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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The academy was peaceful. Classes continued as usual, and the first-year boys from the burnt dormitory remained in the temporary shelter, living off emergency rations.
“Egenir! You have a visitor!”
The nurse sounded annoyed.
Egenir, after all, wasn’t from a wealthy, influential family. Just a minor baron from a rural backwater. The nurses, despite his newfound fame, were tired of the constant stream of visitors.
“Shelton. You again.”
“What do you mean, ‘you again’? I’m your roommate.”
He was trying to act friendly, emphasizing their shared low-ranking status and swordsmanship aspirations.
‘But he ran away when I fought Sestern.’
Typical low-ranking behavior, abandoning him the moment the Royal Noble faction appeared.
He had one word for them,
‘Idiots.’
Egenir assumed they were only here to benefit from his newfound popularity.
“I heard you’re preparing for afternoon classes.”
His injuries had mostly healed, and he was getting ready to return to classes. Shelton, somehow informed of his plans, looked smug.
“So?”
“Here! A gift for our hero!”
Shelton pulled out a long, cloth-wrapped object.
“We made it ourselves, hoping for your speedy recovery!”
Those broke bastards.
They couldn’t afford anything decent, so they’d made something themselves.
‘Figures.’
They didn’t have access to a blacksmith, so he knew exactly what it was.
“A wooden sword?”
“Take a look!”
He unwrapped the cloth to reveal a wooden sword covered in scribbled messages, their names, get well soon wishes, and words of encouragement.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“It’s a good luck charm! A token of our gratitude for trying to save us!”
Those idiots had gone overboard.
“You have too much free time.”
Shelton just grinned.
‘He says that, but he risked his life for us.’
That’s what most students thought.
‘I’ve become a tsundere.’
A damn tsundere.
He’d have to give Ella a piece of his mind.
“Phew…”
The day had finally arrived for the removal of his leg bandages.
The doctor, a grumpy-looking mage specializing in healing magic, arrived with a large saw and began cutting through the bandages.
“Healing nicely.”
He scanned Egenir’s body, confirming the rapid recovery of his burns and fractures. All that remained was to remove the bandages.
“Young and resilient, I suppose.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
It was thanks to Spenny’s potions. Injuries that would normally require three weeks of bed rest had healed in four days.
The doctor was impressed, but also puzzled.
‘Spenny must have given him some special treatment.’
Nobles rarely stayed in the infirmary for long. They had access to expensive healing potions and magic.
Cecilia and Ella had already recovered and left. Even Egenir, with the most severe injuries, was being discharged after only four days. Minimal casualties.
‘If he wasn’t from a minor barony, he’d be in a private room on the second floor.’
Low social standing had its disadvantages. But he had Teacher Spenny’s support, and both Cecilia and Ella had visited him.
‘Trying to use his looks to climb the social ladder.’
The doctor assumed Egenir was using his charm to gain favor with the influential girls.
It wasn’t uncommon for handsome commoners or low-ranking nobles to try and seduce high-ranking students.
‘Most of them get dumped before graduation.’
That was the reality of their hierarchical society. Unless they possessed exceptional talent or secured a powerful sponsor, their future was bleak.
High-ranking students rarely associated with commoners outside of the academy.
Connections with the Gainz family and the Blazing Magic Tower were valuable, but many students who relied on such relationships ended up being discarded.
“All done.”
Egenir flexed his leg, free from the bandages.
“Thank you.”
He thanked the doctor and was about to leave for Harfon’s class when…
“You have another visitor.”
The nurse sounded even more annoyed.
There was only one person who would visit him on the first floor.
“Who…”
He looked up and saw…
‘A real pretty boy.’
A handsome young man, dressed in a crisp white shirt, black pants, and polished shoes, the epitome of an elite student.
‘Who is this…?’
He had a vague memory of him from previous regressions. A memorable figure, which meant he wasn’t just another pushover. Of course, if he didn’t recognize the face, it would be strange.
“Ah!”
He remembered.
‘The guy who graduated early in his first year!’
The student council president who’d escaped the demon invasion event through early graduation.
He’d given a speech at the graduation ceremony, a smug smile on his face as he basked in the applause.
“The student council president?”
“Oh, you recognize me? A first-year shouldn’t have met me.”
His tone was arrogant, almost condescending.
‘I’ve never met him in person…’
Cecilia should have been elected president after his graduation. But…
‘A graduating student visiting a first-year? In the infirmary?’
This meant…
‘The Gainz family, the Blazing Magic Tower…and me…’
He’d clearly become a valuable asset in this regression. A graduating student wouldn’t bother with him otherwise.
“Egenir, is it?”
“There’s a student in a hospital gown right in front of you. Who else would it be?”
“Hmm.”
He looked down at Egenir with a condescending gaze.
‘The type of person I hate the most.’
But…
‘He deserves to graduate early.’
He radiated an aura of power, different from Harfon’s, but undeniable.
“You’re an interesting one.”
“You’re an annoying one.”
Egenir retorted.
Memories of the former president’s actions in previous regressions surfaced, and a wave of anger washed over him.
“I’m glad I came to see you in person.”
He nodded, his gaze fixed on Egenir.
“Do you know how powerful I am?”
“Who are you to talk down to me?”
He knew the president was the leader of the Central Royal faction, just like Sestern.
“You know I’m a prince, don’t you?”
That’s right.
The current student council president was the prince of Egenir’s kingdom, the Kingdom of Sorden. He was destined for a life of politics, strengthening the royal authority.
He’d been groomed for greatness from the start, showered with magic potions and buffs, benefiting from his noble bloodline and high-ranking trait.
‘This bastard…’
Egenir felt a surge of resentment.
He’d had no trait, no special abilities until his 5th regression, just his own wits and determination. And now that he finally had a chance to acquire traits and skills, he was facing endless obstacles.
And this prince…during the demon invasion, he’d remained safely within the royal palace, offering no support, a bystander with the power to help but choosing not to.
He hadn’t even spared a glance for the countless students who’d died. And now, this hypocrite was looking at him with interest, his feigned concern infuriating.
‘Grit!’
Egenir ground his teeth.
“My name is Horse Tone Sorden.”
He offered his hand. His hand, delicate like a woman’s, belonged to…
‘A swordsman.’
Such delicate hands implied a mastery of the blade.
‘Beyond skilled…’
He was a Sword Expert, beyond level 10.
‘…A monster.’
Egenir, having read countless fantasy novels about Sword Masters and Grand Sword Masters, hadn’t grasped the reality of such power.
Now, facing it in person, he understood how terrifying they truly were. Monsters obsessed with the sword. And when those monsters went even further, they became Sword Masters.
A Sword Expert at his age? Horse was a prodigy.
Even Ella, from the Gainz family, was only a Sword User at level 8.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness.”
Egenir’s only goal was to graduate. He didn’t care about anything else. Or rather, he wanted to curse this hypocritical bastard.
“Interesting. Very interesting.”
Horse chuckled, accepting the handshake.
‘Is he crazy?’
He laughed maniacally, his head tilted.
“Do you know what I’ve always wanted?”
“No.”
“Someone driven by greed, someone who’ll bring me riches? They’re everywhere.”
‘Lucky you.’
“A powerful bodyguard? I can handle myself.”
‘So impressive.’
“Someone influential who can give me power? I can crush them and take it myself. Just like I’ve always done.”
Egenir, wanting him to just let go of his hand, frowned.
“What I want is a beast, untamed and wild.”
“Then get a dog.”
“Dogs don’t bite their masters. Your analogy is flawed.”
He reached out, his pale hand moving towards Egenir’s head.
“You damn pervert! Get away!”
Egenir slapped his hand away.
“Refreshing…Weak, but not weak. Always looking for an opening to strike.”
‘How did he know?’
Egenir had been assessing Horse’s vulnerabilities, looking for a way to inflict a fatal blow. Horse seemed amused.
“Are you threatening me with that?”
He gestured towards the wooden sword covered in childish scribbles.
“Yes…I’ve been looking for someone like you. A wild beast, willing to attack without regard for their own safety.”
A beast recognizes a beast.
Egenir felt like Horse was dissecting him, analyzing his every move.
“You don’t submit, you don’t compete. You’re just waiting for the right moment to strike.”
A glint of madness in his eyes.
‘This damn pervert…Get lost!’
Egenir gripped the wooden sword, ready to stab Horse in the side if he made a move.
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Horse laughed, but his hand was poised to strike, ready to crush Egenir’s skull.
“Interesting! I’ve never felt this way, not even when facing demons!”
He was amused, intrigued by the raw hostility directed at him. He’d never encountered such animosity from a human.
[Horse’s affinity increased by 20.]
‘This damn pervert!’
Egenir was dumbfounded.
“Do you want to take my life?”
Horse stepped closer.
‘Grit!’
Egenir gripped his wooden sword tighter, stepping towards Horse.
Then…
“That’s enough, boys.”
Harfon appeared, his live blade blocking their path.
“A dullard has arrived?”
“This isn’t a student duel.”
The energy radiating from Egenir and Horse had stirred the air around them.
Egenir, fueled by Salamander, the mana circuit method, and Dragon Swordsmanship, radiated a fiery aura, while Horse glowed with a golden light, a testament to his mastery of the Royal Swordsmanship.
The nurses and doctors, trembling, backed away.
“I’ll see you again, beast.”
“Get lost.”
Egenir released his grip on the wooden sword. Harfon, his face grim, waited until Horse had left, then turned to Egenir.
“When did you get so strong, my disciple?”
“What are you…”
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Horse is great guy.
…guy??