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The gymnasium at Meikhael University.

First-year students in gym uniforms were sitting on benches, chatting away.

In a corner, separated from the crowd, a petite girl sat hugging her knees.

Then, a voice called out to her.

“Miss Wendy.”

Wendy looked up to see a calm-looking black-haired female student and an intelligent-looking girl with glasses standing there.

“Miss Sia… and Miss Luna…”

“Why do you look so down?”

Sia asked Wendy with concern.

As she said, dark circles were evident under Wendy’s eyes.

“Ugh… I couldn’t sleep because I was studying…”

Wendy hung her head low.

After making a promise to the Count, she had been studying every night with the determination to top the exams.

As a result, Wendy spent her days catching naps during breaks to keep going.

The bespectacled Luna, looking sympathetic, patted Wendy’s shoulder and said.

“Poor thing… Try to get some sleep. We’ll wake you up when the professor arrives.”

“Thank you…”

Wendy closed her eyes and buried her face in her knees.

Seeing how quiet Myohail was, it seemed he had also fallen asleep.

Originally nocturnal, Myohail had been teaching Wendy at night, causing him to sleep more during the day.

The upcoming exams had pushed both of them to their physical limits.

Wendy soon fell into a deep sleep.

Feeling pity, Sia sat close to her so she could lean on her.

On the other side, Luna sat down and said.

“By the way… today’s the first day of practical classes, right?”

“Ah, yes. The professor will probably demonstrate it herself…”

The upcoming class was a new basic swordsmanship special lecture introduced this year.

It had become a hot topic among freshmen because Princess Bella Izakhel, the successor of the Izakhel style said to be devised by Hero Alonso, would be teaching it personally.

Part of the popularity was due to the expectation of seeing the beautiful Princess Bella Izakhel in person.

Even though the class was for freshmen, some seniors loitered around the classroom just to catch a glimpse of her.

And… on the first day of class, Bella appeared before them, surpassing the rumors.

No, she was a woman beyond the word “beautiful.”

Shining silver hair and endlessly clear blue eyes. The high dignity befitting a daughter of the Izakhel Duke Family. And beauty that seemed almost otherworldly.

Even Sia couldn’t help but stare, as Bella was a woman who embodied both nobility and beauty.

The Izakhel Family, to which Bella belonged, was also one of the prestigious Seven Stars, just like Sia.

But recently, Sia had heard that Bella had recommended Count Ruelberta, Tristan, to the Seven Stars.

She had thought the two didn’t get along, but rumors were swirling that they might even get engaged again.

‘Well… it’s none of my business…’

Sia was lost in thought when…

Creak.

The gym door opened.

Instantly, all the students’ eyes focused.

Entering through the door was a woman they all knew well, Bella Izakhel.

But today, she looked quite different from before.

Her neatly tied silver hair swayed with each step.

Moreover, Bella was wearing a martial arts uniform.

Her pure white uniform made her look like a butterfly.

Not only that, but her sensual figure, visible through the uniform, was so striking that even Sia, a woman, found it hard to look away.

“……Huh?”

But the students’ admiration was short-lived, as they began to murmur.

The moment they saw the man following Bella, Sia even forgot to wake Wendy.

It wasn’t because the man’s appearance was overly intellectual.

It was because the ominous aura he brought with him overwhelmed the entire gym.

“What’s going on…?”

“Why is the Chairman here…?”

“What’s with his eyes…?”

The students buzzed with unease, but Bella, who had brought him, remained calm.

“Nice to meet you, everyone.”

Bella placed her hand on the wooden sword at her side and bowed like a swordsman.

Even that gesture was flawless.

“As I mentioned earlier, starting today, we will begin practical training.”

Despite Bella’s words, the students’ eyes were all on the man standing behind her.

A man who maintained a cold and arrogant demeanor while drawing everyone’s attention. It was the Chairman, Tristan Ruelberta.

‘What’s going on…?’

Sia was puzzled.

The way the students looked at Tristan had changed.

Especially the female students’ gazes were anything but ordinary.

“Huh? Was the Chairman always like that?”

“Ah, maybe he lost weight or something… I can’t stop looking at him…”

The dark aura around Tristan was still intimidating.

But with his weight loss making his appearance stand out, his cold gaze added a touch of decadence.

Moreover, the bandage around his eye stirred something in the female students’ hearts.

Who would have thought that someone so terrifying and cruel could have such a vulnerable side…?

Even Sia found herself unable to look away from the Chairman’s face.

Sensing the students’ gazes, Bella cleared her throat.

“Ahem… It seems many of you are curious. Today’s class will be observed by the Chairman, so please do your best.”

“Observed class?”

Another murmur spread among the students.

It was a natural reaction, given that the Chairman, who had threatened to cut off lagging students, was now observing the class.

Regardless, the Chairman simply sat quietly in a prepared chair.

“Alright, quiet down. Let’s start the class. Since you’ve already covered the theory, let’s move straight to practical training.”

“Practical training…? But many of us have never held a sword before.”

“Yes, I know. I’m aware that most of you have never held a sword. But the essence of swordsmanship lies in practice, not theory.”

Bella continued.

“As students of Meikhael University, it’s good for you to experience basic swordsmanship. Of course, since this is a special lecture, it won’t heavily impact your graduation. But that doesn’t mean…”

Bella drew the wooden sword she was carrying.

Her movements were so fast they seemed almost magical.

“As the saying goes, seeing is believing… It’s better for you to witness a sparring match.”

Bella smiled and looked at the students.

“Would anyone like to spar with me?”

*

“Hyah!”

“Huh!?”

Wendy woke up to the sound of a shout.

When she came to her senses, it seemed the class was in full swing.

But instead of sitting, the students were standing in front of her.

“Huh…?”

Wendy, who had been crouched in the corner, must have gone unnoticed.

But why was everyone standing and watching the class…?

“Ah, you’re awake?”

“Miss Sia…”

“Sorry. Things got hectic, so I couldn’t wake you right away.”

Sia, who was speaking, looked visibly tired.

“Are, are you okay…?”

“Ah… I just finished sparring, so…”

“Sparring…?”

“Yes. Professor Bella is currently sparring with each student one by one.”

Only then did Wendy understand the situation.

The occasional shouts and gasps.

Students standing and watching the sparring.

Sia sighed.

“I thought it might happen, but I couldn’t last even a minute.”

“Is Bella… the professor strong…?”

“Yes. Even though I’ve learned some swordsmanship, I was no match for her.”

Sia shook her head.

Then, she noticed someone was missing.

“Hey, where’s Miss Luna?”

“Ah? Now that you mention it, I don’t see Miss Luna… Maybe she went to the restroom…”

Sia tilted her head.

Just then.

“Hyaaah!!!”

A loud shout echoed.

The students’ excitement peaked.

“Wow… she’s pushing forward!”

“Maybe she can win?”

“Isn’t she from that famous knight family?”

“Then she might have a chance!”

Wendy wanted to see for herself, but being short, she couldn’t see well.

“I’ll go take a look at the sparring…”

“Ah, it’s almost over though…”

Curious, Wendy squeezed through the standing students.

“Ex, excuse me… Eek, sorry!”

“Huh, what?”

“Uh, sorry… I’ll just pass through…!”

As Wendy finally managed to peek through the crowd, the sparring had already ended.

Bella, in her martial arts uniform, sheathed her wooden sword.

Then, she extended a hand to the student who had fallen.

“Your basics are solid. It seems you have plenty of experience with swordsmanship.”

“……Yes.”

The male student who had lost to Bella was one of the larger freshmen.

Taking her hand to stand up, he was about three heads taller than her.

“But your movements are too big. It’s effective against smaller opponents, but it won’t always work.”

“Yes… I’ll keep that in mind.”

The confidence he had shown earlier was gone, and the male student couldn’t look Bella in the eye.

He must have been embarrassed.

Bella chuckled.

“Good job. By the time this special lecture ends, you’ll likely become a fine swordsman.”

“Th, thank you…!”

The male student’s face turned bright red as he bowed deeply and quickly left.

The sight was so out of place that laughter escaped from the crowd.

“Then, would anyone else like to spar with me?”

Bella, who had finished sparring, looked at the students.

Despite having sparred with quite a few students, Bella showed no signs of fatigue.

It was a testament to her exceptional skill.

“Is there no one else?”

Having seen enough, the students had no desire to spar.

Bella was about to continue when…

“May I have a go?”

Hearing that voice, Wendy’s heart skipped a beat.

Everyone in the gym turned to look at the speaker.

Wendy couldn’t stop her chest from trembling.

The man who raised his hand had a face Wendy knew well.

A cold-eyed, androgynously handsome man. But it seemed he had been injured, as he had a bandage over his left eye.

“Count… why…?”

Wendy’s master, the man she admired.

Tristan Ruelberta raised his hand, drawing everyone’s attention.

 

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