The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 23

23.

“Grandma! Where’s my mom?”

“Eek, Kiring! Where did you learn to say such things?”

Single Swordsman Kiring.

At the age of seven, she asked her grandmother, who had taken her in, without hesitation.

“No… our hair colors are different! Even in the family album, I’m the only one who looks different! There’s no photo of me when I was born!”

“Eh? Is that what you meant?”

“Then what did you mean?”

“Ho ho ho, this old lady misunderstood my little puppy’s words, didn’t I?”

Her grandmother lovingly patted Kiring’s head.

“Kiring was picked up from underneath a bridge, you see.”

“Eh?”

“I found you beneath a bridge on my way.”

“Uh… wow.”

Kiring was left speechless by her grandmother’s blunt confession.

“Grandma, I’m in shock.”

“There’s more to come.”

“Grandma, stop… my hit points are already at zero.”

But Grandma didn’t stop.

Determined to pass on the family secret to Kiring, who was left alone.

“My family was an assassination guild. Now everyone is dead, and only I’m left. I’ve been retired for a long time since I’m old.”

“Assassination… guild? What does that even mean, Grandma?”

“It means killing people for money.”

“That’s a bad thing!”

“My little puppy.”

Grandma pointed out Kiring’s clothes and stomach.

“All the food you’ve eaten and clothes you’re wearing were bought with that money. Don’t speak of morality. People survive by farming and butchering other lives. Our family has survived like that until now.”

“…Then, why are you the only one left?”

“If we’re exposed, we die. That’s the blessing of our assassination guild ‘Myeolsa’.”

Grandma’s expression looked very lonely.

Even at her young age, Kiring understood.

And not long after.

The attack that came at night was the last sight of her grandmother.

“Old man. I’m sorry… I said I wouldn’t pick up a sword again… Cry, Hell’s Evil Spirit!”

Grandma was incredibly strong.

Her feeble-looking walk transformed into a swift movement untraceable to the eye. Soon, the attackers in black were mowed down without resistance by Grandma’s sword skill. Kiring felt a thrill at her grandmother’s reversal.

She felt the desire to become like that. However, her object of admiration made a fatal mistake.

“I’m sorry, Kiring. I tried to shake off my past for your sake, but it seems there’s no eternal secret…”

“G-Grandma! Are you okay!?”

“If only I were just a little younger, those bastards’ blades would never have touched me…”

A slight wound showed on Grandma’s shoulder. It wasn’t deep, but her complexion was turning pale.

“It seems to be a poison… Kiring, my one and only granddaughter. Even though I picked you up, you are still my irreplaceable granddaughter. Do not forget that…”

“Grandma… sn sniff… Grandma!”

And just like that, Grandma passed away.

Kiring was once again left alone.

What remained was the dual sword technique her Grandma had passed on to her and the longing memory of her last moments.

“Grandma… I will definitely become a cool and strong person like you.”

Thus was born the secret tale of the Single Swordsman.

– Who exactly is that swordsman?
– They’re incredibly strong, right?
– But why are they so stubborn about being solo?
– A mysterious strong one…
– Wait, are they hiding their rank?

Kiring felt proud.

Similar to how she got inspired by her grandmother, she took deep joy in everyone’s astonishment at her unexpected charm.

But conversely, she had worries too.

Her stamina was slowly wearing thin.

As her rank rose, the limits of solo play began to show, and that concern grew every day.

“I can’t just take anyone in…”

At least someone who shares similar goals.

She wanted to save those who shared her fate.

And just then, a woman appeared who met Kiring’s expectations.

“A blind woman? And a swordsman class!”

She was incredibly mysterious.

Even so, moving as if she could see. It was evident she was a seasoned master. Yet, the fact that she was in the same rank made it even more appealing.

When she was offered to join, Ellie’s resolve sent shivers down Kiring’s spine.

To straight up aim for ‘divine descent.’

A thrill coursed through her. Kiring felt a kinship with this adventurer who desired to rise to the top just like her.

‘But.’

It was slightly disappointing.

As a seasoned master, one shouldn’t be picky about tools. An exquisite sword?

She abandons her companions and runs away?

No way!

“I trusted you!”

“Enough. Companions grow closer as they overcome trials!”

Kiring revealed her true identity to Ellie.

After getting through this hurdle, she faced her earnestly to become true partners.

“Just trust me!”

Thud!

“Cough…”

However, the opponent was too strong.

The master of divine descent was way tougher than she imagined. Kiring was knocked down in a single blow without even being able to exchange a single strike.

It was an empty end.

She couldn’t save her companion.

And she couldn’t carry on her grandmother’s legacy.

As despair and deep contempt for herself slowly crept in—

He arrived.

“That looks like a serious injury.”

The man who emerged from somewhere used a healing item on Kiring.

“My name is Yuto.”

‘Yuto…’

Why is he telling his name?

Why is he healing me?

How can this man maintain such a calm demeanor?

He must have witnessed the scene of a platinum-ranked adventurer getting easily taken down right before his eyes.

It didn’t take long to realize all her questions. Just like the time she had witnessed her grandmother’s sword skill in the past.

She was sinking into a pleasurable thrill that quenched her primal thirst.

“From now on, I will handle this.”

Whoosh!

Yuto’s magic whirled through the icy arena.

[Ho ho, that’s quite a magical power. But with that alone, you won’t even be able to scratch my shield.]

A shield made of bluish ice.

Kiring could feel its hardness. It was impossible to deal damage with a sword attack utilizing a higher-grade attribute ether than magic. Yet, Yuto moved toward the master without hesitations.

“I know. That’s [Svalinn], right?”

[Huh!… you, human! How do you know about my Svalinn?]

So cool!

Kiring was so captivated that she was almost breathless with delight. Truly a delightful moment!

Yuto was like a hero hiding the secrets she had been dreaming of.

“If that’s Svalinn, then the myth that it can’t be pierced without specific conditions is true as well.”

[Hmm. If you know that, I don’t understand why you aren’t stopping.]

Yuto gazed intently at his sword.

Kiring sighed at Yuto’s actions.

‘That’s it…’

It was undoubtedly the perfect opportunity to test her limits. This guy was clearly trying to break his own shell in this ‘adversity.’

‘Wow…’

She was utterly captivated.

Kiring couldn’t take her eyes off the story Yuto was about to show her. Soon, Yuto’s sword strikes began, and he didn’t stop, swinging his sword like a madman.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

His sword strikes were unending.

​
[Y-You’re insane… At this rate, your sword will break!]

Even under her master’s loud voice, there was no sign of Yuto stopping. He merely wore a slight smile.

Let’s see… Did I swing it about two hundred times?

As expected, the invincible shield myth of [Svalinn].

Not even a scratch.

Yet, I continued to swing my sword without hesitations. Why, you ask?

[The ‘ego’ contained in Insight’s Blade is pleading for relief.]
[The ‘ego’ contained in Insight’s Blade is earnestly requesting to stop.]

In short, I was training.

Good to have a sturdy punching bag.

I couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.

After all, they shouldn’t have crossed the line.

‘So, how’s that? Is your head a little clearer now?’

I shook the [Insight’s Blade].

Its radiant form was nowhere to be seen.

It was now scratched all over.

Anyway, it would quickly return after being reforged.

‘Shall I do it one more time?’

The sword vibrated.

[The ‘ego’ contained in Insight’s Blade pledges to obey.]

‘Obey?’

[The ‘ego’ contained in Insight’s Blade emphasizes it will become a slave.]

‘You better behave. Otherwise, I might not want to have a hot session with the garbage monster next time!’

At any rate, the training was done.

It was time to tackle.

The [Svalinn] I was facing is a shield that appears in Norse mythology.

Svalinn is a legendary shield in Norse mythology said to stand before the sun and protect the world from its heat. A shield made of cold and ice.

Its weakness lies in its very nature.

It meant that if you smash its icy domain, it would be over.

“Finally, I can use that.”

The elemental magic I couldn’t use with student-grade and self-crafted equipment.

I infused ‘Ether’ into the [Insight’s Blade].

Whoosh!

​
[‘Insight’s Blade’ transforms into fire attribute.]

The fire attribute ether started melting the freezing surroundings. And that included [Svalinn] as well.

[Y-You’ve got to be kidding! A guy who can use fire attributes?…]

Even if I could take it down outright, it was still important for the validity of the story.

Isn’t that right, you moronic girl?

I glanced at the blind woman sitting in the back. Her face was dumbfounded.

Tear marks were visible beneath the blindfold.

I still don’t understand why she was crying about something she did right.

However, there was a bit of unintended joy swelling up.

“Y-Yuto! You’ve gone beyond your limits!”

What the…

The identity of the Single Swordsman was a girl.

An incredibly delicate-looking girl.

She was watching me with a face full of intrigue. I had planned to extract Kiring’s experience, but—

[‘Kiring’ becomes increasingly obsessed.]
.
.
[‘Adoration’ is added.]
[‘Pure Love’ is added.]
[‘Euphoria’ is added.]
.
.
.
[Experience points are ‘flooding’ massively.]

I casually turned to Kiring.

What on earth is she doing?