Chapter 19. King of All Weapons – (5)

***

“……”
“Wait. What’s that?”
“No way…”
“Is this even possible?”
“This is truly insane……”

Exclamations of astonishment simultaneously burst out, enveloping the match arena.

And at the center of it were two figures.

The manifestation of an incomparably mighty blue light. It was unprecedentedly brilliant and dazzling, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Among them were Yumia and Grecia who had come down to the match arena together, and even Instructor Avalanche.

As Talent levels rise, they evolve.
For anyone in the world, rising Talent levels was a big deal, and while there are times when there are signs, there are also times when there are suddenly no signs at all.

A massive eruption of blue light.
Simultaneously, a being manifesting an incomparably mighty blue light.

ー Leonhardt Loraiant.

While Han Chunsung showed signs of reaching level 4 and faintly emitted the light of blessing, the blue light bursting from Leonhardt was utterly sudden.

Leonhardt, who had been calmly holding his position and maintaining a solid defense, suddenly strongly deflected the spear and moved forward, then an enormous blue light burst from his body and enveloped him.

And in an instant, he reached it.
Talent level 3.

‘Truly insane talent…’

Avalanche, the training instructor observing, barely… managed to swallow those words inwardly.

For cadets, ‘Talent’ and ‘talent’ were words that seemed similar yet vastly different.

Talent is given,
talent is innate.

Though only a few words different, they were extremely different words.

The former is received through a Talent test upon becoming an adult, while talent refers to what one is born with.

Yes. Talent is innate.

It’s something one is born with, like family or bloodline, so strictly speaking, it was different from the given Talent.

But Talent and talent are mostly ‘proportional’.

If one is high, the other is often high too.

But in the case of the latter, talent. Unlike Talent, it was a word that shouldn’t be easily uttered aloud.

Especially in a situation like now where other cadets are present…

“Kuk!”

As Cadet Han Chunsung staggered greatly and stepped back, Leonhardt suddenly stopped in place.

‘Should I stop the match?’

The result of the match was already as good as decided.

The cadet named Han Chunsung had shown a performance beyond struggle, exceeding everyone’s expectations.

He launched an endless offensive and showed the cleverness to not let go of his advantage, to the extent that his innate talent itself should be considered quite high-level, despite his low Common Talent.

But. He couldn’t reach the cadet Leonhardt.

He couldn’t reach him. The difference in given Talents wasn’t something that could be easily overcome.

It wasn’t for nothing that so many cadets experience frustration at the Academy.

…Then Cadet Han Chunsung’s appearance caught my eye.

He still hadn’t let go of his spear.

The cadet who momentarily couldn’t even steady his body properly still didn’t let go of the spear in his hand until the end.

So I couldn’t step forward right away.

At that moment.

The dazzlingly blue light-enveloped sword slowly lowered.

“Han Chunsung.”

Leonhardt’s subdued voice simply called out to the opposing cadet.

At that sight, I was surprised again.

“…How.”

Such words leaked out involuntarily.

The evolution of Talent level. At the same time, the cadet no longer threatens or attacks the opposing cadet.
It had been that way even before the Talent evolved.

The cadet’s eyes, calm yet seemingly tinged with urgency, no longer held that emotion, and he had entered a state similar to Cadet Han Chunsung, as if enjoying the match itself.

And now.

Cadet Leonhardt. He himself knew it first.

At this moment.
The result of the match was decided.
And that he shouldn’t cross blades with the opposing cadet with his sword anymore, all of it.

‘A genius, yet not arrogant at all. Even though his emotions could be excited, he knows how to thoroughly control himself…’

Considering how the match had dragged on, it wouldn’t have been strange at all if he had tried to end the match right away.

Yet even in this situation, Leonhardt doesn’t think only of himself. That was different from the many geniuses I had seen so far, more than anything else.

…That cadet is already complete.

Among the cadets entering this year. Surprisingly, Leonhardt wasn’t the only cadet with a Legendary Talent.

But why this cadet was able to enter as valedictorian. It was clearly felt in various aspects of this match.

Commonly called ‘the pillar of the Empire’.
A being who will have a huge influence on this Empire in the future.

Leonhardt already seemed to show glimpses of that.

Whether it’s because of the Sky-Splitting Blade Talent or not, I don’t know.
But even if so, Leonhardt was already a qualitatively complete talent.

As he signaled the end of the match like that, I naturally had to feel regret looking at the other cadet.

Neither Talent nor talent are ever fair in this world.
Even the time to put in effort isn’t given long, just two months.

And that’s the end.

Just two months after receiving the Talent.

After that period passes, the opportunity to enter isn’t given at all. It meant that’s all the time one has to show what they can do in that short period.

Yet the cadet named ‘Han Chunsung’ didn’t lose himself despite his Common Talent, and is engaging in this match.

To the extent that the basis of his confidence and effort shines through.

But this was the end of it.

He faces a being with an even more brilliant Talent and talent.
What kind of feelings Cadet Han Chunsung must be experiencing now…

I couldn’t even begin to imagine his state of mind.

Even showing this level of struggle and good fight, he still can’t reach.

The huge wall of Talent and talent.

Those two coexisting must be flickering before that cadet’s eyes.

“……”

Although in this world, this wasn’t something to feel regret about at all. Yet such emotions welled up involuntarily.

In the end.

This is the end, I thought.

Such thoughts of regret kept coming to mind.

“Leonhardt.”

At that moment, Cadet Han Chunsung’s mouth suddenly opened.

With clear signs of exhaustion and looking like he could collapse at any moment, yet still not letting go of the spear in his hand.

Even so, I had expectations.

I thought the cadet would admit defeat like this.

He who had crossed blades would know better.

That this match was over. And how huge the difference in Talent and talent was.

But.
“Raise your sword.”

As a resolute voice rang out… I could only stare blankly.

‘That cadet…’

He wasn’t broken by this reality.

***

‘As expected.’

Even as I watched, I could only think ‘as expected’.

As expected of this world’s protagonist.

Possessing everything in Talent and talent, and even outstanding looks along with personality, flawless in every aspect.

ー Munchkin.

That’s what they commonly called protagonists who were too strong.

And Leonhardt completely fit that description.

Seeing that he was complete even in mental aspects, it felt insufficient to simply call him a munchkin.

So… I had to acknowledge it.

I didn’t particularly feel emotions like inferiority facing Leonhardt.

My Talent was Common to begin with, so I couldn’t feel inferior looking at the protagonist, and although I didn’t think Spearmanship was bad, I knew there was an unbridgeable gap with him.

If my Talent had been Unique grade, I might have felt regret and envy.
So I just… calmly looked at him.

“……”

Leonhardt standing tall before me, his sword lowered with brilliant blue light gathered on it…
The more I looked, the more I didn’t dislike it.

I didn’t feel even a shred of regret about engaging in this match. No, rather, I was even satisfied.

I was glad that my first match opponent was the protagonist.

I tried to approach the match with confidence, and I thought I had shown my full strength.

But in one corner of my heart, I had anticipated fear and a miserable defeat. And the various cold gazes I would receive afterwards.

It would be a lie to say I hadn’t thought about that.

But now it wasn’t like that.

I had no doubts, as if looking at a clear sky without a single cloud.

I felt it physically while continuing the offensive for over hundreds of exchanges.

Leonhardt is strong, calm, and crucially, not arrogant. I thought I might be able to find an opening for even a moment, but that thought itself was arrogant.

‘Really. I wouldn’t have been able to do that.’

If I had a Legendary Talent, I would have naturally looked down on a Common Talent opponent and tried to end the match in one breath.

But Leonhardt didn’t do that.

How could I not acknowledge him?

“…Han Chunsung. You know too. This match is already over.”

Looking at Leonhardt who still didn’t raise his sword despite my words, I could feel the concern in his eyes.

And I also saw the dazzling blue light gathered on the sword he held.

The power containing the enormous might that Sky-Splitting Blade is said to be able to exert only upon reaching level 3.
Even though it’s a match, Leonhardt was worried about me getting hurt by that sword.

He had just been blocking my offensive all along, yet even though he could finally land a proper blow on me, he doesn’t.

It was just strange to me.
Moreover, it didn’t feel like he was being fake or putting on airs, but sincere, to the point where I even felt like laughing.

“I told you to raise your sword. I haven’t given up yet.”

So I could speak more resolutely.

This match needed to be properly concluded.

Ending it by vaguely admitting defeat had no meaning.

My spear blade needed to be dulled,
by his sword.

Even if this spear blade breaks.
I couldn’t admit defeat directly with my own mouth.

As I steeled my heart like that, strangely, laughter leaked out.

A good defeat. Saying you lost well.

I had always thought it was a funny saying. In a world where the winner takes all. The runner-up or loser was always in a shabby position compared to the winner.

Compared to the winner, what they take away, the attention they receive, none of it had much meaning.

Whether in competitions or not, everything I had seen was like that.

‘But why don’t I feel bad?’

It’s strange that I don’t feel bad even though I know I’m going to lose.

“…”

As Leonhardt hesitated with a subtle look in his eyes at my words, I spoke more forcefully.

“Raise your sword. I won’t say it again.”

The moment I uttered those words.

It was just for an instant.

Suddenly my body felt strangely light.

My whole body had felt heavy, like I could collapse at any moment. But now all of that had disappeared as if it were a lie.

Rather, I even felt refreshed.

Even pointing my spear towards Leonhardt didn’t feel particularly difficult.

The moment I realized this. I had to feel an even greater doubt.

“…!”

Why were Leonhardt’s eyes so wide?