The Tale of Gerald Vader, the Heretic Knight’s Rampage Through Another World
“Hoo… so you’re that Alissa’s brother?”
When my turn came and I entered the dojo, an older guy with a wooden sword slung over his shoulder gave me a smug, combative grin.
Apparently, Lucy at the front desk had told him about me.
“H-hello… I’m Gerald Vader. My sister has been under your care.”
“Oh, I’m Lionel.”
“Nice to meet you, Instructor Lionel.”
What should I do?
Should I bow my head and clasp my hands together with a sheepish look on my face?
No… this type of guy probably hates that kind of fawning attitude.
But if I act cocky, I have a feeling I’ll get beaten to a pulp just like that bullfighter guy did earlier.
By the way, Klaus, who joined the dojo right before me, didn’t fare much better than Bull Boy—he crawled out of the dojo barely able to stand, then ended up lying like a corpse at the edge of the training grounds.
Plus, maybe he’s been sworn to secrecy or something—when I asked him what happened, he just shook his head with a pale face and wouldn’t answer, so the mystery surrounding Instructor Lionel’s true strength just keeps deepening.
All I know for sure is that he’s the kind of dangerous instructor who beats up freshmen under the guise of a practical exam, and that he’s undoubtedly ridiculously strong.
Wait, was there even a character like this in the game…?
Please don’t bring some powerful character I’ve never heard of into reality.
That said, the academy grounds are vast.
There are hundreds of faculty and staff members alone.
In contrast, the academy that serves as the game’s setting only appears in the early stages.
Most of the faculty don’t even have names or character portraits—some don’t even have names at all—so it wouldn’t be strange at all if a guy who looks like a battle-hardened veteran were hiding among them.
“But according to Alissa, I heard you took down a pair of giant boars when you were 13, so I was wondering what kind of badass was coming… but you’re just a cheap kid who was standing on tiptoes during the height check so they wouldn’t catch you. Hey, do you have a twin brother or something?”
“Nah… I’m the only one younger than my older sister.”
Is that a compliment or an insult?
Well, it’s the latter, I guess.
Still, this guy’s gaze is way too sharp.
It’s a complete turnaround from his lackluster attitude during the physical exam—the air around him is now as tense as if he were facing a demon.
No matter how you look at it, this isn’t the kind of vibe a regular teacher should be giving off.
“Fine. Let’s get this over with. You know the rules of the exam, right?”
“Yes. ‘No use of Divine Protection,’ ‘No magic other than physical enhancement,’ and ‘No strikes to the groin or eye gouging,’ correct?”
For now, I recite what I remember.
The instructor nods in satisfaction, then taps his shoulder a couple of times with his wooden sword.
“That’s right. ‘Divine Protection’ is the very foundation of a knight’s or noble’s power, but not all of it is specialized for combat. So here, we’ll be assessing your pure combat ability as a knight. When you’re ready, go pick out a weapon of your choice.”
After stating what was already common knowledge, the instructor gave a nod of his chin, indicating the area behind me.
Looking at the wall next to the entrance, I saw a large number of wooden swords, spears, and even wooden halberds leaning against it.
Just among the swords, the variety was vast—ranging from daggers, short swords, and bastard swords to longswords and greatswords like the Zweihänder.
There was also a full selection of katana, scimitars, and short spears, so most people shouldn’t have trouble finding a weapon they’re comfortable with.
“Got it.”
I picked up a wooden sword shaped like a short sword—the type I was most accustomed to using.
“Hmm. Alissa chose a greatsword, but you’re going with that? Well, choosing a weapon that fits your build is a basic principle of combat.”
So that’s basically a dig at my height, right…?
No, that’s probably taking it a bit too far.
In any case, choosing a weapon you’re used to is always best in situations like this.
The effective range is much shorter compared to a greatsword, but even so, forcing yourself to use a longer weapon isn’t a good idea.
Well, I suppose as a knight, I do practice handling greatswords and lances for mounted combat… but right now, we’re fighting on the ground, and in the relatively confined space of a dojo.
Meanwhile, the instructor is holding a wooden sword modeled after a bastard sword.
It’s longer than a short sword or a longsword, but shorter than a greatsword like a Zweihänder.
It’s a highly versatile sword that can be wielded one-handed or two-handed—though for that very reason, it’s often called a “mongrel.”
For indoor combat, it’s about the maximum length at which one can still handle it properly.
Naturally, his fighting range is much wider than mine.
Factoring in the difference in our physiques, the gap in fighting range between the instructor and me is more than double.
I’ll need to be careful.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
“Nice to meet—Guh!?”
We both took our stances, and in the very next instant…
I instinctively twisted my neck to dodge the sword tip that suddenly appeared right in front of me.
Even though we were still in the middle of our pre-match greetings, the instructor had launched a thrust with his wooden sword.
“Damn it!”
“Oops.”
I swung my sword reflexively in a counter-like motion, but it cut through the air.
The instructor had already stepped out of my range.
His movements were lightning-fast…!
“I see. You dodged my first strike. It seems you’re a cut above those spoiled noble brats and knight apprentices.”
From a distance, the instructor, having repositioned his wooden sword on his shoulder, muttered this with a hint of admiration.
Damn it, so that thrust was just a greeting, was it?!
“……”
Only then did I notice the lingering heat on the back of my neck.
It seemed the instructor’s thrust had grazed my neck.
Since it was a wooden sword, it didn’t cut my skin, but… this might leave a mark for a while.
So… when it comes to swordsmanship alone, the instructor is definitely better than me.
Well, I’m not so arrogant as to think I can beat an adult in pure swordplay.
I took a quiet, deep breath, pushing the blood that had rushed to my head back down to my stomach.
That aside, I don’t think it was a sneak attack.
“Instructor. You were in the middle of your greeting just now, weren’t you?”
“So what? You’ve already enhanced your body with magic, haven’t you? Isn’t ‘always ready for battle’ the very essence of a knight?”
But in response to my remark, Instructor Lionel didn’t seem the least bit remorseful; he merely twisted the corner of his mouth into a smirk.
“To begin with,” the instructor continued.
“Are you going to exchange polite greetings with monsters and demons right in the middle of a battlefield or the ‘Demon Realm’? Do you really think they’ll wait politely for us to greet them first?”
“Well, no, I wouldn’t… Whoa!?”
This time, it was a sweeping strike from a diagonal downward angle, following a lunge at incredible speed.
Seriously, could you not exploit my opening while I’m talking!?
I almost bit my tongue.
But… I can see the attack itself.
Unlike the thrust from earlier, it’s not a complete surprise, and it’s not at a speed I can’t dodge.
…No, this attack with its varying pace is a “setup.”
Most likely, even that earlier thrust was part of a series of attacks.
If so, the real strike is next—no, the one after that—!
My prediction proved spot on.
“Draaa!!”
“Guh!!”
He stepped in further, forcing a clash of sword guards, then—unbelievably—let go of his sword with one hand and threw a punch…!!
And a left body blow aimed straight for my liver…!
But I instinctively pulled my sword back and blocked it with my elbow.
It was a heavy blow, like being struck by a hammer, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.
Thanks to that, my ribs and internal organs are fine, but… even after boosting my physical abilities to the max with magic, is this all I’ve got…!
“Hah, you managed to survive that too…!”
“Well, the instructor didn’t say this was a swordfighting match! Uraaaah!!”
“Oops.”
Saying that, I shoved the instructor back with all my might.
The instructor, holding the sword with one hand, couldn’t withstand it and stepped back out of my range.
Phew… Let’s start over.
Still, this match is anything goes, isn’t it…!?
At this rate, there’s no telling what kind of trick the instructor will pull next.
Next time, he might even shoot a hidden needle he’s stashed in his mouth at me.
I doubt he’d actually do that—I’m sure eye gouging is forbidden—but…
Well, if this isn’t knightly swordsmanship but a mercenary’s battlefield-honed fighting style, then I can understand it.
Come to think of it, the sharpness in his eyes and the fierce, intimidating aura emanating from his body aren’t those of a knight.
Besides, as the instructor said, there are no rules when fighting demons and monsters in the first place.
If you don’t win by any means necessary, you die, and your opponent will come after you to kill you by any means necessary too.
In other words, this exam is testing our resolve and flexibility to stand on such a battlefield.
The bull and Klaus probably didn’t understand that, so they challenged the instructor fair and square with their swords—and got thoroughly beaten.
But… if that’s the “style,” I’ve got my own plan too.
I retreated further, positioning myself near the entrance to the dojo.
“Oh? Got cold feet, did you? Retreating is certainly a tactic, but… I won’t give you any credit for it. There’s no place to run in the ‘Demon Realm,’ after all.”
“Not a chance. The battle is just beginning.”
I responded to Instructor Lionel’s provocation with a laugh.
Then I shifted sideways, inch by inch.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a large pile of wooden swords and spears leaning against the wall.
…I have memories of my past life.
It’s not just this world, Blaze of Glory.
I know other games too, and I’ve got knowledge of manga and anime as well.
What I’m trying to say is…
I stood next to the pile of weapons leaning against the wall and raised my sword.
In a batter’s stance, of course.
“Hey, you—don’t tell me—”
Just as expected of Instructor Lionel, who prides himself on his fighting skills.
Right before I made my move, his expression turned to one that said, “You’ve got to be kidding.”
It seems he realized what I was planning to do.
But it’s too late.
“Weapons… I wasn’t told I had to pick just one, was I?”
I gave him a sly smile—
“Doraa!!”
I swept up the weapons propped against the wall and swung the short sword with all my might.
My home run swing—fueled by body enhancement that had honed my strength to a razor’s edge—sent wooden swords, spears, and axe-spears flying forward like a hail of bullets.
Hahaha…!
There’s no way he can dodge this!!
“Come on!! One more!”
Without a moment’s pause, he sent wooden swords and spears flying with a thud, then another.
I’ve still got plenty in stock, Instructor!
“Damn it! You’ve really done it now, you brat!!”
The instructor, half-crazed, knocked down one after another the massive barrage of wooden weapons as they crashed into the ceiling, floor, and walls, swarming in chaotic, erratic trajectories and spins.
It was superhuman how he was accurately selecting and dodging only the ones that would likely cause damage if they hit, but that didn’t matter right now.
This kind of distraction isn’t my real move.
In other words—
“Instructor. I guess this counts as my win, right? ”
Taking advantage of the chaos, I circled behind the instructor and pressed the wooden sword firmly against the back of his neck.
With a clang, the wooden bastard sword rolled onto the dojo floor.
“Haha… You wretch.”
Though he spat out those words with a dry laugh, for some reason, the instructor’s voice sounded strangely pleased.
Nice, stand out more and more 😼