Chapter 7: Lessons in Steel and Sorcery

“…Teacher?”

Ethan called me, sweating.

His eyes were shaking, and his Adam’s apple was moving as he swallowed.

Ethan took a breath and asked, pointing at my cane.

“Is that cane actually an ancient teleportation artifact?”

I wondered.

What is the reason Ethan thinks that way?

Ah, is it because I teleport too easily?

I should give him a suitable answer.

“My clothes are made of good material, but not the cane.

The only artifact I have is in my bag.”

Ethan made a disappointed expression, rested his chin on his hand, and muttered something.

“No way…to be superior to that bastard with magic…”

“Ethan? Do you still not know that my hearing is excellent?”

Ethan released the hand he was resting his chin on and shouted in surprise.

“Ah..no! I definitely wasn’t talking about the teacher!”

It’s not because it was about me, but because it was a curse word..

I just ignored it and cleaned up all the wooden swords in the training ground with telekinesis.

When I removed all the wooden swords that the students use for training, they started to get angry or have questioning expressions.

Of course, it’s an unfair duel if you don’t even give them weapons when they’re already at a disadvantage.

The students were suppressing their anger as if they were about to explode at any moment.

However, they opened their mouths when they saw the dozens of real swords that I took out of the bag.

“We’re going to have a real match, not that kind of game.”

Of course, I’ll only use the cane at best.

I quietly wiped the cane with a handkerchief.

Swish…

I couldn’t hear the students chattering.

I wonder why, but the moment I wiped the cane, my heart seemed to be at peace.

But it really seems like the students aren’t chattering.

When I looked up, the students were staring blankly at the real swords.

“Isn’t that..a sword from Ptah’s forge?”

“I heard that one is worth my entire fortune…”

“Wow, it’s real…?”

I regretted that maybe I should have told Duke Inverness the details when I borrowed the swords.

“Students, I borrowed these too, so please don’t break them.”

The students waved their hands and denied that they hadn’t even thought of breaking them, but only Alex was staring intently at the swords.

..That guy is a little unsettling.

The students seem to be ready, and there are 40 minutes left in class, so shall we begin?

I casually gestured to the students, placed my cane on the ground, and stood still.

“..Teacher, what are you doing?”

I hit the floor once with my cane and said.

“I’m giving up the first move, so if you don’t attack soon, class might end.”

As soon as I finished speaking, magic flew at me – not high-level, but acceptable as a student’s magic.

A fireball on the left.

An icicle on the right.

A gust of wind in front.

I swung my cane and changed the direction of the gust of wind to deflect it in the opposite direction, blocking the view and started walking.

Of course, students using swords swung swords from various sides, but I turned on the fear skill for a moment to stop the students’ attacks.

Gradually gaining speed, then starting to run and my body overheating.

Is this what a battle against many feels like?

When I was starting to enjoy the fight, Alex’s sword flew at me.

Excellent throwing skills.

If I had been a little late, it could have been stuck in my shoulder.

I turned my body, grabbed the sword with two fingers, and handed it to Alex.

“It’s good to use throwing weapons when you’re sure to kill them at the end of the battle.”

Alex was stunned for a moment after receiving the weapon, then came to his senses and held out his sword to me before stopping.

Even if I waited for him, the sword continued to stop in front of my stomach, trembling.

Stab.

I grabbed the sword and stabbed myself in the stomach.

Drops of blood were slowly dripping down the blade.

All the students stopped attacking and started to stutter.

They seemed to be judging the situation.

I opened my mouth after a long silence.

“Alex, you shouldn’t hesitate when stabbing someone.”

Alex looked up at me with a pale face.

His hand holding the blood-reddened sword was trembling.

“That was the perfect timing for an attack.”

Alex couldn’t say anything.

“Why do you think I handed out real swords instead of wooden swords?”

I paused for a moment.

I waited for Alex to answer directly.

However, Alex didn’t seem to have recovered from the shock and kept silent.

I, who kept waiting, gave him the answer.

“It’s because you need real-life experience-like duels to survive in this academy.”

I was focused on the concept of thinking of the students rather than the pain in my stomach.

As I speak, I think it’s not a concept, but it’s probably just my imagination.

“…Thank you.”

Alex’s eyes were filled with determination.

I was satisfied and resumed the duel.

I felt a red aura from Alex’s sword.

Is his magic power fire-based?

Alex wrapped fire around his sword and charged at me.

Alex, who was continuously running, suddenly stopped after reducing his speed.

“….?”

Bang!

Cracks appeared on the training ground floor and Alex’s face came up to mine.

Oh sh*t.

I unconsciously kicked Alex in the stomach with my knee, grabbed his back with one hand, and dropped him on the floor.

“Ugh!”

I kicked Alex with my foot as he got up from the floor and reached out to grab the sword.

Of course, I kicked the sword, not Alex.

Is it the effect of the Mixed Martial Arts skill that I’m handling this martial art unconsciously?

Alex, who lost his weapon, sighed and threw a white towel.

I grabbed the towel and sat Alex in a chair.

Even in that situation, magic flew at me, but I took a breath for a while.

Alex almost got hit by the magic too, but one student kept firing magic.

Is that bastard’s name Pena, for sure?

Good.

I don’t know how far Mixed Martial Arts is included, but this was a fantasy novel.

So this must be possible too.

I lifted one leg and stomped it on the ground.

Cracks appeared on the ground.

A notification came.

_______________________________________________________________________________

[Status Window]

[New skill ‘Ground Stomp(B)’ acquired]

[*Ground Stomp: Strength and speed increase when hitting the ground hard with your foot]

________________________________________________________________________________

A red, clear aura enveloped my body, different from Alex’s aura.

“…Huff, Pena, you almost hit Alex…”

I kicked the ground, approached the wizard student who almost hit Alex, and hit the back of his neck.

“I’ll take that.”

When the student collapsed, Ethan’s flames radiated toward me as if he had sensed danger.

The flames that continued to fly at me, not ending with one shot, were weak.

Whooooosh

I wrapped the cloak attached to my suit around my arm and swept away the flames.

Even though it wasn’t a high-level magic, it wasn’t a low-level magic either.

Just mediocre talent.

After blocking all the fire, Ethan, with a clearly surprised expression, grabbed his sword and charged at me.

“Flare Sword!”

A sword with a large flame waving came toward me.

Flare Sword…

It’s just a fancy name, and the quality is poor compared to the magic power consumption, right?

I grabbed the sword, pushed it away, and threw the prince against the wall.

Is it okay because it’s a glove?

It wasn’t very hot.

“Damn…that makes no sense…”

The prince complained softly while stuck to the wall.

After subduing the two aces, the rest was easy.

I almost broke the swords unconsciously due to the skill’s influence, but in the end, not a single one broke, so it was a good result.

Now the students are starting to recover and are about to return to the classroom, when I felt something flying from behind.

It’s quite a huge mass of magical power, but at a level that I can grab with my hand.

I turned and reached out to grab something.

Thud!

A huge blue spear was caught in my hand.

Spear…?

As I continued to hold it, the spear turned into water and flowed down.

And applause came from the stage at the front of the training ground.

Clap clap clap clap…

“Wow~ You blocked that?”

A little guy with blue hair walked toward me.

But why is that bastard wearing second grade clothes..?

Blue hair, wizard, and a boy..

Ah! I remember.

It’s the disgusting bastard who always tries to NTR the heroines.

I really wanted to kill that bastard when reading the novel, and such an opportunity!

Was his name Ao?

While watching the novel, whenever I saw that bastard, I would let out “Ao” verbally.

Anyway…

“If it were an ordinary student, that power could have led to death. Are you unaware of the boundary?”

At first, I thought he was just crazy, but he was crazy enough to want to kill someone?

“Ahaha..If they died from that much, you’re disqualified as a teacher~!”

Ao started laughing while holding his stomach.

Seeing him crack up makes me want to crack that little head of his.

“…Teacher, let’s just go back to the classroom without unnecessary friction….”

The prince seemed to have felt that guy’s magic power and swallowed, telling me.

“Wait, Ethan.”

If I hadn’t blocked that spear, Ethan, who was next to me, would have been hurt.

I have to collect that debt.

I took out the sword I received from Duke Inverness, not a dagger from my pocket.

Shwing-

When I took out the sword from the sleek and silvery scabbard, a sword with a black line drawn on a silver blade came out.

Unlike the students’ swords, this was a personal gift received for collection.

As if saying it was a famous sword, the sword exuded a jet-black aura as soon as it was drawn.

“…Ho~ Durandal. Did you rob Duke Inverness’ house?”

Ao said, pointing at Durandal with a small smile.

I quietly ignored it.

I shouldn’t get angry at words that belittle my relationship with the Duke.

A sword with emotion is bound to break, so I just thought of threatening.

I launched sword energy next to Ao and cut it off.

Crash!

Black smoke floated from the side of the stage, obstructing the view.

When the smoke cleared, I saw that bastard grinning.

“…See you later, Pest.”

Huh, he doesn’t even call me teacher?

I’ll have to beat that student up someday.

My name is Arthur Pendragon.

I was chosen by the Holy Sword, but my own power isn’t much to look at.

So today, I applied for a rental at the gym and trained until late at night.

Since it was late, I was patrolling with a lantern like the head of the student council…

“Hahahaha!”

Sigh…

I met the guy I hate the most in the hallway.

Ao, a commoner, but unlike me, who was luckily adopted by a noble, he ‘reportedly’ grew up in the slums without being adopted, my classmate.

But from what I’m overhearing now, it doesn’t seem to be quite like that.

“Since I’ve been hiding that I’m from the imperial family, there are too many guys who look down on me..”

Ao said while putting water bombs made of magic in several students’ shoe lockers.

They’re probably the ones who looked down on him.

And…..emperor…

The hidden identity is not the crown prince, but the emperor?

Impersonating such a background is subject to immediate execution.

He can even kill those who impersonate slaves.

That should be the law applied throughout this continent, so why is that student saying those things?

In the hallway, too.

So, the moment I was about to warn him, Ao said something unexpected.

“Arthur… why does that bastard have so many beautiful things?”

I almost dropped the lantern.

Suddenly, it’s about me?

“Beautiful people who like him, a beautiful sword, beautiful abilities…and…..”

Ao paused for a moment, then let out a big laugh as if ecstatic.

“Even that really beautiful teacher…”

Ao, smiling creepily, created a small sphere of water in his hand.

And Ao used that magic to blow up my shoe locker.

“I’m so jealous I’m going crazy.”

Bang!!

It was a power that couldn’t even be compared to mine.

Maybe even with the Holy Sword, it would be hard for me to win right now..

I muttered softly like that, and Ao stopped his shaking shoulders.

“…Arthur?”

Ao stopped laughing and looked back at me.

“Why are you here, Arthur?”

Ao quietly stared at me.

It wasn’t scary that his usual tone was gone, and it wasn’t scary that the corners of his mouth, which were always up, weren’t up, but his eyes, which were looking at me, were chillingly emotionless.

I tried to speak calmly.

“I’m the head of the student council.”

Thud!

Ao’s fist, with a completely different strength than usual, hit my face.

“Call me with honorifics, you insect.”

The Holy Sword’s voice rang in my head.

‘Arthur, run away!

That person is at the level of an archmage!’

But I couldn’t just ignore what Ao had just said.

“You have many beautiful things because you work hard.

It’s natural for you to have nothing, just giving orders from the imperial palace like you do.”

I retorted while wiping the blood from my lips.

Then Ao’s magic flew at me.

Swoosh

A strong stream of water flew at me.

As soon as I saw the water, I took out the Holy Sword and blocked the water.

Bang!

My defensive stance was broken and I flew to the end of the hallway, getting hit by the water.

“You’re just a weakling, do you think I couldn’t take what you have?”

Ao mocked while wiping his wet hands with a handkerchief.

“And someone like you, who wasn’t born with it, wouldn’t know why I called the teacher beautiful just now.”

If it were a teacher I was close to, even the swordsmanship teacher I was relatively close to was estranged due to the Saintess’ death.

Only Teacher Pest was on my side.

And Teacher Pest’s strength and abilities were enough to be called beautiful.

“No? I know it well enough.”

Then Ao’s face became distorted.

I felt magic power vibrating around Ao.

“How? How do you?”

I said while smiling a little, holding the Holy Sword again.

“The reason I know that is…”

And I didn’t continue.

The swordsmanship teacher told me that there’s nothing like this to make people angry, and it seems like the performance is certain.

“You…you’re dead.”

Ao’s face turned red as if he was very angry.

He unfolded his magic book and began to cast a magic spear.

As dark water formed a giant spear.

“O dark water of the deep sea…”

Before he could finish the first sentence, I felt a tremendous amount of magic power.

This..I have to open the Holy Sword.

So I braced myself and raised the Holy Sword when…

Clang! Ting!

The window broke and a blue bullet bounced off in front of Ao.

“Tsk..”

!!

Ao clicked his tongue, stopped casting, and teleported out of my sight.

As soon as I saw that, my tension was relieved.

I dropped the Holy Sword and sat down on the floor.

“Ha……I’m alive.”

I was really curious why the emperor didn’t appear on the battlefield even though he was this strong.

But for now, I had to find the person who shot the gun.

He might have shot at me.

So, when I checked the direction it came from through the broken window, Teacher Pest was waving from the roof of the next building with a revolver.

…?

I hurried down to the first floor.

“Arthur, what happened?”

I dragged Arthur to a 24-hour cafe and asked him what had happened.

I stayed at school, wrote a statement of apology for disappearing in the middle of class, received additional pay for defeating the monster, and was enjoying the wind on the rooftop when…

Some student was fighting with another guy with a shining sword.

If I were a teacher, I would have to go, so I went there, and that student was my precious disciple.

What happened?

Fortunately, there was a revolver in my all-purpose bag, so I got over the crisis, but if I hadn’t, I would have had to shoot magic and break down the school wall.

Then I would have to write another statement of apology.

“…It’s nothing, so you don’t have to worry, Teacher.”

Huh, look at this guy.

It’s a woman problem.

My long experience with academy and romance fantasy tells me that this guy definitely has a woman problem.

Yes…

You’re a man too.

You can be that full of energy…

I silently patted Arthur and said.

“I roughly figured it out, so it’s okay if you don’t talk about it.”

Then Arthur had a surprised expression and started stuttering.

“…..Y..yes?”

Even without speaking, his face had the expression of “how?”.

He was just cute.

…

Of course, this is the typical feeling of a teacher adoring a student.

Really.

Do you think everyone goes on an dark side when they become TS?

“What kind of excuse are you making…”

I lamented while holding my mask with my hand.

And that lament entered the ears of Arthur, who was making excuses while I was thinking.

“Yes? Teacher?”

“I wasn’t talking to you, Arthur.”

Only then did Arthur stop making excuses, and I sent Arthur to the dormitory.

Arthur’s back as he walked away seemed to be exhausted.

My appearance returning to the hotel wouldn’t have been much different, but how is it?

I’m returning after work.

Before entering the hotel room, I was going to stop by the store and buy a sleeping pill before returning to the hotel.

It was very difficult to take off my mask and sleep because of the shock of being TS’d recently.

So I was just going to buy a sleeping pill and go inside when I met a rude little boy.

In front of the hotel door.

?