The Academy’s Hard-Headed Swordmaster

A few days later, after a very long deliberation, the students’ test scores were released.

To intensify competition, Dairus Academy publicized all test scores and ranked the students accordingly.

Students flocked to the large score sheet posted on the academy bulletin board, each struggling to find their own name.

Finding one’s name among hundreds was quite a difficult task, but I managed to locate mine fairly quickly.

[Knight Department Report Card]

1st – Kyle Meyer 88 points

2nd – Hundred 52 points

3rd – May Bell 48 points

………

……

…

“Oh, first place.”

I feigned surprise, even though I knew I’d be first.

Openly gloating would only paint me as arrogant.

Even though I’m a Master, humans can’t live alone.

Farmers farm, hunters hunt, weavers make silk and clothes, and blacksmiths are needed for good equipment.

And this place was full of the successors of such trades, and the children of nobles who ruled over them. There was no need to antagonize them.

‘─Yuri and Sera…….’

After checking my score, I immediately looked for theirs.

Thankfully, their disqualification seemed to have been overturned, as both their names were clearly displayed near the top of the report card.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I joined Arthur and started chatting.

“Arthur, where are you?”

“8th.”

“Not bad.”

“Are you making fun of me? Mr. Top Student?”

“Did it sound like that?”

“Uhaha!”

Laughing, I was about to head off with her to prepare for the next class when someone blocked my path.

If it had been a guy, I would have just ignored him, but it was a girl.

My chivalrous spirit blossoming, I grinned and gazed at the young woman who stood before me.

“─Kyle Meyer, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I’m May Bell. You know me, right?”

“Of course. How could I not know our Lady Knight?”

It was May Bell, a fellow student from the Knight Department. Realizing I knew her name, she exhaled, a “Phew-” escaping her lips.

After a few deep breaths, she finally looked up at me with determination and exclaimed,

“Would you be interested in joining our Swordsman Club!?”

“Swordsman?”

“Yes!”

“You’re a girl. Why Swordsman?”

“……Huh?”

May looked confused.

I shrugged, unsure what the problem was.

Only Arthur, standing beside me, seemed to understand, whispering cautiously,

“……Kyle, Swordsman means, well, a swordsman.”

“Ah.”

* * *

Among knights, there are always a few stubborn ones who believe that the sword is the only true and worthy weapon.

Such stubborn individuals existed within the academy, and they had formed a club.

The Swordsman Club.

It was a traditional club, a kind of extracurricular activity, passed down from senior knights.

“Our club has a lot of senior members, and they even have Secret Swordsmanship techniques passed down through generations!”

May Bell began explaining the benefits of joining her club.

Not only could I interact with the senior members, but I could also learn their Secret Swordsmanship.

Of course, she added, I wouldn’t be able to learn it right away; I’d have to prove my loyalty to the club and become an officer.

After listening to her, I let out a sound of interest.

‘Secret Swordsmanship, huh?’

It wasn’t something I considered important after becoming a Master, but below Expert level, Secret Swordsmanship was a kind of trump card, guaranteeing an advantage in battle.

Most of these techniques were left behind by Masters for their successors, things students, who were barely Expert level, could never create on their own.

‘But to teach Secret Swordsmanship…….’

My interest was piqued.

I wondered what level the students’ Secret Swordsmanship would be, and what kind of place a club made by sword fanatics would be like.

“Can I do a trial run?”

“Of course! The seniors will be thrilled to see you! And you’ll love them too!”

May hurried off, saying she would inform the seniors. She told me to come to the club after school.

Watching her go, I turned to Arthur, who was staring at me with a sullen expression.

“What?”

“No… Kyle, are you sure about this?”

“About what?”

“You’re… you know. If you use your sword carelessly there─”

“It’s fine, I won’t get caught.”

Common sense is a surprisingly sturdy barrier.

The idea of a teenager being an Aura Master is so far removed from common sense that it would be considered delusional.

Unless I pulled out an Aura Blade in front of them, no one would suspect I was an Aura Master, no matter how skilled I appeared.

As someone who became an Aura Master through swordsmanship, this was a good opportunity to see what level the younger generation was.

* * *

After school, Kyle followed May to the club.

The club was located within the academy, surprisingly meaning it had received official approval.

“Here it is!”

May, thrilled to have recruited Kyle, opened the club door with a grin.

Contrary to Kyle’s expectation of a sweaty, sword-clanging space, the interior exuded a refined atmosphere.

It felt more like a place for intellectual pursuit of swordsmanship through study and research, rather than brute force training.

“─Seniors!”

“May, you’re here. Then, that must be…….”

“Kyle Meyer.”

Kyle bowed politely to a second-year student wearing glasses.

The student smiled and extended his hand.

“Shu Guniel.”

Shaking Shu’s hand, Kyle noticed the calluses, realizing he wasn’t just a bookworm.

Calluses like that couldn’t be developed overnight.

They required decades of dedicated sword practice.

‘So it’s not a place for frauds, huh?’

As his doubts about the Swordsman Club began to dissipate, Shu chuckled apologetically.

“The other club members aren’t here yet. It’s just me and the club president right now.”

“Club president?”

“Yes. The club president. Want to meet her? ─President!”

Shu yelled towards the club’s second floor.

Someone groaned and slowly emerged from upstairs. Kyle’s eyes widened as he saw the cascading red hair.

The girl upstairs fumbled with her clothes before jumping down to the first floor.

‘Boom!’

Landing with a thud, she straightened up, her ample bosom heaving between the undone buttons of her shirt.

Kyle found another compelling reason to join the club.

“What the…… who is this?”

“The new applicant May mentioned. President.”

“Ah, the first-year who got top marks?”

The president looked Kyle up and down with interest. Kyle stared back, not bothering with the formalities.

Noticing where Kyle’s gaze lingered, the president chuckled and flashed him a glimpse of her cleavage.

“Like what you see?”

“Is there a man who doesn’t appreciate a fine pair?”

“Usually, people would at least look away when you say that. This kid’s something else.”

The president buttoned her shirt and grabbed a practice sword from the wall. It was identical in shape and weight to a real sword, but with a blunt edge.

However, its weight meant it could still break bones if swung improperly.

Tossing the practice sword to Kyle, the president grinned and beckoned him.

“You said you wanted to join our club, right? This is the entrance exam. Come at me.”

“Don’t we even exchange names first?”

“I don’t give my name to those who will lose to me.”

“Our president’s name is Ruby Alderica, Kyle.”

“Hey! You’re not supposed to tell him that─!”

Ruby yelled at Shu for casually revealing her name, but then sighed, seemingly deciding it wasn’t important. She turned back to Kyle.

“Like I said, I don’t like people I haven’t acknowledged calling my name. Don’t.”

“President Ruby.”

“─I said don’t.”

Ruby lunged, her sword aimed precisely at vital points.

It was clear she hadn’t become president through luck; her attacks were accurate and deadly.

Kyle parried her blows, impressed.

Her ability to target weak spots and create openings was exceptional.

For a Master to give such praise meant her skill was truly remarkable.

With more real-world experience, she had the potential to become a Master herself.

“Hah-!”

Grinning, Kyle matched her thrusts with identical thrusts of his own.

Surprised by this unorthodox technique, Ruby faltered for a moment.

Kyle seized the opportunity, striking her chest.

The practice sword left no wound, but Ruby understood the decisive loss. She stared at Kyle, shocked.

“No, you. This is-”

‘Ping!’

Suddenly, a button from Ruby’s shirt burst off, hitting Kyle in the face. Caught off guard, Kyle winced and looked at Ruby.

Ruby, looking embarrassed, gestured to her chest.

“……Um, y-you pass!”

She mumbled, welcoming Kyle to the club.