On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Organization Collapsed on My First Day of Infiltration Episode 023

 

 

The One Who Made the Paralysis Poison (2)

 

 

“Teacher Ziel, Teacher Ziel!”

 

Tiron came rushing over urgently as soon as Ziel returned.

 

“Where have you been? The Department Head has been looking for you since earlier.”

“The Department Head?”

“Yes! Department Head Berhal!”

 

The Department Head.

The person with the highest position at Sword School.

Normally there would be no reason to meet with him.

 

“Why was he looking for me?”

“Well, it’s because you did something incredible, Teacher Ziel.”

“I did?”

“Yes! That thing earlier. When you intervened and stopped the sparring match.”

 

That was something incredible?

Ziel tilted his head in confusion but nodded for now.

 

“I understand. Before that, there’s something I want to ask.”

“Yes?”

“Who made the final decision on the sparring opponents?”

“Uh… Professor Takeus has the most seniority among the professors grading this first-year selection, so probably…”

“I see.”

 

Tiron couldn’t understand why he was asking, but didn’t think much of it.

Because the Department Head had been looking for Ziel since earlier.

 

“Teacher, let’s go see the Department Head first.”

“Understood.”

 

A short while later.

 

“Hmm. Teacher Ziel. It’s nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Berhal Abue, the Department Head in charge of Sword School.”

“I’m Ziel Steelheart.”

 

The professors’ expressions soured at his calm greeting.

 

‘He should say “It’s an honor!”‘

‘That teacher doesn’t even know how great the Department Head is…’

‘Is he nervous?’

 

However, Department Head Berhal didn’t mind at all and smiled.

 

“Thank you, Teacher Ziel. Thanks to you, we prevented what could have been a disaster.”

“You mean student Delev Kundel?”

“Yes. The outcome almost changed. Without anyone knowing. And because of poison, no less.”

 

Department Head Berhal’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

 

“But tell me, how did you notice it?”

 

No one else realized it, but Ziel clearly sensed that change.

 

‘His eyes are different. Does he have some other intention?’

 

Ziel wasn’t yet accustomed to reading others’ expressions or emotions.

But he instinctively felt one thing.

 

“I just saw it.”

“You just saw it… That’s impressive.”

 

Just then, an unexpected ally appeared.

 

“Ha, haha. I think Teacher Ziel was just lucky to see it since he was closest to them.”

 

It was Professor Elcanto.

Department Head Berhal turned his head briefly at those words, then looked back at Ziel with a bright smile.

 

“Then you were very lucky indeed. Thanks to that luck, it seems the selection will conclude without incident, Teacher Ziel.”

 

Doubt behind the smile.

Ziel could sense it.

But it wasn’t particularly unpleasant.

It felt more like curiosity than suspicion.

Of course, Ziel didn’t fully realize this.

Emotions were still uncharted territory for Ziel.

 

“Hmm. It’s time. I’ll be going now. Let’s thoroughly investigate this incident. You said student Jon Riversong was sent back to the dormitory?”

“Yes, he should be back at the dormitory by now.”

“Let’s discuss his punishment at the faculty meeting soon. Well then, I’ll be off.”

 

The Department Head was about to leave when he stopped and flashed a grin at Ziel.

 

“Teacher Ziel. See you again.”

 

The professors bowed rigidly as the Department Head left.

The minds of the bowing professors were complex.

 

‘He said “see you again.”‘

‘Does he like Teacher Ziel?’

‘Is the Department Head going to support him?’

 

The Sword School professors here were people who had endured countless political battles and power struggles to reach their professorial positions.

The ripple effect that the Department Head’s single statement created in their hearts was considerable.

However, the person in question, Ziel, paid no attention to those words.

 

‘Professor Dakeus Altman.’

 

He was looking at Professor Dakeus, who had ultimately arranged the sparring matches for this selection.

 

‘He seemed to know that student Delev Kundel would be matched against student Yon Riversong.’

 

Even though sparring opponents were determined based on previous test scores.

Unless he was a prophet, there was no way to know all the previous test results in advance.

That meant someone had intervened to arbitrarily assign the sparring opponents.

 

‘Did a professor intervene?’

 

There was only one reason Ziel was speculating this deeply.

My student was almost attacked.

And with delayed paralysis poison that was only made by assassination groups.

 

‘I’ll have to wait for nightfall.’

 

His angry feelings subsided for a moment.

His eyes grew coldly calm.

Ziel’s thinking temporarily returned to his assassin days.

Thorough waiting.

Cold judgment.

These two things determined the success or failure of a mission.

 

‘Student Yon Riversong said he might meet the person who gave him the paralysis poison tonight.’

 

That’s where it starts.

First, finish the selection that’s currently in progress.

Right now, he wasn’t an assassin but a liberal arts instructor at Sword School.

He couldn’t abandon his duties by being consumed with emotions that were just beginning to emerge.

 

“Then, we’ll proceed with the next sparring match.”

 

The next sparring match was Celia’s turn.

Along with Delev, she was one of the greatest talents among Sword School’s first years.

Her opponent was another female student.

 

‘I’m glad it’s not me.’

 

Karen let out a sigh of relief.

 

“The sparring match begins.”

 

As expected.

Celia finished it in just 3 seconds.

Head, solar plexus, and shoulder.

The distinctive Rihart Style Swordsmanship optimized for thrusting.

 

“Ce-Celia Rihart wins.”

 

Even the Teaching Assistant was flustered by such a quick victory.

 

“The Rihart family is truly insane…”

“Did you just see that? How is that even possible?”

 

The professors were equally amazed.

 

“As expected of a Rihart. It seems the family head taught her properly.”

“Indeed. If dueling were to be revived, Rihart would surely be the best, wouldn’t they?”

 

The Rihart family currently held one of the top two positions among the Five Great Families alongside Kundel, and their beginning was ‘dueling.’

Their fame began when the family started making a name for itself through dueling.

In that process, they refined and perfected swordsmanship optimized for dueling up to the present day.

The size of the sword Celia held was proof of that.

Rihart Style Swordsmanship that swiftly thrust at the opponent’s vital points with a sword slightly smaller than a typical longsword!

Though dueling is currently prohibited under Imperial law.

 

‘I wonder if Teacher saw that well?’

 

Celia forgot about the disappointingly easy sparring match and looked toward Ziel.

 

‘Right, today’s the day.’

 

Celia approached Ziel with confident steps.

Celia tucked her red hair behind her ear and asked with a gentle smile.

 

“Teacher, how was I?”

 

The plan was this.

If praise came back…

 

“Your Second Strike toward the chest was a bit slow.”

“Pardon?”

 

So, first if praise came back…

 

“If your opponent’s level had been higher, you would have been counterattacked during the Third Strike.”

 

The praise…

 

“So you can thrust a bit faster.”

 

Should come…

 

“For the First Strike during sparring, the chest would be better than the head.”

 

They would even offer a guard knight position, saying it’s all thanks to the teacher’s virtue…

At the continued advice, Celia finally exploded.

 

“Ah, come on! You could at least give me some praise!”

“You asked how it was, so I answered, Student Celia Rihart.”

“So what, I have to ask for praise to get praised?”

“Even if you did, I would only praise when there’s something to praise.”

“…”

 

Celia felt a wall.

A massive wall!

A wall so high that even if she desperately clawed her way up, she might barely get one foot on it!

 

“Tch… You praised Yurio just fine.”

 

To think she’d be jealous of Yurio of all people.

And it didn’t end there.

 

“From what I saw, you could have gone faster but didn’t.”

“Well… it’s sparring.”

“Even in sparring, give it your all. You must always suppress your opponent with full force.”

 

No one knows if that moment of showing an opening and getting counterattacked might lead to death.

 

“Teacher, you don’t seem to know noble society well, but that gets you criticized. Going easy is also a virtue.”

“Does virtue protect your life?”

 

Ziel tilted his head as if genuinely puzzled and added a comment.

 

“If you always ‘go easy’ and then hit a wall at some point, what will you do then?”

 

While Celia realized something, she thought to herself.

 

‘That wall is right in front of me.’

 

“I look forward to the Exchange Tournament, Student Celia Rihart.”

 

Celia watched Ziel turn his back and walk away, then raised the corners of her mouth.

 

“No matter how I look at it, I want him, don’t I?”

 

That appearance that seems like he would protect her without panicking in any situation.

She wants him.

She must definitely make him her guard knight.

 

“Then now for the last one. Student Karen Aswan.”

 

In the midst of this, Karen was called last and stood up.

 

“Do well, Karen.”

“Ah, yeah. Yurio, I’ll be back?”

“Don’t be nervous!”

 

Her opponent was a child of the ‘Belhart’ family, not as famous as the renowned families but still quite well-known.

Even a male student.

His expression was already full of thoughts of victory.

 

“Teacher.”

 

And Karen had just stood up and was about to go to the center when she encountered Ziel.

 

“Student Karen Aswan.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“You’ll win.”

 

Ziel left those words and walked away.

Karen was momentarily dazed.

 

‘I’ll win?’

 

She hadn’t expected him to just toss out those words without any other advice.

But thanks to that, an inexplicable confidence began to well up.

Words from none other than Teacher Ziel.

Teacher Ziel was an object of respect for Karen, no less than Yurio.

Strangely, it felt like she could win.

 

“Hey, I’ll go easy on you, so surrender if it hurts, okay?”

 

Owen Belhart.

The considerably prestigious Belhart Family.

The talent of second son Owen was also quite considerable.

However, Karen instead calmly settled her mind and recalled Ziel’s words.

 

‘You’ll win.’

 

“Sparring begins.”

 

Clang!

 

Karen was surprised right from the start.

She blocked Owen’s charging sword more easily than expected.

 

“…What.”

 

Owen’s eyes also changed.

A development different from expectations.

 

Clang, clang!

 

When she also blocked the following Double Strike, Owen became flustered.

 

“You blocked our Family Swordsmanship First Form…?”

 

It seemed he had planned to finish it early with the 1st Form.

Karen was just as flustered.

 

‘I can block like this?’

 

This was her first sparring since those hellish liberal arts classes.

She hadn’t known until now.

How far her level had risen.

She had doubts.

She never thought her skills would improve just by building some physical strength and enhancing her reflexes.

 

‘Teacher’s instruction was right.’

 

But now it was being clearly proven.

Fundamentals are important.

More than swordsmanship itself.

 

Clang!

 

Karen launched a counterattack.

She deflected Owen’s sword as he was about to start the 2nd Form and deployed Aswan Family Swordsmanship.

Karen knew too.

That it wasn’t particularly impressive swordsmanship.

However-

 

Clang, clang!

 

“Whoa.”

“Karen’s overwhelming him?”

“This is incredible!”

 

Even if the swordsmanship wasn’t impressive, ultimately the person wielding it was what mattered.

Karen’s movements after throwing off the sandbags were incredibly swift, and the reflexes she had developed by allowing countless attacks from Ziel were also being displayed.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Owen tried to counterattack by targeting an opening but stepped back again due to the too-fast response.

 

‘What the hell!’

 

Owen pulled himself together.

Aswan Family?

A family he’d never heard of except that they were somewhere in the Eastern Countryside.

 

‘I absolutely cannot lose!’

 

Clang!

 

As Owen gradually regained his composure, the sparring entered a stalemate.

 

“Impressive indeed. It’s a close match again, but to press forward like that initially.”

“If it had been real combat, student Owen might have been in danger.”

“Hmm. But still, student Owen will eventually…”

 

Owen was gradually gaining the upper hand.

 

‘Now it’s over.’

 

Owen raised his sword high in the flow of entering the Third Form.

The finishing 3rd Form of Low Attack followed by Downward Strike.

This was the maximum Owen could deploy.

But Karen was also preparing.

 

‘Here it comes.’

 

She dodged the Low Attack.

But now that Downward Strike couldn’t be avoided.

Teacher Ziel had said so.

The most important thing in counterattacking isn’t avoiding the opponent’s attack but attacking before they do.

Of course, she had never succeeded against Teacher Ziel…

 

Swoosh!

 

Karen’s arm was already extending instinctively.

And-

 

Thud!

 

The sword tip struck Owen’s abdomen as he was bringing his sword down.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Clatter, Owen’s sword fell.

Owen, trembling from intense pain, bent over at the waist.

 

“…My goodness.”

“Karen…”

“Won…?”

 

Tiron looked at Tiron who had collapsed and was groaning, then declared.

 

“V-Victory. Karen Aswan!”

 

An unbelievable result.

Even the professors were momentarily speechless.

 

“Th-this is unexpected….”

“Heh, heheh….”

 

Only one professor denied reality.

 

‘Again… I lost again….’

 

Professor Elcanto truly felt like crawling into a mouse hole.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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