The training ground for practical education at the academy,
Where most of the cadets looked at me with disapproving eyes.
Hmm… But what can be done?
They must have been expecting Camilla, but what they got was me.
I can understand this much.
However…
“Nameless, loosen your expression; they’re still kids, aren’t they?”
That pesky disciple was the problem.
“…Yes.”
It seemed Nameless didn’t like that I was being ignored by the cadets,
Pouting as he glared at them.
I shook my head and let out a deep sigh.
I didn’t not understand how Nameless felt.
After all, it wasn’t fun for any disciple to see their master being ignored by kids.
Well, to be honest, Nameless was also a kid, but…
Anyway.
No matter how much the cadets disliked me,
Camilla had recognized me, and the principal had recognized me, so what could they do?
-Snap!
I clapped my hands to gather their attention and opened my mouth to start the class.
“Since it’s getting late, let’s begin right away.”
I pulled out the wooden sword strapped to my waist and swung it horizontally.
The goal was to draw a large circle centered on me, allowing the cadets to view my stance from various angles.
“Eek?!”
“Startled me…!”
“…What is that?”
Seeing the cadets flinch at the sudden sword swinging, I couldn’t hide my amusement and smirked.
“First, I will show you the basic stance, so watch closely from outside the line.”
“Uh, Professor, what’s a stance?”
“Eek.”
Right from there?
Seeing the cadets’ expressions, it was clear that most of them—actually, all of them—looked confused about what a stance was.
I couldn’t have imagined there would be such a lack of understanding about the stance…
Sighing deeply at the unexpectedly low level of the cadets, Nameless gently tapped my shoulder and spoke cautiously.
“Master.”
“Hmm?”
“Can I help a bit?”
Help, huh…
I hesitated for a moment, looking at Nameless with doubtful eyes.
“Well…”
Thinking it through, it wasn’t like I would lose anything, and teaching the cadets might actually be a good experience for Nameless, so I nodded.
“Sure, give it a try.”
“Yes, Master.”
With a nod of approval, Nameless stepped forward and opened his mouth.
“The stance that Master mentioned refers to basic swordsmanship.”
Saying this, Nameless smiled proudly, causing me to let out a chuckle at such a disciple.
…Is this what helping looks like?
How could those kids, who didn’t even know what a stance is, understand just by saying it simply?
As I thought this, clicking my tongue, I overheard a cadet speak up.
“…So you’re saying the stance is basic swordsmanship?”
“Is the stance basic swordsmanship? Is that a foreign language?”
Finally, as if they understood, cadets started nodding, while others began to make their own guesses.
…Technically, I am a foreigner.
No, more than that, did they really not use such a term?
“Ha.”
I let out a sigh filled with emptiness and then heard a particularly annoying voice in my ear.
“By the way, Professor, didn’t we already complete the basic swordsmanship course before enrolling?”
“What?”
My eyebrows furrowed heavily.
“Completed it?”
Not even I, who had swung a sword for 300 years, had completed it, and these kids expect me to believe they have?
Impossible, truly nonsensical.
Seeing my furious expression, the cadets shivered a bit but…
“…Didn’t we finish all the basic swordsmanship? Right?”
“True enough.”
Some cadets narrowed their brows, looking displeased at my statement, and started chiming in here and there.
“Professor, aren’t you underestimating our level?”
Eventually, one male cadet, his face red with anger, shouted at me.
“Ha.”
I was truly astounded; I couldn’t even find words to respond.
As I was pondering how to explain this to these foolish kids with a dazed expression,
One cadet stepped forward and spoke.
“We signed up for this class because we heard Iron Blood was teaching, but then an unfamiliar person shows up to take the class.”
“…”
Indeed, that was a fair point.
However, it was something the principal Anna agreed to as well, and I had come here due to Camilla’s request, even if I didn’t want to be here.
With the cadets acting like this, it was only ruining my mood.
“And still, basic swordsmanship?”
This male cadet seemed to have a lot of complaints, continuing with a frown.
“Isn’t this going too far in mocking us?”
While some cadets hesitated at his somewhat extreme words, most nodded in agreement.
“Things are getting heated.”
As the atmosphere started to escalate, Nameless furrowed his brows painfully and placed a hand on his waist, ready to step in.
“Nameless.”
I extended my arm to block him.
Nameless looked back at me, looking wronged.
“But—”
“Just wait; they’re still kids, aren’t they?”
“…Yes.”
Nameless pouted and stepped back, while I turned to the forward cadet.
“…Are you saying you don’t understand why I’m showing you the basic stance?”
“Yes.”
“Ha…”
Seeing the serious expression on the cadet as he nodded, I wiped my face and continued my thoughts.
…It seems I need to change the order of the lesson a bit.
“Before starting the lesson, I’ll show you something you should aim for.”
“…Aim?”
“Right, and of course, I’ll only use that which you dismiss as basic.”
Saying this, I raised the wooden sword and drew it, causing leaves falling from the sky to split into two.
“…!”
Ignoring the cadets’ astonished reactions, I turned to Nameless.
“Nameless, tell Anna to prepare it faster.”
“Yes, Master.”
A smile bloomed on Nameless’s face.
*
Nameless returned in less than a minute with the item I mentioned.
“What is this…?”
“…What is this?”
Every cadet collectively wore questioning expressions, unable to guess the use of the item.
Seeing the cadets like this, I grinned and approached the object, placing my hand on it.
“Your first stage goal is to split this rock.”
“…With a sword? That huge rock?”
“Right.”
As I nodded at the cautious question from one cadet, his expression twisted oddly as he began to nod in understanding.
“…If we use mana, it shouldn’t be impossible.”
However, I had no choice but to deny that cadet’s words.
That’s because…
“What foolish talk is that? You must split the rock using pure swordsmanship, not mana.”
There was no need to exert mana just to split that rock.
The cadet who had asked the question now looked anxious as he raised his sword.
“But, my sword’s edge will surely get damaged!”
“Hmm.”
Indeed, if they couldn’t succeed right away, it would damage the blade.
But…
There’s no way I would present a goal that couldn’t be prepared for.
Smiling slyly, I watched as Nameless pulled wooden swords from the large bag he had brought with the rock.
Of course, these were not the precious wooden swords that Nameless had specially crafted for me.
There was no way I would give those precious ones to mere kids.
“This should solve the problem, right?”
“…Huh?”
Expressions of shock began to spread not only among the questioning cadets but also among the majority gathered there.
Of course, not everyone was in shock.
Some looked relieved that they wouldn’t have to cut the rock with their own swords, while others were worried about how they could possibly split such a massive rock with just wooden swords.
As I smiled at them for a moment, I slowly got into a stance while gripping the wooden sword with both hands.
“Seeing is believing, so watch as I demonstrate.”
I closed my eyes.
I inhaled, then exhaled.
The sounds around me faded away, and all my senses focused on myself.
I raised my arms above me and stepped forward with my left foot.
From the tiny muscles in my little toe to my Achilles tendon, calves, knees, and thighs.
I engraved the muscle movements occurring from this one step into my brain.
And I controlled it.
To be as perfect as possible.
“This is the basic swordsmanship you so disdain, the vertical cut.”
I slowly brought the sword down vertically, and then—
-Crack!
A soft sound, like tofu being sliced, echoed,
And I opened my eyes to meet the cadets’ gazes.
“If anyone still has complaints about what I will teach, then come and split this rock.”
Silence filled the air.
“If there’s no one, then I’ll resume the lesson; time is running short.”
Right, now they seem like they’ll listen a bit.
A genuinely pleasant smile formed on my face.
It was the proper beginning of the lesson.
