Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 16



Chapter 16

Throughout the semester as they attended lectures and crossed swords with each other it became clear that there was no benefit in pretending to be something he was not such as ‘Although I’m from a family of mages I actually dream of becoming a swordmaster.’

Moreover given the wariness of the White Tiger students towards Yi-Han it was necessary to alleviate their suspicions.

“I’ll just get by and pick up my scores so you don’t need to worry about me!” Yi-Han declared.

However the expression on his counterpart’s face was complex and indecipherable. It seemed as though he was pondering whether Yi-Han’s statement was truthful or not.

“Um I see. I am from the Moradi family. Just call me Moradi.”

“Alright. Pleased to meet you Moradi.”

Yi-Han shook hands with Moradi feeling the calluses and blisters that reminded him Moradi was from a knight family despite his small stature.

‘Wait the Moradi family?’

Yi-Han recalled hearing about this noble knight family of the empire known for their ruthless and uncompromising nature in protecting their territory in the frigid north.

‘…Quite contrary to the family’s reputation.’

Moradi looked puzzled by Yi-Han’s gaze.

‘Well not every family’s reputation always matches reality.’

Compared to their earlier encounter with someone who picked a fight without care for family reputation Moradi seemed more sensible.

‘I need to use this to ease the other White Tiger students’ suspicions.’

—

Azure Rock Style.

This was the name of the swordsmanship Yi-Han had learned from Arlong an elder knight of his family.

As its name meaning ‘Azure Rock’ suggested Arlong’s swordsmanship was solid and steadfast.

“There are countless swordsmanship styles in the world. Fast slow sharp blunt heavy light simple complex… There’s no need to learn them all nor do I have the ability to teach them. The swordsmanship style I teach is the path I’ve followed and believed in. One day you Yi-Han will also find your own path as you continue your journey with the sword.”

Arlong had decades of experience in swordsmanship a stark contrast to Yi-Han who had been practicing for barely ten years.

Yi-Han couldn’t fully grasp everything Arlong said but he had one advantage that other nobles did not: his willingness to follow instructions. Yi-Han did as he was told without question which had honed his swordsmanship to a fundamental perfection.

“Azure Rock Style? Your basics are very solid.”

Professor Ingurdel also praised Yi-Han’s stance.

“Which family are you from? If it’s Azure Rock Style then surely…”

“I am from the Wardanaz family.”

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“…?”

Professor Ingurdel paused for a moment surprised.

Was the Wardanaz family’s swordsmanship style the Azure Rock Style?

Recalling what he knew about the Wardanaz family Ingurdel asked curiously “May I ask why you chose to learn swordsmanship?”

“For an imperial noble isn’t swordsmanship a basic form of education?”

Ingurdel gave a wry smile at the response. It wasn’t the wrong answer but it wasn’t the one he favored. To a born swordsman like Ingurdel swordsmanship was a life-and-death skill not mere nobility etiquette.

“I initially thought the same and started learning. But the more I practiced the more I realized that swordsmanship is as profound a study as magic. That’s why I came here to learn more.”

“Perfect score!”

“Eh?”

“It’s nothing” Ingurdel waved his hand dismissively his unexpected approval inadvertently slipping out. He hadn’t expected a student from a family of mages like the Wardanaz family to take swordsmanship so seriously. This attitude was far more admirable than that of some of the students from the White Tiger who were all show and no substance.

‘Did it work?’ Yi-Han observed Ingurdel’s expression closely. Compared to the unpredictable and feared Mad Lich Principal Professor Ingurdel despite his daunting appearance was a much more straightforward and kind-hearted person. For Yi-Han who had been worn down by crazed professors winning over someone as guileless as Ingurdel was an easy task. Of course he had to hide his true intentions in front of the professor.

“Such an excellent mindset” Ingurdel complimented.

“Thank you.”

“Your words inspire me to put in more effort as well. I will take you seriously. Now pick up your wooden sword.”

Yi-Han slightly regretted his too-good response.

—

Professor Ingurdel relentlessly drilled the students without pause.

Initially the students fooled by his kind and gentle demeanor let their guard down only to be harshly corrected. Ingurdel’s strikes were so formidable that the students once confident ended up subdued and defeated.

‘Wow he’s no joke.’

Yi-Han whose swordsmanship still had a long way to go recognized the professor’s extraordinary skill. Arlong Yi-Han’s previous teacher was an exceptional swordsman but Ingurdel was equally impressive. While Arlong was like an immovable rock Ingurdel was like swift-flowing water. It was astonishing that despite having a prosthetic arm and leg Ingurdel could move so fluidly.

The students who had trained in their respective family’s sword techniques for years couldn’t keep up with Ingurdel’s movements and were relentlessly beaten.

“Your Purple Cloud Style lacks variety. The essence of dual-wielding lies in its complexity and difficulty! Don’t just swing aimlessly; think and strike more thoughtfully.”

“The High Mountain Moon Style needs to be faster and sharper! Don’t hesitate when thrusting; commit fully to your attack.”

Moreover as befitting his position Ingurdel recognized every sword style the students used. There were hundreds of renowned sword styles in the empire not to mention countless more passed down within families. Yet Ingurdel knew them all by name.

“Let’s take a short break.”

The students collapsed to the side groaning in pain and exhaustion too drained even to curse.

Yi-Han too felt his muscles sore and his body numb.

-“Azure Rock Style is like the rock. Do not falter under any attack.”-

-“But professor you’re better than me. How can I not falter?”-

-“Continue the attack! Block it! Block! Block!”-

Ingurdel expertly exploited Yi-Han’s weaknesses forcing him to defend desperately to survive.

‘It really seems like I misspoke…’

As the break began Yi-Han couldn’t help but think so. He felt like he had been targeted more intensely and persistently than the other students. Although it could have been due to his swordsmanship his intuition suggested otherwise. After all hadn’t he already learned the hard way in <Understanding Basic Alchemy> what happened when one crossed a professor?

Should he have just stayed quiet?

‘I didn’t expect to be beaten more for getting a good score.’

“Wardanaz?”

“Yes Professor.”

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“Come here for a quick spar.”

Yi-Han thought he had indeed misspoken. While everyone else was resting he had to endure a beating alone from the professor. But Ingurdel hadn’t called Yi-Han out to face him.

“This is Dolgyu from the Choi family. The two of you will have a brief spar.”

This announcement surprised not only Yi-Han but also the other resting students. Why those two?

‘Isn’t he the one who picked a fight with me earlier?’

Yi-Han looked at Dolgyu with a reluctant expression. This was the same student who had provocatively asked why someone from another dormitory was attending the lecture. Dolgyu didn’t look good in Yi-Han’s eyes especially since he had instigated a quarrel even after knowing that Yi-Han was from the Wardanaz family indicating a stubborn mindset. It seemed likely that Dolgyu would attack relentlessly rather than sparingly during the spar.

“Understood Professor!”

Saying so Dolgyu glared at Yi-Han as if he wanted to kill him. Yi-Han internally scoffed.

‘His true intentions are so obvious.’

His face clearly showed his intention to use this opportunity to trample on another student from a different dormitory.

Yi-Han didn’t know why the professor had specifically chosen him among so many students but…

‘Surely I haven’t been marked by the professor for being from another dormitory. He seemed to like my answer earlier.’

Since the situation had come to this Yi-Han had no intention of backing down. He had endured beatings while learning swordsmanship from Arlong at his family’s manor not to be beaten down in situations like these!

—

Professor Ingurdel’s reason for choosing Dolgyu and Yi-Han was simple: they were the most skilled among the students at that moment.

Mastering swordsmanship wasn’t something that could be done just by learning it. The core techniques or sword forms required practicing thousands of times and experiencing real combat to barely grasp them.

For instance consider a technique that aims for the opponent’s chest but then shifts to strike at the neck. Using it straightforwardly wouldn’t work against any but the most foolish opponents. One had to precede it with feints like threatening an upper strike or pretending to aim low integrating these subtle movements to unleash the technique’s full potential.

Understanding a sword form meant being able to apply it fully with such adaptations. Even just understanding their own sword forms to this extent made students formidable against most mercenaries who often relied on instinct and brute strength rather than skill.

In this regard both Dolgyu and Yi-Han had reached the level where they understood and could apply their learned sword forms. They had even infused their weapons with a trace of magical power.

For students from a knight family achieving this level at their age was enough to ensure a successful career as a knight.

‘How hard must it have been for someone from a family of mages like Wardanaz to practice swordsmanship to this extent!’

While Dolgyu from the Choi family was one thing a student from a family of mages like Wardanaz achieving high swordsmanship skills was truly unexpected.

And that impressed Ingurdel even more.

‘Swordsmanship is as deep and meaningful a study as magic. This student must have felt the same and come with a strong resolve to learn.’

Ingurdel misunderstood Yi-Han believing he had secretly devoted himself to swordsmanship to the extent of risking his family’s disapproval.

In truth the Wardanaz family had not interfered much with Yi-Han learning swordsmanship from Arlong. The Wardanaz family traditionally let each member handle their own affairs without meddling in each other’s business.

Now that their paths had crossed Ingurdel felt a responsibility to guide Yi-Han on his path of the sword.

‘The High Mountain Moon Style of the Choi family is fast and sharp while the Wardanaz’s Azure Rock Style is heavy and firm. They are styles that completely oppose each other. Pitting them against one another should be highly instructive. Having a rival on the path of the sword who can match oneself is invaluable.’

Of course Professor Ingurdel had also noticed that the students of the White Tiger being exclusively from other dormitories harbored some hostility towards Yi-Han. But such matters would resolve over time.

Under Ingurdel’s rigorous training they wouldn’t have time to foster poor relations with each other. They would only come to resent Professor Ingurdel!

Professor Ingurdel sincerely hoped that the two most outstanding students would positively influence each other and that this positive influence would spread to the other students.

Swoosh!

Caught in these thoughts what Ingurdel saw was Yi-Han kicking up dirt with his foot scattering it into Dolgyu’s face.

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