Chapter 24- The Main Duty of the Student (2)
So, Jeongjin has decided not to get involved with Arthur anymore. For him, loyalty to Arthur would only inspire an idea of war. And he didn’t want to be occupied by those unnecessary burdens for he already had his share of life’s afflictions from the real world. Thus, he would instead enjoy and seize the opportunity, though it might be too much to ask, of having a new life as the youngest son of a wealthy family.
Should I go through and walk again the paths of despair which I once traveled already? No way!
So, he drew a line once more and wrote down what he needs to do right away at the bottom of the note.
The first two things are deemed accomplished by studying thoroughly. Then…. Jeongjin thought.
Additional: Make sure I have another source of income other than my father’s money.
At first, he wasn’t satisfied with this kind of plan, so he might need to inquire from Nebo, who thinks brighter on his own right. Nebo should help him find a way on how to get a rented house and a trip that could possible anytime without permission. After all, in a world without CCTVs, it wouldn’t complicate a healthy young man like him to hide.
I think it must be a good plan for the meantime. But I should make another plan to secure additional funds. Jeongjin sighed and felt tired. I must rest now because I need to be early tomorrow.
***
The excellent plan has become a gag. Clayo, who laid himself on the floor, was crying silently.
Following the other students, he was wielding a practice sword, but his arms were swelling, and his palms blistering. However, he knew very well from the Memory the fundamental postures of the textbook about swordsmanship. Likewise, girls were also trying to do their best, but luck was not on their side. So, they, too, fell.
This body is good-for-nothing! Jeongjin was murmuring in his thought.
The textbook on “Basics of Swordsmanship” was entirely theoretical, so he was not sure whether he’s going to take the practical test. But before he was there, the prosecutor and wizard candidates have already divided into two classes to take the second phase of the course. But, he has just realized that he doesn’t know the first phase.
Amid their practice, Clayo heard laughter behind him, but he couldn’t raise his head to see who they were because he was embarrassed. Then a moment later, the professor approached him while he was lying on the ground.
“Come on, what are you all looking at here? Groups 1st and 2nd should practice the links, and the 3rd should cut the position that I told you last week. Assistant, please watch Group 2.”
Professor Rosa Fechtite was a teacher in swordsmanship. She was a swordmaster with an ether level 8. After she resigned from the Knights of the Royal National Guard, she became a teacher for many years. And since then, she has been considered a threat to her students, especially to Clayo, who couldn’t endure a bit of her guidance.
“Agh Clayo, I think you better reinforce first your basic physical strength before taking the basics of swordsmanship. Starting tomorrow, make sure you could run twice around the school every morning,”
Professor Rosa was wearing a white shirt and black pants under her armor that paired with boots. She was even in height with Professor Jevedi, but she was more durable than him. Even in her current age, she still maintained a stable figure, unless if somebody might look directly at her face, no one could think of her as an older woman. However, she was labeled to be a one-eyed woman having her other eye has been covered with a patch for many years.
She then examined Clayo’s blistered palms and quickly raised the boy and said, “I’m glad you have been motivated to come to class today, but the basics of swordsmanship might be too much for you to handle this semester. “
Then she spoke to the rest of the students, “For our final evaluation….”
While she was talking to the students, her right hand was patting on Clayo’s head, which she found to be smaller than her hand. She felt sorry for him. And although her left eye was covered with a patch that likewise covered a considerable portion of her face, it was apparent for someone to read her thoughts due to her vibrant facial expressions. Apparently, the boy has earned the sympathy of the older woman.
“… of our practice. Students are evaluated on different criteria. Those who want to be prosecutors will be examined in group 1, while those who want to be wizards, in group 2,” Rosa said.
Although Clayo was not substantially competent in swordsmanship, he noticed that there was something wrong with the movements of the students in the first group whom Ishiel and Nebo belonged to it.
Rosa continued her lecture, “I’ll give you another practical assignment. I give 30 points if you could run four laps around here in five minutes until the final exam and just try to get more than 10 points in the written test. Then, surely you won’t fail.”
“Thank you…” Clayo sighed.
“I think there’s no problem with your musculoskeletal. If you could run around the school twice every day as I’ve told you, you won’t be able to move in the future with difficulties”, Rosa said as she was goading the boy.
Hence, Clayo nodded