The Strongest Swordsman of Jeiha Academy 2

After deflecting the sword, Theodore followed up by taking a stance to thrust at Professor Benjamin’s shoulder. In response, Professor Benjamin hastily parried the sword and retreated to widen the distance.

Even from this brief initial exchange, Professor Benjamin would have grasped Theodore’s style.

He would have also felt that his skills were inferior to Theodore’s.

‘As expected, Lord Theodore’s swordsmanship is proceeding in a stable form.’

Yuria knew that Theodore excelled overwhelmingly in all aspects of swordsmanship, whether it was swift swordsmanship, destructive swordsmanship, intricate swordsmanship, or illusory sword techniques and numerous irregular sword techniques.

‘It’s different at Jeiha Academy.’

What he was showing here at Minst Academy was certainly different from how he was at Jeiha Academy, as he had said.

Although he appeared to display the same arrogant genius image, at Jeiha Academy, while he seemed like someone who lived for his own brilliance, he also gave just as much to those around him.

It might have looked like an arrogant genius simply dropping bits of knowledge here and there, but the students of the Swordsmanship Department at Jeiha Academy in the Arcan Empire often received guidance in the form of critiques when they sparred with Theodore.

Yuria knew that Theodore was not only exceptional in the realm of swordsmanship but had entered various fields and harmonized them all to suit himself.

Therefore, Theodore’s sword style could change at any time depending on the situation.

But now, he was using just one style of swordsmanship.

Theodore, displaying swordsmanship filled with powerful strength imbued with dignity and majesty, was truly showing the swordsmanship of a prestigious noble house.

He was facing Professor Benjamin with just the hereditary sword style of House Skyroad, not the swordsmanship he had developed himself.

“You’re strong!”

However, Professor Benjamin was losing the sword fight even against just that.

But even while being pushed back, he had a genuinely joyful expression.

“That’s impossible.”

“He’s fighting with the professor?”

“To such an extent with Professor Benjamin!”

In the eyes of most students of the Swordsmanship Department, the duel between Theodore and Professor Benjamin seemed like a pure sword fight, except for surrounding their swords with ki to avoid harming the surroundings, and thus it appeared that Theodore was holding his ground against the professor.

However, Owen had apparently recognized it too, as Yuria noticed him watching Theodore’s fight with a hardened expression.

‘He might not fully recognize Lord Theodore’s skills, but he can see who has the upper hand.’

Yuria tucked her sweat-soaked long hair behind her ears as she took in the sight of Theodore.

Indeed, Theodore Skyroad was strong.

No, strong was an insufficient word; he was always overwhelmingly powerful.

Her vow to land a hit on him someday had already transformed into her goal as a martial artist.

Kwang! Kwang!

As ki-infused swords collided, the sound of ki colliding continued to be heard instead of the sound of metal clashing.

Theodore displayed dignified swordsmanship with an unwavering stable stance. His movements seemed simple, but because they were unwavering, they were fast and precise, and the power behind them was so strong that Professor Benjamin was gradually being pushed into a defensive position.

“Kuk!”

With a shock that seemed to numb his hands, Professor Benjamin could be seen trying to somehow break through to attack Theodore. But when Theodore’s sword crossed with Professor Benjamin’s, the professor couldn’t withstand the impact and had no choice but to be pushed back.

‘Seems like there’s no opening.’

Yuria, who was naturally inferior in skill to the renowned swordsman Professor Benjamin, being merely exceptional among students rather than an exceptional existence like Theodore, nevertheless had the discernment to understand how the current situation was unfolding.

Theodore’s attacks were so unwavering and stable that there was no opening or opportunity to break through.

Sometimes, rather than employing intricate techniques, such orthodox methods could be more difficult to counter.

“As expected, the strongest swordsman of Jeiha Academy.”

Yuria deliberately let these words slip.

This was also her way of helping Theodore.

Just as he had helped her toward her goal, she wanted to give him even a little help in this way.

“The strongest swordsman of Jeiha Academy?”

“Does that mean even among non-students?”

“No way? Is he saying he’s stronger than even the professors at Jeiha Academy?”

“No, look there. The professor is gradually being pushed back!”

Now everyone could see the sight of Professor Benjamin starting to get pushed back.

Theodore neither toyed with his opponent with quick movements, nor did he display an iron-wall defense.

Just by cleanly wielding orthodox, dignified swordsmanship, he was overwhelming Professor Benjamin, and in Yuria’s view, even this wasn’t his full strength.

On the other hand, sweat was pouring from Professor Benjamin’s forehead, showing how intensely he was concentrating while using his full strength.

“Kuk!”

Professor Benjamin was losing in terms of power too.

He was being pushed back in every aspect.

But he didn’t give up and kept swinging his sword again and again. His effort to challenge his limits to the best of his ability showed the passion of a martial artist.

However, regardless of passion, it was impossible to avoid the overwhelming difference in skill.

“It’s over.”

As Theodore said this and applied slightly more strength to his sword, Professor Benjamin’s stance greatly crumbled as their swords met.

The moment Theodore applied slightly more strength to his sword, Professor Benjamin’s stance inevitably crumbled as soon as their swords met.

Along with the strong force in Theodore’s sword, the ki surrounding his sword contained the power of counter-force, returning Professor Benjamin’s own strength directly back at him.

Suddenly receiving not only Theodore’s strength but also his own strength in return, there was no way he could withstand it.

“Kuuuk!”

With his stance broken, he felt Theodore’s sword pointed at his neck.

‘He went easy on me.’

A wry smile emerged as he realized how much Theodore had been holding back.

Honestly, it had been exciting, but now that his head had cooled down after the defeat, he couldn’t believe how a student could possess such monstrous skill.

‘His appearance is similar to William’s, but they’re on completely different levels.’

William Artin, despite his reputation as the Chosen One, was unfaithful and truly the epitome of a scoundrel.

The people of Minst Academy couldn’t believe that such a person could be the Chosen One.

‘From what Yuria Arsein said, this guy is the strongest swordsman at Jeiha Academy?’

Professor Benjamin had casually heard what Yuria had said while sitting in her seat. And since the students afterwards had discussed it among themselves, he couldn’t miss that Theodore Skyroad was called the strongest swordsman at Jeiha Academy.

Moreover, Theodore’s skills, which he had directly experienced, were even greater than the rumors suggested, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he truly was the strongest swordsman at Jeiha Academy, including among the professors.

‘Wait a minute.’

Comparing William, who was a mess despite being the supposed Chosen One, with Theodore Skyroad, who resembled him in appearance but demonstrated overwhelming abilities like the Chosen One should, Professor Benjamin suddenly recalled a fact he had forgotten.

‘Come to think of it, was it 11 years ago? There was an uproar when the eldest son of House Artin disappeared.’

The disappearance of the eldest son of House Artin.

And the eldest son of House Artin, Theodore Artin, was William Artin’s twin brother, and the birth date of the Chosen One according to the prophecy was June 15, the day the twins were born.

In other words, the prophecy’s candidates included not only William Artin but also Theodore Artin. This reminded him that last year, there had been voices within Minst Academy, primarily among students, questioning whether William was truly the Chosen One.

‘Could it be?’

A seed of doubt began to sprout in Professor Benjamin’s mind.

Theodore inwardly smiled as he recognized that the seeds he had sown were beginning to sprout.

He wouldn’t speak directly.

He would just throw seeds of doubt, making them sprout and gradually making them want to know the truth for themselves.

As he had told William Artin, he would not directly reveal who he had been in the past. All of that would be for the people of the Britannia Empire who harbored doubts to find out on their own.

He would make those who had been immersed in false glory with a fake in their midst destroy that false glory with their own hands.