The Academy’s Hard-Headed Swordmaster

The Academy's Strongest Tournament.

True to its name, it was a tournament to determine the strongest.

Separate from the Academy's academic rankings, this tournament focused solely on "strength," making it more important than grades for some students.

In territories frequently embroiled in battles or wars, the results of this tournament were sometimes valued even more highly than academic achievements.

Scouts from various territories would even visit the Academy just to observe this tournament.

With the tournament approaching, Kyle was frustrated.

“Ah— I want to participate. I want to join and crush everyone.”

Gawain, knowing that Kyle was an Aura Master, wouldn't accept his application.  

Truthfully, Kyle knew.  This tournament was, after all, an event for the students.

A mutant like him shouldn't interfere and cause a ruckus.

He knew this perfectly well, logically.

However, humans aren't always governed by logic.

‘I want to participate.’

He at least wanted to win the prize.

Gawain had said the prize was insignificant for a Master, but Kyle's curiosity was insatiable.

Racking his brains, Kyle suddenly shot up as if a brilliant idea had struck him.

Right, if he couldn't participate— he could send a proxy.  And as luck would have it, there was a girl perfectly suited to receive his teachings.

Kyle immediately went to find her.

* * *

“……You want ‘me’ to participate in the tournament?”

“Yes.”

“But, I'm still just an Aura User, and my swordsmanship isn't that great.”

“Don't worry. I'll teach you.”

Arthur awkwardly scratched her cheek, looking at Kyle.

It was understandable that she wouldn't grasp the sudden offer of his tutelage and the suggestion to participate in the tournament.

However, after hearing his next words, she seemed to understand why he was making this proposal.

“And we’ll split the prize.”

“Ah…… Was that your goal from the beginning?”

“What else?”

“Ahaha, no. Sure. I’m in.”

She didn't refuse his offer to teach her. That was a relief.  

Finding someone with both immense potential and a strong desire to participate in the tournament wasn't easy.

As a commoner, Arthur needed to make a name for herself in a setting like the tournament, and she had the potential to do so.  

Or rather, it wasn't exactly potential…

‘Dragon’s Heart.’

The one embedded in Arthur's chest.

The power source that allowed her, someone completely incapable of using magic, to maintain a semi-permanent magical enhancement.

The reason Kyle chose Arthur, a mere Aura User.

The reason he was confident she could crush other Expert-level students and claim victory in the tournament.

“—So, first, let’s learn how to imbue an object with Aura.”

“What? But, you just said that’s impossible…”

“No, it’s possible.”

Kyle’s eyes twinkled as he looked at Arthur.

From now on, there was no such thing as impossible.

“Listen up! No arguments! No thinking! Just do as I say!”

“K, Kyle?”

“Respond with ‘Yes, sir!’”

“Ye, Yes, sir!”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Making Arthur the champion. That was his only thought.

* * *

Aura is a source of energy, akin to blood flowing within the user.

It’s natural for blood to flow within one’s body. Anyone can do it easily.

However, transfusing that blood into another object held in one's hand, or extracting it completely outside the body?

Extremely difficult.  

Only a very small number of people can do it, and almost everyone says it’s impossible.

But here— there are those who have dedicated their lives to extracting their Aura outside their bodies and ultimately succeeded in this very feat.

People call them Aura Masters.

“That’s what people misunderstand. They believe that if they train their Aura, they can extract it outside their body.”

“……Isn’t that right?”

“No. Aura is a secondary element, not the primary one.”

Of course, to properly handle Aura, the first step is to recognize its existence.  

One must recognize the Aura flowing within their body and strive to control it.

However, to reach a higher level? Simply training Aura isn’t enough.  

One must learn and practice the sword, the spear, the bow, hand-to-hand combat.

As one does so, they naturally become capable of channeling Aura outside their body.

This is the Expert level.  

Surpassing this level allows one to extract Aura completely outside the body, earning the title of Master.

“However, that’s just for ordinary people. Arthur, you’re different.”

But this was the story of ordinary people, not the story of Arthur, who had the Dragon’s Heart embedded in her chest.

She was a car with an engine as big as herself.  An engine so powerful that, with wings, she could soar through the sky.

There was no need to teach such a being how to run on the ground like everyone else.

“You will control Aura itself. Swordsmanship? You don’t need to learn that. You’ll crush everything with Aura, just Aura.”

“But… is that okay?”

“It’s okay for you. You have this.”

Kyle said, poking Arthur’s chest.  

Arthur flinched in surprise, then belatedly realized she was currently in her male form and glanced at Kyle.

Kyle, as if wondering what the problem was, tilted his head and looked at her. Arthur shook her head, saying it was nothing.

“S, So— how am I supposed to win without learning swordsmanship?”

“Secret Technique.”

“……Secret Technique?”

“Yes, Secret Technique.”

“I, I don’t know any Secret Techniques.”

Kyle grinned at Arthur. Seeing his smile, Arthur’s eyes began to gleam as if she had a good idea of what he meant.

“—We can just make one.”

A Master and a girl with the Dragon’s Heart.

With this combination, nothing was impossible.

* * *

Returning to the dormitory after training Arthur, Kyle encountered Hundred blocking his path. Even when Kyle tried to slip past him, Hundred persistently obstructed him.

“What?”

“Kyle Meyer.”

Hundred, blocking Kyle’s way, glared down at him with burning eyes.

“This tournament, let’s have a match.”

“I’m not participating in this tournament.”

“……What? Why not!?”

“Ah, because I’m too strong— it wouldn’t be fair to interfere in a kids’ fight, right?”

It was merely a repetition of what Gawain had said, but Hundred, seemingly believing Kyle was mocking him, suddenly raised his voice.

“Ha, Haha— Right. Are you scared? You’re afraid to fight me, aren’t you?”

“That’s actually true.”

“If you thought I’d fall for such a ridiculous excuse, you’re sorely mistaken. You coward.”

“Why would I be scared of you? —You’re weak.”

“—You little…!”

Hundred, about to reach out and grab Kyle by the collar, hesitated, remembering the last time he’d tried that and suffered the consequences.

Seeing Hundred stop just a hair's breadth away, Kyle smirked.

“Chicken?”

“Wh, Who’s chicken…”

“I’m not participating in the tournament— but someone’s participating in my place.”

Kyle then mentioned Arthur's name. Hearing her name, Hundred looked at Kyle with disbelief.

“……You’re really not participating?”

“I told you. I’m too strong to participate.”

“What kind of…”

“Anyway, that’s how it is. If you beat Arthur, I’ll consider it as you beating me.”

“—Ha, Arthur. He’s just a mere Aura User, isn’t he? Do you really think he can beat me?”

Hundred believed that even if Kyle was strong, teaching someone else was a different matter entirely.

The talent required to become a strong knight and the talent required to teach were completely different.

Unable to acknowledge Kyle’s teaching abilities despite admitting his genius, Hundred scoffed.

“Then— if I beat him, I can tell everyone I beat you, right?”

“Oh, and if I win, word will spread that you lost without even lifting a finger.  Sound good?”

“That’s not going to happen— You think I’ll lose to an Aura User?”

He said, quickly disappearing somewhere.

Watching Hundred’s retreating figure, Kyle turned back towards the training grounds where Arthur would be training, instead of heading to the dormitory.

He had an idea for a technique to teach her.

* * *

The day of the tournament.

The day when countless spectators and scouts from various territories gathered.

Whether by luck or misfortune, Arthur faced Hundred in her first match.

Hundred grinned, looking at Arthur.

“Today, I have a reason why I cannot lose.”

“Huh?”

“Look over there. That’s the mercenary group I belonged to before entering the Academy. They came to celebrate my victory today.”

“Uh, uh?”

“And more than anything, I made a bet with the very Kyle Meyer who taught you.  There’s a 0% chance of me losing.”

Hearing his words, Arthur scratched her cheek and asked.

“……Are, Are you trying to get me to lose by appealing to my sympathy?”

“What? What nonsense.”

“Oh, it wasn’t? Okay. Got it. You and Kyle are alike.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Arthur immediately gripped the hilt of her sword and waited for the signal to begin the match.  

A moment later, the drum sounded, and Arthur faced Hundred charging towards her.

‘Arthur, don’t move from your spot.  Your opponent will come to you.’

Kyle’s teachings flashed through her mind. Following his instructions, her body moved instinctively.

Meyer Style Revised

Lightning Bolt

‘Kwaaang—!’

Arthur's sword, swung like a bolt of lightning, shattered the arena floor and sent Hundred, who was charging towards her, flying out of the ring in a single blow.

For a moment, silence fell over the arena.

“W, Winner— Arthur!”

Only after the referee's announcement did a roar of cheers erupt, engulfing Arthur.