Another chapter of Ex Strongest Swordsman is out!
TLN:
Greetings everyone.
Kindly be informed that this is a self edited chapter. Please wait for the edited version, but if you still want to read it, you may do so by clicking this .
(In the case the link is not working and I may not be available to fix it, please click the second page button just before the comment section.)
PS: I’m trying to translate 100 sentences of WT and Ex Strongest every day now. Let see how much I can release in seven days.
Kindly whitelist my website on your adblock/noscript if possible. Thank you. 🙂
Do enjoy! 😀
The Lesson Scenes at the Royal Academy
It was obvious to notice from the name, Sylvia, and she was a member of so-called royal family. However, she was a daughter of a concubine and she had no right to succeed the throne.
There was more or less a rule where if a son of the king was born, or even a grandson, her succession turn would automatically increase. It was impossible to be a king if something like royal families other than Sylvia died every day didn't happen.
Nonetheless, that didn't meant that she was neglected or oppressed. Rather than being considered as a daughter of a concubine, it could be said that she was treated like normal. If anything, the treatment was no different from other children except for the throne succession. It was the same for her mother, and Sylvia herself strongly felt that more than anyone else.
That was also why Sylvia decided to attend the Royal Academy. It was simply because she wanted to return the favor. Of course, the king… or his father told her that such a thing was a small matter. But, even if that was honestly said, it was impossible for her to treat them equally in true sense because they were royalty. Since she was proud of her father and mother, she thought that she should give up.
Well, she was told that she was a fool by Maria. (TLN: This name comes out of nowhere.) Even so, that was said along with a smile, so she didn't believe that it was wrong.
By the way, the reason why she chose magic department was because she thought it was the most useful department. The country's magic research was significantly falling behind compared with other countries.
This country emphasized too much on skills. The so-called performance-based inclination was strong. The process to achieve it wasn't emphasized, but only the result was considered instead. Although it was still good because how straightforward it was, the fact that this country emphasized skills made the story complicated again. To sum up, people needed to have skill first in order to do anything, and without it, they wouldn't achieve the result. Nevertheless, it would be impossible to do something without great undertaking.
Anyhow, such a circumstances reigned over this country. Hence, it gave cold treatment toward researchers. In regard of magical research, of course there was Goddess' Doctrine, but there was one more reason. The treatment was bad since the threshold was high. So, there was no motivation. In that situation, it was a matter of having someone with the desire to do research. This was somewhat inevitable if people considered the situation during the time of the establishment of this country, but it wasn't good to maintain the situation forever.
Although the royalties planned to do something about it, they couldn't find a good measure… which was why Sylvia thought that she could provide some assistance.
Well, strictly speaking, Sylvia didn't understand all the circumstances mentioned until now. It was just that she noticed the magic research didn't progress, and she had talent in magic. If that was the case, she thought that something could be done. But she didn't know the details. The aim was vague but the feeling was real.
Thus…
"Hmm…" (??)
Currently, Sylvia made a sulking expression for one reason. She was in the middle of the math class in magic department of the Royal Academy. It wasn't because she didn't understand the content of the lesson. In fact, there was no dissatisfaction with the content.
One month had passed since Sylvia entered the academy, and she could even say that all the classes received were fulfilling. She was thought to some extent by private tutors, and the content itself wasn't something new. So, the reason for being fulfilled was the environment itself.
Although the result was the same answer, there was a person who achieved it in a way completely different from her. As a result, the answer was different, but there were people who convinced to the reason that led to it. Perhaps, the answer was wrong. Even one process that led to the answer couldn't be understood, but that was why there was a person who motivated her.
Everything wasn't thought during the time with her two private tutors. What was there was what in her mind and the correct answer that the tutor indicated. But the world was wide and she saw nothing other than the inside of a small box. It might be exaggerated to state such a nothing, but Sylvia really thought so, and it was the feeling that broadened her mind.
Among them, there was a boy who she remembered the admiration that was similar to respect. It was a familiar boy who came shortly after her during the entrance exam.
As far as Sylvia knew, he had done almost everything perfectly. Even though this was the magic department, the lesson now wasn't about magic.
The basic knowledge were covered only on the surface. It might be because it was only a small part of the whole knowledge. But, it seemed that he understood everything perfectly.
Sylvia also memorized most of it, but as expected, she didn't remember everything. He was able to perfectly answered including the methods of calculation when asked.
There was also a time when the math lecturer asked a difficult question to stimulate the interest. Most of them couldn't answer it, but he said that he could solve it.
As a matter of course, he solved it. Moreover, even though questions that would probably come up in middle school, he solved it without difficulty. The math lecturer frankly gave a compliment, and the sound of admiration echoed in the classroom.
After that, other lecturers also did similar things. It might be because they heard the stories, but… he answered everything perfectly. And yet, he didn't become arrogant. Since he wasn't proud about it, it would be natural to admire him.
Sylvia was the one who received the strongest impact among the classmates. It was when she took the swordsmanship lesson.
Martial arts were also included in the foundation subjects. Although it was an option for them to choose among six martial arts, it was thought directly from the lecturer of the respective department.
Sylvia took the swordsmanship class, and that boy was also there, but… it was happened during the first lesson of that class. Tentatively, it was necessary to know how much everyone could do. So, everyone had to exchange blow with the lecturer.
Despite of magic department, many people had martial arts skills. Above all, they were people allowed to attend the Royal Academy.
Some even had intermediate rank swordsmanship skill… to be honest, she thought that everyone was making fun of that lecturer.
No matter what people thought about it, the lecturer was at their age level, or probably even younger.
The lecturer who took her to the classroom on the day of the entrance ceremony was also short, but that person had something like dignity. However, this female lecturer was showing a grin as if something was funny. Even Sylvia thought that the lecturer looked easy, but… such an understanding was overturned in a moment.
A person who had intermediate skill started first, and was literally done in an instant. Let alone the sword wielding, Sylvia didn't realize when the lecturer made a move, and the person fell down when she noticed it.
That alone was enough to know her capability. Nevertheless, almost everyone eventually got the same result as the first person. Well, although it was as she expected, Sylvia was struck on the head when she realized it. She groaned while thinking that this was someone expected to be a lecturer at swordsmanship department of Royal Academy.
Of course, the reason was obvious because she got almost everyone.
Everyone but him.
While everyone had the expectation of what kind of thing that boy would do in this situation, the blow exchanged… and the result was according to the expectation.
No, should she say the result was more than the expectation?
Anyhow, it was the first time the lecturer's sword was stopped. Let alone of stopping her, she was struck at the back of her head.
It was natural for a first cheer to rise up. However, they noticed that they would hurt the lecturer's feeling, so they settled down soon, but… that lecturer seemed to be really happy.
The lecturer said that it was something expected. Hearing the content of their conversation for a while, it looked like the two of them were acquainted.
Speaking of swordsmanship, she heard on that day that the thing that he showed on the day of the entrance exam was a swordsmanship instead of magic. While speaking by chance, that time became a topic. Sylvia was wondering because she couldn't feel mana, but when she asked why did he do such a thing, he said that was because he had to surprise the examiner with everything he had. That was especially when it was said nothing about using magic, so other methods shouldn't be a problem. Hence, Sylvia was impressed because of the way he interpreted.
Although he said that there was nothing to be proud since he learned from other people, it was enough to admire him since he spoke as if that was a small matter.
Well, about two weeks after the entrance exam, after she had a complete respect toward him… it was about that time when there was a change in his attitude.
That was the cause of sullen look on Sylvia's face.
"Hmm…" (S???)
Even if he groaned one more time, there was no change.
Apparently, she somehow got used to the boy, Soma Neumont, doing it.
To be honest, Sylvia got used to watch the scene, but… at the same time, she didn't want to admit it badly.
Yes, Sylvia was currently sitting next to him, Soma, but there was only a feeling of dissatisfaction. That was because Soma didn't pay attention to the lesson since he was looking at the book on his hands.
She heard from the person himself that the book was borrowed from the library. However, she didn't know what kind of book he was reading.
Two weeks since then, Soma got a different book everyday and read it. In short, the change of her feeling was because of the change of his attitude.
It was like something had happened. Some suddenly stopped from being serious in the class, and started reading books.
If it was something related to magic, then it should be fine. Given the learning level of Soma, rather than listening to the lesson, it couldn't be helped to have free time. However, the book he brought on the first day was a history book when she asked about it. The next day, he brought a book about ancient ruins. Then, it was a book about monsters. He had brought something written about adventurers. Sometimes, he bought something that she didn't understand well, but… to the very least, he had never a book about magic. Well, Sylvia didn't ask him after he had done it for three days. She couldn't say that there was no possibility that Soma brought book about magic even once after that, but… perhaps, he didn't do it. For the time being, most of the books were not related to magic.
It was impossible to say that Sylvia shouldn't have dissatisfaction. But, she couldn't say anything to Soma. That was due to personal freedom and when he was asked questions, he flawlessly solved it as always. In fact, it was impossible for her to say anything.
"Guhh…" (Sylvia)
So, if she said something that she could, it would sound like a complaint. Although there was some kind of reaction, there was nothing else happened at the end of the day. Even though she felt annoyed… no, even she had been trying to tell her mind… there was no meaning to continue groaning anymore than this. In other words, there was nothing else she could do. In fact, she had done everything she could.
"…Hmm, is that how it is?" (Soma)
Consequently, she looked forward and decided not to care about him anymore. No. Actually, it was impossible not to care, but… that was the only thing she had to do.
Sylvia thought that she had found someone to respect and she could work with that someone. However, to the bitter end, that was something she thought on her own accord. It got nothing to do with Soma. Although she was aware of it, she couldn't accept it so easily.
While she decided to focus on the lesson, the groaning 'Hmm' was heard again.
—
TLN:
The term female lecturer of swordsmanship is a bit repetitive but I’ve decided to keep using the term rather than using ‘she’ because this chapter is from Sylvia’s POV. I would like to avoid confusion between two female characters. FYI, the raw uses the word ‘kanojyo’ or she. The name Maria which was written in katakana showed up in raw. I’m not sure where does the name come from. Anyway, it also could be translated as Goddess if the word is written in kanji.