Chapter 23
Inside the Punishment Block (2)
A training ground reserved for royalty.
An armory reserved for royalty.
Deep within the underground of the Punishment Block, such special places were hidden.
‘Even someone like me, a layman, can tell these are extraordinary swords.’
Admiring the masterpieces on display in the armory, I couldn’t help but let out a gasp.
Lester’s sword had been disguised as a wooden blade, looking unimpressive, but these swords clearly had as much effort put into their appearance as their craftsmanship.
‘Since they were meant for royalty, of course they paid attention to appearances, too.’
It felt like such a waste, leaving these fine swords buried down here.
But it wasn’t as if the Academy could simply take them out and use them however they pleased.
These were prepared for the descendants of the Iron-Blooded Sword Emperor. How could they possibly allow ordinary students to wield them?
‘And now, those treasured swords are right here in front of me.’
But this wasn’t yet the time to lay my hands on them.
Leaving the armory behind, I headed out to a field of glowgrass.
Finding a good spot, I sat down and pulled out a vial.
‘That crimson elixir the instructor gave me earlier…’
It was my reward for passing the first test.
I had received one before as well, after winning the interclass competition. This would be my second.
I tilted the vial and swallowed the crimson liquid.
‘Good. Now then…’
Crossing my legs among the glowgrass, I closed my eyes.
Then, employing the Eastern-style mana circulation method, I began to direct the flow of mana.
‘I can handle the power of a crimson elixir without trouble now.’
I felt the elixir’s mana being absorbed into my body.
To prevent it from leaking away, I had to send it coursing through every vessel, circulating it throughout.
‘This time, I also need to sense the energy flowing from the glowgrass around me.’
Glowgrass contained the energy of the earth.
By taking in that energy as I circulated my mana, I would be able to settle even more mana within myself.
‘Let them harmonize together, slowly, steadily…’
Bit by bit, I fixed the circulating mana into my chest.
Into the intangible heart—the “Mana Heart”—so that it would be stored properly.
‘Last time, I managed to settle over 90% of the crimson elixir’s mana. But this time…’
Keeping my eyes closed, I maintained my control.
Ensuring that none of the mana flowing through my veins escaped elsewhere, and that it fully took root within me.
‘I have to aim higher.’
To reach a greater realm.
To turn Ernas Lanschtain, mocked as a “fake genius” in the novel, into a true genius.
I pushed my focus to the very limit—no, beyond it.
How much time had passed?
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
Rising amid the soft light of glowgrass, I drew a deep breath.
“Phew…”
Then, I directed mana from the Mana Heart in my chest.
I could feel it spreading to my head, my arms, my legs, through my entire body, invigorating every function.
“Well then…”
I walked back to the armory.
Picking up a short sword, I immediately set it back down.
“This isn’t right.”
Instead, I took up a longsword.
Much heavier than the wooden blade I usually practiced with.
Holding it, I stepped into the field and assumed a stance.
The stance of the Bastian Knight’s Swordsmanship.
“Phew…”
After a deep breath, I drew up my mana.
Channeling it from my heart into my right arm, then into the longsword I gripped.
Careful not to break the flow, I poured it into the blade.
The shimmering, wavering mana wrapped around the sword, gradually stabilizing.
“……”
Enveloped in white light, the blade came down in a vertical slash.
Then, I swept it horizontally from right to left.
The mana surrounding the blade did not waver in the slightest.
‘Even though this blade is far broader than Lester’s shortsword…’
I began moving my lower body as well, stepping and weaving across the grass.
‘Now then… Vertical Trinity!’
The signature technique of Bastian Knight’s Swordsmanship.
A lightning-fast triple strike carved the air.
The sharp thrill of cutting the void with sword-energy drew an involuntary exclamation from me.
‘Yes, this is it.’
The mana of the second crimson elixir had settled within me completely.
At least 95%—no, nearly 100%—was anchored.
This was thanks to harmonizing with the glowgrass’s energy while using the mana circulation method.
‘And now, I can control my mana with far more precision.’
Even after fully cloaking the longsword, I still had mana to spare.
Proof that my control had become more refined.
No doubt, the glowgrass had played a role.
‘Exactly as described in the novel.’
Breathing amid the glowgrass’s aura while circulating mana had made my body more attuned to it.
I had already surpassed the early stages of the Graduate level.
‘Yes. At this level, I can use Graduate-only swordsmanship.’
Sword techniques reserved for Graduates.
Only those who had mastered mana control could wield them.
They were built upon the use of mana itself—without sufficient mana, one couldn’t even begin to learn them.
For example, the Ignatius family had the Ignatius Flame-Prison Swordsmanship, a Graduate-only style. Yet Rufus Ignatius of Class Red 1 had only mastered the basic Ignatius Knight’s Swordsmanship.
‘But at the Academy, Graduate-only techniques aren’t taught until after the second test…’
The second test existed to filter out those who had truly reached the Graduate level.
Passing it meant leaving the island for another place, where proper Graduate training would begin—including Graduate-only swordsmanship.
‘But I have the means to learn such techniques earlier.’
I had Yusrecht.
With its power, I could copy other people’s Graduate-only swordsmanship.
‘Each style requires different amounts of mana, so for now, the techniques I can copy are limited…’
But among the Graduates I would soon face, I had to claim the one most suited to me.
‘Until then, I need to prepare here as much as I can.’
I turned back toward the armory.
As described in the novel, there would be blades here optimized for Graduate swordsmanship, with high mana efficiency.
By training with those, I could grow accustomed to wielding mana as a true Graduate.
‘Just wait, all of you.’
Walking across the glowgrass field, I made my silent vow.
‘I will grow stronger, and then step outside.’
Smack!
The sound of a slap rang out.
“Ugh!”
Lester Lancaster groaned as he rolled across the ground.
One slap had split his cheek and broken teeth.
And yet, he was lucky.
Had the man before him infused mana into that blow, Lester’s head would have exploded.
“F-Father, forgive me!”
Bleeding, Lester dared not even wipe his face. He had to bow his head before the terrifying gaze of the middle-aged man glaring down at him—Duke Henry Lancaster.
“I will make up for this failure. I swear it. Please, just—”
“How will you make up for it?”
Henry’s cold voice cut him off.
“Is there even a way?”
“Th-that…”
Lester stammered. He tried to think of something, anything, but Henry’s voice struck first.
“You failed the Academy’s first test and were expelled. On top of that, you tried to frame Ernas Lanschtain and were exposed.”
“Urgh…”
“Calion Ignatius himself wrote to me in his own hand. I was forced to write a reply personally.”
Henry’s fist trembled with rage.
“As head of House Lancaster, I had to send an apology letter to the head of House Ignatius. Do you understand the humiliation of that? How do you plan to make up for that?”
“F-Father, forgive me! I’ve committed an unforgivable sin!”
As Lester slammed his forehead against the floor, Henry scoffed.
“Is that so? Then fine.”
“……!”
Henry drew the sword at his hip and thrust it forward.
“If you’ve committed a mortal sin, pay for it with your life.”
“F-Father…”
“What are you waiting for? Kill yourself.”
“U-ugh… ughhh…”
When Lester broke into sobs, curling up pitifully, Henry clicked his tongue.
“Pathetic. That such a fool was once praised as a ‘prodigy’.”
“S-spare me, Father, please!”
“Stop your crying. Unless you wish to die right here.”
“Y-yes…”
Forcing back his tears, Lester bowed low.
Watching, Henry let out a deep sigh.
“Lester, I had such high expectations of you.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I believed you would rise to the top of the Academy. Never did I imagine you’d fail the very first test.”
“I-I am sorry, Father.”
Pressing his forehead to the ground again, Lester pleaded.
“I will make amends somehow. From now on, I’ll live only for the family. I’ll devote myself to ensuring House Lancaster’s honor never falls. Please…”
“It’s useless. You’ve already been cast out after failing the first test.”
“B-but, Father, excelling at the Academy isn’t the only way.”
Even if expelled, there were still ways to bring glory to the family—slaying monsters, purging cultists across the land, and more.
“I will redeem myself…”
“Persistent, aren’t you?”
Henry’s voice rose again.
“This generation is different! With you eliminated early, House Lancaster has already fallen behind!”
“What…?”
Lester blinked, startled.
“F-Father, what do you mean, this generation is different?”
“……!”
Henry flinched, averting his eyes.
“You don’t need to know.”
“What?”
“It’s none of your concern! It’s classified—do not pry further!”
“Classified…?”
What could it mean? For him to say so much, it had to be a state secret…
“In any case, because you were expelled, our house is in serious trouble.”
“I—I’m sorry.”
“Our only choice now is to cooperate with another family.”
“……”
The words made little sense to Lester.
Why should House Lancaster need to lean on another family, just because he failed?
But he dared not ask. To question further would only bring more fury.
“Tell me, Lester. In your eyes, which heir of the sword families is most likely to rise to the top of the Academy? That prodigy?”
“I—I haven’t fought him directly, so…”
“What about Ernas?”
“……”
The moment that name was spoken, rage boiled in Lester’s chest.
“F-Father, there’s something strange about him.”
“Strange?”
“When he fought Rufus Ignatius, he unleashed a tremendous charge. I thought that was his specialty, so I prepared only for that.”
“And?”
“But when I actually fought him… Ernas used the Lancaster Shortsword Style with great skill. On par with my own level.”
“The Lancaster style?”
“Yes, Father. As if he were my equal.”
“……”
“And—he even used sword-energy. Truly, he was bizarre.”
Hurriedly, Lester added, “In any case, I believe we must prevent him from reaching the top. He’s unpredictable and will surely become a great obstacle to House Lancaster.”
“Hmm…”
Henry fell into thought.
“Yes, that one… he might already know of the secret. Perhaps that’s why he prepared in advance?”
“What?”
“In that case…”
Muttering to himself, Henry looked at Lester once more.
“Lester. You said he’s in the Punishment Block now? At the northern end of the lake?”
“Y-yes, Father. That’s right.”
“He won’t be leaving in just a day or two. That gives us time.”
“Time…?”
“I was just considering how to pay him back for this humiliation. This is the chance.”
Henry’s voice turned icy.
“I will send assassins into the Punishment Block.”
“……!”
Lester gasped.
Was his father planning to use Ernas’s confinement to kill him in secret, leaving no trace?
“Right now, he’s only just entered the Graduate level. Before he grows further, we’ll cut him down at the root.”
“F-Father…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll send a Graduate skilled in such matters.”
Henry’s words came like a death sentence.
“It will be handled cleanly. Without a trace.”
