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Chang!
The two exchanged several more blows after that.
However, Felix showed no signs of fatigue. He moved as naturally as if he could use Mana.
In fact, he was now captivated by an unfamiliar sensation.
Until now, every time he held a sword, he was tormented by a sense of confinement.
His eyes and mind cried out that he could do more, but his body couldn't keep up.
But all of that seemed to be a thing of the past.
It was as if all the shackles that had been holding him down had been released.
"I mean, don't hold back."
'I can do it.'
Felix was certain.
His body was light, and his mind was clear.
He could see every move Kadin made, and his sword was no longer frightening.
Kaang!
Only then did Felix realize it.
He could feel the killing intent from Kadin's sword.
As if every move he made was filled with sincerity.
Normally, Felix would have been overwhelmed by fear, but this time, strangely, he felt confident.
'I will win.'
Chang! Chaang!
Kadin's breathing grew rough. His eyes showed impatience.
He had to subdue Felix somehow. And crush him thoroughly.
But even the students who had been jeering began to murmur, sensing the changing atmosphere.
The sight of Felix pushing Kadin so hard was truly shocking.
His sword was strong, fast, and concise.
It seemed to transcend the speed and power that someone who couldn't handle Mana could display.
'I can't lose. To this commoner, to such an insignificant guy like him...'
But the moment someone you've been ignoring shows a different side, people tend to waver.
In a duel, panic leads directly to defeat.
If Kadin had acknowledged and been wary of his opponent's skills even a little, the result might have been different.
But he didn't come to his senses until the end and floundered.
Soon, Felix's sword rushed toward him. At that moment, Kadin sensed it.
His defeat.
Taat. Pat!
Finally, the tip of Felix's sword touched Kadin's neck.
The training ground was instantly filled with a chilling silence.
Kadin blinked in disbelief.
He couldn't accept the fact that he had lost, especially to Felix, a commoner.
His face slowly hardened. He gritted his teeth, clearly swallowing his anger.
Someone watching the two muttered in a small voice.
"...Is that really Felix?"
Before long, the voices of ridicule toward him disappeared, and shock and confusion took their place.
Felix defeated Kadin. Everyone's face was filled with astonishment at the unexpected result.
In the midst of that chaos, Felix quietly sheathed his sword.
His expression was calm, but his heart was beating fast.
It was the first time. He had proven himself without being defeated by reality.
It wasn't just the students of the Swordsmanship Department who were watching their duel.
The headmaster was gaping in astonishment.
"How, how did that student...?"
The headmaster was clearly flustered.
He knew about Felix's existence.
The Swordsmanship Department professors had proudly boasted that a commoner with outstanding talent had entered as soon as he enrolled.
But that interest quickly faded as soon as it was revealed that he suffered from Mana insensitivity.
Not being able to feel Mana was a fatal flaw in using swordsmanship or Magic.
Therefore, Felix should never have been able to be Kadin's opponent.
But the sword touching Kadin's neck was clearly telling him that he had lost.
In the students' silence, Yetien, Duke Argenta's aide, also felt puzzled.
He had heard about Kadin's existence.
'Marquis Reit was very proud, saying that his son's swordsmanship skills were outstanding.'
He remembered him boasting that joining the royal guard right away wouldn't be a problem.
Hearing that, he thought that even if there was some exaggeration, he must have had decent talent.
But for him to be defeated by a boy he had never seen before.
"It's amazing, he doesn't seem to have received systematic education."
Yetien asked the headmaster.
"I've never seen that boy before, is he perhaps a commoner?"
"Yes, he is. But that student suffers from Mana insensitivity... Something's strange. There's no way he could beat Young Master Reit."
The headmaster muttered in confusion.
"Unless he used some kind of strange trick..."
At that moment, Duke Argenta, who had been silent, opened his mouth.
"He's just a fledgling."
The headmaster inwardly sighed in relief at his words.
Kadin was a promising talent within the academy.
The fact that such a talent had lost to an insignificant commoner was a problem that could shake confidence in Riod Academy's education system.
Above all, he was afraid that this news would reach the ears of Marquis Reit, one of the academy's sponsors.
But the headmaster was so surprised by Duke Argenta's next words that he almost fell backward.
"But his potential is worth watching."
Even Yetien opened his mouth in surprise at those words.
'Did the Duke just praise someone?'
A smile returned to Duke Argenta's lips.
"Interesting."
"Yes?"
"Yetien, investigate that brat."
Yetien was startled.
Originally, his superior was not someone who easily showed interest in anyone.
For him to not only praise someone but also order a separate investigation was truly astonishing.
In fact, it could be said that this was the first time Duke Argenta had shown interest in someone since his son's disappearance.
With hopeful signs, Yetien replied in a bright voice.
"Understood! I will investigate him in detail from head to toe."
Ayla leisurely walked to the infirmary.
She was planning to meet Felix soon and discuss what to do next.
As she crossed the hallway, she kept hearing students talking.
Listening to those voices made one corner of her lips curl up involuntarily.
'The kids are talking about it all day long, so there's no way I wouldn't know.'
Felix defeated Kadin, and Duke Argenta watched it.
With just that simple news, people were in a frenzy of excitement.
Ayla quietly smiled and listened to what they were saying.
"Did Felix become able to feel Mana?"
"Is that true? Has there ever been a case where Mana insensitivity has been completely cured?"
"There are so few patients that not much is known about the disease. I don't know either."
"Then what happens now?"
"Well, he won't be ignored like before. He was already recognized for his talent and grit."
"Oh, I heard that Duke Argenta showed interest in him."
"Really? That Duke?"
The students' eyes changed.
It's not easy for a commoner to gain recognition from others. But Duke Argenta was someone who valued talent.
It was a very slim chance, but if Felix became a Sword Master, it wouldn't be impossible for him to take on an important position in Kistar.
If that happened, he could wield even greater power than most nobles.
Until now, most students had looked down on Felix, but that was only because he suffered from Mana insensitivity.
If Felix could feel Mana, then his value would be completely different.
'He must have beaten Kadin more impressively than I thought. I didn't know the Temporary Cure would have such a big effect.'
Ayla was proud of Felix.
Her newly made friend had defeated Kadin.
'That alone must have been a huge humiliation for Kadin.'
Above all, with this incident, Felix unintentionally imprinted his skills on people.
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