Chapter 21

“Gideon, your movements are too big. Relax your shoulders and try again.”

“Like this?”

“Hmm, better than before.”

After bringing the Hellhound—no, Siri—into my dormitory, the next day arrived.

Thursday. Specifically, Thursday afternoon’s class.

I was attending Luke’s swordsmanship class with the other students.

“Your body’s too stiff. Swing your sword with the same confidence as when you actually attack.”

“Understood.”

Following Luke’s instruction, I swung my sword again.

I thought I did it quite confidently this time, but Luke’s expression showed uncertainty.

“Your fundamentals are more solid than I expected… but how should I say this—it’s oddly ambiguous.”

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, there’s no problem. I’m just trying to figure out how I should teach you.”

I tilted my head at Luke’s words, and he elaborated further.

“As for your defensive swordsmanship, there’s nothing I can really teach you. It’s so refined that I can hardly believe you learned it on your own. Honestly, when it comes to defensive techniques, you probably know more than I do. But when it comes to swordsmanship meant for offense… you’re basically a blank slate.”

“That’s… true.”

“That’s what makes it tricky. There are so many styles of swordsmanship I’d like to teach you, but I can’t decide which one would suit you best.”

“…That’s quite a dilemma.”

Swordsmanship in this world was incredibly diverse.

If I had to pick just one style, even I wouldn’t be able to choose easily.

“Enhancing your defensive swordsmanship even further is one way to go. But if you do that, you’ll be in trouble when you face a situation where you have to attack.”

“You’re right. That’s why I also want to learn at least one offensive sword style.”

“Hmm, I’ll have to think about it. For now, take a short break. I’ll check on the other students and come back to you.”

“Understood. Ah, Instructor—while we’re at it, may I ask you something?”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Have you ever fought a swordsman from House Balmuth before?”

“A swordsman from House Balmuth?”

Luke looked puzzled, as if wondering why I’d suddenly bring that up.

But after a moment, he nodded.

“I have. Just once—against the current head of the Balmuth family.”

“How did it go?”

“I lost, of course. I tried every sword style I knew, but against that pure, overwhelming strength, there was nothing I could do.”

Luke let out a hollow chuckle, his expression distant as though recalling the memory.

“He was truly formidable. It’s no wonder he’s the head of one of the Empire’s three ducal families. But… why ask that all of a sudden?”

“If you had to block a strike from a Balmuth swordsman, how would you do it?”

“Block a Balmuth swordsman’s sword…? No, the premise itself is wrong. You don’t block the sword of a Balmuth swordsman—you avoid it. Because most of the time, you can’t block it at all. When I fought the head of the Balmuth family, all I could do was focus entirely on dodging.”

“But if there came a situation where I had to block it—what should I do then?”

“There’s not much advice I can give. All I can say is—use every ounce of strength you have, and hold out with your willpower.”

“With all my strength… and willpower. Understood.”

Honestly, I hadn’t expected much from that answer.

Luke’s response was, if anything, the normal one.

A sane swordsman wouldn’t even think of blocking the sword of a Balmuth.

“But still, why do you ask?”

“It’s just… something that came up.”

I brushed it off casually.

I didn’t feel like explaining the details.

‘Hold out with willpower, and block with all your strength,’ huh.

Easier said than done.

Anyone who knew the truth would understand—blocking the sword of the next head of House Balmuth was utterly impossible with mere strength or willpower.

After all the classes ended.

I dressed neatly and made my way to the Disciplinary Committee Room.

Before going in, I pulled a few small glass bottles out of my pocket.

‘100ml per bottle. Each lasts 15 minutes.’

Two Strength Enhancement Potions, and two Defense Enhancement Potions.

A total of four bottles, which I drank one after another.

‘With this, my strength and defense will be enhanced for 30 minutes.’

If the entrance test lasted longer than that, it could be a problem—but based on my prediction, it wouldn’t take that long.

After finishing my simple preparation, I stepped into the Committee Room.

“You’re early.”

As I entered the underground chamber, a red-haired girl greeted me.

“There’s still ten minutes until five.”

“I thought it was better to be early than late.”

“You’re right. Better to be early than to be late for an appointment.”

Lisa sat quietly on the sofa, sipping tea.

I waited inside the Committee Room for the other applicants to arrive.

Before long, they began to gather—students I’d never seen before, both nobles and commoners, and a few I vaguely recognized.

Including me, twelve students were now assembled.

“…Looks like everyone’s here.”

As soon as the clock struck five, Lisa set her cup down and stood up.

“The entrance examination for the Disciplinary Committee will now begin.”

At her words, every first-year applicant in the room tensed up.

Noble or commoner, all of them focused on the lady standing before them.

“First, let me say this in advance. To join the Disciplinary Committee, you need at least a minimal level of combat ability. So if you can’t fight at all, please leave now.”

At Lisa’s words, several students looked startled.

“Lisa, what do you mean by ‘can’t fight’…?”

“I mean exactly that. If you don’t know how to fight—or simply don’t want to—then please leave right now.”

The room fell silent at her declaration.

Then, quietly, one male and one female student stood up and walked out of the room.

That left ten of us inside.

“No one else is leaving? Good. Then I’ll explain the test.”

At the mention of the entrance test, the tension in the air thickened.

For everyone—except me.

“The test is simple. You just have to block my sword.”

Lisa spoke expressionlessly, as if stating the most ordinary thing in the world.

But her words sent shock through the students around me.

“B-Block it?”

“What kind of nonsense is that…?”

“How are we supposed to block the sword of House Balmuth…?”

The applicants gathered in the Disciplinary Committee Room began to murmur anxiously.

It was understandable.

Anyone in the Empire knew what it meant to block the sword of Balmuth.

‘If I didn’t already know, I would’ve reacted the same way.’

But I already knew about Lisa’s entrance test through the game.

Thanks to that, I had at least some preparation for this test that Lisa never told anyone about.

Of course, I didn’t know how much help the two types of potions I drank would be—but at least I was in a better position than the other applicants who came unprepared.

“Quiet.”

With just one word from Lisa, the noisy room instantly fell silent.

Then she went to the corner of the room and picked up a greatsword.

“Um… Lady Lisa. No matter how you look at it, blocking your sword is…”

Bang!

A brave noble girl had opened her mouth to speak—

But the moment Lisa slammed the greatsword against the floor, the girl flinched and fell silent.

“If you don’t have the confidence to block, leave now. I have no intention of accepting anyone who lacks even that much courage into the Committee.”

Lisa spoke indifferently, her face completely expressionless.

At her words, the students glanced at one another nervously. Then, three of them quietly walked out.

That left seven students in the room.

“No one else is leaving? Good. Then let’s begin.”

“…Lady Lisa.”

“What is it? You’re… Rick, right? From House Wifred?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Before we start, I’d like to ask something. Realistically, none of us here could properly block your sword. So, how will you decide who joins the Committee?”

“It doesn’t matter if you can’t block it. I simply want to see how you attempt to.”

“…Understood.”

“And also…”

For the briefest moment, Lisa’s gaze flicked toward me.

Our eyes met for only a second before she continued speaking.

“I expect at least one person here will manage to block my sword. So don’t disappoint me.”

Somehow, it felt like those words were meant for me.

Whether that was true or not, Lisa formally began the entrance examination.

“Everyone, step back. One at a time, come forward. I don’t care how you block my sword. I told you to bring your weapon, didn’t I? Whether you use a sword, spear, shield—or even try magic—it doesn’t matter. Just block it, however you can.”

The applicants quickly stepped back, and I was about to volunteer first.

I figured it was better to get hit early rather than later, but—

“Gideon, you’ll go last.”

“…Sorry?”

“I said, you’ll go last.”

“…Understood.”

I had no choice but to retreat again.

It wasn’t just me—others also seemed puzzled by her decision to make me the final participant.

But Lisa didn’t give anyone time to dwell on it.

“Starting from the left, one by one. Let’s begin.”

At her words, a male student holding a spear stepped forward.

“Ready?”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

“Then let’s begin.”

Lisa unsheathed the greatsword from her back and swung it over her shoulder.

Then, in an instant, she slashed toward the student.

The greatsword was faster than expected—but still looked slow enough that he might be able to block it with his spear.

However, the moment their weapons collided—

Bang!

“Gah?!”

The male student was sent flying backward, crashing into the wall before collapsing and losing consciousness.

“What?!”

“What in the world—”

“Don’t make a fuss. He just fainted.”

Lisa casually rested her greatsword on her shoulder as she spoke.

“I’m controlling my strength, so no one’s going to die here.”

…Controlling her strength, she said?

I’d seen this scene countless times in the game, but seeing it in person was far more horrifying.

‘I knew she had incredible muscle under that uniform coat… but this isn’t human strength—it’s something else entirely.’

I looked at Lisa again.

There was a faint trace of blood pooling in the hand holding her sword.

‘As I thought… she’s drawing on the power of the Balmuth bloodline.’

She was strong even without using that power, yet even in a simple entrance test, she chose to use a fraction of it…

Just like in the game, Lisa clearly intended to pick her Disciplinary Committee members seriously.

“Next.”

This time, a female student stepped forward.

She cast a barrier spell to defend herself, but—

Crash!

“Kyaaah!”

The barrier shattered instantly under the impact of Lisa’s greatsword, and the girl was blown backward just like the first student.

“Next.”

A commoner boy with a sword stepped up.

He was one of the students who attended swordsmanship class with me.

When Lisa swung at him, he quickly dodged her strike.

“…Huh?”

He looked startled—as if he hadn’t even realized he dodged on instinct, purely out of fear.

“Is that a forfeit? Fine. Next.”

The test continued.

The next student also avoided rather than blocked, and the one after that surrendered before it even started.

Then came—

“Good. You’re next.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Rick Wifred.

A young man from a marquis family, and a classmate from swordsmanship class.

From what I knew of his personality, he was the typical…

‘Strong to the weak, weak to the strong’ type.

Polite to those above him, but endlessly condescending to those below.

Not someone I personally wanted to get involved with.

“Ready?”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

Rick lifted an ornate longsword decorated with jewels.

Lisa paused for a moment, then swung her crimson greatsword.

Clang—!

‘Exactly as I remembered.’

Rick didn’t fall immediately; he managed to hold out for about a second.

Yes—exactly one second.

“Argh?!”

Then his legs buckled as if the strength had been drained from them, and he collapsed, dropping his sword in the process.

“Ugh, my wrist…”

“Not bad. That was actually pretty decent.”

“Th-Thank you.”

“Good. Step back. The last applicant’s up next.”

Lisa’s gaze turned to me.

Her eyes, which had shown no emotion until now, seemed to carry something new—expectation.

“Gideon.”

“Yes, Lady Lisa. I’ll prepare myself.”

“Good. Prepare properly… and satisfy me.”

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