In just one week, the students of the academy quickly noticed that the normally hyperactive crowd from the Nine Swords discipline had become remarkably quiet for some time.

Look at this Louis guy, exhausting these students.

But I must say, this training is really effective.

Especially when Louis himself is also training, it gives them even more motivation to learn.

One day, after seeing Louis fall into the water for the umpteenth time while stepping on a reed, Yudo asked him with some confusion:

"Your Highness Louis, by the fourth step, your balance is already more than enough."

Louis glanced at Yudo, curiously saying:

"You are also practicing hard yourself, is it appropriate to tell me this?"

Yudo hesitated: "Actually, the reason I'm training so hard is because of you."

Louis instinctively took a step back, watching him warily.

Afraid that the next moment he would say, "Hey, what are you doing?"

However, Yudo had clearly come a long way from a small town to become a genius student of the Sage's Sword discipline, indicating he was smart.

He quickly sensed that Louis might have misunderstood, waved his hand, and said:

"Don't get me wrong, I just want to say that what keeps me going now is the refusal to give up."

"Seeing you ahead, I can see my gaps and shortcomings, and only this way do I have enough motivation to strive."

"It's all about not giving up."

In his heart, Louis admired this statement.

He had a feeling that Yudo, although talented, if one were to sum up this person entirely by talent, Louis would laugh.

This person's willpower far exceeds that of ordinary people.

Compared to someone truly talented like Alice, his talent is clearly not as outstanding.

But he not only knows how to seize every opportunity to work hard, but also deeply understands that sheer effort is futile.

Yes, Louis had long known that while he was practicing, Yudo was quietly observing his movements.

Not the kind of strange fascination the female students had when watching him fall into the water.

But a serious analysis of his actions.

This surprised him a bit.

A genius is very common.

A hardworking genius is much rare.

A hardworking genius willing to set aside their pride to learn from stronger peers is even rarer.

Seemingly sensing Louis's confusion, Yudo suddenly chuckled softly.

"This is the first time during this period that I've noticed a flaw in you, Teacher Louis."

Louis was amused by being called "Teacher" and curiously asked:

"What flaw, do tell."

Yuno smiled and said:

"Teacher Louis, your gaze is always focused on higher places, so you might not have noticed, but many in the academy are watching you."

"Gregory is contemplating what kind of balance technique he should employ to better exert his power and break your mountain-solid stance."

"My roommate Bam, whom you pummeled, has half a foot on the fourth threshold."

"But he needs to find a balance between motion and stillness using a calm pool as restraint. I have a hunch that once he grasps that feeling, he'll challenge you again."

"On the girls' side too, don't just see them as women. At Saint Louis Academy, even if students hold a certain reverence for you, they won't easily become infatuated."

"I've observed that many of them are the battle enthusiasts from the Celestial Punishment Sword and Sword of Martial Arts."

"First, they are the Nine Swords professionals of Saint Louis, and then they are females... or possibly tigresses."

Yudo spread his hands and said:

"Kulin Sword Saint was right; this battle will become nurturing experience for many of them."

"Being humiliated by seniors or mentors is not the same as being thoroughly beaten by a peer."

"Now some don't want to pretend to be asleep, but it seems that Teacher Louis, you haven't realized that you'll soon become the target they try to surpass."

Louis laughed heartily: "Including you?"

Yudo smirked and said: "Of course, including me as well."

At this moment, Louis finally couldn't hold back his joy and said:

"If that's the case, then that's just wonderful."

Yudo slapped his thigh, laughing:

"I knew you'd say that."

He turned to look at his roommate Reggie, who was spreading his hands and looking speechless.

Reggie Cassel jokingly scolded:

"I thought His Highness Louis would be a bit modest. Okay, fine, I lost the bet today, this meal's on me."

Louis, finding it amusing, said: "What did you bet on?"

Reggie burst into laughter:

"A few of us bet on what your attitude would be if you knew many in the academy want to continue challenging you."

Louis asked: "What do you think my attitude would be?"

Reggie said: "I thought you'd be a bit humble and say something about 'working hard until people think you're a genius.'

Then he pointed at Bam with a sulking face and said:

"Bam thought you'd be a bit impatient refusing to accept the challenges from newcomers because you're really strong."

Then he pointed to Pep:

"Pep thought your status as a prince would prevent you from accepting challenges."

Lastly, he glanced at Yudo:

"Yudo thought you'd be like those battle maniacs in the Sword of Martial Arts, eager for the next exhilarating battle."

Finally, Reggie Cassel cheerfully extended an invitation to Louis:

"Your Highness Louis, give us some face, join us for dinner tonight, it's my treat this time.

"Not many people will come today."

"After all, we'll be spending some time together soon, consider it an early communication."

"In two weeks, we all have to go with the envoy to Tunisia for exchanges."

Louis was surprised by this.

After a week of training, Louis could clearly feel that the students of the Celestial Punishment, Sage, and Martial Arts classes were somewhat enveloped by the competitive atmosphere intentionally fostered by the academy.

He just didn't expect someone to organize a dinner gathering so quickly.

The most important part was that the organizer wasn't the recognized number one in the Sage's Sword, but...

Louis looked at Reggie Cassel, who was waving at him like a husky.

He noted down this name.

"Saint Louis Academy is a lot more interesting than I imagined."

Louis smiled and said, "Alright, I'll come to your dinner, where is it going to be?"

Reggie said with a grin:

"Mayer Restaurant, damn, Mayer Restaurant's business has been booming lately, it's really hard to get a reservation."

Louis: ...

Okay, it seems that the restaurant he runs under another identity is really popular.

In the end, Reggie asked a question with a grin:

"Your Highness Louis, are you really not looking back at those you've left behind, as Yudo said?"

Louis shook his head and said: "He's right but also not right."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Louis looked up at the flowing stream and said calmly:

"When someone has higher mountains to climb in their heart, they won't look back at the steps behind."

"That way, they can face obstacles that most ordinary people wouldn't dare to touch in the calmest way."

Is Kulin Sword Saint strong? Of course, he's strong!

But Louis knows very well that even in an IF line where he set the continent ablaze, Kulin still died in battle.

So Yudo is right, but also not.

— If Louis wants to cross that mountain and leave behind stories of him and others, he can't set ordinary people as his goal.

At the very least... his mountain should be as tall as an emperor!

He just didn't notice the indescribable shock on the faces of the Sword Sage group of four.

Especially Pep, usually a little transparent, who muttered under his breath:

"Without reaching the peak, how can one appreciate the panoramic view of all mountains? What a prince, I've learned something today."

...

Meanwhile.

In another corner of Saint Louis Academy.

Our little swan closed the book, showing an excited expression:

"Finally found the clue, the hidden chamber of Saint Louis."

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