The knight held a wooden sword in one hand and a one-handed shield in his other hand.

    “Let me say this in advance. I have never learned proper swordsmanship. In other words, I have no foundation.”

    Then, he stretched his body, letting it sway, creating some sense of spirit and momentum.

    With how shabby the old wooden sword and shield looked like, it seemed like he was forcefully suppressing his momentum.

    “That’s also why I don’t have a school. All I have are techniques that I’ve perfected to a certain extent in actual combat. And that’s also why…”

    Wooong-!

    “The only swordsmanship I can teach you is ‘this kind of thing’.”

    The swaying wooden sword shot at a scarecrow in an instant like a wasp’s stinger. It happened in a split second; a stab that even the eyes couldn’t follow.

    Crack-!

    The wooden sword pierced the scarecrow’s eye. It was a clean move; cruel, bold and precise.

    “This is what I can teach you. Exploiting your opponent’s weaknesses. I could also teach you how to make them let their guard down, and how to survive even if it’s cowardly, and so on. Honestly, it’s not the way of a knight.”

    He belittled the skills he had learned, but that didn’t mean he was ashamed of what he was doing, or what he had shown to them.

    “When I learned these things, I wasn’t a knight, and I had to be good at these things to survive. So, I had no choice.”

    Bang-!

    This time, it was a slash using a shield.

    His movements made the cadets realize that even a shield could be used so freely. Not only that, he also showed them how to use a wooden sword in various ways.

    For example, using either the handle or the back of the sword to bash their opponent’s skull.

    A rather brutal method.

    “Huuuu.”

    …At some point, the scarecrow was reduced to rags.

    If it had been a person instead of a scarecrow, they would be in a horrible state to look at. That was how bad the scarecrow was damaged.

    It sent shivers to the cadets’ stomach.

    “Of course, I’m not telling you guys to learn this cowardly method. I’m just letting you know that there are guys who fight this way, so that you are able to respond to this cowardly method.”

    “…Respond?”

    “At the end of the day, what I showed you was just a shortcut. It only serves to make your opponent let their guard down—a method that only works well on weak guys. Even so, there are quite a lot of people who can’t respond to this cheap method. Even if they’ve learned Combat Techniques, it doesn’t mean they won’t die if they get stabbed. That’s why I figured that it’ll be better for you to train yourself to destroy this kind of trick in advance. In that sense…”

    Thud-!

    “From now on, you’ll be the scarecrows. You just have to block the tricks that I use. This will be a mandatory assignment that you have to get used to in the second semester. Of course, the exam will be replaced by this.”

    “…”

    “I know, right? It’s too easy. Don’t worry, I have other special training planned for you guys since it’s too easy, no need to feel disappointed! This instructor has already made countless plans for you to grow stronger, haha!”

    “I’d rather be put in a cage together with a wild beast. What is this—?”

    “Huh? How did you know? I also have something like that planned.”

    “…”

    “As expected, young people’s brains are something else! You predicted this instructor’s test in advance. Marvelous!”

    “…”

    …However, the cadets were not happy at all with his praise, nor were they happy about their prediction being right.

    Wow, he’s really out to kill us…

    The cadets looked at the horribly crushed scarecrow again, and they just felt extremely certain that it would become their appearance in the near future.

    Really, all they wanted was…

    “W-We’re still way too young…”

    To stay alive.

    * * *

    Even though Lee Han described the training routine calmly, it didn’t mean he didn’t know of its dangers. No matter how much he suppressed his strength, if he were to land one wrong hit to the cadets, they would die. Even if they didn’t, they’d become a vegetable.

    Of course, he had no intention of turning his disciples into vegetables.

    “Don’t worry, I have a countermeasure for that.”

    No matter how reckless he was, he wouldn’t be planning this training routine so ignorantly.

    “Interns, to the front.”

    “…”

    “Don’t just move your body, answer me why you do it. I might just think your mouths are useless and rip your tongue off if you don’t.”

    “S-Sorry.”

    “If you know you’ll have to apologize for doing that, why are you doing that in the first place?”

    “…”

    “Haa… Forget it. I’ll only get my mouth hurt. Just do what I told you yesterday. Quickly.”

    “T-That…”

    “You don’t want to? Sure, don’t. I’ll just send you to a week-long course of Twisting the Muscles and Bones instead.”

    “W-We’ll do it right away!!”

    “…You should’ve done that in the first place. Stop wasting our time.”

    No matter how much training they received to endure torture, the pain of Twisting the Muscles and Bones wasn’t something they could ever get used to. The knight had even lowered its intensity, but it was still enough of a trauma for them.

    The heretic inquisitors, or rather, the interns, obediently followed the knight’s orders. Then…

    [Great Divine Technique – The Barrier of Sacrifice].

    They activated their Divine Technique.

    Though they were rotten pieces of human beings, they were still elite of the elite. They could easily perform the Divine Technique that normally required a hundred priests to perform, albeit on a smaller scale. However, that was enough to cover the training grounds of the Swordsmanship Department.

    “Huh? Why is it suddenly so cool here?”

    “It was piping hot just a moment ago…”

    “Oh my? My skin suddenly became smoother?”

    “Oh my–!”

    For a moment there, they were left surprised because the interns that Lee Han bought were emitting Divine Power from their bodies. As the cozy sacred energy began to circulate in the space, they reacted in different ways.

    Minor wounds, muscle pain, and even their fatigue that had built up without them knowing disappeared in an instant.

    “T-This is…! The Barrier of Sacrifice?!”

    Arno and several other children of prestigious families realized the nature of the technique, leaving their mouths gaping in surprise. They never thought they would see the legendary Divine Technique they had only heard of through rumors here out of all places.

    “Arno? What is this?”

    “…It’s the [Barrier of Sacrifice]. Basically, those inside this barrier won’t be hurt or injured no matter what. It’ll also maintain the best physical condition of people inside it, and I heard that anyone inside the barrier will be fine even if they don’t eat or drink.”

    “Kunta doesn’t understand, but it sound very good!”

    “Calling it good doesn’t cut it. It is one of the three barrier-type Divine Techniques that the temple has. According to legends, the Templar Knights fought against the demons for a thousand days without rest due to this barrier…”

    “Wow! If it’s good, why not use much?”

    “…Because the priests who create the barrier will take all the damage instead…”

    “Huh?”

    “The priests who create the barrier will take on all the fatigue and wounds of those inside the barrier. That’s why it is called [Sacrifice]. It is literally a Divine Technique that’s performed under the premise of sacrifice.”

    “Kunta hate this barrier now…”

    The kind Barbarian boy took back his praises towards the barrier. He loathed to experience benefits under the expense of others.

    However…

    “Don’t worry, big guy. What he said was an extreme example. In the first place, there won’t be any problems if you were to use it just for about a day. Depending on the priest’s skills, the pain they’d get won’t even exceed 5% of the real pain.”

    Lee Han explained, trying to dispel his worries.

    “So…?”

    “Fortunately, our interns are quite excellent. They won’t feel much pain or fatigue. Also, since we’ll only use this barrier during class, there won’t be any major problems.”

    “Oh!”

    “So? Feeling relieved now?”

    “Yes, Instructor! Kunta like the barrier again now!”

    “It’s nice to see you’re so motivated. Train hard, okay?”

    “Okay!”

    “…Don’t answer me informally, you brat!”

    “Ahhh! D-Don’t come, Instructor! A-A slap from Instructor would break Kunta’s skull!”

    Kunta tried to run away, but the instructor’s unusually quick movements destroyed all his effort, and he received a hard hit.

    “Ahh! It hurts…! …Huh?… It doesn’t hurt!”

    That was how he personally experienced the barrier’s effect.

    “I see, so it’s like that, huh…?”

    “As expected of the instructor, you prepared something amazing.”

    “…Thank goodness I don’t have to write a will…”

    A sense of relief spread among the cadets, but Arno was still suspicious.

    Even if it’s only 5% of the damage, if the damage from 80 people accumulates, won’t it still be considerably painful…?

    Hmm…

    “Well, it’s none of my business.”

    In the end, he decided to shake off his worries.

    Although he was a little concerned about the identity of those priests…

    “It would be better to make good use of this opportunity. At least, for now.”

    After all, this was a good opportunity to practice the skills that he usually wouldn’t dare to practice out of fear of getting hurt. It would be foolish of him to miss it.

    He was worried about the priests’ future, but…

    “Ugh!”

    “Does it hurt? If it hurts, tell me now. It’s okay to quit. But, I’ll tell you right now, if you quit just because it hurts, I don’t think the instructor will leave you unscathed.”

    “Grrr!”

    “Why are you glaring at me like that? What? Are you mad at me? Huh?!”

    “N-No.”

    “My ass! I know you want to hit me! Too bad, you can’t. Ha!”

    “!!?!”

    Since Damien Paulet’s sacrificial spirit(?) that lived only in the present without fear of future troubles and attracted the resentment of the priests to himself, Arno decided that it would be okay.

    …Maybe the instructor’s right. It’s a kind of talent.

    A talent to enjoy the present without fearing the future.

    They say that the person who enjoys the present is the scariest… So, that person will surely become stronger.

    “If you have a complaint, hit me!”

    …Only if he’d survive to see the future, though.

    For the first time, Arno felt admiration and respect for Damien Paulet, who possessed the mentality of a mayfly.

    **** * ****

    “…Look at these rascals! They’re so excited.”

    Perhaps it was because Divine Technique was something that even the upper class of this world couldn’t experience often. Even the noble cadets couldn’t help but get excited and fascinated by the Divine Technique.

    Just watching them made Lee Han feel proud.

    “This is a real flex.”

    “How?”

    “I made the training ground a nice place just by putting some people who are destined to die. Even the royal family can’t do this, no? Then, it’s a flex.”

    “I-Is that how that works?”

    For some reason, that was enough to persuade Derrick. Though, he hesitated for a bit more before agreeing.

    At that moment…

    “Instructor, I have something to talk about. Can you spare me some time?”

    “…”

    Roen, the regressor who knew the future in a different sense from Derrick, approached them.

    “What’s wrong? Normally you’d just say what you want to say. Are you trying to keep a pretense now that we’re in the Academy?”

    “I’m in a hurry right now. Instructor, I have a favor to ask.”

    “A favor?”

    “Yes, a favor.”

    “Hmm, is it related to that red one?”

    “…! So you noticed… Alright, I’ll tell you. Please give her to me, Instructor!”

    ─Please give her to me!

    “…”

    …A moment of silence passed.

    Even Lee Han was left speechless and dazed for about 5 seconds. As soon as he came to his senses, he immediately asked back.

    “…Blackie. Don’t you realize?”

    “What do you mean?”

    “Think back at what you just said.”

    “…What was strange about it?”

    “I see, so you’ve gone crazy too…”

    That was when Lee Han noticed that the guy’s eyes were completely red.

    As if screaming that he was just a step away from causing a big incident.

    Has he lost his reason?

    He doesn’t even realize how crazy the thing he had just said…

    I guess being able to say that he wants to kill someone in such a sweet way is a kind of talent…

    However, Lee Han, who read the bitter feelings contained in Roen’s words, didn’t know what he should do. If he were to give the woman to him just like that, he’d just stab her neck and there would be nothing he could do about it.

    Haa… The elder always told me to not get involved in a couple’s fight…

    Lee Han was at a loss.


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