I’m Not Becoming a Graduate Student! – Chapter 18

After Serenne made plans with Sion.

When Geivolg and Patrick were poking fun at Sion, unsure of how to react—

The savior appeared in the Coliseum-shaped classroom.

“Nice to meet you!”

In bounced a plump little girl.

She looked even younger than the academy’s freshmen, but surprisingly, her true identity was…

Heruj, the professor in charge of the class “Swordsmanship essential for mages.”

Dressed in shiny armor, she drew the sword at her waist.

“First, everyone should go to the storage over there and bring out the training wooden swords. We will always be swinging swords, so make sure to bring them out in advance! If you understand, respond!”

““Yes!!””

“Good.”

As expected of a swordsmanship class, the atmosphere was disciplined.

Sion grabbed a wooden sword from among the students.

‘So this is a wooden sword…’

Though he had swung sticks like swords as a child, it was the first time he held an actual wooden sword.

Just as he started to get used to the surprisingly heavy sensation and fidgeted with the handle—

“I think some students were scared by the swordsmanship I showed in the first week! But my class isn’t that difficult! Today, we’ll just be learning the basic stances!”

She took a stance with her sword.

“First, I’m going to teach you the swordsmanship stance. After that, we will cover high cuts, middle cuts, and low cuts. It’s super easy, right?”

“…”

“Now, I will demonstrate!”

Professor Heruj’s class was easier to understand than expected.

From head to toe, she provided detailed feedback on how each body part should move and in which direction.

She even offered one-on-one tailored guidance so that other students could follow along.

‘…This is bringing back memories of when I attended the taekwondo academy.’

Although it felt like ages ago, Sion remembered going to a taekwondo academy when he was in elementary school.

The instructor used to teach the forms in a similar one-on-one manner.

Though it was over 20 years ago, memories came flooding back—

“Hey, student! Your stance is twisted! Make your feet parallel! Focus!”

“S-sorry!”

Startled, Sion quickly corrected his stance.

Professor Heruj seemed to have an uncanny ability to know when students were losing focus.

Thanks to her, the students were highly motivated.

“That’s it for the basic stance; now, I’ll teach you the basic high cut.”

““Yes!””

The basic swordsman stance was taught, and the real swordsmanship class began.

The fundamental high cut, sweeping the sword from above down.

It was important to rotate each body part appropriately to transfer power.

As Professor Heruj demonstrated, a translucent something suddenly appeared right in front of Sion’s eyes.

[Skill: High Cut.]

[Type: None]


[Attribute: None]


[Rank: 1st Circle]


[Description: Basic sword technique that cuts from above down.]

[You’ve discovered a sword technique that matches your circle!]


[A new sword technique has been recorded in your Combat Codex.]


[You can now use High Cut.]

‘…No way.’

Sion blinked in disbelief.

So the translucent window didn’t only appear when he saw magic?

Why was he seeing this for swordsmanship…?

Did that mean, not only magic but also swordsmanship could be mastered?

‘Does it only apply to magic?’

The type of “Identification Eye” Sion had was limited to “Identification Eye.”

He recalled what Professor Noias had said about the Identification Eye.

The Identification Eye is the ability to see through the essence of objects or phenomena.

Even though it’s the same Identification Eye, what it can identify varies widely.

Sion thought his Identification Eye was only limited to “magic” or “spirits.”

But that wasn’t the case.

His Identification Eye also applied to swordsmanship.

Considering the term “Combat Codex,” it also meant he could learn all kinds of combat styles like archery, spear techniques, and martial arts.

“Alright, that’s all for the basic explanation. You should try the High Cut once! I’ll guide you as you do it! Don’t be shy, just swing it!”

While Sion was in disbelief over the unexpected revelation, Professor Heruj finished explaining.

If he had been unconfident in using the High Cut, he might have gotten discouraged and missed the explanation.

But…

[Combat Codex]


[Welcome to the Combat Codex!]


[You can check combat skills you’ve seen or can use.]


[Currently available combat skills:]


[1st Circle Combat Skill: High Cut]


[2nd Circle Combat Skill: X]


[3rd Circle Combat Skill: X]


[4th Circle…]

The High Cut was registered in the Combat Codex.

That meant he could use the High Cut.

Taking a deep breath, Sion raised his sword.

Just before he was about to use the High Cut, a cheer erupted from nearby.

“Oh! Your swordwork is clean! What’s your name?”

“My name is Clif Devrong. I learned a bit of swordsmanship from the knights in the Devrong household. Hahaha.”

Phew! Phew!

The one receiving all the attention from Professor Heruj was a stocky blonde guy, sporting a rugged look that would fit him in the knight department with muscles to match.

“A very nice job! Just keep swinging it like that. But hey, the tip of the sword wobbles a bit when you swing it. Just be careful with that!”

“I’ll keep that in mind! Hahaha.”

Despite his rough appearance, he wore a friendly smile in front of the professor.

But as soon as Professor Heruj turned her back, that smile vanished.

‘That guy… isn’t he the one who keeps staring at me?’

Sion knew his identity well.

He was one of the followers clinging to Estroja, and whenever Sion got scolded in class, Clif would always give him that same condescending look.

“…What’s your problem?”

“?”

“You, I mean you.”

That guy started talking to Sion.

Clif looked at Sion with a glare filled with arrogance, as if he found something unpleasant to observe.

In a voice that could barely be heard if you weren’t right next to him, he whispered.

“Wasn’t it nice, tricking the professor by pretending not to know barrier magic? But you can’t fool my eyes.”

“……”

“From the looks of it, you can’t swing a sword properly either—why don’t you just focus on class like a commoner and stop showing off?”

“Huh.”

Sion couldn’t help but chuckle at Clif’s words.

Clif’s eyebrows twitched as he listened to the taunt.

Sion shook his head.

‘Wow, thinking this is how a 20-year-old talks makes him seem less intimidating.’

In middle school, he had found seniors just a year or two older terrifying.

But as an adult, seeing them was amusing, and it was hard to remember why he used to feel afraid.

Having gone through not only college but even graduate school, they now looked like spoiled children throwing tantrums.

“…Are you laughing? You little brat…”

Stomping forward to close the distance, Clif approached while mumbling with rage.

His gaze was quite fierce, threatening as if he would do something.

“Ah…we’ve been monitoring you from our noble faction, so just lay low, got it? Don’t cause a fuss—”

Squeak!

As Clif was about to explain more—

Sion’s training wooden sword moved quickly.

“W-what the hell are you doing!!”

Bam!

Clif stumbled backward, surprised.

If he hadn’t dodged, he might have taken the full brunt of Sion’s High Cut.

Sion blinked and stared at him.

“Sorry. I didn’t realize you were coming at me.”

“W-what…?”

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have acted so recklessly.

After all, he was a commoner and an outsider from another world.

‘But is it really necessary to hold back so much?’

Today, Sion learned a valuable lesson in Professor Ronda Magret’s class.

When he cowered and hid, others would underestimate him and treat him rudely.

If he had been a noble, would Professor Ronda have tried to humiliate him by splashing water on him?

Clif, who had fallen on his backside pathetically, was just the same.

After being humiliated and threatened with some meaningless intimidation, it was time to change that.

Now that he knew he possessed strength, he would live proudly, pushing away threats or intimidation directed at him.

With that in mind, Sion extended his hand toward Clif.

With a refreshing sense of relief and a pleasant smile on his face.

“Since it’s a swordsmanship class, it can be dangerous if you come up without warning. So, wanna get up?”

“Y-you little brat…!”

With veins popping on his forehead, Clif swatted Sion’s hand away.

As he stood up, the distance between them shrank significantly.

Just as he was about to raise his fist—

Squeak!

A sword flew from the side and knocked Clif’s fist away.

“Who the hell are you!?”

“Is that directed toward me, by any chance?”

“Uh… Professor…?”

Standing there was Professor Heruj, wearing a cold expression with the sword in hand.

“How dare you try to use force in my class? Did you even dare to insult me, the professor? There are limits to ignoring a professor.”

“Ah, no! There’s no such thing…”

“I don’t want to hear it. Please leave my class. You’re interrupting the other students. I’d like you never to think of attending my lessons again.”

“Professor…”

SWISH! THWACK!

Without hesitation, she swung her wooden sword again, landing another precise and clean strike—this time to his elbow.

Even bystanders couldn’t help but admire her accuracy and stiffness.

Of course, Clif couldn’t appreciate it, letting out pained groans instead.

“Gah….”

“If you don’t leave within three counts, I’ll assume you’re challenging my authority as a professor. One.”

“Professor…”

“Two.”

“I’m so sorry!”

With that, he dropped his wooden sword and fled.

Clif, holding his arm where she struck him, ran off, leaving his backside turning yellow from the humiliation he faced after sitting down thanks to Sion.

“Sion student.”

“Yes? U-uh, Professor…”

Step by step, Professor Heruj approached Sion.

With the same expressionless and cold face as before.

‘Could it be that I’m getting kicked out too…?’

Even knowing that, he still swung the sword defensively.

Pretending to provide assistance, while deep down feeling a bit nervous.

Professor Heruj reached him and looked up into his eyes—

“I’d like to see the High Cut again!”

“…Huh?”

“That was amazing! Up until now, your stance was all over the place and you kept getting distracted, so I was worried… but that High Cut was incredibly precise! It can’t be your first time swinging a sword, can it? If so, you have tremendous talent!”

Bing!

Professor Heruj paced around Sion, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

She completely dismissed Clif from her mind and was filled with admiration for Sion’s High Cut.