episode_0044

How much did he concentrate, holding the sword and closing his eyes? In a moment of stillness, like a rock, the aura that was leaping inside him flowed into the sword as if it recognized the sword as part of itself.

Soon, feeling the sapphire radiance brightly illuminating the dark room, he slowly opened his closed eyes.

“Finally did it. Managed to hit the target within the deadline by some miracle.”

In front of him, the training sword, shining brilliantly with his own aura and securely wrapped around it, served as proof.

Just a few days ago, he was clumsily handling his aura, barely able to blur it even on small objects like a pen.

Confident that he could continue to contain his aura in the sword as long as his mana didn’t run out.

The aura contained in the sword now must be on a different level from what was contained in the pen back then. It won’t just end with a desk being broken.

It’s certain that he will face additional disciplinary action under the pretext of destroying the dormitory in the middle of the night, causing damage to property and injuring students.

Unfortunately, he can’t wield it right now, but soon there will be an opportunity to showcase it.

Suppressing the desire to rush to the training ground immediately to properly test its performance, he slowly released his aura.

As if waiting only for that moment, a pleasant notification rang out.

[Due to repetitive aura training and enlightenment, aura skill proficiency has increased significantly… Aura skill experience is rising.]

[Unique ability ‘Sword Mastery’ adjustment is added.]

[Aura Lv.9 > Lv.10]

[Acquired skills ‘Aura Blade’, ‘Aura Armor’.]

The content confirming the achievement of the goal set within a week caught his eye.

By the way, the fact that he succeeded in manifesting the Aura Blade before acquiring the skill—is it an influence that has become reality?

Regarding this aspect, he decided to check it further later and imagined himself slowly enveloped in aura, a slightly cold sensation with a transparent blue armor wrapping around him.

He felt satisfied as he punched with considerable strength, feeling the hardness and resilience.

With this level, he can confidently say that he won’t easily break under ordinary attacks.

Considering that it quite effectively consumes his mana, like in the past, the cost-effectiveness might still be poor, but means to protect oneself are always important.

While maintaining the Aura Armor, he tried moving his body around, feeling slightly uncomfortable in certain movements due to the low skill level and lack of familiarity.

If he raises the skill level or refines the image he imagined a bit more, he might be able to resolve it.

After testing both acquired skills, he opened the status window.

[Yukal – Lv.20]

Strength: 28(+28) Agility: 28(+28)

Stamina: 28(+28) Mana: 28(+28)

Traits: Adaptability, Hyper-sensitivity, Fire Resistance

Skills: Swordsmanship Lv.14, Aura Lv.10, Meditation Lv.9

Physical Enhancement Lv.8, Pyrokinesis Lv.1, Aura Blade Lv.1

Aura Armor Lv.1

Items: Stat Crystal (Bound, partially applied)

Unique Abilities: Equilibrium, Sword Mastery

Achieving Aura skill level 10 and properly acquiring the derivative skills Aura Blade and Aura Armor has been confirmed.

Having also practiced swordsmanship and considering that aura itself is a derivative skill of swordsmanship, his swordsmanship level had also risen.

“It’s a bit disappointing that Physical Enhancement is only at level 8.”

When my mana was depleted, I intermittently engaged in bodyweight exercises like push-ups, but since training my Aura skills became the main focus, I inevitably fell behind in priority.

Not utilizing mana for physical enhancement also contributed to slow growth.

Still, with this level of growth, clearing this scenario should be easier than eating cake.

At my current level, I could easily defeat a senior graduate from the Swordsmanship Department.

Being able to implement not just Aura manipulation but also Aura Blade and Aura Armor goes beyond mere proficiency—it signifies talent exceeding student standards.

Debating with professors about swords and sharing opinions, I could easily fit into the Imperial Knights right now.

If one can’t properly handle Aura despite dedicating a lifetime to sword practice, it’s a world overflowing with such individuals.

Even during previous Sungyong practices, I had never developed Yucal this rapidly. Mastering Aura Blade didn’t occur until well into the second year.

“Could this too have become reality?”

Even with high freedom, I couldn’t train directly 24/7, and realizations from reality significantly propelled my growth.

It seemed like I was given suffering willingly, but ultimately overcoming the penalty of the unique ability ‘Balance’ allows me to fully unleash ‘Iron Blood’ with stats alone, making me capable of rivaling even amplified Rachel.

“If it’s truly now, everyone could potentially achieve a happy ending by graduating alive.”

Suppressing slightly excited expectations, I examined the scenario window.

[Main Scenario #1]

[You have successfully overcome difficult trials, safely arrived at Ardent Academy, passed the entrance exam, and succeeded. Intruders seeking to damage Ardent Academy will attack students. Prove that your efforts have not been in vain.]

[Success: Defeat or kill the intruders]

[Failure: Divine punishment]

[Time remaining: 0 days 8 hours 31 minutes 13 seconds]

“The remaining time is about 8 hours.”

If I start preparing now, I should be able to stop them without any casualties.

Tearing the curtain, making a rope out of the cloth, and descending lightly out the window, Yucal leaped unnoticed by any students.

*

Iris sighed as she looked at the increasingly piled paperwork lately.

After Yucal’s recent actions, not only parents and families of directly affected students but also other students and some teachers argued that becoming a better person should take precedence over talent.

Even Iris herself couldn’t properly prevent their actions, despite hearing everything directly from Yucal. She acknowledges that her leniency was excessive.

She finds herself in a frustrating situation, having canceled the disciplinary committee forcibly using the authority vested in her by the principal and only issuing a light punishment of reflection.

Frustrated, Iris’s gaze naturally shifted towards the side where the mysterious woman she conversed with about mana and identity last time was.

The woman who openly admitted her faults that day and promised to resolve them with a smile.

“Isn’t it a bit awkward right now? Because I’m pressuring the powerful 11 families in the empire. This time, I’ll quietly ‘handle’ the 11 families as a gift. Of course, for free. Our little great mage seems to not have much money, so I’m taking care of it. Our body is very expensive, isn’t it?

To protect the mysterious group and academy, which neither knows their name nor power, they secretly made a treaty. Now, they are waiting for them to resolve this situation.

Leaning back in the chair, she closed her eyes.

“Why did you act so foolishly…?”

If she had even spoken to herself, she would have given appropriate punishment to the group that harassed Claire, a female student, according to the rules.

Not acting like that might be because from Yukal’s perspective, he was so angry that he couldn’t control himself properly due to his ego being hurt, or considering his calm demeanor in conversations with himself, maybe Iris didn’t find relying on herself helpful.

“That’s not true. If she had at least once clarified things properly to me and asked for a conversation, she would have realized that we were trying to help Yukal in some way and would have come forward on her own.”

Looking at the letter sealed with wax and special magic treatment on the desk, Iris just sighed.

Ultimately, Iris herself will have to explain why she made such a decision by going to the Imperial Palace this time.

Iris just hoped that nothing would happen while she was feeling uncertain.”