Chapter 24: Swords and Shadows

“I apologize for throwing this at you from the very first class, but I need to properly assess your abilities today.”

Typical Academy.

The way classes were run here felt more like university than high school.

Not that we had to register for classes individually — though some electives were like that — but in general, students followed a set curriculum based on the major they chose upon entry.

Naturally, our curriculum was tailored for future Hero Party members.

We had two classes yesterday. Today, we only had one.

I was actually happy about that. Just one class, sounds easy, right?

Then a man walked in — shaggy hair, several days’ worth of unshaven stubble, and a face that looked utterly exhausted — and without preamble, said that.

“Oooh…!”

The Blackwood heiress let out a sound of recognition the moment she saw his face. He must be fairly well-known.

Even the princess sitting nearby had stars in her eyes.

It’s not like he was particularly handsome or anything.

So he probably wasn’t famous for his looks, at least.

“At the very least, I should know how capable the Hero Candidates are. Or wait — isn’t one of you already a Hero?”

The man’s eyes turned toward me.

“Of course, you’re still young, so I won’t expect too much. But since you’re someone who holds the fate of humanity in your hands, you’ll need to train properly.

Today’s sparring session will help determine how best to guide you. I’ll pair you up myself — don’t worry, I’ll match people based on their level. No lopsided fights.”

So that’s why they told us to wear armor to class.

And the place we’d gathered in wasn’t a regular classroom — it looked more like a training hall.

Up front, wooden practice weapons were neatly lined up, practically saying: “Take your pick.”

I turned my head to see how the other students were reacting, only for my eyes to lock with the Blackwood heiress.

She gave me a wicked grin.

With her wolf ears perked up, she looked like a predator who had just spotted prey.

No way…

The instructor did say he’d match us by skill, so there’s no way I’d get paired up with her.

Thankfully, the first sparring match wasn’t between Hero Candidates.

That gave me some time to sit next to Siwoo and chat while the others were fighting.

“So… who is that guy, anyway?”

Before Siwoo could respond, someone else cut in.

“You don’t know?”

It was the princess, sitting just to my other side.

“Well, obviously not, or I wouldn’t be asking.”

The princess looked genuinely surprised, her eyes widening.

Then she lowered her voice a bit.

“Haven’t you heard of the Sword Saint, Dyke?”

“Dyke? Wait — you don’t mean Hugo Dyke?”

I asked, startled.

She smiled and nodded.

“That’s right. Hugo Dyke.”

The Arnburrow princess looked toward the professor with sparkling eyes.

The professor overseeing the match between the wolf beastkin girl and the elf—

Well, to be honest, he didn’t look all that enthusiastic.

Maybe it was the way he skipped introductions and threw students into combat right away that made him seem even less passionate.

Even Sir Garmel, the Knight Commander, hadn’t jumped into full-blown lessons on the first day.

“Isn’t the faculty lineup kind of insane?”

Sasha, sitting behind me, asked in a slightly trembling voice.

“Is he really that famous?”

Chloe chimed in, sounding a bit curious.

“Of course he is. Even though I know who he is.”

Not that I’d ever seen his face before.

Even if he was a Sword Saint, he wouldn’t go out of his way to visit some backwater village at the edge of the Empire.

But I’d heard plenty of stories.

A few years ago, a group in the Empire’s northwest, claiming to worship the Demon King, started what was essentially a small rebellion.

It was the size of a bandit gang, really — except for its leader, whose strength was said to be extraordinary.

He killed several Holy Knights, went on the run, and supposedly massacred a few villages and raped women.

But the rebellion barely lasted two weeks.

Because the Sword Saint rushed there and cut them all down.

“That’s part of it, but what he’s really famous for is his duel with Baron Hook.”

…That one, I hadn’t heard before.

People like me from the countryside tend to remember the folks who defeat monsters or bandits — the ones who make our lives safer — not some noble-on-noble duel over pride.

“It was a trial by combat over a lady’s honor—”

“Enough.”

It was the most animated I’d seen the princess look in days, but the professor shut it down immediately.

“Keep your mouth shut and watch while others are sparring.”

“…Sorry.”

Geez.

Way to ruin her mood.

Not that I had the guts to say anything like that out loud — not in front of the actual Sword Saint.

I still get scared when the Blackwood heiress scowls at me.

So yeah, better to keep quiet and just observe.

“Next: Cindy Blackwood versus Hero Lila.”

And just like that, the Sword Saint shattered my fragile hope that he’d match people by actual skill.

I glanced at the Blackwood heiress as she stood up with a wide grin. For a moment, I wondered if she and the Sword Saint knew each other.

But seeing how they acted when they passed each other, they didn’t seem particularly close.

Then again, I’ve never been part of noble society.

Maybe I just don’t know how to read their connections properly.

“Both of you, choose your weapon.”

I picked a wooden longsword.

It was the kind of weapon I used the most, so it felt familiar in my hands.

Besides, if I wanted to wield the Holy Sword one day, I had to keep training with something similar.

Lady Blackwood also chose a sword.

But unlike me—who picked a blade that required two hands—her swords were short, just slightly longer than daggers.

They were about the same length as the stiletto Sasha wore at her waist, but thicker like standard swords.

She grabbed one for each hand.

What is this? Some kind of rotten water-style min-max cosplay?

“To your positions.”

I stood behind the white chalk line drawn on the floor.

Lady Blackwood took her stance behind the line opposite me.

“I’ll start on three.”

Apparently, things like salutes or courteous greetings were a luxury here.

A hardened indifference born of countless real battles, maybe?

“One.”

Lady Blackwood lowered her posture slightly.

“Two.”

I gripped my sword tightly with both hands.

It still didn’t feel like I was fully ready, but there was no turning back now.

“Three. Begin.”

Lady Blackwood launched herself at me like an arrow.

Even if I dodged, she’d just adjust her trajectory and follow through.

Still—thankfully—I’d seen her charge before.

She hadn’t held swords at the time, but I remembered the way she moved.

If I just kept the proper distance to match the length of her weapons, I could manage.

She was right-handed.

When she hit that harpy in the face, it was her right hand that moved first.

Same now—her right hand was leading.

If she weren’t holding a weapon in each hand, it probably wouldn’t have been so obvious.

I tangled my sword to the left, gripping tightly with both hands, blade slightly tilted forward.

Clack!

Her inward-slashing blade struck mine.

“Guh!”

It was a powerful blow—enough to push me back slightly.

She definitely had the strength advantage.

As for skill, I still couldn’t tell.

What would her left hand do next?

Support the right?

Or follow up with another strike?

A quick glance told me the left hand hadn’t moved.

So it was a support role.

Her weapons had the shape of swords, but the way she used them was similar to stilettos—only difference being they could slash as well.

That meant I had to be careful not to get tangled and keep her from stabbing me outright.

Lady Blackwood’s right hand moved again—pulling back this time.

Her sword wasn’t long enough to stay caught in my grip, so she withdrew it easily.

She brought it up toward her left collarbone, blade pointing forward—

Then lunged at me with a sharp thrust.

I’d already seen the trajectory of her attacks, so it wasn’t hard to guess her next move.

But physical ability was another matter.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t agile enough to dodge perfectly.

I twisted my body to the side—just enough to ensure the blade wouldn’t strike my armor at a piercing angle.

Shhhk.

The tip of her sword skimmed my right shoulder.

I worried it might count as a direct hit, but the Sword Saint didn’t say anything.

So I must’ve done it right.

Having deflected one attack, it was my turn now.

My blade was still inside Lady Blackwood’s guard, so I pushed it forward in a sweeping arc.

She ducked to evade, her body lowering fluidly.

Her own sword grazed my armor, gliding along the contour of my chest in a diagonal motion toward my waist.

I spun my body to pull my sword back out of her range—

Thunk!

“Ah.”

But her left hand had been waiting for me.

“When your opponent is wielding two swords,” the Sword Saint said in a calm, even voice, “It means they can switch tactics at any moment. Taking your eyes off them is a fatal mistake.”

I had no comeback for that.