The Genius At The Swordsmanship Academy

Chapter 05

The Swordsmanship Genius to Be

‘Serine is clearly agitated.’
I didn’t figure this out by looking at her face.
It’s because I could feel a gap in her stance, even though she was holding the proper form for Bastian Knight Swordsmanship.
‘What’s going on here?’
Her stance wasn’t wrong.
She was definitely holding the same position as me, yet I could sense a gap.
‘Ah!’
I realized it late.
The issue wasn’t her body, but her gaze.
‘She’s getting flustered watching me and her field of vision has narrowed.’
Normally, Serine could defend against any attack coming from me with the proper blocking technique.
Her stance right now was meant for that.
But right now, she was staring at me with wide eyes, and her focus wasn’t where it should be, so she couldn’t process everything properly.
If I attacked now, her reaction would be delayed, and she might not be able to defend in time.
Just by her gaze, a perfect stance had a noticeable flaw.
‘How did I realize this?’
It felt as though I were a experienced swordsman, perceiving her weakness.
Does reaching A-rank in Bastian Knight Swordsmanship allow this kind of perception?
‘No, it’s not related to Bastian Knight Swordsmanship.’
It’s because of another swordsmanship I copied from Serine… Lorellian Combat Swordsmanship, C-rank.
‘Lorellian Combat Swordsmanship is from the western school of sword techniques.’
The western style emphasizes unorthodox tactics.
It especially focuses on exploiting the opponent’s weaknesses.
‘My Lorellian Combat Swordsmanship is only C-rank.
With just this, I shouldn’t be able to see Serine’s gap.
But…’
My Bastian Knight Swordsmanship is A-rank.
By combining these two sword styles, I could see the opening in Serine’s Bastian Knight Swordsmanship.
This was an unexpected phenomenon.
‘Serine probably hasn’t reached this level.
Why can I do this?’
Combining sword styles to create synergy.
This concept was definitely something that appeared in my novel.
But to do this, you have to be at a very high level.
Even the protagonists in the novel could only do this later in the story.
It requires a deep understanding of swordsmanship.
‘Could it be…?’
A hypothesis popped into my mind.
A lot of the sword philosophies in this world are ones I created while writing my novel.
Of course, I was just an ordinary novelist who had never studied swordsmanship.
So, all of them were just figments of my imagination.
But…
‘This is the world I created.’
This world is the one I imagined as a novelist.
So, maybe the sword philosophies I created in my mind work as truths in this world.
‘That’s crazy.’
If this hypothesis is correct, then I would have already reached the enlightenment of a Sword Saint.
Of course, I’m still lacking in terms of technique and magic, so I can’t claim to be at the level of a Sword Saint.
But…
‘I’ve come to this world with the potential to become a swordsmanship genius.’
My heart raced.
The special ability I was given in this world wasn’t just the power to copy.
“Ha!”
Just then, Serine, who had been waiting for the right moment, made her move.
Her stance was perfect.
But there was still a flaw in her gaze.
“…!”
Wham!
I blocked Serine’s wooden sword with a firm jaw.
Her speed and power were excellent, but it wasn’t an attack I couldn’t block.
“Whoa!”
Even a brief exchange caused a gasp from the onlookers.
It was a duel between A-rank Bastian Knight Swordsmanship.
It was sure to be a treat for the new students who appreciated swordsmanship.
“Ugh…”
Serine gritted her teeth and attacked again.
I maintained my composure and blocked every attack.
Of course, I didn’t just defend.
I used Bastian Knight Swordsmanship to launch counterattacks of the same level as Serine’s.
‘Executing proper movements while…’
My mind raced with countless techniques.
But I didn’t need to pick each one out individually.
My A-rank Bastian Knight Swordsmanship automatically selected the most accurate technique.
‘I’ll target the gap!’
I sensed that Serine was about to attempt her signature technique, the Vertical Trinity, as she was cornered.
But because she wasn’t in perfect form, I could detect her intentions before she executed it.
Splat!
Serine’s triple strike was completely blocked.
Her Vertical Trinity was full of gaps, and I countered it with my own Vertical Trinity.
“…!”
Serine was stunned.
I could feel her growing discomfort as her flaws compounded.
‘If I strike with the exact same technique at the perfect time, I can make the opponent more unsettled.’
This was a technique the protagonist, Arkandel, learned midway through the story.
In the process of learning this technique, Arkandel had to experience painful defeats.
But I didn’t need that process.
I already had that realization when I came into this world.
‘And I already know I mustn’t hesitate even a little here.’
Without hesitation, I thrust my wooden sword straight into the large opening.
The dull sound of impact echoed, and Serine’s sword flew high into the air.

“Just like Ernas-nim!”
“He’s that skilled in swordsmanship?”
“How does he use Bastian family swordsmanship so masterfully?”
“Of course, he’s the heir of the 6th Great Swordsmanship Family… what incredible talent!”
I wiped the sweat off my forehead, hearing the cheers from around me.
By the time I had blocked Serine’s Vertical Trinity, my stamina was at its limit.
It seemed like Serine still had the upper hand when it came to raw physical strength.
‘Ernas, you should work on your stamina.’
I exhaled sharply.
But I felt good.
‘For some reason… my chest feels light.’
This was a feeling I never experienced when I was just writing novels as a writer.
I never knew how satisfying it would feel to swing a sword with everything I had.
Just experiencing this feeling made me think that coming to this world was worth it.
‘Right, this is how it’s supposed to be… I need to keep getting stronger.’
It’s not just about copying and mimicking others’ swordsmanship.
I need to elevate it, take it to the next level, and become stronger than anyone else.
Because I have the potential for it.
‘If I have the potential to become a swordsmanship genius… then I’ll truly become one.’
In the novel, Ernas was a fake genius, but now I’ll change my fate and become a real genius.
This is the path I need to take from here on out.