episode_0014

“Hehe, hehe….”

“….”

A petite girl with green eyes and indigo braided hair.

She knelt under Rudy, looking up at him.

Rudy knew who she was.

Knowing her made her presence here even more incomprehensible.

“Why on earth is this cheeky girl here?”

The girl in front of Rudy was Zion Fregea.

She was the illegitimate daughter of Bella, the head of the magical noble family Fregea.

Seeing her brought back memories of the trouble she had caused him.

There was even a trial because of her five months later.

The more he thought about it, the more his anger boiled from the very beginning.

But Rudy calmly asked her.

“Who are you and why were you hiding in my room?”

Of course, Rudy was currently wearing a mask and hiding his identity.

He had to act like he was meeting her for the first time.

“I, I’m Zion, your new roommate from today! I wasn’t hiding, I just mistook the room. Hehe.”

Zion had received an order from her mother, Lady Bella, to confirm Rudy’s face under the mask if the opportunity arose.

But she failed.

Her flustered excuses naturally made Rudy suspicious.

“Don’t lie. If you mistook the room, why were you hiding under the bed? And according to the academy rules, opposite-sex roommates are not allowed.”

“Hehe, that’s just a formality.”

“What do you mean?”

“The headmaster allowed it. My mom asked to let me live with you.”

“….”

In other words, was she one of the many people trying to use Rose through him?

Rudy was furious. She was shameless.

Selling off a daughter like that…

Even Zion herself wasn’t normal for accepting it.

“Please leave.”

“Huh? Sorry, I didn’t hear you clearly, can you repeat-”

“I said leave.”

“….?”

Rudy was angry.

He couldn’t live with this girl.

There was personal resentment, and her intentions to use Rose through him were despicable.

Even if he didn’t fully trust Rose yet, she was the one who had saved him from a destitute life.

“Why, why are you angry? I’m interested in you, and you might not be so bad? I’m pretty good at cooking! Especially the apple pie I bake…”

“Hah.”

At Rudy’s sigh, Zion, sensing the atmosphere, shut her mouth in embarrassment.

She felt overwhelmed by Rudy’s aura.

‘Why is he acting like this…?’

Zion was the daughter of the magical noble family, whom all wizards fawned over.

The students at the academy were eager to be friends with her, politically and physically.

Zion was well aware of her popularity.

But who was this boy to show such an attitude towards her!

“I have to go greet everyone on my first day of school. If you’re still here when I come back, I’ll report you.”

“What-?! R-Report? That’s a lie!”

“Whether it’s a lie or not, you can find out later. I’m leaving for real.”

Rudy left the room.

Zion could only watch his retreating figure in astonishment.

*

“This is really annoying.”

On his way to the fencing department, Rudy’s fist trembled.

That annoying girl.

She had made him a debt collector by retaliating against his family.

She must have violated all sorts of laws to do what she did.

He knew he would meet her if he attended the academy, but he didn’t expect to meet her so soon and be involved with her.

“Sigh… I miss Rose’s mansion.”

Rudy realized once again that he had been able to live comfortably for about a month because of Rose.

He entered the building.

He opened the door to the fencing department with a bang.

Many students were already gathered in the fencing department.

Rudy’s arrival drew many eyes towards him.

“He’s here.”

“Finally.”

“Isn’t he someone new? Not from around here?”

“Where’s the crazy guy who’s always late by this time? Must be him.”

The students gathered at the moment were all first-year students from the martial arts department, class A.

There were about 50 of them, and the ‘A’ in class A was just for classification purposes, not based on ability rankings.

“Did you come? Come over to my side.”

The professor, who immediately recognized Rudy as the disciple of the legendary Grandmaster, gestured for him to come over.

Without a word, Rudy stood by the professor’s side.

The professor addressed all the students in class A who were waiting for his instructions.

“From today onwards, you will have a new comrade joining you.”

“There’s no need for long explanations, you probably already know from the rumors. He’s the same age as you, 17, and he will be sparring with you until graduation.”

Continuing with the formalities, the professor turned to Rudy standing next to him.

“What’s your name?”

“Phantom.”

“Phantom… I see.”

The professor understood Rudy’s intentions.

As the disciple of the Grandmaster, there must be some reason behind his actions.

And the mask he wore was probably for the same reason.

Nodding his head in understanding, the professor addressed everyone.

“Take good care of Phantom.”

*

Tap! Tap! Clang!

It was time for free sparring.

After finishing the introductions, the professor left the training hall.

Those who wanted to practice alone with their wooden swords did so, while others engaged in sparring.

This reduced the attention on Rudy by half, but it was still significant.

“….”

Rudy was still in an uncomfortable situation.

It was his first day at school, and being the disciple of the Grandmaster with a hidden face and name, the students in class A could only stare at him from a distance.

“Is this what they call a ‘lone wolf play’?”

Due to the sad eyes behind the white mask he wore, the students found it difficult to approach him.

“Hah.”

Rudy decided to lay down a steel plate and practice swordsmanship alone like the others.

This caught the attention of the onlookers.

“Is he finally going to wield his sword?”

“Let’s see his skills!”

It seemed he couldn’t just casually practice.

If he were the protagonist of a typical martial arts novel, he would have hidden his skills at this point.

But Rudy couldn’t do that.

His status as the disciple of the Grandmaster Rose was known throughout the country.

If he hid his strength to avoid standing out, it would reflect poorly on Rose for choosing a weak disciple.

“Hah…!”

Swish!

Rudy swung his wooden sword as if painting in the air.

Based on the Cheonwol sword technique.

Like drawing the moon, like cutting the moon.

He skillfully drew shapes with his sword as he had practiced before.

The reactions around him were as expected.

“Wow! What kind of swordsmanship is that?”

“Is it the swordsmanship of the Visions family?”

“It’s like using a wooden sword as a brush on a canvas of air.”

“Hmph, it looks flashy but doesn’t seem practical at all.”

As Rudy continued his swordplay, the students who were initially hesitant started to show interest in him one by one.

They wanted to spar with him.

They were swordsmen too.

If they saw an impressive swordsman, they naturally wanted to test their skills against him.

And then, a male student who had been watching approached Rudy coolly.

“Hello?”

“….”

With a friendly smile, he looked at Rudy.

The expression on the male student’s face as he gazed into Rudy’s eyes behind the mask was clearly filled with curiosity and excitement.

“You’re that rumored guy, right? The disciple of the Grandmaster Rose…”

“…Please address her as ‘Master Rose.’”

“Oh! Sorry. Haha, my bad. We don’t have a connection with her, after all!”

The male student quickly turned his attention to Rudy’s sword.

“Could we have a sparring match?”

“….”

Seeing through his intentions, Rudy sighed inwardly.

“I knew this situation would come eventually. Not just now, but it will continue in the future as well. As long as everyone knows that I am Rose’s disciple.”

Rudy was aware that avoiding the challenge would brand him as a coward.

“Well, there’s no choice.”

Rudy made a decision.

He had to win overwhelmingly.

Currently, Rudy was a 3-star.

With the protagonist’s talent, he trained diligently every day without fail, reaching a solid 3-star level.

If he showed a gap in strength, the inexperienced swordsmen wouldn’t dare to challenge him later.

It was no longer something to stand out or be noticed.

“Also.”

Since he had entered the academy hiding his true identity,

A faster shortcut to prevent the world’s destruction by the Lunar Cult and Black Dragon had opened up.

In an attempt to indirectly help the heroines grow by sticking by their side and preventing the Lunar Cult.

It was possible as the masked ‘Phantom’ with a hidden identity.

“The students we see now. They look carefree. I should use that to my advantage.”

Rumors.

This challenge would reach the ears of the heroines of the four major factions and lay the groundwork for future connections.

After finishing his thoughts, Rudy said, “It doesn’t matter.”

“Oh! Then what about the rules? Pure sword duel? If not, using magic…”

“I cannot use magic. But if you want to use it, go ahead.”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean I can’t use magic at all.”

At his words, the male student blinked.

The onlookers were also surprised.

Unable to use any magic?

Why not?

Even if he taught a beggar passing by, they could at least use basic magic like ‘Create Water.’

But not being able to use any magic at all?

Their confusion was natural.

Only Rudy, the possessor, knew that if a swordsman learned magic, they would not reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

“I don’t know why you can’t use magic, but then I won’t use it either. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“It doesn’t matter. I will win anyway.”

“…What?”

The male student’s expression stiffened for a moment.

The onlookers also widened their eyes in surprise.

Meanwhile, Rudy thought to himself.

“Since he is one of the students who will spread the rumors about me or one of those who believe them. There’s no need to treat him well. And-”

Requesting a challenge meant that only those who thought they were on a similar level could do so.

According to the common sense of the game he possessed, it was as if a bug had attached itself to Rudy, a 3-star nearing the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Rudy had to make it clear.

We are different.

“Aren’t you going to challenge me? The sun is about to set.”

“…You may not realize how great I am, but you will regret it.”

In no time, the male student grabbed his wooden sword and took a stance.

From his perspective, it was nothing but humiliating.

Rudy didn’t know, but the name of the male student in front of him was Daves.

He was a promising first-year student who had reached the late 1-star stage and was gaining fame.

Even if he was the disciple of a great spirit master, Rudy was a swordsman, not a spirit master.

Even if he was the disciple of a Sword Master, it was insulting to say that he would switch to being a swordsman.

“-I hope that arrogance is purified after a good night’s sleep! My friend!”

Daves leaped forward, hitting the ground.

Swoosh!

Indeed, the speed of someone nearing the late 1-star stage.

He had excellent agility and was worthy of being called a promising first-year student.

As Daves fiercely charged towards Rudy, he thought to himself.

“Even if you are the famous disciple of a great spirit master, you are still an inexperienced newcomer at the academy!”

“You will regret looking down on the top ranks of the Empire’s best academy! Face reality!”

Everyone held their breath.

They watched the two with great interest.

Rushing fiercely, Daebes soon accelerated.

In the blink of an eye, he reached near Rudy.

It happened so quickly.

“Goodbye!”

In an instant, he raised his wooden sword high.

“…Huh?”

“Good job.”

Daebes collapsed next to Rudy, blinking his eyes with a bewildered expression.

What on earth just happened?

Daebes’ memory film was cut off.

The end of the match was sudden.

The students watching them had the same puzzled expression as Daebes.

In reality, Rudy simply took advantage of Daebes’ accelerating speed to quickly approach him from behind and strike his leg joint with the wooden sword.

To those with low perception, it seemed like Rudy disappeared from his spot.

Suddenly, Daebes fell, and Rudy reappeared next to him.

They were faced with a situation they couldn’t comprehend.

Breaking the silence that engulfed Daebes in an instant, Rudy said, “I hope next time you’ll spar with your opponent in mind.”