abcnovels
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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In silence, he looked at Leciel.
Well, it would be more accurate to say he looked only at Leciel than other applicants.
The comments by Iris of Laplace were far more generous compared to the nine applicants who entered together.
?
-Well-trained physique
-Exceptional potential
-Inherent talent
?
…and so on.
‘Incompetent,’
‘Worthless,’
‘Barely a fistful.’
When considering how many times he had seen such evaluations, it was quite a positive comment.
‘The best among the applicants I’ve seen so far.’
If not for the situation that required a poker face, he might have praised her with a hearty laugh.
However, the Sword Master, the Hero was never one to be generous with compliments.
Even the previous Sword Master, Leciel’s grandmother, received harsh evaluations bordering on verbal abuse.
Hero’s biting comments still lingered vividly.
“Sword Master, the star of the sword. As expected, it was just a reputation.”
“Is she weak?”
“She lacked innate talent. Her accomplishments are the result of an excessive amount of effort to compensate for the deficiency.”
In his youth, the Hero was thirstier for strength than anyone else.
He traveled the continent, engaging in various martial art battles with formidable opponents.
The previous Sword Master, Zion Hiyashin, was one of them.
The above was an evaluation that emerged after several martial arts encounters.
Leciel’s mention was also part of the conversation.
“Rather, the granddaughter’s aptitude surpasses that of the Sword Master.”
“Isn’t she still young?”
“To exhibit such prowess at that young age, her talent alone could be considered exceptional.”
I have a vivid memory of being greatly surprised by those words.
‘Jeolgi.’
This term refers to a powerful technique that becomes enhanced through visualization—a secret move possessed by martial artists.
It’s the reason they can contend with formidable creatures armed with just a single weapon.
Jeolgi transforms differently based on an individual’s combat style and physical abilities. It’s a blessing granted only to the truly talented.
Even dedicating one’s entire life to the sword might not lead to obtaining it without inherent talent.
‘It must have been when she was around ten years old.’
This passage reveals just how extraordinary Leciel’s talent is.
‘He mentioned Simgeom. If it’s completed, it seems quite useful.’
I remember the Hero praising something quite unfamiliar, prompting me to ask various questions.
‘Simgeom, the sword of the mind.’
It’s unimaginable.
After all, I haven’t yet experienced the transformation of Jeolgi.
‘I’m glad you came to Rosenstark.’
A talent with a high probability of becoming the next Hero.
Perhaps, if I can’t fulfill my role as the Hero, she might be able to take on that responsibility.
With such thoughts, I looked at Leciel again.
“…What’s going on?”
Something was off about her.
* * *
Leciel was struggling to recover from the shock.
It wasn’t the first time she had been surprised by the imposing presence of a Hero. She had experienced it when she was young.
“…What’s going on?”
It happened the moment she took her seat in front of the Hero.
When the ashy eyes behind foreign glasses turned towards her, she felt a strange sensation she had never experienced before.
A feeling of being laid bare.
No, it was even more than that. It was like being disassembled piece by piece, akin to the feeling of meat hanging on a butcher’s hook.
It was as if the existence of ‘Leciel Hiyashin’ was being schematically revealed.
The process was so discreet that if concentration wavered even slightly, it would be difficult to notice.
Leciel bit her lips so hard that blood almost oozed out.
‘…How much of a difference in level is needed for it to be so transparent?’
‘It might have been better to feel overwhelmed by a strong presence.’
She never expected to feel such a clear disparity in abilities.
Leciel finally realised why there was no specific format for the “Extreme” interview.
With the ability to see through people so effortlessly, what was the need to ask applicants to do anything?
Merely being in front of them would lay everything bare.
‘…Such an indifferent expression.’
After scanning through the applicants in one go, the Hero silently scribbled something on a piece of paper.
Consistent with the expressionless demeanour and gaze.
‘…Even with such scrutiny, that’s the expression.’
She couldn’t believe that the interviewer would remain so indifferent after thoroughly seeing through.
Leciel tightly clenched her fist on her knee.
Not yet.
There was still something to show.
Her pride wouldn’t allow her to crumple like this.
Leciel made up her mind to use the martial technique.
Years of honing a powerful skill.
[Simgeom – Heart Blade.]
[TL/N: Heart blade or mind’s sword are interchangeable depending on the context on where it’s used. Mind and Heart Will]
The will becomes a blade.
Obtaining a sword in the mind.
Forging one’s will into a well-sharpened sword, creating a peerless technique against opponents.
This power, developed through countless training sessions, was highly effective against swordsmen above a certain level.
‘An exclusive technique for the strongest.’
A formless blade that delved between developed senses, no one could be casual about it.
Even her grandmother, in an unprotected state, couldn’t move when faced with the Heart Blade.
While there was a drawback – it did not affect those who hadn’t reached the stage of aligning their mind and sword.
However, it wasn’t an issue in the current situation.
The target was the most powerful swordsman in this world.
“Here goes.”
Leciel looked at the Hero again.
Although her martial technique was incomplete, she hoped it would at least unsettle that indifferent face.
She fervently wished for it.
* * *
‘…Is there something wrong?’
Leciel wasn’t just looking at me; she was staring intensely.
Her gaze gained more strength, and her tightly sealed lips and her clenched fist twitched.
‘Is she unexpectedly nervous?’
Observing the beads of sweat trickling down, it seemed like a plausible guess.
It was understandable.
Expectations often brought increased pressure.
‘There’s no need to hold on any longer. After all, she will be accepted.’
As she was the most anticipated student, I wanted to engage in more conversation, but her condition didn’t seem suitable.
I briefly pondered what words to use to conclude the interview.
‘I should relieve the tension and leave a good impression.’
Coincidentally, I remembered a topic we could discuss.
“Leciel.”
“Yes?”
A clue obtained from the conversation with the Hero.
“Is the Heart Blade still incomplete?”
It seemed like a good attempt.
It conveyed that I remembered her and anticipated her growth.
However, her unexpected reaction followed.
“Ah…”
For a moment, the tension in her eyes, which had been intense, was released.
What happened next was unexpected.
She slumped on the chair, looking profoundly deflated.
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‘What did I say wrong? I only mentioned that I’m looking forward to your complete Heart Blade…’
Her reaction was far from what I anticipated.
Perplexed, I added, “I didn’t mean anything else. I just want to see the fully completed Heart Blade.”
“I know, I’m not there yet.”
Her response indicated a mix of exhaustion and disappointment, leaving me puzzled about what went wrong.
“…?”
“This isn’t fully completed.”
However, the conversation was spiraling into confusion.
As I looked at her with confusion, Leciel bowed her head as if her pride had been brutally trampled.
“Next time, I’ll show you an improved Heart Blade… in honor of my grandmother.”
A crawling voice.
I pondered the meaning of her words.
Next time, she would show me an improved Heart Blade.
When did she show it before?
I revisited the context of the conversation and froze.
‘Just now…?’
I hadn’t felt anything at that moment.
Belatedly, cold sweat trickled down my neck.
‘Was it made by her willpower, or is it because the Iris of Laplace’s eyes couldn’t detect it?’
‘Clearly, she’s stronger than me.’
I didn’t expect such a skill gap.
Regardless, something bothered me.
Using a martial art during an interview with a professor was an unconventional move.
‘Is she crazy?’
She, for some reason, stared at his shoe tip with a sullen expression.
Trying to maintain a neutral expression, I issued the dismissal.
“Alright, everyone can leave now.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, no student after Leciel left a significant impression.
As the interview neared its end, the successful candidates were selected.
Around the time the interviews were concluded, the selected candidates were finalized.
Reviewing their resumes one by one, I reflected on the interviews.
“Let’s see.”
Four newcomers received high praise from the Iris of Laplace.
Twenty-six newcomers received decent reviews.
One current academy student.
Thus, thirty-one students were selected for the “Extreme” class.
* * *
From the moment the interview results were announced, the Connector’s anonymous bulletin board erupted with activity.
– Oh, I thought for sure I would pass.
? Why did you think so?
? He gave me a slight smile.
? Maybe he laughed because it was pathetic?
* This post has been deleted for violating regulations.
– But seriously, looking at the ones who failed, they really chose well. All the mediocre ones got rejected. Of course, I passed.
? I was feeling down, but now I’m angry. Thank you.
– Hero, I love you.
– Weaklings. Come back stronger.
– And how can I still not believe that I can take Hero’s class? Is this some kind of error, or am I dreaming?
– I want to fight the hero. If I listen well, will there be a chance for practice?
? A new method of suicide?
I was concerned about potential dissatisfaction with the selection process, but it seems the responses on the anonymous board were generally positive.
The students chosen must have had exceptional qualities.
There were a few posts expressing concern about whether a strange student was selected, but that could be determined by seeing them in person.
“Phew.”
The selected students must have had remarkable qualities.
While there were posts expressing concerns about selecting someone strange, that could be clarified by seeing them in person.
With that, the academic schedule for the time being concluded.
I put down the Connector with a light thud.
Now it was time to go in search of the treasure.
After a while, in the lobby of the professor’s building.
The duty maid bowed deeply.
“Are you going out?”
It was an ambiguous hour, close to dawn, so my decision to go out seemed a bit odd.
“I’ll get some fresh air and be back.”
“Have a pleasant outing.”
Leaving behind the professor’s building, I pretended to go for a walk, heading towards my lodgings.
With about three weeks until the start of classes, most of the major events like orientation and class interviews had concluded.
There were a few minor events left, but now was the time for…
“Free time.”
I glanced around and saw that fortunately, there weren’t many people around.
Passing through the entrance of the professor’s building and the main gate, I tapped my glasses discreetly.
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Activate the Iris of Laplace’s.
Retrieve the coordinates stored in the information database.
Searching for the path…
Laplace’s eyes activate.
Initiating guidance.
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A light aura, visible only to me, shot up into the air.
It was a guide leading to the ‘hidden treasure.’
Suppressing my impatient feelings, I followed the light aura leisurely.
“…This is it.”
How long had I walked?
Only after passing through the outer edges of the estate’s forest did the guidance come to an end.
If it were summer, it wouldn’t be strange for the sun to still be up.
I stopped walking.
Through the sparse branches, a giant lake shimmered.
“To hide it in a place like this… quite eccentric.”
To inherit, one must find the mediators.
Zero had hidden the remaining seven mediators in absurdly arbitrary places.
From the dormitory bathroom to the practice room, even a dungeon full of traps.
But regardless of the difficulty level, the mediators were always in ‘reachable places.’
“Heavens… no wonder people have been aimlessly searching for centuries.”
I raised my head to the point it hurt.
The beam of light continued into the dark sky above the lake.
Even skilled Heros with exceptional physical abilities couldn’t reach this place.
Even with the aid of magical powers, it seemed nearly impossible.
Flight magic consumed an extreme amount of magical power.
The end of the guidance wasn’t in sight.
Even if I knew the exact coordinates, traversing such heights without depleting magical power would be close to impossible.
“Even if I had the coordinates, reaching such a height wouldn’t be easy.”
The state of hovering in the high airspace without precise coordinates and depleting magical power to the point of death would not be possible for anyone other than Zero Requiem Borningenheim, whose magical power was comparable to that of an ancient being.
In other words, it was an unreachable location for anyone else.
…But for me, it was possible.
Taking a step towards the designated location, I prepared to cast Polymorph.
“…Quite a fascinating coincidence.”
I started by discarding my clothes.
Despite the chilling sensation on my skin, I didn’t lose focus; rather, I sharpened it even more.
What came to mind was the essence of a certain life form.
I replicated and mimicked its structure—skeleton, muscles, blood vessels—down to the last detail. I vividly recalled its principles.
Wood-duduk!
A sensation indescribable from the toe to the top of my head penetrated, accompanied by the sound of bones breaking that filled my ears.
Then, the wind, which had felt chilling on my skin, no longer carried that cold sensation.
I opened my mouth, or rather, my beak, and let out a triumphant cheer.
“Kkirururuk!”
I cheered triumphantly, the sound echoing through the air. The handsome falcon reflected in the water seemed to share in the joy.
As a transformed falcon, I spread my wings, feeling the freedom of the skies.
The wind beneath my feathers, the panoramic view of the world below—all of it was exhilarating.
I flapped my wings, rising higher into the sky, guided by the invisible thread of the hidden treasure.
The journey to uncover the treasure in this mystical location had just begun.
With the ability to traverse the skies as a falcon, I felt a renewed sense of determination.
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