{8}“Haderian”

  ***

  Haderian. His full name is Haderian 'Rashat'.

  He's majoring in Swordsmanship and is in his fourth year. He works as a teaching assistant in the General Studies department. He is a genius at swordsmanship and someone who constantly pushes himself with relentless effort. Besides that, he's academically intelligent, tall, and handsome. However, he had one flaw, which was...

  "He's an idiot, that brother."

  Ned's interruption briefly paused Rin's explanation. Rin scolded Ned without showing much anger.

  "No matter what, it's rude to call him an idiot."

  "But it's true, isn't it? He's probably the only one who doesn't realize it."

  His first misfortune: having a cousin named 'Christian Rashat.' He was the younger cousin of the famous Christian Rashat, one of the Eleven Heroes of the Sian Empire's Holy Knights and considered one of the continent's few geniuses of swordsmanship.

  "What?!"

  Calia jumped up from her seat. The two, having anticipated this reaction, weren't particularly surprised.

  "That person is Christian oppa's brother?"

  To her, the daughter of the Holy Knights' Commander, Sir Christian Rashat, a current member of the Holy Knights' Eleven Heroes, was like a neighborhood big brother whom she had known since childhood.

  "I thought he looked familiar..."

  Haderian himself was certainly born with an excellent talent for swordsmanship, truly deserving to be called a genius, but the person he grew up watching was Christian.

  In other words, he grew up thinking that level was the standard.

  Moreover, in the renowned military family of Rashat in the Sian Empire, Haderian's parents were from a branch line. So he grew up in the countryside under parents who always preferred to keep a low profile. As a result, he became a person quite oblivious to public opinion and circulating rumors.

  He caught the eye of a retired Holy Knight who was even a former Eleven Hero swordsman, and from the age of five, he was able to learn swordsmanship in a very systematic and excellent manner. Although he lost every time he sparred with his cousin from the main family who occasionally visited, he didn't mind much since his cousin was six years older.

  The problem here was that his cousin, who had only observed the sword techniques Haderian had been practicing for over five years just once, could execute them much more easily and with greater perfection. This led Haderian to blame himself for insufficient effort and strive even harder. He eventually became such a practice fanatic that even his master, once one of the Eleven Heroes of the Holy Knights, was amazed.

  After a year of honing his swordsmanship, saving every minute he could even from sleeping, he gained confidence and boldly issued a challenge to his cousin.

  "So what happened then?"

  To Calia's urging, Ned gave a bitter smile.

  "They say Christian copied all his techniques after just three exchanges."

  "..."

  At that time, what Christian said to his brother with a bright smile was, "This is quite nice! It's 'easy' to learn and convenient to use."

  Haderian. If only he had been a little wiser.

  But foolishly, he fell into the misunderstanding that his master's swordsmanship was being disrespected because of his lack of talent. Even though his master tried to show him through several sparring matches how amazing his skills were, Haderian responded with tearful swordsmanship saying, "Thank you for being so lenient with such an unworthy disciple..." and defeated his master.

  Eventually, his annoyed master shouted, "Fine! I've never seen such a pathetic guy like you!" Although this was more about the master's wounded pride as a swordsman than anything else, it dealt a fatal blow to Haderian's misunderstanding.

  In the year he turned 15, he set out on a journey to the Northern Mixed Continent, leaving his homeland, the Sian Empire. From what he had heard before, there were many educational institutions called academies there that taught without discrimination, regardless of talent.

  Secretly feeling his limitations, he decided to stake everything on this academy as a last resort. The fact that most swordsmen felt their limitations when facing Christian was irrelevant to him.

  With only one longsword inherited from his master, he embarked on an aimless journey. After leaving the Sian Empire and entering the desert region, it became a series of great hardships. After the once-powerful Samar Empire dissolved, the desert people, now scattered in tribal units, were so devastated that it wouldn't be wrong to say that half of them were bandits.

  A boy traveling alone through such a place would have been very easy prey for looters. Haderian, trapped in the delusion of his own weakness, would run away at the mere sight of one or two bandits. However, outrunning desert people in the desert wasn't always easy. In the end, he had no choice but to fight, and contrary to his expectations, he always won overwhelmingly.

  "The funny thing here is... hehe."

  Ned started to say something but chuckled to himself, and Rin continued in his place.

  "For the past few years, the eastern desert trade route has become relatively safe. They say it's thanks to Haderian."

  Calia's voice rose in disbelief at the idea that a 15-year-old boy could accomplish such a feat alone.

  "That can't be! I've lived in the Imperial capital all this time, but I've never heard of such an amazing swordsman from Sian."

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Ned tapped her shoulder.

  "With Christian standing tall in the Rashat family, would that kind of talent even get noticed? Besides, Haderian is from a branch family."

  "But clearing out bandits is a significant achievement, isn't it?"

  "Rather than completely clearing them out, it's more accurate to say that the bandits in that region moved their operating area because they were disgusted."

  "As the son of a Thieves' Guild leader, you seem to know well?"

  Though somewhat sarcastic, Ned didn't mind.

  "Isn't that obvious?"

  In any case, despite repeated victories, Haderian's delusion was far from being cured. The bandits he captured would invariably boast with typical desert bandit exaggeration, "Don't get cocky! Even the kids walking down the street in our village are stronger than me!"

  Because of this, the naive Haderian piled misunderstanding upon misunderstanding, thinking, 'Ah, I'm worse than a kid walking down the street.'

  Anyway, crossing the Northern Mixed Continent after leaving such eventful anecdotes. Due to his long desert journey and extended sea voyage, the few sets of clothes he brought became worn, torn, and full of holes, and his body and hair reached the point of forming a uniform protective layer of dirty water and grease.

  But rather advantageously because of this, after arriving in Valserun, he was treated as a beggar and continued his journey relatively comfortably. (When he sat down to rest briefly, passersby would toss coins at his gaunt appearance.) Unknown to him, he had a talent for begging that was no less impressive than his swordsmanship.

  To what extent? Starting from the Laurenta port where he first set foot in the Northern Continent, he became a threat to the local beggars in every village and city he visited.

  People gave more money to this pitiful boy, who appeared to be from a fallen noble family and whom they were seeing for the first time, than to the beggars they saw in the same spot every day.

  Eventually, the local beggars' complaints were reported upward, and their voices passed through the lower organization to reach the ears of Gillien, the head of the Laurenta Thieves' Guild (Ned's father). In response to the complaint that 'some rootless beggar is threatening our livelihood,' Gillien casually dispatched a few thugs.

  The intention was to scare him away, but when the thugs returned completely defeated by this 'rootless beggar,' Gillien wondered, 'Is he unexpectedly strong?' and sent additional skilled guild members. And despite this, when news of their defeat reached him, Gillien naturally became serious.

  "The guild was turned upside down at that time. The defeat of the guild's skilled members by a wandering beggar, although they kept their lives, was not something to overlook."

  Calia expressed confusion at Ned's words.

  "Why?"

  "Because it's a matter of pride."

  "That's unnecessary."

  "Haha. I agree."

  Ned continued, reminiscing about that time.

  "Father seemed to be intrigued even as he was angry. He immediately gathered the guild's elite and issued a 'capture' order."

  Against the fierce attack of the subsequently dispatched guild elites, Haderian was finally defeated without even being able to put up a fight. Seeing him captured while muttering incomprehensible words like, "I even lose to beggar friends," Gillien laughed dryly rather than getting angry.

  Interested in his talent, Gillien proposed that he join the guild, but Haderian flatly refused.

  "How could someone like me... Someone like me needs to go to an academy and learn much more."

  Gillien tilted his head and questioned, "Academy? How many academies on the continent could actually teach someone of your caliber?" Misinterpreting this statement in an incredibly backward manner, Haderian burst into tears and sobbed, "But there must be! There must be an academy that will accept me somewhere, sir!"

  So Gillien thought of 'Elvlin Academy,' which had connections through his acquaintance with the great mage Merlen, and personally wrote a letter of recommendation.

  "The rumors were so widespread at the academy that even I remember it."

  Rin said, trying hard to suppress her laughter.

  "A new applicant for the Swordsmanship Department arrived, a beggar boy escorted by very intimidating people... Even I, who usually stayed cooped up in the library, came out of curiosity to see."

  Normally, regardless of application, one would have to attend the General Studies Department for a year, but thanks to the recommendation letter from the head of the Valserun Thieves' Guild, he was able to directly transfer into the Swordsmanship Department.

  However, the pride of the students in the Swordsmanship Department of Elvlin Academy, a prestigious institution even on the continent, refused to simply accept this beggar boy of unknown origin. On the very first day, under the pretext of "Let's see your skills," they forced Haderian, who hadn't even had a chance to wash, into a public sparring match.

  "What?!"

  Calia was outraged as if it were her own situation.

  "That's just bullying, isn't it?"

  Rin finally burst out laughing, and Ned nudged Calia, who was tilting her head in confusion.

  "Kukukuk."

  "He definitely bullied them. Haderian bullied the Swordsmanship Department guys."

  Rin collapsed onto the table, covering her mouth, and ignoring her, Ned continued the story.

  "That's when the senior's misunderstanding reached its final completion stage. 'Ah, this place really accepts even such weak people without any problems. That's really fortunate,' he thought."

  "..."

  "Professor Lidia from the Swordsmanship Department, who rushed to stop the students after hearing the news, was dumbfounded at the sight. So, contrary to her original purpose, she decided to check the new student's skills herself."

  Calia frowned.

  "Surely... he didn't beat the professor too?"

  "How could that be? Professor Lidia is a real monster! Once, Christian, who came to visit his brother at school, had an even match with her, which many people, including myself, witnessed. That's how amazing she is. You especially should know that."

  "Certainly..."

  Calia nodded. As the daughter of the Holy Knights' Commander, she knew well how strong Christian was.

  "I've never seen Christian oppa lose to anyone except Uncle Right Hand."

  "Uncle Right Hand? If it's Right Hand, could it be... the legendary Sir Lucas, said to be the strongest on the continent?"

  "Yes."

  "..."

  ***

  Anyway, Professor Lidia was surprised to see the boy defending against her attacks several times. Although he lost shortly after, even the initial sword exchanges were impressive.

  Reviewing the admission papers of this boy with remarkable skills beyond his age yet a consistently unconfident attitude, Professor Lidia couldn't help but chuckle the more she observed him.

  'Rashat.'

  Well, that explains it. He's a relative of the famous Sir Christian. She felt sympathy for the boy, thinking he must have had a hard time growing up. She quietly called Haderian to the dean's office.

  "Wait! Is Professor Lidia a woman?"

  To Calia's question, Ned shrugged.

  "Yes. Is there a problem?"

  "...No."

  "That's lame."

  Professor Lidia had a private interview with Haderian, both curious about his story and wanting to offer words of encouragement.

  "I was also in front of the Swordsmanship Department dean's office at that time."

  Ned said proudly. There were many students curious about what the two were discussing, and they eventually formed a group to eavesdrop.

  "Professor Lidia tried to clarify each misunderstanding as she listened to the senior's life story and attempted to accurately inform him of his current level. But the senior repeatedly responded, 'Thank you. But you don't have to comfort me that much,' while sniffling. Truly... there has never been such an idiot."

  The interview with Professor Lidia, instead of instilling confidence in him, became an opportunity to inform the entire student body that he possessed exceptional swordsmanship skills and that only he was unaware of it. As the rumors spread, he instantly became a famous figure at the academy.

  And though he has improved a lot over time, he still renews his misunderstanding of his own weakness whenever he starts to forget it.

  "Sigh..."

  Calia let out a long sigh. She now understood why Rin and Ned had been laughing all this time, and on the other hand, she also felt sorry for Haderian. However, even after hearing all this, she still had one question. In fact, this was the biggest question.

  "But... why is he following Rin around?"

  At that question, Rin abruptly stopped laughing, while Ned started laughing even harder.

  "Huhuhuaaaahaha."

  "That... I should explain that myself."

  Rin opened her mouth with a rather serious tone.

  "To do that, I need to tell you about another famous person at our school."

  "There's another famous person?"

  Rin shrugged at Calia, who asked in disbelief.

  "If I had to say, the person I'm about to talk about is much more famous."

  -To be continued-