I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 32

In other words, if students are entrusted with a fifth or sixth-grade gate and fail, the government is the one to be blamed.

“They probably won’t let us.”

Jien nodded at Isabel’s sharp remark.

“That’s why we have to win. To make this strategy possible, we need recognition and fame.”

Jien looked at Isabel and Chris.

“This off-campus event, the Battle Survival, is unusually large. If we win, we can make a strong impression not only on the guild but also on the government. That’s the second reason.”

Isabel, who had been listening quietly, nodded. If successful, it would be possible to run the guild while adhering to the school’s rules.

As Jien said, if they build up achievements, the students will have an impact equivalent to that of a mid-sized guild. Jien pointed to the floor of the clubroom as he continued.

“And the last reason is simple, our clubroom. If we don’t come first, we’ll lose it. We can’t start a guild without an office, can we?”

“That’s a very realistic reason.”

Chris nodded and then continued with a serious face.

“If we lose the clubroom and fail in publicity, the plan will be postponed… Everything will be a mess, right?”

There’s so much to gain from winning the event. But if they wait until the second year to prepare, it will be too late. The current opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Chris clenched his fist with determination, and Jien placed his hand on Chris’s head.

“Don’t worry. What we have to do is simple.”

At Jien’s voice, Isabel felt a chill down her spine.

“…And what’s that?”

“Becoming stronger.”

Training and practice.

That was Jien’s most confident area, encompassing all his talents.

“Chris, once you finish mana training, you’ll learn magic machinery and actual combat in that order. I have high expectations for your magic machinery.”

Surprised by the unexpected praise, Chris looked up at Jien.

“Eh, expectations… really?”

“Yes. Just keep doing what you’re doing now.”

Chris’s growth was remarkable.

He had the will to try and someone to protect. Jien thought that was a good driving force for progress.

‘Chris will continue to grow stronger.’

When the time comes, the Dayben gang won’t be able to bully Chris anymore. The problem is…

“It’s Isabelle.”

If Chris was a challenge because he had much to teach, Isabelle was a perfect case except for one flaw. Even now, Isabelle was looking at Gian with one eye half-closed, arms crossed. That gesture was laden with meaning.

“Just so you know, I’m strong.”

Isabelle’s opening move.

Gian responded calmly.

“I think so too.”

Gian was experienced.

At first, pretend to agree, approach without the unsuspecting opponent noticing, and then lower their guard.

“Isabelle. Your 100m dash time, how many seconds?”

“100m? About 4 seconds.”

That would be average among Sabers. But there was a trick in Isabelle’s record.

“What if you run without enhancing your body with mana?”

Her potential for mana was ridiculously high. Faced with Gian’s sharp question, Isabelle trailed off instead of answering. Her record without the aid of mana was that dismal.

“…15 seconds?”

Gian nodded at the expected result, and Chris clicked his tongue.

“15 seconds? Wow, you’re really… that’s slower than an average person.”

“I’m a long-range attacker, what does stamina have to do with it?”

She sounded confident, but Isabelle had already lost her pace. Moreover, Gian had previously imposed a heavy debt on her.

“What if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t use mana?”

Gian’s hypothesis was valid.

It had happened even in the Tower of Mana, and no one knows how the Gate’s penalty would work.

“That… that’s…”

“Don’t worry, Isabelle. Physical training is much easier than accumulating mana.”

“…I doubt it.”

Her face paled at the schedule filled with physical training from morning to evening.

“You’re crazy.”

Until now, the only exercise Isabelle had done was simple jogging. But the schedule, packed with battle survival events, was impressive even for an active Saber.

“…Impossible.”

“Possible.”

The professional solution of a former hero. Isabelle’s face turned pale as she looked at the paper listing everything from diet to potion ingredients.

“You’re definitely going to die.”

It was a plausible story, but Zien lightly dismissed Isabelle’s whining.

“What are you doing not getting ready, Isabelle? The schedule starts today.”

* * *

In the vast forest on the outskirts of Arcana, Zien and Chris were sparring.

Clang! Cling!

The difference in skill between Zien and Chris was overwhelming, but the outcome of the match was not important. It was education disguised as sparring.

As Chris’s mana reached a certain level, Zien had sparred with him for several days. It was a valuable education that capitalized on Chris’s strengths and drew out his potential.

“Cha!”

With every step he took, Chris swung his dagger. Movements shortened and streamlined for actual combat. Somehow, Chris’s dagger seemed to evoke a similar feeling to Zien’s sword.

Bang!

Chris ran, stepping on the air. Clang. Sparks flew, and the dagger slid down Zien’s sword like a snake.

Sssk!

Like a snake climbing a tree, the dagger was agile.

Thump!

Before the dagger could touch his wrist, Zien rammed Chris with his torso.

“Ugh!”

The small-framed Chris rolled away for a while.

“That was a waste just now, Chris.”

Potion consumption. Physical training. Mana conditioning.

And coaching from a top instructor. Chris’s skills had increased beyond recognition. Especially, the biggest change was in Chris’s magical tool, his eyes.

“Shall we go all out for the last training?”

As Chris gathered mana in his eyes, Zien corrected his stance.

‘Just as I expected.’

As Zien predicted, it didn’t take long for Chris to awaken his magical device.

[Insight Eye]

Determining the trajectory of the next attack from the opponent’s stance. Eyes that elevate outstanding concentration and insight to the level of magic. Just by looking at the angle of a pointed gun, the Insight Eye could tell where the bullet would hit. Naturally, this applied to spears and swords as well. With subtle changes in muscle and posture, Chris could predict the opponent’s next attack.

‘That’s an incredibly overpowered ability.’

Zien marveled.

Insight akin to predicting the future. Even Chris’s abilities could be used simultaneously with clairvoyance. If Chris were to use clairvoyance in his left eye and insight in his right eye now…

Ching! Chang! Kang!

Because clairvoyance allowed a near 360-degree view at long distances, it was possible to counter even surprise long-range attacks.

Chris burned all the mana within his body to unleash a rapid assault.

Ching! Chaeng! Ching! Kakang!

“Do you like the dagger?”

Jien struck down with a cheap iron sword. Chris blocked the attack by crossing his twin swords.

Sparks flew.

“It’s the best.”

“Good to hear.”

Chang! Kang!

“It’s something I had Isabel make for you.”

Jien kept striking down, and Chris dodged in sync.

“Was it a dagger made by the Mage Tower?”

Chris nodded and threw the dagger at Jien.

Whiik! Chang!

It was a quick throw, but Jien deflected it easily. Jien always checked on Chris’s skills, ensuring Chris could grow as fast as possible by matching his level.

“With skills like these, you wouldn’t be out of place in the martial world.”

“Ah, it’s not that much!!”

Chris narrowed his eyes while smiling bashfully, waving his hands.

Whiik!

At Chris’s gesture, the dagger buried in the ground, imbued with mana, returned to him. Jien was in its trajectory, the dagger aiming for his back.

Thwack!

Jien caught the dagger flying towards his back with ease.

Thwack.

Jien returned the dagger to Chris.

“You’ve worked hard.”

This single phrase meant that today’s training was over. As usual, Chris, unable to land a single hit, wore a frustrated expression.

“Tch! Couldn’t even graze your clothes today.”

Considering Chris’s opponent, it was quite a spoiled complaint.

“Don’t be disappointed. The usage time for the magic device is increasing, and your posture has improved significantly.”

“Hmm, well… that’s all thanks to you, Zien.”

“Just keep training your mana until the event. And this.”

Zien tapped the band wrapped around his wrist. What came out of the pocket was a pair of leather shoes. Of course, they were no ordinary shoes. These were artifacts obtained along with a mana elixir when they caught the Hypheus.

“What’s with these old-fashioned shoes?”

“Don’t be surprised, Chris.”

As Zien snapped a picture of the shoes with the artifact app, the information about the shoes appeared on the phone screen.

＜Highwind＞

Grade – Mystical

Information – Shoes made from the feathers of the mythical Hypheus. Crafted using the magic of Zone 4, these shoes are said to make one feel as light as if walking on air.

Effect – Reduces the sound of footsteps.

Effect 2 – Increases movement speed.

“Wow, this! Is it an artifact?!”

“Yes.”

Highwind was an artifact more suited for Chris than Zien, who wielded a sword. Chris’s role was that of an assassin, positioned to check the archers. With the effects of the shoes, he could approach the enemy more swiftly. Chris, examining the artifact, asked in a flustered voice.

“You’re really giving this to me? It’s incredibly valuable, isn’t it?”

“We’re a party. A party that will clear gates together.”

Zien fell into a brief contemplation.

Having good comrades was also one of the qualities of a Saber. Gates often valued teamwork as much as combat power. The ability to clear a Grade 8 gate in a past life was also thanks to excellent comrades.

Phael, Sina, and Liza. Zien thought that Isabel and Chris had more potential than these three. And Zien had the experience to awaken (開花) that talent.

“Investing in a comrade is never a waste.”

“Oh… Are you really the same 17 years old as me?”

Though his conscience pricked him, Zien could only affirm.

“Of course.”

* * *

In front of the image room.

“…About me.”

Isabel spoke in a subdued voice, hugging her knees.

“Maybe… I’m actually weak?”

The image room’s lowest difficulty level 1-1.