Chapter 6
After the representative of Black Class 6 was elected, we were shown to the dormitory.
The dormitory rooms are basically two-person rooms, but since I was elected as the representative, I was given a single room.
That was quite welcome news for me.
“It’s been a tiring day.”
In fact, in the original novel, Ernas was not chosen as the representative.
He had been nominated along with Serinne, but withdrew because he was afraid his true skill would be revealed.
Instead, the protagonist Akandel was recommended — but that was just to make trouble for Akandel, who had clashed with him right after enrollment.
However, Akandel shocked everyone by defeating Serinne and eventually became the representative of Black Class 6.
“As long as Akandel doesn’t exist, I have no choice but to be the representative.”
If I’m going to move forward using the novel’s storyline, it’s best to be in a position where I can control the surrounding situation as much as possible.
Since it’s hard to predict what would happen if Serinne were the representative, it’s better that I take on that role.
“I defeated Serinne and was elected representative. Then…”
I reflected on the novel’s story and thought about what might happen next.
“Someone will challenge the authority of the representative.”
I already knew who that someone would be.
In a corner of the Black Class 6 dormitory.
Seven students were gathered in a two-person room just like the others.
But only one of them was actually seated.
“Schmitz, are you going to just sit there like that?”
“……”
A slender man with long black hair remained silent, surrounded by several students.
“I was hoping you’d take the representative seat and show the superiority of Southern swordsmanship…”
“Honestly, it was frustrating that you even forbade us from recommending you as the representative.”
“If you, Schmitz Hartman, the heir of the Hartman family, had stood, you wouldn’t have lost to either Ernas or Serinne.”
Schmitz Hartman was the eldest son of the Hartman family, a prestigious Southern swordsmanship lineage.
The Hartmans were a powerful count family in the South, and the students surrounding Schmitz were his followers who came from the South as well.
“Don’t you all still not understand my intention?”
“Huh?”
Breaking his silence, Schmitz spoke slowly.
“I purposely did not step forward to observe the abilities of Ernas Lanzstein and Serinne Bastian.”
“…!”
Everyone swallowed hard at Schmitz’s words.
“Let me be honest. I think Ernas is disguising his true strength.”
“Huh?”
“W-What do you mean?”
“During the entrance exam, Ernas was nearby taking the test, so I noticed.”
Schmitz’s voice turned cold.
“My eyes cannot be fooled. In the one-on-one combat test… the examiner deliberately took Ernas’s attack and self-destructed. I think he used a similar trick in other tests.”
“Is that true?”
“If there was cheating in the entrance exam, shouldn’t we report it?!”
Among the excited followers, Schmitz shook his head.
“The opponent is the heir of the Lanzstein family, one of the six great swordsmanship houses. If I accuse without clear evidence, I’ll be the one who gets punished.”
“Impossible…!”
“But inside the academy, it’s different.”
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Schmitz’s mouth.
“Lichtenauer Swordsmanship Academy is strictly meritocratic… If I defeat Ernas by skill, I can reveal that he’s actually nothing special.”
“Ah…!”
“Then everyone will naturally understand that Ernas’s second-place finish in the entrance exam was suspicious.”
After Schmitz’s explanation, most students nodded.
But one student raised a question.
“B-But, Schmitz, didn’t Ernas just defeat Serinne by skill? To me, he seemed quite skilled… Ah, I don’t mean more skilled than you.”
“You still have a long way to go.”
Schmitz clicked his tongue.
“Even after losing, Serinne’s breathing was steady. Meanwhile, Ernas was panting and sweating profusely.”
“…!”
“My eyes cannot be fooled. Serinne’s actual skill was superior.”
That’s right.
While other students cheered for Ernas’s victory, Schmitz saw through the fact that Ernas was completely drained.
If the match had gone on a little longer, it would have been Ernas who dropped his sword.
“Th-Then what exactly happened?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Schmitz confidently revealed his guess.
“Serinne deliberately lost to Ernas. To hand over the representative seat.”
“You’re saying there was cheating again after the entrance exam?!”
“You can tell just by seeing Ernas used Bastian knightly swordsmanship instead of Agatas decisive swordsmanship. Serinne used Bastian family swordsmanship to make it easier to cooperate.”
“Unbelievable…!”
At that moment, the student who had questioned earlier spoke again.
“But Schmitz, I heard the two just canceled their engagement. They didn’t seem to get along well…”
“You fool, that’s all part of the plan. They keep distance on purpose to avoid suspicion.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Ernas probably forced Serinne using the authority of the Lanzstein family. What a shameless guy.”
Schmitz frowned.
“Anyway, after watching today’s match, I’ve fully assessed their abilities. Serinne looks like a formidable opponent… but Ernas can be dealt with quickly.”
“Th-Then…!”
“That’s right.”
In front of his excited followers, Schmitz spoke boldly.
“I will defeat Ernas and take the representative seat.”
“By now, Schmitz must be thinking of dragging me down and taking the representative position.”
I lay on the bed lost in thought.
“He tried something similar in the novel, so it’s very likely.”
Schmitz is an ambitious guy.
He aims to elevate the Hartman family to a prestigious name comparable to the six great swordsmanship houses.
That’s why he wants the representative seat of Black Class 6.
“He wants to lead Black Class 6 and defeat the other classes.”
Red Class 1, Blue Class 2, Yellow Class 3, Green Class 4, White Class 5… representatives from the six great swordsmanship houses lead each class.
Because each class has one heir from those six great houses.
“If Black Class 6, which he leads, defeats the others, it means the Hartman family has beaten the six great swordsmanship houses… That’s what he’s thinking.”
That’s why in the novel, Schmitz targeted the protagonist Akandel.
He was confident he had found a weakness in Akandel during his fight with Serinne.
He will probably act similarly this time.
“Schmitz’s talent is top tier. And his Hartman swift swordsmanship… it’s not easy to counter.”
Hartman swift swordsmanship boasts top speed among sword techniques used without magic.
Ernas’s physical ability alone couldn’t keep up with its speed.
“Even using A-rank Bastian knightly swordsmanship, it’s impossible. So I need a countermeasure.”
Thinking this, I touched the ring on my left hand.
Then a message popped up in my mind.
[Current abilities acquired through ‘Ability Reproduction’ are as follows:]
[Bastian Knightly Swordsmanship (A rank)]
[Lorelian Practical Swordsmanship (C rank)]
[Eastern-Style Magic Energy Practice (B rank)]
[—]
[—]
Besides the three abilities copied from Serinne, there were two empty slots.
This meant I could hold up to five abilities copied through Yusrecht.
“Kind of like skill slots.”
In the novel, Ernas had only three, but now I have five.
It seemed Yusrecht’s effect evolved from ‘Ability Mimicry’ to ‘Ability Reproduction’, increasing slots.
“Since there’s a limit to how many abilities I can hold simultaneously, I can’t just absorb any abilities indiscriminately.”
I can remove an ability I already have and replace it with another, but it comes with penalties.
That’s why I must only learn abilities that truly help me.
“Considering that, what I need most right now before clashing with Schmitz is…”
The knowledge I have as the author.
From it, I drew the most suitable solution.
The classes at Lichtenauer Swordsmanship Academy are divided into three main types:
Swordsmanship classes, physical training classes, and academic classes.
Swordsmanship classes teach sword skills, physical training improves body abilities separately from swordsmanship, and academic classes cultivate knowledge like history and strategy.
Black Class 6’s first class was swordsmanship.
“Who’s going to teach the swordsmanship class?”
“Isn’t it Instructor Annerize?”
The students moving toward the ‘academic building’ across from the dorm whispered among themselves.
Everyone was curious who would be leading the swordsmanship class.
Of course, I already knew who would appear.
“You’re all gathered.”
At the sudden solemn voice, everyone held their breath.
Together with the head instructor Annerize, a burly middle-aged man entered the academic building.
He was distinguished by a scar on his right cheek.
“No way, is that…!”
“Yols Kalesius?!”
“The one who personally defeated a dragon and received the Emperor’s praise…!”
Dragon Slayer Yols Kalesius.
A swordsman who graduated top of the academy and later worked on monster extermination missions in the West.
He was famous for defeating a dragon alone and receiving the title ‘Dragon Slayer’ from the Emperor.
Currently, he had retired from the front lines and was nurturing the next generation at the academy.
“Are we really going to learn swordsmanship from Yols from day one?!”
“Unbelievable…!”
Before the excited students, Annerize calmly said,
“Professor Yols will be in charge of Black Class 6’s swordsmanship lectures.”
“Wow…!”
The students couldn’t contain their excitement.
Learning swordsmanship directly from a legendary hero who defeated a dragon was thrilling.
“Quiet down.”
But everyone fell silent at a single word from Yols.
His voice carried weight.
“Why are you all here?”
At Yols’s sudden question, the freshmen collectively swallowed.
“I’ll ask again. Why are you here?”
“……”
Everyone kept silent, watching one another.
Yols scanned them and pointed to the student in the front seat.
“Answer me.”
“W-Well…”
The student stammered.
“To master magic… to reach the level of a Graduate!”
His answer seemed to reflect what I had said yesterday.
“Wrong.”
“…!”
“That’s only the initial goal you must achieve at the academy. That’s not what I asked.”
After scolding him, Yols pointed at another student.
“You, the boy with long hair.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Answer me.”
The student pointed at was Schmitz Hartman.
He answered calmly without hesitation.
“To graduate with excellent grades and bring honor to my family.”
“A frank answer.”
Yols nodded.
“But wrong.”
“…!”
Schmitz swallowed.
Yols then pointed at other students.
Various answers came up, but none satisfied Yols.
“Next, purple hair, answer.”
“I-I’m here because my parents insisted I enter the academy…”
“……”
“Ugh…”
Yols’s expression grew harsh at Viola’s pathetic answer.
Ignoring Viola’s tearful face, Yols spoke again.
“Who is the representative of Black Class 6?”
“……”
I slowly raised my hand.
“I was elected representative yesterday, Professor.”
“Then you, answer.”
Yols’s cold gaze pierced me like a blade pressed to my neck.
“Why are you here?”
“……”
With all eyes on me, I slowly opened my mouth.
