Chapter 8: Akina Crowflin (1)
by AfuhfuihgsTristan Hero Military Academy, Department of Swordsmanship.
Among the many departments within the academy, it is the most popular and has produced the most high-ranking heroes and talented individuals in the kingdom.
It is undeniably regarded as the representative department of Tristan.
The reason why the Department of Swordsmanship has gained such great fame is quite simple.
- The destiny of heroes is most often the destiny of a “swordsman!”
As the number of examples increases, naturally, the number of top-tier individuals also increases.
Since an overwhelming number of heroes are chosen for the destiny of a “swordsman,” it is only natural that the Department of Swordsmanship, which educates them, would gain immense popularity.
However,
the reason why Tristan’s Department of Swordsmanship is particularly highly regarded is because the “quality of the instructors is exceptional.”
There are many renowned instructors at Tristan’s Department of Swordsmanship.
Instructor Jackson, who killed the beast “Saber-Toothed Tiger of the Borderline.”
Instructor Ted, who was born with the destiny of the “Knight of the Iron Wall” at the Fourth Crossroad.
And Instructor Isaac Clenn, who personally trained dozens of high-ranking heroes…
Regardless of nobility or commoner, the department is filled with such outstanding talents that just mentioning their names elicits admiration.
With such exceptional instructors as guides, any hero chosen for the destiny of a “swordsman” hoped to join Tristan’s Department of Swordsmanship.
This was true not only for the Kingdom of Kleppe but also for the entire continent.
“Instructor Akina, have you arrived?”
“Good morning, Instructor Akina.”
And in every group, there is always a swan that stands out more than the others.
As the red-haired woman arrived at the faculty room, the instructors of the Department of Swordsmanship greeted her in unison.
Akina Crowflin.
The eldest daughter of the Crowflin Ducal House and a hero who played a significant role in the Great War five years ago.
She was a genius who, before even reaching thirty, had bloomed at the “Fourth Crossroad” and succeeded in acquiring by “chance” the Crowflin Swordsmanship, which is regarded as the kingdom’s finest sword technique.
“Chance” refers to the knowledge that can only be acquired when one has mastered a technique or ability almost to perfection.
In other words, Akina was already a sword master who had fully mastered the “Crowflin Swordsmanship.”
- Akina is a genius swordswoman destined to become the star of the kingdom!
The Star of the Kingdom.
It was the phrase used by the continent’s enthusiasts when describing her.
From her days as a cadet at the military academy, she had demonstrated such astonishing talent, and during the Great War, she proved her skills with actual achievements.
And now, as an instructor, she was nurturing new talents.
Akina was truly a person for whom the title of “Star of the Kingdom” was not at all out of place.
Her fame was matched by her incredible popularity within the academy.
A noble bloodline and impeccable skills as a head instructor.
Her overwhelming stature made not only the cadets but even the other instructors eager to befriend her.
“…Yes, good morning.”
But the person herself, Akina, had no interest in such socializing.
After briefly acknowledging the instructors’ greetings, she entered the department office and sat down at her desk.
“They’re all forgetting something essential.”
Akina found their behavior slightly tiresome.
Such interest from other instructors was nothing new, but even now, at such a critical time, they all seemed to have forgotten their true responsibilities.
As academy instructors, it was their duty to select outstanding talents and nurture them into the kingdom’s heroes.
That was the essential role of an instructor, and the reason why instructors existed at Tristan.
“The instructor exam is even more important because of this.”
To fulfill this, it was crucial to carefully select and recruit capable new instructors.
The quality of the instructors directly determines the quality of the cadets.
This was why the “instructor exam” currently being held in the department was of utmost importance.
Yet, other instructors were using this gathering as an opportunity to strike up a conversation with Akina in hopes of becoming closer to her.
“It’s tiresome.”
Naturally, Akina found such behavior exhausting.
Then, as now, her interest was solely focused on one thing.
Her passion and sense of duty toward education.
That was the driving force that led her.
From the beginning, Akina, despite her young age, chose not to enter politics or the military and remained an instructor.
This alone showed just how firmly Akina, as a hero, held her convictions as an instructor.
“Instructor Akina, you’ve arrived.”
“Ah, Instructor Jackson.”
Of course, she wasn’t without close fellow instructors.
There were those who approached her solely as a fellow instructor, without any political motives.
Those who, like her, were committed to teaching cadets with a strong sense of duty.
And, fittingly, these individuals were also highly skilled instructors.
Akina lightly waved her hand in response to Instructor Jackson’s greeting.
“You’re here early.”
“Oh, of course, I had to be early. If I show up later than Instructor Akina, the other instructors will give me side-eye, and I won’t be able to properly evaluate the candidates.”
“There’s some weight to your words.”
“Haha. I’m just joking. There’s a candidate I’m interested in, so I came early. I want to observe them closely from the second practical test to the third practical test.”
“A candidate you’re interested in?”
Akina raised an eyebrow at Jackson’s unexpected words.
Though he often joked around and made silly remarks, Instructor Jackson had a firm standard when it came to training talents and selecting instructors.
That standard was as solid as a wall, and it was almost impossible to find a candidate who met it fully.
When it came to selecting instructors, Jackson was even more meticulous than Akina.
A candidate who caught his interest? Akina became curious about who this person might be.
“Yes, I believe Instructor Akina might have heard of him as well. His name is Edgar Mulick, a noble candidate. He passed both the written exam and the first practical exam with perfect scores. Although I haven’t seen his swordsmanship yet, he’s ranked at the top so far.”
Instructor Jackson promptly satisfied her curiosity.
However, Akina found herself even more perplexed by his answer.
“Mulick…?”
Edgar Mulick.
It wasn’t a name one could easily dismiss.
It was a name that felt quite familiar to her.
Jackson chuckled softly at her muttering.
“That’s right. He’s Edgar Mulick, the second son of the Marquis of Mulick, from the Great Mage family.”
“…!”
The mystery was instantly solved.
The Great Mage family, the Mulick Marquisate.
How could she not know that name?
A family with a long and illustrious history, having contributed greatly throughout the kingdom’s extensive past.
Furthermore, it was a family known for producing heroes.
If the Crowflin Ducal House represented the most prestigious family in swordsmanship, the Mulick family was the equivalent in magic.
The grand title of “Great Mage family” wasn’t something that could be easily earned, even among noble households.
Moreover, the Mulick family was well-known not only among the nobility but also among commoners due to their renown as one of the kingdom’s esteemed marquis houses.
…More importantly.
‘The Mulick family…’
The Mulick family was led by Brandon Mulick, the war hero of the Kleppe Kingdom.
Brandon Mulick.
A hero with the destiny of the “Mage of Destruction,” a <Mage> whose unrivaled skills in offensive magic were said to have no equal in the kingdom.
His name alone brought a sense of familiarity, but Akina had more than just a passing acquaintance with him.
Five years ago, during the Great War.
Akina and Brandon had fought side by side as comrades on the battlefield.
‘But I heard his second son… was a troublemaker.’
During the intense war, the two noble comrades had shared many stories.
She distinctly remembered hearing about the troublesome second son.
Unlike the other geniuses of the family, he had been born with the destiny of an <Apprentice Mage> and had never properly cultivated that fate, instead living a life of idleness.
A person who was far from hard work and very close to laziness.
The exact type of person Akina despised most.
“…And that son applied to be an instructor?”
“Yes, and for the Department of Swordsmanship, no less.”
“Is Sir Edgar from the Department of Swordsmanship?”
“Of course not. He graduated after three years in the Department of Magic.”
“What…? How does that…”
Akina trailed off in confusion, unable to finish her sentence.
What kind of bizarre behavior is this.
The person who seemed destined to spend his life in idleness not only took the instructor exam, but it wasn’t even for the Department of Magic—it was for the Department of Swordsmanship.
Even though the instructor exam allows for cross-department applications, and even if by some chance Edgar Mulick had been newly chosen by the fate of a <Swordsman>, the Tristan Department of Swordsmanship’s instructor exam was not something to be taken lightly.
But the results already spoke for themselves.
A perfect score on both the written exam and the first practical test.
Even if the practical test hadn’t involved swordsmanship, these scores were not something that could be achieved by someone who was taking the exam lightly.
Akina’s expression twisted slightly, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
Seeing her reaction, Instructor Jackson let out a hollow laugh and handed her a document.
“Take a look. These are the results from the second practical test that came out this morning.”
Today was the day when both the second and third practical tests would take place.
The results of the early morning second test had just been released.
And on the score sheet he handed over…
“…!”
Strangely enough, from the written exam, the first practical, and the second practical test—every category was marked with a perfect score.
There was only one blank section.
The final part of the exam, where key instructors from the department would be in attendance, was a surprise ‘practical interview’ that the candidates were unaware of.
It was the third and final test scheduled for the afternoon, the demonstration of the Tristan swordsmanship technique.
“Shall we see how it goes? Whether the second son of the Great Mage family just has a strong body and mind or if he really knows how to wield a sword properly,” Jackson said with a grin.
Akina could only stare at him blankly.
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