Chapter 58: Entrance Ceremony

Chapter 58: Entrance Ceremony

Benjamin, taken aback by Greisman's sudden question, just looked at me.

Unable to understand the meaning of that question myself, I ended up asking back.

"What do you mean, 'what the heck are you?'"

"When I started this work at the age of 14, I've met countless people. But this feeling, it's the first time."

"A feeling?"

"Yeah, a feeling! It's hard to put into words, but it's like receiving the love of the swords."

I inwardly swallowed my astonishment at Greisman's words.

Indeed, he wasn't an ordinary blacksmith.

Having played games myself, I could tell his attributes just by touching his hand, even though I didn't know the significance of it.

"Did you come here to buy a sword?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I can't just give an ordinary sword to someone like you. Follow me."

Greisman led the way towards the forge, and I followed him for now.

Could it be a hidden quest?

When I played as Benjamin, there was no connection to the academy, so I had never encountered Greisman before.

Besides, in the game, he had Rubens, so he wielded the Dark Sword without any hesitation.

The only surprising thing was that this hadn't happened when I played as Louis.

'Perhaps Benjamin's talent as a swordsman is superior to Louis's.'

On the other hand, Louis had a talent for mana, so if you looked at it closely, they were evenly matched.

Greisman took us deep into the interior of the forge, to a warehouse-like space that was locked with various locks.

"This is the place I've been collecting things since my great-grandfather's time. It's as good as a treasure trove!"

Unfortunately, we couldn't go inside.

Instead, Greisman came out holding a sword, and when he pulled it out of the scabbard, the sight of the pristine white blade was impressive.

"This is a work created by my great-grandfather. It's called 'White Nightmare.' It's made from white steel, a one-piece construction masterpiece."

Greisman handed the sword to Benjamin.

Benjamin cautiously accepted the sword with a dazed expression.

'It's made of white steel and has a one-piece construction.'

It was known that the White Nightmare sword cost two to three times more than the same weight of gold.

So, was he pressuring Benjamin to buy the sword?

'Well, it's not like he's selling it just because he has money.'

As I examined the sword closely, the item information appeared.

[White Nightmare]

[Mana Conductivity Rate: 110%]

'It's really good. A renowned sword, isn't it?'

Although it couldn't compare to named items, it boasted exceptional performance compared to ordinary swords, possibly due to the materials used.

It was difficult to find a mana conductivity rate above 80%, but this one was a whopping 110%, so there was no need for further explanation.

'My Galakshur is only at 73%. Of course, that's before unlocking its seal.'

Even at 73%, it still qualified as a renowned sword. Well, enough said.

Benjamin, holding the White Nightmare, inspected the sword as if possessed and swung it lightly.

Even with a light swing, the depth could be felt. Indeed, his talent for swords was exceptional.

"As I thought, I saw it right. This sword has been looking for its owner all this time. Now my grandfather can finally rest peacefully."

"May I accept this?"

"Of course. Every renowned sword must have an owner. Honestly, I feel like the sword might be lacking compared to your talent."

No matter how good the White Nightmare was, it couldn't compare to the cursed Dark Sword Rubens.

Rubens not only had a high mana conductivity rate but also amplified the wearer's mana and enhanced their physical abilities. It was a cheat-level item.

"Thank you."

"Well, I'm glad that it has found its owner. If you have time, visit again. It might be my greed, but next time, I'd like to hand you a sword I personally made."

Heartwarming.

But do I have anything?

Unfortunately, that seemed to be all, as Greisman waved his hand, indicating that our business was done.

As we came out, the counter attendant, who had been observing us, extended his hand when he saw Benjamin with the White Nightmare.

"It's 55 million Will."

'Ouch.'

'Wasn't it just given to me?'

When is the moment to rejoice for finding its owner?

.

.

Next to the Maple Dormitory, the free dormitory for the Knight Department, there was a training ground for the students.

The training ground boasted an enormous size, as it required students to move their bodies and engage in training activities. Several students were already practicing there.

And someone had just arrived at the training ground.

"So, this is the training ground..."

Louis was inspecting the place where he would spend the next five years. Although he had been given a tour of various locations in the Knight Department throughout the afternoon, he hadn't been introduced to the training ground located next to the dormitory.

Unlike the practice grounds near the lecture hall, this training ground had proper exercise equipment, all of which seemed to be high-quality products.'"Indeed, Rodren Academy.'

Since he was here, Louis thought it would be a good idea to stretch his body before leaving. As he was contemplating this, he noticed a familiar face.

With a joyful heart, Louis approached a female student who was focusing on upper body training.

The agile figure of the student, with her golden short hair dampened with sweat, exuded a great deal of health and beauty.

"Serena, working hard from the first day of school?"

At Louis' greeting, Serena turned her head to look at him.

"Louis? You're still the same. Take a break on a day like this. Otherwise, I won't be able to catch up with you."

"Haha, sorry. It's just that there's someone chasing closely behind me, so I can't afford to take a break."

After exchanging a laugh, they reminisced about their days at Monas Academy, where they were both rivals and comrades.

Louis, the top student, Chris in second place, and Serena, who was closely following behind themthe three sacred figures of Monas Academy.

While Louis and Serena had a healthy rivalry, Chris was different.

As the son of the renowned Earl Eunor, who held the title of Empire's Aura Master, Chris always clashed with Louis due to his aristocratic supremacy.

Serena, also from a noble background, found Chris's behavior pathetic, as she prioritized skill above all else.

As they immersed themselves in their training, momentarily forgetting their conversation, Louis and Serena finally took a break, replenishing their fluids. It was during this break that Louis began to speak.

"Oh, by the way, Serena."

"What?"

"Did you happen to see the senior students from the Magic Department during the entrance ceremony?"

"No, why?"

"I saw a rather peculiar senior there."

Lewis recalled the man whose gaze had met his as he descended from the stage after the student representative oath. The man with dark, wavy black hair mixed with hints of green. Honestly, he didn't leave a particularly good impression, but there was something unusual about his gaze, posture, and expression.

Moreover...

"What was peculiar about him?"

"He was holding a sword. At first, I thought I saw it wrong, but I didn't."

"A sword? Ah! I know that senior."

Serena clapped her hands together and spoke.

"It's probably Adrias Cromwell, the senior from the Magic Department who wields a sword. There's no other senior who fits that description, so I'm pretty sure."

"Adrias Cromwell."

Louis quietly repeated his name.

Observing Louis's reaction, Serena continued.

"That senior made a big splash recently. You've probably heard of it, right? The Everlast Potion."

"I've heard of it."

"He's the one who created it. But rumors say that he wakes up every morning and trains like a Knight Department student. Of course, it's probably an exaggerated rumor, but it's still amusing to think that a mage would focus on physical training instead of research."

"Serena."

Suddenly, Louis called out her name with a serious tone, causing Serena to raise an eyebrow.

"Why are you suddenly using my name?"

"Don't underestimate that person."

"What?"

"He might be stronger than me."

Taken aback by Louis's sudden words, Serena smirked and playfully tapped his shoulder.

"Why are you talking nonsense out of the blue? Are you feeling insecure on the first day of school?"

"It's not a joke."

Louis spoke with a serious expression.

"I felt that he is inherently strong. I couldn't be sure whether I would win if we were to fight, whether he uses magic or any other means."

As Louis spoke with utmost seriousness, Serena looked at him with an expression of annoyance and shook her head.

"You need to fix that habit of yours. Always thinking about fighting. No matter how senior he is or how skilled he is as a mage, how could he defeat you, the top-ranked student? Let's move on to the next set already."

"Fine."

Louis tried to focus on the training, but it was difficult to erase the image of Adrias Cromwell that had come to mind. His breathing, calm expression, and even his stance. The illusion of Adrias calmly wielding his sword even in the most extreme situations flickered in Lewis's imagination.

'What am I even thinking...'

Adrias Cromwell is a mage. Even if he carries a sword, it's just a quirk of his, without any significant meaning. Louis realized that he had been overly sensitive due to Serena's words and continued with his training.