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Chapter 39
Defeat the Prodigy (1)
After speaking with Chloe and Schmitz, I left with Heinrich.
The second match was just about to begin, so we still had plenty of time before our fourth match.
“…….”
We moved through a corridor where few people passed. After confirming that no one was around, Heinrich finally spoke.
“Ernas Lanzstein, I heard you defeated Camillo and passed the preliminaries.”
“That’s right.”
Camillo of Blue Class 2 had been Heinrich’s subordinate. He had shown hostility toward me but ultimately lost to me in the preliminaries.
“Camillo was still at the beginning stage of being a graduate.”
“He used sword energy, even in the preliminaries.”
“…I didn’t know that.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t tell the instructor.”
“It’s not that I’m worried. I just didn’t expect someone so foolish to do such a thing, so I was momentarily caught off guard.”
“…….”
Unintentionally, I had ended up badmouthing Camillo to Heinrich.
“I kept him around because he seemed somewhat capable, but I didn’t expect him to be that stupid. I had no eye for talent.”
“Does that mean you can’t forgive even a single mistake?”
“We are swordsmen, Ernas Lanzstein,” Heinrich said in a cold voice.
“We live in a world where a single mistake can cost your life. Excuses that it was ‘just a mistake’ cannot be accepted.”
“…….”
“If he were valuable enough that even mistakes could be overlooked, I would think differently.”
Heinrich’s tone was ruthless. He showed no trace of pity for Camillo, who had offered near-fanatical loyalty.
“Ernas Lanzstein, there’s something I realized since coming to the academy.”
“What is it?”
“Useful people are rare in this world.”
“…….”
“In the first inter-class competition, I let the students of Blue Class 2 handle the fight against White Class 5. And they were utterly disappointing.”
The match between Blue Class 2 and White Class 5 had been anticipated as a showdown between prodigies and geniuses. But since Heinrich didn’t participate, Lester’s White Class 5 secured the victory.
“I’m not just talking about swordsmanship skill. I mean overall human ability, including potential for growth.”
“…….”
“From that perspective, capable humans are far too few.”
His words were incredibly arrogant. Yet, Heinrich spoke with a seriousness and cold logic that left no doubt about his reasoning.
“What do the others think?”
“The others?”
“The heirs of the six major sword families, excluding you.”
“They have some ability, I admit that,” Heinrich answered immediately.
“But they are not people I need.”
“Why did you come to that conclusion?”
“They are all too ambitious.”
“…….”
“Rufus Ignias, Gort Waldfeld, Verislize Schreier, Lester Lancaster… all are excessively ambitious. Moreover, their ambition is intertwined with personal flaws, showing miserable character.”
He wasn’t wrong. For example, Rufus believed himself to be a fair and motivated leader, but he demanded the same drive from his subordinates, punishing and overworking those who fell short.
“What about me?”
Realizing my name had been omitted, I asked.
“Ernas Lanzstein is far worse trash than any of them.”
“…….”
“A coward who never tests his own skill, a fraud who deceives others with fancy words, a libertine who has never shown diligence to anyone… you, Ernas Lanzstein, are worse than the combined personal flaws of the other four.”
The assessment was brutally sharp. So blunt that I was left speechless.
“That’s my judgment. That’s why I had erased you from my memory.”
Heinrich’s icy eyes fixed on me.
“But apparently, all of that was a deception tactic.”
“What?”
“You started showing an entirely different side when you entered the academy, as if you were a different person.”
“…….”
“Of course, it’s impossible that you’ve actually changed. You are the same Ernas Lanzstein from the past.”
I had to admit it. I really had changed…
“There is only one explanation for this change. In the past, you hid your true self by deceiving everyone.”
“…….”
“I won’t ask why you did it. It must be related to internal matters of the Lanzstein family.”
Internal affairs of the Lanzstein family. In the novel, this secret only emerges around the mid-story. The family’s absence from political struggles outside the academy is related to this.
“You concealed your nature for a long time, preparing to fully reveal your abilities at the academy.”
“…….”
“Just the idea, and the fact that you carried it out, is enough to intrigue me.”
Heinrich’s blue eyes stared straight at my face.
“Ernas Lanzstein, you are the first talent I’ve found attractive since arriving at this academy.”
“…….”
“I do not wish to fight a talent like you. That’s why I make this offer.”
He extended his hand toward me.
“Ernas, come under me.”
His blue eyes locked on my face.
“Become my subordinate and assist me. I promise you the position of second-in-command.”
“Rufus Ignias wins!”
“It’s a shame Professor Kaleon couldn’t see this!”
The second match ended with Rufus’s victory. Gort, as usual, relied on brute force but was kneeling before Rufus’s stable Eastern-style swordsmanship.
“Damn, damn…!”
As Gort angrily slammed the floor with his fist, Rufus spoke coldly.
“Now you won’t suffer the shame of losing when attacking Cerine, Gort.”
“Rufus, you bastard…!”
“I will be the one to defeat Cerine in the semifinals and advance to the finals.”
Of course, Rufus was not entirely confident. He had seen Cerine’s skill firsthand in her fight against Verislize. Her magical power was vast, and her techniques were outstanding. Rufus privately thought he was more likely to lose.
Unlike Gort, who rarely acknowledged others’ abilities, Rufus was capable of objectively assessing and recognizing skill. Still, his confident words in front of Gort were a form of self-motivation.
“Hmph, even if you reach the finals, your opponent will be Ernas or Heinrich. Not so easy, right?”
“Say whatever you want. I have no interest in the words of someone eliminated in the quarterfinals.”
“You… acting all high and mighty.”
Gort ground his teeth.
“Excited because you impressed the royal officials?”
“The royal officials?”
Hearing that, Rufus turned his head and flinched, seeing the people gathered in one corner of the stands.
“Those are members of the Royal Secretariat… why are they here?”
“What? You didn’t know?” Gort laughed.
“Your father didn’t tell you? Seems he didn’t trust you much.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you didn’t care to hear the words of someone eliminated in the quarterfinals, right?”
“Gort…!”
“What are you going to do, get angry? Swing a wooden sword at someone who’s already lost?”
Dusting off his seat, Gort turned away from Rufus.
“If you’re curious, ask your father. The heads of the six major sword families would have all been notified.”
“Today, members of the Royal Secretariat are in the stands. But their purpose isn’t mere observation.”
From the empty corridor, Heinrich’s low voice came.
“They are evaluating the heirs of the sword families participating in the main tournament. Later, when one of them rises to the top of the academy, they will be entrusted with special responsibilities.”
Normally, good academy performance would help one’s career. But this time, it’s different. The one who reaches the top will be given a special duty, which is why the six sword families are engaged in a tense competition.
“I cannot disclose details; it is a state secret.”
“…….”
“But you probably already know.”
We avoided saying it directly. Though no one else was around, if overheard, it could cause serious problems.
“Ernas… I will be the one to reach the top of the academy.”
“…….”
“As long as I exist, you have no chance.”
Absolute confidence. This is Heinrich’s essence.
“So come under me and assist me.”
“…….”
“Though we are in different classes now, once we advance through the second exam, we could act together. I hope you will assist me then.”
He made the offer earnestly. For someone as indifferent as Heinrich to others to say this meant he saw value in me.
‘Right, in the novel, Heinrich made a similar offer to the protagonist Akandel.’
But in the novel, he didn’t offer a subordinate role as support. He intended to assign a hunting dog role to eliminate enemies on his behalf, focusing on the protagonist’s raw combat ability.
“Again, I highly value you. That is why I make this offer.”
Heinrich’s gaze was free of personal bias.
Looking at that face… I spoke in a cold voice.
“You are underestimating me, Heinrich.”
“What did you say?”
“You say this offer is because you value me? It’s quite the opposite.”
I looked Heinrich straight in the eyes.
“Your offer comes from your judgment that I am a step below you.”
“Ernas…….”
“Sorry, but I cannot agree with that judgment.”
“You cannot agree?”
“Yes.”
I spoke firmly to Heinrich, who looked surprised.
“Henrich, I will not come under you. I do not think I am beneath you.”
“……!”
“Your belief that I am beneath you is a delusion born of your arrogance.”
Heinrich’s eyes widened, the reaction of someone hearing an unexpected statement.
“I will prove it in the upcoming match, Heinrich.”
Heinrich probably assumes he will win against me. I need to shatter that arrogance.
“Alright, how about this?”
I smiled, provocatively, like Ernas in the novel.
“If I win this match, you come under me. The position of second-in-command has many competitors, so I recommend aiming for a lower position.”
“……!”
For the first time, anger appeared in Heinrich’s icy blue eyes.
