NOVEL NEXT Ch 06 - If You're Eyeing My Position
Chapter 06
If You’re Eyeing My Position
After the representative for the Black Class 6 was elected, we were shown to our dorms.
The dorms were generally two-person rooms, but since I was elected as the representative, I got a single room.
This was a welcome surprise for me.
“It’s been a tiring day.”
In the novel, Ernas didn’t get elected as the representative.
He was nominated along with serine but stepped down, fearing his skills would be exposed.
Instead, he recommended Arkandel, who had clashed with him immediately after enrollment, just to mess with him.
However, Arkandel surprisingly beat serine and became the representative of Black Class 6.
“With Arkandel out of the picture, I have no choice but to take the role.”
To navigate the story and control the situation as much as possible, being in a position of power was necessary.
Given the uncertainty of what would happen if serine became the representative, it was best for me to take the role.
“I beat serine and got elected as the representative.
So…”
Reflecting on the novel’s story, I considered what might happen next.
“Someone will challenge the representative’s authority.”
I already knew who would step up.
* * *
In one corner of the Black Class 6 dormitory, seven students were gathered in a two-person room.
Only one of them was sitting.
“Schmitz, are you just going to sit back and do nothing?”
“…”
A thin man with long black hair remained silent, surrounded by other students.
“We hoped you would take the representative position and showcase the superiority of Southern swordsmanship…”
“You even forbade us from nominating you.
It was frustrating, to say the least.”
“As the heir of the Hartmann family, you could have easily beaten both Ernas and serine .”
Schmitz Hartmann was the eldest son of the Hartmann family, a famous name in Southern swordsmanship.
The Hartmanns were a significant count family in the south, and the students surrounding Schmitz were followers from the south.
“Do you still not understand my intentions?”
“Huh?”
Schmitz finally spoke up.
“I refrained from stepping up to observe the capabilities of Ernas Ranzstein and serine Bastian.”
“…!”
His words caused the students to hold their breath.
“To be honest, I believe Ernas is hiding his true skills.”
“What?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“During the entrance exam, I noticed Ernas taking the test nearby.
It was clear to me.”
Schmitz’s voice was cold.
“No one can fool my eyes.
During the one-on-one duel test, the examiner deliberately let Ernas hit him and then self-destructed.
I suspect he used similar tricks in other tests.”
“Is that true?”
“If there was cheating in the entrance exam, shouldn’t we report it?”
Amid the excited chatter of his followers, Schmitz shook his head.
“He’s the heir of the Ranzstein family, one of the six great swordsmanship families.
Reporting without solid evidence would only backfire on me.”
“That makes sense…”
“But things are different inside the academy.”
A cold smile appeared on Schmitz’s face.
“The Lichtnauer Swordsmanship Academy is strictly merit-based.
If I beat Ernas with my skills, I can expose him for what he truly is.”
“Oh…”
“Then everyone will understand.
Ernas getting second place in the entrance exam was a mistake.”
Most of the students nodded in agreement, but one voiced a concern.
“But Schmitz, Ernas did beat serine with his skills, right? He seemed quite strong to me… I don’t mean to say stronger than you.”
“You’re still naive.”
Schmitz clicked his tongue.
“Even after losing, serine ‘s breathing was steady.
Ernas, on the other hand, was panting and sweating heavily.”
“…!”
“No one can fool my eyes.
serine was actually the superior one.”
Indeed.
While other students cheered for Ernas’s victory, Schmitz noticed that Ernas’s stamina was completely drained.
If the duel had gone on a bit longer, Ernas would have dropped his sword.
“Then what really happened?”
“It’s obvious.”
Schmitz confidently shared his theory.
“serine deliberately lost to Ernas to hand over the representative position.”
“Another cheat, just like the entrance exam?!”
“Ernas used Bastian family swordsmanship instead of Agthas’s duel swordsmanship.
That was to make it easier for serine to match him.”
“No way…”
The student who had questioned Schmitz spoke again.
“But Schmitz, I heard the two canceled their engagement recently.
They didn’t seem to get along…”
“Fool, that’s all part of the plan.
They’re pretending to distance themselves to avoid suspicion.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Ernas probably forced serine using the Ranzstein family’s authority.
What a cruel guy.”
Schmitz frowned.
“Anyway, I’ve seen enough to judge their skills.
serine seems strong, but Ernas can be dealt with easily.”
“Then…”
“Yes.”
In front of his excited followers, Schmitz declared confidently.
“I will defeat Ernas and take the representative position.”
* * *
“Schmitz is probably planning to overthrow me and take the representative position by now.”
I lay on my bed, lost in thought.
“In the novel, he tried to do something similar, so it’s likely.”
Schmitz is a very ambitious guy.
He aims to elevate the Hartmann family to a status comparable to the six great swordsmanship families.
That’s why he wants to seize the representative position of Black Class 6.
“He wants to lead Black Class 6 and defeat the other classes.”
Red Class 1, Blue Class 2, Yellow Class 3, Green Class 4, White Class 5…
Representatives of these classes all hail from the six great swordsmanship families.
Each class has one heir from these families.
“If he leads Black Class 6 to victory over the others, it would symbolize the Hartmann family surpassing the six great swordsmanship families… That’s his thinking.”
That’s why Schmitz targeted the protagonist Arkandel in the novel.
He was convinced he had found Arkandel’s weakness during his duel with serine .
He’s likely to act similarly this time.
“Schmitz’s talent is top-notch.
And his Hartmann Quick Sword technique… it’s not easy to counter.”
The Hartmann Quick Sword boasts the fastest speed among non-magical sword techniques.
Ernas’s physical abilities wouldn’t be able to keep up with the speed of the Hartmann Quick Sword.
“Even utilizing the A-rank Bastian Knight Swordsmanship wouldn’t make it possible.
I need a plan.”
As I thought about this, I touched the ring on my left hand.
A message appeared in my mind.
[Currently, the abilities acquired through ‘Ability Replication’ are as follows:]
[Bastian Knight Swordsmanship (A-rank)]
[Lorellian Combat Swordsmanship (C-rank)]
[Eastern Mana Training Method (B-rank)]
[—]
[—]
Apart from the three abilities copied from serine , there were two blank slots.
This meant I could hold up to five abilities copied through Yusricht.
“It’s like having skill slots.”
In the novel, Ernas only had three slots, but now I have five.
It seems the effect of Yusricht evolved from ‘Ability Mimicry’ to ‘Ability Replication,’ increasing the slots.
“As there’s a limit to the number of abilities I can hold at once, I shouldn’t just absorb any ability randomly.”
While it’s possible to discard an acquired ability and replace it with another, it comes with a penalty.
So, I shouldn’t carelessly absorb any ability.
I need to acquire only those abilities that are truly helpful to me.
“With that in mind, the most necessary ability right now, ahead of the clash with Schmitz, is…”
With the knowledge I have as a writer, I derived the most suitable solution.
* * *
The classes at Lichtnauer Swordsmanship Academy are broadly divided into three categories:
Swordsmanship classes, physical training classes, and academic classes.
Swordsmanship classes teach actual sword techniques, physical training classes enhance physical abilities separate from swordsmanship, and academic classes cover scholarly subjects like history and strategy.
The first class for Black Class 6 was a swordsmanship class.
“Who do you think will teach the swordsmanship class?”
“Isn’t it Instructor Annalise?”
As the students moved to the ‘Lecture Hall’ located opposite the dormitory, they whispered among themselves.
Everyone was curious about who would conduct the swordsmanship class.
Of course, I knew who would appear.
“Everyone, gather around.”
At the sudden sound of a solemn voice, everyone held their breath.
Along with the supervising instructor Annalise, a robust middle-aged man entered the lecture hall.
A scar on his right cheek marked his distinct feature.
“No way, that’s…”
“Yols Kalesius?!”
“The one who was personally commended by the Emperor for slaying a dragon?!”
Yols Kalesius, the Dragon Slayer.
After graduating top of his class from the academy, he served in the west, hunting monsters.
He famously slew a dragon single-handedly and was awarded the title ‘Dragon Slayer’ by the Emperor.
Now, he had retired from the front lines and was training the next generation at the academy.
“Are we really going to learn swordsmanship from Yols on the first day?!”
“Oh my god…”
As the students buzzed excitedly, Annalise spoke in a calm voice.
“Professor Yols will be in charge of Black Class 6’s swordsmanship lectures.”
“Wow…”
The students couldn’t contain their excitement.
Learning swordsmanship directly from a legendary hero who slayed a dragon was a thrilling prospect.
“Quiet.”
With just one word from Yols, everyone fell silent.
His voice carried that much weight.
“Why are you here?”
The sudden question made all the freshmen hold their breath.
“I’ll ask again.
Why are you here?”
“…”
Everyone stayed quiet, glancing around nervously.
Yols scanned the students, then pointed to the one sitting at the very front.
“Answer.”
“Uh, um…”
The student pointed out hesitated.
“To reach the level of a Graduate who can wield magic!”
He finished, clearly referencing what I had said yesterday.
“Wrong.”
“…!”
“That’s merely the initial goal you need to achieve at the academy.
That’s not what I’m asking.”
After shooting down the answer, Yols pointed to another student.
“You there, the boy with long hair.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Answer.”
The pointed student was Schmitz Hartmann.
He responded calmly, without any sign of panic.
“To graduate from the academy with top honors and bring glory to my family.”
“A straightforward answer.”
Yols nodded.
“But still wrong.”
“…!”
Schmitz swallowed hard.
Yols continued pointing out other students.
Various answers were given, but none satisfied Yols.
“Next, the girl with purple hair.
Answer.”
“Um, my parents said I must attend the academy…”
“…”
“Hic…”
Yols’s expression darkened at Viola’s pathetic answer.
Ignoring her tearful face, Yols spoke again.
“Who is the representative of Black Class 6?”
“…”
I slowly raised my hand.
“I was elected representative yesterday, Professor.”
“Then you answer.”
Yols’s cold gaze pierced through me.
It felt like having a sword’s tip pressed against my throat.
“Why are you here?”
“…”
With all the students’ attention focused on me, I slowly began to speak.