Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Demon Sword's Trial
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1
The infirmary door slid shut behind him with a rattle and a click.
Only then did Leon Hilfenberg let out a small sigh.
In their sparring match, Theo Agrit had been sent flying backward by Leon's swing.
It took considerable force to send an adult man tumbling back like that.
Naturally, Theo should have sustained significant injuries from taking the full brunt of that power...
Unless he had cloaked himself in sword aura, or employed magic surpassing protective spells, or wielded some special weapon, a normal sword's impact would mostly be absorbed by protective magic.
Even so, just to be safe, Theo had decided to monitor his condition in the infirmary.
It was the kind of shock from slamming into a wall.
Even with protective magic absorbing it, no one could claim there was zero damage.
"I'm still far from my goal."
Leon murmured softly to himself as he walked down the corridor in front of the infirmary.
Theo Agrit, the scion of a count's family and a failing student who had flunked out before the first semester even ended.
Because it was such an opponent, Leon had deliberately held back during the match.
He could have crushed him in one blow at full power, but instead, Leon had eased off just enough to allow an exchange of moves.
It wasn't cheap pity.
If he had to find the right word, it was consideration.
Of course, Leon himself saw it as simply the natural thing to do.
However, that judgment was, in Leon's view, a clear mistake on his part.
Even swinging lightly, Theo had neatly dodged Leon's sword.
It was an attack Leon had calibrated to be defendable at Theo's level.
Dodging something like that by a paper-thin margin wasn't easy.
It required bearing the risk of taking the enemy's strike due to the slightest mistake or deviation, with the unwavering conviction that one's judgment was correct.
Once might have been beginner's luck.
But Theo dodged Leon's sword multiple times.
It had long surpassed the realm of luck.
"He must have read my sword path."
It was impossible to evade without predicting how Leon would swing.
Leon gave a wry smile at the conclusion that naturally followed.
"It's been since the family head that someone's seen through me."
The head of the Hilfenberg family.
His adoptive father who had taken him in, and the master who had passed down the Hilfenberg style to him.
Until now, no one except the family head had seen through Leon's sword.
Even the family head could only do so because he had personally trained Leon.
"So he's no ordinary failing student..."
There was no other explanation.
Reaching that thought, Leon let out a hollow laugh that wasn't quite a chuckle.
It wasn't something he, of all people, should say.
Just as Theo Agrit was doing, Leon Hilfenberg was also deliberately concealing his true strength.
What welled up was a sense of kinship from sharing the same secret.
However, even if the secret of hiding their power was the same, the circumstances behind it might not be.
The reasons why Leon Hilfenberg hid his strength were rather complicated.
If an adopted son like him displayed his full abilities, it would unnecessarily burden the blood heirs of the Hilfenberg family.
He didn't want to cause trouble for the family that had taken him in out of kindness and mercy.
Moreover, for Leon Hilfenberg, power was merely a means to achieve an ideal at the end of his path.
Leon Hilfenberg's ideal was justice.
A righteous, upright, and unwavering exemplary conviction.
Thus, he simply refrained from needlessly flaunting power, which was just a means to that end.
But what about Theo Agrit?
On that point, Leon couldn't draw any conclusions.
There was no basis to judge what purpose or intent Theo had in hiding his strength.
What naturally followed was curiosity.
If they shared the same secret, why hide it?
The flame of emotion that rose, unable to find a clear answer, wouldn't easily die out.
No matter how much he pondered, he wouldn't find the answer.
But one thing was certain.
"I should apologize for that half-hearted consideration."
Acknowledging his own arrogance was also a just act.
Leon nodded to himself as he muttered those words.
2
Far off, the sunset faded.
Beyond the walls encircling the Esterro Academy's outskirts, the falling sun dyed the surroundings in twilight hues.
The Esterro Academy at dusk held a different charm from the daytime.
Not wanting to miss that moment, he didn't even blink.
"...Beautiful."
Savoring the sunset shattering against the glass windows, the halo of light refracted everywhere, and the surreal glow, he stepped out the back door of the main building.
Walking along with the sunset for a while, trees began to appear one by one around him.
Though located in the heart of the capital, the Esterro Academy was vast.
Sprawling larger than most university campuses, it featured walking paths and even man-made forests within its grounds.
And every academy forest hid secrets, as was tradition.
In fact, this forest behind the dormitories concealed quite a few elements.
The training ground he had now reached was one such hidden feature.
An abandoned training ground that hardly anyone sought out anymore.
In other words, the perfect place to test the demon sword's performance.
-How dare you presume to test me? I am the one who tests you!
Perhaps because the sun was setting.
The demon sword, which had been dormant until now, grumbled.
-Rather, getting hit once and flying off so spectacularly—it's ridiculous. Are you a person or a balloon?
"Balloon? That's harsh."
It wasn't that I was weak; the guy casually sending people flying with his sword was abnormally strong.
And that guy was Leon, no less.
If anything, I hoped he'd rate me higher for dodging his attacks multiple times.
-Admittedly, that Leon fellow was fairly strong... but that doesn't change the fact that you're weak!
"Your evaluation's too low. More importantly, how do you know I got sent flying if you were sleeping?"
-Even in slumber, I can absorb surrounding information. Because I'm a demon sword!
Ah, so demon swords are black boxes.
-Black box? What nonsense is that?
"It's a compliment. An object that diligently performs its role 24/7 without rest."
-Oh ho, is that so?
Pleased, the demon sword muttered "black box" to itself for a while.
"More importantly, you said you'd test me."
That was the main point.
The demon sword Deathwise's test and performance trial.
As if just remembering, Deathwise chattered lightly.
-Ahem, yes. I shall personally verify your talent...
"And how will you do that?"
-By swinging me, of course. Perfect targets right here in this spot.
As Deathwise said, there was a wooden dummy in one corner of the training ground.
The strawman-like dummy showed clear signs of age, yet it still looked sturdy.
"That one?"
-Yes, give it a swing.
"Not cutting, just swinging?"
-Hahaha, don't talk nonsense. Do you think you could cut it?
...
This demon sword had a real talent for getting under one's skin.
-Fine then, try cutting it. If you do, I'll grant any request.
A blatant provocation.
This wooden dummy couldn't be cut in the first place.
In Broken World, these dummies were indestructible objects that wouldn't even scratch no matter what attacks you threw at them.
It was only natural, for testing all sorts of weapons and magic.
Asking me to cut that was too much.
My purpose in coming here today wasn't to destroy the dummy anyway, but to test the demon sword, so I'd give it a try.
Standing before the dummy, I drew Deathwise.
I took a deep breath and focused my mind.
Then, putting all my strength into it, I brought the sword down on the dummy.
Clang!
The sword bounced straight off the dummy.
The blade shuddered, and my hands went numb from the shock.
Was it wood or stone?
I couldn't fathom it being wood's hardness.
-Your spirit's not bad, but you lack any real technique. Swinging down like a brute will just wreck your wrist.
Somehow sounding pleased, the sword prattled on.
-This time, I shall guide you myself. Grip me again.
Silently, I gripped Deathwise's hilt once more.
At the same instant, crimson patterns emerged on the pitch-black blade.
The patterns, tracing a circle, pulsed like a heartbeat.
It felt like an entirely different sword from the mere black one moments ago, exuding a whole new presence.
One might expect ominous vibes, but Deathwise said nothing.
Yet, I somehow knew what to do.
I raised Deathwise overhead again.
Without overexerting, I naturally brought the sword forward.
My stance was still awkward, my momentum lacking.
Even so, Deathwise drew a straight sword path on its own, lunging at the dummy.
Slash.
It was a light sound, almost weightless.
Deathwise, starting from the dummy's right shoulder, now rested below its left side.
I had cut it.
Before I could marvel at the fact, my vision tilted.
"Urgh..."
Like a brutal hangover, no strength entered my body.
I dropped to one knee on the ground, stabbing Deathwise into the earth to prop myself up.
Barely holding on without collapsing, Deathwise's voice echoed in my mind.
-Tsk tsk, such a frail thing. Can't even handle a fragment of my power without keeling over.
"I didn't... keel over..."
-Quiet. But you did swing it, so you have some talent.
Deathwise fell silent for a while, drawing out a long hum.
Was that acknowledgment?
It was quite an arrogant sword... but performance-wise, it had every right to be.
I, who barely knew how to wield a sword properly, had landed a proper strike on the dummy.
Like cracking an egg against a rock, and the egg coming out unscathed.
Proof that the demon sword's capabilities were genuine.
-Naturally, my performance is exceptional. The problem is your weakness.
Who's arguing?
No matter how superior, collapsing after one swing meant it wasn't usable.
However... if my weakness was the issue, I could overcome it with training.
-Correct. With talent and training, you could wield me properly.
"That's music to my ears..."
My body felt heavy.
But using Deathwise as a crutch, I barely managed to stand.
Aside from slight dizziness and fatigue, no major issues.
Of course—it's a demon sword.
Considering its performance, this cost was a bargain.
If I could use it long-term without risks, it was no problem at all.
One issue, though.
Demon sword... isn't it too conspicuous?
On par with holy swords—sacred relics, in other words.
Carrying it around would inevitably draw eyes, wanted or not.
Could a peaceful, tranquil life coexist with a demon sword?
Weren't those words that shouldn't go together in one sentence?
-You insolent fool, what blasphemous thoughts...!
No, it's your problem.
If it were just a chatty normal sword, fine.
But because it's a demon sword, it causes worries.
Still... shifting perspective changes things.
What was Theo Agrit's reliable fallback?
Probably his home, the Agrit Count family.
A count's status meant power.
Conversely, excluding that count's power, he had no backups.
The world was unpredictable, so more insurance was better.
Some risk, sure... but a demon sword was solid insurance in return.
For a peaceful life, a bit of effort and risk was worth it.
As I pondered my schedule,
Boom...
A loud thud, and dust swirled.
Turning toward the sound, the dummy—slashed at an angle—had split into upper and lower halves.
The top part had apparently succumbed to gravity.
"...Hey, demon sword."
-What?
"Did I really cut that...?"
-Of course. Cleanly severed. Praise me!
Wasn't the dummy indestructible?
How did it get destroyed?
Can it be repaired...?
I picked up a piece of the fallen dummy.
At that moment, a rustling came from behind.
I spun around reflexively.
There stood a man in priestly robes.
"Oh, a guest already."
The priest flashed a bright smile.
But that smile looked endlessly suspicious.
And why not? Giacomo Zailex had always been a shady NPC.
"What's a first-year doing in a place like this?"
Giacomo's smile faded.
His wave-patterned reddish-brown hair parted to reveal eyes of the same hue, scanning me.
Naturally, his gaze slid past me to the diagonally split dummy.
Worst case.
The demon sword's power drawing attention was why I'd come to this abandoned training ground...
"Ah, looks like you were up to something interesting?"
"It was already cut when I got here."
"Is that so? Fascinating. Who could have pierced five layers of protective magic to slice a dummy?"
Subtle curiosity laced every word.
As I claimed ignorance, he stared straight through me.
Suddenly, Giacomo approached as he spoke.
I reflexively stepped back, and he advanced another step.
"Let me see that."
"..."
The dummy fragment was in my hand.
For a split second, thoughts raced through my mind.
Maybe not the worst outcome.
Giacomo didn't cause any major incidents in the original story.
Silently, I handed over the dummy fragment.
Giacomo ran his fingers over the cut surface, then placed it back on the dummy.
Snap!
He flicked his fingers.
Then lightly tapped the dummy.
The dummy, which should have wobbled and split into two from its diagonal cut, didn't budge.
I tried tapping it myself.
It didn't even twitch, and the seam was invisible.
Beyond repair—it was fully restored.
"Well then, I'll be off. See you next time, student."
Already at the training ground's edge, Giacomo waved his hip flask in farewell.
I watched his retreating figure vanish as suddenly as it had appeared.
Had he just helped me?
No answer now even if I asked, but one thing was clear.
Giacomo Zailex was still plenty suspicious.