Chapter 35: A Duel? [1]
The afternoon sun blazed through the Spear Training Hall and in the center of the hall, a bald head gleamed under the sunlight.
Instructor Garrick Thorne was glaring at the group of first-year students lined up in front of him.
His shiny bald head reflected the light so intensely that some students had to squint.
"What? You were all beaten by one guy yesterday? A single first-year brat walked in here and wiped the floor with half the damn group?"
One of the students nodded "Yes, Instructor... He was really skilled. He was using a wooden training spear and still beat us. He even gave us pointers while fighting..."
Another student spoke "He called Brian a ’bum’ and then proceeded to dismantle him in under a minute. Then more of us challenged him... and the same thing happened."
Brian glared at him in embarassment ’Why do you have to mention that, you bastard.’
Garrick ran a hand over his gleaming bald head and let out a heavy sigh.
"Alright, listen up! If this kid thinks he can just stroll in here and embarrass my students, then we’re going to train twice as hard starting today!"
"I want every single one of you drilling basic forms until your arms fall off! No slacking! If that first-year boy can dominate you with a wooden stick, then you have no excuse!"
The first-years groaned collectively but quickly got into formation, knowing better than to argue with the bald spear instructor when he was fired up.
Garrick watched them with a stern expression, ’A real spear talent, huh?’
He cracked his knuckles and a dangerous grin spread across his face "I think I need to have a little chat with this guy myself for bullying my students."
At that moment, Klein walked into the training hall and spotted Liora immediately.
Walking to her, he smiled "Sup."
Liora turned to him with a flat, unamused expression "Sup my ass."
"Hm? Ok."
Without missing a beat, Klein stepped closer and gave her a firm slap on the ass.
Smack!
Liora jolted in panic and jumped slightly as she covered her ass with both hands.
"N-Not like that, you idiot!" she hissed and her lips twitched in annoyance looking at him.
Klein shrugged innocently, "You said ’sup my ass.’ I was just being helpful."
Liora rubbed the spot he slapped, still glaring at him with a mix of embarrassment and exasperation.
"Anyway, why did you call me here?"
Liora let out a long sigh and turned her head toward the center of the training hall, where the bald instructor was standing like a statue.
"Seems like the Instructor is really mad at you," she muttered.
Klein followed her gaze and saw the bald-headed man, his shiny head gleaming under the afternoon sun.
At that moment, one of the first-year students noticed Klein and immediately stepped forward, pointing directly at him.
"Instructor! It’s him! That’s the guy who beat all of us yesterday!"
Garrick glanced atKlein before making his way toward him.
"So... You’re the famous first-year who turned my training ground into a playground yesterday."
"Got quite the nerve, kid."
Liora subtly stepped closer to Klein, clearly nervous but trying to stay supportive.
Klein met the instructor’s intense gaze and gave a small nod "Klein Faress. Nice to meet you, Instructor."
Staring at him, Garrick muttered, "Polite, huh? After what you did to my students."
Klein frowned slightly and turned to Liora and whispered "Instructors have lots of credits, right?"
Eh? Liora blinked and slowly nodded "I guess, yeah... wait, don’t tell me.-"
Seeing the devilish grin spreading across Klein’s face, Liora immediately grabbed his arm with both hands, trying to pull him back.
"Klein, don’t be reckless. He is a B-rank veteran."
Klein, however, didn’t listen to her and turned to the Instructor "Well duh. Your students are very weak... I guess it depends on the person who teaches them."
"If the instructor is weak, so will be the students."
The entire training hall went silent.
Liora’s jaw dropped ’H-He is deliberately provoking this bald ass... He is cooked. He is so cooked.’
Garrick’s face slowly turned red and the veins on his shiny bald head bulged as "You got some arrogant mouth on you, kid. Want me to break it for you?"
Klein’s grin widened, "Try it, you bald head."
The students collectively panicked.
"This crazy bastard."
"Shit! The Instructor is gonna wipe the floor with him."
Garrick took one heavy step forward and the ground beneath him cracked slightly from the sheer force of his mana.
Just as the bald instructor looked ready to explode and charge at Klein-
They heard a soft voice from behind "Klein."
Everyone turned their heads and Evelyne von Langford walking toward them.
The students began whispering frantically.
"She is from the Langford family."
"She knows him?"
Evelyne stopped beside Klein and gave the furious Garrick a faint nod.
"Instructor Garrick. I apologize for the disturbance. Klein, come with me for a moment. My Master wishes to see you again."
Klein let out a soft sigh of disappointment and turned to Liora, who was still gripping his sleeve in panic.
"Liora..."
Liora quickly nodded and followed after him.
The three of them left the training area and Garrick stood there fuming, with his bald head practically steaming, but he didn’t dare stop Evelyne.
Once they were a safe distance away, Liora finally let go of Klein’s sleeve and slapped his arm repeatedly.
"You idiot! You almost got yourself killed! Why would you provoke Instructor Garrick like that?! That bald bastard is known for having a short fuse!"
Klein rubbed his arm with a small laugh "I was just having fun. Besides, he must have a lot of credits. It would’ve been a good haul."
Evelyne, who was walking ahead, turned to him "Master was right. She told me to keep an eye on you so you wouldn’t cause chaos."
"If you want to fight so badly... let’s have a duel."
Upon hearing this, he turned to her with a smile "You have credits, Senior Evelyne?"
"A lot."
"Alright."
Liora: -_-
How does he know the daughter of one of the three duke houses?
---
Standing in the spacious private training hall, Klein casually spun the wooden training spear in his hand.
The weapon whistled softly through the air as he tested its balance.
Evelyne was standing opposite to him, holding a wooden sword.
Her long crimson hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and she wore a simple yet elegant training outfit that allowed full mobility.
Looking at him, Evelyne spoke calmly, "I don’t mind if you use a real spear."
Klein simply smiled, "No. I might accidentally hurt you."
Evelyne squinted her eyes slightly, ’Is he arrogant... or confident in his skills? Let’s find out.’
Liora stood on the side of the training hall, ’This guy is just so reckless,’ she thought, biting her lip.
’Always trying to fight strong opponents. Stupid...’
Evelyne adjusted her stance and spoke again, "Since I am A-rank, I will restrict myself from using mana. You can use mana to strengthen yourself."
Keeping his smile, Klein nodded "Alright then. Here I come."
He channeled his mana smoothly through his body and dashed forward in a burst of speed.
Swish-!
The wooden spear thrust forward in a clean, powerful line aimed at Evelyne’s shoulder.
Evelyne’s eyes narrowed. She easily blocked the strike with her training sword and the impact producing a sharp *clack* that echoed through the hall.
She immediately countered with a swift diagonal slash.
Klein deflected the counterattack with the shaft of his spear, stepping smoothly to the side as he muttered,
"I don’t mind if you use sword techniques, Senior Evelyne."
Evelyne’s lips curved into a small smile and pressed the attack.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Klein blocked and parried every strike with precise movements.
His wooden spear seemed to flow like water, redirecting her blade with minimal effort while he maintained perfect balance.
Every time Evelyne tried to close the distance or change the rhythm, he adjusted instantly.
"You’re holding back too much," Klein commented lightly between exchanges. "Let go a little."
Evelyne’s eyes flashed with a mix of irritation and curiosity.
She feinted a low sweep, then suddenly reversed into a rising thrust aimed at his chest, followed by a spinning slash that targeted his neck.
Clack-! Clack-!
Klein deflected the low feint with the blunt end of his spear, then twisted his body mid-step to avoid the rising thrust.
He raised his spear vertically to block the spinning slash as the wooden shaft absorbed the impact with a *thud*.
The force made Evelyne’s eyes narrow slightly as she could feel the unexpected power behind his block despite him using only a wooden weapon.
She increased her speed and her sword blurred as she executed a more advanced combination with a thrust followed by a spinning slash and a low sweep.
Klein leaped over the sweep, spun mid-air, and countered with a downward strike that forced Evelyne to raise her sword in a quick block.
CLACK!
The force of the impact made her take a small step back.
For the first time, genuine surprise appeared on her face.
’His physical strength and technique... even without a real spear, he’s pushing me this much?’
Klein landed lightly and spun his wooden spear once "But if this is all you’ve got while holding back, I might actually win."
Evelyne let out a soft laugh, "Seems like I have no other choice but to show my swordsmanship."
She shifted her stance, gripping her training sword with both hands.
Klein’s grin widened slightly, "Good. Show me what the Langford family’s sword style can really do."
