30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

24 – 7. The Saint and the Lumberjack (2)

*

Ivan slowly stepped toward the ring. Step by step. It was an ordinary stride, but there was a captivating aspect to its silence.

At first, the students’ impressions were simple. These are guys who know how to set the mood.

When Ivan took out his axe from the sheath, the students didn’t think much of it. Well, he was a knight major.

In most cases, students were trapped in the formula: All-purpose = sword. In most cases, it’s a valid statement.

Swords are easy to use, versatile, and suitable for delicate techniques.

However, the axe is straightforward. It’s because of the weight concentrated in the axe head. Therefore, the attack direction of the axe always points in one direction.

In other words, it means it’s easy to read and interrupt the trajectory. So, most students looked down on the axe.

“Enrique.”

Ivan stood still on the ring and spoke. It was a deep, resonant voice.

“Yeah?”

“How far is it allowed?”

“Don’t kill. After all, we have a saint here, right?”

Patricia, the saint of the hero party, is currently serving as the head of the theology department at this university. That means a trauma specialist superior to healing potions is always on standby.

Good. Ivan nodded his head.

“Ericson.”

“Indeed, seeing you in this arena, it’s clear. The face from back then remains unchanged.”

“If I win, do community service.”

“…What?”

This guy is an intelligence agent of the Drolan Kingdom. On the surface, he’s a freshman in the Knight Department, and externally, he serves as the personal bodyguard of Ecidis. However, his essence means he can play the role of a spy planted by King Ainar.

In other words, he can join hands with the faction of princesses or crown princes at any time as an “unofficial diplomat.” He’s a variable.

Therefore, until Ecidis’s actions are confirmed, it’s necessary to keep him close. The easiest way is to keep him by your side.

All the time except for the time spent guarding Ecidis after school.

“Have the orphanage do the laundry for you.”

Volunteer work is good for character education. This is an undeniable truth. Taking care of orphans contributes greatly to the cultivation of character.

Therefore, this Drolan warrior Huskal will also have the opportunity to teach “civilization.”

“Nonsense.”

“Come.”

Ivan raised his axe. Now, the two warriors (average age 40s, first-year university practical class) didn’t need words.

*

When the two first clashed, the freshmen were somewhat perplexed. What’s going on? Why are they fighting so well?

-Kwaaang-!

Then. When the two axes scattered sparks at each other, the freshmen were astonished. What? How can they move like that over there? Did anyone just see that? No one?

-Kaaah! Quaddddunk!!

Finally, when the strongest freshman (in his 40s) kneeled and gasped, the students could finally see the man standing tall.

Two eyes shining blue and an expressionless face.

Moving so intensely without even a slight tremor, a calm and infinite breath.

“Huuk… Petrovich… indeed… little Ivan. Huuk…! What on earth are you scheming here…?”

“Safety management.”

Ivan passed by the now mop-like Mord.

Safety…? Management…? Another big question mark popped up in the students’ minds. What on earth is the safety I’ve known so far…?

“Next.”

“Um… Professor, the exam scope is too broad for today’s first class…?”

The young man who had scoffed at Ivan initially raised his hand and said. Enrique laughed slyly and nodded.

“The next order is set. Come on, we’re short on time. Let’s go quickly.”

“Um… um…”

Because no one wanted to get on the ring, the young man, who was dragged onto the ring with the help of friendly classmates, stepped back with cold sweat.

“Come.”

Ivan raised the axe.

*

“Alright, if you stab the assistant once, I’ll give you an A+ right away. How about it? Huh? Or maybe… it’s a mood thing! One-on-one training with a current beauty instructor from the Warrior Party!”

Ivan didn’t bother pointing out the error in Enrique’s last sentence. He was a sensible person.

Instead, he raised the axe. He was serious about training the recruits.

“Next.”

After clearing away the bodies (not really), no one stepped onto the ring.

“Hey! If you all give up like this, it’s a group failure! Huh? How about this? If you all get F’s and retake the class, next year’s lessons will start like this too. It’s better to be hit first in the selling process, right?”

Looking at the grinning Enrique, the students chewed on this with a sense of distance.

Alright. Even if I can’t be sure… at least there’s no chance of dying.

Success in just one attack guarantees a high grade.

It’s a 3-credit required major course that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on average grade management, and the Knight Department is inherently strong in sportsmanship.

Each of them grew up listening to the sounds of martial arts masters and swordsmanship geniuses in their own neighborhoods.

Just once.

Just once!

Even until they cleared 30 bodies (not really), the freshmen did not give up.

“Next.”

*

And finally, Yuli’s turn came.

Yuri held the sword, trembling. She had never felt the blade so heavy during the time she held it.

As the solid vitality surged over the ring, the wind blowing briskly, and the bloodstains sticking to the floor.

Even when she took a courageous step forward, she would cower again when she looked at the man in front of her.

There was something that came to mind every time she saw his shabby overalls and the worn-out towel around his neck.

“Yuri Frank.”

“Yes! Four! Okay?!”

Ivan looked silently into Yuli’s eyes. His sharp gaze, as if stirring up her mind, penetrated her sight.

Yuri’s pupils shook violently from side to side. Her head became dizzy, and her grip on the sword kept loosening.

“Top of the Knight Department.”

“Yes!!”

“Yuri?”

“…Hik?!”

“Kim Yoori? Park Yoori? Choi Yoori?”

“W-what? What are you talking about? I don’t understand…”

“In Kraciloph, Yoori is a male name.”

“Oh, um… Is that so? I have reasons for that…”

“Come.”

Ivan raised the axe.

“Let me hear your reasons slowly.”

“No, no, no. I, I want to forfeit. Is that okay? I’ll just forfeit! Kyaaah!!”

Before Yoori could put down her knife, Ivan lunged forward.

Instinctively, she raised her sword, deflecting the axe blade, and forced herself to swallow the scream bursting out.

It’s closing in. Like a snake…! The axe blade seems ready to tear through her throat at any moment, riding the edge of the knife!

-Clang!

It was an attack style she had seen until the previous students became sacrifices. Nevertheless, it was an assault that she could never get used to.

Ivan’s axe seemed to be on a different level.

Not heavy with each swing. It was more intense than Mord Erikson. But it was fast. By the time you realized, it was already entwined in the sword defense.

Proficient in using the axe. Not just swinging, but striking with the blade, using centrifugal force to reattach, chopping down, and then pushing diagonally right after.

-Carddding!!

Utilizing the grooves of the axe head, he pulled the sword, twisted the handle, and pulled out the blade. If she missed the sword in that impact, it would be over.

Ivan looked down at the kneeling Yoori and nodded.

“You fight well.”

“Th-thank you.”

“I’ll keep watching. Next.”

Yoori descended under the ring with her weakened legs. Miraculously, there were no visible wounds on her body, but it only felt like the monster had spared her.

She looked at Ivan with a frightened face and closed her eyes.

*

“What’s this, Kim, Park, Choi? What on earth! Huh, Korean? A Korean…?”

Yoori was an illustrator.

Her last job was an outsourcing project for an adult academy game called ‘[Heejak 3].’

Escaping from the gardener who exploits students’ weaknesses… a strict and incredibly severe type.

The gardener, a middle-aged man with a towel around his neck and worn-out work clothes, was eyeing the female students greedily (misunderstanding).

And she, now, was completely fed up with this damn world. Just after staying up all night and sending the first rough draft of the outsourced work.

In a world where a bearded gardener with an axe, glaring fiercely, lustfully eyes the female students (misunderstanding).

“If caught… something incredibly… incredible will happen!”

She shuddered, recalling how the ‘students’ who had their weaknesses exploited ended up. The ‘gardener’ was watching her.

Even the classmates, fellow possessors in the same bind, might know, and through some means, the genre could change as a form of threat.

She… was the protagonist…. Well, being an orphan and a full-scholarship student with a genius in swordsmanship. How could a lifelong illustrator who only drew pictures end up like this?

Of course, she was the protagonist….

She wanted to go home.

*

Isabel endured three hits, while Oscar endured two.

Looking at the rankings, Mord, Yuri, Isabel, Oscar, in that order. Considering Mord wasn’t originally a student, let’s say it was settled within the limits he had in mind.

His eyes hadn’t gotten used to it yet. Thinking so, Ivan nodded satisfactorily.

“Are you smiling now?”

“Misunderstanding.”

“It looked like you were smiling.”

“I’m naturally a smiling person.”

“Crazy…! Idiot…!”

At the sound coming from the front, Ivan had to control his expression again. Next to him was Enrique, holding his hands up. Enrique was trying to suppress laughter, holding back hiccups.

Ivan, being a sensible person, didn’t react to the antics of the old teacher.

While Yuli was scared, at that moment, Ivan and Enrique were being scolded by the saint.

The price was putting 50 patients in the Department Head’s office.

*