The sword is simple.
That was the first lesson Reiji had ever read about swordsmanship in his previous life. Simplicity was what made it terrifying. Not because it lacked complexity, but because mastery of its basics gave birth to infinite variables.
In his former kingdom, warriors revered the blade as the purest form of martial art. But Reiji, the king without talent, had never once held a sword with pride.
Until now.
Kuoh Academy – Training Grounds (Evening)
A quiet breeze rolled across the open courtyard behind the school. The stars had begun to bloom in the sky, casting faint light over the trees that ringed the grass. Lanterns arranged by Akeno gave the area a soft glow, casting elongated shadows across the ground.
Reiji stood in the center of the field, wearing a light training uniform provided by the Occult Research Club. Opposite him stood Yuuto Kiba—the Gremory Knight. His blond hair swayed slightly in the wind, and his stance was relaxed, yet poised, like a spring waiting to snap.
"You sure about this?" Kiba asked, smiling politely. "I don't hold back. Not even against friends."
"I would be offended if you did," Reiji replied coolly, rolling his shoulders. "Consider this... an academic examination."
Akeno giggled from the sidelines. "Ara~. So confident for someone who's never wielded a sword."
Rias, arms crossed, watched silently.
This was a test. Not one given by the System. But by the world itself.
[System Notification]
Sub-Mission Activated: "Blade of Understanding"
• Objective: Survive three minutes in a duel with a master swordsman.
• Bonus Objective: Land a clean hit.
• Reward: Basic Swordsmanship Comprehension Lv.1 | Choose a Sword Style to Unlock
Three minutes, Reiji thought. In real battle, that's a lifetime.
Kiba struck first.
His form blurred—Speed-type, Reiji's mind registered—and the sound of steel whispered through the air. A practice blade, dulled but swift, flashed toward Reiji's side.
Reiji stepped aside—not quickly, but precisely. He had read thousands of sword manuals in his past life, watched duel after duel, taken notes on footwork, breathing, flow.
But he had never fought.
The wooden sword grazed his shirt. A shallow strike. Not because Kiba missed, but because he was measuring. Testing.
Reiji adjusted his stance.
Not a warrior's stance. A thinker's stance. Balanced. Minimal. Fluid.
"You're not bad," Kiba admitted. "You can see the angles."
"I can see everything," Reiji answered calmly.
Two minutes remained.
Sweat ran down Reiji's temple as Kiba increased his speed. His movements were beautiful. A living painting. Swordplay as poetry.
But Reiji wasn't here to admire him. He was here to learn.
And the Genius System thrived on trial and error.
He deflected one strike using a borrowed form—Form 3: Crescent Catch, a defensive parry from an old elven dueling manual.
He used a sidestep from Wind Step Style, a lightweight fencing form.
Each movement increased his comprehension.
[Sword Analysis – 14% Complete]
[Movement Tracking – 23% Efficiency]
[Combat Adaptation – Ongoing]
Kiba frowned slightly. "You're adapting... too fast."
"You're slowing down," Reiji said, eyes sharp. "Are you really going all out?"
That provoked something.
Kiba vanished—and appeared directly in front of him, blade aimed at his chest.
Reiji barely raised his sword in time.
Clang!
The impact shook his arms to the bone.
His fingers trembled, the wooden sword nearly knocked from his grip. His arms burned. But something in his eyes shimmered.
"You hesitated," he said.
Kiba's eyes widened a fraction. "...What?"
"In that last strike. You saw my stance change mid-step, didn't you? I baited a line, and you pulled back by instinct."
Akeno's smile widened from the sidelines.
Rias raised an eyebrow.
[Bonus Objective Met: Landed a Clean Mental Strike – Recognized Weakness in Opponent's Technique]
The final minute.
Reiji's breathing was ragged. His arms ached. His footwork wasn't as crisp.
But his mind was blazing.
He could see it now—Kiba's tempo, his breathing intervals, even the micro-movements of his shoulders before each strike.
He didn't need to overpower the Knight.
He needed to interrupt his rhythm.
As Kiba lunged again, Reiji stepped forward, not back. Twisting, angling his blade—not to strike, but to disrupt. It wasn't even a real attack.
Just a distraction.
Kiba flinched—an involuntary flicker of uncertainty.
Reiji didn't swing.
He tapped the flat of his blade against Kiba's wrist.
Tap. Like the click of a chess piece on polished wood.
Kiba froze.
Then he smiled.
"That's check," Reiji said, panting.
[System Notification]
Mission Complete: Blade of Understanding
• Reward Granted: Basic Swordsmanship Comprehension Lv.1
• Bonus Reward: Unlock Style – "Foresight Blade" (Passive: +15% reaction time in sword combat)
Kiba lowered his sword. "I've never seen someone learn like that mid-fight. You didn't win by strength. You won with understanding."
Reiji exhaled. "That's all I've ever had."
Rias stepped forward. Her expression unreadable.
"That was impressive. He doesn't just think—he predicts."
"Like a strategist on the battlefield," Akeno added. "He makes you doubt yourself before you even swing."
Reiji wiped sweat from his brow. "I told you. I may be a human without magic blood or gear... but knowledge is my sacred gear."
Rias approached and held out a hand.
"Then we'll make a deal, Reiji Arcanum. I won't ask you to become a devil... not yet. But I want you at my side. As an advisor. An ally."
Reiji stared at her hand for a moment.
He saw the gears of fate turning behind her smile.
Ally, she said. But she already saw him as more. A piece she couldn't quite classify on her board.
He took her hand.
"Then let the game begin, Lady Gremory."
[New Role Assigned: Unaffiliated Strategic Advisor – House Gremory]Affiliation Perks Unlocked:
• Access to Peerage Resources
• Training with Peerage Members
• Passive Devil Energy Exposure for Circuit Growth
New Mission Unlocked: "Peerage Tactics – Learn the Roles of Each Piece"
• Reward: Tactical Mastery Lv.1 | Unlock Support-Based Spell Tree
As the stars stretched over the school, Reiji stood alone, still clutching the wooden sword. The pain in his hands reminded him he was still weak.
But he smiled.
Because he had already begun shaping this world.
Not with power.
But with genius.