TGSA 60

Chapter 60

“Hunting a Big Shot (2)”:

“Will Lady Theodora face me?”

My provocation was enough to stir Theodora.

In front of her startled subordinates, Theodora stepped forward.

“Are you serious, Ernas?”

“I don’t make such statements in jest, Lady Theodora.”

“Good grief…”

When I spoke while looking her straight in the eye, Theodora let out an incredulous laugh.

“Ernas, control yourself.”

At that moment, Yols spoke up.

“Lady Theodora is on a level far above you. She could subdue someone like you in a single strike.”

“I’m aware, Professor.”

“You are aware?”

Of course, I knew.

Theodora was the second-in-command of the Baltfelt family and was at a far higher level than me.

As Yols said, she possessed the skill to subdue me in a single strike.

“I don’t want to miss the opportunity to have my abilities tested by someone like her.”

“…”

Yols’s eyes widened.

Not only that, but even Theodora seemed slightly surprised.

“Ernas, you seem to be quite an interesting fellow.”

“…”

“Very well. If you wish, I’ll face you.”

Theodora drew her massive sword.

“Lady Theodora, if you do that—”

“Do not interfere, Mohad.”

Mohad, Theodora’s aide, tried to stop his lord, but it was useless.

She was already ready to swing her sword at me.

“Try to block it, Ernas.”

A golden aura of sword energy spread along her blade.

It was one of the Baltfelt family’s unique sword techniques… the Baltfelt Ha Sword Technique (Ha Kenjutsu).

‘The Baltfelt family has several graduate-exclusive sword techniques.’

The strongest is Baltfelt Kongo Kenjutsu, a technique of ultimate destructive power, mastered only by the head of the family and their heir.

Next in strength is the Baltfelt Ha Sword Technique. Not quite as strong as Kongo Kenjutsu, but still extremely formidable.

“I humbly request your guidance, Lady Theodora.”

I nodded and took my stance.

Then… Theodora finally moved.

“…!”

Boom!

It felt as if a colossal beast was charging at me.

Yet her attack seemed deceptively simple.

I could predict the trajectory of her strikes.

But that didn’t mean I could actually defend against them.

“Ugh…!”

Bang!

I was thrown backward with a deafening crash.

I had tried to block the strike with my own sword energy, but the moment it clashed with Theodora’s, my energy shattered completely.

‘So this is… Baltfelt Ha Sword Technique!’

This was why the Ha Sword Technique was so powerful.

It specialized in destroying the opponent’s sword energy.

Against an opponent weaker than the user, it could shatter their energy in a single blow, and even against someone of equal strength, it could damage their sword energy and gain the upper hand.

This was why Yols said someone like her could subdue me in one strike.

“Ernas…!”

“It’s fine, Professor…”

I quickly gathered my mana.

If I failed to recover the shattered sword energy properly, I would lose an equivalent amount of mana.

“Ernas Lanzstein.”

Theodora approached.

She reached out her hand to me, who was still on the ground.

“Facing me straight until the last moment was commendable.”

“Lady Theodora…”

She helped me to my feet, still holding my hand.

“Honestly, I was surprised. If I had attacked slightly stronger, your head would’ve gone off immediately. Yet, you didn’t waver at all.”

“I thought I shouldn’t look away.”

I said calmly.

“You represent the prestigious Baltfelt family. I had to observe you fully to learn from you.”

“You think I was trying to teach you? You’re giving me far too much credit.”

Theodora spoke incredulously.

“Ernas, I am Gort’s aunt. I cannot be friendly toward you.”

“Yes, I understand that.”

“I could have pretended to make a mistake and aimed at your neck. Did you not consider that possibility?”

“I thought someone like you would never do such a thing.”

“What a ridiculous boy…”

Theodora shook her head and sighed.

“Still… I appreciate your high opinion of me.”

“No, Lady Theodora,” I shook my head and smiled.

“I am the one who should be grateful.”

[Attempting ‘Ability Reproduction’ on character ‘Theodora Baltfelt’.]

Theodora led Ernas and his group into the Grand Labyrinth.

Heinrich didn’t bother testing him—he saw no need.

He already knew Ernas’s talents well before he entered the academy.

“Ernas Lanzstein… He has a better personality than I expected.”

Theodora muttered to herself in the barracks.

“To behave that way before me, a Baltfelt swordsman… He might genuinely have a pure heart.”

Ernas seemed to have never thought Theodora would harm him.

Though he had provoked her at first, he had shown proper respect after the duel.

“His skill is excellent, and his courage is commendable. I wish someone like him were part of the Baltfelt family.”

Theodora thought of her nephew, Gort.

Gort, heir of the Baltfelt family, possessed considerable talent but could not match Ernas.

Moreover, in personality, she found Ernas more appealing than Gort.

“If only Ernas, not Gort, were my nephew… I can’t help but wonder.”

“L-Lady Theodora…”

As she spoke favorably of Ernas, her aide Mohad cautiously asked:

“Could it be you intend to spare Ernas?”

“Mohad, do you think I’m foolish?”

Theodora’s voice turned cold.

“I do feel some personal fondness for Ernas, but that doesn’t mean I will spare him. This is for the Baltfelt family.”

“Ah…”

“Ernas is a potential obstacle to the Baltfelt family’s future. He must be eliminated.”

She added with a bitter expression:

“Facing him today only reinforced that belief.”

“Lady Theodora…”

“Ernas is exceptional. Gort cannot catch up to him easily.”

Gort must become the top student at the academy.

If Gort lacks ability, any competitor must be eliminated to ensure his victory.

That was Theodora’s duty.

“When I spoke to him earlier, he seemed oblivious to danger. He didn’t even suspect we sent an assassin last time.”

“That’s how it seemed.”

“If he’s so careless, it makes our task easier.”

Then, Theodora pulled out a map showing the labyrinth’s complex surface layout.

“Yols will wait here and guide students along different routes.”

“Both routes are manageable for lower-level graduates.”

“Yes. But if we set traps in advance, we can lead them onto the wrong paths.”

They already knew which route Ernas would take. Setting a trap was easy.

“Shall we leave Heinrich be?”

“It would look unnatural if two heirs of the six great sword families died at once. Today, only Ernas’s life must be taken.”

“Understood, Lady Theodora.”

She rose from her seat.

“Ensure the others stay put. And… make sure Yols doesn’t interfere.”

“Yes, as you command.”

“Then… let’s proceed.”

Leaving Mohad to handle matters, Theodora moved to enter the labyrinth through another entrance… to end Ernas Lanzstein’s life.

‘By now, Theodora must be planning a trap for me.’

As I walked through the labyrinth, I pondered.

‘I acted naïve on purpose; she might completely believe it.’

Earlier, I had pretended to trust Theodora to lower her guard.

Facing a higher-level opponent, any lapse in attention works to my advantage.

‘At least… I successfully created a situation similar to the novel.’

I provoked Theodora today to set up a scene where, after losing, I could hold her hand and converse—just like in the story.

‘I couldn’t be the first to make contact with her.’

It would have been unnatural if I initiated a handshake. When we first met, Theodora only shook hands with Yols.

So this was the only way to make contact naturally.

‘With this… I’ve acquired the sword technique I needed.’

I touched the Yusrecht on my fingers.

[Abilities currently acquired through ‘Ability Reproduction’]

== Temporary Acquisition ==

• Partisan Judgment Swordsmanship (S-Rank)

• Baltfelt Ha Sword Technique (S-Rank)

• Balahael Medium Swordsmanship (A-Rank)

• Lichtenaur Reformation Technique (A-Rank)

• Atilion Mana Detection Technique (A-Rank)

== Permanently Bound ==

• Kalesius Spear and Thunder Swordsmanship (B-Rank)

• Eastern Mana Flow Practice (A-Rank)

The Baltfelt Ha Sword Technique—the very technique Theodora used to subdue me—had been absorbed.

‘Of course, I can’t unleash Theodora-level power yet.’

I have far less mana than her.

Even using Ha Sword Technique, I couldn’t match her strike’s true power.

‘But… I won’t rely on Ha Sword Technique alone.’

Mimicking an opponent’s sword style alone is never enough.

To defeat a higher-level opponent, I need more.

‘Ha Sword Technique is just one element to defeat Theodora.’

In the darkness of the underground dungeon, I used Atilion Mana Detection.

I detected small monsters surrounding me.

‘Two-legged monsters with dog-like faces… Kobolds.’

Weaker than orcs but move in greater numbers and excel in dark cave combat.

Over a hundred kobolds hid in the shadows, surrounding me.

‘Before facing Theodora, let’s warm up.’

I activated my sword energy.

The kobolds watched in surprise from the darkness.

“Kahr?!”

I moved first to the right, swinging at three or four hidden kobolds, cutting them down simultaneously.

“Karr!”

“Kark!”

The ambushed kobolds charged all at once.

I didn’t flinch and continued swinging.

‘Their numbers are overwhelming. Any lapse, and their weapons could strike my blind spots.’

I fought my way forward, checking Baltfelt family markers as I went.

“Kark…!”

“Karr…!”

After slaughtering over a hundred kobolds and entering the next area, I felt something wrong beneath the floor.

‘Yes, this is it.’

Rumble!

A pile of stones fell from the ceiling, shaking the entire cave.

Looking back, my retreat was blocked.

Then… the floor collapsed.

‘This is the scenario Theodora prepared.’

I had left the practice route and entered a dangerous area, falling into the depths… and would have died if not for my foresight.

This was Theodora’s trap.

Since the Baltfelt family manages the western Grand Labyrinth, they could set such traps.

‘But Theodora has no idea.’

Even facing a trap that plunged into the depths, I remained calm.

I knew a new opportunity awaited below.

‘Theodora couldn’t possibly know that in the novel, the protagonist Akandel gains a miraculous power deep underground.’

I had to hurry.

Theodora was approaching to end my life.

I had to reach my target before she found me.

‘Acquire the new power… and defeat Theodora Baltfelt.’

The formidable figure who had subdued me in a single strike.

To triumph over Theodora Baltfelt, I plunged into the endlessly deep underground abyss.