Chapter 20 - The Heir (2)
The professor's face was filled with worry.
As the cause of the problem, I just wished he'd quickly move on to another topic.
"Anyway, I've submitted a missing person search request to the Academy Knights. It doesn't seem like they'll act immediately, as they're busy too."
"That's a big problem. We should find him quickly."
"Indeed. Phew… To think three spots would be empty from the start. At least there's a chance this student Eric might return. The other two have no possibility of coming back at all. It's truly a big deal."
No way.
There's absolutely no chance of Eric returning.
If anything, wouldn't the other two have a much higher chance of coming back?
"What happened to the other two?"
"One refused to accept being placed in Class B and transferred to the Southern Academy."
"…Huh?"
"Absurd, isn't it?"
The professor laughed with a dumbfounded expression.
"I was surprised when I first heard it too. To think a student would defy the academy's class placement. Apparently, they ended up in Class B at the Southern Academy as well."
"That serves them right."
"Haha… Well, from a professor's perspective, I just hope they do well wherever they are. At least their future isn't gone like the last student."
"What happened to the last student?"
"They said he died."
The professor sighed with a bitter expression.
"He was a student from the Olberin family, one of the Ten Minor Noble Families… They just notified us of his death without any explanation. I haven't been a professor for long, but this is a first. Still… you could call it a blessing in disguise, Ray Granvelle."
"Yes?"
"Thanks to you, I'm relieved."
"Me?"
"Yes. I never dreamed you'd come to Class B. Just looking at your family, you would have definitely gone to Class A."
"My ley line sensitivity is weak, so I wouldn't have been able to get into Class A. Even if nothing had happened to my family."
"Nothing… No, I didn't mean it that way… Phew."
The professor sighed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry. Not long after the incident, I brought it up carelessly. I know I shouldn't speak like this, but… this is sincere. I'm very happy to be able to teach you."
"It's an honor for me to learn from you, Professor."
At least this isn't an empty compliment.
I remember my older brother, Rajiks, praising Professor Totten endlessly before.
Saying he was incredibly good at teaching swordsmanship.
"The honor is mine. You see, I could have been the Class A homeroom teacher, but I deliberately chose Class B. Even before I knew you would be in Class B."
"Isn't Class A always better, usually?"
"Usually, yes. Everyone in Class A is from a prestigious family and has high ley line sensitivity. They also learn more than the basics of swordsmanship before coming, so it's easy to teach advanced swordsmanship. A professor's evaluation changes based on student performance and skill improvement, so taking on Class A is always advantageous. Especially for a professor like me, who's on the younger side."
"You're the youngest professor at the Northern Academy, aren't you?"
"That's right."
The professor laughed awkwardly and nodded.
"Anyway, I thought Class B would be better than Class A if I wanted to teach something. So I decided to take on Class B."
"You're a swordsmanship professor, aren't you?"
"That's right."
"Not to mention aura, but even just considering swordsmanship, wouldn't Class A be better than Class B? Thinking about their families, they'd have more potential for growth, wouldn't they?"
"That's true. But those children have strong auras."
Isn't that an advantage?
What's the problem?
"Hmm, this is related to my philosophy, but… the stronger the aura, the proportionally higher the physical abilities, right?"
"Yes."
"Strength, speed, reflexes. The moment aura is activated, they become superior in all aspects instantly. Depending on their achievements, they can even use special abilities. And they don't even need long training for this. The extent of physical ability enhancement is determined simply by their innate ley line sensitivity. So, in most cases, the tendency to rely on aura rather than swordsmanship becomes ingrained."
"Oh, I see."
Is that really true?
It's a world I haven't had a connection with, so I don't know much about it.
My brother and sister seemed to have paid a lot of attention to swordsmanship training, though.
"Conversely, swordsmanship doesn't make you strong immediately after learning it. Its true value only slowly reveals itself as you gain deep understanding and reach higher levels."
"So, Professor, you wanted to teach students who don't rely on aura."
"Yes. In that sense, you are the most ideal student I could ask for."
The professor picked up my admission papers and waved them.
"Of course, confirmation will be needed. The document states that your aura is 1-star, but your swordsmanship is 7-star… Is this true?"
"Yes."
"So…"
The professor's eyes sparkled as he pulled his chair closer to me.
"You can really use Union Sword?"
"Yes. I can use it. But there's a gap in between."
"A gap? What gap?"
"Originally, I completed my training at home up to Flowing Sword, which is the 4-star stage. As for Smooth Flow Sword, which is 5-star, I've only barely touched upon it."
4-star Flowing Sword is the stage of grasping the 'flow,' which is an advanced stage of the True Sword.
5-star Smooth Flow Sword means the stage of naturally handling that flow without going against it.
"But then, I skipped over 5-star and 6-star and somehow reached 7-star. That's why I said there's a gap in between."
"Hmm, that's also a curious thing. Although what happened is written down here…"
The professor, contemplating while looking at the documents, soon skipped the heavy topic and got straight to the point.
"I won't question that now. The inspector must have investigated it all. So, as for 6-star Illusory Sword…"
"I can't do it."
"Not at all?"
"No. Not at all."
Not at all.
I truly know nothing about it.
I've never learned Illusory Sword, nor have I seen anyone use it.
And that's just how Illusory Sword is.
"Hmm… I see. This seems to be a first in the history of the Sword King family."
The professor pondered alone, groaning for a while.
Then he looked at the door at one side of the office.
"In times like these, research is best. If it's alright, let's move to the laboratory, Ray Granvelle."
Each professor at the academy has their own private laboratory.
In reality, they are merely training grounds and sparring areas, but they are called Swordsmanship Research Labs or Aura Research Labs depending on their specialization.
"Then, before we begin our full-scale research, let's first have a private lesson on what Illusory Sword is."
The professor used the wooden sword in his hand to draw a line on the lab floor.
Illusory Sword.
The 6-star stage of Sword King family swordsmanship.
This refers to the state where one can make the opponent perceive the killing intent held in one's mind.
Illusory Sword has no physical substance.
However, it affects the targeted subject.
The professor laid out the basic knowledge of Illusory Sword that I already knew.
So… I don't understand a single thing, Professor.
This sounds too abstract.
—You don't understand Illusory Sword?—Illusory Sword is a technique that stimulates the opponent with one's consciousness to provoke an intentional reaction.
Suddenly, I remembered what my father had told me years ago.
—An opponent targeted by Illusory Sword will react to a non-existent illusion and show a weakness.
—That is the beginning and the entirety of Illusory Sword. It is to confuse the opponent.
—Still don't understand?
—It's alright. Someday, the time will come when you train Illusory Sword. When that day comes, you will naturally understand.
Yes, Father.
That day has finally come.
Unfortunately, I haven't come to understand it naturally.
Anyway, my understanding of Illusory Sword was merely the concept of enchanting the opponent with an illusion.
To counter Illusory Sword, one needs to use Illusory Sword in return, or possess a powerful mind and body that remains undisturbed by the opponent's Illusory Sword.
Of course, that's theoretically speaking… I don't even know what that illusion is supposed to be.
It sounds like something out of a dream.
Does a dream have substance?
If it has substance, can it still be perceived as a dream?
"Then let's begin the practical session."
Now I would learn.
The actual Illusory Sword, not just the theory.
But Professor Totten didn't swing the wooden sword in his hand.
He merely swayed his upper body slightly up and down.
But then.
"…!"
Something flew towards me.
Whatever it was, it was dangerous.
I immediately crouched and threw myself to the side.
"…?"
But nothing actually flew.
Yet, I clearly sensed something.
What on earth was this?
"That is Illusory Sword."
Professor Totten said with a smile.
"Judging by your reaction, it's your first time. Experience is important, no matter what. Alright. This time, don't dodge; just stand still. Don't worry about getting hurt."
"Yes, Professor."
I slowly got up.
At the same time, something flew towards me again from the front.
Without any warning, without any preparatory movement.
But this time, it felt more substantial.
Something sharp, like a blade or an arrowhead.
It was almost visible, yet not, so I just closed my eyes.
"…"
Would I feel the same even with my eyes closed?
I felt it.
A sharp energy pierced my solar plexus.
I couldn't endure it and knelt, sinking to the ground.
"Ugh…"
"Does it hurt? But you're not actually injured. Your senses were just surprised."
The professor was already standing in front of me.
When did this person get here?
"It's amazing."
I took the professor's outstretched hand and got up.
"What exactly is going on…? Thanks to that, I didn't notice you approaching at all."
"Actually, that's what the technique is for. To bewitch the opponent with an illusion and conceal the true movement. An opponent who doesn't know how to counter it has no choice but to be manipulated."
It was exactly as he said.
Such a thing was truly possible.
And without relying on aura, which borrows the power of ley lines, but purely with human strength alone.
"How can I use Illusory Sword?"
"How can you use Union Sword?"
The professor asked back playfully.
I thought for a moment, then shook my head.
"I don't really know either."
"Right. I don't really know either."
"…"
"Just kidding. If I didn't know, I'd be disqualified as a professor."
Professor Totten smiled faintly and continued his explanation.
"First, naturally, you must first master 5-star swordsmanship."
"Smooth Flow Sword, you mean."
"Yes. You must naturally continue the flow as if dancing, even without consciously thinking about it. When the opponent changes, the flow must also change accordingly. For that to be possible, you must first completely embrace your own form within your mind."
Flow refers to the state of continuously connecting all aspects of the True Sword according to the situation, as if dancing, a continuous sequence of forms.
Being able to do this by consciously forcing it is 4-star Flowing Sword, and doing it naturally without consciousness is 5-star Smooth Flow Sword.
"When that becomes possible, you can then embrace the form of a sword in your mind. Naturally, little by little, until it is perfected into a complete form, and only then does the foundation of Illusory Sword begin."
"That's up to 6-star Lower Stage, then."
"That's right."
Theoretically, I knew it all.
Applying it in reality was an entirely different matter, though.
"You have a confused look on your face. It's a problem that would naturally be overcome once you master Smooth Flow Sword… But you've already reached a level beyond that. So, for now, let's move on to the next step."
"Yes, Professor."
"After embracing the perfect and ideal sword that you yourself desire, it is important to be able to instantly manifest it the moment you wish for it."
"Are embracing and manifesting different concepts?"
"They are different."
"They are different."
"Manifesting means simultaneously swinging and sending it out from your body. This, too, happens in the mind, but you must be able to vividly project it onto the reality before your eyes."
"But it's just imagination, right?"
"Yes. It's imagination. Imagination has no substance. That's why the next stage is important."
Suddenly, something surged from the professor's body in all directions.
Something sharp and jagged.
It happened so quickly I couldn't even react.
Just perceiving it sent a chill down my spine.
But this too had no substance.
No substance, yet my body reacted.
A terrifying and chilling energy, but not Illusory Sword.
Unlike Illusory Sword, unrefined energy spread indiscriminately.
"I've never seen anything like this before."
"You've never seen it?"
"No."
"Does that mean you can see it with your eyes?"
"Not exactly, but… it's so vivid it feels like I can see it. It's hard to explain in words…"
"That's normal. Phew."
The professor immediately withdrew the energy and regulated his breathing.
"This is Killing Intent. It's the projected form of the desire to harm an opponent, in other words, Malice, cast out from consciousness."
"Are Malice and Killing Intent different?"
"They are different. Malice is just a thought. Anyone can think. Killing Intent is a technique of focusing your mind and projecting it."
"How can I project it?"
"The best way is to experience a battlefield. A battlefield is where Malice runs rampant. If you're continuously exposed to Malice, you'll come to understand how to project it. That's why warriors training Illusory Sword sometimes volunteer for the front lines."
"Did you also train on the battlefield, Professor?"
"I was dispatched to the front lines immediately after graduating from the academy. But you can't do that, so for now, you'll just have to get hit a lot."
"By your Illusory Sword, you mean?"
"And cooperate with my ongoing research at the same time."
The professor spun the upright wooden sword in his hand and sighed.
"The 7-star level of swordsmanship, Union Sword."
"…"
"Union Sword is a tricky technique. It's daunting just to vaguely grasp it. There are few users, so research isn't easy either. Would you please cooperate with my research?"