With only about two days left before the start of the semester, Chief Instructor Alex stepped out of his private training hall with his prized student. Even at the Royal Academy, every instructor had students they favoured, and outstanding talents had a way of keeping educators on their toes.
If I teach him just a little more, he’ll definitely blossom soon.
Alex was, before anything else, an educator. He might not have thought this way when he first came here, but now, his perspective had completely changed. At this moment, his student’s future mattered to him far more than his own honour.
“Remember, as long as you don’t make mistakes, your skills are more than enough.”
“Yes, Instructor. I’ll do my best.”
Hearing his student’s confident response, Alex smiled in satisfaction. Until yesterday, he had been training the boy in his private training hall, but today, he deliberately brought him to the common training ground used by all students. The reason was simple—to ease his nerves before the exam at the start of the semester. A secluded space was best for pure skill improvement, but it also increased pressure. In a public space, the psychological burden would naturally lighten, whether others were present or not.
Just changing the location alone should help… huh?
Alex narrowed his eyes. Someone seemed to be inside the training hall.
Training at this hour?
He didn’t know who it was, but their dedication was admirable. He was about to step closer when he suddenly hesitated.
Wait… could it be?
The memory of a few days ago flashed through his mind—Henry, exhausted and collapsed in the training hall, and Russo watching over him with concern.
There’s no harm in being cautious.
Alex quickened his pace on purpose, stepping ahead of his student as they entered the training ground. As soon as he saw inside, he became shocked.
I was right to suspect Henry… but what is this?
What shocked him was the sight of Henry Hamilton skillfully swinging a wooden sword.
He can control mana now?
“Instructor?”
“Stop. Wait there.”
“Huh? Oh, yes, sir.”
His puzzled student obediently stepped back.
I only came here to help him refine his techniques, but now I see something completely unexpected.
Alex put on a deliberately serious expression.
“Training is postponed. Go bring Russo here. If he refuses, tell him I urgently need him.”
“Yes, sir!”
The student rushed off without hesitation. Any other instructor might have reacted differently, but Alex, like Russo, held no ill will toward Henry.
It’s best if rumors don’t spread.
Though, even if they did, Russo deserved to know first. After all, the fact that Henry was training in plain sight meant it wasn’t exactly a secret.
I never thought this kid would awaken to mana… but what is he saying?
Alex considered focusing his mana to enhance his hearing but stopped himself. He had a playful nature, but eavesdropping on someone’s secret went against his character. Instead, he stood firmly by the entrance, like a gatekeeper. Before long, he saw a figure sprinting toward him.
For all his grumbling, he really is a good friend when it matters.
Not many would drop everything and rush over just because a colleague said it was urgent.
“Alex.”
Russo came to a stop in front of him, not a hint of disarray despite his sprint. Alex, appreciative of his dedication, gave him the answer he sought.
“The student you care about is inside.”
“You mean Henry? Don’t tell me he’s being bullied—no, if that were the case, you would’ve stepped in before calling me.”
“See for yourself.”
Alex stepped aside. Russo, his brow furrowed, peered inside—and then stiffened. Slowly, he turned his head toward Alex, his expression exactly what Alex had expected.
“See? Told you it was urgent.”
An innate increase in mana sensitivity—it wasn’t impossible, but it was certainly rare. Sensitivity to mana was generally considered a matter of talent. So much so that the academic consensus was simple: those who could awaken would awaken, and those who couldn’t, wouldn’t. But every now and then, someone defied that belief, and right now, Russo was certain Henry was one of them.
“When did you first sense mana?”
“Two days ago.”
“And when did you open your pathways?”
“Yesterday.”
“You reached this level in just a day?”
It was nothing short of astonishing. Henry Hamilton’s sensitivity to mana had not only increased, but in just a single day of training, he was demonstrating an unbelievable level of control.
“May I see your wrist?”
“…Of course.”
Russo placed his index and middle fingers on Henry’s wrist, tracing the mana pathways that had formed like veins. As he assessed the flow, he became certain.
This kid is a genius.
His innate sensitivity might have been nonexistent before. But once he gained even the bare minimum ability to perceive mana, he had instantly become a prodigy.
He’s opened his entire body’s pathways. This is incredible—this happened in just one day?
Normally, when a beginner first unlocked their mana pathways, they were unstable and weak. This meant they could only channel a small amount of mana at a time, and the flow could easily be disrupted.
But this…
Henry’s pathways were already as developed as those of students who had been training for months. Mana pathways were like muscles—they grew thicker and stronger with training.
“Did you reference any special method during your training?”
“Yes, I was reviewing the content Instructor Pike taught in class.”
“That’s all?”
It was almost absurd. Henry clearly had no proper grasp of his own level.
I would have been the same.
Henry had spent three years as a powerless trainee—without reliable comrades, without a mentor to rely on. With no one to compare himself to, it was natural that he had no real standard to measure himself against.
“Let’s finish training for now. I’ll be back in a little while… No, it’d be better to move to another location.”
Russo had a complicated expression, while Henry looked bewildered by the sudden suggestion. The two of them left the training hall.
The instructors of the Royal Academy were treated fairly well. Though they were men who had, in some way, fallen short of a knight’s life, the king still recognized that new knights were born through their hands.
Especially the chief instructors. The Academy spared no resources for them.
“Stay here until I return.”
“Understood.”
“Continue training.”
“…Thank you.”
Henry’s eyes widened in surprise. This was Russo’s personal training hall. While not as crucial as a knight’s weapons—his very lifeline—it was still a space rarely shared with others. The reason was simple. Any knight above a certain level could ‘steal’ something just by watching another train.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Leaving Henry behind, Russo stepped outside. Alex, who had been waiting, approached him.
“I wasn’t seeing things, was I?”
“No, you weren’t. By the way, has your student…?”
“Come on, I know how you feel about that kid. Don’t worry. I’m probably the only one who’s seen it so far.”
His confidence came from a simple fact—there were no rumors in the Academy yet.
Henry Hamilton, the eternal failure, had changed? That would be a gossip-worthy topic for anyone.
“So, what happened? Did he suddenly awaken as if struck by lightning?”
Half a joke, half serious.
But to Alex’s disbelief, Russo nodded.
“Hah, you’re serious?”
“It’ll be known soon enough, but keep it under wraps until the first exam. He sensed mana for the first time three days ago and opened his first pathway yesterday.”
“You’re saying he’s a genius?”
“Seems that way.”
“He just lacked sensitivity, so he couldn’t use his talent before?”
“That’s how it looks now.”
“There are going to be plenty of people rolling on the ground clutching their stomachs once this gets out.”
A former laughingstock suddenly showing overwhelming talent? Most wouldn’t take it well. If he remained weak, they wouldn’t care, but now that he was a ‘competitor,’ he would likely face direct opposition.
“Be cautious. So, what’s your plan? Though I can already guess.”
“I have to do what I should have done from the start.”
“The fact that Russo himself is teaching a student… The number of envious fools is about to double.”
“If he were the type to be held back by that, he wouldn’t have survived until now.”
“Hmm.”
Alex unconsciously nodded. That was something no one could refute.
The ridicule Henry must have endured… Alex couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
“Well, I guess congratulations are in order. Honestly, I never paid much attention to him, but a comrade’s joy is my joy, right?”
“Thanks to you, it wasn’t too late. I sincerely appreciate it.”
Alex grinned. Just as he considered Russo a true comrade, he could see that Russo felt the same.
“I’ll get out of your way now. Anyway, I’ll keep my mouth shut until the exam, so enjoy your time. I doubt I’ll see you at the drinking table anytime soon.”
“Probably not. Thanks for understanding.”
“Just thank me once and be done with it. Take care.”
With a lazy wave of his hand, Alex left.
Henry Hamilton sensed mana… And he was a genius?
Alex’s feelings on the matter were simple curiosity. But for others?
Things were about to get interesting.
Plenty of stories to discuss over drinks—something Alex would welcome. After all, from a spectator’s perspective, change always brought about fascinating events.
“Yes, that’s Instructor Russo. And while I did follow the mages’ advice, Instructor Russo is truly someone trustworthy.”
[No lol, he won’t understand anyway??]
[How could an NPC even know about a broadcast!!!!]
[Sir Knight, please just trust us. There’s no point in explaining this lol.]
Henry stared at the chat window, utterly baffled.
A moment ago, when he met Russo in the training hall, the viewers had all united in a single plea: ‘Don’t mention the broadcast to Russo.’
Henry had assumed it was due to some peculiar circumstances of the mages and had complied without question.
However…
“What exactly is an NPC?”
This term, which kept being mentioned, was impossible for him to grasp.
[Everyone except you!!]
[Lmao, I can’t believe he’s being serious about this hahaha~!]
[Everyone except you is an NPC. No matter how much you talk about the broadcast or the mages, they won’t understand!!]
“Oh.”
Only then did Henry realize why the mages had been so insistent.
It was a distinctly magical reason.
Some kind of mechanism must be in place that prevented anyone but Henry from recognizing the existence of this ‘broadcast.’
A distortion of perception… or some kind of mental block?
Whatever the case, if what they said was true, then their advice made perfect sense.
“Thank you. I finally understand.”
[Phew~~~~]
[We can finally breathe lol.]
[So, is Russo a knight too? Chief instructor means he’s not just any knight, right?]
“The chief instructors are either the most skilled knights among the faculty or those who have been recognized for their achievements before joining the Academy. Instructor Russo is both.”
[So he’s basically the mentor NPC lol.]
[Now it finally feels like the tutorial is starting hahaha.]
[So is he going to teach you sword techniques and skills? Maybe even something about mana?]
“Instructor Russo generally avoids providing instruction beyond official lessons. As for why he called me today… To be honest, I have no idea.”
That was the truth.
Henry couldn’t even begin to guess Russo’s intentions.
