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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Gasp…Gasp…”
“Hmm.”
Egenir ran laps around the training grounds under Horfin’s watchful eye. He should have been in alchemy class, reviewing basic formulas, but instead, he was facing his worst nightmare.
“One more lap!”
Horfin, treating him like a new recruit in his knightly order, pushed him relentlessly.
One more lap, one more lap, one more lap! Had he ever run this much?
‘Oh, right, when I was running from the demons.’
The first time, he’d been trampled by a Balrog. After that, he’d run for his life. He’d sprinted until his lungs burned, leaving a trail of dead students in his wake, until the teachers finally intervened and subdued the Balrog.
“Gasp…Gasp…”
Egenir was practically crawling, but he refused to give up.
‘His stamina is terrible…’
But the explosive power he’d displayed against Sestern had been impressive. His attacks, though weak, had been fierce.
‘Come to think of it, he never directly confronted Sestern.’
Horfin’s assessment was accurate.
Egenir’s swordsmanship level was 4, high for a freshman, but significantly lower than Sestern’s. Rapidly gained levels weren’t supported by physical conditioning.
‘He claimed to have learned Dragon Swordsmanship from a book…He’s a natural swordsman, but…’
His foundation was weak. Horfin, convinced Egenir had come to him for guidance, felt a surge of excitement.
‘This boy! With proper training, he could become a top-tier knight!’
A former knight himself, Horfin had held a prestigious position before being crippled in a battle against demons. He’d never given up on his dream of training a successor. He’d sworn an oath to live and die by the sword, by the knightly order.
Egenir, with his potential to bridge the gap he’d displayed in his duel with Sestern, was the perfect candidate.
‘Skill isn’t everything.’
Decisiveness was key in battle. Even a level 10 swordsman could be defeated by a level 1 with a powerful special attack if they were caught off guard.
Numbers were just numbers.
Horfin’s greatest shame, his crippling injury, had been a result of overconfidence and a momentary lapse in judgment.
‘The most important thing is the ability to seize the opportunity, even in the face of danger.’
A veteran with level 8 swordsmanship, he’d frozen in fear at a crucial moment, costing him his leg.
“Egenir! You have a special talent!”
Horfin, planting his sword in the ground, addressed Egenir in a booming voice, as if expecting him to hear while running.
‘What talent?!’
He was too exhausted to care. He wanted to punch the annoying instructor who kept yelling “one more lap!”.
[Affinity with Horfin increased by 10.]
[Probability of acquiring Horfin’s trait increased.]
The damn affinity system informed him of his growing affinity with the irritating instructor.
‘I’m not gay!’
He had no desire to experience… that, but Horfin’s trait was tempting.
Skills: Swordsmanship (8), Wind Swordsmanship (6)
Trait: Iron Heart
Unwavering courage, relentless determination. An S-rank trait that granted limitless stamina.
‘If I had that…’
He wouldn’t be so exhausted after fighting demons, reducing the risk of being stabbed while catching his breath.
‘Every time…’
After exhausting himself fighting demons, especially after defeating the Demon King’s clone, he’d always been stabbed while vulnerable. He was convinced the game was rigged.
‘With Iron Heart…’
An unyielding heart that wouldn’t tire, even after defeating demons. He wouldn’t be caught off guard.
It was as if the world, recognizing his eight regressions of suffering, was offering him a gift, Horfin.
“I shall bestow upon you the knightly art of Wind Swordsmanship! But first, you must build a strong body!”
He couldn’t hear what the instructor was saying. He was dizzy, breathless, and wanted to collapse.
His muscles screamed in protest, and the world spun. But his body, driven by the desire to escape this academy, continued to move, one agonizing step at a time, compelled by the need to raise Horfin’s affinity.
“I saw your courage with my own eyes! And your thirst for swordsmanship! I’ve never seen anyone so eager to learn the blade!”
‘What the hell is he talking about?!’
The agonizing reality of having to raise a man’s affinity filled Egenir with despair.
“Keep going! Every step you take now will become a strong foundation for your future!”
He wanted to blast the instructor’s head off with a Mana Arrow.
‘In my prime, back in my 7th turn, you wouldn’t have been able to breathe!’
He’d never pushed himself this hard. He’d focused on swordsmanship levels, prioritizing a stable build-up, never exerting himself to the point of exhaustion.
‘Thud!’
He finally collapsed, completely spent.
“Excellent!”
His body was drained, every muscle fiber screaming in agony.
“We’ll continue running for the next week! Tomorrow, we’ll add weights! You’re in excellent shape!”
He wanted to kill Horfin as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
“Ugh…”
His entire body ached as he woke up in his dorm room. It was morning.
He blinked, looking around.
“You’re awake?”
Shelton, his roommate, stood before him. Egenir stared, confused.
“Wow, how much training did you do?”
“What?”
“Horfin carried you back here, you know? You were unconscious.”
“What the…?”
“How dedicated…A true swordsman. I have much to learn from you.”
“Wait…”
He’d had plans. An important event. A nightcap with Spenny…in her lounge…
“Aaaaaah!”
He screamed in frustration. His roommate, witnessing his outburst, exclaimed,
“The warrior’s cry at dawn! Magnificent!”
He wanted to punch the idiot, but his body wouldn’t cooperate.
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“Teacher Spenny, why do you look so glum?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes. Did something happen?”
The female alchemy teacher next to her inquired. They were all instructors for the first-year introductory classes. Horfin was beaming, while Spenny looked like she was about to explode with rage.
‘Did she get stood up?’
Stood up by a student. The humiliation fueled her anger.
“Teacher!”
Egenir burst into the faculty office, covered in dirt, without even washing up.
“E-Egenir?”
Spenny was speechless.
“What happened…”
“Oh! Egenir!”
Horfin bounded over, his enthusiasm boundless.
“I knew it! You came for more training! Yesterday wasn’t enough, was it? Of course not!”
“Wait a minute!”
Egenir stopped Horfin and turned to Spenny.
“About…yesterday…”
“Yesterday? You were amazing! Running until sunset! A true warrior!”
“Running?”
“Ah, Teacher Spenny, you see, Egenir asked me for personal training!”
Horfin bragged about his new protégé.
“What? Personal training from Teacher Horfin?”
Horfin never took on any students. Many had tried to curry favor with him, knowing a recommendation from him guaranteed a spot in the Royal Knights, but he’d always refused.
[Does knighthood look like a game to you? A moment of fear can cripple a knight!]
He’d always said, pointing to the long scar that ran from his thigh to his calf.
[I won’t coddle you! Train yourselves!]
He was known for his passionate teaching, but he never offered private lessons. He’d refused even bribes, which was why he remained a low-ranking instructor despite his skill. And now, he’d chosen Egenir for his first ever private lesson.
This was news that would spread through the entire academy, students and teachers alike.
“Oh my…”
“Goodness gracious.”
Everyone imagined Egenir as a future knight, a member of Horfin’s former order.
“I…I…”
Egenir looked at Spenny, who stared back at him, dumbfounded.
‘No!’
Egenir shook his head, but the despair in her eyes was evident.
[Spenny’s affinity decreased by 10.]
A massive drop.
‘Fuuuuuuck!’
He screamed internally.
“Egenir, shall we resume our training?”
“Wait! My first class is with Teacher Spenny!”
“Ah, right! Teacher Spenny!”
The clueless instructor turned to Spenny.
“May I borrow this student?”
NTR!
He’d never imagined he’d be NTR’d by another man.
Who would dare challenge him for Spenny, a skilled and respected teacher, known for her integrity?
Spenny, of course, didn’t accept bribes either, but that was because she was still a low-ranking mage.
Until she published her mana circuit method, she was just another mage instructor.
“No.”
Her answer was unexpected.
“What?”
“Egenir is going to join my magic studies department. We made a promise.”
“What?!”
Horfin roared.
The other teachers, and the students who’d gathered outside, watched the drama unfold.
‘Please, god, no!’
“What are you talking about? I saw him fight! He’s a natural knight! A knight! Or at least a true swordsman!”
“No, he…I can’t reveal the details yet, but he has a natural talent for magic.”
“He’s more suited for swordsmanship!”
“No! He’s more suited for magic!”
They openly declared their intentions.
‘Is this…’
The ultimate event…a catfight. Or rather, a dogfight between a cat and a dog.
“What’s going on?”
“The teachers are fighting over a student.”
“Huh? But Teacher Spenny is a mage, and Teacher Horfin is a swordsman?”
The two instructors continued their tug-of-war over the talented student.
[Spenny’s affinity increased by 12.]
[Horfin’s affinity increased by 15.]
The system notifications were welcome, but he wished everyone would just disappear.
“Promises are important! But I won’t give up on this student!”
“Neither will I!”
Horfin, the hot-blooded instructor, picking a student was one thing. But Spenny, usually calm and reserved, behaving like this…it was a sight to behold.
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MC’s thoughts right now.
Egenir x Horfin Route