Chapter 69: Attending Swordsmanship Class
The next class would be separate from the Rosemary Sisters. Rest had come to the knight department’s grounds to attend the “Swordsmanship” class. Although Rest was a student of the Magic Department, he could take classes from other departments as elective subjects. “Swordsmanship” was a class primarily offered by the knight department, yet it was also attended by a relatively large number of students from the Magic Department.
“Next is a class that involves physical activity… I need to be careful not to get injured,” Rest muttered to himself.
“Ugh, this is exhausting… The sunlight is stinging my skin…”
As Rest stepped onto the field in his gym clothes, he noticed his newly made friend, Ruid Jistal, slumping his shoulders in a lethargic manner.
“Aren’t we aspiring magicians? Why do we have to engage in swordplay?” Ruid complained.
“Well, that’s because it’s a noble’s pastime, isn’t it?”
Most of the students taking “Swordsmanship” were the children or heirs of nobility. As noblemen, they were expected to wield a sword to protect their territory and subjects in times of crisis. Such old-fashioned beliefs were prevalent in noble society, leading many students from other departments to choose “Swordsmanship” as an elective. About a hundred students had gathered on the grounds, half of whom were from the knight department, while the other half comprised students from other departments. Among those, fifty percent were from the Magic Department, thirty percent from the Department of Civil Affairs, and twenty percent from the Department of Clergy. The lack of students from the Department of Arts was likely due to the risk of injuring their fingers, which would hinder their activities.
“Honestly… even without learning swordplay, we could just shoot magic from behind and end it all, right?” Ruid remarked.
From behind Ruid, another male student spoke disdainfully.
“You’re… Maurice, if I remember correctly?”
“Just Maurice is fine. Rest, the candidate for the Rosemary House’s son-in-law,” Maurice Louis replied, adjusting his glasses.
Maurice had the appearance of a brilliant scholar, but his slender physique and lack of muscle made it clear that he was not athletic.
“Swordsmanship is just a pastime for those who can’t use magic, right? It’s quite lamentable that such a thing is considered a noble’s hobby,” Maurice scoffed.
“Hey, hey… that’s a bit too harsh, don’t you think?” Rest interjected, alarmed.
Maurice’s viewpoint was by no means a minority opinion. Among magicians, many regarded weapons like swords and spears as inferior tools meant for those who couldn’t wield magic. Naturally, this was an unacceptable notion for those aspiring to be knights or warriors. In fact, a knight department student nearby glared at Maurice with a fierce expression.
“Even magicians may find themselves in direct combat during a chaotic battle. It’s wise to be prepared for close-quarters combat,” Rest argued.
“Oh? That’s quite an unexpected perspective for a candidate from a prestigious family of magicians. Are you suggesting that swords are superior to magic?” Maurice retorted.
“It depends on the situation. It’s always better to be proficient in both,” Rest replied.
After all, Airish Rosemary, the rightful heir of the Rosemary Marquis House, was skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Dibble, a former court magician, was also adept in martial arts, proving that being a magician didn’t exempt one from needing combat skills.
“Hmm… I see. Well, I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” Maurice said, sounding unimpressed.
It seemed that Maurice held a fundamentalist view of magic—believing that magicians were superior to others. While this perspective was somewhat typical for a student of the Magic Department, it wasn’t particularly rare.
“Hey, what’s going on here? The atmosphere seems rather tense,” a cheerful voice chimed in.
“Yuri!”
Yuri Cattleya appeared on the grounds, her face beaming under the sunlight.
“Y-Yuri Cattleya…”
As soon as Yuri showed up, Maurice’s face flushed bright red. Ruid’s eyes widened in surprise, while Rest let out a bitter chuckle.
Yuri had also changed into her gym clothes, but it seemed they were a size too small. Her ample chest caused the top of her gym uniform to ride up, exposing her navel. It became apparent that she had a figure that was more flattering when dressed lightly.
(Speaking of which, she had a great physique when she got soaked with water before… not that I should be thinking about that.)
“What’s up, Yuri? You seem unusually cheerful,” Rest asked.
“Of course I’m cheerful! It’s finally time for the long-awaited swordsmanship class!” Yuri exclaimed, making fists with both hands in excitement.
“I’ve always wanted to learn swordsmanship, but my father wouldn’t allow me to! So, I’ve been looking forward to this day!”
“That’s great to hear,” Rest replied, intrigued by why the daughter of the Cattleya Marquis family was attending a class like this.
“Come on, Maurice! Since we’re here, let’s give it our all! It doesn’t matter if we’re from the Magic Department or the Knight Department. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it with everything we’ve got!”
“Ugh… y-yeah, you’re right…”
Maurice reluctantly averted his gaze from Yuri’s gym outfit, agreeing with a hint of reluctance.
“Class is about to begin! Gather over here!”
The instructor called out, signaling the start of the lesson. Rest and the others hurriedly made their way to the center of the grounds, ready to begin their class.