Chapter 8. Entrance Exam (7)
Reina and I stood at opposite ends of the platform.
“Before we start, I have a question. This is sword training, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then I can’t use anything other than swordsmanship?”
“Exactly!”
“Then I won’t be fighting at full power—is that okay?”
“Ah.”
For a moment, Reina’s expression stiffened.
“Oh, right. You’re from the Astreia family.”
Only now remembering my background, Reina muttered, “Even if I beat a mage using just swordsmanship…”
Then, she started to look tearful, so I smiled and reassured her.
“It’s okay. We can spar properly another time.”
“Yeah. In that case, it doesn’t matter.”
Reina smiled as if she’d never been sulking and swung her sword lightly.
Then, smiling in satisfaction, she stabbed her sword into the ground and spoke.
“This isn’t a sparring match anyway—it’s training. No need to go all out.”
“So then, I don’t have to spar with you later?”
“…If you don’t, I’ll torment you until you apologize.”
“You mean if I apologize, you won’t torment me?”
Reina glared sharply.
The intensity in her eyes made me flinch instinctively.
Okay, I should stop teasing her.
I adjusted my grip on the sword and changed the subject.
“This training facility uses special magic to protect your body, so we don’t need to set up safety rules like last time.”
“I know that much, you know?”
“Then I guess I don’t need to tell you about the hidden features?”
“What? There’s a hidden feature? What is it?”
“Actually, there isn’t one.”
“…Quit messing with me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I keep telling myself to stop, but Reina’s reactions are just too entertaining.
As she glared at me, Reina eventually relaxed her expression and began explaining.
“You might already know, but Serenia-style swordsmanship is a defensive style modeled after fire.”
“As far as I know, Serenia-style only has one defensive technique though?”
She wasn’t wrong, but it was something I had always wanted to point out.
They say Serenia-style is defensive, but aside from one technique, it’s all powerful, aggressive strikes. Most of it involves abandoning defense entirely.
Reina paused, caught off guard, then cleared her throat and continued.
“…True, but once you face it, you’ll understand why it’s considered defensive. Today, I’ll teach you its core and only defensive form: Combustion.”
Reina lowered her stance into a combat-ready position, and I followed suit.
But while I crouched into a charging stance, Reina held a higher guard than mine.
“This time, you call the start. Your teacher will give you the honor.”
“Then I won’t hold back. Start!”
“What?!”
As Reina reacted with surprise, I launched myself forward.
[Serenia-style Swordsmanship – Ignition]
With the support of the skill, my body moved instinctively.
As if a fuse had been lit, I sprinted toward Reina and swung my sword.
She was momentarily flustered but quickly composed herself.
She inserted her blade into my trajectory, twisting the path of my attack.
Clang!
Like a flash of fire, my arm and sword were flung above my head, leaving me completely exposed.
Reina could’ve ended it then and there—but instead of her sword, she kicked me.
Thud!
With a heavy impact, I rolled across the ground. Reina lowered her sword again and asked,
“Did you see how I blocked your attack?”
I couldn’t quite grasp the principle in the moment, but I understood it in theory.
“You read my sword’s path, interfered, and forced an opening, right?”
Reina nodded.
“Correct. What I just showed you was Combustion. Like sparking a fire and linking it with flame, you entangle the opponent’s sword and create an opening for a decisive strike.
Countering and finishing with a powerful blow—that’s the defensive yet fierce characteristic of Serenia-style.”
“That’s really cool.”
“Right?! Totally cool!”
Reina beamed like she’d just received a compliment herself, then quickly coughed and calmed down.
“But that’s just one part of Serenia-style. Its true value lies elsewhere.”
Did it have that kind of lore?
The only thing I could think of was the secret technique, which was strong, but not especially legendary.
“Besides, Serenia-style is based on aura. I can’t use the true techniques properly yet. That’s why I can’t use the ultimate skill either.”
“But you know how it works?”
“Of course. I’m the last…”
Reina, speaking excitedly, suddenly paused, then smiled and continued.
“As a direct descendant of the Serenia family, I know everything—at least in theory.”
I noticed her expression darken for a moment when she stopped, but I didn’t point it out.
Reina was the last direct heir of the Serenia bloodline and its swordsmanship.
Of course she’d know all the techniques. Yet here I was, ignorantly asking obvious questions.
Trying to shift the mood, I smiled and readjusted my grip.
“I think I got the hang of it. You go first this time.”
Reina smiled back.
“Just one demonstration and you think you’re ready?”
“I already stole one technique. This won’t be any different.”
“You’re acting cocky for someone who can’t even use it properly.”
“Either way, if you don’t believe me—come at me. I’ll show you.”
“Fine.”
This time I stood still while Reina crouched into her stance and the duel resumed.
“Start!”
With her shout, Reina rushed toward me.
I recalled the form she had shown me earlier.
[Serenia-style Swordsmanship – Combustion]
In that moment, I saw it—layered sword paths. Reina’s blade, coming diagonally for my neck.
Just as it rose diagonally, I inserted my sword into her trajectory.
But I wasn’t skilled enough to force an opening like Reina had, and due to our stat difference, even blocking was hard.
So I drove the tip of my sword into the ground to balance the force.
Grind!
It wasn’t perfect, but I managed to stop her attack. Reina smiled proudly.
“Not bad.”
“Maybe because I have a good teacher?”
“Flattery won’t get you anything!”
She withdrew her sword and swung again. I used Combustion to block.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Her rapid flurry, resembling Ignition, had slight differences but was clearly a modified version of it.
I’d expected her to attack recklessly, but surprisingly, she was properly training me.
In the midst of her strikes, Reina said,
“Serenia-style may be defensive, but it’s not just about defense!”
That was a provocation.
In a duel using Serenia-style, the one who masters Combustion better wins—so Reina would win here.
But I didn’t mind.
I planned to lose this spar from the start.
To keep a low profile, I had to hide my true ability—especially from Reina.
I already revealed too much in the last duel. I couldn’t let her figure out who I really was.
So I fell for her provocation on purpose.
“Alright, here I come!”
I launched a flurry of my own, mimicking her modified Ignition.
Unlike her clean, polished strikes, mine were rough and poorly connected—leaving an opening.
Clang!
Just like earlier, my arm was flung above my head with a loud clang.
Reina, this time serious, lowered her stance and aimed her sword downward.
It was the stance of Ignition.
This strike would end the match.
But there was still one thing I needed to confirm.
A hidden skill.
And just as I expected:
[■■■ has activated.]
[For your next attack, attack speed is doubled.]
Bingo.
Seeing the system window, I was sure.
This hidden skill activates in critical moments and grants a buff based on what I need most.
Even though the effect lasts only for the next strike, it was overwhelmingly more powerful than standard buffs that raise stats by 30%.
Reina’s sword was flying at me—but I felt certain I could strike her first.
But if I countered now, she’d think I was strong. I had to hold back.
Her sword didn’t stop and slashed across my body.
Ssssshhk!
The cold steel cut through me—I rolled on the floor, screaming.
“Gaaaaahhh!”
I wasn’t physically hurt, but the sensation was so vivid I never wanted to experience it again.
Reina looked down at me with a smile.
“You didn’t even die. Why are you whining so much?”
“If I had died, I wouldn’t be screaming…”
“Oh ho~ Backtalking your master?”
Reina scolded playfully and poked the wound with her finger.
“GAAAAAH!”
“You’re more of a crybaby than I thought.”
“We’ll see if you still say that after going through this yourself.”
“I probably wouldn’t even scream if I got seriously hurt.”
Yeah, right. I’ve seen the game.
The mighty training fanatic Reina Serenia skipped all training and classes because of the pain.
And if you visited her, she would act all cutesy—players even called that the only event for the otherwise extra character Reina.
When that time comes, I’ll visit the infirmary and tease her to my heart’s content. Hehehe.
As I chuckled to myself, she poked the wound again.
“GHRK!”
“Don’t make weird faces.”
“Sorry… Just please don’t poke me there again…”
“I’ll think about it.”
She pretended to ponder, then jabbed the same spot again.
“KIIIIAAA!”
Grinning like a mischievous devil, she said,
“This is more fun than I expected. Can I poke it again?”
“Of course not!”
“I don’t recall asking for your permission.”
As she raised her hand again, I blocked it faster than ever.
“W-wait!”
“Ooh~ You blocked me?”
“Wh-what do I need to do to survive?”
“Praise me, and I’ll let you live.”
Praise Reina? That was easy.
Without hesitation, I started listing her good points.
“First, you’re incredibly hardworking! Probably no one in Iris Academy—or the entire Azehrum Empire—works harder than you.”
“Ooh! Next!”
“And your convictions! You stick to what you believe is right, no matter what others say.”
“Ooh~ How did you know? Next.”
“And you’re cute. Definitely the cutest—not just in the Empire, but in the world!”
“Hehe. Then, what about pretty?”
“Well, beauty… That title might go to other characters…”
While I was thinking of other top-tier beauties in Spell Breaker, she suddenly jabbed the wound again.
“KUHAAAH!”
Though Reina smiled with her eyes, the vibe felt deadly.
“Try again. Am I pretty?”
“Of course! You’re pretty—but not necessarily the most—”
I tried to block her again, but Reina used Combustion to knock away my hand and jab me again.
“GUUAAHHH!”
“Your learning speed is slower than I thought.”
“…Call it unwavering conviction instead.”
“If so, you shouldn’t have called me cute in the first place.”
“But it’s true.”
“W-what are you saying!”
Reina’s face flushed slightly and she suddenly began hitting me at random.
“W-wait!”
Don’t hit the wound! I’ll die! I’m gonna die!
Despite my screams, she didn’t stop until much later.
Finally calming down, she placed a hand on her cheek to cool off and glared at me.
“Seriously, people weren’t joking calling you a troublemaker.”
“At least explain why you’re hitting me…”
Still, Reina looked satisfied.
“Well, I’ll forgive you this time.”
“Thank you…”
I finally relaxed, thinking it was over.
But Reina still looked cheerful.
“By the way, do you know what the worst mistake is during combat?”
“Let’s see… It’s not stabbing a wounded guy or punching randomly, right?”
“The answer is letting your guard down.”
“No, wait—!”
“Yes!”
I quickly raised my guard, but Reina’s hand already poked the wound.
The next day.
After finishing whatever that was—training or a sparring match—the entrance exam results were posted in the main hall.
There were three lists for dorm assignments by ranking, and if your name wasn’t on any of them, you’d failed.
Because more people applied than passed, many students looked devastated, some even causing a scene.
The academy must’ve expected it. Guards showed up instantly and dragged the troublemakers away.
Naturally, I passed. I even got into Tertia Hall, the second-best dorm, despite the mess I caused during the test.
Maybe the judges bumped up my score out of fear, since dorm fees and tuition were covered.
Luckily, Drener passed too—getting into Iris Hall, the top dorm.
As I scanned the board to check on major characters, Reina appeared beside me and casually struck up a conversation—
—by poking the spot she slashed yesterday.
“Oh? Doesn’t hurt anymore?”
“I hurt plenty after you left. I got used to it.”
Just lying down made the wound throb so badly I couldn’t sleep.
I tried using [Holy Spell – Lesser Healing], but unlike mana, I had no idea how to use divine power.
“So it won’t hurt much if I cut you again?”
“Not a chance. I might tolerate it, but I’d rather not.”
“Hmm. Too bad.”
“Hey, don’t lick your lips like that.”
“Hehe, I’m kidding.”
Then Reina handed me an envelope with a proud look.
I already had a good guess what was inside.
As expected, it was a formal letter congratulating me for my admission, assigning me to Iris Hall, and informing me I’d received a full scholarship for the first semester as top of the year.
Maybe reading along with my eyes, Reina asked excitedly:
“Well? How is it?”
It was obvious she wanted praise, so I exaggerated deliberately.
“Wow! You’re the top student?! That’s amazing, Reina!”
Reina nodded proudly, grinning.
Thankfully, she didn’t seem to realize she only made top because of me.
“By the way, Ban, you’re gonna have fun. Tertia Hall is a great place to make friends.”
“Me? I’ll be lucky if people don’t run away after seeing my name.”
“Oh come on, you’re not that infamous. No one’s gonna flee just from hearing your name.”
“…Hey.”
After parting ways with Reina, I went to check my dorm.
It was a four-person room in Tertia Hall—but to my surprise, my name was the only one on the door.
They must’ve already run away.
I expected it… but seeing it in person still felt a little depressing.
Still, I get this whole spacious room to myself.
…Actually, this might be great.
