Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 204

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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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Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 204

136. Start of Semester (2)

On the opening ceremony day, which was the day before the start of semester, I climbed onto a large podium while all Academy students watched from their respective locations.

“Autonomous Department first year, Dane Sogress!”

Imperial award ceremony.

And to receive the Academy award.

“Dane Sogress, this student has become a model for the Academy and an exemplar for other students….”

The Academy award was something I received for taking first place.

As the first prize, I was given 10 outing passes, which I already had plenty of.

By the way, they can be transferred to others.

Though not officially recognized, everyone knew they functioned as currency within the Academy.

Of course, it wasn’t that impressive.

I was grateful to receive them, but I really had a lot.

Enough to go out for the entire second semester at this rate.

“Furthermore, we present the second prize.”

But the second prize was quite impressive.

It was the authority to ‘directly’ choose the destination for the ‘Academy field trip’ that would be conducted in the second semester.

So I asked.

“Then would it be okay to visit Drenick?”

“Hahahaha!”

The dean burst into laughter as if my joke was quite amusing.

“That’s a very interesting question, student Dane Sogress.”

It wasn’t a joke though.

I should ask again later.

Anyway, normally we would go on field trips to predetermined destinations, such as warm resorts in the Southern Region, western coastlines, or archaeological sites.

But this semester, I could choose directly.

By the way, this could be used anytime, so it didn’t matter if I didn’t use it this semester.

Which meant I could use it for exploration disguised as a field trip.

“Now, we will proceed with the Imperial award ceremony.”

Next, the Imperial award ceremony was also conducted.

A kind of inspector dispatched from the Imperial Palace presented awards and trophies stamped with the Emperor’s seal.

“Student Dane Sogress, to have built such a reputation at such a young age. Truly admirable.”

“I am simply moved to tears by His Majesty the Emperor’s grace.”

“His Majesty the Emperor is also very pleased. Thanks to you, we eliminated threats to the Empire and can now envision the Empire’s future.”

The former referred to the secret society, the Trillion Cult.

The latter case was….

The message of ‘reconciliation’ that I had conveyed.

“His Majesty the Emperor is planning an inspection of the Southern Region within this year. Giving advance notice should make for an even more pleasant visit.”

I had already informed home of that fact.

By the way, Father accepted it more calmly than I expected.

The voice coming through the communication crystal seemed to contain something I didn’t quite understand….

But he didn’t seem to dislike it.

“Hmm. The conversation has grown long.”

The award ceremony continued.

“Listen! You who will lead the Empire’s future! The one standing before you now, receiving His Majesty the Emperor’s grace, has made great contributions by detecting, punishing, and completely destroying the seditious organization that threatened the Empire….”

Having my achievements listed out in front of others wasn’t as embarrassing as I thought.

Because I had already experienced this in my previous life.

Back then, I received medals while even more people watched directly with their own eyes.

It was a Drenick military tradition to gather all legion-level soldiers for medal ceremonies whenever someone achieved military success.

“…Therefore, to present the plaque personally sealed by His Majesty the Emperor, let Dane Sogress receive this grace with proper courtesy.”

And quite generously, along with the plaque, a jewel was given as a prize.

It was delivered in an open luxurious wooden case, containing a transparent gem the size of a newborn’s fist.

More precisely, flames were burning inside the transparent gem.

“This is called the ‘Eternal Flame,’ a most precious and rare jewel.”

It seemed like I had heard of it somewhere.

Anyway, the jewel was very beautiful.

Befitting the description of being most precious and rare.

“I am moved to tears by this grace.”

Let me set aside my questions for now.

What mattered was that I received it, wasn’t it?

And in an official setting at that.

No matter how precious it was, since His Majesty the Emperor gave it, it must have some purpose.

“Wow… What’s with that guy? He just finished his first semester and now he’s getting Academy awards and the Imperial Palace is coming to give him plaques?”

“Life is really unfair.”

“What exactly do they teach at Sogress County?”

A protective shield from the Prince.

A precious jewel from His Majesty the Emperor.

My luck with gifts seemed to be exploding lately.

On the first day of classes, we each participated in orientations for the lectures we were taking.

“Well then, since this is the first class today, we’ll wrap up here. Those who want to change courses should change, and those who don’t should prepare yourselves. That’s all.”

Most classes ended quickly since they were first classes, but the Swordsmanship Department lecture was a bit different.

“Everyone pay attention.”

The professor in charge of ‘Practical Swordsmanship Research’ was none other than Department Head Professor Esteranza.

He began speaking with quite a heavy voice from the start.

“As you all well know, my class is important. If you fail to complete it even after two attempts, graduation itself becomes impossible, so if you feel your skills are lacking, change courses or drop out right now.”

“….”

Since I was from the Autonomous Department, I didn’t know this well, but each department had ‘mandatory’ majors, and if you couldn’t take them, graduation itself was impossible.

The problem was-

“The criteria for F grades are as follows. Failing to win at least 2 matches in duels. Coordinating beforehand to artificially manipulate match outcomes. Lastly, defying my words.”

If you couldn’t complete this class even on the second attempt, your path to graduation would be completely blocked.

Since this was truly a deadly serious matter, several Swordsmanship Department students trembled and whispered among themselves.

“This can’t be… Weren’t the seniors just trying to scare us?”

“What is this….”

Bang!

“Since it came up, I’ll add this. If there’s chatter during my class or during duels, I’ll issue warnings. When warnings accumulate… you know, right?”

Are all Swordsmanship Department classes like this?

Or is he acting like this because I’m currently the only student from another department?

I heard that Professor Esteranza wasn’t usually such a strict type-

“Simply put, it’s because of Senior Conrad.”

Leila, who was sitting next to me, barely moved her lips like a ventriloquist.

“The department atmosphere is really bad. Their prestige hit rock bottom or something.”

In simple terms, he was establishing discipline.

Well, they probably snickered while watching the competing Magic Department fall due to Professor Denabo’s incident.

But now they were the ones who got thoroughly humiliated.

Thanks to that fellow Conrad’s vengeful spirit.

By the way, that bastard is currently being investigated in the Academy investigation room.

This was something I learned while barely stopping Little Sister, who was jumping around in fury saying she’d feed Conrad to her summoned creatures after hearing about this fact.

“My lectures are serious. And strict. There won’t be anything soft about them, so prepare yourselves.”

Anyway, the lecture finally began amidst the string of warnings.

“I’ll go over the basics of swordsmanship again. From now on, what you need to master is the Empire’s standard swordsmanship. Naturally, you’ve all memorized the textbook, and you know all the basic stances, right?”

No matter how I look at it, I get the feeling he’s going to fill every minute of the regular class time.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

If it helps, then by all means.

Of course, the other guys’ expressions looked absolutely miserable.

“Ugh, should I drop this?”

“You want to take this in your final year? You want to fail to graduate and become a mercenary?”

And as soon as the chatter was heard, Professor Esteranza paused the lecture and looked toward where the sound came from.

“6th year Oster Baiu, Ancherd Paon. One warning each.”

“….”

The two became silent as mutes who ate honey.

How fierce.

It’ll naturally be even fiercer toward me.

Sure enough, the gazes from the Swordsmanship Department students looking at me weren’t pleasant at all.

It was like that before, but this incident made it even more so.

This kind of thing happens sometimes.

When looking from a group perspective, maintaining a misguided view rather than recognizing and fixing problems within the group.

That’s exactly what’s happening now.

I had not only completely ruined the event of the swordsmanship club, which was the pride of the Swordsmanship Department, but also caused their idol to fall because of that incident.

Naturally, it’s not my fault.

So my mindset is this.

So what are you going to do about it?

“I’ll continue the lecture. Listen carefully. There will be pop quizzes in the middle.”

The lecture continued after that.

The theories spouted out like a machine gun were mostly things I already knew, but there were new perspectives too, making it quite interesting.

Right, swordsmanship is always enjoyable.

Even theory like this.

Whether Leila felt the same way, or was burning with passion, she was listening intently.

“That’s all. Break time is 5 minutes.”

“….”

And after the first part of the lecture ended, everyone collapsed on their desks as if they had made a promise.

“Crazy… should I just drop this?”

“Ugh… thinking about listening to this every week is making me really dizzy…”

“Why is he suddenly like this? Why is he making it so intense?”

I can feel resentful gazes focusing on me.

If gazes had physical force like arrows, I would have become a porcupine by now.

“Dane, don’t mind them.”

“Yeah. I wasn’t minding them anyway.”

“…Right.”

Still, Leila worrying about me is admirable.

Even though she’ll receive those gazes too, she still sits next to me.

Anyway, break time passed again, and about 30 minutes into the second part of the lecture.

“Well then, I’ll end the lecture here.”

Everyone opened their mouths to cheer, but only for a moment.

“The theory lecture is over now, and we’ll do some simple sparring for the remaining time.”

“….”

Everyone despaired.

“Ransel Perion.”

Professor Esteranza immediately pointed to one student. He had quite a slender build, and when pointed out, he stood up from his seat without complaint.

“Among the 6th years, you’ve ‘now’ become the most promising student, so it would be good to show your skills. Would you like to designate an opponent for sparring?”

“Yes, Professor. Understood.”

Then Professor Esteranza added.

“It will be sparring with pure swordsmanship only, without mana, so choose without burden.”

As soon as those words fell, the guy named Ransel looked in my direction.

Then he pointed at me without hesitation.

“I would like to designate Dane Sogress, 1st year of the Autonomous Department.”

Though it was already silent, an even deeper quiet and silence fell over the lecture hall.

“…Good. Student Dane Sogress, will you accept the sparring match?”

Fighting without mana means, as Professor Esteranza said, competing purely with swordsmanship alone.

It lacks practicality but is a method often used.

In the Drenik military, it was also a good way to determine superiority between warriors.

In that sense, I like the guy’s fighting spirit.

The courage to think he might win if mana isn’t used – isn’t that good?

I looked into the eyes of the guy named Ransel and nodded.

“I accept the sparring match.”

Those eyes aren’t filled with revenge or any impure purpose.

It’s the competitive spirit I’ve often seen.

I should gladly accept.

“Both students, come forward.”

I stood facing Ransel in the training ground at the front of the lecture hall, with all the students watching.

What was provided were practice swords.

The rules were the Empire’s standard sparring rules.

Shing.

Drawing the sword, observing sparring etiquette, and creating a distance of five steps.

“I look forward to good sparring.”

“As do I.”

And after exchanging brief words with each other-

Thud!

The guy kicked off the ground first.

And.

Clang!

The guy’s first attack aimed at my neck was blocked just like that.

Screech…

The sound of sword against sword.

I pushed the sword away while simultaneously kicking Ransel.

“Ugh!”

Now it’s my turn.

Thud!

This time I kicked off the ground.

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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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