novelraw Chapter 116 : Chapter 116
Chapter 116 : Chapter 116
116
There are problems that can be seen from the outside, and problems that can be seen from the inside.
“Did you see her?”
“Yeah.”
Students gathered in small groups and exchanged glances.
Pan, Bridget, Eleveth, Freizier, and all other students' gazes held the same meaning.
At the end of their fleeting glances, a female student with yellow curly hair was looking straight ahead, sitting in her seat with a stubborn expression.
“I know that expression. It's just…… an expression of enduring.”
Freizier bit her lower lip with a sad expression as if she could guess the other's heart.
Just like she said, the yellow-haired female student, Ailen, was waiting for the class to end quickly, clenching her teeth.
It had already been two weeks since she was selected as a candidate for expulsion due to her dull body.
However, becoming the last place was only two weeks ago, but hovering around the lower ranks was already a matter of more than two months ago.
Was it the price for being greedy for magic even though she entered a swordsmanship academy?
While she was distracted there for a while after awakening mana, her friends' swordsmanship skills had improved unimaginably.
She couldn't keep up with the progress, and her dull body creaked.
At this rate, she would be kicked out of the academy without being able to do anything, and if she was kicked out of the academy, her life would be…….
As her thoughts reached that point, Ailen's expression became a little more venomous.
How did she get here?
Since she was young, she had more than ten tutors attached for early education.
Her childhood memories were all about studying.
If she fails here.
Her whole life would degenerate into useless trash.
‘No.’
There was someone who quietly approached Ailen, who was clenching her teeth like that.
It was Pan.
“Hey.”
“……?”
Ailen, who didn't expect anyone, especially him, to talk to her, flinched in surprise and looked at Pan.
And naturally, other people's gazes also focused on Pan.
That was because although Akarind Academy students might be somewhat used to it and indifferent, Pan was a handsome man not just at the Akarind Academy level, but at the continental or world level.
Until last year, Pan was just a handsome loser role in the academy, so students just didn't really realize his appearance and skills well.
“I saw you swinging the sword earlier.”
Ailen's face turned red.
‘What is it? Is he trying to tease me now saying my swordsmanship is trash? Just because I look like I'm going to be kicked out of the Imperial Academy, does he think he can do something with me just because he's a bit handsome?!’
In an instant, various thoughts flashed through her head.
Of course, what Pan wanted to say wasn't such a story.
“You, weren't you using swordsmanship wrongly?”
“Wrongly……?”
“You can use magic. Isn't the sword you need a slightly more supportive and defensive sword?”
At Pan's words, Ailen realized her misunderstanding and closed her eyes tightly.
What was I thinking.
Such shame was brief, and soon her eyes changed back to being fierce.
“So?”
“Huh? Then you should change your sword now. To a sword that suits you.”
“Easier said than done. How do I do that?”
Changing the swordsmanship one uses wasn't that easy.
It was like a right-handed person suddenly switching to being left-handed.
In addition to that, if correct posture and good swordsmanship are added, one could only obtain good results by repeatedly training steadily for several years.
Above all, there was no professor at the Imperial Academy to guide such a change.
The person who created her swordsmanship was Professor Jerome, and to train in a different swordsmanship while offending him.
It was nonsense.
But that was strictly the situation of the Imperial Academy.
It was a story that didn't apply to Pan, who had received Cassian's teachings.
“? Is that difficult?”
Should I say, as expected of Cassian's disciple.
Pan cast ‘Is this difficult?’.
It was a tremendous effect.
Because not only Ailen but even the students who were listening without knowing what they were talking about frowned all at once.
However, conversely, the students of Akarind Academy all nodded their heads as if it were natural.
‘Right, just change it?’
‘That's difficult? Why? Don't they do classes? Actually, is the Imperial Academy a place that only does self-study while pretending classes are taking place?’
If they had conversed calmly, the misunderstanding might have been resolved, but there was neither time nor need for that.
Because before they knew it, Cassian had gone up to the podium and was looking down at the students.
“Wait a moment.”
Pan said so, smiled brightly, and returned to the Akarind Academy students.
“Nice to meet you. I am Cassian, the instructor in charge of Basic Class Swordsmanship at Akarind Academy.”
At the word Basic Class, a few students from the Imperial Academy couldn't hide their surprise.
At the Imperial Academy, more skilled instructors are assigned as the grade level goes up.
But that instructor who debated with Instructor Hollians is only for the Basic Class.
Whether he knew such gazes or not, Cassian's gaze scanned the surroundings looking for a person.
And finally.
“Ailen.”
He called her name.
The gazes of people standing around were all fixed on Ailen.
“……?”
Ailen pointed at herself with her finger.
It was to confirm if he really called her.
“Come up to the podium, look at me, and assume a sword stance.”
Ailen went up towards the podium with a hesitant expression.
The gazes of other Imperial Academy students pierce into her.
Merely, someone like you, calling a student like that shows the level of Akarind Academy, we must have been mistaken, as expected. Why her? She's a student who should be kicked out already, took time to participate because it's an Academic Exchange Conference but isn't he eventually taking away my time seriously I don't know why he's doing this it's because of the dignity of the Imperial Family…….
Although they didn't become voices, voices more powerful than audio became shackles tightening her ankles and blocked her.
Where am I right now.
What am I doing.
I am.
“You're nervous. Calm down.”
The moment she felt a touch tapping her shoulder with a tap.
She felt as if her vision suddenly opened wide and the surrounding colors became vivid.
It was a shock similar to when she first awakened mana.
‘What did he do?’
She knew that instructor did something to her, but she couldn't grasp what it was at all.
It wasn't magic, nor was it holy power.
In the first place, wasn't that person a swordsman who couldn't awaken magic?
“First of all, I am grateful to be able to have such an honorable position as the Academic Exchange Conference with the Imperial Academy. As a graduate of this academy myself, I know the meaning of the Academic Exchange Conference well.”
This was Cassian using Aura to cut away negative emotions themselves such as her fear, nervousness, and terror, but there was no way she could understand such a concept.
“Our Akarind Academy focuses on laying the foundation of swordsmanship and establishing a system. We do not teach the sword through a set academic tradition, but teach each student why they swing the sword and how they should swing it.”
Isn't that because they don't have a concept of good swordsmanship!
Jerome sarcastically said such things to other professors above the auditorium, but no professor responded.
Because even Jerome, who was spouting such stories, could feel that the momentum of Cassian standing there right now was unusual.
“Like this. Student Ailen. Lift your sword.”
Ailen lifted the sword according to that instruction.
It was the very Jerome-style swordsmanship she had been learning all her life since admission.
“In that situation, imagine the enemy in front of your eyes and try cutting.”
The instruction was simple.
There was no instruction on how to cut or not.
Ailen swung the sword down in the way she knew.
“You probably all know just by looking, but Student Ailen's swordsmanship is defensive. Her body is dull and not that flexible either. Her arms and legs are somewhat short, and her muscular strength isn't outstanding either.”
Cassian commented on Ailen's appearance.
It was a normal tone, but the content was extremely scathing.
Ailen's eyes turned red while listening to the explanation.
It was an expression as if she would cry at any moment.
Seeing that appearance, giggling laughter flowed out from the Imperial Academy side.
However, soon, the student who burst into laughter looked at the Akarind Academy students as if it was strange.
Despite their teacher publicly executing a student to that extent, the Akarind students had no reaction.
‘Is he originally that kind of crazy teacher?’
Because they just knew.
That what Teacher Cassian was talking about wasn't a drawback, but just an element.
“To balance and receive power, we will cross the legs with a slightly wider stance.”
Cassian tapped Ailen's foot with his wooden sword to move it.
“There is no flexibility, so there is no need to try hard to create elasticity by widening the range of motion of the joints. Rather than that, let the power flow naturally.”
Arms, wrists, chin, gaze.
Cassian's wooden sword touches various parts of the body and corrects the posture.
The changing process was awkward and clumsy.
The Imperial Academy students were just chasing the movements while lost in that bizarre action.
‘……No way.’
Ailen, who first intuited the result of this eccentricity, opened her mouth blankly.
As her body was corrected little by little, it changed into a posture very comfortable and relaxed, as if she were lying on a bed.
‘Unbelievable?!’
The second person to realize was Jerome.
As much as he pursued an artistic sword, he had deep knowledge in swordsmanship.
He clearly saw what kind of beauty the result Cassian was creating right now pursued.
And finally, her posture was completed.
‘What is this, this easily……?’
Even to an unknowing person, it was a very stable posture.
“Pan!”
At his call, a sound of kicking off the ground was heard from the floor with a tap.
Pan was running between students with his body lowered.
He had already drawn his sword, and Aura was shimmering on the sword.
“Gasp!?”
“Aura!?”
The Imperial Academy students were terrified and scattered in all directions in panic.
Just getting grazed by that could cut a body in two.
Where Pan was heading was on top of the auditorium.
Where Ailen was.
“What are you trying to do!”
No matter how roughly he treats a student, that doesn't mean he can kill a student inside the academy.
Instructors from the Imperial Academy side, including Jerome, were shocked and grabbed the second-floor railing.
They looked ready to jump down at any moment.
“Look only forward.”
However, Ailen herself was calm in her heart.
She felt certain that she was the protagonist in this skit.
They say that is the rumored Aura, but…….
“Your body already harbors a Mana Circle, right? Then there is no need to bother raising Aura on the sword. Just think that you use magic with your body, with the sword.”
She felt like she could just block it.
“Block it.”
“Shield.”
She used Shield magic according to Cassian's instruction.
Normally, this 1st-circle magic should form a mana barrier in front of her body.
But now, Shield transformed into energy itself circling her body to firmly protect the sword and herself.
Almost simultaneously, Pan leaped into the air.
He throws the sword back greatly behind his left arm and swings it strongly as if to cut off the opponent's arm.
Paaaaang!
It was a clash of Aura and mana, not sword and sword.
A strange wavelength vibrated the entire auditorium once.
A sensation similar to what everyone felt when demons first appeared spreads.
That is why the students could know.
That something was created.
The fact that a new concept was born.
And that those two students are at the center of it.
And at a place higher than that.
“That's not the end of your magic, right?”
“Fire!”
There was Teacher Cassian directing the stage.
As if trying to protect Ailen's body, flames wrapped around her body like a snake and soared.
“Pan!”
At Cassian's words, Pan stepped back one step.
A playful smile hung on his lips.
The moment Pan's posture changed immediately, exclamations that it was nonsense burst out from all directions.
It was because Pan was imitating the swordsmanship of the Imperial Academy, that is, Jerome's swordsmanship.
“How?”
“We took the class together last time. Then I can use it.”
At Bridget's answer, the Imperial Academy students looked at him as if it was nonsense.
Does that mean not only Pan but other Akarind students can also do that!
‘No way.’
Bridget scoffed inwardly.
Only monsters like Pan were capable of such quick copying.
He just wanted to show off once using Pan and Cassian.
Akarind Academy students who knew the situation looked at Bridget as if he was absurd.
“Hup!”
Pan shouts a spirited yell and swings the sword.
He knew the Sword Intent of this sword sufficiently.
‘You mean it should look beautiful.’
Jerome's swordsmanship that Pan wields evolved even within that.
The most beautiful sword he thinks of.
It is the sword that raised Aura without shaking even in front of the Harpy Queen.
It is the sword that cut demons with leisurely steps.
It is the sword that tried to protect a student even by sacrificing himself.
The trajectory of the sword reached sublimity beyond beauty.
Jerome's eyes, who was leaning out as if to jump down below the railing at any moment, widened.
Paaaaang!
The sword emitting Aura cut the flames and moved forward.
However, Ailen was already not there.
Bending her body as much as possible, she was digging a trap while waiting for Pan who would rush at her.
“Wind!”
The moment the sword holding wind soared from bottom to top as if exploding.
Thud.
Magic and sword alike scattered away at the lightly swung palm.
It was Cassian.
It was a blow that one couldn't even guess how he swung and came in.
Clearly, her movement should have been more than twice as fast through Wind magic?
Even the mana wrapping around her body and sword scattered in the air and disappeared as if it didn't exist.
It wasn't even to this extent when Pan cut with Aura.
Cassian, who performed such a nonsensical miracle.
“Now. This is how you do it.”
He smiled as if nothing happened and looked at other students.
And one of the students opened his mouth blankly.
“T, Teacher. You have a nosebleed!”
“Ah……?”