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The students lined up in two rows at Professor Stella's direction.
About 50 students applied to the Department of Swordsmanship.
"Swordsmen are ranked according to their internal and external strength, swordsmanship proficiency, and aura manifestation ability. They start as Apprentice Swordsmen, then 1-Star, 2-Star, 3-Star... and currently, there's only one 9-Star Swordsman in our kingdom."
Professor Stella looked over the swordsmanship students.
"If there are any students who passed the 3-Star Swordsman test before enrollment, or who believe they have equivalent skills, step forward."
No one stepped forward.
"None this year? Well, it doesn't matter. Depending on how hard you learn and practice here, your skills will be constantly reversed and vary widely. Now, students who passed the 2-Star Swordsman test, step forward. Likewise, students with equivalent skills, step forward."
This time, four students stepped forward.
At the far left was Bonita Fortis with red hair.
She was the ace of the Department of Swordsmanship who slashed the demon that appeared behind Davian in the third timeline with a single stroke.
At the far right was Rex Flumen, with his short blond hair stylishly set.
He was the guy who got an ice club massage from Davian for trying to bully Nubes.
And two muscular students who looked like they had broad shoulders.
Erban Nadium and Billy stood between them.
Bellum, who was standing between Davian and Nubes, said in a small voice.
"Oh, the two in the middle are kind of muscular, right? But they're just kids compared to our Nubes. Right?"
Nubes replied in a somewhat subdued voice.
"But they're already 2-Star Swordsmen. I'm only 1-Star."
"What does that matter? Didn't you hear what the professor said? Skills will be constantly reversed now."
Professor Stella, looking at the four students who had come forward, said.
"Good. Four people. It's a perfect match. You, you. Come up to the training ground. The other two are next, so go back to your seats and wait."
The first two students called out stepped onto the training ground.
Bonita Fortis, standing on one side of the training ground, slowly untied the black ribbon she was wearing on her wrist.
Then she roughly tied her long red hair back with the ribbon.
On the opposite side stood the muscular Erban Nadium.
"The sparring method is simple. Aura is prohibited. Well, not that anyone knows how to use it properly anyway. Victory goes to the person who inflicts a fatal blow on the opponent in a state of combat disability, assuming the wooden sword is a real sword."
Stella pointed to the tent behind the training ground.
"The school nurse, who has mastered healing magic up to 5-Star, is waiting for you in that tent. Do you understand what I mean?"
One-on-one sparring on the first day.
And even a field infirmary staffed by a 5-Star healer.
The eyes of some students began to waver with anxiety.
"Looks like you don't understand what I mean. Whether you win or lose, don't hold back until a decisive, fatal blow is struck. Now, begin sparring!"
Bonita Fortis took her stance first.
She carefully gripped the handle with both hands, positioning the sword in the center of her body.
The sparring wooden sword was modeled after a bastard sword, which is mainly used with one hand but can also be used with two hands if necessary.
The middle of the handle grip was slightly protruding, which was designed to prevent slipping even when holding the front grip with one hand.
The length of the handle or blade was a bit shorter compared to a two-handed longsword.
Erban Nadium smiled and lifted his sword with one hand.
"You know that overcoming natural strength and physical differences is something that only happens when you're at least 3-Star, right?"
It was an openly dismissive remark towards Bonita Fortis, who was a woman.
Historically, there are many female swordsmen among the excellent swordsmen.
The same goes for Professor Stella, who is watching their match.
It's possible to overcome innate physical conditions through internal and external power training, as long as mana training and swordsmanship skills reach a certain level.
But that's only when mana training and swordsmanship skills reach a certain level.
Erban Nadium boasted a sturdy physique and solid muscles just by looking at him.
On the other hand, Bonita Fortis had a slender height and long limbs, but her torso and limbs were too thin.
It was questionable whether she could even hold a real steel sword, let alone a wooden one.
A sneer appeared on her face.
"You. How many times have you swung a sword?"
"Why? Are you hoping to find a flaw in my swordsmanship? Unfortunately, I've trained as much as everyone else."
"Then you've lost. You idiot."
Erban's eyebrows twitched.
"What?"
"Swordsmanship, you see, is about the person who has swung the sword even just once more. You said you've trained as much as everyone else? That's a joke. Then you've already lost."
"Bullshit!"
Erban raised his sword high and began to run forward.
The distance between them narrowed in an instant.
Nubes said in a worried voice.
"That girl is going to get hurt."
What are you talking about?
Davian looked at Nubes and asked back.
"You think so?"
"Yeah. That Erban guy is no joke. And that redhead provoked him by calling him an idiot for no reason, so he's really angry."
It was natural that Nubes didn't know Bonita's skills well yet.
She didn't stand out that much even during the mana affinity measurement.
Davian was also seeing Bonita's sparring for the first time.
But he knew very well that there was no one among the freshmen who could match her in swordsmanship.
"Watch closely, Nubes. Bonita's swordsmanship."
"Bonita? Not Erban? Well, they're both 2-Star Swordsmen."
Meanwhile, 2-Star Swordsman Erban swung his sword diagonally downwards at a great angle, exactly at the distance where the tip of the wooden sword would reach Bonita.
He was still holding the sword with one hand.
Nubes' eyes widened.
Explosive speed and clean movements.
The diagonal downward slash, the most basic and most powerful attack in swordsmanship.
Thanks to swinging it with one hand instead of two, the sword moved even lighter and faster.
This time, Bellum was also impressed by Erban's movements.
"Is it already over?"
That's when it happened.
Bonita Fortis' right foot began to move smoothly.
Her gaze was still fixed on Erban's eyes.
She wasn't even looking at the tip of the wooden sword that was coming to cut her.
Her right foot drew a small arc and moved behind her left foot.
At the same time, Bonita's body tilted to the left.
It was fast and smooth, and her core strength was so good that her waist bent backwards at a right angle in an instant.
Erban's sword, swung greatly from the upper right to the lower left, cut through the air in vain by a hair's breadth.
Because he swung the sword so wide, the back of Erban's right shoulder was completely exposed to Bonita.
Bonita straightened her waist again and drew her sword simply from left to right.
Erban's back was completely open.
But Erban didn't become a 2-Star Swordsman by bluffing either.
He quickly and lowly rolled his body to avoid Bonita's sword.
But the problem was what came next.
Judging from Bonita's movements just now, the probability of Erban being able to get up safely after finishing his somersault was very low.
If he tried to get up, Bonita's sword would definitely aim for his back again.
He couldn't lose so futilely.
After thinking briefly, Erban didn't stop his somersault and continued to roll.
Bonita, who probably expected him to get up, would have cut through the air in vain with her wooden sword.
As Erban continued to roll forward, he soon realized that something was wrong.
Flap flap.
Keeping a low stance in case of emergency, he stood up with one arm on the ground.
Erban, squatting awkwardly in a frog-like pose, looked around.
Bonita Fortis came into his view.
Bonita, standing in the same spot where she had been standing at first, looked down at him with her sword hanging down.
"Damn it."
Erban had rolled six times on the stone floor while his fellow swordsmanship students were watching.
Bonita's lips, which had been expressionlessly watching him, slowly opened.
'Please. Please don't say that. Please.'
But from Bonita's mouth came the line that Erban so desperately didn't want to hear.
A voice loud enough for all the students watching the sparring to hear.
"Even a slug has the ability to roll."
Erban spat out an obscenity in a low voice.
"Fuck."
Erban Nadium. 17 years old. 2-Star Swordsman.
Title 'Slug' acquired.
From here and there below the training ground, laughter was heard, saying, 'He's a slug, kekeke.', 'He got a nickname on the first day.'
Professor Stella said loudly.
"Good judgment, Erban. If you had tried to get up hastily, your opponent's sword would have cut your waist. Ah, but Bonita was just standing still, so maybe not."
Was it praise or mockery?
The following match was boring.
Erban's sword, trying to reverse the match somehow, attacked Bonita relentlessly, but it only cut through the air again and again.
Bellum and Nubes were busy chasing Bonita's movements with their mouths wide open.
"Is she the ace of the freshman swordsmanship department?"
"Looks like it? I've never seen a swordsman with such movements in my hometown."
Davian also carefully looked at Bonita's swordsmanship.
A slight wrinkle appeared on his forehead.
'I have to rise above that level? Before the end of the first semester.'
Davian recalled what Professor Stella had said to him separately before the start of class.
'To maintain the double major, you must take the top spot in both departments at the end of the semester evaluation. Otherwise, the double major will be canceled from the next semester.'
Being the top student in the Department of Magic wasn't too difficult. The problem was the Department of Swordsmanship.
Bonita, who was displaying almost perfect movements and swordsmanship in front of Davian's eyes.
He had to surpass her within the first semester to maintain his double major.
'Point collection and swordsmanship training won't be enough if I do it moderately.'
Seeing Bonita's sparring, it seemed that he had to put everything on the line for swordsmanship for at least the first semester.
Then, Bonita's voice was heard from the training ground.
"Are you done? Slug."
"Wh-what?"
Swish.
Bonita's sword, which was cut quickly and simply, stopped precisely in front of Erban's Adam's apple.
"Bonita Fortis wins. Very good movement."
"Thank you."
"Next, come up."
Next, Rex Flumen and Billy came up.
The two announced their names to Stella and stood facing each other, maintaining a reasonable distance.
"Billy? No last name? Are you a commoner?"
"Yes... no, yes."
"You've really made it, haven't you? Daring to speak informally to a nobleman."
"Once you enter Elton Academy, everyone is equal..."
"Shut up. You commoner bastard."
Whoosh.
Rex Flumen's figure disappeared from Billy's sight in an instant.
Overwhelming difference in skill.
A one-sided beating that was hard to call sparring began.
"He's deliberately not landing a fatal blow while beating him, right?"
At Bellum's words, Nubes next to him ground his teeth.
"That vile bastard..."
Of course, Professor Stella immediately recognized Rex's intention.
But she didn't stop their match.
This was a formal sparring.
The students here would face even greater trials in the future.
That's how the course is, that's how the tests are, and the practical training is even worse.
What about after graduation?
They have to live in constant plots and schemes, not to mention life-and-death battles and wars.
She didn't like Rex's actions, but Billy had to overcome this difficulty on his own.
Much harder things would be waiting for him in the future.
Billy, who had been getting beaten for a while longer, eventually collapsed on the training ground.
"Match over. Rex Flumen wins. Billy, go to the infirmary to receive treatment."
Nurse Medioum personally came up to the training ground and helped Billy down.
"Now, next. Students who have passed the 1-Star Swordsman test or have equivalent skills, come forward."
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