Facing the Truth 2

When Theodore faced his provocation head-on instead of avoiding it, Professor Burrock smiled grimly.

“I look forward to seeing how long that confidence will last!”

After saying that, Professor Burrock brought things that looked heavy to wear on the shoulders, arms, and waist.

“These have had their weight greatly increased by magic. Wear these and endure for 30 minutes while repeating basic sword movements without using qi.”

This was not just about endurance but also strength, which was an important part.

But since there wasn’t enough time to check physical fitness through running and such, Professor Burrock seemed to be using this method to verify Theodore’s physical strength.

“I will do so.”

Theodore received what Professor Burrock handed over, put them on, then took out his sword and began to simply repeat basic movements.

After 5 minutes, Professor Burrock’s expression showed that Theodore at least had some basics.

But after 10 minutes, his expression began to stiffen slightly.

After 30 minutes, Professor Burrock’s expression was completely transformed into astonishment.

However, unlike Professor Burrock whose expression changed moment by moment, Theodore’s expression was extremely calm and serene.

Looking as calm as if he were leisurely spending time drinking coffee, although sweat was coming from various parts of his body including his forehead, he did not look tired.

He performed all of this simply in his uniform without changing clothes, and he was seen simply cleaning away his sweat with magic.

“The time is up.”

When Theodore put down his sword after 30 minutes and made his declaration, Yuria nodded as if it was a matter of course.

‘Considering Lord Theodore’s physical strength, this is natural.’

She wasn’t surprised because she knew Theodore’s physical strength well.

But it wasn’t so for others.

“He’s trained his physical strength to that extent too?”

“Is this even possible?”

“So his swordsmanship is good enough to defeat Professor Benjamin, his magic is at the level of an archmage who toyed with Senior Jade, and he’s also excellent in other skills like elementalism and martial arts?”

Lamentations about Theodore’s versatile abilities were indeed coming out at Minst Academy as well.

Theodore’s versatile abilities, having monopolized the top position of all departments except the Divine Studies Department at Jeiha Academy, were famous.

Although there was an opinion in the Britannia Empire that the rumors might be exaggerated since it was about a foreign country, in just one day, they had come to realize that those rumors were not false but true.

“He’s a monster…”

Professor Burrock was looking at Theodore with an expression that seemed somewhat enlightened.

Although Theodore had endured for 30 minutes, one could tell that even if it had been an hour instead of 30 minutes, there would have been little change except for sweating a bit more.

After the first afternoon class, which was the physical training class, ended like that, Theodore went into action again.

He continued to gradually throw provocations broadly aimed at the entire Minst Academy.

While walking with Yuria in the corridor, he suddenly muttered a statement as if letting it slip.

“Both swordsmanship and magic here were below expectations.”

It was like a passing mutter, but no one would think this mutter, in a place where many students were passing by, was just talking to himself.

But unlike the morning when many people showed the spirit to challenge him, now most Minst Academy students who made eye contact with him hurriedly turned their heads and seemed desperate to avoid him.

Now that even Professor Benjamin had been defeated in swordsmanship, there was no way any student would think of competing with him in swordsmanship.

The same went for martial arts and magic.

In the case of elementalists, there might have been people who would challenge him, but they too were reluctant to come forward for a confrontation, guessing that Theodore’s elementalism ability, though they didn’t know exactly how good it was, would certainly not be at an ordinary level.

‘Don’t they all want to learn?’

Even if one faced an overwhelming opponent, it was just a match.

Yuria thought that if she had such an opportunity, she would challenge even at the risk of defeat.

It wasn’t like breaking limbs, and in a match that would only bring defeat, there was always something to learn even in defeat.

But it seemed difficult to find someone with passion like Yuria in this academy.

However, there was at least one exception.

“I would very much like to learn a thing or two in swordsmanship.”

Owen Lawrence, the top second-year student of the Swordsmanship Department who had been defeated by Yuria, challenged Theodore during the free hour-long break after the first afternoon class.

“You’re challenging me accepting defeat.”

“Yes, I don’t think I’ll beat you, but I’ve learned something. Lord Skyroad, even if I’m defeated in a fight with you, if I can pick up even one thing, it’s a gain for me.”

“…That’s the right answer.”

Yuria noticed that Theodore showed some courtesy as she watched him draw his sword.

‘Unlike at Jeiha Academy, he won’t give teachings, but he won’t prevent someone from gaining something from the match.’

“Owen Lawrence. To face the facts, the difference between you and me is beyond that of heaven and earth; it’s like the difference between one standing on clouds above the sky looking down and one who has dug into the ground below.”

It was an excessively grandiose metaphor, but Owen acknowledged the fact and nodded.

“I know.”

“Yes. I couldn’t find anyone here who matches my level, but you at least have the basics, so I’ll give you a chance. I will swing my sword only once. And whether you can learn something from it is a matter that depends on yourself.”

At Theodore’s words, Owen gripped his sword with sweat dripping from tension.

It would be because he could feel that the opponent standing before him was not just making arrogant statements but possessed overwhelming abilities at a completely different level from Yuria Arsein earlier.

“I hope you don’t disappoint me. I’d like you to show that you’re different from those who just crawl on the ground without any spirit.”

“Kyaaah!”

As Theodore swung his sword, Owen put all his energy into meeting it head-on where Theodore’s sword was swinging.

Kwaaang!

“Kurughhhh!”

And Owen was seen flying about 3 meters and landing with a thud on his back.

At the sight that looked very painful and agonizing, many who were watching their match murmured.

“Isn’t that too much?”

“That must really hurt.”

“He has no mercy. Ugh.”

“He’s really incredibly strong.”

“Could he be the real Chosen One?”

“Hey, shh! Be quiet!”

Theodore seemed remarkably indifferent to the reactions of the Minst Academy students murmuring around.

From the beginning, he had no good feelings towards them, and seeing them feeling confused while facing the truth, he should have thought that things were proceeding well according to plan.

The feeling of emptiness in his heart now was something beyond his expectations.

‘It’s because of Reina.’

Theodore, realizing it was because of the existence of his younger sister Reina Artin, who would be waiting for him at his lodging, forcibly suppressed his expression that was about to crumple.

Perhaps because he felt a sense of kinship with his sister who had the same blood as him and was suffering with considerable pain, though not as much as his past, he had already decided to accept her as a family member.

The emptiness he was feeling now was concern about the possibility of Reina refusing to go with him.

‘How ridiculous. Why am I already worrying about this?’

But Theodore was realizing that no matter how rationally he tried to think, the emotional aspect could not be resolved no matter how hard he tried.

It was the same with Yuria Arsein.

When she had taken his hand earlier, he felt the urge to embrace her, and suppressing that emotion was his limit, he couldn’t eliminate it.

His weakness was probably that once he gave affection, it became irreversible.

Thinking this, Theodore decided to do something that deviated slightly from the plan.

‘I guess I need to leak it more explicitly.’

It seemed like he needed to make them notice his past as soon as possible.

For those who couldn’t find the answer right away even with the truth in front of them, it seemed like he needed to write out the answer sheet.

“Healing.”

After using healing magic to restore the physical condition of Owen who had fallen to the ground, Theodore turned around and approached Yuria and said.

“Lady Yuria, I’ll be back shortly.”

“Yes.”

Lady Yuria had an expression as if she had a good guess.

And yet she didn’t ask him, but was waiting for him to tell her.

If it had been him from not too long ago, he would have felt discomfort at her behavior like this, but now he couldn’t feel any discomfort at all.