took liberal arts, often treated the year as time to coast by with just enough attendance.

That was all Professor Elcanto had wanted as well.

Teach just enough, give out generous grades, and let the semester pass quietly…

‘If Kundel cuts off their donations…’

A horrible vision he didn’t dare fully imagine flashed through his mind.

Professor Elcanto’s brain started spinning fast.

“Right, th-that Zi—Zi—”

“Ziel Steelheart, Professor.”

“Right! Where is that bastard?”

“In the staff cafeteria…”

Wobble.

Professor Elcanto’s belly wobbled fearsomely as he heaved himself up.

***

Clatter.

Ziel set down his fork, satisfied with his meal.

The staff cafeteria.

He liked it here very much.

Because he could eat to his heart’s content.

“The food tastes good.”

Food was special to Ziel.

He had once gone three days without eating.

Then, lured by the promise of a meal, he took a man’s hand, followed him, and became an assassin.

After that, as an assassin, he rarely felt the joy of eating.

Only the minimum rations necessary for training.

Nutrient bricks with no flavor to speak of.

Now, with the brainwashing undone, he had regained his sense of self.

The unresolved grudge of his childhood.

He was finally releasing it, twenty years later.

“Hey, who is that guy?”

“Who eats dinner five times?”

He was perhaps releasing a bit too much.

“I like this place.”

Ziel had taken a liking to this place.

If he simply followed Professor Elcanto’s instructions by the book, he could live safely here—where the food was delicious.

“I wrapped up the first class very satisfactorily…”

The students had seemed focused on the lesson, too.

Not a single one took their eyes off him until the class ended, which meant they were fully absorbed.

“It would be nice to become a full professor, too.”

He had never even dared to dream of a new life while he was brainwashed.

But the moment he regained his self, Ziel began pursuing one.

Safe, with a cover identity, and above all, with good food.

Teaching was fairly fun as well.

One more thing.

“My face doesn’t feel suffocated.”

Since being taken by the assassin order, he had never once gone outside with his real face.

After he completed training and became a formal assassin, he used a disguise mask on every mission.

Walking around with his real face—this was the first time since those days begging under the bridge before he was taken.

“I should head back to the dorm.”

He even had a place to lay his head.

He hadn’t had time to explore because he started teaching on day one, but simply having a place to sleep pleased him immensely.

While Ziel was focused on his food and his thoughts…

‘There he is.’

A student entered the staff cafeteria and snuck up behind him.

Just as the student reached for Ziel’s shoulder from behind—

“Celia Rihardt.”

Ziel turned his head.

Celia froze on the spot.

“H-how did you know?”

Once he had observed a person, identifying them wasn’t difficult.

Celia was even easier.

The spacing of her footsteps.

The strong perfume.

Those two things were enough.

“Next time you try to approach me secretly, use a different method.”

Celia stared at him in disbelief, then suddenly brightened.

“But… you do remember me, right? You only saw me once earlier. So I did stand out, didn’t I?”

“You’re my student.”

My student.

Those words made Celia’s heart skip.

For Ziel, it was a literal statement.

To him, she didn’t even have a particularly striking face.

At least, not to Ziel.

“So, what’s your business? Before that, this is a staff-only cafeteria. Students aren’t allowed in.”

“Oh my, I’m a Rihardt.”

“You mean your house is Rihardt?”

“That’s not what I mean—I am a Rihardt…”

It wasn’t the kind of thing one said outright.

“Anyway, no one’s going to make a fuss.”

“Because you’re a Rihardt?”

“Yes.”

Only then did Ziel begin to understand.

“Do entry privileges here depend on a house’s prestige?”

‘Why is he being so stiff?’

People like him were rare these days.

Not in a good way.

At least, not at Edelvine Academy.

“That’s not it exactly… There’s this thing called flexibility in the world.”

“So it isn’t by the book.”

“What does that matter?”

“It matters. Schools have rules.”

“You’re really rigid, aren’t you. Right, you asked what I wanted. Honestly… I just happened to see your face as I was passing by.”

Ziel tilted his head.

“For just passing by, you watched me for quite a long time.”

He checked the time and added:

“It’s been about thirty minutes since I started eating. Celia Rihardt, you’d been following me for at least fifty minutes. From Avedardo Hall.”

Good grief.

He’d known?

Celia’s ears turned red.

“Your ears are flushing. That’s a bodily reaction that usually shows when you’re embarrassed.”

“N-no! I’m not embarrassed at all!”

“Really? Then you’re flustered.”

“I suppose I told the truth, then.”

Even in that moment, Celia was thinking.

‘He’s more impressive than I thought.’

At first, it was his face that drew her eye.

But Celia wasn’t the type to tail someone for looks alone.

Good-looking people were everywhere.

Of course, few were as handsome as Ziel.

Either way, there was only one reason she had trailed him and struck up a conversation.

“Then how did you know I was following you?”

“You trailed me boldly without even trying to hide your presence.”

As if his unearthly good looks weren’t enough, he looked strong enough to have toyed with Dellev Kundel.

And on top of that, he had the keen senses to notice she was tailing him.

“Is that so?”

Celia let her reddened ears show as she curled one corner of her mouth.

“Professor. About that…”

Just then—

“Ziel Steelheart!”

From the entrance of the staff cafeteria.

A thunderous voice rang out, calling Ziel by name.

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