Ch.5959. The Lion King’s Birthday

If asked to name Professor Brianna’s greatest joy these days, it would be teaching Gilbert, whom she had recently taken on as her second exclusive disciple.

Gilbert’s talent was enough to occasionally surprise even Brianna, who had changed her mind about not taking on any disciples after Seraphina.

There’s a saying that if you teach someone one thing, they’ll understand ten. She could feel the same emotions now that she had felt when first teaching Seraphina.

Of course, “teaching” wasn’t quite the right expression, since he was already somewhat complete as a swordsman. “Instructional sparring” would be more accurate.

Especially in terms of physical training, he was so perfect that there was nothing for her to correct, and his foundation for building swordsmanship was excellent.

Normally, this would make teaching unrewarding, but watching Gilbert grow steadily during their instructional sparring left no room for such feelings. Though she hadn’t taught him for long, his growth was impressive even by Professor Brianna’s standards.

The unnecessary movements and bad habits he had shown when she first began teaching him were now hard to find.

Since he had already somewhat established his own swordsmanship style, she had thought it would be difficult to correct, but that was a pleasantly wrong assumption.

It must mean he was truly dedicated to swordsmanship.

Otherwise, such explosive growth would have been impossible.

It goes without saying that the moment one stops putting in effort despite having talent, that’s exactly where they remain. The most dangerous moment is when one’s swordsmanship reaches a certain level and complacency sets in.

For someone talented like Gilbert, laziness was what he needed to be most careful of. Laziness leads to arrogance, and arrogance causes stagnation.

During her time as a professor at Demeia Academy, Brianna had seen many students who failed to fully bloom due to laziness and arrogance. Among them might have been students with the potential to surpass her.

From her perspective, it was truly regrettable. Even Seraphina, whom she had taken as an exclusive disciple, had exceptional talent and passion, but it was difficult for her to devote herself entirely to swordsmanship.

Seraphina’s status as an imperial princess, with a high possibility of becoming the heir to the throne, meant that even as an academy student, she had considerable official duties. Unlike before, she couldn’t invest all her time in swordsmanship.

Nevertheless, Brianna had marked Seraphina as someone who could surpass her. She didn’t know how much longer she would be known as the continent’s strongest swordswoman, but if she ever had to relinquish that title, she thought it would only be to Seraphina.

Of course, all of this was before meeting Gilbert.

After meeting him and teaching him, she had no choice but to change her mind. His talent was beyond question, and being such a dedicated hard worker, she was convinced Gilbert could claim the title of the continent’s strongest even before Seraphina.

“Has something good happened, Professor?”

Gilbert, who had been meditating before their sparring, had opened his eyes and was looking at her.

“Nothing in particular.”

“But you were smiling.”

Had she unknowingly been wearing a pleased smile?

Brianna quickly corrected her expression. She was concerned that unnecessary praise might become poison to him.

Based on what she had observed of Gilbert so far, she thought he wouldn’t change, but one could never be too careful. Gaps in one’s heart tend to form in moments of carelessness.

Brianna resolved to remain a strict teacher for Gilbert’s sake.

“Nonsense. We’ll begin our morning sparring. Take up your sword.”

“Understood.”

Despite her cold rebuke, Gilbert’s expression remained unchanged. She had worried that her excessive strictness might cause him to feel rebellious, but fortunately, there was no sign of that.

As always, he simply drew his sword and assumed the Winter Sword stance.

Gilbert’s usually indifferent eyes blazed the moment he gripped his sword. This clearly visible change seemed to reflect his passion for swordsmanship.

Brianna secretly smiled at Gilbert’s transformed appearance. Meeting his burning gaze made her feel as if a fire was being kindled in her own heart.

After reaching the position of the greatest swordswoman and losing her rivals, Brianna’s passion for the sword had cooled somewhat.

She hadn’t neglected her training, but somehow it felt like her goal had disappeared.

She still sensed that there were higher realms of swordsmanship, but it was too difficult to journey that far alone. She needed a companion to walk that path with her.

This was something even Seraphina couldn’t do. Though she enjoyed practicing swordsmanship, for her as an imperial princess, it was merely a means to an end. She wasn’t someone for whom the sword itself was the goal, like Brianna.

Born into a noble position, she had many responsibilities to bear. Brianna wasn’t in a position to demand that Seraphina devote herself entirely to the sword as she had.

Even if she could, it would be meaningless. The path Seraphina needed to walk wasn’t one that could be forced upon her.

But Gilbert…

Brianna drew her sword as she faced Gilbert. Like him, she assumed the Winter Sword stance.

Recently, she had been strongly feeling that someone like him, with such great longing for the sword, might be able to walk that path with her. There was no one better than Gilbert as a companion for the journey toward the ultimate sword.

Though he still hadn’t reached her level, she didn’t think that would last. Growing as he was day by day, he would soon reach her position.

At that moment, when they became equals, Brianna’s journey would begin anew. With her one and only companion.

“Come.”

For that day, she would do her best. Brianna welcomed Gilbert as he approached with his sword.

***

Brianna and Gilbert’s sparring session only ended after an hour had passed. Even then, they stopped only because Gilbert’s mana was beginning to run out.

If his mana hadn’t been depleted, they might have continued sparring for even longer.

“Good work.”

“Thank you for the instruction.”

He forced his body, heavy as a soaked cotton, to move and show respect. Though he still had physical stamina left, his depleted mana was affecting his body. He felt more fatigued than after an all-out sprint.

“You did well at the end. I didn’t expect you to apply what I mentioned last time so quickly.”

“I believe there’s no point in learning something if you don’t use it.”

“That’s a good attitude. Internalizing what you’ve learned is most important.”

Unusually, Brianna praised Gilbert. Though she generally tried to maintain the image of a strict teacher, she couldn’t help but commend his consistent attitude.

“I don’t think I was mistaken.”

“About what?”

“That you seem to be in a particularly good mood today.”

“I told you that was nonsense.”

Brianna’s face, which had relaxed a bit, stiffened slightly. Gilbert began to understand why Professor Brianna was devastatingly popular in the community despite being an unconquerable character.

From the cute aspects hidden within her cool image to her willingness to risk death for her students.

It must have been the contrast that stirred the hearts of gamers.

Gilbert didn’t dislike this side of Brianna either. In fact, he rather preferred it, which was why he was desperately planning and intensively training to save her.

“By the way, I have something to tell you.”

“Are you speaking to me?”

Gilbert looked at Brianna as he wiped his sweat with a towel and tidied up the training ground. He was puzzled by her sudden announcement.

“Yes. You must know that the Lion King’s Birthday Celebration is coming up soon.”

“I do.”

“Then this will be quick.”

What will be quick?

Gilbert had an ominous feeling from Brianna’s satisfied expression.

It probably wouldn’t be life-threatening as Brianna suggested, but he felt uneasy.

“The celebration hosted by Demeia Academy always includes the Lion King Parade. And usually, the role of the Lion King in the parade is given to the winner of the competition.”

“Professor.”

“There’s no distinction between men and women. However, the honor is generally given to the winner of the competition.”

Gilbert’s mind began working at an unprecedented speed.

To summarize the situation, it seemed that the winner of the competition had to play the role of the Lion King in the Lion King Parade.

Being the Lion King in such an important parade for the Empire’s famous festival was certainly an honorable position. Moreover, only the competition winner could enjoy this benefit, announcing to the entire Empire that they were the best in their year.

Any student at Demeia Academy would aspire to that position, but Gilbert was a bit different. Not only was he unaccustomed to such attention, but he had already drawn more than enough notice to himself.

With the academy attack incident approaching, he didn’t want to put himself in the spotlight again.

At a time when he should be quietly preparing for the attack, a parade? Gilbert needed to somehow pass this position to someone else.

“Professor, I have something to say.”

“No.”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“Do you have something else to tell me besides refusing?”

He swallowed his objection under Brianna’s sharp gaze, which made it clear she wouldn’t accept any opposition. She explained that it was impossible due to the symbolism and legitimacy of the parade.

Gilbert tried to organize his suddenly complicated thoughts. Then he realized something.

The role of the Lion King in the parade wasn’t given to the winner of the first-year competition. Due to the symbolism of the Lion King, the honor usually went to the final winner, including the event competition.

And the person who took on that role right before the gamer won the event competition was none other than Seraphina. Had the game’s setting changed? The question arose in his mind.

“That’s not it. As I understand, the role is given to the final winner, including the event competition, isn’t it?”

“That was the case originally. But from this year, we’ve decided to change that rule.”

“Suddenly… you say?”

“You should know the reason better than anyone. Considering what you’ve accomplished as a first-year student, it’s not unreasonable.”

Ah, I see.

Gilbert barely nodded in understanding at Brianna’s words. In the end, the reason lay with none other than himself.

Feeling sick to his stomach, Gilbert could only sigh deeply, unaware of Brianna’s proud gaze.