Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 289

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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 289

185. Start of Semester (2)

“Dane, is there something troubling you? It’s surprising to see you make such an expression.”

When Leila asked curiously from beside me, I shook my head back and forth.

Two hours.

It may sound like just two hours, but we exchanged sword strikes almost non-stop throughout that entire time.

If they had been real swords, something would have probably been torn or cut off somewhere.

The guest lecture by the former Imperial Vice Knight Commander was that intense.

Of course, I didn’t just passively receive a lecture adjusted to my level either.

Not only did I fluster Count Enrion several times, but I also cut through several parts of his collar and cornered him when he let his guard down at the end, leaving him with several scratches.

Considering that he’s actually a Penta-grade swordsman approaching Hexa-grade, this was an achievement in pure swordsmanship worth bragging about anywhere.

“My goodness, two whole hours? Without rest?”

“Almost.”

“I wish I could have such an opportunity too.”

Don’t even think about it.

A former knight of Penta-grade level charging at you with madness as if trying to kill you.

Even if it had been a Hexa-grade knight instead of me, that madness would have been difficult to handle.

Why?

Because he was determined to somehow get me into the Imperial Knight Order.

And seeing how he said he’d come visit again next time, it seems I’ve gotten myself into trouble.

Still…

“I certainly learned a lot.”

“Of course. If your opponent was Count Enrion, right? Count Enrion is also called a hero of reversal. As far as I know, he must have entered the Imperial Knight Order after his achievements in the Imperial War were recognized.”

No wonder.

Even I, who pride myself on having extensive experience, found him difficult to handle.

“But you fought such a person for two hours and you’re this fine now?”

“I told you. I’m a little tired.”

“Being just a little tired is what’s strange. Really.”

Leila glared at me as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Who else in this lecture hall could do that? Even the seniors about to graduate would find it impossible.”

For reference, I immediately moved to the next lecture right after attending Count Enrion’s guest lecture in our department.

That is, to attend the Swordsmanship Department lecture I applied for this semester.

Practical Swordsmanship Exploration.

A lecture taught by Professor Esteranza.

For reference, Professor Esteranza doesn’t particularly like me.

Previously with the Conrad incident and various other matters, the Swordsmanship Department has suffered losses several times, and she seems to think it’s because of me.

While ignoring the fact that they all brought it upon themselves.

“I’ll begin the lecture.”

As evidence of this, her gaze toward me is quite unfriendly.

The way she glared at me briefly while taking attendance.

Her eyes seemed to ask why I took this lecture, but it didn’t particularly bother me.

What I was focused on was the ‘practical exploration’ part.

“As written in the syllabus, this lecture ‘Practical Swordsmanship Exploration’ is literally a lecture where you conduct practical exploration in spaces where swordsmanship can be utilized. Therefore, except for today’s orientation, it will be conducted in teams on a separate stage.”

A lecture conducted in teams.

Looking at the syllabus, the main stage is a special place prepared by the Swordsmanship Department.

“Those who know will know, but that place is the ‘Doll’s Domain.'”

Dolls.

Made to resemble humans closely, but ‘objects’ that have been infused with mana to possess certain behavioral patterns.

Dolls that move tirelessly as long as the mana stone embedded at their center isn’t destroyed and as long as mana is continuously supplied to that mana stone.

“In this place, we will engage in actual combat against the dolls. The scoring conditions are simple. How many dolls you neutralize. How long you endure against the dolls. And how much practicality you demonstrate.”

Practicality.

This will probably be the core of this lecture.

By the way, dolls.

I’ve only heard stories about them, but this is my first time actually seeing them too.

“Dane, dolls. I’ve always wanted to see them.”

“Right.”

“But dolls can move infinitely as long as they have mana, right? Why weren’t they used in wars?”

To Leila’s innocent question, I gave a simple answer.

“How could you supply mana to each one individually in war?”

“Ah.”

“I heard they’re used by supplying mana to an entire specific area.”

That’s why they’re difficult to use on battlefields with many variables.

Nevertheless, the fact that they’re remarkable doesn’t change. How common could dolls that move like humans be?

“The dolls are quick and strong. Above all, they learn their opponent’s movements. Since they operate with mana programs created by the great mage Saul Hanston, you must never think of them lightly.”

Saul Hanston.

This name comes up here too.

In front of me, he’s an old man who ridiculously falls into traps and is desperate to teach me secret magic, but he really is different after all.

“Also, to prevent cheating, you must not face the dolls using any methods other than swordsmanship or martial arts.”

In the midst of this explanation, the way she deliberately glances toward me suggests she has a lot of grievances against me.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

If such things bothered me, I wouldn’t have applied for this lecture in the first place.

“Anyway, grades will be determined based on such comprehensive evaluation. That’s all. Any questions?”

“You mentioned dolls, but what happens if the dolls get destroyed?”

“It’s not something you need to worry about, but it’s understandable to be curious. The dolls immediately begin repair work when the lecture ends according to their programmed schedule.”

“Repair work, you mean…”

“I don’t know the details myself, but I heard that Saul Hanston’s advanced mana program operates.”

I should ask Saul, no, Professor Cross when I meet him later.

Anyway, after finishing a few more questions, Professor Esteranza snapped her fingers.

Then a teaching assistant came in, set down a lottery box, and left.

“As I said, the lecture will be conducted in teams. More precisely, you’ll form pairs.”

So that means two people form one team.

“But some unlucky fellow will have to face the dolls alone and lonely in the Doll’s Domain. Because the capacity for this lecture is an ‘odd number.'”

Professor Esteranza coincidentally looks at me and smiles.

“Don’t worry too much, as I plan to give generous points to the fellow who doesn’t get teamed up through the lottery, considering this factor. Of course, you still have to show something in the Doll’s Domain.”

I had a feeling this would happen.

Sure enough.

“The lone winner, how unfortunate can you get.”

I ended up alone without forming a team with anyone.

“But since you’re a student with recognized great talent, you should be able to perform easily, right?”

I answered calmly to those words.

“I’ll meet your expectations.”

Professor Esteranza’s face seemed to contort for a moment but returned to normal.

The Doll’s Domain.

I should ask the person who made it.

“Doll’s Domain? Dolls?”

“That’s what they said.”

“…They were using that for Swordsmanship Department lectures?”

Professor Cross, who had roughly heard the story, frowned as if he didn’t like it.

“That was made for those guys learning magic to research with.”

“Then I guess the Magic Department got it taken away.”

“Tsk. Those impudent fellows anyway.”

“But you didn’t know?”

“I’ve long since lost interest in the Academy. Ever since I felt death approaching, I’ve been solely focused on finding disciples and exploring traces of Arcana.”

Professor Cross asked.

“So, in that lecture, they evaluate by scoring against those dolls?”

“That’s what they say.”

“Hmm. I wonder if there’s anyone at Academy level who can properly handle even one doll. Except for you.”

“So it’s not difficult?”

“Only for you, but for the other guys it’ll naturally be so. They learn quickly. Though they get reset at some point.”

This is quite interesting.

“Anyway, compared to Arcana’s puppetry, it’s really nothing special.”

“Arcana?”

“Ah. Didn’t you know? That thing was made after looking at Arcana’s records.”

Arcana’s puppetry.

I think I’ve seen it in books before.

“In Arcana, puppeteers were quite influential. Though it was called the ‘Magic Kingdom,’ it was also a kingdom where everything possible with mana flourished magnificently.”

“How did you know that?”

“Even after hundreds of years of exploration, this is all I’ve managed to find out. And even that was barely, barely finding traces and making inferences.”

Well, traces of Arcana are now almost impossible to find.

It’s a kingdom that underwent mysterious extinction to begin with, and there’s no one who can read the remaining records.

No, to be precise, only I can.

“Are you starting to feel some respect now? What mage in the world could recreate Arcana’s culture like this, even if not perfectly?”

His appearance, as if asking for praise, was quite amusing.

“I respect you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, sincerely.”

The respect is genuine.

To think he could revive the culture of a Magic Kingdom like this without being able to read the records and with nothing left.

“This is it.”

Professor Cross handed me a book.

“It’s a record left by a neighboring country of Arcana, not Arcana itself. Arcana was a very closed kingdom that almost sealed its borders, but even so, there were people who had exchanges.”

“I see.”

“Well, it’s ultimately just speculation, but I made the dolls based on such indirect records.”

Certainly an unparalleled genius.

To infer from such records alone and create dolls that have been operating reasonably well, no, for hundreds of years.

“If only there had been more records… I might have created independent dolls rather than ones that move limited to specific areas.”

“That would be somewhat frightening.”

“Right. Granting life is taboo. Whether through magic or something else.”

He spoke with a body heading toward that taboo.

“So I sometimes think that’s why Arcana disappeared.”

Lost in thought and muttering, he shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, rather than a kingdom that’s already fallen, it’s more important to first transmit secret magic to you.”

By the way, this is currently lecture time.

The lecture where he transmits the secret magic he explained.

Even though it has only one student, it’s a lecture with the proud course name ‘Fundamentals of Magic.’

“Now. Since respect is welling up, I should teach quickly. Sit down. Let’s start with theory.”

And the passionate lectures that followed.

Professor Cross’s lectures were of considerable level.

Despite his boastful words, I could feel he was trying to explain as understandably as possible, and like a genius, he demonstrated several times in front of me.

“…Ultimately, these principles can be said to be the foundation of rearrangement. Do you understand everything I’ve explained so far?”

And after 2 hours, Professor Cross asked with a triumphant expression.

I glanced at my densely written notes and reached my hand into the void.

Mana that rearranged itself while taking form in the void for easy observation.

Though not as much as what Professor Cross demonstrated, at least mana nets that possessed the regularity of mana he explained today.

“…”

And Professor Cross looked at it and asked me.

“What kind of fellow are you…?”

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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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