Entrance Exam (8)

The blue light shimmering around Ian's two fists.

"Fist energy...?"

Yuria swallowed hard as she looked at Ian.

The aura rippling around his fists was undoubtedly fist energy.

"I-Ian Greysel?"

"Yes, lady Yuria."

"You...! You're fourteen. Right?"

"... That's correct."

Biologically, that was true.

Though what he had inside was the soul of a 29-year-old.

"H-hmm!"

Yuria made an odd sound and cleared her throat.

The manifestation of energy was a symbol of having reached the Expert rank.

Meaning, Ian had also reached Expert rank at the age of fourteen, just like herself.

'T-that can't be... right?'

There had only been two cases in history of reaching the Expert rank at fourteen.

The first was Ragnar Hisperion, her distant ancestor and the fifth head of the Sword Saint clan.

The second was herself, Yuria Hisperion, hailed as one blessed with heavenly talent.

'There's never been a single case of anyone reaching Expert at fourteen who wasn't a direct descendant of Hisperion...!'

Yuria had also reached Expert at fourteen, but her case was different from Ian's.

She was a Hisperion; Ian was not.

Yuria's extraordinary talent didn't just appear out of nowhere—it was a culmination of great ancestors' legacies, finally completed after much accumulation.

It was a talent completed by the combination and overlap of noble blood and supreme inheritance.

Called a natural-born genius for how special she was, but all within the bounds of logic.

However...

'Ian. You're different!'

Greysel was also a great house known for swordsmanship.

Its ancestors counted among them excellent heroes, and the family's achievements were undeniable.

But compared to the greatness of Hisperion, it was nothing.

Hisperion had more than a dozen ancestors who ascended to the heavens upon reaching the realm of Sword God.

On the other hand, Greysel had so few who reached the demi-god stage that you could count them on one hand.

Of course, even having any ancestor reach the demi-god stage was an enormous feat and a proud legacy.

But that was only within the realm of humanity.

Compared to Hisperions, who were born with the very qualities to become divine, that accomplishment seemed paltry.

From the very beginning, Hisperion's founder wasn't even human.

It was passed down that the founder of Hisperion descended from the heavens with the Divine Sword Genesis, left behind countless legacies that surpassed his era, and ascended back to the sky at the end of his life upon attaining the Sword God status.

In contrast, the founder of Greysel was no more than a human with slightly superior sword talent, and though he attained the demi-god stage at the end, he never ascended.

Hisperion and Greysel were fundamentally different from their very roots.

That's why it was acceptable, even taken for granted, for Yuria to reach the Expert stage at fourteen.

Because Hisperions were the descendants of Sword Gods.

But Ian was not.

He was just the descendant of humans.

A non-Hisperion reaching the Expert stage at fourteen?

How could someone not of divine roots be born with the talent to become a god?

This simply made no rational sense.

'Besides...'

If someone had talent to reach Expert at fourteen, it couldn't possibly have stayed secret until now.

Unless he had hidden his abilities so perfectly that no one ever noticed—but was that even possible?

Yuria had begun being called a child of heavenly talent when she was around ten.

Not only had she manifested her aura two years earlier than her siblings, she had also reached the intermediate user level within a year.

Back then, Yuria cared only about flaunting her ability, worrying nothing about the consequences.

Everyone applauded and marveled at her, so she simply thought it was a good thing.

'I was so naive.'

Four years later, she was left with nothing but regret.

She'd never imagined that, behind those faces full of admiration, there lurked such terrible jealousy and envy.

By the time she realized that, she'd already made countless enemies.

'I should have listened to Dad more seriously.'

The family head of the Heavenly Sword family hadn't left her unchecked.

He privately called her in and warned her multiple times that she must hide her talent, and had her attendants strictly sworn to secrecy.

He knew what could happen if her talent became widely known.

But ultimately, Yuria's talent would inevitably be revealed unless she herself cooperated actively.

The family head urged her to conceal her power until the right time—but she took those words lightly.

She merely pretended to restrain herself, but showed off freely to anyone she considered even slightly close.

Thus, rumors about her talent spread like wildfire by word of mouth.

Only half a year after first manifesting her aura, all the nobles sworn to Hisperion knew of her gift.

'I made too many enemies out of needless vanity.'

For a child, hiding one's talents is never an easy task.

Without experience or fully developed judgment, there's no way to foresee how one's actions will affect the future.

However...

'How did you... How did you manage to hide your strength so perfectly until now?'

What's more, the head of Greysel, Hugo, was known for his vanity.

Had he recognized his son's talent, he likely would've boasted without a second thought, regardless of the consequences.

'So, if you truly hid your strength all this time, you must have kept it even from your father...'

Was that even possible?

She herself, despite her father's repeated warnings, ended up showing off and making many enemies.

So how did that boy realize, long before making any mistakes, the need to conceal his own talent so thoroughly all this time?

'This is something you can only truly understand after making a mistake yourself, even with outside advice...'

Furthermore...

'I'd also heard rumors that Ian couldn't use aura. So what's that about?'

The rumor that the heir of Greysel had a disability in his dantian and couldn't use aura was so widespread among the Hisperion nobility that anyone would've heard it at least once.

On the other hand, his swordsmanship skill was outstanding, earning him the nickname "Half-Talent".

'Haaa... I don't get it. Why go so far as to hide your aura talent, suffering insults as a half-talent, while not hiding your swordsmanship at all? What was your motive...?'

Now, Ian had revealed the power he had kept hidden until now.

'Maybe now he feels safe to reveal his power, because he's under my father's protection. He thinks he'll be protected even if he shows it...?'

― Shake shake!"

'Ah, no! Wait!'

Yuria shook her head vigorously.

'I'm getting way too distracted. The enemy is right in front of me. I let my guard down.'

What mattered now wasn't how Ian hid his power, nor his background.

'Winning this fight. I'll focus on that for now.'

She could think about Ian afterward, at her leisure.

'Still... is it really okay to reveal power he hid so thoroughly? I'm still suffering for it... Will Ian have to live underground like I do from now on...? Focus, focus! Ugh...'

Although she'd resolved to focus on the match, once her stray thoughts began, they just wouldn't stop.

'I just need to clash fists with him quickly.'

Once the fight started, she'd be forced to focus on it, whether she liked it or not.

–Thunk!

Yuria assumed her stance.

A martial art passed down only to direct heirs of Hisperion.

The basic ready stance of the Heavenly Flow (天流).

Seeing this, Ian spread his stance wider and lowered his posture.

'Looks like she's finally ready.'

Yuria had been staring dazedly for a while after he'd shown his fist energy.

'Ugh...'

Now all she had to do was push off the ground and throw a punch.

'Ugh...! Please, stop thinking!'

Her stray thoughts still haunted her.

How had Ian managed to hide his strength all this time?

Were there any dangerous events or enemies during that period?

Could they perhaps share a mutual understanding that only two genius children in the same circumstances could know...?

'Argh.'

Her curiosity and concern for Ian kept sabotaging her concentration.

'This won't do. I need a better motivation—set up a reward, give myself a reason to focus.'

–Ahem!

Yuria cleared her throat and called Ian.

"Ian Greysel."

"... Aren't we starting the match?"

"Let's make a bet. Just one bet, okay?"

"A bet? What kind of bet..."

"It's simple. Whoever loses can't keep any secrets from the winner for a whole year. How's that?"

"Hm...?"

Without realizing it, Ian raised an eyebrow.

"I don't get it. Why are you proposing this?"

"Well? I just think it'd be fun to share secrets with you. You seem like you have a lot of interesting things hidden."

"Hm..."

He certainly had a lot he was hiding.

His past life, his regression, the Authority of Projection, all sorts of knowledge about the future...

Whether those were interesting stories or not, who could say.

But.

"No, thank you. I don't see any reason for me to take that bet. There's no benefit for me."

He wasn't likely to lose to Yuria, but as long as there was any risk at all, there wasn't any point in adding extra potential loss.

"Ian~ How can you say there's no benefit?"

"What's in it for me..."

"Think about it. Whoever loses can't keep any secrets from the winner. If you beat me, I can even tell you Hisperion's secret arts."

"Ku-kugh!"

Ian choked on his own saliva.

"If you get caught by the Heavenly Sword Lord, even as his daughter, you'll be thrown out instantly. I'd lose my head. I'm not ready to die yet."

Even making a pact with the devil would be safer than that.

"Oh, come on! It could be just our little secret. If you're worried, I'll swear by mana."

Mana Oath.

A terrifying contract that engraves a vow in the dantian and heart, making you lose all mana if broken.

"... You're saying things that would truly enrage the Heavenly Sword Lord."

"So, are you in, or not?"

"Hmm..."

For Yuria to suggest this, she must want to ask him something.

And she didn't seem to think there was any chance she'd lose to Ian.

'Even after I showed her my fist energy, she's still this confident.'

Of course, he could understand Yuria's confidence.

Even at the same Expert rank, the outcome could be determined by aura affinity and skill.

Yuria had the supreme aura 'Heavenly Energy' and the ultimate martial art 'Heavenly Flow.'

'But...'

Ian smiled to himself.

'Too bad, Yuria. There's no way you can beat me.'

Seeing her so complacent only made him more certain of victory.

The Heavenly Flow, the direct lineage Hisperion martial art, overwhelmed opponents with sheer aura output.

If Ian used the Gwanghye Style's Counter-Current (回天), he could seize the initiative with even a single exchange.

"All right."

Ian accepted Yuria's wager.

'To be able to ask all of Yuria's secrets for a year...'

At first, he wasn't sure, but the more he listened, the more he realized how useful it could be.

'I could ask questions that are difficult to answer, and if Yuria can't bear to reply, I could make other demands under the guise of 'in exchange'.'

Even if he lost the top reward to Yuria someday, he could use the bet to reclaim it later.

He could even insist she join a dungeon expedition that would help them both grow.

She even said she'd swear by mana...

Depending on how he used it, there was almost nothing he couldn't demand.

He had no intention of tormenting Yuria, but for moments where he needed to drag her along even by force, it would be a great tool.

"A bet where the loser cannot hide any secret from the winner for one year. I accept."

Yuria answered with a smile.

"Great. You agreed. No backing out."

"Of course."

"All right, then..."

–Whoooosh!

The moment the bet was set, Yuria unleashed her full force.

"My mind is clear now. Let's begin. I'll end this for you as painlessly as possible."

The white flame blazing over Yuria's body began to whirl and concentrate around her right hand.

Soon, from her fist to her elbow, she was enveloped in pure white light.

It was a bit less refined than Ian's Gwanghye Style Point Shot, but still an impressive aura condensation technique.

'Here we go.'

Ian also lowered his stance and readied his Gwanghye Style Counter-Current.

He planned to concede the initiative and go for a counterattack.

The moment her foot struck the ground, the duel would truly begin.

"Ku! Kuuu! What is this! What a historic moment!!"

The heat in the spectators' stands was searing.

"My old heart hasn't beaten this fast in ages!"

"To see the continent's greatest geniuses clash at such a young age!"

"It's a historic moment! We're really witnessing a sight to treasure for life!"

"It's finally starting!"

The Heavenly Sword Lord, Darkan, could not hide his anticipation.

"Kelbian. Who do you think will win? My daughter? Or my son?"

"... E-eh? W-wait. Did you say son? Lord, are you officially acknowledging Young Lord Ian as your adopted son?"

"Hm? I decided that long ago. I just haven't made it public because I worry my children will bully him. Well, such trivialities aside, what do you think?"

"U-uh... Hmm! If you ask me, lady Yuria seems somewhat more likely to win. It was unexpected that Young Lord Ian could use fist energy, but even as an Expert, I think it would be hard for him to beat Lady Yuria."

He knew Ian was skilled.

After all, he'd witnessed Ian single-handedly handle five knights at Greysel manor.

But that was something Yuria could have done as well.

The aura stage was an important indicator of combat ability, but it didn't tell the whole story.

Aura stage was just 'weight class'.

Increasing your class improved your raw power, but didn't raise your combat skill.

In other words, martial arts mastery and aura stage were totally separate.

With a good training method and elixirs, you could raise your aura stage without actually learning any martial arts.

'That's why those Greysel knights got trounced by Young Lord Ian.'

They had raised their auric class with good elixirs and methods, but neglected training in actual martial arts.

So they were helpless against a better-trained Ian.

But...

'Lady Yuria is on a totally different level from those declining noble house knights. She wields the supreme martial art, Heavenly Flow, at a high level, and uses the preeminent Heavenly Energy aura, which is superior in all affinities.'

With similar aura classes, the one with better technique and affinity would inevitably prevail.

He knew Ian's skills were remarkable, but there could be no martial art superior to Heavenly Flow, and ordinary aura was at a disadvantage against Heavenly Energy.

"I'm fairly sure Ian Greysel can't beat Lady Yuria."

Darkan gave a keen, interested smile.

"Heh. That's how you see it, is it?"

"... How do you yourself see it, Lord?"

"I think Ian's been hiding even more."

The intuition he'd developed to transcendental precision upon reaching the demi-god stage...

That intuition was telling him Ian would win.

"Oooooh!"

"It's starting! Wow!"

"This is the moment when the greatest genius of the century will be decided!"

The spectators' cheers rose in a surging wave.

All attention and expectation converged in a single moment.

The climax of the Entrance Exam was about to begin.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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