What Collapsed Is Not Discipline 2

“Huh, what?”

“Owen lost?”

“That’s impossible! Owen even used his sword combat technique!”

“No, more than that, that woman didn’t use a sword but her foot.”

Shock spread across the faces of the second-year students from Minst Academy’s Swordsmanship Department who were watching.

The top student of the second-year Swordsmanship Department, Owen Lawrence, had been defeated. And he was defeated by a second-year female student from Jeiha Academy who came to study abroad from the Arcan Empire, not a Britannia Empire citizen.

The shock of this fact momentarily filled the classroom.

‘I won.’

Yuria felt her victory as she pointed her sword at the fallen Owen.

The counter that reversed his attack had succeeded, ending this duel with her victory.

“Ugh…”

Owen, who had been knocked down by a kick to his chin, began to regain consciousness.

Having fallen to the floor with an impact that rang through his head, when he came to his senses, he confirmed his defeat upon seeing Yuria’s sword pointed at him.

“I lost.”

He acknowledged his defeat with surprising composure.

At his words, Yuria nodded.

“My victory.”

“Whew, I never imagined you would deliver such a precise counter at that timing. That was truly remarkable skill.”

When Owen acknowledged his defeat, Yuria withdrew her sword.

‘Having defeated the second-year top student… I’ve now taken my first step.’

She had achieved the first stage of her goal in coming to study at Minst Academy, having pushed through her mother, the Duchess Arsein’s, opposition.

Now that she had defeated the top student of the Swordsmanship Department, she was essentially the top student in all but name.

‘Of course, Lord Theodore is an exception.’

Still, since she couldn’t match Theodore Skyroad’s skills, she couldn’t be called the true strongest of the second-year Swordsmanship Department.

But Theodore Skyroad was already on an extraordinary level.

‘And this Owen Lawrence, he was stronger than I expected.’

Fighting him in person, Owen Lawrence’s skills were such that no student at Jeiha Academy among the second years could defeat him except for her.

It didn’t seem like any other students, apart from Theodore and herself, could win against Owen.

“The winner is Yuria Arsein.”

Professor Benjamin announced with a slightly surprised tone.

He seemed impressed not only by the skill Yuria had demonstrated but also by how she had handled the situation.

Owen’s sword combat technique was intimidating enough that unless one was a seasoned martial artist with countless real combat experiences, most students would momentarily stiffen under the pressure, revealing openings.

However, having directly experienced Theodore’s killing intent, Yuria was able to withstand Owen’s pressure without difficulty.

‘What I learned from Lord Theodore was a great help.’

Yuria met Theodore’s gaze as he watched her. Seeing him nod with a faint smile, as if to say well done, she felt a rush of a different kind of joy.

Satisfaction from accomplishment?

Or happiness from being acknowledged?

It was a bit confusing how to express it, but one thing was certain.

She was extremely happy right now.

If it weren’t for all the eyes watching, she would have wanted to jump and cheer.

“I’d like to ask something briefly.”

Yuria was about to go down from the platform to where Theodore was, but Owen, who had just risen to his feet, called to her, so she paused.

“What is it?”

“Huff, it’s nothing significant. I’m just curious about Jeiha Academy. Are there more martial artists like you there?”

Looking at Owen’s eyes, Yuria could tell he had something on his mind from their duel.

“Are you asking about strength? Or about mindset?”

At Yuria’s question, Owen gave a bitter smile.

“You understand. Well, it’s embarrassing to say, but there’s someone muddying the waters at our Minst Academy.”

It was obvious who was muddying the waters.

William Artin, it was clearly about him.

“He lives a disgracefully dissolute life, taking second place without even trying, just because of his talent as the supposed Chosen One, causing many to lose their motivation.”

“Then they were only meant to go that far from the start.”

Yuria coldly replied.

Professor Benjamin, as a professor of Minst Academy, should have stopped this conversation that was damaging the reputation of his academy, but being a martial artist himself, he simply let the conversation continue.

He was rather quietly focusing on what was being said.

“But it’s regrettable that there are people who wouldn’t have been like that otherwise. At our Minst Academy, despite the considerable number of female students who have had sexual relations with William, the Headmaster finds it difficult to restrain him because he is the Chosen One.”

“I know.”

Having directly witnessed and experienced his disrespectful behavior even in front of Headmaster Albert, Yuria understood what he was talking about.

‘He’s probably a fake anyway.’

There was no way someone like William could be the Chosen One.

In Yuria’s opinion, the Chosen One should be someone overwhelmingly impressive yet annoyingly perfect to fit the position.

‘Like Lord Theodore.’

As her thoughts unconsciously shifted to Theodore, Yuria habitually glanced in his direction.

And even as she briefly gave Theodore her attention, Owen continued speaking.

“Since even the Headmaster can’t restrain him, the atmosphere of respecting the academy’s laws has weakened. Discipline has crumbled due to William’s actions of brazenly breaking the academy’s rules.”

And to Owen’s words, Yuria objected.

“No.”

“Hmm?”

Not expecting Yuria to contradict him, Owen’s expression showed slight surprise.

“Certainly, William Artin may have had some influence. But if they’ve fallen into disarray, it means they only had that much passion as martial artists to begin with.”

Yuria said coldly.

She had already witnessed a glimpse of the overwhelming skill of Theodore Skyroad, a monster among monsters with unattainable talent plus hard work.

Yet she had not given up on her dream of someday surpassing him as a swordmaster.

If one truly, desperately desires something, one must be prepared to overcome any wall, no matter how high.

Yuria Arsein did not acknowledge those without such determination.

“What has crumbled is not discipline. What has crumbled is themselves. They have simply collapsed on their own.”

Yuria left those words as she descended from the platform.

After coming down from the platform, Yuria walked straight to where Theodore was.

As she climbed the stairs one by one, she drew attention, but unlike before, most reactions were hushed.

The second-year students of Minst Academy’s Swordsmanship Department, having confirmed her skills, were gradually becoming cautious around her.

‘Some are reluctant to acknowledge it, I see.’

There were those who muttered that her victory should be invalid because she used a kick.

But while swordsmen center themselves around their swords and fight by wielding them, they don’t fight exclusively with swords.

Depending on the situation, they might strike an enemy with an elbow or kick as needed, adapting in various ways.

Those making such claims were simply making excuses because they couldn’t accept that the top second-year student of Minst Academy had been defeated by a second-year female student from Jeiha Academy.

Yuria Arsein was a dignified winner to whom such excuses wouldn’t apply.

“I’m back.”

Theodore nodded as Yuria approached and greeted him.

“Yes, well done.”

At Theodore’s words, Yuria tilted her head slightly and playfully asked.

“Though it was for my own sake, I raised Jeiha Academy’s reputation too, is that all you have to say?”

“Hmm, so you want praise? I was 100% certain you would win, so it felt like such an obvious outcome?”

At Theodore’s response, Yuria had thrown a joke only to receive something bigger in return, making her look slightly flustered. Then Theodore gently embraced her.

“Lo-Lord Theodore?”

Not expecting him to embrace her in this lecture hall where many people were watching, Yuria was visibly surprised.

However, Theodore found the sensation of holding Yuria to be better than expected.

No, as he had felt before, the sensation of embracing her was extremely pleasant.

Not only was there her unique softness with resilience, but holding her brought a mental peace and deep satisfaction beyond just the physical sensation.

“Good job. Lady Yuria, you were excellent.”

At Theodore’s praise, Yuria’s movements momentarily stopped.

And he could feel her heart beating strongly.

Theodore thought at this moment.

[Being engaged to Yuria Arsein is something I hadn’t given much thought to before, but now it seems like it has really become a good choice.]

He thought this part might need some revision as well.