Chapter 91. I Want an Opponent Other Than a Bunch of Brats (1)

“Excuse me, Princess Isabella, may we sit here?”

Isabella turned her head to see the second-year students.

“What about your exams?”

“We just finished. We came to watch the first-year exams, Patrick's turn isn't over yet, is it?”

“He’s about to start.”

“We’re not late then. Thank you.”

And the second-year students sat down, keeping a slight distance from Isabella.

When Isabella looked around….

‘The gallery has grown.’

It was common for outsiders to observe the Knight Faculty's exams.

But this time, there were an unusual number of people.

Not only second and third-year students but also students and professors from other departments, and even outsiders wearing visitor passes on their chests were present.

All of them were focused on the person now walking towards the center of the training ground.

Patrick Schneider.

The eye of the storm who had caused a series of incidents right after his admission and, in the process, crushed the third-year runner-up, Zordic Panola.

Just how skilled was he?

Zordic's skill was publicly known to be that of a mature 3-star knight.

If Patrick had defeated such a Zordic, he had to be at least a 3-star, or perhaps even a 4-star.

If so….

“He’s a talent that won't come again.”

“If he’s already a 3-star in his first year, won't he be at least a 4-star by the time he graduates?”

“Perhaps he might even reach 7-star in the future.”

“Indeed, a remarkable figure has emerged from the East.”

“That must be why Count Parmas, the Margrave of the East, gave him a letter of recommendation.”

“Speaking of which, I heard he also accomplished great deeds in the East?”

“Deeds in the East? Did he play an active role in monster subjugation?”

“No. I heard he took the head of a black mage.”

“A black mage? He was lucky at such a young age.”

People from various places, such as high noble families, the Tower of Truth, and the temples, were watching Patrick closely.

Unbeknownst to him, Patrick had already become quite famous in the capital.

‘This will be troublesome even if he wins.’

Isabella muttered as she watched Patrick step onto the training ground.

“What are you going to do, Patrick.”

Patrick looked around the spectator seats surrounding the training ground.

From people who came out of curiosity to those who were watching him with a serious, appraising gaze.

Quite a lot of people had gathered.

“In the end, it comes to this. In the end, I draw people’s attention again.”

Patrick had anticipated a day like this would come.

Considering his abilities and future plans, unless he was going to hide in some deep mountain valley and only train like a reclusive master, fame was inevitable.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, what with this dazzling handsomeness, innate genius, and noble character. A man as great as myself cannot avoid the world's attention.”

Did this bastard even have a conscience?

In any case, Patrick was not one to be flustered by such a situation.

In his past life, the first footsteps of the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon began at the age of 22.

A disciple of a small sect called the Twin Dragon Sect began his journey in the martial world, challenged an elder of the Wudang Sect to a duel, and won.

Starting with that, he held 100 consecutive duels.

The result was one hundred victories in one hundred battles.

Most of his opponents were elder-level masters called the famed veterans of the martial world or leaders of the Unorthodox Alliance.

The legend of the Radiant Dragon Great Master began with a young man, not yet thirty, defeating them all.

‘Sixteen…. A bit earlier than my past life, but starting around now wouldn't be bad.’

A smile graced Patrick’s lips as he spoke.

“I shall create a small…. a very small legend at the Academy.”

As Patrick stood on the training ground, a professor spoke.

“The opponent is Georgia Formov.”

“Yes.”

The opponent designated by the professor was about to step onto the training ground, but Patrick raised his hand to stop her.

“Just a moment.”

Then, Patrick looked at the professor and said.

“It won't be any fun to pit ten kids against me.”

“What did you say?”

“It’s too predictable. Will the gallery gathered over there be satisfied with that?”

“Haaah? Your confidence pierces the heavens.”

“Ahem!”

“…That’s not a compliment.”

“Huh? Really?”

The professor wore a dumbfounded expression.

He had been a professor at the Academy for over 10 years and had seen all sorts of characters, but this was a new experience.

‘Is he crazy?’

Patrick paid no mind to the professor's gaze, which seemed to view him as a madman.

Because he was used to it.

And he spoke with a calm smile….

“I want an opponent other than a bunch of brats.”

At those words, the professor furrowed his brow and said.

“Are you saying you want to fight a second or third-year?”

“No, didn’t I say other than brats?”

“Then who…. Don’t tell me?”

The professor, mid-sentence, looked at Patrick with an incredulous expression.

And Patrick beckoned with his finger and said.

“Please give me a match.”

“……”

“I’ll go easy on you.”

The professor had suspected Patrick might be a madman, but that was wrong.

This was a 100 percent pure madman.

In the Kingdom of Atronia, the most powerful knightly force was the Royal Knightly Order.

However, to strengthen the royal authority with a powerful knightly order, the royal family practically swept up all the excellent knights.

But, here’s the thing.

When the knights of that Royal Knightly Order had to quit due to unavoidable circumstances or took an early retirement, where did they most often go?

For example, where would a place that accepts someone with enough of a temper to beat their seniors to a pulp, spit on them, and walk out be?

“Achoo!? Is someone talking about me?”

Professor Leyte coughed for a moment, but I’ll continue the story.

The second choice for most of these individuals was to become a professor at the Academy’s Knight Faculty.

Frankly, if money was the only consideration, there were better offers, but people who belonged to the Royal Knightly Order were bound to value their reputation more than money.

A job that preserved their dignity as a knight, promised a satisfactory salary, and held a sufficiently high social position.

That was none other than being a professor at the Knight Faculty.

In other words, most of the professors at the Academy were from the Royal Knightly Order.

Their state was at least 4-star or higher.

Even the professors who held chalk and conducted theory lessons in front of a blackboard every day were at least 4-star.

In fact, the professors in charge of practical training were mostly at the state of 5-star or higher.

Such individuals were now being provoked by a first-year student.

“Hahaha…. Should I say he’s bold.”

“It’s more fitting to say he’s crazy.”

“More importantly, are we just going to let that madman be?”

Half of the professors were dumbfounded, and half were angry.

A first-year had come out asking for a fight, so their anger was justified.

In fact, there was no need to indulge him.

They could simply use their authority as professors to drag that madman out of there, and that would be the end of it. However….

“This is interesting.”

All the professors’ heads snapped around.

Where their gazes gathered, Professor Leyte stood with his arms crossed and a smile.

Justin Leyte.

The Indomitable Knight.

A swordsman who had achieved the state of 6-star (publicly).

He was the man who stood out even among the professors of the Knight Faculty.

Such a man spoke.

“He is a fearsome child who doesn’t know his place. His talent is good, but isn't it also our teaching to guide him so that his talent does not turn into arrogance?”

“Professor Leyte, are you seriously suggesting we grant the request of that reckless mad dog?”

“A reckless mad dog….”

‘What a truly fitting description.’

Leyte raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said.

“As you can see, a large crowd of spectators has gathered. Not only from within the Academy but plenty of outsiders as well.”

At Professor Leyte's words, the others finally realized it anew.

As a result of the unknowingly spread rumors, the current mid-term assessment of the Knight Faculty was being watched by the largest gallery in its history.

“Everyone wants to know just how skilled the rumored Patrick Schneider is. In truth, it's impossible to diagnose that monster's skill level with a student as the opponent.”

“You speak as if you know that student's skill level, Professor Leyte.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

Did I just know it?

I knew it so weeeeell it made me grind my teeth.

Professor Leyte, who had cleared his throat with a cough, spoke.

“In any case, just chasing him away here is a bad move. Setting aside the Academy, it won't be viewed favorably by outsiders either.”

“Are you telling us to face a student for the sake of some damn outsiders' opinions?”

As one professor asked indignantly, Professor Leyte said.

“Isn't the Arcana coming up soon?”

“Hmm…, what does that have to do with anything?”

“Normally, a first-year isn't chosen as the representative for the Arcana. They're mostly picked from among the fourth and fifth-years, but what if that Patrick Schneider's skills are real?”

“Are you seriously suggesting we pick a first-year student as the representative for the Arcana?”

“That's absurd. It's unprecedented.”

“It will go down as an eternal disgrace for the Academy.”

To the vehemently protesting professors, Professor Leyte said with a hollow laugh.

“A disgrace?”

“……”

“Is there a greater disgrace than being last in the Arcana for ten consecutive years?”

“Kheuuum….”

“No, that's….”

“You don't have to put it like that, do you?”

The professors turned their heads away as if it were too shameful to even look.

In fact, the words Leyte had just spoken were the ones that shamed them the most.

The kingdom's top educational institution.

A shortcut to fostering elite knights?

So what?

When they went outside the kingdom to compete, they've been last for ten consecutive years.

Leyte spoke to the professors who were trying to ignore reality.

“If that rascal's skills are real, he might just end our humiliation.”

“Umm, are you certain he has that level of skill?”

“Yes. And even if he doesn't, so what?”

“……?”

“Shouldn't we professors occasionally show our students dignity based on skill, not just authority?”

At that moment, the look in some of the professors' eyes changed.

In truth, it was the same in any world, but the job of a teacher was not always easy.

This was especially true here, where most students were born with golden spoons, or at the very least, silver spoons.

No matter how solid the Academy's internal authority was, when you gathered the sons of the kingdom's most prominent figures to teach them, would they listen meekly?

Every time, the professors thought.

‘It would be easier if I could just suppress them with skill, like I did with the junior knights in the order.’

“Kheuuum…. Well, I suppose it wouldn't be so bad once in a while?”

“Showing the difference in skill is also a teacher's role….”

“Who will go first? If no one else will, then I shall.”

And just like that, the professors became proactive.

Seeing this scene, Professor Leyte thought.

‘My apologies, everyone. And….’

He thought as he looked at Patrick, who was yawning in the center of the training ground.

‘I've done as you asked, so that should be enough, right?’

That's right.

Patrick had a plan.

“What? This?”

“Are they really doing it?”

“Really? Not a joke?”

Opposite Patrick, a professor from the Knight Faculty came up holding a wooden sword.

Professor vs. student.

It was unbelievable even while watching it.

The gallery buzzed loudly at this absurd scene, something that had never happened since the Academy's founding.

Patrick had provoked them first, but no one thought the Academy's professors would actually accept it.

Is this even allowed?

That thought crossed their minds, but what came first was….

‘Is that rumored first-year really that strong?’

‘So strong that the professors have to step in, not even the upperclassmen?’

‘Surely he can't be as strong as the 12 Paladins of the Holy Theocracy or the Magic Swordsmen from the Tower of Truth, right?’

‘Even the rising stars making a name for themselves in the Venator Empire would have no guarantee of victory against the professors.’

Just how strong was he?

For the professors to step up themselves to face that first-year?

The professor who stepped up as Patrick's opponent, receiving everyone's attention, spoke.

“As you wish, I will be your opponent.”

“Thank you. Um…, Professor, your name is?”

“Jonathan Brix. You didn't even know the name of your supervising professor?”

“It's because I'm a broad-minded person who doesn't concern myself with trivial matters.”

“……”

That's something to be proud of, you bastard.

He couldn't bring himself to say that, given his dignity as a professor.

To the professor with a sour look, Patrick presented his two twin swords and said.

“You're talking too much. The spectators are waiting, shall we get started?”

“Ahem….”

The professor, watching Patrick cut him off after saying his piece, resolved to teach him a serious lesson.

The two faced each other.

The referee confirmed they were ready and shouted loudly.

“Begin!”

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