Weapon Master of the Count’s Family

Chapter 6. The Failure Returns (2)

The next day,

Today was the day of the monthly evaluation that Evan had so eagerly awaited.

“All of you, follow the assistant instructors’ guidance and exit the auditorium to gather at the open field in front of the training hall. The monthly evaluation will take place there.”

All the first-year cadets, including Evan, went outside and gathered at the field.

As they made their way there, the cadets chatted among themselves, grouped with those they were close to.

Not a single person approached Evan to speak with him first.

Except for one—Jack.

“Young master, did you sleep well?”

“As if. It was so uncomfortable I barely slept.”

“Well, that place is a bit rough, isn’t it? Smells bad too.”

“It’s not that. It’s being around someone else that’s uncomfortable.”

Evan was referring to how exhausting it was to keep up his act.

Catching on, Jack tried to comfort him.

“Ah, right. Still, today’s your chance to switch dorms, so let’s do our best! The mid-tier dorm I’m in is a double room. Just make it into the top 200, and you’re set.”

“No. I’m not going there.”

“Huh? Then where?”

“Straight to the top.”

The “top” referred to the high-tier dorms.

In other words, he meant to rank within the top 100.

“That’ll be tough, you know?”

“You’ll only know if you try. At least when it comes to physical stuff, I’m confident.”

As they talked, they reached the field.

Evan and the other cadets took their places as directed by the assistant instructors already present.

“Clear the center! Make it wider! If you don’t want to get hurt, sit far apart!”

Once the area was organized, Instructor Nell Verind, who was overseeing this exam, stepped forward.

“For the first test of this monthly evaluation, we’ll conduct a swordsmanship demonstration. For the next 10 seconds, I will perform a sword technique. All you need to do is replicate my movements exactly.”

With that, the instructor raised a wooden sword.

From his words alone, it might seem like a simple test.

In fact, some cadets were whispering among themselves, saying the exam seemed easier than expected.

But in reality, it was far from simple.

‘That instructor is clearly at the aura level. Even if he holds back while demonstrating, most of the people here won’t even be able to mimic it.’

Watching the instructor begin to move, Evan thought to himself:

As expected, he’s not going easy.

―Tat-tat-tat!

Despite light footsteps, the sword struck down like lightning.

―Swish!

With a ferocious sound cutting through the air, the instructor’s wooden sword moved dazzlingly.

It was at a level where an ordinary person would struggle to keep up without intense focus.

―Ta-tat!

“That’s it.”

Exactly 10 seconds after the swordsmanship demonstration concluded, a heavy silence fell over the field.

Though no one said it aloud, they all seemed worried about how they could possibly replicate that.

“Now, I’ll call your names! When your name is called, step forward.”

As if dismissing their concerns, the exam began immediately.

“Elliott Harpman!”

The first to step up was a small boy.

“Take the sword. Perform the technique as you remember it.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

The visibly nervous boy began his swordsmanship at the assistant instructor’s signal.

“Hah!”

His spirit was commendable, but his swordsmanship was abysmal.

Not only did it bear no resemblance to the instructor’s technique, but he nearly fell over, unable to handle the weight of the wooden sword.

“Ugh!”

Still, no one openly mocked him.

They all instinctively knew that could be their future.

“Elliott! What have you been doing all this time? Your skills haven’t improved at all. Next!”

One by one, they stepped forward like cattle led to slaughter.

“Tch, next!”

“Next!”

Of course, not everyone performed poorly.

Some cadets showed they had at least handled a sword before, but naturally, they didn’t meet the instructor’s standards.

‘Choosing this test for the monthly evaluation might have been too hasty. I should’ve introduced it a few months later.’

Though the exam wasn’t even halfway done, Nell had already lowered his expectations.

Then, finally, Evan’s name was called.

“Evan Lafard!”

As Evan stepped forward, the cadets began to whisper.

“Here, take it.”

“Yes, sir.”

The instructor glanced at him but didn’t give him much attention.

After all, since his admission, Evan had consistently shown nothing but incompetence.

‘I respect his resolve to return after that incident, but that doesn’t mean anything will drastically—’

That thought changed the moment Evan gripped the sword.

Even just holding it, the aura he exuded was extraordinary.

It felt as if a unleashed beast stood before them.

‘Hm?’

As a seasoned warrior, Nell distinctly sensed this aura.

But the assistant instructors and cadets, either distracted or daydreaming, failed to notice Evan’s changed demeanor.

Meanwhile, Evan began to move.

―Tat-tat-tat!

Light footsteps contrasted with heavy sword strikes.

It was precisely the technique the instructor had demonstrated.

―Swish!

His movements, slicing through the air, were without the slightest tremor.

Amid the dazzling display, the cadets watched Evan in shock, while Nell’s eyes darted, taking in every detail.

―Ta-tat!

When exactly 10 seconds had passed,

Evan stopped right on time.

“…….”

An awkward silence hung in the air as everyone looked at either Evan or Nell.

Nell reacted a beat late.

“……Ahem! Well done.”

He had been so engrossed that he hadn’t noticed the time passing.

The assistant instructors and cadets watching felt the same.

―Whisper, whisper.

Since this was the first proper swordsmanship display, everyone began to take notice of Evan.

“What’s with that guy? He followed the instructor so easily?”

“Did he cheat or something? Use magic maybe?”

“Idiot, would that even work? The instructor’s not blind.”

“Then is that really the Evan Lafard I know?”

They all seemed incredulous at Evan’s performance.

Some thought he must have used some trick to pull it off.

In other words, it was that impressive.

But the attention was fleeting, as eyes soon turned to the next person called.

“Jaina Vaberin! Step forward.”

Even Evan, who had just returned to his spot, showed a bit of interest.

‘Vaberin, as in the same ducal family as our Duke Theron… She’s said to never lose first place among the cadets. In short, a complete elite.’

One of the notable figures Jack had warned him about.

And the red-haired girl who had helped him yesterday.

The second daughter of the Vaberin ducal family, Jaina Vaberin, made her entrance.

“Jaina Vaberin, this instructor has high expectations of you.”

The instructor spoke differently to Jaina, reflecting the expectations placed on her as the top cadet.

“Yes, sir.”

Receiving the instructor’s expectations, Jaina took the sword, stood still, and closed her eyes.

Then, slowly opening them, she swung her sword.

“Wow~”

Praises poured out as they watched her swordsmanship.

And rightfully so—her delicate frame performed a technique that resembled a dance.

‘Well, look at that. She’s had some serious training.’

So much so that it overshadowed Evan’s earlier performance.

Her swordsmanship was even more perfect and beautiful than the instructor’s.

―Ta-tat.

“That’s all.”

As her beautiful dance concluded, applause erupted spontaneously from all around.

She was no longer just a competitor but an object of awe.

―Clap, clap, clap!

Jaina, seemingly not minding the praise, smiled and returned to her spot.

“Next is…”

After the remaining cadets finished, the exam concluded,

and the instructor immediately announced the results.

“The first place in the first test is…”

***

Right after the first test ended,

the cadets headed to the Academy’s main gate for the next exam.

In the now-quiet field, the instructor stood alone.

One of the assistant instructors approached him, bringing up what had just happened.

“I still can’t wrap my head around it. Jaina Vaberin didn’t take first place? The cadets are already talking about it.”

Despite the assistant instructor’s words, the instructor only stared at the ground intently.

“Instructor, please say something. We don’t need to explain to the cadets, but I’m an assistant instructor, aren’t I?”

“Do you really not understand? Why Evan Lafard took first place instead of Jaina?”

“Yes. With my limited insight, I can’t fathom it.”

The assistant instructor looked genuinely confused.

Seeing this, the instructor took a deep breath and spoke.

“Indeed, Jaina Vaberin showed a performance even more splendid than my demonstration.”

“You knew that, and yet…”

“But this test was about replicating my movements exactly. Not performing something better.”

In that sense, Jaina had overfilled the cup.

In other words, she went too far.

“Still, I’d give more points to Jaina.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Those graceful movements—she’s not only unmatched among her peers but even I would struggle to perform them. If Jaina had understood the instructions properly, she would’ve followed perfectly.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me ask you this. Can you replicate my movements ‘perfectly’?”

“Of course, that’s—”

The assistant instructor was about to answer easily, thinking it a trivial question.

But the instructor cut him off.

“The precise control of the sword’s speed, the exact stride between steps, and even the rhythm of your breathing—can you replicate all of that perfectly?”

What the instructor described was no easy feat.

It was uncertain whether even instructor-level individuals could achieve it, let alone cadets.

“…Are you saying Evan actually replicated it to that degree? Isn’t that too far-fetched?”

“Look over there. I’ve been standing here to ensure Evan’s traces weren’t erased after his test.”

Where the instructor pointed, there were two sets of footprints.

One belonged to the instructor.

The other belonged to Evan.

“What!”

Considering the difference in height, the stride of the footprints was proportionally identical.

“Even I couldn’t replicate my earlier self to that degree if asked. So, let me ask again—can you replicate me?”

“That would be impossible for anyone but the head instructor or the dean. Are you saying… Evan has talent on par with them?”

To the assistant instructor’s question, the instructor slowly nodded.

“For now, at least. Do you understand why I gave him a perfect score?”

There was something the instructor didn’t mention.

It was a fact so absurd he didn’t even bring it up.

‘No way, that can’t be.’

The previous night, the instructor had injured his pinky finger, making it hard to grip the sword properly.

As a result, his sword had trembled ever so slightly during the demonstration.

Yet, why had Evan swung his sword with his pinky slightly raised, just like him?

His hand had looked perfectly fine.

If he had even caught and replicated that detail…

‘Evan Lafard, how did you change so drastically? What happened in those few weeks?’