The Academy’s Hard-Headed Swordmaster

“[With that—the indoctrination is concluded. We will now have the final oath from the representative student. Student Yuri Grace.]”

“Yes.”

As the silver-haired beautiful girl stepped onto the stage, everyone’s gaze turned towards her.

Unfazed by the attention, Yuri began to recite the oath, just as she had rehearsed.

“We, the incoming students, pledge to uphold the exemplary standards of the prestigious Dairus Academy. Student Representative, Yuri Grace.”

Including Yuri Grace, the representative student, 330 students took the oath simultaneously.

The grandeur of hundreds of people voicing the same words in unison was always impressive.

And so, with the oath concluded—the students gathered with their respective departments.

The Knight Department, Magic Department, Arts Department, Military Department, and Administration Department.

Kyle followed the Knight Department Instructor to the classroom.

From afar, he felt the sharp, piercing gaze of Yuri, whom he hadn’t had a chance to greet.

‘What’s her deal?’

Could she have possibly misunderstood something after seeing him talking with Aria?

Kyle tried to ignore the ominous feeling and headed into the classroom.

The Instructor, who had guided them to the classroom, stood at the podium with a beaming smile.

“Knight Department freshmen, please wait just a moment. The Professor will be here shortly.”

The Instructor’s tone was surprisingly friendly, unlike what Kyle had expected, reminding him of Korean physical education departments, which he found somewhat odd.

However, he soon realized why the Instructor was so amiable.

Several students who appeared to be nobles were seated in the classroom.

‘Well, I guess—even if they say everyone is equal in the Academy, it’s not that simple…’

Unless you were like him, with a good family background and even better skills, it wouldn’t be easy to advocate for equality within the Academy.

If this Instructor were to be dismissed from the Academy and couldn’t secure a professorship, he would have to serve under some noble family.

What if he needlessly enforced discipline and earned the nobles’ ire?

It wouldn’t just block his path to promotion; it would block his entire career.

Someone at the Expert level might still find employment somewhere, but an Expert wouldn’t be fired from the Academy in the first place.

“Who is this Professor, making us wait like this…?”

On the first day of school, some students, not yet having shed their noble airs, began to grumble about the Professor who was keeping them waiting.

However, they soon fell silent as heavy footsteps approached from outside the door.

‘Creak—!’

The door opened, and an elderly man with a weathered face entered the classroom. Everyone in the room, noble or commoner, recognized him.

“Why is it so quiet?”

As Gawain, the Knight Department Professor, spoke, the students gasped, finally realizing that what they were seeing was real.

The Hero of the Empire, a living legend, one of the few Masters in the Empire.

Although injuries sustained in his youth prevented him from active duty on the battlefield, he dedicated himself to nurturing the next generation.

“You all look like you’ve seen a ghost. What, want me to switch with another Professor?”

“N-No, sir!”

“Huh? My old ears aren’t what they used to be…”

“We like Professor Gawain!”

Having half-forcedly garnered their approval, Gawain chuckled and began to explain why he was there.

“Some of you may know, and some may not—but the Academy values freedom. Whether you attend classes or not, as long as you earn the necessary credits to graduate, we don’t care.”

“Ooh, oooh…”

“However—if we give such freedom to freshmen who just joined the Academy, they’ll be clueless about what to do and just scratch their heads, right? Therefore, first-year students cannot choose their own courses.”

The students who had rejoiced at the promise of freedom were now dismayed, while those who hadn’t given much thought to their studies felt relieved.

Observing their reactions, Gawain instructed the Instructor to distribute the timetables to the students.

“This is your Knight Department timetable. It’s packed with boring, rigid subjects like Basic Swordsmanship, Aura Training, and Physical Training.”

Of course, there were also a few liberal arts courses offered by other departments.

One could say it was a fairly comprehensive curriculum, or one could complain about having to learn unnecessary things after finally getting into the Academy.

As if reading their minds, Gawain grinned at the students.

“There’s a way to skip all these tedious classes.”

“What is it…?”

“Simple. Just beat me in a match.”

Gawain said, glancing at Kyle.

Meeting Gawain’s gaze, Kyle realized that this rule was made specifically for him.

It was advice telling him that if he found the classes boring, he could reveal his strength and skip them without any hesitation.

Kyle smirked at Gawain.

The other students groaned, thinking Gawain was joking.

Beating a Master in a match was not just difficult for a mere student; it was impossible.

“Alright, that concludes the orientation. And, Kyle Meyer.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Come with me.”

Kyle stood and walked to the front of the classroom.

Gazes filled with envy and curiosity followed him as he was called upon by Gawain.

Looks that seemed to ask, ‘Just who are you to be called by him?’

Kyle ignored them and left the classroom with Gawain.

As soon as they were in the hallway, Kyle spoke to the back of Gawain’s head.

“Professor, isn’t this a bit much? How am I supposed to have a normal school life after attracting this much attention?”

“—I doubt you’re the type to be bothered by such things.”

“There’s something called moderation.”

When Kyle replied curtly, Gawain looked at him with an expression of surprise, as if he found it strange that Kyle cared about such matters.

Masters tended to be somewhat detached from worldly concerns.

They were beings capable of single-handedly wiping out groups, even armies.

However, Kyle was different.

He was trying to blend in with ordinary people despite being a Master.

Was it because he had become a Master at such a young age and was unaware of the ways of the world?

Or was it this very temperament that allowed him to become a Master so young…?

“If you have complaints, feel free to challenge me right here.”

“Are you trying to make me an elder abuser? Just tell me what you want.”

“—The principal summoned you.”

“The principal?”

Kyle tilted his head in confusion.

His only encounter with the principal had been during the entrance ceremony, a vague address he barely remembered.

The principal, whom he had never met or contacted beforehand, was summoning him?

“What for?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me. Well, it’s probably about your identity.”

“I’m supposed to be keeping that a secret.”

“Why?”

“My father-in-law told me to.”

“Hmm… That is a serious matter.”

Passing by Gawain, who was giving him a pitying look as if he were already trapped in the grave of marriage and being controlled by his in-laws, Kyle arrived at the principal’s office.

‘Knock, knock-’

Gawain knocked, and the principal’s voice, the same one he had heard during the address, answered from inside.

They entered, and the principal, with his bushy beard, greeted Kyle.

“Haha, welcome. Ah, Sir Gawain. Thank you. You may return now.”

“Then, I’ll be going.”

After Gawain, who had escorted Kyle to the principal’s office, left, Kyle promptly took a seat on the sofa and looked at the principal. He was alone with him now.

The principal, watching Kyle, stroked his beard and let out a hearty laugh before settling down in front of him.

“Student Kyle Meyer. I heard from the Duke.”

“Heard what?”

“That you’re a Master. And that you’re keeping it a secret.”

“Oh, that was supposed to be a secret.”

Kyle’s tone implied a question of why the Duke would reveal such a thing.

The principal chuckled and replied that it wasn’t just him; others knew as well.

“Not just me, but His Majesty the Emperor has likely heard the news as well.”

“Wow, our Duke is spreading the word far and wide.”

“Only to those who need to know. His Majesty the Emperor needs to prepare to welcome a new Master, and I, as the head of the Academy, have the right and duty to know and manage everything.”

The principal’s eyes gleamed as he spoke. Deep within his pupils, a bright blue magical power surged.

The moment their eyes met, Kyle felt a flow of magic power probing him and instinctively activated his Aura.

Their eyes, filled with Aura and magic power, clashed in mid-air and then vanished like melting snow.

“…You have the skills befitting a principal.”

“I wish it were a joke—but to burden this old man with such a responsibility in my twilight years.”

“Burden, you say…?”

Kyle gave a wry smile at the principal, who treated him like a burden dumped by the Duke. The principal stopped stroking his beard and looked at Kyle, finally speaking.

“—If a Master causes trouble, only another Master can stop them, so yes, you are a burden.”

“I have no intention of causing any trouble.”

“Sigh—Please understand. When you get old, you tend to worry a lot.”

Saying this, the principal met Kyle’s gaze once more and gave him a warning.

“I would prefer it if you kept the fact that you are a Master a secret from others.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then, of course—I’ll have to expel you.”

The principal’s voice was sharp, almost a threat.

Kyle responded in a tone of disbelief.

“Wait, a student wants to attend the Academy, and you’re talking about expulsion?”

“Realistically—what can we teach a Master? A Master being a student is like a Professor enrolling as a student.”

“…I can’t argue with that.”

Just as the principal had said, Kyle couldn’t refute the logic.

If word got out that a Master was attending the Academy as a student, it wouldn’t just cause a stir; it would be a full-blown uproar.

‘Even I’d think it was nonsense.’

Nobles from all over the country would try to win him over by any means necessary.

It would become incredibly bothersome, to the point where he wouldn’t be able to enjoy his life as a student.

In that case, it would be no different from being expelled.

Although the principal’s words were harsh, he was ultimately looking out for him.

“Alright, I understand. I’ll try my best to keep my Master status hidden.”

“Thank you.”

Kyle left the principal’s office, promising to keep his word.

He would keep the secret, no matter what.

* * *

Or so he thought.

“N-No way…”

Looking at the military student trembling before me, I realized I had made a mistake.

Scattered in front of him were the pieces from our war game.

‘Ah… I should have gone easy on him.’