The student handbook at Hernan Academy has a simple SNS function.Although it can only be used for communications and sending messages, that alone makes it a sufficiently useful item.

― Please come to my office at your convenience today.

"Hm..."

It was a text from Kryphi. I wasn't particularly surprised since I had expected to be contacted, but I was worried nonetheless.

'I don't know what mischief that Whistle guy has caused.'

Judging by the changes to the application, it was obvious that Whistle, the skybird, had done something. But what exactly he did was still unclear.

'I'm not even hoping for nothing to have happened; I just hope it's a mess I can clean up.'

It was a good thing for Whistle to awaken his powers as a skybird. Luca just hoped that nothing bad enough to outweigh that had occurred.

'I haven't even been able to properly respond to the last proposal, and now I have to go again.'

Luca hadn't agreed to Kryphi's proposal to teach him swordsmanship, yet here he was again, standing in front of his office.Luca felt a bit awkward as he knocked on the door, just like last time.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

The reaction was exactly the same as before. Luca opened the door and entered, paying attention to Kryphi's response.

"You're early."

Kryphi spoke in his usual manner. Maybe Whistle hadn't caused as much trouble as I thought.Luca secretly sighed in relief, but greeted him with a calm face.

"...... It's good to see you."

"Please have a seat. I'll prepare some tea."

This time, it seemed he was serving tea.Kryphi went to the cupboard, brought out a black tea set, and set it out.

"There are so many convenient things these days. A teapot that brews tea on its own."

A magical tool common among nobles—a teapot that automatically brews tea if you just add leaves and water.There are a few purists who insist tea tastes best when brewed by hand, but these days, most people use this magical item.

'Even though it's a fantasy world, except for the lack of internet, the standard of living is pretty much the same. Maybe not for the lower class, but...'

Perhaps not in the poor border regions, but near these big cities, it almost feels like being overseas on Earth.Not only are there automatic carriages and the teapot in use now, but also levitating shelves for moving heavy items, trash bins with dust-suction and material-compressing features, and even spotless toilets—nothing is missing.In some areas, it was even more advanced than modern science.

'But there's no internet. That's the most important thing.'

Every time I looked at the phone bricked into a paperweight, I'd feel a strange sense of loss.

'If only I could create the internet here.'

As Luca indulged in an impossible daydream, Kryphi poured him tea and spoke up.

"I'm glad there are no aftereffects. It seems you overexerted yourself destroying the armored soldier, and showed symptoms of magic power exhaustion."

"Yes. The medical mage said something similar."

"No one was hurt, but you do know this incident deserves disciplinary action."

Luca stiffened for a moment.Worried about Whistle's mischief, he hadn't thought about it, but it's still destruction of school property; he couldn't claim innocence.

"...... As Milia said, the armored soldier even drew its blade and threatened us. I was only stopping it."

"Upon inspection, I learned that the armored soldier switched to lethal mode after receiving a certain degree of shock. It's impressive to have enough strength to trigger that, but things wouldn't have escalated had you just let it restrain you. Of course, it would have been even better not to enter a restricted area in the first place."

A fair point. It was a mistake to go into the restricted area from the beginning.Luca remained silent, and Kryphi chuckled.

"I'm joking. The Academy's policy is not to punish students for incidents in the restricted area, provided they promise not to disclose the secrets of the restricted zone."

"...... So that's why the secret of the restricted area never came to light."

"Yes. There have always been students as bold as you in the past, and there will be more in the future."

That was why the secret of the restricted area had never been revealed until now.

"All those adventurous students who uncovered the secrets in that place marked as forbidden, having broken through all kinds of obstacles, invariably wished for their juniors to enjoy the same adventure. Or maybe they just didn't want to be the only ones to feel disappointed at an anticlimactic end. Either way, it probably left them with good memories."

Looking at Kryphi, who spoke in such a romantic tone, Luca wore a strange expression.

"I thought you'd use this as leverage to make me learn swordsmanship."

"Hoho, that would be fine, but knowing your personality, Luca, you wouldn't listen to me if I forced you that way."

Kryphi shrugged and picked up his teacup.

"Let's have some tea before you go. Ah, if other professors ask, please say I gave you a sermon."

"My goal is to defeat the one called the second coming of Fang. Do you really think I can surpass him?"

"Yes."

Kryphi answered without the slightest hesitation. Luca twisted his lips.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because, for someone your age, training your fundamentals to that extent isn't possible on talent alone."

Kryphi placed his teacup down and folded his hands together.

"I'm not just flattering you. The basics you displayed in your match with Isella during the first class were at a level hard to find even among elite knights with years of training behind them. It may be a sensitive subject, but the reason your fundamentals are so polished is probably because your family never taught you the family's secret sword art."

That was true. Luca Traverse still hadn't learned the Traverse family's secret sword art.At best, he learned what the household knights could do, or imitated what his older brother, Wylde Traverse, performed by watching over his shoulder.

"I've seen Wylde Traverse from a distance, and his frame is much larger and more solid than yours. I imagine the Traverse family's secret sword art is of a rough and destructive style, suited to such a physique. It may be another sensitive subject, but you, Luca, don't have the build for that swordsmanship."

Kryphi spoke matter-of-factly and then suddenly grabbed Luca's wrist. Luca flinched but didn't resist. Kryphi turned his wrist, looking at his palm.

"I had a glimpse before, but as I thought..."

Though Bella had diligently treated him, Luca's hand was still covered in scars.Kryphi nodded slowly.

"You must have done your absolute best. But because your body wasn't suited for the Traverse family's swordsmanship, those around you probably just saw you as the second son outshone by Wylde Traverse' talent. You were only forcing yourself to wear clothes that didn't fit."

"......."

"This may be presumptuous, but I met your father during my days roaming the battlefields. Even crossed swords with him. That's why I dare say I know the Traverse family's sword art better than you."

Kryphi locked eyes with Luca.

"The Traverse sword art doesn't suit you. But I can create swordsmanship that does."

"How will you prove that?"

Luca did not avoid his gaze, answering in a voice tinged with anger.'Luca Traverse' had difficulty accepting his words.

"For martial artists like us, there's only one way to prove a point, isn't there?"

Kryphi released Luca's wrist and gave a wide smile.

"Shall we move somewhere else?"

* * *

"No matter what, it's a duel between professor and student, so we can't go all out, now can we?"

The Third Basic Swordsmanship Training Grounds.It was a holiday, and the place was empty except for Luca and Kryphi.Kryphi drew a circle in the ground around himself with a stick.

"Of course, I won't use magic power. And I won't leave this circle."

"......."

"Hoho, don't take it as me looking down on you. At one time, I was the greatest swordsman in the Empire."

Perhaps assuming Luca's silence was from provoked pride, Kryphi grinned.In truth, Luca said nothing to hide his own excitement.

'I can't believe I'm experiencing this episode myself!'

A duel with Kryphi, who wouldn't use magic power.As mentioned before, this was an episode the protagonist had gone through.It was the first event from the original story he was now personally experiencing. As a devoted reader, this was enough to excite Luca.

Noticing his excitement, Kryphi smiled kindly.

"Oh, and you can use that tingly power of yours."

"!"

Rather than wondering how Kryphi knew, Luca found himself thinking—'Is he really that confident?''Does he think it's nothing? Judging by how he called it a 'tingly', he must've realized it's the power of lightning. Does he really think he can face that without using mana?'

If he'd fought even once against a warlock or any kind of battle mage, he wouldn't be taking lightning magic so lightly. So what was behind that calm composure?

Given that Kryphi was called a nightmare on the battlefield for his combat experience, surely at some point, he must have faced it.

"By the way, the training wooden swords can't withstand magic power, so I'll use my regular sword. It doesn't have any special properties, but it's reinforced with magic power, so it's sturdy. You can use your usual sword, too."

"...... Alright."

"Hoho, it's been ages since I last had a real bout."

Kryphi unsheathed his sword with a face full of anticipation, Luca following suit.They both drew their blades, and a brief silence settled.

But it wasn't an awkward silence; it was a pause of concentration, both contemplating their strategy for the coming match.

"To nobles, this method may seem crude, but on the battlefield, we usually begin a duel by tossing a coin."

As Kryphi said this, he took out a coin.

"The duel begins the moment the coin flung into the sky lands on the ground."

Ting!

The coin was flicked elegantly into the air, spinning as it fell to the ground.No further words were needed.

Thunk, swish!

As soon as the coin hit the ground, Luca charged forward.

Clang!

"!"

—The first strike was effortlessly deflected.Despite reinforcing his body with magic power, Luca's blow failed to send Kryphi, who wasn't using magic power, flying.

It was just as described in the original. It had been a perfect strike, but the moment it met Kryphi's blade, Luca's strength seemed to dissipate strangely.

"That's a hefty attack. But is that all?"

Kryphi blithely taunted him. Luca felt a surge of irritation.

"Hoo."

But he quickly calmed himself and took a deep breath.

'It's fine. I can do this.'

A competitive streak rose in him.If the protagonist did it, there's no reason I can't.Besides, Luca was currently stronger than the protagonist, who never used divine cheats at this point.

'I can do this!'

Steadying himself, Luca dashed toward Kryphi.

Clang!

Kryphi parried Luca's sword again with ease.But Luca instantly adjusted his stance, attacking from a different angle.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Three sword strikes from different sides, each deadly in its own right, but Kryphi deflected them all with graceful, flowing movements.

"Your fundamentals certainly are impressive. But there's a hint of stiffness to them."

"......."

Luca couldn't bring himself to tell a professor to shut up, but every word from Kryphi got under his skin.

Bzzzt!

"Ohh."

Sparks flared around Luca's body.It was the first time he fully unleashed his lightning energy.

'I never thought I'd end up using this on an ally before an enemy.'

Luca's cheeks twitched.

'He really is annoying.'

There was a reason the protagonist had made such an effort to get Kryphi expelled from the academy: his taunts were extremely infuriating.

"I won't be held responsible if you get hurt, professor Kryphi."

"Hoho, give it your best, Luca."

Luca imbued his sword with the power of lightning energy, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. At the moment he reopened them—

Crack!

Lightning struck the Hernan Academy's training ground.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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