“Are you telling me you swung something like this as a sword?!”
Clang!
I counterattack Shinozaki’s katana with a swing of my own.
“Ugh!”
Shinozaki’s expression furrows from the impact as her magical barrier gets chipped away.
“What the… Where did you get these skills…!!”
Shinozaki Rin shows a textbook reaction.
You’re toast now.
Amidst my crimson vision, dark lines are drawn.
The trajectory of the White Flame Sword is laid out before my eyes.
I swing my sword along the path indicated by the Black Prince’s talent.
Whoosh.
Black flames dance in the air.
Wait, black flames? Isn’t that just dark flames?
‘This is insane, seriously.’
Why black? Why not something cooler? It just feels off.
Muttering profanities under my breath, I press the attack on Shinozaki Rin.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Shinozaki Rin meets my strikes with her own sword movements.
The exchanges flow like water.
Black flames, deep blue chill, France’s sword and Japan’s katana tear through the air.
“Ugh!”
Shinozaki Rin lets out a textbook scream.
She still hasn’t adapted to my new momentum from earlier.
But if this drags on, I’m going to lose.
Synchronization has terrible endurance, so my ability won’t last long.
If I don’t land a big hit soon, I’ll lose my synchronization and end up in a nightmare scenario where I have to grovel to Shinozaki Rin.
Unless, of course.
‘I guess it’s time for a forced true name release.’
True name release.
Just reading that feels crap; it’s a special skill that makes your limbs feel like they might disappear. It’s a ridiculous power-up the author threw in to deal with power inflation in the later parts of the story—similar to a “second awakening” in many RPGs.
If things were normal, I shouldn’t really be able to use this right now.
But I know how to forcibly open Durandal’s true name release just once.
The method Olivia used in volume 11.
I use the Gift.
Whoooom.
Darkness seeps over the blade of Durandal.
“What’s happening?”
Shinozaki Rin senses something is off.
You’re screwed.
I operate the energy circulation of the Black Radiant Sword Technique.
Thump, thump.
My heart races like it’s going to burst.
The magical circuits of the Black Radiant Sword Technique and the White Flame Sword Technique tear apart simultaneously.
“Ughhh!!”
This hurts like hell.
Why do I have to use these insanely painful techniques?!
Cursing out the author, I wield Durandal shrouded in darkness.
An explosion erupts, shock waves rattling the battlefield.
“Ugh!”
Shinozaki Rin’s face contorts.
Her hand gripping the Totsuka Sword shakes.
Her hand gripping the not-so-ordinary sword trembles.
Finally, the damn ban on restrictions has been lifted.
Whoosh.
The sound of steam escaping is heard.
Complete darkness envelops the blade of Durandal, and black flames erupt above it.
[Durandal]
[True Name Release]
[The Evil Sword of Darkness that Burns Away the Shadows]
The true name of Durandal from the original work is engraved in my mind.
Just look at that naming sense.
What the hell is “The Evil Sword of Darkness that Burns Away the Shadows”? So embarrassing, seriously.
At that moment.
[······Rookie. What’s so embarrassing?]
A man’s voice echoes in my mind.
The spirit of the sword residing in Durandal.
Black Prince Raul Napoleon Bonaparte.
In his last moments, the great hero sealed his own soul within the cursed sword and woke up under the influence of the True Name Release.
Of course, this was expected.
His presence has been included in my plans from the start.
“Just shut up and lend me your strength.”
[I’ve been watching since the beginning. Rookie. How the hell are you swinging that sword? You, using the talent of the Black Prince, are worse at wielding it than my adorable little sister Olivia who was five years old. A complete beginner would handle a sword better than you.]
Now even ghosts are giving me crap.
Clang!
I defend against Shinozaki Rin’s attack while transmitting my thoughts to the Black Prince.
“You should know. The prestige of your beloved little sister is on the line in this duel.”
[I know. Lending my strength to a dark, shady guy isn’t exactly appealing, but since it’s about my adorable sister, I guess I’ll have to lend it to you.]
Vroom!
Barely finishing his sentence, the blade vibrates.
My arm holding Durandal moves on its own.
[Watch closely, Rookie.]
The Black Prince’s voice echoes in my mind.
[This is the true power of the Black Radiant Sword Technique.]
With a middle-school syndrome line that makes my insides churn, my vision distorts.
My ears go numb.
Time seems to stop, like a high-speed camera recording in slow motion, the surroundings appear sluggish.
My sense of time stretches like taffy.
Easily dodging the sword blade that seems to move in slow motion, I burrow into Shinozaki’s arms.
“!!”
Shinozaki Rin’s shocked expression is right in front of me.
My hand holding the sword swings wildly.
[Black Radiant Sword Technique]
[Secret Technique]
[Black Flash]
Flash.
The black flash fills my vision.
In that instant, Durandal’s countless slashes tear through Shinozaki Rin’s mana shield and demolish her entire suit.
“Gah! Aaaah!!”
A horrifying scream echoes in my ears.
My sight and sense of time return to normal.
[It’s over.]
The Black Prince’s voice resonates in my head.
As he said, it’s true.
Before me lies Shinozaki Rin, her chest pierced, her suit shredded to rags, looking awfully defeated.
Her eyes tremble.
The cold mask of Shinozaki Rin, who had maintained a poker face up until now, shatters completely.
Pop!
Her body is enveloped in a blue flash.
She’s declared unable to fight and gets forcibly transported out.
[Next time, don’t just drag me out like this, follow the proper procedure when calling.]
The moment the Black Prince finishes speaking.
[Durandal Offline]
The combat mode is forcibly deactivated.
Her entire suit transforms into light and gets absorbed into Durandal’s blade.
“Ow!”
The rebound from the forced True Name Release and dizziness hit me at once.
Just as I’m swaying, using Durandal as a cane to steady myself.
[The winner is Mr. Kim Deok-Sung! Congratulations!]
Hey!
I can hear Mayuzumi-sensei’s broadcast in my ears.
I won again.
When did you arrive?
Shuo Hero Academy. Main arena.
Sky lounge.
The moment Kim Deok-Sung and Shinozaki Rin’s match ended.
“See? Didn’t I tell you so?”
Yoshizaki Seira, watching the screen, smirks charmingly while swirling her wine glass.
Red wine sloshes inside the glass.
Ichiro’s face hardens.
“Surprised, are you?”
Seira asks playfully once more.
Ichiro slowly begins to speak.
“Yes, I was indeed a little surprised. I didn’t expect a first-year student to hide such skill… especially one from a lesser nation.”
His gaze fixes on Kim Deok-Sung being carried out on a stretcher.
“Of course, there are downsides due to the inherent penalty of having a C rank, which limits combat endurance, and winning through forced name liberation is certainly a mark against him, but the fact that he was recognized by the spirit of the sword is a big plus. He’s a student with potential.”
Ichiro analyzes in a cool voice.
Unlike typical armaments like unique weapons or general-purpose weapons, transcendent armaments contain the soul or spirit of the weapon.
If the spirit does not recognize you, forced name liberation is impossible.
Thus, the very fact that he underwent forced name liberation means he has already gained the spirit’s acknowledgment residing in Durandal.
‘A student qualified to be the true master of Durandal…’
His gloomy green eyes narrow.
There are nearly no heroes with the talent to be chosen by transcendent armaments.
Spirit selection is a separate realm from suitability.
No matter how high the suitability, if one does not receive acknowledgment from the spirit residing in the transcendent weapon, they cannot properly use the armament.
“Oh? You’re quite highly evaluating the Korean student, aren’t you? Don’t you feel upset by your daughter’s defeat?”
Seira asks teasingly.
Ichiro’s eyebrows twitch.
“The Chairman still enjoys throwing difficult questions, doesn’t he?”
“It’s the privilege of elders.”
Seira, covering her face with a hand fan, grins.
There’s an unspoken pressure to hear the response.
Ichiro closes his eyes.
If asked if he’s upset, he indeed is.
The prestige of the Shinozaki clan, which he tried so hard to protect, is about to be trampled.
But.
“I am a person who can distinguish between public and private matters. And.”
“And?”
At Seira’s urging, Ichiro opens his eyes.
“The opponent’s surname is not Kurosawa. That’s enough. The only obstacles in my life are the Kurosawa clan.”
“Does that mean that as long as it’s not the Kurosawa clan, you can ally with any opponent for your purpose?”
Seira’s crimson gaze lands on Ichiro.
Even if that first duel against the knight princess was deemed fortunate, the second duel against Shinozaki Rin was not luck.
When luck repeats, it becomes skill.
Ichiro’s gloomy green eyes turn to the paused screen of Kim Deok-Sung.
‘Kim Deok-Sung, he seems to be a student worth recruiting. I should investigate his profile once.’
His gaze sharpens.
Just as Seira said.
If he could just halt the rise of the Kurosawa clan, Ichiro believed he could ally with even the devil of hell.
Let alone a mere student from a lesser nation.
Of course, Ichiro wasn’t foolish enough to lay bare his inner thoughts to the raccoon-like Chairman right before him.
The position of President of the Japan Hero Association wasn’t won just by chance.
“The position of the president isn’t something you just win by playing cards.”
“I won’t answer that question.”
“Tsk tsk. Young people these days really lack manners.”
Seira clicks her tongue.
Instead of responding, Ichiro downs the wine in front of him in one shot, sets the glass down, and stands up.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave, Chairman.”
“You brought this old man here, and now you want to leave first? You’ve really grown bold during our time apart, Ichiro. You used to be such a cute kid back in the day.”
“I won’t answer that question either…”
Ichiro, once again dodging the question, bows politely to Seira.
“It was nice meeting you, Chairman. Have a peaceful day.”
“Right. Off you go.”
Creeeak.
The automatic door closes, and Ichiro’s figure disappears.
Seira is left alone in the sky lounge.
Her red eyes sink heavily.
“Kim Deok-Sung.”
Ten years ago, that day.
All the comrades who saved the world together met mysterious deaths, and after being betrayed by her cherished disciple.
Seira has been planning her revenge against the dark forces for many long years.
Shuo Hero Academy is the most important key in her plan.
“I thought I had collected all the information on the students, but where did this variable come from?”
Gulp.
As Seira drinks her wine, the name Kim Deok-Sung is vividly etched in her mind.
*
A strange, no, familiar ceiling.
Shuo Hero Academy Hospital.
The scene of a single hospital room, with a humidifier pouring out white mist, comes into view.
“Ugh.”
I lift my body.
I feel a bit achy here and there, but it’s not like the first time when my body felt heavy or my head was pounding.
“Looks like getting used to this kind of thing comes with experience.”
I’m definitely not fond of getting used to pain.
I’m no masochist.
In life, it’s best to take advantage whenever possible.
“You’re awake?”
I hear a familiar voice in my ear.
I look around.
Next to me, in a long caregiver’s chair, sits a platinum-haired beautiful girl.
It’s Olivia.
Behind her stands a slender brown-haired maid beauty, Bella, frozen like a statue.
“What the heck, you? When did you get here?”
“I just got here, okay?! Hmph. It’s not like I was worried about you or anything… I just happened to be passing by and got curious!! So don’t get any silly ideas!”
Olivia crosses her arms and turns her head away.
Hearing Olivia’s awkward lines after so long makes me feel like I’m really awake.
If only I had woken up from a dream.
I haven’t even had my first job interview yet.
All I can do is sigh.
“Miss stayed by the Master’s side from the moment he was carried in on the stretcher until now.”
“Don’t say useless things, Bella! Who even said anything like that!!”
Olivia jumps in surprise, shouting.
“I was joking.”
“Yes, right! It’s a joke! It’s absolutely NOT the truth, so don’t believe it or get any ridiculous ideas!”
Olivia squeezes her eyes shut and shouts.
“Okay.”
If she says so…
I respond casually without thinking.
I don’t feel like playing along right now.
“Anyway, thanks.”
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