I Was Reincarnated as a Duke as a Matter of Course, So I Bought a Slave on a Whim and Now There’s No Turning Back - 28

Chapter 28: Welcome to the Magic Swordsmanship Department

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The new uniform was a darker navy than the elementary division’s. On the shoulder insignia was the emblem of the Magic Swordsmanship Department, a design of a sword and a magic circle crossing. The uniform differed depending on the department you advanced into.

“…Why did I choose this place?”

I muttered under my breath. Looking at magic alone, I was below average. So I’d thought, what about combining them? That line of thinking led me to choose not the Magic Department nor the Swordsmanship Department, but the Magic Swordsmanship Department. It was a department that didn’t exist in the elementary division, and one that only high-achieving students could select when advancing. Swinging a sword around sounded heavy, but I’d done a bit of bodyweight training before, so I figured I’d somehow manage. (Gross miscalculation.)

Today was the first class for the Magic Swordsmanship Department, and we’d been told to gather outside. By the way, this was where I parted ways with Yuka. I came as instructed, and what stood before me was a wide outdoor training ground. Magic lamps were lined up at even intervals, and at the center of the stone pavement was a practice magic circle. Yes! I read about this in a book. Supposedly, within the area of that magic circle, the magic power each person wore was enhanced, making injuries less likely or something like that.

While I was enjoying my solo tour, I felt attention gathering somewhere amid the murmurs.

“…Is that the one everyone’s been talking about since enrollment?”

“The one who’s a commoner but has connections to royalty, right?”

“I heard that person joined a ducal house group and stood out during the exams.”

Is there really someone like some kind of monster here? What’s that about? I want to meet this person but also don’t want to get involved. (Contradiction.)

Well, that was only natural. I wanted to live quietly. The moment I realized I couldn’t pull off the whole “I’m ridiculously overpowered” thing, I lost all motivation to associate with named characters—well, famous people. Though, it seemed that wish wasn’t going to be granted.

“Yo. We’re in the same class again this year, huh?”

When I turned around, there he was… Cedric Eisenwald. Also known as Cedric-kun. He’d been picking fights with me since the first year of elementary division, basically a best friend at this point. 

No, actually, I don’t need him.

His blond hair was neatly arranged back. Sharp brown eyes pierced toward me. His uniform was worn perfectly, and those stylish gloves were still there.

“…What a coincidence.”

“It is no coincidence. This was the inevitable course of advancement for both of us.”

He hadn’t changed at all. Then another voice came from behind him.

“So you’re the rumored Luka-sama?”

I turned and I saw someone with cropped short brown hair coming close to me.  Sharp copper-colored eyes. Tall, broad-shouldered.

“I’m Dario. Commoner, technically.”

Oh really? I could not care less.

“I’m good with a sword. Magic’s decent. Nice to meet you.”

He held out a hand for a handshake.

…There were a few things that made me pause, but… 

Not a bad first impression, I guess?

But the one next to him was a different story!

“Ohhh, so you’re the famous one?”

That voice screamed playboy energy. 

Yes, that’s prejudice, forgive me.

His hair fell casually, and his narrow eyes looked amused.

“I’m Kyle Levan. Only son of a baron.”

Hmm. Within the academy, we were told that rank didn’t matter, that it was informal. But everyone cared somewhere deep down. I’d never seen someone take it this far.

“I’ve been curious about the guy who stood up to Cedric-sama~”

Excuse me? What? Death penalty for disrespect. (Tyrant.)

“…Be quiet, Kyle.”

There’s more of them? Who even are these people?

I turned toward the dignified voice. A girl with long deep-green hair tied high. Her eyes were a clear pale green. Looking at her almost balanced out the nausea induced by the other three’s existence. Her features were well-formed, but her expression was stern.

“Claris Reynard. From a viscount house, though…”

Her back was perfectly straight. What was this? The model student aura was leaking everywhere.

“This is a merit-based environment. Unnecessary chatter is not required.”

Did she just save me? She was clearly the class representative type. I’d just thank her silently. At this point, I thought—the atmosphere was different from the Magic Department. It was the killing intent. Or maybe the intensity because of how passionate they were?  Also, the general behavior level was kind of disastrous.

Then, from the entrance of the training ground, a small figure ran in.

“Luka-sama!”

A nostalgic voice. The moment I turned, someone leapt into my chest. Light chestnut long hair. Large jade-green eyes, slightly teary.

…She’s always in tears whenever we meet, isn’t she?

“It’s been so long…!”

Rine Gladiore. A girl I didn’t see often since we were in different departments.

During a joint exam with the Swordsmanship Department, Elysia had insisted on taking Rine for one slot. A lot happened after that, and Rine had somehow turned into a small animal. I still didn’t fully understand what had happened to be honest.

“Ah, um… Have you been well?”

“Yes! I have been waiting for you the whole time!”

Yes, small animal, this is adorable, so cute!

Kyle seemed to agree, since he was grinning.

“Ohhh, for a commoner, she’s pretty cute.”

Cedric’s gaze sharpened. Claris cleared her throat. Dario gave a wry smile.

Kyle, are you… isolated here or something? Do you not have any friends…?

While I worried about Kyle’s academy life, a commanding voice echoed.

“First-year Magic Swordsmanship, line up!”

It was sudden, but as expected of elites, everyone lined up evenly. I faced forward, aligning myself beside Rine. This department was a place to master both sword and magic. Of course, this department was far stricter than the elementary division. Yet moments like this filled me with unexpected excitement. The instructor stepped forward slowly.

Tall, short gray hair. Sharp black eyes like a hawk’s. Probably mid-thirties. Gold-trimmed insignia on his shoulders. You could tell at a glance he wasn’t an ordinary person.

“I am Gaius Lowen, instructor of the Magic Swordsmanship Department.”

His voice was low and resonant. If he yelled at me, I was confident I’d wet myself.

“By standing here, you are all high achievers.”

So I’ve heard. I only realized that after applying, though.

“But—”

He stepped forward.

“The Magic Swordsmanship Department is not a place to raise excellent mages.”

He drew his sword. The silver blade reflected sunlight.

“—It is a place to raise a mage who can fight in close quarters.”

The air grew heavier.

“Aristocrats with nothing but high magic reserves—”

His glance flicked to Cedric.

“Commoners confident only in their sword—”

Now Dario.

“Here, you are half-baked.”

…He’s already glaring at them.

“Use magic and sword simultaneously.”

He took a stance.

“First, I will assess your basics. Step forward one by one.”

Already? No warm-up?

The student at the front hesitantly stepped forward. He swung his sword while cloaked in magic. The movements weren’t bad. He was managing against the instructor’s blade. But he wasn’t converting his magic into attributes. The instructor’s wooden sword knocked him away instantly.

“Too slow. Do you have no intention of using magic? Next,” the instructor dismissed him.

“Not enough weight. Do not rely solely on magic.”

Next.

“You are not handling your magic properly.”

Merciless words, precisely digging into their flaws. It must be difficult to use magic while crossing blades with someone. You could tell by watching the other students. Rine trembled slightly.

“L-Luka-sama…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Probably—”

“It looks fun!”

She cut me off with a beaming smile.

As you can probably tell, she’s a battle maniac.

And a pretty dangerous one at that. That was one reason I’d kept some distance from her.

“I want to go already, Luka-sama!”

I could practically see a tail wagging, yet what she was saying was intense enough to halve the cuteness. Before long, it was Rine’s turn. She skipped forward excitedly. The instructor took his stance.

“Come.”

Rine took a deep breath. Right hand forward. A quiet chant.

“—Aqua Ball.”

Beginner water-attribute magic. This was my first time seeing Rine use magic. A thin, sharp water sphere shot straight toward the instructor.

…That was a sphere? More like a bullet. I couldn’t track it with my eyes. It was incredibly fast, but the instructor easily deflected it. Yet the water did not stop. The moment it was deflected, its form collapsed… Then began to reconverge.

“Hm?”

It gathered at the instructor’s feet.

“—Slipstream.”

Water crawled along the ground, wrapping around his ankles.

Restraint, huh? Similar to ice.

The instructor tore it off by force. As expected, he was a monster too. In that instant… Rine’s eyes flashed sharply.

“—Now!”

A razor-sharp sword strike. It looked like she was absolutely going for the kill. The moment it was blocked, she changed angles and attacked again almost simultaneously.

Nope. My eyes still couldn’t follow. (Aging vision.) The instructor kept deflecting, still looking composed. But for that brief moment…

…The ground at his feet was still wet. Rine stepped in.

“Excuse me!”

The water remaining at his feet compressed all at once.

“—Aqua Ball!”

A point-blank water sphere from below. Even the instructor seemed to hit his reaction limit. The impact of the water pressure struck him. His posture broke.

One step. Two.

Then, for a brief moment, water spray obscured the view. When it cleared, two silhouettes stood revealed. The instructor kneeling and Rine, with her blade pressed to his neck. A heavy silence fell. No one could close their gaping mouths.

Hmph. For Rine, this much is only natural. (Arms crossed in the back row.)

Only the sound of wind echoed. The instructor slowly lifted his face.

“…Magnificent.”

Rine bowed.

“Thank you very much.”

…Seriously. I never want her as an enemy.

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