Today is the third day since lectures began, and it’s Thursday.
And once again, I received the professor’s attention.
If even a gaze that’s not just negative but openly hostile can be called attention, that is.
“Why would a student who uses a whip sign up for the Intro to Swordsmanship class?”
“Attention”
His aggressive tone and stiff, hardened face made it clear he was displeased.
It’s literally just an “introductory” class, so there shouldn’t be any reason why students who use other weapons can’t take it.
Still, there was a reason the swordsmanship professor reacted this way.
‘Is it because of pride in swordsmanship?’
If that were the case, I wouldn’t have said, “there’s a reason.” I would have simply thought, “He became a professor, but his thinking is so narrow-minded that I have to question his qualifications as an educator.”
So what’s the problem?
‘It’s because of the karma my possessed character has accumulated!’
This is the fate that befalls anyone who possesses the body of a delinquent character.
Remember the scene at the semester opening party, when the fiancé of the possessed character, Vigdis, was explained? There was a brief mention that she was learning swordsmanship at the academy.
It’s fine if you don’t remember. I just narrated it again.
In the original, by the time Vigdis became the protagonist’s companion, her swordsmanship skill had already reached S-rank.
This means that after just a few real battles following graduation from the academy, she had already reached such a high level.
But the current Vigdis is still just a rookie who hasn’t even been learning swordsmanship for a year.
In other words, she is a genius of the sword, boasting insane potential—someone who managed to reach S-rank swordsmanship skill barely five years after first picking up a sword.
‘Trying to forcibly make a character who was only briefly mentioned in the early part of the story into a main companion, resulting in a power-inflated, forced setting…!’
Anyway, as someone who teaches Vigdis swordsmanship, there’s no reason not to care about her.
It’s only natural for an educator to be interested in the affairs of a cherished student.
So of course, the professor knows that Karvald Austri tormented and obsessed over her.
Therefore, it’s only natural for the swordsmanship professor to dislike this possessed body.
‘If anything, it’s the physical training professor who showed me a favorable attitude and Skadi, who teaches Dagger Arts, who are the unusual ones!’
Let me briefly digress for a moment.
It’s possible those two professors don’t know anything about the atrocities Karvald Austri committed last semester.
They didn’t seem like the kind of depraved educators who would brush off school violence as nothing.
“Like the other students, I just wanted to learn swordsmanship, so I signed up.”
“Karvald Austri. Are you really here for the same reason as the other students?”
“I don’t think it’s exactly the same. But it’s not for the reason you have in mind, Professor.”
It was obvious he wouldn’t believe me if I just insisted otherwise.
So I partially acknowledged the swordsmanship professor’s words, while also exposing his true intentions and denying them.
Maybe my attitude seemed arrogant, as the professor’s eyebrow twitched in displeasure.
“And how would you know what I’m thinking?”
“You think I’m interested in something—or rather, someone—other than the sword.”
“Ha…!”
The swordsmanship professor let out a hollow laugh.
As if he had just heard something absurd.
“There’s no one here who doesn’t know that Karvald Austri is obsessed with Vigdis. So let me ask you directly. Didn’t you sign up for this class just to watch her every move and meddle in her affairs?”
I figured everyone present already knew that.
After all, they must have taken this Intro to Swordsmanship class with Vigdis last semester as well.
Most of them have probably received warnings or threats from the original Karvald Austri to stay away from her.
Still, I tried to phrase things indirectly, thinking that mentioning her name outright might make Vigdis uncomfortable.
But since the professor brought up her name first, there’s no point in holding back now.
“No, that’s not it. I didn’t know Vigdis would be taking this class again this semester. Wasn’t there talk last semester about an amazing swordsmanship prodigy appearing? So I naturally assumed she’d move on to the Advanced Swordsmanship class this semester.”
This wasn’t just an excuse—it was the truth.
S-rank swordsmanship is a skill level that even among those who have wielded a sword for over thirty years, only a few are considered top-tier.
Even with the training buff you get after awakening, it’s not easy to raise your weapon skill rank.
For example, the protagonist, who awakened ten years ago, still only has a B-rank spear skill.
But Vigdis, who only started wielding a sword at nineteen after just watching others, managed to reach S-rank in barely five years.
‘Of course, she should have mastered the beginner course within half a year, right?’
“Vigdis has indeed surpassed the level of an introductory student. But a solid foundation built over time is essential for future greatness, so I advised her to take both the Intro to Swordsmanship and Practical Swordsmanship classes this semester.”
‘Was it pure affection for his student that made him reflexively boast about Vigdis’s talent the moment it was mentioned?’
Or perhaps he’s already laying the groundwork so that, when Vigdis becomes famous as a swordswoman in the future, he can claim credit for her meteoric rise?
Either way, it’s none of my business, so let’s move on.
“There’s no way I could’ve known that. I truly signed up for this class for reasons unrelated to her.”
“Then let’s hear whatever excuse you’ve prepared.”
His words were laced with the determination not to believe anything I said.
According to the family roster I received, this professor is known for being so principled he’s almost inflexible.
So even if he dislikes this possessed body, I expected he wouldn’t treat me unfairly or discriminate against me compared to other students.
‘That’s why I signed up for this class too…’
‘If Vigdis hadn’t taken this class, he probably wouldn’t have shown such open hostility and would have let things slide.’
It’s become a headache, but there’s no turning back now.
Otherwise, I’d just become “the guy who got called out for stalking his fiancée and changed classes because the professor pointed it out.”
And even the fact that I’m no longer obsessed with Vigdis…
People might say it’s not because I reflected on my past behavior, but just because I got scolded by the swordsmanship professor.
Rumors always get twisted.
“In this world, the sword is the most common and popular weapon. Not only do professionals learn it, but many people pick it up as a hobby or for self-defense. That’s why, unlike other weapon classes, only swordsmanship is divided into an introductory and a practical course, right?”
For reference, there wasn’t even a whip technique class.
The tragedy of being a minor among the already non-mainstream weapon skills.
“So, you’re saying you signed up for my class just to take up swordsmanship as a hobby?”
“No. It’s just that, with so many people using swords, the odds of fighting someone with a sword are much higher than fighting someone using other weapons, right? That’s why I signed up. Not to become a swordsman like the other students, but to learn how to fight against them.”
“I figured if I learned the basics of swordsmanship, I’d know how to control my breathing before swinging a sword, and how much your stride changes when attacking versus when feinting. I thought I could learn those things.”
“So you’re telling someone walking the path of the sword that you came here to learn how to beat a swordsman?”
The swordsmanship professor’s voice was dripping with displeasure, but this was exactly the reaction I wanted.
At last, the topic had shifted away from “Vigdis.”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t? After all, those learning swordsmanship are also learning how to fight against others who wield swords.”
“Do you actually plan to fight someone with a sword? A young noble from a decent family like you shouldn’t have any such reason.”
Plan to fight someone with a sword? Of course I do.
Is there any hunter novel where hunters don’t clash inside the gate? At least, not in any novel I’ve read.
From simple disputes to betrayal and murder, and all sorts of illegal activities—those all happen inside the gate.
Because, once the gate closes, the space itself disappears.
Similar things are bound to happen in the Demonic Realm of this world.
Unlike a gate, the Demonic Realm isn’t a new space, just a transformation of an existing place, so even if it’s breached, the space itself doesn’t disappear.
‘But since this is a fantasy world, not a modern one, life is considered even cheaper than in the real world.’
Of course, if I just lived protected by the family’s knights without becoming an Einheri, like the professor said, I’d never have to fight someone wielding a sword.
But Karvald Austri is a character who, upon graduation, is given a choice by his father: “Will you become an Einheri with the family’s support, or will you leave the family with just a bit of money?”
So I have no choice but to prepare for various possibilities in advance.
“I did a lot of things last semester that would make people want to get back at me. Maybe that’s why, after I revealed that I can’t use Poison Attribute Ether, there were even students who said they wanted to feed me poison and see if I’d die. I don’t even know who those students are.”
I’m sure the professor meant to mock me when he asked if I planned to fight someone with a sword.
But not only did I admit it, I even doubled down, leaving him visibly flustered and surprised.
The surrounding students gasped in shock as a bonus.
“Believe it or not, I am reflecting on my actions. Up until last semester, I was incredibly immature. Now, I’ve decided to change my ways and live properly. But resentment doesn’t fade so easily. And dying quietly over just one semester’s worth of misbehavior? That’s too unfair. So I’m just preparing for all possibilities.”
“What kind of nonsense is that…?”
“To be honest, I thought maybe I was just being paranoid. But seeing the hostility you showed me today, Professor, I realize my worries weren’t unfounded.”
“I have no intention… of killing a student.”
“Then do you intend to stand by and let a student die?”
“Of course not.”
Even if he did, he’d have to say no, considering how many people are listening.
“In that case, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t argue any further about me taking your class. As I said, I’ve truly changed my ways, and I have no intention of bothering your excellent student, so please rest assured about that.”
“……”
“Then I’ll take it that you understand my position.”
I gave the speechless professor a slight nod and spoke as elegantly as I could.
His eyebrow twitched again, but that was all.
He glared at me for a moment, then finally averted his gaze, opened the Attendance Book, and began calling out the names on the list.
‘This wasn’t what I intended, but somehow I ended up making it clear to Vigdis that I won’t bother her anymore.’
I was curious about Vigdis’s reaction.
But if I looked at her now, the swordsmanship professor might use it as a pretext to pick on me, so I decided not to check her expression.
‘Still, I should apologize properly… I also need to talk to her about when to break off the engagement.’
I’ll have to wait at least a week.
If I show no interest in her during that time, Vigdis will probably lower her guard a bit, and then I can bring it up.