I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 185

At Kryphi's urging, Luca eventually moved to the training ground.

This was the representative student training ground, which might as well be considered Luca's personal domain.

Last time, Luca and Kryphi had blown off the ceiling during a sparring session, necessitating large-scale repairs.

During those repairs, Kryphi took the opportunity to add various top-notch systems with his own preferences.

Not only was it possible to set the background via magic stone panels, but lighting, temperature, humidity, and even wind speed could be controlled.

Of course, the durability was also greatly improved compared to before.

While setting up the training ground, Kryphi chatted idly.

"Ben Dwight is an exceptional swordsman. There have been several times he and Lady Eltima have saved the continent from crisis together. But swordsmanship isn't all there is to that friend."

"You mean the Eye of Time."

"Hoho, did he use even that? He must have been embarrassed, because he never told me about it."

Learning that Luca knew about the Eye of Time, Kryphi burst into laughter.

"That friend said your swordsmanship was truly astounding, Luca. To the point that, even he, couldn't contend with you without using magic."

"By now, isn't that just the level one should aim for?"

"Hoho, Luca. Achieving that at your age is something most would find unbelievable. Then again, given who your rivals are, maybe it is only natural."

Kryphi nodded to himself as he finished the setup.

He then glanced slyly at Luca and said:

"Well, I think I'll start using my magic power in this match. Is that alright?"

"...... That's fine."

Luca hadn't yet managed to defeat Kryphi, even when Kryphi refrained from using magic.

But now Kryphi was suddenly saying he would use it.

At that, Luca felt his lips go a bit dry.

"That's disappointing. I was looking forward to seeing you beat me before I used my magic."

Kryphi put on a regretful expression.

Seeing Kryphi like that, Luca made a slightly sour face.

"Is that what you're upset about?"

"Hm? Upset? I'm not upset at all."

"......."

He claimed not to be upset, but with his eyes wide open and a faintly sulking face, it was clear his feelings were hurt.

When Luca stared at him with an indifferent look, Kryphi scratched his cheek.

"If I have to pinpoint why I'm uncomfortable... I suppose it's because of something Ben Dwight said."

"What did he say this time?"

With a puzzled expression, Luca looked at him; Kryphi replied curtly.

"He said you possess some strength greater than swordsmanship."

"......?"

Luca tried to understand why those words bothered Kryphi, then asked,

"Are you upset because I didn't show it to you first, master?"

"No, that doesn't really matter. Actually, outside of your swordsmanship, I'm not that interested anyway."

"Then why......?"

Luca pulled astringent expression.

If that wasn't it, then he really couldn't understand what part of it was uncomfortable.

Kryphi hesitated for a moment, then smiled sheepishly.

"I just don't like that the greatest strength of yours isn't the swordsmanship that I taught you."

"......?"

"Still, I am your master. Is it too selfish to hope that your greatest strength would be something you learned from me?"

Seeing Kryphi ask that, Luca bit his lip, then drew his sword.

"I don't think that's selfish. My current swordsmanship should be enough to ease any regrets."

"Oh, that much?"

At Luca's confident declaration, Kryphi also drew his sword and smiled brightly.

"Then, show me."

"......."

Luca adjusted his grip on his sword and whispered to his inner self, Luca Traverse.

'Looks like it's your turn to step forward here.'

- I've been wanting to humble that guy for a while anyway.

Luca Traverse readily stepped forward, gripping the hilt tightly.

Kwaang!

"!"

In an instant, his atmosphere changed completely.

His presence became as honed as a razor-sharp blade.

Kryphi's eyes glinted at the transformation.

'Oh, this is......?'

As Kryphi involuntarily tensed his grip, Luca Traverse spoke tonelessly.

"Then, I'll go now."

Swoosh!

Luca Traverse vanished from Kryphi's field of vision.

Or more accurately—he seemed to vanish, because he had darted into Kryphi's blind spot at incredible speed.

Clang!

But Kryphi easily blocked the attack.

Since it was his own swordsmanship that he had created, he was naturally familiar with how to counter it.

Srrrrk! Kagang!

"!"

Just then, Luca Traverse's blade spun along Kryphi's sword, digging in as if spiraling.

Kryphi quickly flicked his wrist to deflect Luca Traverse's blade, but he was clearly surprised.

"An extremely skillful peeling technique."

"......."

"To see you grow so much in such a short time. Honestly, I'm impressed. Well done."

Kryphi's amber eyes were shining with some strong emotion as he spoke.

"Then, let me get a bit more serious as well."

That feeling was, to anyone watching, pure competitive spirit.

* * *

'Heh... this is astonishing.'

Watching the spar between Luca Traverse and Kryphi from within, Luca couldn't help but admire it.

'How do they fight like that?'

It was a fierce and merciless battle—something Luca himself would never be able to imitate.

At every moment, their blades aimed for each other's vital spots.

Of course, even if a vital spot was struck, they wouldn't die or be gravely injured; but for now, both fought as if their lives were on the line.

A single moment's hesitation spelled defeat, while a single flash turned the tide in one's favor.

Even as he watched, Luca never dared to try and mimic it.

'Our physical and mental abilities are the same, yet there's such a vast difference...'

If nothing else, whenever it came to swordsmanship, Luca never felt confident he could control this body as perfectly as the persona of Luca Traverse did.

Clang!

"!"

As Luca was admiring the fight, the match reached its conclusion.

Luca Traverse's sword rolled across the ground.

Having lost his sword, Luca Traverse stared at his hand for a moment, then twisted his lips.

"I concede defeat."

"...... That was splendid. You feel like an utterly different person from the one I fought before."

Kryphi had a strange look in his eyes.

After a brief silence, he spoke cautiously.

"During the break... did something happen...?"

Kryphi paused mid-sentence, then shook his head firmly.

And, as usual, he gave a faint smile.

"No, it's nothing."

"......."

"There's still some time left; shall we spar a bit more? Once just isn't enough for me."

At Kryphi's words, Luca Traverse picked up his dropped sword and offered a sword salute.

"If you'll allow it, I'd be grateful."

Thus, Kryphi and Luca Traverse sparred two more times.

Kryphi won each time, but Luca Traverse nonetheless displayed excellent swordsmanship.

"Let's call it a day. Beyond this point, it wouldn't benefit either of us."

"...... Yes."

When the sparring ended, Kryphi sheathed his sword and remarked,

"Your sword has become unbelievably complete, Luca. I'd say its form is now fully realized."

"Thank you."

Luca Traverse bowed his head politely and turned to return to the mindscape.

But Kryphi's words made him stop.

"But I think you're still lacking in emotion."

"...... Emotion?"

Luca Traverse gave him a puzzled look.

Kryphi nodded.

"Yes. More precisely, willpower. That's to say, the intent you instill in your sword."

"Will..."

"Swordsmanship always has a purpose. There is no such thing as just learning swordsmanship for its own sake. Perhaps to become stronger, to defeat someone, or simply to survive. Whatever the goal, there is always a driving will."

As Kryphi spoke, he raised his sword horizontally.

Srrrr──

"!"

His sword blackened, emanating pressure so intense it was suffocating.

Luca Traverse instinctively pulled his sword, ready to charge.

At this, Kryphi let out a small laugh and lowered his blade.

"This is my will. Embarrassing as it is, it's the resolve to kill every enemy and survive on the battlefield that strengthens my sword."

"Will..."

"As I've said before, your swordsmanship still isn't complete. While you have the general shape, your own emotions and experiences have yet to be infused, so it's still in the state of a 'Formless Sword'."

Kryphi explained in a calm voice.

"One day, when you realize your own feelings and infuse them into your sword, only then will your swordsmanship truly take shape. That's when you can give your sword a new name."

"A new name..."

"Bear in mind, this is a style I created to allow you to defeat your brother, Wylde Traverse. Accordingly, most people would imbue it with a will to overcome or surpass something."

Kryphi wore a strange expression.

"Still, for some reason, I don't sense a goal like that in you now. It feels as if you're just going through the motions, having learned swordsmanship simply because you could..."

At these words, Luca Traverse's eyes trembled.

"I—"

"Well, I won't pry any deeper. That's something you have to resolve for yourself. I'll be going now. Don't take my words too seriously. Time will sort these things out, eventually."

With that, Kryphi left the training ground.

Luca Traverse, left alone, remained silent.

– Luca Traverse?

Even at Luca's call, Luca Traverse stayed silent briefly, then retreated into the mindscape.

And Luca too was dragged into the mindscape.

"?"

A training ground filled with broken wooden swords.

Luca appeared there, giving Luca Traverse a puzzled look.

Luca Traverse bit his lips, looking troubled.

"What's wrong?"

"...... I don't really know what I feel right now."

Luca Traverse held Luca's gaze as he spoke.

"Do you know?"

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

Luca Traverse suddenly started talking nonsense.

To this, Luca just pulled a sour face.

"...... My lifelong goal, elder brother, turned out to be quite different from what I'd expected."

"Uh... well, yeah..."

It was definitely different than he'd imagined.

Luca recalled the image of Wylde in a swimsuit, tanned by a magic potion, and shuddered.

"Even so, he's still a monstrous person, and still a wall you need to overcome."

"That's... true, but..."

Luca Traverse hesitated, then bowed his head in contemplation.

"But he wasn't that kind of person. He was more..."

"?"

Luca Traverse couldn't quite bring himself to say what he meant.

After a moment's thought, Luca said,

"You wish he'd been more of a villain?"

"!"

At that, Luca Traverse stiffened in shock.

But seeing his reaction, Luca was sure of it.

"Considering your neurosis, that makes sense. Everyone around you was an enemy and an obstacle to trample over. But in reality, that was just your misconception, and Wylde actually cared about you a lot. Now you're confused because of that, right?"

Luca Traverse couldn't deny it.

He could only look devastated.

Watching him, Luca shrugged.

"But so what... does it really matter?"

"?"

Luca Traverse blinked, apparently not understanding.

So Luca spoke plainly.

"Whether Wylde's a good person or a bad person, he's still the wall you need to overcome. Whether it's to become the family head or earn the respect of others."

"That's..."

"Well, I don't intend to become family head myself. But I did make a promise to you, and honestly, I'm feeling pretty stubborn about it now."

With that, Luca clenched his fist.

"If things go according to fate, the man called Luca Traverse will never defeat Wylde Traverse. Eventually, he gets frustrated, twisted, and meets a terrible end. Only serving as a means to force Wylde Traverse to fight Demonz. I'm not going to lose to that."

"I don't want to lose... to fate..."

At Luca's words, Luca Traverse froze for a long moment, deeply shaken.

But his eyes shone brighter than ever before.

"Yeah. I want to carve my own fate, you know? Whether it's Wylde, Demonz, or destiny itself in my way—I want to break through all of it."

"Break through... not bad."

Luca Traverse repeated the phrase "break through" to himself, then cracked a smile.

And at that moment, something strange happened.

"Huh? What's that...?"

"......?"

Before anyone had noticed, a sword had appeared in Luca Traverse's hand.

But the sword itself wasn't important.

What mattered—

"That light... could it be...?!"

Luca Traverse's sword was wrapped in light.

However, it wasn't just the simple glow of magic power coating.

It was the crystallization of a purer, higher power.

"Ether blade... and it's..."

The ether blade, symbol of a master.

But that wasn't all.

The color of this ether blade was not the usual blue, but contained a murky green hue.

"A will-imbued ether blade...!"

The will-imbued ether blade, the symbol of a grandmaster.

It was still incomplete, but it was right on the verge of becoming one.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Damn, a little pep talk from Luca to Luca did something great...

Also, will there be a time when both Luca and Luca personalities merge into one???

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】