Yi-Han clicked his tongue coldly and turned abruptly, shocking the squires greatly.
It was true! Wardanaz had been deceiving them all along!
"Wardanaz... I trusted you! I respected your honor!"
"How dare those who have never spent a day in Einroguard talk about respect with such arrogance?"
Yi-Han's indifferent response was met with cheers from the students of the White Tiger.
"That's right! Wardanaz!"
"Well said! Talking about respect, indeed!"
A peculiar situation unfolded as the students of White Tiger rallied behind Yi-Han.
However, the squires, unaware of the duo's relationship, misunderstood yet again.
"Cowards...! They must have used Wardanaz, who is not of a knightly family, to catch us off guard!"
"???"
"No, no, we didn't ask for this!"
The White Tiger students were taken aback as the accusations suddenly turned on them.
They were not particularly close to Wardanaz, nor was he the type to do as told.
It was all his own trickery!
"Wardanaz! Explain! We never asked you to do such a thing!"
Yi-Han nodded at the words of the White Tiger students.
"Yes. These friends would never ask for such a thing. Would friends from honorable knight families do such a thing? Do not make such baseless speculations."
Of course, the squires did not believe him.
"We'll see about that!"
"Despicable!"
"..."
"I tried."
Yi-Han shrugged.
At this, the White Tiger students glared at him.
Labda of the Engge family, among the squires, was regarded as the most skilled.
He remained till the end, even as other students and squires fell away, to face Yi-Han.
Their duel was no longer just a simple spar.
It had become a matter of pride: would the knights who entered the magic academy win, or the squires dedicated to the path of the sword?
‘Hmm. On second thought, I shouldn't have gotten so heated.’
Yi-Han thought to himself.
In truth, all he needed was to score well on the exams, but he had unnecessarily provoked his opponent.
Especially since the opponent had boasted about how easy life at the magic academy was...
Labda gripped his sword with a tense expression.
Unlike Yi-Han, Labda was extremely nervous.
Yi-Han, having already secured full marks in the midterms, had nothing to lose even if he lost.
What dishonor could there be for a Wardanaz if he lost a swordfight? Only a madman would mock that.
But for Labda, the stakes were different.
Losing meant too much: not only his defeat but the defeat of all the squires present, and being known as the knight defeated in swordsmanship by a mage...
"Labda. Calm down. Your opponent is from a family of mages."
"You've heard how he wins. Just be wary of his tricks. You know, right?"
"Of course."
Labda stood up, determined.
He would win, no matter what it took!
"Wardanaz. I wouldn't normally root for you, but this time I will."
"Win this!"
"Thanks. Your insincere cheers are quite motivating."
Compared to the closely-knit squires, the relationship between Yi-Han and the White Tiger students was quite dry.
In fact, some of them were still wondering, ‘Should we really be hoping for Wardanaz to win?’
Yi-Han glanced back and inquired, "By the way, what swordsmanship does that guy use?"
Though Yi-Han was not born into a knight's family and his opponent likely knew little about him, Yi-Han didn't care about that; he intended to fight with knowledge about his adversary.
"The Sword of Many Changes: Absorption," replied Jijel.
The sword techniques of the empire each had their unique traits, but those of the Engge family were especially peculiar among them. Their technique was both mysterious and strange. When swords clashed, it felt as if one was being pulled into a swamp by an absorbing force. A knight without ample real combat experience would be flustered when facing such a technique for the first time.
"I see. Dolgyu, what swordsmanship does that fellow use?"
"That son of a...," Jijel bristled with anger.
Why would he ask again after she had just explained? Did he dare doubt what she had shared?
"Don't misunderstand, Moradi. It's not that I don't trust you. I just thought Dolgyu, having fought him directly, might have a different perspective."
"Ah, yes, Moradi. Wardanaz meant no harm," the students from the White Tiger quickly interjected, trying to defuse the growing tension.
Dolgyu, with a quiet tone, asked, "Really?"
"No."
“...”
A friend who was trying to calm the situation turned and asked, "What did you just say?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all! Now, Yi-Han, I'll tell you everything I know about the opponent!"
Dolgyu hastily changed the subject, fearing that they might end up fighting the friends from the White Tiger before even confronting Labda.
"Begin!"
With the signal, Yi-Han stepped forward. The advice Dolgyu gave was similar to Moradi's.
-When swords clash, instead of the usual repelling force, there's an absorbing force that pulls towards the opponent. Yi-Han, your balance will be slightly disrupted, and by the time you notice, it might be too late. You must be cautious from the start.-
‘So, one can imbue a sword with mana and use it like that,’ Yi-Han thought. Being among the most skilled squires and having defeated Dolgyu, it was natural for him to know how to imbue his sword with mana. Likely, the mana in the sword created the effect of pulling the opponent's sword upon contact.
Though it sounded simple, Yi-Han, who had trained in swordsmanship for a long time, could guess how complex and advanced this technique was. Creating an effect that pulls the opponent's sword with mana and continuously casting it while disrupting their balance? It required keen insight to maintain one's swordsmanship while understanding the opponent's balance.
Yi-Han slightly elevated his assessment of his opponent. Such a feat was impossible for mere lazybones.
Of course, this did not forgive their audacious claim that the magic academy was not particularly challenging...
Bang!
‘What kind of strength is this?!’
Though Labda didn't show it, he was astonished by the pain throbbing in his hand.
-This guy is nothing but tricks!-
-Don't worry, Labda! You can win!-
The encouragement from Labda's squire friends eased his mind, though it didn't practically help. After clashing once and adjusting their stances, Labda could clearly feel the skill of his opponent.
Certainly no weaker than Dolgyu of the Choi family, perhaps even stronger!
‘He’s from the Wardanaz family, a family of mages!’
Labda, feeling wronged, yearned to question. Why was someone from the Wardanaz family, known for their peculiar mages, so earnest about swordsmanship?
Was it because they were a family of eccentric mages? Did swordsmanship somehow aid in magic? There were mysteries in ancient swordsmanship yet to be deciphered by swordsmen, weren't there?
Bang!
There was no sign of the relaxed or deceptive demeanor Yi-Han had previously shown. A brutal pressure, like a massive boulder, could be felt.
"..."
"...Could it be that being from the Wardanaz family is also a deception?" murmured one of the squires, clearly astonished.
No matter how much they pondered, the swordsmanship displayed was not something expected of a noble family. Surely, he had not only wielded a sword apart from eating and sleeping...
'I've got the upper hand!'
Yi-Han's eyes sparkled. Fortunately, his opponent's slow grasp of Yi-Han gave him an advantage. Knowing his opponent well, but his opponent not knowing him, had decided the victory.
'I'll pressure him strongly before he can use a different technique and finish this.'
Against an opponent with a versatile sword technique, losing the initiative was dangerous. Yi-Han intended to maintain his advantage.
Of course, Labda had no intention of losing just yet.
'By any means!'
The mana in his body circulated and settled into his sword, making it heavier. Labda managed to parry the attack, exerting his family's sword technique with all his might.
'I'll pull him in!'
He felt the sensation in his hand. Labda realized that his sword technique had been properly executed.
But then...?
"???"
Labda looked at Yi-Han with surprise. Yi-Han also flinched under that gaze.
'What's going on?'
It was unsettling to see the previously expressionless opponent looking like that. Was this a psychological tactic?
'But when is he going to use the absorption?'
Unshaken, Yi-Han launched another attack. Being swayed by something the opponent hadn't used would be foolish.
If there's a path to victory, follow it without wavering!
Bang, bang, bang-
Labda's complexion turned leaden. Despite expending so much mana, there was no change, which was to be expected.
Yi-Han clearly had the upper hand, but his expression wasn't too favorable either.
'...This is bad.'
Cracks had started to appear from the handle of his wooden sword. Yi-Han reproached himself.
'I still can't control my mana properly...!'
His wooden sword was in this state due to his reckless infusion of mana into every strike.
He had brought this upon himself.
Unaware of Yi-Han's internal struggle, Labda gritted his teeth and prepared his final counterattack.
It was a technique that was still a bit too advanced for Labda to use completely, but to turn the tide of the current situation...
"Kraaak!"
With a fierce cry, Labda swung his sword. Noticing a different aura, Yi-Han threw a wary gaze.
'Something's different!'
The swords collided, and a strong absorbing force shook the mana in Yi-Han's sword.
And then, nothing happened.
"?"
"Cough!"
Blood flowed from Labda's nose as he held his clashing sword. It was due to excessive use of mana.
'I can't... let go of the sword...'
He should have let go of the sword by now.
However, the sword technique executed with insufficient skill had numbed Labda's hand, preventing him from releasing the sword.
Worse, the executed technique kept draining Labda's mana into the sword.
'At this rate...'
Labda's eyes darkened.
Crack!
In that moment, both Yi-Han's and Labda's wooden swords shattered. Labda, gasping heavily, fell backward.
"Huff... Huff..."
"..."
Yi-Han clicked his tongue with a look of disappointment.
'I almost had it.'
It was frustrating to end in a draw with an opponent he had almost defeated, all due to his inability to control his mana.
'It's alright. I should be thankful even for a draw.'
Yi-Han changed his thoughts to this.
If he hadn't cleverly managed to break the opponent's sword at the last moment, his own sword might have broken first.
"Wow... Wardanaz."
"?"
"Thank you."
"???"
"For... for breaking your own sword for me."
"?????"
Yi-Han couldn't understand.
What was the opponent talking about?
'He didn't even use his family's sword technique earlier; is he not in a good state?'
Yi-Han wondered if the opponent, Labda, had exerted himself too much in the fight with Dolgyu and sustained an injury.
The statement seemed completely out of the blue.
"Labda! Are you okay?!"
"Don't worry! You fought really well! It's just bad luck that it ended in a draw..."
"It's okay. And this duel... I lost it."
"?!?"
Labda explained to the shocked squires what had happened.
As the explanation ended, the squires looked at Yi-Han with surprised eyes.
Clap, clap clap, clap clap clap-
Without anyone starting it, they began to applaud one by one.
The students from the White Tiger, after hesitating, joined in the applause.
Professor Ingurdel and Bikelintz also clapped.
Yi-Han thought to himself.
'Once I graduate, I really should avoid associating with these real knight folks.'
