Ch.28EP.9 – The Knight Finds Fulfillment as an Instructor (2)

The man seemed ordinary at first glance.

No, I should correct myself.

His appearance was far from ordinary—he was strikingly beautiful.

His features looked as if they had been carved by a master sculptor renowned for their craft.

His demeanor was so cold that if he stood still, others might mistake him for a statue.

That’s why he seemed ordinary.

Though his appearance would impress regardless of gender, his expressionless face revealed nothing.

Only a candle-like stillness emanated from him, meaning he possessed only the warmth that any human naturally would.

In another sense, it meant his presence was somehow faint.

So much so that if his surname hadn’t been Lionel, no one would have found him intimidating.

But then…

Shring.

The moment he drew his sword.

His presence was no longer faint, nor was he like a candle.

It was chilling.

The surrounding air suddenly stiffened, and a sharp, eerie pressure like a blizzard enveloped the area.

Though he had merely drawn his sword, he was already a completely different person from moments ago.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a transformation rather than a mere change.

Roen Dmitri de Lionel.

He was unlike anyone Ihan had faced before.

Everyone felt it, and Ihan, standing before him…

‘This guy isn’t even trying to hide that he’s a regressor.’

He couldn’t help but snort.

Isn’t this too obvious?

Sring.

Unlike opponents who used peculiar weapons like longswords, Roen’s blade was simply a straight sword.

A sword with no special characteristics.

Though it seemed to be made of high-purity steel, it was just an ordinary iron sword.

Yet when Roen held the iron sword, it seemed to transform into a legendary blade.

This happened when the pressure that Ihan had particularly emphasized was imbued into the ordinary sword.

An extraordinary aura.

What was the term for such an aura…?

‘Ghost fire?’

Like ghost fire (鬼火) rising?

He wasn’t sure if it was the appropriate expression, but that’s how it appeared to others.

This was no ordinary aura. It wasn’t something a mere twenty-year-old youngster could emit, but rather what a seasoned warrior with 10 years of battlefield experience might produce.

So the opponent was not someone to be judged by appearances.

It would be fair to call him a fully-formed swordsman.

While inexperienced warriors might misunderstand him as merely a genius and regard him highly,

someone with developed senses like Ihan, or a soldier who had been through countless battles, would recognize it immediately.

This wasn’t just genius—this was a swordsman perfected through long years.

…With particularly dense killing intent.

Whoosh, whoosh!

But Ihan casually swung his wooden sword.

It was a reflexive swing when the extraordinary aura tried to envelop him, and with each swing, the sound of cutting wind was remarkable, and the swings became increasingly faster.

At some point, the wooden sword became so fast it was nearly invisible!

Whoosh-!

“Well, let’s begin.”

“…”

“Come at me.”

“…If I come now, you’ll cut me.”

“Don’t exaggerate.”

The opponent’s aura was torn apart before it could even pour out.

Roen and the other students witnessed it.

The mark Ihan’s wooden sword left on the ground.

Though it hadn’t even touched the ground, the soil looked as if it had been clawed by the air pressure from the wooden sword, making the students swallow hard.

Only then did they truly realize.

That this person was strong.

And this fact…

“I’ll come now.”

Made Roen smile.

A most splendid,

Maniacal laugh.

* * *

Roen moved first.

Whoosh-!

The sword that came thrusting in was aiming straight for his eyes.

It was a thrust without hesitation, extremely dangerous.

But Ihan…

“Are you trying to blind someone?”

“It wasn’t even a threat, was it?”

Clang!

Without even blinking, he smoothly avoided it while swinging his wooden sword down.

Roen quickly blocked it, but he couldn’t completely deflect the impact.

His arm vibrated painfully, and he stepped back, asking:

“…You channeled the flow internally rather than externally, didn’t you?”

“It’s a technique I’ve been practicing lately. Think it’s useful?”

“It’s quite threatening.”

“It’s still not enough for real combat, but it’s adequate for youngsters.”

“Good thing I’m not a youngster then.”

It was a strike infused with an internal force technique, but it didn’t work on Roen.

He had strengthened his internal flow momentarily to receive it, neutralizing the flow that Ihan had tried to penetrate.

However.

“You’re really strong.”

“That’s my advantage.”

Even he couldn’t completely negate the impact from Ihan’s overwhelming physical strength.

Bang!

As if not wanting to miss the opportunity when his opponent’s body stiffened, Ihan stepped forward, and the ground cracked under his powerful step.

As his forceful step delivered pressure…

Boom!

Ihan’s wooden sword precisely struck Roen’s sword, and Roen tried to cut down while deflecting the wooden sword, but…!

Cheng…!

“…”

The wooden sword wasn’t cut.

Rather, the wooden sword showed a hardness no less than an iron sword and withstood even the sharp blade.

Roen, wondering what this was, swung his sword again.

Whoosh, creating three sword shadows.

He extended three sword strikes in an instant, but again.

Cheng cheng!

They were blocked.

And effortlessly at that.

Instead, Roen felt pain in his palm.

What was this?

‘It feels like hitting a rock.’

The feeling of cutting at a rock.

No, it wasn’t just a feeling—it truly felt like hitting a rock.

He wondered what kind of magic this was.

And to the student full of questions, Ihan opened his mouth, fulfilling his duty as an instructor:

“I don’t know much about ki techniques. There’s no one to teach me, and teachings about ki techniques are scarce because they’re considered secret arts. But I do know how the ‘strength’ inside my body works.”

“…What do you—”

“Strength isn’t just about lifting heavy things. It encompasses bones, tendons, and muscles as a whole. And I call the method of properly using such strength ‘gyeong (勁).’ It means ‘the way of strengthening.'”

“…”

“I also named it ‘geumgang (金剛).’ It’s a way of transferring internal strength not just to the body but also to tools. And if that’s possible.”

Bang!

“This can happen too.”

Once again, the blade met the wooden sword, but the wooden sword wasn’t cut, and it repelled Roen as if it were an iron club.

If Roen hadn’t reduced the impact, he would have been thrown ungracefully.

But rather than being briefly suspended in the air, Roen was astonished by the technique Ihan was demonstrating.

His ‘personal ki technique’ that wasn’t systematically learned but was executed through sensation and instinct.

“…I’ve never thought myself lacking in intelligence, but everything you show is beyond my comprehension.”

“Hehe, it’s because I lack the skill to explain. When I learn techniques, I mostly learn through practice and sensation rather than theory.”

“…Most people would call that genius.”

“That’s a nice compliment.”

But Ihan denies that statement.

Because this is more about imagination than talent.

The ‘information’ he had read countless times in his previous life gave him creativity, and all he did was implement what he could draw from that creativity in reality.

Still.

‘It’s nice to hear.’

* * *

…The students watched the duel between Ihan and Roen with bated breath.

Thirty exchanges so far.

Without either sword ever touching them, the swords clashed repeatedly.

A sword duel (劍鬪) without an inch of concession.

Watching this, some felt jealous and envious.

That a man of the same age could be so strong.

They were frustrated by the wall of unreasonable talent they faced.

But some…

“The instructor’s wooden sword is at its limit.”

“So is Young Lord Roen’s.”

“…What a monster, trying to break an iron sword with a wooden one.”

They gauged the level between themselves and the duelists, calculating how to surpass them.

“…Wow, so this is why people watch fights.”

[Irene, is that all you have to say?]

“Umm, it’s flashy?”

[…Irene, don’t tell anyone you’re a magician. It’s too embarrassing.]

“What are you saying?”

…There were also spectators who watched with pure, innocent eyes without much thought.

But a duel can’t continue forever.

Both men’s swords had already reached their limits.

So Ihan suggested for the final exchange…

“Why don’t we get serious for the last one?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Show your true self. What you’re showing now is impressive, but there’s more, isn’t there? I’d like to see the real thing.”

“…”

Show what you’re hiding.

At this statement, Roen flinched for the first time.

“I didn’t notice at first, but I’ve been feeling something as we went on.”

Roen was certainly strong.

He was more experienced than any student Ihan had faced so far, and his technique and ki manipulation were unparalleled.

He was a more than satisfactory opponent.

…But something felt off.

Was it Ihan’s intuition telling him?

Or was it the product of his battlefield experiences?

He clearly…

‘Seems to have more.’

What he’s shown so far is just average.

There’s definitely something more.

With these thoughts, he asked Roen to reveal everything, and Roen showed signs of hesitation.

He was secretly pleased.

Partly because his thoughts were confirmed, but also because he wanted to properly conclude the duel.

The swords were going to break anyway.

Wouldn’t it be more exciting to end it definitively rather than continue this precarious balancing act?

The finishing touch.

Ihan hoped the end of this duel would be a satisfying result for both of them.

Perhaps our surveillance target #1 feels the same way, with a small expectation that…

“No, I’ll forfeit.”

“…Huh?”

“It seems to be getting too heated, so I think we should stop.”

“…”

…Expectations are just expectations; it seems he had been thinking too much on his own.

Roen pointed around with an elegant smile.

“The original purpose of this match was to make those who didn’t acknowledge you as an instructor recognize you. And now, since that purpose has been fulfilled, isn’t the duel meaningless? I also think it’s about time we stop.”

“…Look at this guy?”

Isn’t he being cunning, contrary to his appearance?

He made a dumbfounded expression, but unfortunately…

“Aren’t you looking forward to the meeting event with Uncle Baltar?”

“I’m sorry, but I’m more looking forward to your teachings than meeting Sir Baltar.”

“…You don’t look that diligent.”

“Shouldn’t you not judge people by appearances?”

“…You’ve got me there.”

The big event he had been looking forward to ended so anticlimactically that he had no comeback, and Ihan finally put down his wooden sword.

He wasn’t ill-mannered enough to force someone who didn’t want to fight anymore.

However.

‘Ah, damn, I’m sure there’s more.’

Considering the countless techniques a (presumed) regressor might be hiding, it was an unfortunate ending.

“…Hmm.”

Ihan was sulky.

*

*

*

‘…That was close.’

Roen was surprised at himself.

Could it be that such feelings still remained within him?

‘Competitive spirit, the competitive spirit of a young body is frightening.’

He thought it had been incinerated to ashes like dust, yet such emotions still remained?

‘Hmm, perhaps it’s because it’s been a long time since I’ve had such a pure fight.’

A pure struggle.

No, the clean competitive spirit emanating from the opponent.

Facing it reminded him of the rashness of his younger days.

He wasn’t referring to his current youth.

The memories of ‘younger days’ that only Roen remembered.

Recalling those days.

…And

‘This time, I must stop it.’

To prevent such a tragedy, such a disaster…

‘This time, I will kill you.’

He recalled the prey he needed to kill.

‘Isis Elaine de Pendragon. I will surely plunge a knife into your throat.’

That would be the day his vengeance would be fulfilled.

Roen renewed his determination.

As if youth was a luxury he couldn’t afford until his purpose was fulfilled.

Thus, he suppressed his true nature.

For the day of revenge that would someday come.