Chapter 9
entative of Black Class 6.”
When I proposed this, Schmitz’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You… you’ll hand over the representative position?”
“Yes, Schmitz.”
“Ho-how can you say that…?”
“I remembered how intently you watched Serine and me fight for the representative position yesterday. You’re interested in that spot, aren’t you?”
“…!”
“Back then, you couldn’t raise your hand in time to participate in the representative election… If you miss this chance, you shouldn’t let it slip away.”
Schmitz was flustered.
Clashing with me on the very first day was not part of his plan.
‘Why should I respect your plan, Schmitz?’
I had no intention of dragging out this tense situation with Schmitz.
Since I already secured a way to suppress him, it made sense to finish this quickly and move on.
Delaying could result in a clash under unfavorable conditions.
‘You might want to observe my skills more, but I already know yours well enough.’
So, I decided to end it here.
In front of all the students watching… Schmitz and I must clearly establish who is superior.
So that Schmitz can never challenge me again.
“Ernas, I…”
Schmitz, completely losing control, stammered, trying to say something.
But then a voice interrupted.
“Ernas, this is troublesome.”
Anneleise, the instructor of Black Class 6, was approaching us.
“I told you this isn’t a duel to decide victory or defeat.”
“Instructor Anneleise…”
Schmitz showed a slight look of relief.
However…
“If you’re going to duel, then you must set clear victory conditions.”
“A duel, you say?”
“The Lichtenaur Swordsmanship Academy allows duels. Of course, they can’t be fights to the death.”
At this academy, there is a system to resolve disputes through duels if both parties agree.
So it’s possible to compete for the representative position this way.
“Understood, Instructor.”
I spoke calmly and glanced around.
By now, all the students had stopped their sparring and were focused on us.
“Shall we say the first person to land a valid hit wins?”
“That rule is often used when you want a quick outcome.”
Anneleise nodded and looked at Schmitz.
“Schmitz, is that acceptable?”
“I…”
Schmitz bit his lip, looking around nervously.
He probably didn’t want such a fast conclusion.
But since other students couldn’t continue their sparring due to us, it was hard to propose other terms.
‘I can’t exactly refuse a duel either.’
Schmitz’s followers watched him expectantly.
They hoped their leader would defeat the so-called fake genius impressively.
Other students watching around were also excited, so there was no turning back.
“Alright, let’s do it that way.”
Eventually, Schmitz nodded, and cheers erupted.
The instant duel for the representative position of Black Class 6 between Schmitz and me was about to begin.
‘Things are getting complicated.’
Holding a practice wooden sword, Schmitz clicked his tongue.
‘Ernas proposing a duel first means he already has insight into our plans…’
Before Schmitz could challenge Ernas, Ernas took the initiative.
Because of that, Schmitz lost the initiative completely.
‘From the fight with Serine yesterday, Ernas’s biggest weakness is stamina. So he probably wanted to fight under rules that finish quickly.’
If it was a fight continuing until one falls, Ernas would definitely tire first.
So Ernas suggested the rule that the first valid hit wins.
Maybe the fight could be settled before stamina ran out.
‘Before I knew it, the mood shifted to favor Ernas.’
Ernas was craftier than expected.
Maybe he even had Anneleise on his side already.
‘But…’
Schmitz smiled quietly.
He thought Ernas underestimated him.
‘No matter how favorable the conditions, I’ll win, Ernas.’
After watching Ernas fight Serine, Schmitz had confirmed one thing.
No matter how hard Ernas tries, he won’t keep up with Schmitz’s speed.
‘Even if Ernas aims for a quick battle, it won’t help.’
His attacks would never reach Schmitz.
‘I’ll show him the speed of Hartmann Quick Swordsmanship.’
Though not interfering, Professor Yols silently watched us.
Schmitz wanted to show his swordsmanship to his respected master, “Dragon Slayer” Yols.
To elevate the Hartmann family to be on par with the six great swordsmanship houses.
“By the way, Ernas.”
With burning fighting spirit, Schmitz spoke to Ernas.
“The condition was that if I win, I get the representative position. But what if you win?”
“Well, I hadn’t really thought about that. Is it necessary?”
“Of course it is.”
“Then…”
Ernas, holding the wooden sword, tilted his head and said calmly:
“From now on, do not challenge my authority and obey me absolutely.”
“…!”
Never try to climb up again.
That’s what Ernas was saying.
“Will you accept that, Schmitz?”
“…”
“If you’re unwilling, you can just refuse the duel.”
Crunch.
Schmitz clenched his teeth.
“It’s my position, so I have to set at least that condition.”
“That’s the right attitude.”
Each word scraped at my pride.
Are all heirs of swordsmanship houses this arrogant?
‘I’ll make you regret this, Ernas Lanzstein.’
Schmitz decided to show his top speed from the start.
He planned to use the Hartmann Quick Swordsmanship secret technique, “Flank Penetration.”
“Pretending to charge head-on… then suddenly changing direction and slipping in from Ernas’s side.”
It looks normal at a glance, but Hartmann Quick Swordsmanship has perfected this into a deadly technique.
To Ernas, Schmitz would suddenly seem to vanish after charging head-on.
Maybe the match would be decided with this first attack.
‘Even if he blocks it, I’ll take control!’
Intending to teach the crafty fake genius a lesson, Schmitz assumed his stance.
“Then… begin!”
At Anneleise’s voice, Schmitz pushed off the training ground and started his charge.
To land the fastest attack possible on the calm-looking Ernas.
I knew Schmitz’s personality well.
He thinks he’s calm and cautious, but he’s actually easily excited and impatient.
Also, he takes great pride in Hartmann Quick Swordsmanship and wants to show off his skill in front of others.
That’s why I expected that if I took the lead and kept provoking, he’d use “Flank Penetration” from the start.
‘There’s no way I can counter your flank penetration with my physical ability.’
Even knowing he’d go for the flank, I couldn’t stop it.
Serine might barely block and counterattack, but not with my body.
‘But… what if I act just before the flank penetration?’
Right before changing direction to flank.
Schmitz would have to charge straight at me.
His charge is fast, but from my perspective, he’s just rushing straight forward.
‘Of course, it’s still too far to swing a sword.’
There was still distance between us.
Neither of us could hit with a sword from this range.
We both needed to be closer.
‘But… there is an attack that can reach even from here.’
The swordsmanship I copied from Chloe during lunch break.
If it’s A-rank Yusuburg swordsmanship, it’s possible.
“…”
No need to prepare a stance.
I could execute it from here.
So I launched an attack at a timing Schmitz never expected.
Swish!
With a slicing sound, my wooden sword was ‘projected.’
Most students didn’t understand what technique I just used.
Only one person, Chloe Yusuburg, who trained in Yusuburg swordsmanship, recognized it.
‘How did Ernas learn Yusuburg swordsmanship?!’
Among western sword styles full of unconventional techniques, Yusuburg is one of the rarest.
It specializes not in swinging the sword, but in ‘throwing it’ — a flying sword technique.
Used mostly for surprise attacks targeting an opponent’s weak points, it’s ineffective against those who know it well.
But for an unsuspecting enemy, it’s an excellent technique.
‘Especially that technique… My father told me not to use it publicly!’
Ernas threw the sword without any preparation.
It’s a high-speed surprise attack to catch an opponent off guard.
Chloe had only recently mastered it after 10 years of training.
Ernas performed at a level close to hers.
‘No, Ernas couldn’t have learned Yusuburg swordsmanship… then why?’
Could he have developed it himself?
The thought made Chloe shiver.
If he truly self-taught such a technique…
‘Is Ernas really a genius?’
Seeing such talent, Chloe’s heart fluttered.
“Ugh!”
The wooden sword I threw pierced Schmitz’s abdomen.
If it were a real sword, it would have pierced through.
It was a valid hit that decided the match.
“How… how is this possible…!”
Stopping his charge, Schmitz looked shocked.
He was only thinking about flanking and charged straight forward.
So he couldn’t properly respond to the surprise Yusuburg technique.
If he had known Yusuburg swordsmanship, he might have blocked somehow, but Schmitz was seeing it for the first time today.
‘Most students here are probably the same.’
Actually, I should apologize to Chloe.
I revealed this swordsmanship openly in front of Black Class 6.
Usually Chloe saves Yusuburg swordsmanship for important moments, but I just exposed it.
“Tha-that’s unfair, Ernas!”
Schmitz shouted loudly.
“This is unacceptable! That attack is invalid!”
“Schmitz.”
“This isn’t swordsmanship! Throwing a sword like that, that’s…!”
While Schmitz was refusing to admit defeat, everyone else was confused.
Suddenly, a solemn voice spoke.
“You lack knowledge, Schmitz.”
“P-Professor Yols?!”
Yols had quietly approached us.
“The attack Ernas just used was ‘Flying Sword Technique.’ Not common, but it is a form of swordsmanship.”
“That’s impossible! How can throwing a sword be swordsmanship…?”
At that moment,
My wooden sword, which had fallen to the ground, suddenly jumped up and brushed past Schmitz’s ear.
“That too is swordsmanship.”
“…!”
Everyone, including Schmitz and the onlooking students, gasped.
Including me.
‘Sword Control Technique…!’
Sword Control Technique is an advanced form of Flying Sword Technique.
Flying Sword Technique is just throwing the sword by hand.
Sword Control Technique lets you freely fly the sword through the air.
It requires huge magical power, so none of the current students can master it yet.
‘But someday…’
Someday I will reach that level.
Confident in that, I engraved Yols’s amazing swordsmanship in my mind.
“Ugh…”
Schmitz bit his lip and knelt down.
He had no choice but to accept defeat.
“Then… Ernas.”
Yols looked at me calmly.
“The surprise flying sword attack without preparation was excellent. I’m curious how you learned it.”
“Professor, this is…”
I faltered, and Yols gave a wry smile.
“No need to answer. Revealing your information publicly won’t help you.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I wish to see more diverse techniques, but if that happens other students won’t be able to spar.”
Saying this, Yols looked around.
All the students had stopped sparring and were watching us.
“Ernas, don’t move anymore today. Step back and rest.”
“Understood.”
“And…”
Yols placed his hand on my right shoulder.
“You should strengthen your shoulder more in the future.”
“…!”
I was feeling pain in my right shoulder muscles.
It was from using the secret technique of Yusuburg swordsmanship without a well-trained body.
To throw the sword at a speed Schmitz couldn’t counter, I had to sacrifice my shoulder.
‘Yols really has great insight.’
Thinking I must be careful not to be suspected, I bowed in thanks.
After the duel between Ernas and Schmitz ended, the students resumed their sparring.
But Yols couldn’t focus on ordinary sparring now.
‘The rumors from the exam were false.’
There were whispers that Ernas might have cheated on the exam.
But watching him today proved that was baseless slander.
‘He calmly answered my questions this morning… Ernas Lanzstein is no ordinary guy.’
Yols recalled the duel between Ernas and Schmitz.
While normal students probably didn’t grasp what happened, Yols had observed every movement precisely.
‘The flying sword technique Ernas used was definitely the western Yusuburg style. Where did he learn it?’
There are students from the Yusuburg family here, but none could have taught him overnight.
Surely he didn’t invent it himself…
‘The most impressive part is how he used the perfect technique against the fast-charging Schmitz Hartmann.’
Ernas’s physical ability was much weaker than Schmitz’s.
If they fought normally, Schmitz would likely have won.
But Ernas perfectly saw through Schmitz’s moves and used a quick flying sword surprise attack.
Even injuring his shoulder in the process.
The result was a perfect victory for Ernas.
‘Drawing power beyond physical limits and winning with a precise strike…’
Could this really be a freshman?
Yols couldn’t help but be amazed.
‘I want him as my direct disciple. Truly a promising talent.’
Enthralled by the unexpected talent of the freshman, Yols smiled.
