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Chapter 41
Defeat the Prodigy (3)
“This can’t be!”
Professor Valentiano sat in the stands, eyes wide.
He couldn’t believe that Ernas had just blocked Heinrich’s attack.
“That was an attack that someone who just entered the graduate level could never have stopped!”
Heinrich was using Agrippa’s Swift Sword Technique.
The Agrippa Swift Sword Technique was a Southern sword style integrated with Kyeongshin Magic, famous for its overwhelming speed when wielded with magical power.
Combine that with Heinrich’s exceptional physical abilities and magical control, and the result was a speed beyond that of lower-level graduates.
“It was a speed that a regular graduate novice couldn’t even hope to counter! If you hadn’t preemptively heightened your visual perception, you wouldn’t have even seen it!”
Of course, Valentiano, a master-level graduate, could track the movements with his naked eyes.
But several assistants beside him were completely unprepared and couldn’t follow Heinrich’s motions at all.
“The speed surpasses the limits of a freshman… but…!”
Despite this superhuman speed, Ernas Landzstein responded flawlessly.
He defended without even breaking his stance—not by waiting for the attack, but by reading Heinrich’s movement and countering it immediately.
This meant he possessed both the visual acuity to track Heinrich’s speed and the agility to match it.
“No way…”
Valentiano swallowed hard.
Other lead professors watching the match likely noticed as well.
“Ernas Landzstein… is he already at a lower graduate level beyond the novice stage?”
A shiver ran through them.
Heinrich was impressive, but Ernas might be even greater.
“No, it’s too early to draw conclusions.”
Valentiano tried to calm himself.
One instance couldn’t determine everything.
Perhaps Heinrich had pushed his physical abilities and magical power to the limit to produce this extraordinary speed through some special method.
“I need to observe a little longer.”
With that in mind, Valentiano fixed his gaze on Ernas.
And immediately, he was surprised.
The stance Ernas took looked familiar.
“That guy… he’s using Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship…!”
Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship.
A formal Eastern sword technique used by the Knights’ Order to exterminate heretics and monsters, now included in the academy’s curriculum.
Valentiano had practiced it for decades, so he could recognize it instantly.
Ernas was clearly executing Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship.
“This is a graduate-exclusive sword technique that can only be learned after passing the second exam and being promoted!”
Could it be that the instructor for Black Class 6 had privately taught him?
It was normally impossible, but perhaps Ernas had been given special treatment.
If so, it would explain why Ernas could use Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship.
But…
“His stance is perfect! He looks like a swordsman who has practiced this technique for over ten years!”
Eastern sword techniques emphasize perfected forms.
A single stance might take years to fully understand.
Even if someone mimicked the form convincingly, a master like Valentiano could see through it.
Yet Ernas held the stance as if he had practiced for over a decade.
“Every muscle is relaxed appropriately, his magical power distribution is perfect… How could someone who only entered the graduate level a few months ago…”
Valentiano wanted to go down to the arena and question Ernas but couldn’t.
It wasn’t in his character to lose composure during a match, and Ernas was about to launch a counterattack anyway.
Swish!
Ernas swung his wooden sword, infused with pure sword energy.
Heinrich defended immediately, but the moment their swords clashed, Heinrich was pushed back.
Not due to physical strength—Heinrich was stronger—but because Ernas’ sword energy was superior.
“Now I understand.”
The sword energy of Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship is stronger than ordinary sword techniques.
The novels hadn’t explained why in detail, as it wasn’t particularly important then.
So I had merely accepted it when watching Anneliese wield it.
“Now that I’ve truly mastered it, I realize how little I knew.”
I now understood Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship at the same level as Anneliese.
I could feel how much more advanced Anneliese had been as a swordsman than I had realized.
“Every stance in Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship is meticulously calculated.”
It perfectly arranges the skeleton, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, channeling magical energy efficiently.
The calm but powerful sword energy was merely a byproduct.
“Eastern sword styles emphasize precise movements, so they were difficult to use effectively in a novel… hence they were often neglected…”
But the deeper I explored, the more depth I found.
It was astonishing—almost exhilarating.
“Fascinating.”
It was the same thrill as discovering an unexpected plot or setting in a story I wrote.
Even in a world I created, there were aspects I hadn’t known.
Caught in that excitement, I swung my sword.
“…!”
Thud!
Heinrich was pushed back again.
The defense was flawless.
Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship wasn’t flashy or unpredictable, so blocking attacks wasn’t difficult.
Yet the difference in sword energy was cornering Heinrich.
“Ernas… how can you wield such sword energy?”
Heinrich glared at me with blue eyes.
“Imagination will suffice,” I replied coldly.
No need to explain.
“Anyway, Heinrich, if you keep clashing swords like this, you’ll be at a disadvantage.”
I offered advice instead.
“Wouldn’t it be better to dodge and avoid my strikes instead?”
“…!”
At that moment, a killing intent flared in Heinrich’s eyes.
He was furious that I dared give him advice.
“Ernas…!”
“I was only advising you, and you get angry.”
“Shut up!”
Blocking Heinrich’s counterattacks, I smiled to myself.
‘Now he won’t be able to rely on evasive tactics.’
The advice I gave was a trap—to provoke his pride and limit his actions.
If Heinrich relied on evasive tactics, I would have no effective counter.
With my current abilities, I couldn’t match Heinrich’s speed.
‘Even copying Agrippa’s Swift Sword Technique from Heinrich won’t help.’
Heinrich’s speed isn’t just about the technique—it’s supported by his innate talent, so I can’t replicate it.
‘But I can restrict his tactics.’
Heinrich’s pride is strong.
Being forced to follow “my advice” would be more humiliating than death.
Even knowing it’s an effective tactic, he couldn’t use it.
‘Fight me head-on, Heinrich.’
Swish!
I blocked Heinrich’s lightning-fast attacks perfectly.
Eastern sword techniques are strong defensively; Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship is no exception.
Maintaining the correct stance and focus allows me to withstand Heinrich’s swift swordsmanship.
And…
“…!”
Thud!
A perfectly timed counterattack struck Heinrich.
He blocked it with his sword, but was forced backward.
“Ugh…!”
Of course, direct defense isn’t the only way.
Adjusting the angle to redirect attacks is possible, but extremely difficult even for Heinrich.
‘I’ve already surpassed the novice graduate level… and my sword control is more refined than Heinrich’s.’
Being able to control sword energy situationally is a graduate-level skill.
It allows redirecting attacks or preventing the opponent from doing so.
“Ernas… have you reached lower graduate level?”
Heinrich asked, glaring during the intense exchange.
“Is a response necessary?”
“Ugh…”
Heinrich was just entering the graduate level.
He had far above-average skill, and in terms of speed, was already above lower graduate level.
His growth matched his “prodigy” nickname, and he took pride in it.
But seeing someone at graduate-level in front of him wounded his pride.
“Don’t show off, Ernas Landzstein…!”
Heinrich switched stance.
He was abandoning Agrippa’s Swift Sword Technique for another style.
I already knew what it would be from the novels.
“You should stop, Heinrich.”
So I offered advice.
“Your family’s unique sword style, Agrippa Absolute Sword Technique, is for advanced graduates. Even with your talent, it’s too much for you.”
“Shut up, Ernas Landzstein…!”
He called my full name and pushed his magic to the limit.
I could see he intended to wield the unmastered Agrippa Absolute Sword Technique.
“You really don’t listen to advice.”
I could predict the technique he would use.
The ultra-fast 4-strike combo of Agrippa Absolute Sword Technique, “The Crux.”
Though not formally taught, he could reproduce it just by observing.
He was that talented.
‘And The Crux is enough to counter Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship.’
Until now, I had blocked his Agrippa Swift Sword Technique using Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship.
But The Crux was beyond that.
Knowing this… I prepared my stance.
A defensive posture of Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship.
“You can’t stop this, Ernas…!”
Heinrich roared and unleashed his full 4-strike combo.
‘Yes, this sword style can’t stop it.’
But I was ready.
The sword energy on my wooden sword glowed blue.
It was the energy of the Kalesius Lightning Sword Technique, learned from Dorong Sword “Yols.”
Combined with Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship, a new sword style was born.
‘So I’ll stop it with my own style.’
A unique technique of Ernas Landzstein, unseen by anyone.
Silently unfolding, it clashed with Heinrich’s ultra-fast 4-strike combo.
