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120. Clash (2)

The scene unfolding before my eyes could only be described with one word: chaos.

One person stirs a fight against many, inciting a sense of combativeness and standing alone.

The sight of facing off against numerous opponents could easily be described as a massacre. The problem was that this was happening at the hands of an instructor against young students.

As in the main story, Jason spread a hint of murderous intent to instill fear in the students. He induced their defense mechanisms by suggesting they would die if they didn’t attack quickly.

What followed was brutal slaughter. A classic case of the old pros ruthlessly decimating the newbies.

The fallen students were covered in bruises. Even a single attempt to attack resulted in injuries so severe that getting back up seemed impossible.

While he must have controlled his strength, it was practically like he had subdued them without killing them.

If he had genuinely intended to gauge the students’ strength, he could have given them endless chances to attack without inflicting injuries.

If bloodshed was the expected outcome, it should not have happened in the first place.

As depicted in the actual main story, this wasn’t a skill evaluation.

Even Jenny and Luska, who were currently charging in, could not escape unscathed.

A blizzard condensed in a whirlwind and the claws of the twin foxes sliced through the cold air.

At that moment, Jason was clearly trapped within ice and proceeded to pierce through it to finish them off.

Crash!—

The shock from the ice shattering spread snowflakes throughout the gymnasium. The compressed blizzard scattered in all directions, plummeting the surroundings into subzero temperatures.

Frost floated in the form of a white mist. The chilly air was so biting that they felt as if their bodies might freeze solid.

A moment ago, Jenny and Luska had poured all their strength into a single blow. Despite their seemingly fierce combined attack, neither of them felt a sense of doubt.

Their opponent was the captain of the Royal Knights. If such a trivial attack were enough to kill, anyone could claim the captaincy.

And at this point, a line that might have been expected came forth…

“Did I take them down?”

One of the fallen students moved their lips.

It was an attack boasting the highest power among the students in the same class. It was odd not to think such a thought.

But inwardly, I couldn’t help but snicker. I knew full well what always happened next when that line was spoken.

“Not bad.”

A voice emerged from amidst the white mist. As the ice shattered and shockwaves radiated, a figure gracefully stepped out from the center.

In spite of taking that blow, Jason emerged unscathed.

“But still too lacking.”

The audience was astonished at his injury-free appearance. It was only natural to accept that he wasn’t merely an instructor for show.

“The Chain Silver Style and Thousand-Year Fox bloodline I knew… shouldn’t be this weak.”

“Cough!”

“Gah!”

Even before Jason had finished speaking, simultaneous screams erupted from Jenny and Luska.

They were movements invisible to the eye. Before he could even finish his sentence, he closed the distance and landed a powerful strike on their abdomens.

“Gack…!”

Jenny collapsed, clutching her stomach. Though this was only her second hit, she had absorbed more damage and survived longer than the other students.

“Come at me.”

Jason provoked Luska, who was still standing.

“Blood Storm.”

Using high-speed footwork, Luska brandished her double-edged sword.

Belonging to Class A, her agile swordsmanship came from battlefield experience.

However, Jason had slain far more people and traversed many more battlefields. To him, her agility was perceived as mere child’s play.

Instead of countering, he merely dodged, then grabbed her sword with his bare hands and disarmed her with three swift movements.

“As expected of the Yohol tribe’s bloodline.”

Despite that, he marveled at Luska, who stood back up. While Jenny had fallen after just two hits, Luska was still standing, determined to hold her sword.

Whoosh!—

At that moment, a sword flew through the air like an arrow.

Jason quickly sensed and turned to evade, but a cut appeared on his face from the blade.

Even though he reacted, he couldn’t completely avoid the attack and allowed himself to be wounded.

The one who threw that threatening blade was a student with grey hair and blue eyes.

“Lyman Begilius, ah… you’re the monster I heard about in whispers within the academy.”

Everyone was astonished at the fact that this was the first time Jason had been injured.

Though he spoke as if he seemed unaffected, his hand was trembling.

Moreover, Lyman was holding a wooden sword. The blade he had just thrown had belonged to a fallen student.

“Use a real sword. If you get hurt, it’s not my concern.”

“Sorry, but I don’t have a real sword. I’ve been swinging this around so long that I don’t feel the need to get another.”

For a moment, Jason was speechless. It didn’t take long for him to realize this was a lame excuse.

“Does your family not give you any money for weapons?”

“I don’t have mom and dad, you know?”

“….”

Such a blunt response left him in shock. He received the answer he wanted, but he blinked at Lyman’s careless attitude.

Of course, being newly appointed meant that he was completely ignorant about the students.

However, he was certain that was a blatant insult toward him.

“Just pick up the sword you threw just now and use it.”

“I’d feel bad taking it without permission. Don’t you think?”

But wasn’t tossing someone else’s sword without permission not considered rude?

His recent actions and words were completely contradictory. It was truly a double standard.

And when Lyman flashed a provoking smile, veins popped in Jason’s eyes.

It was clear this was the kid who had gotten under his skin with such absurd reasoning.

Most importantly, that kid had… wounded his face. Just a student, no, just a pest.

“Then I’ll grant you special treatment.”

Something shone at Jason’s waist. At first, everyone assumed it was an illusion, but then they heard a metallic noise, and the realization dawned.

The scabbard that had been swinging with no intention of drawing finally fell away from his sword.

The blade that had been sleeping inside emerged, shining like sunlight.

“Now, let’s see you try to catch this.”

Jason’s expression transformed menacingly as he finally drew his sword. What had seemed like mere play now exuded tremendous destructive power.

Slash!—

Was it really a matter of controlling strength? It seemed so, given the devastating strike that swept across the gymnasium floor.

Of course, considering Lyman’s identity, he could have negated it with just a sweeping motion, but for everyone else, it was a terrifying sight.

As everyone held their breath, something quickly intervened to block that deadly strike.

The imposing and sharp aura held steady until the last moment.

Wielding a hefty great sword, she stood to protect the students, sporting sharp horns on her head.

“May I ask what is going on here, Instructor Jason?”

Adela Merhenna, the teaching assistant for the Combat Department in her second year. With her sharp gaze and great sword, she inquired.

At first, she had just watched from the sidelines when Jason was facing numerous students. It was common for kids to get injured during training.

But that recent act had clearly crossed a line beyond educational conduct.

“What’s the problem? Were you interrupting me, Adela?”

“Problem…? Are you really asking that? It’s obvious what would have happened if I hadn’t intervened!”

If left unchecked, Lyman would undoubtedly have ended up in the hospital, Adela thought.

No matter how common injuries were in combat exercises, it was blatant abuse for an instructor to intentionally cause harm.

There existed not just a gap in skill but also a gap in power. Yet, Adela stood her ground against him for the sake of the students.

Meanwhile, Jason looked at Adela and recalled something from the past.

Eight years ago, during an imperial mission that involved the massacre of a tribal village. He was the sort to hunt down any target he had marked until they were dead; however, he let one slip away. A mere little kid.

That kid he had let slip… was now standing before him.

“Ah… Hahaha…”

“What’s so funny?”

“I mean… how should I explain this…”

Given the situation, Jason couldn’t help but break into laughter. He then sheathed his sword and declared:

“Today’s training ends here. Even though I’m ending it rather early, it’s a courtesy considering how hard you’ve hit the ground.”

Adding preposterous reasons, he attempted to leave the gymnasium.

“And… you’ve all grown.”

“Pardon?”

After a brief pause, he left with just that one line.

Adela was bewildered as to whom he was referring. She still didn’t know who Jason was.

After leaving the gymnasium, Jason walked past the professors’ building and looked into a mirror standing in the street.

His bloodied face, marred by the cut, reflected back at him. Every time he looked, Lyman’s face popped into his mind.

That pest of a kid. One day, I’ll surely slice him with this holy sword and then burn him at the stake.

“I need to disinfect this right now. Is the infirmary over there?”

As Jason walked down the path, seeking to erase any trace of that pest,

he suddenly halted, a thought crossing his mind.

“Wait, I feel like I’ve forgotten something.”

While dealing with the students earlier, it felt like there was someone he had missed.

Let’s see, what was their name…

*

“So Radon… you didn’t get hit at all?”

“Yep.”

Late to finish his business, Radian asked me as he returned to the gymnasium.

He had learned about what had happened in the gym through the teaching assistant, and as the only survivor, he was concerned about me.

Of course, it was not skill that had allowed me to survive but sheer luck. I had simply remained unnoticed, which prevented Jason from recognizing me.

I had nothing to retort when asked why I just stood there while everyone else fought. However, Radian surprisingly accepted my actions wisely.

“Right… it’s a relief you didn’t end up on the receiving end.”

“….”

“How are the other kids?”

“They should be fine since they drank healing water.”

As I had been quietly observing, my task was to heal everyone.

Moving everyone to the infirmary would be futile, so I just used heavy rain droplets to handle them all at once.

“Radon Crawler… I need to ask something of you too.”

Speaking of which, I hadn’t provided Kent with any help. But when I looked back inside the rain droplet container, it was completely empty.

“Sorry.”

“….”

It would take 24 hours to gather more. Kent seemed to be feeling abandoned and fell into despair.

Don’t overdo it, you idiot.

“I truly can’t fathom how that person existed. How could such a ruthless person be appointed as an instructor?”

“Yet he was really strong. There wasn’t even a hint of weakness.”

Jenny and Luska, who had fully healed from their injuries, pondered deeply about him.

Regardless of the skill, that was behavior absolutely unacceptable for an instructor.

“Though he came here under the pretense of guarding the princess, I never expected he would also take on duties as an instructor.”

“Moreover, from the very first glance, I felt no good energy from Instructor Jason. I genuinely doubt whether he’s truly the royal knight I dreamed of.”

As Radian spoke, Kent’s eyes widened as he recalled what he had experienced.

“Yeah… there’s definitely something going on.”

Radian had always known Jason was this way. He made those around him into allies, only to push his own agenda.

“By the way, Radian, what’s that thing you’re wearing on your finger?”

While we were embroiled in conversation, I noticed he lacked a ring from Professor Stella.

I wasn’t sure of the details regarding their relationship, but shouldn’t he be worried about being beaten by his girlfriend?

“Hahaha, Radon. Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“Excuse me?”

“Have you forgotten who soiled it?”

With an unusual intensity in his gaze, Radian stared at me.

At the same time, Jenny and Luska looked at me with equally expressionless faces.

That’s right. Upon reflection, this was entirely my fault.

*

“It’ll sting a bit.”

A gentle voice echoed through the infirmary. It was almost like an angel’s voice against the backdrop of the clean wallpaper.

Before Jason’s eyes stood that angel. The head nurse of the infirmary, Stella Vermillion, was using her holy power to treat his facial wounds.

‘How can one be this warm…’

The moment Jason saw her, it was as if he were being blinded by her radiance. Despite it being their first meeting, she shone so brilliantly. He never imagined such an angel existed hidden in the academy.

‘I thought there were only pests here.’

In this place teeming with vile insects, Aligieri, she was the only one possessing pure white wings.

Nurse Professor Stella Vermillion. Only she seemed to shine like a resplendent fairy.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jason Baikel, the captain of the Royal First Division, and currently the combat instructor.”

Jason, who usually wore an overbearing expression and looked down on others, involuntarily became polite in her presence.

“Yes, I look forward to working with you.”

As she held Jason’s outstretched hand with a smile, his cheeks flushed.

He couldn’t help but let his eyes wander over her delicate hands.

‘Hehe, it seems there’s no ring yet.’

Realizing that nothing adorned her fingers, Jason felt a deep sense of relief.

In the Empire, it was customary for paired individuals to wear matching rings.

Thus, he made up his mind. This angel would be his.

Surviving as an academy scammer.

 

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