The Academy’s Hard-Headed Swordmaster

A sharply swung sword aimed for the neck.

A fierce swordsmanship technique.

It was a blow that most swordsmen wouldn’t be able to react to, but the opponent skillfully blocked the sword and counterattacked.

A technique aimed at the weak points of the human body was used, and I lost my grip on the sword. If I hadn’t let go, my arm would have broken.

“Ugh—!”

“Haha, too bad, Young Master.”

Having dropped my sword, I frowned slightly and looked at the Senior Knight. I lost. I lost again.

‘It’s still not enough…’

I looked at the knights around me, watching the fight and letting out exclamations of admiration. Apprentice knights and newly appointed novice knights.

I could win against such knights without any problems. The problem was the older Senior Knights.

Battle specialists who had already experienced several real battles.

It wasn’t easy to win against weapons of war who spent every day thinking about how to better bring down and kill people.

‘Is it a lack of experience?’

As I was pondering this, biting my lip, the Senior Knight who had easily defeated me opened his mouth with a reassuring smile.

“Young Master, don’t worry. From what I see, your talent is real. I’ve never seen such talent anywhere else.”

“Really?”

“Yes. At such a young age, with a body that hasn’t fully grown, to be at this level… I can’t even imagine how many people will be able to defeat you when you’re fully grown.”

I couldn’t dismiss it as mere flattery because the Senior Knight’s expression was filled with excitement.

These are knights. Knights who serve House Meyer. Naturally, the higher their master’s honor, the higher their own honor rises.

If their new master, who they will serve in the near future, shows outstanding talent, it was something to celebrate, not to be jealous of.

“You’re amazing, Young Master.”

Children my age would simply be happy to hear such praise. But I wasn’t satisfied with just this level of praise.

‘It’s not enough.’

I’m still hungry.

I can become stronger.

Grabbing my sword and standing up, I looked at the Senior Knight and said,

“One more round.”

“—Yes.”

The knight swung his sword as if he had been waiting.

Every time the swords clashed, I was tempered a little more.

A thousand swings make a ‘dan’, and ten thousand swings make a ‘lien’.

Training danlien, means ten million swings.

Until ten million swings, 9,999,999 more to go.

***

There’s a saying that gym rats can relate to.

‘I want to quit my job and just work out every day.’

Unfortunately, there has never been a gym rat who has actually put this adage into practice.

Humans are social animals, and there are days when we have to do things we don’t want to.

I sighed inside the furiously speeding carriage.

“I don’t want to go.”

“Kyle… To be honest, this dad doesn’t want to go either.”

The Count said so with an awkward laugh. He had an expression that said he couldn’t help it.

In a way, it was natural. What was happening today wasn’t something a mere Count could ignore.

‘Why such a big birthday party?’

Today was the Prince’s 10th birthday party.

The day when all the nobles of the Empire gather.

It was also an event that House Meyer, bearing the title of the Empire’s Protector Sword, the Empire’s Guardian Knights, absolutely could not miss.

‘We don’t even celebrate my birthday at home.’

The reason for not celebrating my birthday was simple. Our family wasn’t one for such formalities, and more importantly, my birthday was also—

‘The anniversary of my mother’s death.’

It was a day that couldn’t be celebrated.

It wasn’t possible to celebrate the day the mistress of the house died, was it?

If the Count had taken a new wife or had concubines after that, it might have been different.

But the Count was a devoted lover who had only ever looked at one woman his entire life.

“But Dad.”

“What is it?”

“Why such a big birthday party? I don’t think we did this last year.”

“Ah, you’re talking about that.”

There was another reason why I was needlessly grumpy.

Last year and the year before, no, never in my life had I gone to the Imperial City for the Prince’s birthday party.

If they weren’t going to do it, they should do it every year, or what was the reason for suddenly doing it?

The Count readily explained the reason.

“Nowadays, with advancements in medicine and the presence of priests, young children don’t die easily, but—even in the past, children often died before reaching the age of ten.”

“Ah, so?”

“Yes. Whether royal or noble, they died, so celebrating a child’s birthday before the age of ten became foolish. This became a tradition, and the royal family’s birthdays are celebrated grandly at the age of ten.”

The infant mortality rate in the medieval era was incredibly high. One out of three children born would die.

And that was the case in this world as well. Even if the survival rate of nobles and royalty was higher, one in ten would die.

Of course, now that healing using magic and divine arts, and medicine, had developed, the infant mortality rate had hit rock bottom.

“We’re here.”

At the Count’s words, I stealthily looked out the window.

The Imperial City was visible in the distance.

And the most magnificent building in the Imperial City was also visible.

Just how much money had been poured into it? It was an unimaginably grand building.

‘Should I be happy that the country has a lot of money?’

Or should I be worried that the Imperial Family was obsessed with ostentation and luxury?

Leaving my worries behind, the carriage entered the Imperial City.

‘Come to think of it…’

The Prince’s 10th birthday celebration party.

The place where all the nobles of the Empire participate.

‘I wonder if she’ll come too.’

Thinking of my fiancée, whom I would be meeting after a long time, I imagined how she might have grown.

I just hoped her smile had gotten better, at least.

***

After arriving at the Imperial City and changing into clothes at the pre-booked lodging, we headed straight to the Imperial Palace.

Wearing an awkward tuxedo, which I had never worn once in both my previous and current life, made me want to rip it off immediately.

‘It doesn’t even suit me…’

As I pulled at my tie and frowned slightly, the Count smoothed out the wrinkles in my clothes and spoke cautiously.

“Kyle, you have to be careful there.”

“Watch my words, right?”

“Yes. Well, if you stick with Dad, there shouldn’t be any trouble……”

The Count muttered worriedly and looked down at me. At that sight, I laughed inwardly.

I’m not a child, what is there to worry about?

‘Oh, right. I am a child.’

Thinking about it carefully, I was still a child.

Thinking I should just listen to the adults like a good child, I grinned and told him not to worry.

I had no intention of causing trouble here. No, I’ve never caused trouble in the first place.

The Count was just worrying needlessly.

Still not losing his suspicious expression, the Count took me to the party hall.

The knights standing at the entrance searched us—and finally, we were allowed inside.

“The Empire’s Guardian Knight, Count Karl Meyer, and his son, Young Master Kyle Meyer, are entering!”

Simultaneously with the doorman’s announcement, the gazes of the nobles inside all turned towards us.

The quick-witted nobles were already walking towards us.

The Count greeted them warmly.

“It’s been a while, Baron.”

“Oh, indeed. I must visit your territory sometime, Marquis……”

“Yes, I understand. Regarding that matter—”

Beside the Count, who was engaging in various conversations with the nobles, I stood there grinning like a doll.

I couldn’t interfere in the adults’ conversations. Actually, I also wondered if I even understood what the nobles were talking about.

After standing there for a while, I spotted a child waving at me from afar.

“Dad.”

“Uh, uh—Kyle. What is it?”

“I’ll be over there.”

I pointed to where the young noble lords and ladies of similar age to me were gathered, and the Count nodded as if relieved.

After loosening the suffocating tuxedo around my neck and heading towards where the young nobles were gathered, the child who had waved at me earlier approached immediately.

“Kyle, it’s been a while.”

My fiancée whom I was meeting after five years, Yuri Grace. She greeted me with her usual icy expression.

Looking at my fiancée after a long time, I laughed heartily.

“Oh, Yuri. It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

“So, have you been practicing smiling a lot?”

“I’ve practiced a lot. My father even praised me.”

“Really? Let me see.”

Grinning, I tried to see how hard my fiancée had been practicing, but Yuri shook her head expressionlessly.

“No.”

“…Why?”

“My father told me not to show it.”

At those words, I felt a bit puzzled.

Was she sulking because I hadn’t shown my face for five years?

Even so, I’m her fiancé—how could he prevent me from even seeing my own fiancée’s smile?

Fortunately, the reason she wasn’t showing her smile wasn’t that shallow.

“…He said I shouldn’t smile carelessly at strange men.”

“Hey, why am I a strange man? I’m your fiancé.”

“You’re only my fiancé for now, we’re not married yet… He told me not to show it carelessly.”

“Ah.”

It was clearly retaliation for what I had said last time about not liking her and so on.

Realizing that I had brought this upon myself, I covered my face and sighed deeply.

Even so, how could she hold a grudge for so long?

‘This is why Northerners…’

As I hung my head low and peeked at Yuri’s developed chest, Yuri seemed to sense my gaze and slightly covered her chest, turning her body.

Although I couldn’t confirm her smile, I was satisfied enough to confirm her growth. Just then, someone spoke to me.

“What are you two talking about?”

Turning my head slightly, I saw a noble-looking boy with blond hair smiling in front of us.

As I tilted my head, not knowing who he was, Yuri next to me seemed to recognize the boy in front of her and immediately bowed politely.

“Yuri Grace greets His Highness, the Prince.”

“Ah, yes. Pleased to meet you.”

Realizing that the boy in front of me was the protagonist of this party, the Prince, I followed Yuri and greeted him in the same manner.

“Kyle Meyer greets His Highness, the Prince.”

“Ah, you’re…”

The Prince, as if remembering something upon hearing my name, started to act familiar.

As I tilted my head at the sight, the Prince grinned and introduced himself.

“I’m Bellion Dyrus. The Third Prince, and the same age as you.”

“Oh, then can I drop the formalities?”

“Huh, huh?”

“You said we’re the same age, so aren’t we friends?”

Bellion, upon hearing my words, looked at me for a moment as if bewildered, then burst into laughter as if pleased.

“Ha, hahaha! Sure. Alright! Let’s be friends, Kyle!”

“Nice to meet you, Bellion.”

“Hahaha!”

He even grabbed my hand and shook it up and down.

At that sight, not only Yuri but also the surrounding people began to change their expressions.

As I tilted my head, wondering what was going on, only Bellion, who had made a new friend, burst out laughing.