Chapter 57 - 53: Challenging a Three-star Glory Knight

Chapter 57: Chapter 53: Challenging a Three-star Glory Knight

"I haven’t sparred with Teacher Bill in days."

Lian said with a smile, his pace quickening unconsciously, like a student eager to show his teacher his progress.

He and Anna arrived at Bill’s classroom.

Lian’s only student, Riel, the youngest daughter of Romayada—the wealthiest man in Green Shade Territory—was currently learning Swordsmanship from Bill.

Bill was a serious, bald old man. He was a dignified Three-star Knight who had walked the Knight’s Path his entire life. His chest bore several deep scars, but his back had none—a testament to the fact that he never fled from battle.

Unfortunately, he was already over fifty by the time he became a Three-star Knight, leaving him no time to advance further.

On his 51st birthday, he made the difficult decision to retire from the Knight Team tasked with protecting the Lord. He returned to his family and began teaching courses to train the next generation of Knights, hoping to fulfill the dream he himself could not achieve.

He hoped that, within his lifetime, he could train a Glory Six-star Knight—a dream he could never realize for himself.

He never cared about a student’s social status, only their talent.

He was equally strict with both Lian and Riel.

Since Old Moria had taken the Knight Team with him, Bill now had an additional duty: to train a Knight Guard for the new Lord, Lian.

As a result, his classes were packed, attended mostly by the children of nobles.

"Riel, don’t waste your talent. You must train every day, on schedule. I believe that with your aptitude, you’ll soon surpass Lian, who doesn’t even bother to try."

"Teacher, you can’t say that about my teacher."

Riel said, puffing out her cheeks.

Bill paid no mind to the little girl’s displeasure and continued,

"Someone who only knows the basics of Swordsmanship and lacks practice? Someone who thinks talent is everything? What right does he have to be your teacher? If he showed up here right now, I guarantee I could take him down in three moves."

Bill said grimly.

He was rather resentful that Lian had stopped coming to class recently, believing Lian was wasting his considerable talent.

After all, when Lian studied under him, he had only demonstrated the abilities of a One-star Knight.

In his eyes, Lian was outstanding for a One-star Knight; both his reflexes and speed were top-notch. But for a One-star Knight to defeat a Three-star Knight was pure fantasy.

So, saying he could do it in three moves was being modest.

To be precise, he could take Lian down in a single move.

The reason he could address the Lord by his given name without any honorifics was because he was already a grumpy old man, not to mention a good friend of both Old Moria and Land John.

In a sense, Lian was both his junior and his student.

Riel felt aggrieved. She knew it wasn’t that Lian didn’t want to attend Swordsmanship class; he was simply spread too thin.

But she had to respect Bill, as he was the one who had initiated her into Knight Swordsmanship.

"Teacher Bill, I must insist that you take me down within three moves."

Lian pushed open the great doors and walked in.

Bill, Riel, and the other noble youths in the class all turned to look, their gazes converging on Lian.

Riel’s face broke into a radiant smile, and she hopped over to Lian’s side like an energetic bunny.

"Teacher, you’re here!"

"Riel, have you been studying Swordsmanship diligently with Teacher Bill?"

Lian asked.

Riel nodded at once. "Of course. I’ve been working very hard."

"Greetings, my Lord."

The noble scions greeted Lian respectfully.

Lian took off his jacket, handed it to Anna, rolled up his sleeves, and walked over to the weapon rack in the training area, picking up a Wooden Sword.

"Please, continue your training, everyone. Don’t mind me. I’m just here to have a friendly match with Teacher Bill."

Everyone’s interest was immediately piqued. None of them were in the mood to practice anymore; they all wanted to see how Teacher Bill was going to demolish Lian.

After all, it wasn’t as if they hadn’t received their fair share of harsh lessons from him in class.

The solemn Bill walked up to Lian. "Are you certain?"

"Of course."

Lian swung the Wooden Sword in his hand with a smile.

"I apologize for my earlier words. As the Lord, you don’t actually need to adhere so strictly to the Knight’s Path. I will raise a force strong enough to protect you."

Bill’s brow furrowed in concern. He worried that Lian was just being hot-headed, provoked into irrationality by his taunts.

Although Lian was his junior, he was also the new Lord of Green Shade Territory. Bill felt that knocking him to the ground would be too humiliating and would damage the territory’s image.

"No. In this classroom, I am not the Lord. I am simply a young man in pursuit of the Knight’s Path. Teacher Bill, please don’t hold back. Let’s give it our all."

Lian was eager to test his mettle. He was a newly-minted Three-star Assassin Knight and wanted to see how his true strength measured up against Bill, who had been a Three-star Knight for three years.

Bill gave a slight nod, agreeing to Lian’s request for a thrashing.

He wanted to teach Lian a lesson: no matter how talented a person is, if they neglect their training and don’t work hard enough, they will stagnate and could even end up disgraced.

Bill also picked up a Wooden Sword. The two of them performed the basic opening courtesies of a Knight’s duel.

"Bill Casimir Roman of the Roman Clan, a Three-star Glory Knight of Green Shade Territory, issues this challenge."

"Lian Moria of the Moria Clan, an Apprentice Knight of Green Shade Territory, issues this challenge."

Because Lian had not yet earned the insignia of a One-star Knight and was merely Bill’s student, he could, at best, only be considered an Apprentice Knight.

This wasn’t a case of Lian playing the wolf in sheep’s clothing; he simply had to abide by the traditions of Green Shade Territory.

To advance in rank, every Knight had to either pass an official examination or achieve distinguished military merit.

Everyone in the classroom gathered around curiously, buzzing with excited chatter.

"Lord Lian looks so confident. Do you think he can actually win against Teacher Bill?"

"Are you kidding? There’s no way Teacher Bill could be defeated by an Apprentice Knight."

"I admire Lord Lian’s courage, but I hope he doesn’t end up crying for mercy."

"If it comes to that, maybe we shouldn’t watch. It would be too embarrassing for Lord Lian."

"What’s the big deal? Lord Lian just said he’s not the Lord in here, he’s one of us. Aren’t we always getting beaten black and blue by Teacher Bill?"

No one thought Lian stood a chance. He was just an Apprentice Knight who had only been learning Swordsmanship for a few days.

Only Anna, standing to the side, wore a gentle smile, her eyes fixed solely on Lian.

Bill tightened his grip on the Wooden Sword. He decided to defeat the young man before him in a single move and take him down a peg. It would help him be more grounded in the future.

Bill lunged forward, his speed drawing gasps from the onlookers.

Bill’s sword sliced through the air as his body appeared on Lian’s other side.

He lowered his Wooden Sword, stood tall, and said flatly, "It’s over."

For that strike, Bill had used eighty percent of his speed—a blow that not even a Two-star Knight could have blocked.

Even with a Wooden Sword, it was enough to leave Lian on the ground for a while.

And yet, Bill heard no thud of Lian hitting the floor. Nor did he hear any cheers from the crowd.

Bill frowned, confused, and slowly turned his head.