Ch.91Heimdall Rona

Kingdom of Bichrome Knight Academy Elementary Division, Week One of Enrollment.

Nothing unusual to report.

The cafeteria food is delicious.

Sei Arin-

***

After lunch ended, afternoon classes began. Sei Arin stood among children with much larger builds than her own, waiting for the instructor’s orders.

“Today’s afternoon class will be sparring matches!”

At the instructor’s announcement, the children began to murmur. Reactions varied widely—from excited faces to those grimacing with reluctance. Generally, those who welcomed the sparring were children confident in their abilities.

“Finally, today’s the day…”

“Today, I’ll see how much your swordsmanship has improved.”

“If you end up as my opponent, let’s fight for as long as possible… There’s someone I want to impress…”

The instructor, who normally didn’t permit chatting during class, allowed the children to talk freely just for today. The excitement for the sparring matches was beginning to heat up.

The instructor led the children to a large training ground.

Wooden swords, not real blades, were used for elementary division sparring. Each student was issued their own wooden sword. They varied in size and shape. There was quite a variety of spare wooden swords available, allowing students to choose one that suited them if they weren’t satisfied with their initial one.

The children put considerable effort into selecting their wooden swords. Checking the weight and length was basic. One child even exchanged theirs because they didn’t like the smell.

Sei Arin simply picked up one that was lying around. It was just sparring with children, after all. She could win even if she used a tree branch instead of a wooden sword.

‘This is…’

A wooden sword is still a sword. As Sei Arin’s tiny hand picked up the worn wooden sword, numerous memories began to flow into her. Favorite foods, sword-gripping habits, mana cultivation methods from minor noble families, academy curriculum details—various people’s memories flashed by quickly.

Most of the memories weren’t particularly helpful. Unless it had been used by an exceptional swordsman for a long time, a sword that had passed through many hands like this one could only contain faint, blurred memories.

With the wooden sword in hand, Sei Arin lightly stretched her body. Her feet traced a slow circle on the ground. Following that rotation, her waist and arms moved simultaneously.

A light thrust.

As the wooden sword extended forward, cutting through the air, a faint breeze spread before it. In that moment, Sei Arin felt gazes from all directions.

‘Oh no…’

Her tension eased as she glimpsed others’ memories. Unconsciously revealing her true skill had become a problem. She had unintentionally drawn attention to herself.

Sei Arin hastily withdrew her sword and moved to the shadow of the building, leaning against the wall.

“What… what was that just now?”

“Something from the sword…”

“Who did that?”

“I think it was Haim Del…”

Fortunately, the instructor supervising the class was temporarily absent. Sei Arin crossed her arms and closed her eyes until the children quieted down.

The instructor returned about five minutes later. On his back was a bag filled with wound medicine, bandages, and potions.

He had brought them to treat any injuries that might occur during the sparring.

“Let’s begin!”

The sparring order was fairly determined by drawing lots. Sei Arin also drew her number. She was number 22.

The first match began. Both participants were boys of similar build. They both glanced at Sei Arin, checking her reaction. Not just one, but both of them.

It’s a male instinct to want to show off to females. Whether young or old, men are always the same. Sei Arin sighed softly as she read the boys’ obvious thoughts.

“Why are you sighing?”

A sudden question. When Sei Arin turned her head, Handel had approached and was looking down at her with a bright smile. She was the only child Sei Arin had allowed near her during the past week.

Haim Del Rona, the character Sei Arin was playing, could consider Handel her first friend here. Sei Arin looked up at her and answered.

“Those boys’ gazes are pathetic.”

“What’s pathetic about them?”

“They’re distracted while facing their sparring opponents. They clearly want to impress someone of the opposite sex…”

“Opposite sex? Who?”

“Me, obviously. It’s a male instinct to want to impress beautiful women.”

“Uh…”

“And I am a beautiful woman. So their gazes are naturally directed at me.”

Handel closed her mouth at the small girl’s confident answer. She couldn’t really argue. It was more or less true.

She just felt a bit perplexed.

‘She is pretty, but…’

Just then, the match began. The two boys who had been distracted by Sei Arin before starting showed a fairly decent fight. The wooden swords clashed forcefully, creating harsh sounds.

“Wow… they’re fighting well…”

“They’re just children after all.”

“You know that you look the youngest, right, Rona…?”

Sei Arin ignored Handel’s words.

The matches progressed quickly. This was partly because the children’s skill levels varied greatly, and some children didn’t show their full abilities, just going through the motions.

Sei Arin shook her head at such children. Even before skill, they lacked respect for their opponents. There was no way they could become proper knights.

“Haim Del Rona!”

Finally, Sei Arin’s name was called. She walked forward confidently with the wooden sword in hand.

“Win this!”

Only Handel cheered for Sei Arin. She jumped up and down in place, waving her hand.

Standing on the training ground, Sei Arin looked around. Though she had carefully observed all the previous matches, there was no child she suspected of being a reincarnator.

‘Perhaps they haven’t been born yet…’

Sei Arin’s gaze grew cold. If a reincarnator were to be born, it meant someone here would die. Children with bright futures would have their bodies and futures stolen by reincarnators.

It was truly a terrible thing.

‘If only I could prevent the birth of reincarnators…’

That was impossible. That’s why she needed to deal with reincarnators before greater damage occurred. Sei Arin sighed softly and looked at her opponent.

Viper. A boy with a calm demeanor. He hadn’t stood out during training. Just average, maintaining the middle ground. Sei Arin relaxed her shoulders appropriately.

She couldn’t go all out against a child. She planned to fight with restrained power and then knock away her opponent’s sword.

As they faced each other with swords extended forward,

Viper spoke.

“Fight me properly.”

“Fight properly?”

“Don’t hold back. You’re the strongest one here.”

Sei Arin brushed back her fallen bangs at Viper’s words. What did he mean by saying she was the strongest here? Sei Arin had thoroughly played the role of Haim Del Rona. She had acted as a girl swordsman slightly above average to blend in with the children.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There are many stronger than me.”

“You can’t fool my eyes. You have more mana than even the instructor…”

Sei Arin’s gaze moved to Viper’s eyes. Through his long bangs, a faint blue light flickered.

‘Has he enhanced his eyes with mana?’

He didn’t seem to be lying. Sei Arin frowned.

“If you don’t listen to me, I’ll tell everyone this secret.”

A troublesome child. His stubborn gaze, characteristic of children, was directed at her. Sei Arin lightly rotated the wooden sword in her hand.

The wooden sword spun once, emitting a rough air pressure, then settled back in Sei Arin’s hand. She changed her grip. To comply with the boy’s request.

Just then, the instructor, who had returned after organizing documents, shouted.

“If you’re ready, begin!”

As if making a final check, the instructor’s gaze touched Sei Arin and Viper before moving away. Right after, the instructor raised his hand. That was the signal for the match to begin.

“If you’re planning to hold back…”

As soon as it started, ignoring Viper’s words, Sei Arin kicked the ground. Her body, enhanced by mana, dashed at tremendous speed. The training ground floor cracked under her feet.

PAANG-!

Her direction was purely linear. No special technique was needed. As the distance closed, Sei Arin raised her wooden sword above her head. A powerful downward slash from sky to ground.

The moment Sei Arin’s form reached Viper, her wooden sword was already striking his head.

THWACK!

Just before the wooden sword hit his head, she did reduce her strength somewhat, but the force wasn’t completely dissipated. Viper’s body shook violently as he was struck, and the light faded from his eyes.

The following air pressure pushed Viper’s body. He spun like a windmill in mid-air before flying out of the training ground and crashing down.

This all happened as soon as the match began. The match ended before the instructor’s arm had even fully lowered.

Everyone was silent.

Right after, Sei Arin exhaled roughly and collapsed to the ground. As if she had used all her energy.

Though she had demonstrated skill impressive enough to surprise everyone, it was still within an acceptable range. Sei Arin didn’t break character.

“Did… did anyone see that?”

“Insane… what was that?”

“A one-hit kill technique…? It could turn the tide in a crisis, but it doesn’t seem efficient. Looks like she needs someone to watch her back.”

People only see what they know. No one here could recognize Sei Arin’s true ability. The same went for the instructor teaching these children. He nodded as he listened to the children’s chatter.

“Im-impressive swordsmanship. But showing such techniques to everyone isn’t a good choice. The winner is… Haim Del Rona.”

Sei Arin looked down at Viper, who was sprawled on the training ground floor. She planned to hit his head again when he woke up.

Until this mission was over, he wouldn’t be able to leave the infirmary.