Chapter 17

‘Amazing!’ Professor Ingurdel couldn't help but admire when he saw Yi-Han kick dirt into Dolgyu's face.

‘Do not limit your methods. There is only life and death.’

Nobles, who learned swordsmanship for dignity and sophistication, despised dishonorable means, but for swordsmen who risked their lives in real combat, victory was all that mattered. In this respect, Yi-Han's act of kicking dirt was not bad at all. In fact, it was commendable.

Moreover, what deserved higher praise was the situation itself, with all the peers watching.

They were merely in their mid-teens, full of vigor and pride. Not just nobles, but knights also disliked cowardly tactics.

Most students knew such tactics but were hindered by their petty pride to use them. Yet, Yi-Han, without a second thought, instantly kicked the dirt. Despite being from the noblest of great families present! This was something only a swordsman who instinctively knew what swordsmanship was and was ready to devote everything to it could do.

"Darn it!" Dolgyu cursed, not expecting this. Dirt filled his eyes, nose, and mouth, clouding his mind.

‘Darn! To fall for such a shallow trick!?’

Dolgyu was angrier at himself for being careless than at his opponent for using a cowardly method. He had been warned of such situations multiple times during his training at his family! He had assumed his opponent, a noble from a great family, would use only proper and precise swordsmanship.

‘I'll end this quickly!’

As Dolgyu, with a broken stance, struggled, Yi-Han charged.

Both had trained in swordsmanship for a long time, and perhaps Dolgyu had trained even more diligently and harshly. His stance alone was telling.

In a fair fight, it was uncertain whether Yi-Han or Dolgyu would win.

So, what then?

One had to create a situation to win… Of course, kicking dirt was not something Arlong had taught him. Thanks to this, without knowing, Yi-Han had earned Professor Ingurdel's admiration.

‘What a ruthless master to teach such tactics!’

"Damn it!"

Dolgyu kicked the ground forcefully and spun in the air, flying backward. There was no form, no stance. In his haste to create distance, Dolgyu lost balance and tumbled backward.

Yi-Han didn't expect his opponent to throw himself backward and roll. He hadn't anticipated his opponent, a knight's descendant, would roll in the dirt...

The crowd, shocked, fell silent, no longer cheering.

Only Professor Ingurdel clapped.

"Well done, young students!"

Dolgyu wiped the dirt off his face with his sleeve. Though his face was cleaner, his body was a mess from rolling in the dirt. But because of this, his eyes became fiercer.

Yi-Han clicked his tongue.

'But it wasn't without gain.'

His opponent, having dirt on his face and rolling on the ground, must have been infuriated.

In a fight, the one who loses their temper tends to make mistakes. In evenly matched situations, one must engage in such psychological warfare.

With a mighty yell, Dolgyu charged forward.

—

‘They truly fight well!’ Professor Ingurdel admired once again.

Earlier, his admiration was for the two students' unscrupulous approach, but now, it was a pure admiration for their swordsmanship. He had thought them the most outstanding among the freshmen, but this was beyond his expectations.

First, Dolgyu of the Choi family exhibited the High Mountain Moon Sword skill impressively. True to its swift-sword nature, his wooden sword whistled through the air in a quick, lively rhythm, thrusting at Yi-Han.

Normally, each thrust should have slowed him down, but Dolgyu maintained his speed, possible because he infused a bit of mana into his sword. Just thrusting was hard enough to defend against, but each of his sword moves was also imbued with mana. It was an excessively harsh attack for a freshman.

Yet, Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family was no less formidable.

Thud.

"!"

Thud.

"!!"

Thud-

"!!!!"

With each attack, Dolgyu's expression grew more anxious and frustrated. To avoid counterattacks, he moved quickly and unceasingly, tensing his muscles with each thrust as if throwing himself into it. Without this, he couldn't achieve the necessary speed of his sword.

Though his attacks were flashy and fast, they greatly drained his stamina. Dolgyu already felt breathless.

But… His opponent, like a rock, barely moved. When a thrust came, he simply nudged it aside with a 'thud', as if he could see each attack coming.

"Darn it!" Dolgyu felt like he was trying to pierce a rock with a needle. Even if he anticipated the attacks, he didn't expect his opponent to deflect them so easily.

‘Is my thrust's power lacking? Why isn't he getting tired!’ Dolgyu screamed inwardly.

And at that moment, Yi-Han was thinking similarly, ‘Why isn't this guy stopping, he looks like he's about to collapse?’

Yi-Han's Azure Rock Style, a heavy and strong sword style, was hard to land a hit on Dolgyu, who was moving back and forth like crazy.

Fortunately for Yi-Han, he had the physical edge over his opponent. Dolgyu was excited, had rolled on the ground, and his movements were much more intense, and above all… Yi-Han didn't tire from infusing a bit of mana into his swings.

His own mana, realized after starting to learn magic, was astonishing even to himself.

‘...Why doesn't he tire after infusing so much mana into his sword for so long?’

But even in this advantageous situation, Yi-Han wasn't at ease. Frankly, Dolgyu's attacks were quite fierce. With each deflection, a heavy force sent chills down his spine. It was only a wooden sword, but if it had been a real sword, even a brush would have torn his clothes. To an outsider, it might have looked like Yi-Han was easily deflecting with short movements, but he was exerting his utmost effort.

"Huuh...!"

And eventually, it was Dolgyu who crumbled first.

He endured holding his breath and his muscles screaming, but it was his spirit that faltered first. It was because his opponent seemed too unshakable.

That Wardanaz family guy, blocking attacks effortlessly with an expressionless face!

Facing those eyes, Dolgyu felt as if he was already dancing in the palm of his opponent's hand.

‘It's a pity,’ Professor Ingurdel thought to himself.

Although Dolgyu had faltered first, Yi-Han was also pushed to his limits. This was a testament to the ferocity of Dolgyu's attack. If Dolgyu had realized this, he might have been able to muster more strength. However, he overestimated his opponent and crumbled under his own expectations. Such mistakes were inevitable due to their youth.

Even so, Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family already exuded the cold and imposing aura characteristic of a great noble family. The handsome young man, who seemed as if not even a needle could draw blood from him, naturally had advantages in swordsmanship.

Crack!

As Dolgyu collapsed, Wardanaz swiftly swung his wooden sword, knocking his opponent's sword away and stopping it just short of Dolgyu's neck.

"Stop! Wardanaz has won," Professor Ingurdel declared, his voice gentle yet firm, indicating no further combat would be allowed.

Students of the White Tiger sighed in disbelief. Their most skilled, Dolgyu, had lost!

"That's impossible!"

"Of course, after throwing dirt..."

"Dolgyu rolled on the ground too."

"What can we do about it? Are you blaming Dolgyu now?"

"No... I'm sorry."

Professor Ingurdel ignored the murmuring students and spoke up, "Today, both students have shown excellent swordsmanship. Winning today doesn't guarantee future victories, and losing today doesn't mean always losing. Let the winner remain humble, and the loser strive for improvement. Now, greet each other."

Yi-Han extended his hand, looking at his opponent. Frankly, he expected Dolgyu to glare, spit, squeeze his hand, or create some other fuss. Given Dolgyu's temperament when Yi-Han attended the lecture, it was clear he wasn't ordinary, especially having been defeated in his proudest skill.

‘If he tries to punch, I'll counter with a low kick and take him down.’

Yi-Han squinted, watching his opponent for any surprise attack. Although the professor was near them, he had learned not to trust professors, both in the past and at this school.

"...It was a good fight. I apologize for underestimating you earlier. You are more than worthy of attending this class."

To Yi-Han's surprise, the Orc sincerely apologized. He checked for any sign of a feint but saw no such intention.

"Your concern is noted. I'm not bothered by it. Let bygone be bygone."

Dolgyu grasped Yi-Han's hand and nodded, his eyes conveying respect.

Clap Clap Clap-

Moved by this beautiful display, Professor Ingurdel clapped with an emotional expression. The students from the White Tiger, however, looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"What are you all doing? Why aren't you clapping?"

Silence.

Schwing-

When Professor Ingurdel sternly drew his sword, the students frantically began clapping.

Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap!

—

"You won't just let this humiliation slide, will you? Crush him."

Despite the cold voice from someone, the other White Tiger students nodded in agreement. However, Dolgyu, with a heavy expression, shook his head.

"I lost because of my own shortcomings."

"No! You lost because he kicked dirt at you!"

"No. Even without the dirt, I would have lost. And if I lost because of such tricks, it still means I was insufficient."

Dolgyu's words stirred the students. Being the most skilled in swordsmanship, his words carried weight among the dormitory students.

But a student with golden hair coldly retorted.

"I'm not interested in that. The important thing is our tower's honor and pride have been shattered because of you. Take responsibility, Choi family."

Jijel, of the Moradi family lineage, spoke coldly.

At her words, Dolgyu's face hardened. The Moradi family, wielding strong influence among the northern knight families, was not one Dolgyu could easily dismiss.

"How am I supposed to take responsibility for a defeat that was due to my lack of skill?"

"It's simple. If you lose alone, you just have to bring others."

Before she even finished speaking, two students stepped up beside Dolgyu.

"Don't worry, Dolgyu. I'll help you."

"Three of us should be enough."

"...Isn't it shameful for knights to gang up three against one?"

Dolgyu struggled to find words to defuse the situation.

Jijel chuckled in response.

"If you're going to say such things, you should have won. What's the point of saying it after you've lost?"

The students of the White Tiger were divided in their reactions. Half sided with the Moradi family as usual, while the other half seemed to think this was inappropriate. However, none of them intervened.

Dolgyu bit his lip tightly and declared, "I refuse."

"You'll regret it," Jijel warned, turning her gaze away as if she would not persuade him further.

"Cowards stay out. Three of you, go and trample Wardanaz."

"Understood, Moradi."

"Don't worry."

Despite Yi-Han's skill, a three against one situation was extremely unfavorable, especially against three who had consistently trained in swordsmanship.

Dolgyu made a decision.

For honor, he would stand by Yi-Han's side.

—

Smack!

"Wardanaz, you bastard!! How dare you!!"

"...If the next one also wants to die, come at me," Yi-Han spoke icily. Intimidated, the two students involuntarily stepped back.

Arriving late to help, Dolgyu looked in horror at the fallen student.

What on earth had happened?