Illusion Sword Master

＜ The Path to Becoming Strong Has No End (3) ﹥

“What are you going to do with your mouth? Have you forgotten how to speak? Was my instruction to spread magic so trivial? Answer me.”

“No, Professor. I was going to say something when I had the chance…”

“I asked for a reason, not an excuse.”

Professor Dars’ nagging continued.

I’m not just a magic student trying to impress my professor to graduate, but a two-star imperial inspector and war hero.

However, in front of my old mentor, I was like a mouse in front of a cat.

That’s because Professor Dars believed that I would help him elevate his authority and the prestige of magic through our connection.

But unlike his expectations, I didn’t go around boasting about the greatness of magic.

Few people knew that the official name of our sword magic style was the Ethan-Dars school of sword magic, and there was no reevaluation of magic as inefficient.

[Using magic without practicality and still pulling off such techniques! The inspector is definitely a genius!]

Instead, only my evaluation went up.

I’m not an ungrateful person who ignored my mentor’s kindness.

I just didn’t think that far.

“You’re repeating the same mistakes and making things worse, do you have the luxury to do that?”

My excuses wouldn’t work on the magic otaku who had dedicated his life to magic.

“Ethan, I thought you were a true magician who understood the value of magic. The result of my trust is this, and it’s indeed impressive. You’ve turned a War University professor into a fool. You’re a true genius.”

“… I’m sorry.”

While mechanically apologizing, waiting for the professor’s anger to subside, Cherzia intervened between us.

“Wait, Professor. Don’t scold Ethan-nim too much. There must have been circumstances on his part.”

The other kids also stepped in, mediating between me and the professor.

“Yeah! Professor! Don’t scold Ethan-nim!”

“Professor Dars is scary! He’s like a dark magician!”

I’m grateful for their support, but the situation isn’t good.

There are many stubborn adults in the world who don’t tolerate childish behavior, and Professor Dars was one of them, being stubborn and authoritative.

Poisonous Tongue. Academic Score Bomber. Dropout Breeder.

Those were his nicknames during his professor days at the Magic Department.

“……”

Professor Dars’s expression greatly distorted.

I thought he would scold me like he did to other students in the Magic Department.

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“Ah, no. I’m not scolding you. I’m just happy to see my old student. Hehehe. I’m not a scary person, you know?”

‘What is this? A dream?’

The proud and arrogant magic professor, who used to be full of himself, was nowhere to be found, replaced by a gentle old man with a sunny smile.

“That’s right. Don’t speak ill of Ethan-nim.”

Cherzia said, still on guard.

“Ah, okay. My treasures say so, so I’ll listen.”

I was taken aback by the unfamiliar appearance of my former teacher, who was always strict and serious.

[Those impudent kids. Don’t they know that being young doesn’t excuse ignorance and rudeness? They need a big lesson to avoid repeating the same mistakes.]

The Ethan I knew would have glared at me and said something like that.

In reality, Professor Dars had died, and a dark mage had taken over his skin, hadn’t he?

As I thought that, the professor, who was soothing the children, whispered in my ear.

“Let’s talk quietly in a separate place.”

A cold, eerie voice that sent shivers down my spine.

It was the real Professor Dars.

#

I had to receive Professor Dars’s mental education in a quiet room where the children couldn’t see.

The story about how great Ethan was and how I had failed to spread his greatness went on and on without end.

‘Ethan… Joa…’

When I was half-asleep, Professor Dars finally relaxed.

“That’s right. Your achievements are truly remarkable. You’ve accomplished what no other mage of your age could. I’m proud of you as your teacher.”

“It’s all thanks to your teachings, Professor.”

“No need to be humble in front of me. I only taught you the basics for a year. The rest is all thanks to your talent.”

That one year felt really long.

That mad scientist treated me like a lab rat, constantly pushing me to the limits.

It was a terrible time, but thanks to that, I was able to quickly become a decent mage from a magic novice.

The warm conversation between the reunited teacher and student ended there.

“More importantly, tell me about your experiences on the battlefield. Leave out the trivial stuff and focus on the applications of magic swordsmanship. There’s too little real data on Ethan-Dars-style magic swordsmanship.”

He got straight to the point.

‘Well, that’s good timing.’

Professor Dars was the greatest authority on Ethan magic and a co-founder of magic swordsmanship.

Since I had received a lot of help from him during my training, I told him about my combat experiences without holding back.

“What! You used your body as a medium for magic? That’s a truly insane idea! Unless the affinity with the elements reaches its limit, it’s a realm that’s difficult to attempt even with two lives.”

Professor Dars was most interested in that part.

“But that insane idea can lead to innovation! Ethan magic is the most precise control of pure mana, and if we can strengthen our physical abilities by surrounding our bodies with it, we can replace not only the role of knights but also their functions!”

He raised his voice, not giving me a chance to add anything.

“Sigh… Did I say something wrong?”

The professor’s gaze, reminiscent of a mad scientist who had come up with an absurd thesis topic, made me sense an ominous future.

“I haven’t been idle either. I’ve realized that magic swordsmanship is the future of magic and have been researching it. Ethan, I’ll complete your experience with my theory. You’ll become the strongest magic warrior!”

I remained silent.

I didn’t know whether to be shocked by his half-crazy eyes or his childish sense of humor.

“Thank you for your kind words, but… wouldn’t it be better to focus on the next step, Professor?”

“It’s fine. I’ve been teaching for only a year, and my heart is set on playing the role of your mentor. This opportunity will allow me to impart superior knowledge to you, surpassing what you learned at the War University.”

I hastily made another excuse.

“I’m busy with my duties as an Imperial Inspector, so please guide me, and I’ll study on my own.”

“I heard that the Third Prince has granted you a leave of absence.”

“Actually, I’m still recovering from my previous injury…”

─ Whoosh!

A massive amount of mana burst out from the professor, and the furniture in the room charged at me with intense energy.

I reflexively dodged and drew my sword to block the attack.

“You look healthy,” he said.

This was the professor’s trap.

“Ah, it’s happening again,” I thought.

My leave had been replaced with a university course.

#

Let’s do what we planned to do.

I didn’t expect to relax on my leave, nor did I believe it would happen. I had to become even stronger to survive the dangers ahead.

I reaffirmed my determination and headed to the underground training facility in the professor’s mansion.

“… Professor, isn’t this a training room?”

“Why are you asking when you already know?”

In my opinion, the term “training room” was misleading.

There were iron dummies of various sizes, from fist-sized to human-sized. Similarly, there were diverse weapons of all sizes. There was even a machine that could fire dozens of arrows from all directions.

On one side of the room, there was a sunken space with a sharp iron stake, and above it, only a thin rope was placed.

The room was filled with devices and facilities that seemed designed solely for harming others, making it more like a massive armory or a giant’s torture chamber rather than a training room.

The Imperial Inspector’s training grounds looked like a playground in comparison.

“This is the magic training room I designed. It can simulate all combat situations. I’ve been pushing for this since my time as a professor at the War University, and I’ve finally achieved my ultimate training room.”

I felt grateful to whoever had rejected the professor’s proposal, saving me from becoming a test subject for this mad scientist’s experiment.

Suddenly, I worried about the children in the mansion.

“Professor, you’re not planning to train the children here, are you?”

“Tsk. You’re making a terrible noise. If those precious children get even a small scratch, my research will be ruined. I won’t do that until their safety is guaranteed.”

Professor Dars replied, clicking his tongue.

It was fortunate that he didn’t abandon his humanity for the sake of research.

“This training room is prepared only for you. I’ve invested my entire life’s research and wealth into it.”

The teacher’s kindness was so overwhelming that I felt like crying.

“Where did you go? You were here. Congratulations, Professor Dars. It seems you’ve finally decided to write about this bizarre place.”

Roland walked into the training room.

“Hmm, I suppose it’s only natural that these foolish knights would see this structurally perfect place as bizarre.”

Professor Dars, who disliked knights, spoke with a hint of sarcasm. Then, he smiled and said to Roland:

“Roland, I’ve heard you’re close to Ethan. I’d like to request your cooperation in his experiment… or rather, his training. Including a mock battle with a skilled knight in the curriculum would be excellent.”

“Of course! I was thinking of helping with something anyway. Ethan, are you okay with that?”

Roland replied with a cheerful tone, without any hesitation.

I thought my difficulties would increase, but this was also a good opportunity for me.

Roland had an awkward composition and was so unpopular that he couldn’t even hold hands with a woman, but he was a strong master.

“I’ve already missed my chance. Whatever. Let’s do it properly.”

I thought I could gain something from him.

“That’s right. I’ll ask for your guidance.”

The great master and the strong knight looked at me and smiled.

I also smiled back at them.

There’s a saying, after all:

“If you’re walking on a path to hell, keep moving forward.”

#

The training began immediately.

Professor Dars’ “Mana Body Technique,” which controlled or strengthened the body through mana, was as gruesome as I had expected.

His curriculum tested human limits in various ways.

It started with using only my body and a single long sword to block the weapons Professor Dars manipulated with his mana.

“Save me.”

I muttered this to myself hundreds of times.

It meant I was doing something.

“Kill me.”

After that, I had to repeat this phrase endlessly.

Professor Dars’ training added something new every day.

Later, I had to block the iron rods he manipulated with his mana. One misstep would mean falling onto a tightrope with sharp iron spikes waiting below.

Later still, iron weights were added to my limbs. Roland suggested that this was the best way to train my body.

After a few more days, Professor Dars said:

“Ethan, from today on, you’ll be facing Roland. The goal is to master the Mana Body Technique, so using magic other than that is prohibited.”

Roland, who stood before me, was radiating an aura.

I looked at the crude sword in my hand. It was too shabby a weapon to face a master like Roland.

＜ The Road to Strength Has No End (3) ﹥ End