Chapter 30: First Lesson (1)

The atmosphere in the classroom froze instantly.

Glesia’s chilling magic power, unique to the White family, unconsciously filled the room.

Frost began to form on the floor and walls.

‘Chilling…’

It was a truly overwhelming display of dominance.

Despite not being at full strength due to her injury, she exuded this level of power.

As expected of a Hero.

While I might be used to it, it wouldn’t be easy for others to even move under this pressure.

“I asked what you two were doing.”

“This commoner dared to take the seat next to the Saint…”

Glesia frowned at his words.

He must have thought he was explaining himself, but it only backfired.

“Everyone is equal in the Academy. Isn’t that the most basic rule?”

Or perhaps.

“Do your so-called nobles not even know such a basic rule?”

“…I apologize.”

It seemed he wasn’t bold enough to defy a Hero, despite his unruly behavior.

In the end, the man was the first to back down.

“What’s your name?”

“Luke. Luke Myers…”

“Aria.”

“Luke, you’re penalized. Go back to your seat.”

Luke glared at me before returning to his seat at Glesia’s words.

“As you heard at the entrance ceremony, I’m Glesia White, and I’ll be teaching you for the next year.”

Glesia looked around the room and continued.

I felt like her gaze lingered on me a bit longer than the others, but I must have been mistaken.

“Normally, the first week would be for getting to know each other.”

“…”

“But I doubt anything will change even if I give you time in this atmosphere.”

Luke reacted as if convicted by her words.

On the other hand, I showed no reaction.

“Follow me to the training grounds. I’ll give you three minutes to prepare.”

With those words, she walked out of the classroom.

The stunned students finally started to gather their weapons and get up.

Lucia and Alicia immediately approached me as soon as there was an opening.

“Aria, are you alright?”

“Yes, there’s no problem.”

“What a rude person…”

They both glared at Luke, who silently turned and left.

However, due to the limited time, they also headed outside.

Following Professor Glesia, we finally arrived at the training grounds.

The ground was flat and packed earth, and training weapons were placed in the corner.

After confirming that we were all gathered, she spoke.

“Choose your sparring partners. However…”

Sweep

“Aria and… Luke, was it? You two are exceptions.”

The surroundings buzzed with murmurs.

I could feel some worried gazes directed at me.

A huge man who looked at least two meters tall and me, barely over 170cm, facing each other wouldn’t create a good image.

But well…

Look over there. Those who had seen me fight, like Lucia and Leon, didn’t look worried at all.

“Both of you, choose your weapons.”

At her words, we both headed towards the weapon rack in the corner.

Among the various weapons, I chose a wooden sword of average length.

He chose a wooden greatsword almost as tall as himself.

“The rules are simple. Do not aim for your opponent’s life.”

As we faced each other, I heard her explanation.

“Other than that, any means or techniques are allowed. So…”

As her last words fell.

“Let out all your pent-up emotions here.”

Dash

We charged towards each other.

Swish

His greatsword swung down towards my head.

Even though it was a wooden sword, it had enough force to split a normal person’s skull.

But.

“Is that all?”

“Tch…!”

Crash

His greatsword slid off my blade and slammed into the ground beside me. Did he not see me during the entrance exam? Or did he overestimate his own strength? He seemed to have not anticipated this, leaving him wide open.

Whack

“Ugh!”

He immediately tried to retrieve his greatsword and defend himself, but my knee slammed into his abdomen before he could react.

With a dull thud, he cried out and was sent flying. However, contrary to my expectations, he landed gracefully using a breakfall technique and glared at me.

“You b!”

“You’ve got decent resilience.”

Honestly, I didn’t expect him to get up so quickly after that hit.

His resilience was about the same as Trevor’s, whom I fought recently.

“Die!”

I sidestepped to avoid the sword beam Luke fired at me after imbuing his sword with magic power. However, as if he’d anticipated my dodge, he closed in and spun his body.

His greatsword swung at high speed, boosted by the centrifugal force.

Arms, legs, abdomen, even my chest.

The deadly blade aimed indiscriminately at every visible part of my body.

“Why, why won’t you get hit?!”

No matter how threatening his attacks were, they were meaningless if they didn’t connect.

I had already moved out of the trajectory of his sword before it even swung.

“Your movements are too big.”

I ducked under his sword and immediately punched him in the exposed side.

With the sound of something breaking, he was flung back.

“Gyaaaaaah!”

He continued to rush at me as if in a frenzy.

But I wouldn’t get hit by such a reckless attack.

Luke Myers.

If Myers was the Myers I remembered, then his family was quite renowned.

They were known for their robust bodies and defensive fighting style, enduring attacks while striking back.

Physically, they were among the top three in the continent, but…

‘It won’t work on me.’

A strong body? Vast magic power? Solid defense?

I had fought against such monsters for years on the front lines.

Just look at Andras, another Legion Commander. His body was incomparably tougher, and compared to his speed and sharpness, this was like a lullaby.

I’d even encountered a Hero from his family several times.

A monster boasting near-invincible defense as long as they had magic power remaining. But,

“Not you.”

Crash

His body flew back from a punch infused with a bit of magic power. I didn’t even need a weapon.

Was that supposed to be a Myers?

Perhaps I was too lost in thought.

“Die!”

“Luke Myers! What are you doing…!”

I didn’t immediately notice the sudden change.

Despite Glesia’s warning not to aim for each other’s lives, the tip of his sword…

“Graaaaaah!”

…was now pointed at my throat.

“…What. Do you think you’re doing?”

Chilling

Glesia gritted her teeth.

‘Luke Myers! What are you doing…!’

Despite her explicit warning, he was clearly aiming for the girl’s throat.

She was furious at that bastard for ignoring her warning, and at herself for not anticipating this situation.

Even if she ran now, the sword would have already slit the girl’s throat.

All she could hope for was that Aria’s skills, as witnessed earlier, would be enough to minimize the damage, or at least ensure her survival.

If that were the case, she could take her to a healer and somehow save her…

…That should have been the case.

A cloud of dust arose as the sword reached Aria’s neck.

Glesia was about to rush forward, but…

“…What. Do you think you’re doing?”

A voice rang out before she could move.

The dust settled, revealing Luke frozen in his attack stance…

…and Aria, holding his sword in one hand, staring at him with chillingly glowing crimson eyes.

Crack

As she tightened her grip, cracks began to appear on the thick wooden sword as if it were glass.

Startled, Luke tried to pull his sword back, but no matter how much force he exerted, it wouldn’t budge from Aria’s grip.

Snap

Finally, his wooden sword shattered with a loud crack, leaving him holding only the hilt.

“S-stay back!”

Luke retreated, holding the broken hilt.

But faster than he could move,

Slash

Her sword flashed, and something fell to the ground.

Everyone’s gaze followed the sound to Luke’s severed right arm.

“Aaargh!”

“Aria! That’s enough! Stop!”

“…Die.”

Luke collapsed to the ground, clutching the wound.

Glesia, finally snapping back to reality, tried to stop Aria, but…

“Tch, has she lost her mind?”

Aria’s eyes were unfocused, as if she couldn’t see or hear anything.

Judging by the killing intent emanating from her, Glesia realized that Luke might actually die if she reached him. She started to move urgently.

Crackle

She instantly fired her magic power, freezing the ground beneath Aria’s feet.

This should be enough to restrict her movement…!

“…How annoying.”

“What?!”

Crack Crackle Crunch

Aria looked down, as if realizing she couldn’t move her feet.

As she muttered something, the ice formed by Glesia’s magic power started to crack like ordinary ice.

Glesia was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected sight of her ice breaking. But she was also a veteran of countless battles.

She quickly regained her composure and continued to freeze Aria’s legs, up to her knees.

“This will hurt a little.”

Thud

Seizing the opportunity while Aria was distracted, Glesia moved behind her.

She struck Aria’s neck, and the girl collapsed forward.

“Sigh… I guess teaching isn’t for me…”

Looking at the terrified students and Luke groaning on the floor,

Glesia let out a small sigh, already feeling overwhelmed.