On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 386

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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First Day of Infiltration, The Organization Was Destroyed — Episode 386
Preliminary Duel (4)
The change was unmistakable.
Isabella was wielding her sword within a different sensory realm than before.
For quite a long time—nearly ten years, in fact—she had dwelled in the upper echelons of Expert mastery.
She had clearly transcended it.
Her field of vision had sharpened, the flow of mana had transformed, and her command over the blade had grown immensely stronger.
Realms are not divided arbitrarily.
Clear benchmarks existed, and Isabella was now experiencing firsthand what she had only heard described in theory.
‘Does this mean I can use Secret Techniques now?’
“It is not yet time to employ Secret Techniques. For the remaining time, you will acclimate to this new realm.”
At Ziel’s words—as if he had read her very thoughts—Isabella refocused.
Her blade’s sensations had grown even more refined!
Now was the time to immerse herself in this.
Exhilaration flooded through her entire body.
This sensation she had not felt in over ten years!
She looked back at Ziel with renewed awe.
‘How in the world did he make this seem so easy…….’
Four days.
That was all it had taken.
During that time, all she had done was roll relentlessly, spar, correct her stance, and alter her methods of channeling mana.
Yet in those four days alone, she had reached the highest tier.
It seemed far too deliberate to attribute it to mere coincidence, and if one were to say that Ziel’s instruction had been the key factor, it was not instruction of such a “remarkable” sort.
Yet Isabella could not deny it.
No teacher in the world could identify each individual flaw and propose corrections on the spot as he did.
Only Ziel possessed such an ability.
“Teacher Ziel, setting aside how you observe my movements—how is it that every suggestion you make fits perfectly…….”
“I simply state what I see.”
Unable to contain her curiosity, Isabella pressed further.
“But is there a method to perceiving it that way?”
“I use my eyes.”
……
“One cannot see with one’s mouth or forehead, after all.”
Ziel said this with a slight smile.
‘Surely that was a joke?’
Ziel seemed quite pleased with himself.
In fact, he even posed a question to Isabella.
“How was my joke?”
“Yes, yes? Oh, ah-ha. Yes, that was amusing.”
“A success, then. Thank you.”
……
The answer, ultimately, remained lost in a labyrinth.
Meanwhile, Elcanto and Allix, who were sparring with Gilbert, were also making steady progress of their own.
“You two have become far more formidable opponents than on the first day.”
“Re, really?”
“Yes. The way you handle your blades is growing more refined by the moment. You are doing well.”
Their expressions brightened.
The fact that they were being instructed by a mere “Teaching Assistant” no longer mattered.
Standing before them was a Master-level warrior.
They had just received praise from such a person.
“We, we just received praise from you, Professor Allix.”
“Quite so…….”
Over these four days, both had experienced firsthand hundreds of times just how formidable Gilbert was.
The wall of a Master was that high.
Even when they had sensed an opening and thrust their blades forward, every strike was deflected; conversely, the blades coming at them felt impossible to block.
In all four days, they had not succeeded in landing a single attack.
“Professor Allix, after this Festa ends…… should we continue studying under Teacher Gilbert?”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
This was what might be called an era of peace.
War had ended, and the art of swordsmanship was being transformed in directions more pleasing to the eye.
Of course, knights of higher realms still enjoyed preference, but reaching those heights required decisive combat with the strong.
No matter how much one emphasized the importance of Mana Breathing Technique, swinging a sword alone day and night wouldn’t elevate one to those lofty heights.
In the end, one had to fight someone stronger than oneself.
Which made Gilbert’s existence invaluable.
“Teacher Ziel is so busy we couldn’t make such a request of him… but if we learned from Gilbert…”
Yet it was then that Gilbert spoke with quiet firmness.
“I can offer no guarantee that learning from me will elevate you to Master-level.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I cannot do what the Boss does. I lack the stamina for it.”
Behind that shaking head lay a palpable dread of Hellish Training.
That was true.
He had the stamina to endure Hellish Training.
But he lacked the constitution to participate in every bit of it as the Boss did, sleeping for days without so much as a blink.
“I reached Master-level almost entirely because of the Boss.”
“Then the remaining one-tenth…”
“I worked hard, but honestly, I was also fortunate.”
Above all, Hellish Training could never be half-hearted.
That was the atmosphere.
Having become Master-level almost by force, Gilbert still felt bewildered by it all.
“And experience that separates life from death is also necessary.”
A self-evident truth, yet harder than one might imagine to achieve.
“Both of you, focus on the preliminary duel for now.”
They both naturally wished to grow stronger.
But first, they had to address the immediate challenge before them.
Whoosh.
“We’ll go.”
The preliminary duel of the Exchange Tournament to be held at the Festa Eve Festival!
Its beginning drew ever closer with each passing moment.
* * *
On Telbier’s side, strategy discussions were well underway.
“If Professor Bernard takes on Professor Elcanto or Sir Allix, that should settle it well enough.”
“Ugh, but if Professor Isabella ends up matched against us, we’re in trouble. From what I hear, she had far greater talent than Sir Eleanor in her youth.”
“That’s not the case now. Though she’s said to be Expert Upper-tier, Professor Bernard should be quite capable of defeating her.”
Telbier’s participating professors were likewise three in number.
The most skilled among them was Professor Neller.
Neller Valentin.
The younger brother of Sigmund Valentin, and the second son of the Valentin Family!
“If Professor Neller faces off against Professor Isabella, that would be ideal.”
“Indeed.”
The evenly-matched opponents would be handled by Bernard and Professor Genire.
And the troublesome Isabella would be dealt with by Professor Neller.
Even if Professor Isabella and Professor Neller weren’t matched against each other, the strategy was to secure two victories and ultimately emerge victorious from the preliminary duel!
“Since Professor Neller stands on the threshold of Expert Highest-tier, this is our best course of action.”
The strategy appeared flawless.
And then, the Festa Eve Festival dawned.
“The Capital truly is the Capital.”
“I wish our academy could be this splendid…”
The Festa Eve Festival.
A scene of countless booths and market stalls throughout the academy, teeming with delighted students!
One rule governed the eve festival.
Outsiders were forbidden entry.
Thus, it was a sight no Imperial citizen—nor even wealthy noble parents—could witness.
And now the professors and students of Telbier Academy beheld it with their own eyes.
“The kids are really envious.”
Telbier’s students gazed outward with longing in their eyes.
Though Telbier Academy was considerable in scale, it clearly fell short compared to Edelwein Academy, situated as it was in the Capital.
“Should we make our Telbier a bit more lavish next time?”
“If we win this Exchange Tournament, we just might manage it.”
In any case, another reason to win had emerged.
The professors’ tension climbed higher still.
A preliminary duel that must be won!
“Everyone’s here.”
As they headed toward the arena where the preliminary duel would take place, Sigmund was waiting for them.
“Dean.”
“See that you all come away victorious.”
“Yes, sir!”
The professors answered with the crisp discipline of their apprentice knight days.
“It looks like all the Sword School students have gathered.”
Neller.
Bernard.
Genire.
The three professors took their place in the arena at last, under the gaze of countless students and the cheers of the Telvir Academy crowd.
And from the opposite side, the three professors of the Edelwein Academy Sword School stepped up—
“Huh?”
“What?”
“What…?”
Something was off.
The faces of the three professors ascending the arena—or rather, their appearance—
was haggard.
There was no other way to describe their condition.
Their clothes were impeccable, yet their faces looked like that!
“What… what ordeal must they have endured?”
“Well, I… I’m not sure…”
All three had lost weight, their cheeks hollow and sunken. Elcanto’s transformation was the most dramatic.
They’d seen him lose weight before, but the three professors found the gaunt version of the once-imposing Elcanto all the more striking because of how accustomed they were to his massive frame!
‘What kind of training did they go through?’
Sigmund was taken aback as well.
All three professors looked completely different from a week ago.
A creeping tension descended.
‘But we’ll still win.’
Yet his confidence hadn’t wavered in the slightest.
The fact of victory remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, on the other side—
“…Just how did you two put them through training?”
Ziel and Gilbert answered almost in unison.
“We trained them well.”
Gilbert beamed with pride.
At last he could say this!
Of course, Berhal found the answer utterly baffling.
They’d agreed to let Ziel and Gilbert train the professors for a week, and he’d consented to it at the time—
“Did you run them through a gauntlet, then?”
“Yes. That’s correct. How did you know?”
“Ah.”
It wasn’t wrong.
But who could have guessed they’d push them that hard!
In any case, setting aside all those details, there was one crucial fact.
‘We have to win.’
This preliminary duel mattered greatly to Edelwein Academy as well.
The Dean was watching from here too.
More than that—this was Edelwein Academy itself, not Telvir!
A loss now could mean they’d never recover their standing.
Not to mention the impact it would have on the students’ morale!
“Then, we shall now proceed with the draw for matchups.”
A single administrator dispatched from the Imperial Palace stepped into the center of the arena.
Two boxes hung from his hands.
“The professors from each side will draw lots from their respective boxes. Those whose lots bear matching numbers shall face one another!”
The draw was of course entirely random.
‘If Neller faces Isabella and the rest win their bouts, that would be the most certain outcome.’
Whether Sigmund’s wish reached the heavens or not, that was exactly how it played out.
“Professor Neller draws number one, and Professor Isabella draws number one as well. The two of them shall have the honor of the opening match!”
Next, the matchups were confirmed: Elcanto against Bernard, and Allix against Genire.
“Good.”
This was as good as victory.
They’d surely made their own preparations, but there was no way they could overcome Neller—his own younger brother and the second-strongest in Telvir after himself.
Limited by being the second son, Neller had ultimately been unable to inherit the family name, but had he been the eldest, his qualifications would have been more than sufficient.
“Go, Professor Isabella!”
“You’ve got this!”
At the fervent cheers led by the sixth-year students, Sigmund let out a quiet laugh.
He couldn’t help but savor the thought—those cheers would soon turn to sighs.
And this was only the first match.
If they won here, it would surely affect the second and third bouts!
“Neller, you know what needs to be done.”
“I’ll return victorious, brother.”
Without hesitation, Neller turned toward the arena.
“Once will be enough. You know my technique.”
“Right. End it in one stroke and be done with it.”
Isabella, stepping up opposite him, drew her sword as well.
Her expression was utterly composed.
Neller’s lips, by contrast, curved into a smile.
He was certain of victory.
‘They said she was upper-tier, but I’m approaching the highest-tier. There’s no way she can match me.’
A difference in realm was a difference in status itself.
As one climbed to higher realms, many fell short of bridging that gap—spending their entire lives unable to cross even a single step forward.
And so the outcome was already decided.
‘I’ll end this in one moment.’
Neller charged, targeting Isabella’s shoulders, legs, and ankle.
The Triple Point Thrust.
Neller’s specialty—a technique bordering on a secret art!
For all its fame, the attack was so sharp that it invariably drew blood from at least one target.
‘If I had to choose, the ankle would be ideal.’
Right up to the moment he closed the distance, Isabella remained motionless, sword in hand.
‘Has she given up?’
The instant that thought crossed his mind—
Clang!
The first strike was blocked.
The second attack, driven in without hesitation—
Ring!
Also blocked.
‘What?’
Now genuinely startled, he unleashed the third and final strike!
‘The ankle.’
And yet—
Ring!
It too was stopped.
The Triple Point Thrust.
All three strikes had been intercepted.
It had never happened before.
Not since he’d developed this technique and failed against his brother—never once.
‘This makes no sense…….’
In the face of that utterly unforeseen turn of events, Isabella took her stance.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Isabella recalled her Hellish Training with Ziel.

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