TGSA 64

Chapter 64

Now It’s Time for a Preemptive Strike (1)

The death of Theodora Baltfeld shocked many people.

The Lancaster family, a prestigious swordsmanship household in the western region, was no exception.

“Father, I believe this is the work of Ernas Lanzstein.”

“Do you truly think so?”

Henry Lancaster, head of the Lancaster family, frowned.

His son, Lester Lancaster, who had been expelled from the academy after failing the first exam, was being far too extreme.

“Lester, they say Ernas is still only a low-level Graduate. How could he possibly kill Theodora, who was a high-level Graduate?”

“Are you sure Ernas is really a low-level Graduate?”

“……”

“That man hides his true abilities. Then, at the right moment, he delivers a decisive strike against a careless opponent.”

Lester had fallen victim to Ernas’s very tactics.

Wounded in his duel with Ernas, he failed the first exam and ultimately suffered the humiliation of being expelled from the academy.

“Father, you yourself were outmaneuvered by him, weren’t you?”

“Khmm…”

Henry had once sent assassins to eliminate Ernas.

But contrary to his expectations, Ernas survived unscathed.

Since then, Henry was suspected of being behind the attempt, and politically he was backed into a corner.

“Theodora must have set a trap to kill Ernas. But Ernas anticipated it, turned the tables, and killed her instead.”

Lester clenched his fist.

“That’s his way. I was caught by it too.”

“……”

“He sees through his opponent’s schemes, then twists them into his own plan—crushing anyone who stands in his way.”

Hearing this, Henry let out a heavy sigh.

“If what you say is true, then Ernas sees through everything. But how is that possible?”

“Well…”

“As you know, the Lanzstein family isn’t supporting him right now. Are you saying Ernas is gathering and analyzing all this information on his own, while still attending the academy?”

Henry was right. The Lanzstein family was currently silent due to circumstances.

If they were actively working from the outside to support Ernas, the Lancaster family would have noticed.

“Father, but… he really is a master of deception. Even just looking at his history before entering the academy, it’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“Hm…”

“And that man also has tremendous ability. If we leave him be, he’ll rise to the very top of the academy—and even claim the position of Grand Duke Lichtenauer.”

Lester knew now.

The successors of the six great swordsmanship families were competing for the seat of Grand Duke Lichtenauer at the academy.

If one became Grand Duke, they would assist the next Emperor—effectively gaining control of the empire.

Of course, for Lester, who had already been expelled, taking that seat was nearly impossible.

But the future was uncertain. Even if another family gained the position, the Lancasters could still benefit if they became allies.

“Father, I believe we must prevent Ernas from becoming Grand Duke of Lichtenauer at all costs.”

“……”

“It’s not just personal resentment. If he gains power, he will surely crush the Lancaster family.”

After listening to Lester’s passionate words, Henry sighed again.

“Lester, even so, there aren’t many moves left open to us.”

Henry’s expression was heavy.

“Our freedom of movement is severely limited now. And if you’re right—that he sees through everything—then we could be counterattacked once again.”

“Yes. That’s why we must not act directly.”

“What?”

“We must stay hidden… and use others.”

“……”

At those words, Henry’s eyes gleamed.

“Tell me more, Lester.”

Before his listening father, Lester confidently explained his scheme.

The truth of Theodora Baltfeld’s case was to be investigated at the academy.

Of course, they weren’t investigating why Theodora had died.

They were investigating whether she had tried to harm me.

No matter the conclusion, the Baltfeld family’s freedom of action would be restricted for some time.

Gort may soon pass the second exam and advance, but he won’t be able to do anything.

For now, the only one from the Baltfeld family worth watching was its head, Michael Baltfeld.

But Michael wouldn’t make his move for quite some time. For now, I didn’t need to worry about them.

That means my priority now is strengthening myself.

By absorbing the energy of the Black Shadow Herb discovered in the depths of the Great Labyrinth, I had greatly increased my mana.

As a result, I now possessed mana on the level of a mid-rank Graduate.

But since I still couldn’t use a protective aura, I wasn’t truly at that level yet.

My mana has grown too quickly. It’ll take time to properly harness it.

Thinking that, I opened the door before me.

Inside the indoor training hall of the Yols class, Heinrich was drenched in sweat.

“Don’t forget that sensation you just realized, Heinrich.”

Standing before him was Professor Yols.

In contrast, Yols hadn’t broken a sweat.

Even the so-called “prodigy” Heinrich couldn’t measure up to someone like Yols, who had reached the pinnacle.

“…Thank you for your instruction.”

Heinrich’s expression was full of humiliation.

Through his match with Yols, he must have painfully realized just how inexperienced he still was.

Bowing his head, Heinrich left the training hall immediately—passing me at the entrance without saying a word, his steps heavy and rough.

“You’re here early, Ernas.”

“I was eager to receive your teaching, Professor.”

Answering calmly as I stepped inside, Yols gave a wry smile.

“Perhaps I should have dismissed Heinrich sooner. He probably didn’t want to see you.”

“Is that so?”

“He wouldn’t want to show his current self to someone he considers a rival.”

“……”

“Still, it seems you’re motivating him quite a lot.”

Staring at the spot Heinrich had just vacated, Yols continued:

“He’ll keep growing. If you let your guard down, he might surpass you. So continue your efforts.”

“Then, Professor, you’ll need to guide me as well—for fairness’ sake.”

“Haha, that is only natural for a teacher.”

Yols laughed and nodded.

“Truth be told, I feel guilty. I worked hard to design the curriculum, but it hasn’t been proceeding as planned.”

“That couldn’t be helped. There was an incident.”

Because I had fallen into the depths and Theodora had died, the West Great Labyrinth expedition had been suspended.

It was a field exercise Yols had prepared ambitiously, but the academy had ordered it stopped.

“I believe your emphasis on practical training is correct, Professor.”

“Thank you. But it seems we won’t be able to for some time.”

Yols gave another wry smile.

“Sorry. With this being a new class, things are too haphazard.”

“Not at all.”

In fact, the haphazard nature had allowed me to act more freely.

If this had been a well-structured class like Valentiano’s, I wouldn’t have had the same leeway.

“Since we can’t do field training, I’ll personally instruct you until your training is complete.”

That was why Heinrich had just been receiving direct instruction.

From now on, I too would be taught one-on-one by Yols.

“So, Ernas… is there a particular area you’d like to learn?”

“I…”

To be honest, the thing I most wanted to learn was Yols’s specialty—the Gratusia Dragon-Slaying Swordsmanship.

But that style required high-level Graduate mana. At my current level, learning it would be meaningless.

What I really needed was to learn how to project a protective aura. But if I suddenly asked for that, it would raise suspicion.

“If you don’t have a specific request, I’d like to teach you a swordsmanship I created.”

“A swordsmanship you created, Professor…”

“Or more accurately… I’d like to show it to you.”

With those words, Yols drew his sword.

In an instant, a blue aura flared along the blade.

“I call it Calesius Thunderclap Swordsmanship.”

—Kwa-rung!

With a thunderous sound, his sword cut through the air.

As expected of the original creator, the force behind it was far greater than when I used it.

“Ernas.”

Sheathing his sword, Yols looked straight at me.

“Can you do it?”

“Yes.”

I too summoned a blue aura.

Swinging my sword through the air, it made the same thunderous sound.

Yols watched me closely, his eyes sharp.

“It’s almost identical to mine.”

“It seems so.”

Of course it was.

I could use the blue aura only because I had copied Yols’s Calesius Thunderclap Swordsmanship with Ustrecht’s “Ability Reproduction.”

“I’ve never shown this swordsmanship to anyone. It’s still unfinished.”

“I’ve never seen it before either.”

“Then… perhaps it means we both arrived at a similar idea by chance.”

Looking at me, Yols continued:

“Ernas, I developed the Calesius Thunderclap Swordsmanship for the sake of students. To help them fight opponents of a higher level by temporarily boosting their power.”

“I had a similar thought. To defeat someone above my level, I believed the only way was to amplify the sword aura’s power, even temporarily.”

Voicing the explanation I had prepared, I raised my blade.

“By channeling mana into the sword and experimenting, I once saw the aura flash blue. That became my clue.”

“Remarkable.”

“And then…”

I circulated mana at ultra-high speed within the blade.

As the flows collided, sparks flew.

“I thought this might create an even stronger aura. But I haven’t perfected it yet.”

“……!”

Crackle—crackle!

Watching the sparking blue aura, Yols’s eyes widened.

“A… astonishing. In this method, you may already have surpassed me.”

“No, Professor.”

I feigned humility, but the truth was, at this stage, I was ahead.

Yols’s mastery of the Calesius Thunderclap Swordsmanship was still at Rank C, but I had already raised it to Rank B through deeper understanding.

This was possible because I had drawn upon the insights described in the novel.

“To be honest, I feel I’ve reached a limit. Having only recently reached the Graduate level myself… I don’t know how to advance it further.”

“Ernas, then…”

“Professor Yols, if it’s alright, I would like your advice.”

I knew the Calesius Thunderclap Swordsmanship would evolve into a peerless technique of devastating power.

But I couldn’t develop it alone.

That’s why I needed Yols’s help.

My short-term goal is… to raise the Calesius Thunderclap Swordsmanship to Rank A.

From Rank B to Rank A.

If I succeeded, I would be able to face even the strongest foes without fear.

“Very well, Ernas.”

Yols nodded, meeting my eyes.

“I finally know what I must teach you.”

“Professor…”

“Ernas, let’s complete this swordsmanship together.”

His gaze was firm.

It was the look of a swordsman who had found the path he must walk.

“With you, I believe we can perfect this peerless technique.”