episode_0048

“…What? Seraphina? How did you find me?”

“Se..Sera..phina…”

“Ropel!”

As soon as Seraphina Serion entered the sub-dimension, she couldn’t close her mouth at the tragic sight that was unbelievable to her eyes.

Through Ropel’s tattered clothes, who had fallen right in front of Mark, a large stab wound was visible on his chest with a considerable amount of fresh blood flowing.

Both his legs and both his arms only twitched as if they couldn’t function properly, and he was spitting up blood from his mouth.

No matter how you looked at it, currently Ropel was in a state where he absolutely couldn’t continue the spar.

“..Mark, what did you do to Ropel?”

Seraphina opened her mouth with an infinitely cold expression and voice.

“Seraphina, why ask such obvious things.

Because Ropel didn’t yield and challenged me, I also just did my best to face him.”

“You know I’m not asking about that!”

Of course, she also couldn’t place much hope that Ropel would defeat Mark.

Not only the talent of the two, but the difference in skill was clear.

However, in her eyes, the situation now was too strange.

In the case of a general spar test, the return magic engraved on a participant’s body should have activated much earlier, before they got into such a serious state.

But now Ropel remains in the sparring area, reaching a state as if he would lose his breath at any moment.

This surely means that Mark has done something.

“…You’re quite sharp in this area.”

Soon, Mark also sighed and continued his reply.

“It seems I thought this guy Ropel needed quite a bit of education.

To properly teach him, I excluded unnecessary elements a bit.

Well, indeed if I said there was no ill will, it would be a lie.”

“Mark Bisus, you are disqualified as a knight.

To the extent that I myself am ashamed for having once looked up to you.”

“Making clear the difference in class to someone who failed to become a genius, is incapable, and doesn’t know his place.

You know it too.

Isn’t this the Serion way?”

Serion.

When Mark finally mentioned that name, Seraphina immediately couldn’t hold back and pulled out her sword and pointed it at him.

“…Yes, as expected, you’re coming out like that.

If a third party interferes in the spar, they are immediately confirmed to be disqualified and lose, but since the outcome was decided from the start, it doesn’t matter, right.

Although it’s a bit early, you will also become one of my concubines in the future, so as the person who will be your husband, I’ll give you special direct education.”

At this, he also pointed his sword and slowly approached each other, and soon with a rush, another duel began.

. . .

Ah.

My mind is hazy and my body is endlessly sluggish.

Is my nose bone broken? I can’t breathe properly.

Because proper measures couldn’t be taken for the stab wound on my chest, the blood is still gushing out.

Both arms and both legs don’t move as if the bones are broken, and I feel immense sharp pain.

…With this much pain, I should snap back to my senses, but.

Instead, my body, as if it would faint soon, my consciousness kept fading.

It was like this when I met that strange black mage in the black mage terror incident.

And in the dungeon rampage incident that happened on the day of the midterm test.

Somehow, since entering the academy, it seems there hasn’t been a day my body has been well.

In my vision that is blurring and gradually approaching darkness, a shimmering figure is visible.

Snow-white skin and his contrasting tawny skin, on top of that, passionate-looking red eyes.

That identity was Seraphina Serion.

In front of such a her was the man who had utterly crushed me just now, Mark Bisus.

Although I couldn’t see well, it seemed the two were sparring, crossing swords.

Although I don’t know how she found me.

I could at least tell why she was here and why she was fighting Mark.

Yes, if it’s her, she would have no choice but to act like that.

To me, she recommended yielding for my safety and security, but.

Because she’s strict with herself.

…

Anyway…

While sparring with Mark, his words that I heard keep coming back to me.

Since I was born, no, perhaps even before that, I have had a thought, and also a conviction, that I held.

Regardless of birth, one obtains the corresponding reward for the effort put in, for what has been built up.

That is reason and soon, principle.

On the other hand, one born with everything lives a better life to the end, while one born with nothing crawls on the bottom to the end.

Such a thing is irrationality and absurdity.

That is why I hated that absurdity.

Absurdity kills justice.

But Mark said.

That a world where someone born with talent can be pushed aside by someone who can’t even be called ordinary is precisely what is irrational.

That it is brazen for someone born with nothing to try and defeat someone who has everything from birth.

A genius should live the life of a genius, and an incompetent person should live the life of an incompetent person.

He spoke of the truly cruel principle of this world.

…

Yes, perhaps he might be right.

…No, indeed he is right.

No matter how much effort one puts in later

That is reason, and that can be called principle.

Mark Bisus, that is truly the real principle.

On the other hand, me, born without a single special thing, trying to surpass someone born with everything.

Such a thing is what can be called absurdity.

I am absurdity.

…

And

Absurdity kills justice.

. . .

So sharp and fierce were the exchanges that no one could interfere.

But Seraphina and Mark, both were using Serion swordsmanship.

Swordsmanship of a genius, by an Emperor of Heaven, for a genius.

Therefore, no matter how much difference in experience there was or how much effort was accumulated, the difference in talent could not be bridged.

“Kuk..!”

“Look at this, it’s not much different from yesterday..!”

As Seraphina’s greatsword bounced outwards, she lost her balance and became defenseless.

At this, Mark also unleashed the final blow to end this tiresome duel.

It was then.

Bang!

Along with a tremendous sound that could only be called a roar, something came rushing at an invisible speed.

Mark, the owner of high talent and skill, also couldn’t help but instinctively take a defensive stance.

Crash!

The one who then delivered a blow towards Mark, who had raised his guard, was none other than Ropel Teufel.

“…? Wh..What..!”

Seraphina, and Mark, both could only be surprised, no, furthermore, could only be astonished.

Ropel’s condition now was truly that of a half-corpse, blood was still gushing from his chest, and the sound of bones grinding and shifting in his arms and legs could even be heard.

Not only did an opponent who was truly no different from a living corpse rush forward as if flying right in front of him in an instant, but he also delivered a blow.

Furthermore, even though Mark blocked with a defensive stance, supporting the blade part of the greatsword with his hands, such a powerful attack came that his hands trembled, and he couldn’t close his mouth.

On top of that, the condition of the weapon that delivered that blow was also unbelievable.

Because it was an iron bar whose end was dented, bent in places, and tattered, now too poor to even be called a mace.

To generate this much power with merely such a weapon.

From the shock, the ground beneath his two supporting legs was dug up.

Mark hurriedly repeatedly stepped back, widening the distance with Ropel.

And he motioned in the air to form a black light barrier wrapping around him.

Just like the previous spar, this was to block his vision and attack unilaterally.

But this didn’t work.

“Kurgh!”

As if he knew exactly where and when the attacks would come, Ropel reacted to all of Mark’s attacks and counterattacked.

Furthermore, his movements could be described as truly sharp and precise.

I didn’t know when I first blocked his blow, but this is not simple physical strength, the strength of power.

Not power, but the pinnacle of skillfully accumulated technique.

There was absolutely no other way to explain it.

What on earth happened to this man just now?

Mark couldn’t help but harbor doubt, but he didn’t even have the leisure to think about it.

At this, Mark judged that the black light barrier was no longer useful and withdrew the magic.

And holding his greatsword, that is, Serion’s treasured sword, in both hands, he began to draw out its potential to the limit.

Looking at Ropel’s current skill level, he was in a state where he absolutely could not last long.

So he resolved to end all of this with this one blow poured with his truest sincerity, with this technique embodying the tradition and essence of Serion.

Thus, Mark took the stance of Serion swordsmanship’s initial moves, tensing his entire body and concentrating.

At this, as if he had some premonition, Ropel also took a stance as if gripping his weapon and gathering strength.

His two hands holding the lump of iron, which was clearly in such a pathetic state it was hard to even call a weapon, looked as if they were gripping a massive greatsword.

On top of that, perhaps it was a feeling, but the stance he took while gripping his weapon now was a form similar to the initial moves of Serion swordsmanship.

Mark and Ropel, the two of them simultaneously swung their weapons towards each other.

At this moment, Seraphina clearly saw with her own eyes.

That one blow, forgotten far away in her childhood memories that were now only blurring.

It was faint and thin, but at the same time, without superfluity, cleanly refreshing.

A technique that held something tremendous beyond that, though talent couldn’t be felt.

Seeing this, she couldn’t help but feel certain.

It was a fact she had vaguely noticed but hadn’t been certain of.

He can achieve it and simultaneously use it.

That level, which was the fervent wish not only of my father but also the Serion family.

Furthermore, that which she herself had dreamed of.

Sargas-nim’s level, that is, the technique that reaches the level of Sword Saint.

Quaaaaaash!

It was just the moment when the two weapons clashed, but the repercussions were immense.

Not only was there a roar close to an explosion, but the floor of the sub-dimension was shattered and soon scattered like dust.

On top of that, a flash so bright it was truly close to a midnight sun filled the sub-dimension into the distance.

A suffocating silence followed, along with dust clouding the vision, as if a storm had passed.

There, only a single person was standing.

That person was Ropel Teufel.

Absolutely not a genius, not even ordinary, he was merely one man.

.