The Academy’s Hard-Headed Swordmaster

Riding my horse aimlessly north, I realized I’d made a few mistakes.

First, I’d set off without any preparations, not even knowing how far it was to the North.

Second, accustomed to the safe nights of the modern era, I’d underestimated how dangerous nighttime could be.

“How many is this now?”

I frowned at the beast that appeared before me.

Horned wolves, winged foxes, boars with hippo-like scales… monsters attacked relentlessly.

If I weren’t an Aura User, I’d have been ripped to shreds by now.

The sheer number of them was staggering.

‘There are no bandits, but why are there so many monsters?’

Then again, it was ludicrous to think bandits would live in mountains teeming with dangerous monsters and beasts, a place perilous even for Aura-trained knights.

With that kind of skill, they could make a living anywhere with a single sword.

Why bother becoming a bandit?

Unless they had some mental issue that prevented them from functioning in society, there was no need.

‘Too bad.’

I wanted to kill a human before going to the North.

Killing Orcs was no problem, as they clearly weren’t human.

But I wasn’t sure how I’d react when faced with a real person.

What if I hesitated to kill during my first battle with the barbarians in the North? It could lead to a fatal injury.

That’s why I wanted to confirm whether I was the type to hesitate…

‘It can’t be helped. That’s all part of real combat.’

Even if I hesitated to kill… I would accept it. With that thought, I slowly urged my horse onward, finally arriving at the border between the North and the Central region.

“So this is…”

It was snowing.

One step back, and it was the temperate South, where the night air was only slightly chilly.

One step forward, and as if the game’s ‘map’ had changed, snow began to fall.

Easily crossing the boundary dividing the two regions, I understood why Yuri always wore such a cold expression.

‘Smiling here would tear your face apart.’

It was not a place where one could naturally smile. Feeling the biting chill of the wind, I entered the North.

* * *

There were only two kinds of people coming and going from the North:

Criminals were dragged north as punishment and wounded soldiers left.

And merchants who, for some reason, decided to try their luck trading in this desolate land.

The former moved only on designated days, and the only merchants who came to the unprofitable North were the periodic trading caravans.

This meant that guarding the border between the North and the Central region was a cushy post where wounded soldiers were stationed for temporary rest.

And true to its nature as a quiet posting, the soldiers here were quite lax in their discipline.

“Two pair.”

“My win. Three of a kind.”

“What? No way! You cheated, bastard!”

“No proof, no foul～.”

Rail, having won the card game, hummed a tune as he swept all the money on the table towards himself.

The only pleasures in the North were alcohol and the warmth of a prostitute’s embrace, but even those required money.

As he gleefully collected his winnings, Cassim, who had lost, frowned irritably and tilted back his bottle.

“Damn it, this is bullshit… Huh?”

As he drank, Cassim noticed someone approaching on horseback in the distance and frowned. No one should be coming to the North at this time.

And alone, wearing a shabby cloak? Cassim wondered if he was seeing a ghost.

“Someone’s coming.”

“What? Don’t give me that, you’re not getting out of paying…”

Rail, turning his head at Cassim’s words, also spotted the approaching figure and snapped to attention.

After all, wasn’t it incredibly suspicious for someone to come all the way here alone?

It was unlikely that barbarians from beyond the Great Wall had snuck past, acquired armor and a horse, and then returned to the North… but it was still suspicious.

The two immediately regained their lost discipline, raised their spears, and aimed them at the unidentified man.

The approaching horseman, seeing them, slowly slowed his mount.

“Halt! Who goes there!”

“Is this the North?”

“Who are you?!”

“Kyle Meyer.”

The two soldiers tilted their heads at the name. It sounded familiar, but they couldn’t quite place it.

He had a family name, so he must be a noble, but what business would a noble have coming all the way here alone? And fully armed, no less.

Kyle, seeing the spears still pointed at him, dismounted and threw back his hood.

“I am the son-in-law of Duke Walter Grace and the fiancé of his daughter, Yuri Grace.”

“…What? What do you…”

“Didn’t you hear? He said he’s the Duke’s son-in-law.”

As the Duke’s name left his lips, the two soldiers finally realized who they were facing

Kyle Meyer.

The heir to House Meyer, whom Duke Grace had supposedly brought into the fold to expand his influence into the Central region.

They didn’t know why he was here, but they knew he wasn’t someone they could treat lightly.

Gulping nervously, they lowered their spears.

“…Do you have any way to prove your identity?”

“I didn’t bring any identification.”

Kyle pondered how to prove he was Kyle Meyer, then suddenly snatched Rail’s spear.

Rail, a seasoned soldier, didn’t even notice his spear being taken.

He only realized it was gone when he saw it in Kyle’s previously empty hand.

“Will this suffice?”

Gripping the spearhead, Kyle channeled Aura into his palm and crushed the spear.

‘Screech!’

Rail and Cassim heard the sound of tearing steel for the first time in their lives.

Kyle’s palm, having effortlessly crushed the spear, was unscathed.

The two knew only one kind of person could perform such a feat.

“A, Aura…”

“Do you believe me now?”

“O, of course, sir! Young Master Kyle! Welcome!”

The two soldiers fussed over Kyle, leading him inside.

They flinched at the sight of scattered bottles and discarded cards, but…

Knowing from his past life how idle border guards could be, Kyle chose to overlook it.

He didn’t plan to stay long anyway. His goal was the barbarians beyond the Great Wall.

But there was no need to explain such details to mere soldiers. Remounting his horse, Kyle spoke.

“Where is the Duke?”

“His Grace is at the front lines…”

“Where?”

“Ah, this way. If you go straight…”

Rail tactfully provided the information Kyle sought.

Learning the location of the Duke’s fortress and the Great Wall where the barbarians attacked, Kyle immediately rode in that direction.

Watching Kyle ride away, Cassim realized Rail had said too much and cautiously called out to him.

“Hey, are you sure that was okay? What if he’s not really Young Master Kyle?”

“He probably is.”

“Why do you think so?”

“He didn’t kill us.”

Rail said, holding up the mangled spear.

The steel head was completely torn and twisted, and the shaft was split open in the middle.

The monstrous strength to crush a spear with one hand, and the speed to snatch it unnoticed.

If Kyle were a spy planning to attack the Northern Army from behind, there would be no reason to leave them alive. He clearly possessed the skill to eliminate them silently.

“By the way… how old is the Young Master?”

“I heard he’s the same age as the Lady.”

“So, fifteen?”

“Nah, no way someone who uses Aura that well is only fifteen.”

“Haha, you’re right. Maybe he’s over twenty…”

As Kyle disappeared from sight, the two soldiers, their discipline vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, began drinking again, using Kyle’s visit as a conversation starter.

* * *

The Great Wall of the North.

A wall built absurdly high to prevent barbarians from crossing.

Arriving at its base, I realized its reputation was no exaggeration.

‘Damn, even I’d have trouble climbing this.’

I could easily jump ten meters, but the wall was far higher.

It was so tall that I wondered if the soldiers stationed here had any cartilage left in their knees.

Dismounting beneath the wall, I heard shouts and the clang of steel from above and beyond, realizing a battle was underway.

‘Perfect timing.’

Leaping from my horse, I ran up the wall’s stairs without pausing.

Soldiers firing arrows through small openings looked at me curiously.

But in the midst of battle, no one found it strange that an unfamiliar knight had appeared behind them.

They likely assumed I was a reinforcement.

Reaching the top unimpeded, I took in the battlefield at a glance.

‘These two points are about to be overrun. I’ll plug this one first… Ah, there. The Duke is over there.’

*’Thump-thump-thump!’

My heart pounded with anticipation for my first real battle.

Not a mock battle, but a true fight where my life could be on the line.

‘Exhale-’

Taking a deep breath, I leaped from the Great Wall.

‘Whoosh!’

As the wind roared past my ears, I landed with a thud before a barbarian mercilessly slaughtering soldiers.

“Huh? Who the…”

“Greetings.”

Without time for pleasantries, I swung my sword.

Meyer Style Third Form: Nameless Slash.

The barbarian’s upper body tumbled to the ground.

Disgust? There was none.

The swordsmanship drilled into me allowed my body to move without conscious thought.

“Good…”

I grinned, looking ahead.

There was plenty of prey left.

Gripping my sword tightly, I charged forward.