TGSA 46

Chapter 46

The Second Exam for Promotion (2)

The second exam tested whether one was truly ready to enter the battlefield as a Graduate.

Because of that, it was conducted in a format as close to actual combat as possible.

“Who are those people?”
“They don’t look like instructors…”

The students, unable to grasp the situation, were bewildered.

What the instructors had dragged out were people bound all over in chains.

Their clothes were in tatters, their hair and beards unkempt.

The thought that such people would be examiners naturally left the students dumbfounded.

“The ones you see before you now… are prisoners captured from the Demon Cult.”

“……!”

Demon Cult.

At that name, several students audibly gasped.

The so-called Demon Cultists were followers of the long-standing religious order, the Black Heaven Demon Church.

Because this cult had long infiltrated the Empire and committed countless atrocities, they were considered enemies of the entire Empire.

“Why would Demon Cult scum be here…?”
“Wait, does that mean the examiners are…?”

While the students murmured in shock, Chancellor Aldebaut spoke again.

“The content of the second exam is this: you will fight against the captured Demon Cult ‘Battle Priests.’”

“……!”

Battle Priests were the Demon Cult’s equivalent of Graduate-level combatants.

Anyone capable of wielding Sword Aura was appointed as a Battle Priest.

Typically, they were at the entry level of Graduates—lower rank—while higher levels were given other titles.

“The Battle Priests serving as examiners will be given wooden swords. They will wield Sword Aura against you.”

“Gasp…!”

Now, instead of surprise, the students felt fear.

Even if it was just a wooden sword, the moment Sword Aura was infused, it could easily become lethal.

A single mistake could cost them their lives.

“So you must also use Sword Aura to defeat them. Since this is actual combat, it doesn’t matter if you kill them.”

“……!”

This was unlike any match they had faced before.

Realizing this, the students’ faces stiffened.

Even Chloe, standing beside me, wore a nervous expression.

“We knew the test would be in a live-combat format… but to think the opponents would be Demon Cultists. I heard it was usually monsters or instructors.”
“They must have changed it this time.”

Looking toward the other classes, I noticed that the successors of the Six Great Sword Clans showed little reaction.

They clearly already had this information.

“Are you weighed down by the thought that you might kill or be killed?”

Aldebaut’s voice cut through the murmurs of the students.

“Any cowards should leave the Academy at once.”

“……!”

“The Richtenauer Academy of Swordsmanship exists to forge the blades that will defend this Empire! A sword that fears bloodshed is nothing more than a useless ornament!”

His booming voice resounded across the training grounds.

“Only the young who will uphold the Iron-Blooded Sword Emperor’s will and cut down the Empire’s enemies are worthy of learning swordsmanship here! Those without such resolve—get out now!”

No one dared to oppose him.

The students remained silent, and Aldebaut raised his voice once more.

“Then let the exam begin! Who will step forward first?!”

As hesitation lingered among the students, a figure strode out from the group wearing blue neckties.

“I volunteer, Chancellor.”

Unfazed by others’ eyes, the first to step up was a blue-haired young man—

Heinrich Agrippa.

“Heinrich Agrippa of Blue Class 2.”
“Good! Step forward!”

At Aldebaut’s gesture, an instructor dragged out a Demon Cult Battle Priest.

The prisoner was forced to kneel at the center of the stage.

“Do not move.”
“Urgh…!”

Clatter!

The chains binding the Battle Priest’s body fell away on their own.

He slowly rose, still wearing a disbelieving expression.

“Truly… if I win, I’ll be freed?”
“That is correct.”

The instructor handed him a wooden sword.

The Battle Priest gave it a few test swings before glancing around.

“……”

Professors and instructors surrounded the place, even some peak-level Graduates.

If he tried anything reckless, he’d only lose his head.

“Phew…”

He exhaled deeply, then looked at Heinrich with a bitter smile.

“To think all I must do is defeat a mere whelp to gain my freedom… fortune favors me.”

“……”

Heinrich gave no reply.

He simply stood at his assigned position, sword in hand, his stance steady.

“Don’t worry, boy. I won’t take your life.”
“……”
“You think Demon Cultists are merciless devils, but we don’t waste lives unnecessarily—especially those of children.”

When he tried to continue, the nearby instructor barked:
“No unnecessary chatter.”
“Hmph, fine.”

Even as he spoke, the man loosened his muscles, then finally gripped his sword and took his stance.

“Hnngh…!”

Vwoom!

A crimson Sword Aura surged along the wooden blade.

The students stirred at the sight.

“Crimson Sword Aura…!”
“It’s on par with the instructors’!”
“How can that be…?!”

Some sheltered noble brats believed the Academy was the only path to becoming a Graduate.

But that wasn’t true.

Even without the Academy’s elixirs, anyone who secured enough mana could reach that level.

Of course, the Demon Cult obtained such power by far from normal means.

“Hmph, these children are ignorant indeed—startled by something so trivial.”

The Battle Priest sneered, glaring at Heinrich.

“Go on, boy. I’ll let you have the first strike.”

“……”

Heinrich still gave no answer.

He only fixed the instructor with a cold gaze.

“Ah—then… begin!”

Realizing Heinrich was wordlessly urging him, the instructor hurriedly declared the start of the match.

At that instant—Heinrich vanished.

“Wha—?”

The Battle Priest’s voice cracked with disbelief.

“What… what is this…?”

He said no more.

Blood sprayed from his chest as he collapsed to the ground.

Behind him stood Heinrich, holding his wooden sword.

“D-Did you see that?!”
“He struck in an instant, too fast to see!”

The students shouted in awe.

The Battle Priest, smugly having offered the first move, had been felled in a merciless blow.

Heinrich’s long blue hair swayed in the breeze, but not a bead of sweat marred his brow.

“……”

When Heinrich looked back at the instructor, the man hastily raised his hand.

“H-Heinrich Agrippa is victorious! He has passed the second exam!”

“Wooooaaahhh!”

Cheers erupted among the students.

They were ecstatic at Heinrich’s overwhelming victory—especially against a wicked Demon Cult Battle Priest.

“Well done, Heinrich Agrippa.”
“Thank you, Chancellor.”
“You are permitted to advance. Wait over there.”

Bowing politely, Heinrich moved with the instructor’s guidance.

But as he passed, he turned his head toward me.

“……”

His eyes seemed to say, ‘Well? I passed first.’

It may not have been much of a difference, but for Heinrich, it clearly mattered.

Had I gone before him, his pride would have been wounded.

“Next challenger, step forward!”

Aldebaut’s voice rang out again.

And many students turned their gaze… toward me.

‘So it’s my turn.’

Of the most prominent students in the Academy, it was Heinrich and myself.

With him going first, naturally all eyes fell on me.

“What will you do, Lord Ernas?”
“I’ll have to meet their expectations.”

I replied to Chloe and stepped forward.

“Good luck!”
“Lord Ernas will surely pass with ease.”
“You can do it!”

Celine, Schmitz, and Viola cheered from behind.

“Ernas Lanzstein of Black Class 6. I will undertake the second exam.”
“Very well!”

Aldebaut nodded firmly.

“Bring out the next Battle Priest!”
“Yes, sir!”

Another instructor dragged out a new prisoner.

The body of the one Heinrich had killed had already been removed.

“……”

This one was a large man.

Though his clothes were torn, his arms were thick, showing his strength.

But he walked with an unsteady stagger, as though unable to stand properly.

“Why’s he walking like that?”
“Is he injured?”
“At that state, even I could beat him.”

The students whispered—

Until the instructor’s sharp voice cut through:
“Carlile! Enough with the act!”

“Heheh, forgive me, Instructor.”

The so-called Carlile suddenly straightened.

Moments ago he had seemed hunched and weak, but upright he looked much taller.

“This too is a kind of strategy, you see.”
“Stop your tricks!”

Carlile then walked normally, to the students’ surprise.

“So he was pretending to be hurt?”
“But why…?”
“To lull Ernas into dropping his guard. If he wins here, he gains freedom.”

Amid the stares, Carlile took his position.

His chains were released, and a wooden sword placed in his hands. He limbered up lightly.

“Please go easy on me, young lord.”

Looking at me, Carlile smiled servilely.

“If you would only yield once, I could keep my life. I beg your mercy.”

“……”

“Heh, all you nobles are quiet types.”

Muttering, he cast his eyes to the ground.

There lay the bloodstains from the slain Battle Priest earlier.

Hrk!

Carlile hawked and spat phlegm onto the stain—

Mocking his dead comrade’s memory.

“What a vile man.”
“Someone like that can’t be strong.”
“Lord Ernas, just finish him!”

Many students voiced their disgust.

But I only fixed Carlile with a cool gaze.

“Hm…”

Seeing no reaction from me, Carlile took his stance.

I readied my own, and we faced off.

“Then… begin!”

The moment the instructor shouted, Carlile lunged.

Crimson Sword Aura was already flowing on his blade.

“Haaah!”

Boom!

Our Sword Auras clashed, erupting in a thunderous shockwave.

The pressure of our strikes was evenly matched.

Our faces met across locked blades in a contest of strength.

“Carlile.”

I spoke in a calm voice.

“Who planted you here?”

“……”

At my question, a cruel smile spread across Carlile’s lips.

And then—

Scarlet mana surged wildly from his entire body.