Click-clack, click-clack.
"We've arrived, young master."
The carriage that left the cathedral ca to a stop in the middle of the central square.
"Thank you. I'll be back soon."
I got off the carriage.
My gaze fell upon a bench near the statue of the praying saintess.
That was the place we had agreed to et.
I walked towards it with a steady pace.
The crowd was quite large.
I spotted the person I was supposed to et among them.
I had planned to et one person, but seeing two made chuckle as I approached.
"Hey."
"Ah, you've arrived, senior!"
As always, Annette was polite.
On the other hand, Kamian just lazily nodded his head.
Is he not an easy man despite being the protagonist?
I smirked to myself.
"I was supposed to et him, so why are you here?"
"I thought maybe I could be of help..."
Annette turned away, her cheeks reddening.
It was too obvious to miss.
She must have co out because she was worried about Kamian.
"Well, it's fine. It doesn't really matter if there's one more person."
"Thank you, senior."
"Eh, you don't need to thank for anything."
My gaze shifted to Kamian.
'You want to beco stronger? But with your current thods, it's impossible.'
The words that had brought Kamian here.
His falling grades had left him in a state of anxiousness, making him susceptible to provocation—a convenient fact.
"Can I really beco stronger?"
Kamian asked, looking at directly.
After the incident in the underground space, his evaluation of must have shot up significantly. -novel-source
That's why he ca all this way after hearing just a few words.
"See for yourself and judge. You'll surely feel sothing."
"Then let's go."
I turned and walked back towards the carriage.
---------
'Lower District...?'
As Max entered the Lower District without hesitation, Kamian's expression turned to one of confusion.
Even as the second son of a fallen baronet, a noble is still a noble.
He had never set foot in the Lower District before.
But although he had never been there, he wasn't ignorant of what sort of place the Lower District was.
It's literally where the lower class of society lives.
Is there a way to beco stronger in such a place?
It didn't make sense.
"What are you doing? Not coming?"
Kamian closed his mouth just as he was about to speak.
He decided to trust.
The person was headstrong and not easy to get along with, but Kamian knew from experience.
He knew the person's abilities were real.
Of course, they were not absurdly powerful like Princess Oskar or Leon Benesse, the monsters surrounding them.
Honestly, he didn't think there was a huge difference in their actual skills.
But that's exactly why he thought there was more to learn from this person.
A calmness, audacity, and decisiveness that made you feel the gap beyond the gap in skills.
Multiple factors that allowed this person to exceed their own abilities.
Those were the things that made the difference.
He wanted to learn those secrets.
And they might just be here.
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. Let's go, Annette."
Kamian started walking towards the Lower District.
**Turk's Fencing Hall**
Kamian's pupils shook as he looked at the old wooden sign of the building.
A fencing hall?
A place to learn swordsmanship here?
In the Lower District?
Could there be a proper fencing hall that teaches real swordsmanship?
It's extrely unlikely.
If there was soone with proper swordsmanship, they wouldn't have set up a hall in the Lower District.
He had never heard the na Turk before.
He felt uneasy.
Very uneasy.
"Oh, welco. Our new student."
Turk had co out to greet us.
Kamian's face still showed signs of unease.
He clearly looked like a rcenary.
It was written all over the atmosphere he exuded.
If he had looked like a knight, maybe there would have been a sliver of hope.
But a rcenary?
Any faint hope faded away.
"And who are these people with you?"
"They're here to observe for now. But who knows, they might beco students in the future."
Don't just decide that we will be students.
Kamian's pupils shook again.
"Oh, I see. Welco."
Turk greeted them with a friendly smile.
"--- Hello."
Kamian replied awkwardly.
"Pleased to et you. I hope to learn a lot from you."
Annette, on the other hand, greeted him with proper politeness.
The difference in their personalities was clear.
"Co on in, please."
Turk led them inside.
Max and his group entered.
But there was another person inside.
It was Elaine.
"What, you're here too?"
"I was called by my father."
Elaine responded with a sowhat sullen expression.
It was because of the incident during the archery assessnt.
She had been teased by Max and had done sothing out of character only to feel utterly embarrassed.
She had kicked her blankets in frustration in her room that day.
Ever since then, whenever she saw Max, she was reminded of that incident and tended to avoid him slightly.
"I see. Well, thanks for coming anyway."
Max laughed lightly.
"No... it's nothing..."
It's not sothing worth ntioning.
Elaine turned her gaze away, looking embarrassed.
"Could it be Senior Elaine?"
"Yes, that's . But who are you?"
"Ah, nice to et you. I'm Annette Laiel, a first-year. I've heard a lot about your great na, senior. Please take care of ."
Annette bowed deeply.
Even if they had never t before, as an academy student, one couldn't be unaware of Elaine's na.
A second-year student who consistently took the top rank.
A prodigious magical talent rumored to be worthy of the title of a grand mage.
A model student with impeccable conduct.
In many ways, a senior worth looking up to.
"So you're junior Annette. What brings you here?"
"Just... observing."
"Oh, I see."
Elaine gave Max a look that said it was obvious he had invited them.
Today was certainly an important day at the fencing hall with her father, but whether it was worth spreading around the neighborhood was highly questionable.
Yet here he was, having brought not one but two people.
"Is that person also here to observe?"
Kamian flinched.
"Yes, senior. I'm Kamian Croycher, a first-year."
"I'm Elaine, a second-year. Thank you both for coming such a long way to grace this place with your presence."
"What are you talking about?"
The first eting flowed with a warm atmosphere.
Turk laughed heartily as if pleased with what he saw.
"On this aningful day, the fencing hall is bustling, which feels good. It's not polite to keep you waiting, so shall we start right away?"
"Anyti is fine. I'm fully prepared."
Confidence overflowed on Max's face.
"Understood. Then let's start imdiately."
The two, taking their stances with swords in hand.
'A real sword... This is serious.'
Kamian thought, realizing it was a real sword and not a wooden one.
The situation suggested a sparring match.
To spar with real swords ant live combat practice.
Injuries were common, and in severe cases, one could suffer grave injuries or even lose their life.
It's because the blade has no eyes.
Therefore, the academy only allows real sword sparring in special cases.
The purpose of sparring is to beco stronger, not to harm soone.
'Could it be that this person's combat skills... have been honed this way?'
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