The next day. Drake summoned us to the classroom. It felt nostalgic to be back in the place where we first used Shadow Slash.
“Hahaha!! Nice to see you all!!”
His hearty laughter echoed throughout the classroom. My instincts kicked in, and I instinctively covered my ears.
“Welcome to Professor Drake’s Practical Match class!!”
What’s this Practical Match? Last semester, he just taught us how to swing a sword and physical training without any magic. Typical Drake, favoring those with low mana.
‘Honestly, magic is all-powerful, but it comes with restrictions.’
First of all, it decreases agility. Mana operation enhances physical abilities explosively by flowing mana through the veins.
It’s like trying to handle a sudden turn in a fast-moving car.
That’s why I could exploit weaknesses when facing Pina in the year-end exams.
Secondly, it’s greatly influenced by attributes. Some folks, like Dennis, managed to find distinctions that circumvent weaknesses.
“You learned how to move without mana in the last class! This time is different!”
By the name of the class, I guessed we’d probably be equipped with mana protection gear and sparring against each other.
As I crossed my arms and observed, Drake pointed to the back door with his thumb.
“Students! You will fight the TA!”
My brow furrowed. A TA? Was there someone I didn’t know in this academy? Before long, the door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside.
“Nice to meet you, juniors.”
Her steps were graceful and silent. She wore a form-fitting outfit with a cloak draped over it.
“My name is Blanc. I’ve come here on Professor Drake’s recommendation.”
Dressed from head to toe in shadows, a petite girl with short hair and green eyes greeted us.
‘A rogue class.’
Light equipment for ease of movement. I noted two daggers at her waist. If Pina and I were on the knightly side, she was on the exact opposite.
She was good at assassination and had acrobatic movements. But I didn’t recognize that name.
‘Could she be a player?’
The northern duchess had mentioned Giseok, so it wouldn’t be odd for another player to show up. After all, I had possessed the character I was controlling.
A playable character named Black Knight Licht. I picked it because it looked cool back then.
“The named student will compete once!”
“I will provide mana protection gear, so you don’t have to worry about getting hurt.”
“In the end, I’ll point out your deficiencies and shortcomings! Good luck to all!”
But I didn’t recall any Blanc.
My body tensed up. What if she was someone trying to steal my coupling? The thought spiraled into my mind.
“Blanc is one of the strongest around! Freshmen won’t stand a chance!”
Drake’s gaze fell on me. If someone like that existed, why didn’t they help when I was headhunting? I don’t think I saw anyone.
‘Moreover, if she was that strong, I would have known.’
I have enough affection for the lore to memorize the settings. If Drake was boasting about her, then there shouldn’t be anyone besides the bloodline from the Ten Heroes.
‘Except for Laplace’s lover, who had a terminal illness, no coupling should have occurred among humans yet.’
The possibility increased. Moreover, the only rogue-related job I knew of didn’t exist among the known groups. Other races would show some sort of traits.
“Mr. Mardol, do you feel anything strange?”
“..Not particularly.”
In uncertainty, I sought help from Pina. If there was something odd, she would be the first to notice. Even she, with her sharp eyes, couldn’t figure it out.
“I’m from the Grand Hertz Academy as well.”
“Right! She was the student council president before!”
A former student council president. This was a romance fantasy academy. If a character this significant showed up suddenly, it could only be one of two things.
A player from reality or a new main character.
“Um, are you really strong? That sounds a bit dubious.”
I raised my hand. If she really was a player, she could interfere with the Grand Route by taking an NTR or Harem Route.
Pina’s case, where a formal happy ending didn’t exist, was even more dangerous. I had to verify.
‘Since in Black Heart, players could get into couplings for Harem or NTR routes.’
Screenshots floating in the gaming community were filled with all sorts of bizarre activities.
That was also why I freaked out when I saw the NTR Forbidden Knight, and it made me unable to fully trust whatever relationship I had with Pina.
I knew most things, but I never knew how Pina would get tangled.
According to the Creator, the forms of love were diverse. Luckily, when Pina was the Nameless Saintess, she was a side character, so there were no such events.
Now she was undoubtedly a main character. Even if I were someone else, I would definitely target her. If she aimed at me, she chose the wrong opponent.
“You’ve got quite a bit of confidence, huh? Are you the rumored Black Knight?”
Blanc smiled, surprised by the direct question, and placed a hand on her mouth.
“Isn’t he the one who caught the Demon King? The weirdo who wears a black helmet?”
“Honestly, I can’t believe it. Didn’t the Ten Heroes do all the work?”
Whisper whisper. Every student’s gaze in the classroom turned to me. It was akin to picking a fight with the TA.
“I saw it. That guy is indeed the one.”
“I wasn’t taken down by the Archdemon thanks to Licht on the playground….”
“Eh, that was just a fluke!”
The evaluations were mixed. Students who were nearby when I fought the Demon King had an inkling of my strength, while the rest were on the opposite side.
[I’m getting mad. Licht. Shall I purge them all?]
[Please hold back, Pina.]
The idea that a mere freshman caught the Demon King of All Knowledge was unbelievable. I felt Pina’s heart beating a bit faster. No matter what, don’t purge them, my princess.
“Hmm. Shall I confirm it for you?”
Whoosh. Blanc fluttered her black bobbed hair and approached me. Her movement was so fast I couldn’t track it with my eyes. I needed to react. Before I could use Wolf Fang, her sly smile appeared right in front of me.
“Aren’t you a cute junior speaking so boldly? Is your friend beside you?”
But Blanc didn’t aim for me; she targeted Pina. I saw a dagger flying toward her heart, the source of the Masterpiece.
“I’ll make it big for you!”
I quickly pulled out the iron sword at my waist and deflected it. Clang! The dagger landed with a thud on the floor.
“You actually reacted?”
“Of course!”
This is why I hate rogues. They all play deceitful games. I thought she would attack me but instead threw a dagger at Pina. I looked up at Blanc with angry eyes.
“Such an expression, really handsome.”
It was then. Swoosh. The sword I held started to crumble away, losing its weight. The steel inside my hand transformed into sand in an instant.
‘..The sword melted away.’
The iron sword had disappeared, leaving only a handful of sand on the ground. Was that a weapon that alters the target’s state?
‘It’s likely either a dagger of the same masterpiece level, or it’s an artifact.’
The bizarre sight shocked me, calming my mind. In the confusion of having no weapon to face her, Blanc launched another dagger at Pina.
“Just one more left.”
No way. If that hits her, my equipment will get nullified, exposing my true identity beneath the armor. The armor around her heart would melt away, cutting the link.
“Ugh…!”
I blocked the dagger with the remaining sheath. When you have no teeth, use your gums. I sighed in relief looking at the half-penetrated sheath. Had it been just a bit thinner, it would have pierced through.
“I got you.”
In the moment of weakness that appeared, my wrist was caught. Blanc, seeing I was out of weapons, licked her lower lip with her tongue.
“Reacting to my moves makes me curious about your face beneath that helmet….”
She reached with her fingers to lift my visor. Don’t! I don’t want to show the burn scars. I was afraid they’d fear me like they did back then.
The opponent is far too quick. I was too late to draw the Mind Sword. As I squeezed my eyes shut with no means to counter.
“Stop it.”
Pina’s cold voice reached my ears. Opening my eyes, I saw a glass wall had appeared. Blanc’s attack, gliding past, became a futile stroke in the air.
Thanks, Pina. I love you. I owe you one more now.
“Such a shame. But today was quite fortunate.”
Blanc retrieved her daggers and jumped back to Drake’s side.
“That was quite interesting.”
I wondered how she managed to move that fast. It didn’t seem like it was just mana operation; her agility was too sharp.
‘Or maybe I’m still weak?’
After all, the Head’s combat abilities were on the weaker side among the Demon Kings. The Magic Hat barely went into Phase 2 and couldn’t capture her.
The final boss of the original Night Heart, whose main strategy involved overwhelming through information warfare, after all.
“Junior. You seem to doubt why I couldn’t attend the fight with the Head. There were also gaps in the academy….”
Blanc took something out from her cleavage, acting as if she were enticing me. She wouldn’t have caught my attention unless it was Pina’s.
“I’m quite fickle.”
“Dice?”
A six-sided die, deep red like cut ruby, emerged with all sides showing 5. Could it be that she’s a rogue utilizing luck stats?
“Indeed! Depending on the number that shows, I either grow stronger or weaker for the day!”
There’s no way she could be weaker. This is a gambler’s skill.
Half-right, half-wrong. With hand skills, that much could be determined. I also knew well since I employed the skills of a Paladin as well. My continuous suspicions didn’t clear.
“However, the person next to you is wearing full plate armor even during class? Professor?”
“…”
“Is that allowed?”
Pina’s head was lowered with no answer. The fact that professors favored her due to her being a princess could not be brought up here.
“Did you win with that in your year-end exams? Aren’t you ashamed?”
From afar, Blanc was spinning a dagger around her finger, mocking. She even stuck her tongue out, scratching at Pina’s nerves. Was it okay for a TA to behave like this?
Even without a Masterpiece, I could have easily overwhelmed Ariel. I knew that from personal experience.
“Enough. You went too far.”
“You took their exams. Rumors say it was unfair among freshmen~!”
Who are you to talk after using luck? Your weapon is even of Masterpiece level.
“Blanc! That’s enough!”
Blanc was stirring the students up, while Drake tried to calm the situation. If he intervened further, it could reveal her identity as a princess.
“..Mardol is strong even without armor.”
“Yeah, right! You believe that? Do others think the same?”
She was acting as if she had me and Pina in her sights from the start. Even if her true identity was a player, it thwarted my mood. She seemed to be the greatest hindrance to the Grand Route.
“Shall I prove it through a practical match?”
I needed to take down Blanc here. That would lend weight to my words. I had one method in mind.
Mind Sword. I would have to summon a new Mind Sword.
