HTNSA 17

Chapter 17

Felix recalled the medicine Ayla had given him.

Ever since taking it, he had been experiencing an entirely new world.

In the past, every time he held a sword, it felt unbearably heavy.

The advanced swordsmanship taught at the academy had all been developed under the assumption that a swordsman could sense mana.

And most people, regardless of differences in talent, could feel mana to some extent.

But for someone like him, who couldn’t sense mana at all, every movement and technique he learned was difficult.

He had only managed to survive by barely compensating for the difference through his natural instincts and relentless physical training.

Yet as time passed, he had gradually become more aware of his limits.

That was definitely how it used to be…

Whoosh—

Swoosh—

Now the sword felt almost absurdly light.

So this was what it felt like to sense mana.

The vivid sensation of vitality surging throughout his body overwhelmed Felix.

Everything he had once thought impossible suddenly felt within reach.

Even the headaches that had tormented him for years had completely vanished.

Felix glanced around.

At some point, the students of the Swordsmanship Department had begun watching him with astonished expressions.

As fellow swordsmen, they seemed to have noticed the change in his presence.

If I’m already this strong now, how much stronger will I become after taking the proper medicine?

For a moment, Felix imagined how far he could grow.

If he could completely sense mana…

I might truly reach a level higher than anyone else.

At that moment, Ayla’s image overlapped in his mind.

The Ayla who had confidently proposed a deal to him.

To be honest, until recently, he and Ayla had barely interacted at the academy.

Occasionally, she would come to the Swordsmanship Department to visit her fiancé Kadin, and their paths would cross, but that was all.

More importantly, the Ayla from back then seemed completely lifeless.

Her indifferent expression, doll-like atmosphere, and the social status gap between them had drawn an invisible line neither could cross.

But why did she choose me?

He remembered those golden eyes that had sparkled with unusual enthusiasm whenever she looked at him.

She had always been beautiful, but when she confidently laid out her proposal, she had seemed breathtakingly radiant.

She felt completely different from the Ayla he had known before.

Even though she had fallen into the worst possible situation, her will to live seemed stronger than ever.

That contradiction kept drawing his attention.

And Ayla trusts me to a strange degree.

Listening to her speak almost made him feel like he was someone special.

“So from now on, I just have to pretend to be your lover?”

“No. If we start dating immediately after I broke up with Kadin, people will gossip. I want to reveal things slowly. For now, I’d appreciate it if you could just pretend to be a close friend.”

“Even so, compared to what you’ve given me, this seems like far too small a payment.”

“You know it too, don’t you? Just look at how much stronger you’ve become after taking that medicine. I’m investing in your future potential.”

“My potential?”

“Yeah. You’re going to become an incredibly strong knight. You might even reach the level of a Sword Master someday.”

As she said that, Ayla smiled gently.

“So if anyone picks a fight with you from now on, don’t hold back. Don’t endure it.”

Could that really be true?

Could he truly become the kind of knight Ayla described?

What a strange person.

Ayla believed in his potential without the slightest doubt, even though he himself wasn’t fully convinced.

And that wasn’t all.

Despite being only a year younger than him, she possessed a calmness and composure rarely seen in someone her age.

“…I’m not confident, but I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”

“Just hearing that already makes me proud. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

…Makes me proud? Anyone listening would think she’s ten years older than me.

The thought made him chuckle involuntarily.

And it was precisely at that moment—

Before Felix could think any further, a sharp voice cut through his thoughts.

“Why are you smiling?”

Kadin was glaring at him as he approached, exuding hostility.

“Huh?”

Felix looked up in surprise.

“I asked why you’re smiling. Don’t tell me you’re thinking about Ayla?”

At Kadin’s question, Felix unconsciously covered his mouth.

Had he really been smiling?

I was only replaying my conversation with Ayla…

Still, he couldn’t deny that Kadin had struck the mark.

He really had been thinking about Ayla just moments ago.

Seeing Felix hesitate, Kadin frowned.

Recently, he had heard rumors that Ayla had become close to a commoner like Felix, and it had left him in a foul mood.

The mere thought of a woman who had once been engaged to him associating with a lowly commoner wounded his pride.

Perhaps that was why.

The sight of Felix smiling while swinging his sword irritated him immensely.

It even felt as though that smile was mocking him.

“Ha. Now that you’re spending time with Ayla, do you think you’ve become a noble yourself?”

“What are you talking about—”

“Shut up and hold your sword properly. I’ve been wanting to teach an annoying brat like you a lesson.”

Felix frowned.

The feeling was mutual.

Every time he saw Kadin, he felt irritated as well.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

His cold response caused several students to burst into laughter.

“Hey, Kadin. Why don’t you show him what you’re made of?”

“Take it easy, take it easy. If you hit him too hard you’ll get disciplined.”

“Felix has been getting a little too arrogant lately.”

The students openly mocked Felix.

No matter how much his movements had improved, someone who couldn’t even sense mana had no chance of defeating Kadin.

But Felix ignored the ridicule and slowly raised his sword.

“So you’re challenging me to a duel?”

Kadin answered with a sneer.

“Well, can you even call it a duel? Though if you want to, then sure.”

Can a match between you and me really be called a duel?

Kadin mocked him inwardly as he stared at Felix.

Felix narrowed his eyes at the arrogance in that gaze.

For some reason, he suddenly didn’t want to lose to the man standing before him.

Besides, hadn’t Ayla said this?

“If anyone picks a fight with you from now on, don’t hold back.”

The moment he recalled her words, Felix answered without hesitation.

“Fine.”

To be honest, it was closer to stubborn pride than confidence.

He still wasn’t certain he could defeat Kadin.

Even if he could now sense mana, his opponent was Kadin Leight.

Kadin had trained in swordsmanship since the moment he could walk.

He came from an entirely different world than Felix.

Because of that, not a single person present believed Felix could win.

The instant Felix accepted, Kadin couldn’t hide his scornful smile.

To actually accept a duel against him?

The fool was practically asking to be humiliated in public.

I won’t even need to exchange many blows.

He infused mana into the arm holding his sword.

Unlike the other students, Kadin had long surpassed the stage of merely sensing mana.

He could control it freely.

It was only natural that someone like Felix, who supposedly couldn’t even use mana, would be blown away by a single strike.

At least, that was what he believed.

But—

Clang!

The moment their swords collided, Kadin’s expression froze.

Something was wrong.

Felix should have been sent flying by his attack.

That was common sense.

Yet Felix remained firmly rooted in place, blocking the strike head-on.

Felix himself looked surprised as well, but he quickly tightened his grip on his sword.

In an instant, Felix’s blade swept past Kadin’s face.

Just barely.