Ch.263258 – Priceless Heirloom

My childhood dream of creating the ultimate sword magic was naive.

But I found that romantic ideal alive in Japan today.

When ten passionate swordsmen gather, then a hundred, and they pass down their knowledge through generations, they can develop something truly remarkable.

That was my brief impression after watching Katsuhata Emika’s previous matches.

Yet it felt strange when these same Japanese showed such interest in my innate magic.

“Did NoName really create that amazing spell?” Emika asked me just before our match began.

“It’s not that impressive.”

“Not impressive? On the contrary! You’d be hard-pressed to find a 1st circle spell with such power anywhere in the world! And using ‘Arhen’ and ‘Hyprit’ runes in a 1st circle spell is absolutely genius.”

They’ve analyzed it thoroughly.

While all innate magic development follows similar patterns, finding the right runes has always been the most challenging part.

Whether magic is “discovered” or “invented” depends on perspective, but typically, arranging runes first and then finding the corresponding magic is considered “discovering” magic.

Classic examples include “Akashic Record” or “Alchemist” magic.

That’s why they could exist across different time periods, both in my previous life and this one.

Conversely, “invention” refers to when a magic scholar designs a logical structure with a specific purpose and then arranges appropriate runes.

Lower circle magic has less flexibility, making it difficult to use larger syllable runes.

In that sense, I was lucky to find “Arhen” and “Hyprit.”

“I didn’t come to fight you, NoName. If we could develop the Adera magic together beyond its current state—”

“I thought Katsuhata was the quiet type, but you sure talk a lot. Is this how you lost to that European too? By running your mouth?”

At my subtle provocation, a murderous glint flashed in Emika’s eyes.

As expected, like a child, she was weak to such basic taunts.

“I joined the Katsuhata school at age four, but I wasn’t allowed to hold a sword until I was ten. I think someone as smart as you understands what that means.”

Emika extended her left foot forward, lifting her heel slightly off the ground.

She bent her knees slightly into a diagonal stance and raised both arms horizontally above her waist.

‘Karate, huh.’

She’s implying she could beat someone like me blindfolded after training for six years without a sword.

I took a coin from my pocket and placed it on my thumb.

It’s a good starting signal when there’s no referee.

“Katsuhata Emika, I’ve always wanted to spar with hardworking geniuses like you.”

“…?”

“I’ve been curious how others respond when faced with challenges that can’t be overcome with effort or talent alone.”

* * *

Ting-

The coin NoName tossed spun rapidly through the air.

The metal piece, unable to overcome gravity, fell toward the cold floor.

Ting-

As the second clear sound echoed softly,

NoName surrounded herself with aura and charged toward Emika like a beam of light.

The distance closed instantly.

“This will sting!”

NoName extended her left foot, carrying the momentum of her charge.

‘Such an obvious move won’t work on me.’

But Emika’s eyes, tracking the movement, were no ordinary ones.

NoName’s foot was blocked by Emika’s left arm due to her solid guard stance.

To make matters worse, Emika caught NoName’s ankle in a kick catch.

‘Now I’ll pull her leg to break her balance and follow with a pounding…’

Real combat is an extension of practice.

Emika tried to reproduce a mechanical response honed through countless experiences.

“Not going to focus?” NoName’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“Huh?”

NoName’s body rotated quickly in mid-air.

The resistance from the leg she was holding disappeared. NoName had shifted her center of gravity.

Emika’s decision to keep holding the ankle was a mistake.

She saw the sole of NoName’s slipper in her field of vision.

CRACK-!

A disorienting noise echoed throughout the hall.

It was the sound of Emika’s aura barrier breaking from excessive impact.

“What…?”

Perhaps because Emika had lowered her stance significantly, NoName’s free right foot struck her forehead directly.

An unconventional aerial spinning kick.

In that brief moment, NoName abandoned trying to retrieve her leg and instead extended her other leg to attack.

Emika’s body tilted backward.

Swish-

Before her back could touch the ground, NoName grabbed her collar and slammed her down.

THUD!

“Ugh!”

Emika groaned as the hard impact hit her back.

“Oh, my mistake… I instinctively slammed you down when I meant to catch you. Are you okay?”

NoName hurriedly released her collar, dusted off her hands, and stood up calmly.

Lying spread-eagled on the floor, Emika blinked her wide eyes.

‘Did I just lose my balance after taking a single hit?’

In a match, someone without a sword can roll on the ground as many times as needed.

But with a sword, one must maintain their stance no matter what.

That’s why in Japan, they train the lower body for 5 or 10 years from childhood.

NoName didn’t ambush her. Emika wasn’t careless either.

Emika staggered to her feet.

“How was that? You should probably use your sword now, right?”

NoName smiled, her aegyo-sal rising in rounded curves beneath her eyes.

But Emika couldn’t draw her sword.

Raising a sword against an opponent six years younger would be shameful in itself.

Moreover, it would mean acknowledging her momentary defeat, which her pride wouldn’t allow.

“With such outstanding talent, I think I understand why you lost.”

“Not enough practice?”

“No. Too much practice.”

“…?”

After her defeat, her master and instructors all explained it was due to insufficient practice.

But too much practice? What nonsense was this?

NoName shrugged and explained:

“You probably think you would have won if you had anticipated my attack, right?”

“Of course…”

It’s hard enough to balance on one foot, but when both feet leave the ground, a person can no longer move.

NoName demonstrated her previous technique and showed the next movement.

“You still have two arms. Why do you think you can only support your body with your legs?”

Even if Emika had held onto her leg after taking a skull-crushing kick, NoName would have continued her offensive by using her hands to support herself on the ground.

“Swordsmen are all the same, then and now… Who did you mainly practice with?”

“Obviously with seniors or instructors… Oh.”

“All sword users, right?”

It’s like how a left-handed table tennis player has an advantage despite equal skill.

Real-world matches aren’t determined simply by stats like strength or agility.

“This is why prejudice is dangerous. You were subconsciously thinking it would be your turn after my attack ended. With a sword you have to retrieve it, so that makes sense, but our bodies don’t work in such simple ways.”

Rather, Emika couldn’t fully utilize her talent because she had practiced assuming her opponent was a swordsman.

“A match is 50% knowing yourself and 50% knowing your opponent. You’re skewed almost 90-10.”

“NoName… are you really a genius?”

“This isn’t something you know because you’re a genius. It’s just a fact you learn through dog—I mean, diverse experiences.”

NoName looked around and spotted the wooden practice sword Emika had brought in at her waist.

A practice wooden sword housed in an extravagant scabbard, no less.

NoName suppressed the urge to grab the back of her neck in exasperation and said:

“May I borrow it for a moment? I can use it however I want, right?”

“Oh, yes. I don’t mind.”

“Look at this sword. You’ve probably been told to treat your sword like an extension of yourself, right?”

“The Katsuhata school is based on the philosophy that ‘the sword is the true self.'”

“Oh my, that’s even worse. That’s truly an arrogant thought. In a life-or-death match, do you die if you drop your sword? Well, you’d die with 99% probability, so that’s probably why they tell you to cherish your sword, but reality is different. What would you do if this sword broke or shattered during a match?”

“My sword will never break.”

“But what if it did?”

“There’s no ‘what if’ about it, NoName.”

“Hah…”

NoName couldn’t hide her discomfort and let out a deep sigh.

‘I’m trying to give some advice, but why is she so stubborn?’

NoName infused the wooden sword with her aura.

Judging by its condition, it seemed very old.

“Listen. There are absolutely no absolutes in this world. Let me show you.”

All objects have a limit to how much aura they can hold.

Humans evolved to have aura hearts because other organs couldn’t contain the aura humans generate.

When aura beyond the limit is contained, it takes on color and tends to radiate or explode outward, which is what people commonly call “sword energy.”

‘But what if I put in even more?’

Overly concentrated potential energy causes a “contradiction.”

NoName intended to shatter the wooden sword by pouring in all her aura.

What matters isn’t the amount of aura but its intensity.

Even for a very short time, inputting more than ten times the capacity is enough.

NoName’s golden aura filled the wooden sword.

Emika’s eyes widened at the considerable density.

She could feel the color of the aura, its temperature, and ultimately even smell a lavender scent.

‘Why isn’t this breaking?’

But it was NoName who was surprised.

She had never concentrated and injected aura like this in her life.

The wooden sword greedily swallowed NoName’s aura, showing no signs of breaking.

That only made her more determined.

‘If I can’t break this, I won’t be able to sleep tonight from embarrassment.’

She had already boasted to Emika, and failing to break a mere practice sword would be the ultimate humiliation for NoName.

[Sloth: Medusa]

Green sparks crackled and enveloped the wooden sword.

Since she couldn’t break the sword with aura alone, NoName decided to transform some of the aura inside the sword and make conflicting auras collide.

Handling two types of aura simultaneously was so taxing that sweat dripped from NoName’s forehead.

“Hnngh! Now!”

BANG-!

“Kyaaah!”

Wood fragments flew in all directions, reaching even the children waiting nearby.

“Oh! Are you kids okay?”

“Yes, yes! We were just startled by the sudden loud noise!”

Fortunately, the fragments fell at their feet, and no one was hurt.

The wooden sword had shattered beyond recognition.

“No!”

Emika collapsed to the floor with a devastated expression.

“See? There are no absolutes. If your sword breaks like this during a match, how would you—”

“That was our family heirloom!”

“Huh?”

“What have you done, NoName!”

“But…”

“This was the Katsuhata school’s priceless treasure bestowed by my master!”

Tears rolled down the face of the once iron-willed Katsuhata Emika.

What NoName had shattered wasn’t just a wooden sword but Emika’s heart.

* * *

Tap-

The old man set down his steaming teacup.

“While I appreciate your willingness to allow this visit, I must admit I’m still somewhat uncomfortable, Former Principal Gu.”

Principal Gu On-yu, sitting opposite him, refilled his cup with black tea.

“Think nothing of it. The era of hiding talented individuals is over, isn’t it? I simply hope the children gain broader experiences through mutual exchange.”

“Broader experiences…”

The old man’s white eyebrows curved upward.

Koizumi Yoshihiro was a senior member of the Katsuhata school and Emika’s personal instructor.

The Korean trip, initiated by Emika’s insistence, had been somewhat abrupt.

Despite the council of elders’ strong opposition, she had declared she would visit the academy during her rest period.

Visiting someone else’s educational institution uninvited could have been considered rude, but fortunately, Principal Gu had an open mind.

“I heard Katsuhata has recently hit a wall.”

When Principal Gu indirectly mentioned the National Exchange Competition, the old man’s hand trembled slightly.

“Haha… it seems everyone in the world knows about it. How embarrassing.”

“No need to be embarrassed. It’s better for geniuses to hit walls early. Since they’ll overcome them eventually, it’s more important than ever for adults to trust and wait patiently. I hope Katsuhata gains something from meeting our NoName.”

“If I’m not mistaken, NoName is only 8 years old this year…?”

“Yes, that’s correct, but?”

Principal Gu smiled brightly.

Koizumi noticed that the principal was implicitly treating NoName and Emika as equals.

No matter how much disrespect they faced, he couldn’t stand by while Emika was being compared to a child six years her junior.

“I heard NoName has never formally competed in a match.”

“That’s right. She’s too short to qualify this year… She’s fiercer than her seniors in a fight, which is such a shame, don’t you think?”

“Haha, yes, it is a shame…”

Unlike Kyoto natives accustomed to indirect speech, it was difficult to determine whether Principal Gu’s words were sincere.

To Koizumi, who was having all sorts of thoughts, Principal Gu clarified his position:

“We have a saying in Korea: Even an 80-year-old can learn from a 3-year-old child. If you think Katsuhata won’t gain anything because NoName is young, that would be a grave miscalculation.”

“I didn’t mean to belittle NoName, I apologize.”

“Of course, I also hope NoName experiences the high walls of the world through Katsuhata. NoName is still young. Moreover, having been confined in a capsule during her early years, her actual social experience is just over a year. That’s why I permitted this meeting—I don’t want NoName to remain trapped in this small pond of an academy.”

Principal Gu had recently received reports about NoName from her homeroom teacher.

She had apparently taken all the children in her class under her wing and was teaching them magic and aura during lunch breaks.

Some parents had raised minor objections, but since the children had all “voluntarily” chosen to participate, there was no room for teacher intervention.

But it was also true that NoName had become too arrogant lately.

This could potentially become harmful to her if not addressed.

“I’ve heard young Japanese mages nowadays use Western magic alongside swordsmanship… NoName is a complete expert in this field. Is the Katsuhata school still opposed to this approach?”

“Of course! It’s merely a distraction from reaching the true essence of the sword.”

“Haha, I understand. Despite the age difference, I’m sure they’ll learn from each other through conversation. I’d bet on it.”

“Since you’ve always been insightful, Principal Gu, I’ll trust your judgment. Ah, I’m fine with the tea now.”

Emika had left to meet NoName briefly, but an hour had already passed.

As the tedious meeting with the principal dragged on, Emika’s bodyguard knocked on the principal’s office door.

Koizumi, with one arm draped over the back of his chair, turned to see the disheveled bodyguard.

His hair was a mess, suggesting he had run all the way here.

“Master! Master! Something terrible has happened! You need to come quickly!”

“What’s wrong? What’s the emergency?”

“The heirloom…! The treasure given only to Katsuhata heirs…!”

“The heirloom? You mean the ancestral sword?”

“Yes! The ancestral sword has been… shattered…!”

“Shattered? How did that happen?!”

Koizumi couldn’t believe his ears.

‘A sword passed down through three centuries since the 19th century has been shattered?’

Turning back to look at Principal Gu to understand what was happening, he saw that she too was frowning, unable to hide her surprise.

“While I looked away for a moment, the children were squabbling…”

“How could an ancestral sword be shattered from mere squabbling! Lead the way!”