I Became the Male Lead who was Clinging onto the Female Leads

Chapter 18: Time flows like flowing water (3)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: N/A

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Time flows incessantly, much like water in a stream.

A fact everyone at the Royal Academy was acutely aware of.

"Can you believe there's less than a week left for the exams?"

"I still have so much to study!"

Today marked two weeks since that Friday.

It was a long evening, well after all the school activities had concluded.

In just six days, on the following Thursday, the two-day comprehensive exam would start.

This exam evaluated the entire second semester of the first year, and it played a significant role in determining one's progression to the third year.

It was an exam of utmost importance.

"Can you tell me the scope of the history exam?"

"From the founding of the Lucia continent... up to where, again?"

"You don't know either?"

Even after school ended, the students of the Royal Academy didnt head to their dormitories.

Instead, they gathered at places like the library, cramming as much knowledge as they could into their heads.

At least for subjects that could be studied, last-minute cramming sometimes worked wonders.

With swordsmanship and magic, however, what mattered was how much effort one had put in over time and one's inherent talent.

Very few students would train the sword when the exam was just around the corner.

Among them was Eugene.

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Raei Translations

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"Whew..."

He removed his top and was training with the sword.

Through continuous training, the lean physique he had when he first arrived was nowhere to be seen.

His shoulders had broadened, and his body was filled with toned muscles, all optimized for wielding the sword.

Eugene, as a swordsman, possessed a physique ideal for swordsmanship.

'Of course, it's just ideal.'

To truly master the sword, physical training and meditation had to be a lifelong commitment.

Although he planned to devote more time to the sword in the future, he didn't intend to neglect physical training.

'Another ten thousand swings.'

Holding his sword firmly, Eugene continued his training.

He had been swinging his sword for hours now, but he showed no signs of stopping.

A few days ago, he had absorbed an infusion of mana that made his own incomparably stronger, enabling him to maintain intense training for extended periods.

However, the ease also meant that the training wasn't as effective.

As a result, Eugene pushed himself even harder.

He knew that studying like the other students would be better for his grades, but he couldnt stop, feeling that an epiphany was just a bit more effort away.

Horizontal cut, vertical cut, thrust.

He repeated these basic sword techniques countless times over the past month and a half, aiming to achieve mastery of the basics.

Of course, even for a prodigy like him, expecting to achieve such mastery in such a short time was ambitious.

But even a mere glimpse of it would be rewarding.

So he simply swung, and swung again.

He didn't stop, even when his body screamed in protest.

He wouldn't sheathe his sword until exhaustion forced it from his grasp.

He ignored the cries of his tearing muscles and gritted his teeth.

This unparalleled genius of the sword subjected himself to an intensity of training that no one else would ever endure.

When Eugene executed his ten thousandth horizontal strike, the sword's movement appeared to be in slow motion.

The moonlight, which gleamed upon making contact with the blade, was strikingly clear.

As he completed his swing, the moonlight seemed to bounce away.

In this slowed motion, Eugene experienced a profound realization about the sword techniques he had practiced countless times.

A subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

'I understand it now...'

He no longer had the energy to swing the sword or even utter a word.

But, the next time he swung his sword, it would undoubtedly be on an entirely different level.

'The time has come to advance to the next stage...'

He had finally laid the foundation for lightning with his swordsmanship.

When dawn breaks tomorrow, he'd dedicate the entire day to this new stage.

With that final thought, Eugene's consciousness abruptly faded.

He collapsed backward, sinking into a deep slumber as though he had been struck unconscious.

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Raei Translations

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A homeless person?

.

Isn't that Eugene? Why are you sleeping here?

.

"Excuse me."

Ugh.

Eugene opened his eyes at the sound of someone calling.

Over the shoulder of Celine, the silver-haired female student tapping him, the early morning sun greeted him.

Did I sleep till morning?

Me?

Eugene, who usually woke up at dawn no matter how late he slept due to his strong physical recovery, was surprised.

Just a few hours of rest was typically enough as he never felt drowsy after that.

Trusting his resilient body, he thought he'd wake up before anyone saw him and return to the dormitory.

But he had slept until morning?

Either he had trained too late or he had undergone such strenuous training that a few hours of sleep wasn't enough.

Considering what happened yesterday, its probably the latter.

but there was no use in pondering further.

Eugene stopped his thoughts and rose to his feet.

He then saw Celine, who had woke him up.

Her curious face, just woken and with no make-up, was a sight to behold.

The shimmering, long silver hair and sparkling green eyes like gemstones made him admire her beauty.

The women in this world

Thanks to their daily meditation, which helped them rid their bodies of impurities, beautiful women seemed to possess an otherworldly charm.

But Im not interested.

Swords were far more fascinating to him.

A swordsman who becomes smitten by beauty risks ruining their life.

To continually refine and elevate one's mastery of the sword, its better to keep a distance from such distractions.

It was almost a blessing to be lonely, unattractive, and even devoid of desires.

I may not be unattractive, and I certainly have desires, but

But leading a solitary life was indeed his reality.

Why were you sleeping at the swordsmanship training ground?

Celine then asked, looking off into the distance.

She tried hard to appear indifferent, but her eyes trembled ever so slightly.

It was due to her stagnant progress in swordsmanship lately.

Although she couldn't directly ask Eugene for advice, she hoped to pick up any hints or insights, having previously benefited from his knowledge on the subject.

Eugene, however, wasnt even considering such things.

"I guess... I passed out while training."

Why were your clothes off?

Must've been hot, I guess.

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Celine's eyebrows slightly twitched.

She attempted to keep the conversation going, but Eugene responded curtly to every question.

He could've politely asked, Why are you here, Celine?, allowing her to reply with something like, I came early for my morning sword practice, and so on.

But, instead, Eugene left after a brief exchange.

Thanks, anyway. If you hadn't woken me, I might have slept even longer.

.

Caught off guard by Eugene's abrupt departure, Celine subconsciously reached out.

But she didn't try to stop him.

They weren't close enough for such gestures.

All she could do was watch his retreating figure.

Eugene's physique had improved remarkably, perhaps due to his intense training recently, a stark contrast to his past self.

The subtle movement of muscles on his back was unexpectedly captivating, making it hard to look away...

With a snap, Celine slapped her cheek.

'What am I thinking?'

Was she really ogling Eugene's muscles?

Even if she was frustrated by her stagnant swordsmanship skills, she knew better than to act this way.

"Ugh...."

To rid her mind of the image of Eugene's muscular back, Celine rubbed her eyes, although they were blameless in this.

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Raei Translations

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After returning to the dormitory and freshening up, Eugene used meditation to restore his mana and revitalize himself, then headed outside.

He ventured into the vast forest adjacent to the Royal Academy, seeking a secluded spot for his training.

While it would have been more convenient to practice at the nearby swordsmanship training ground, the technique he intended to practice required a little more privacy.

"This seems like a good spot."

After searching around, Eugene found a spacious clearing at the heart of the forest.

Remembering this location would save him time on subsequent visits, so he didn't waste any of his precious training hours.

"Now then."

Drawing his sword from its sheath, Eugene focused his mind.

He was about to attempt the fusion of his swordsmanship with lightning-element magic.

More fundamentally, the goal was to channel mana converted into lightning energy through his blade.

Such a fusion was uncharted territory in this world.

Leaving aside questions of feasibility or practicality, it was rare to find someone gifted in both swordsmanship and magic.

Even if such a person existed with the passion to master both, diving into both realms was often discouraged, as each discipline alone could consume a lifetime of dedication.

Conventional wisdom suggested that even if one had talent in both, it was best to specialize in one and achieve greatness in it.

"But that's why pioneers are necessary."

Blazing a trail is ten times harder than following a well-trodden path.

Yet, Eugene believed without a shadow of a doubt that he would be the one to forge this new path.

He closed his eyes.

He gently pulled up mana from his core, guiding it into his hands.

Then, like casting a lightning spell, he transformed that mana into lightning energy.

A fierce surge of electricity could be felt within.

Were he to release this energy in any tangible form, it would manifest as a lightning spell.

However, instead of releasing it, Eugene gathered it at his fingertips.

Slowly, very slowly, he channeled it into his sword.

"Ugh!"

As he tried to channel the lightning energy into the physical blade, a strong resistance coursed through his hand.

Even with his innate ability to control mana, it was very difficult.

"No wonder people don't try this."

But he had to press on.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say he had gone through hellish training for this very moment.

The sword and lightning must become one.

With this conviction clear in his mind, Eugene poured the lightning energy into his blade.

Without a mana shield protecting him, he'd easily get electrocuted and drop the blade.

"I can't fail now!"

Gritting his teeth, Eugene poured more lightning into the sword.

The energy crackled repeatedly.

"Just a little more!"

He sensed that he was on the brink of success.

The sword seemed about to fully accept the lightning energy.

Until the very last moment, Eugene meticulously manipulated his mana.

Then, with a sizzling sound, the lightning flowed from his hand, climbing up the hilt.

The energy spiraled around the blade like a dragon ascending, and in an instant, it enveloped the entire sword.

Done.

The sword and the lightning had become one.

Even though the erratic lightning made his hand throb with pain, Eugene bore this level of agony.

After all, such pain would fade as his skill improved over time.

'In this state, when I swing the sword, it's the Lightning Sword.'

Eugene steadied his lower body and delivered a horizontal slash.

A fluid slash, reminiscent of an artwork, stretched out, imbued with the lightning.

Zap!

Its speed resembled that of a shot of light.

The blade, infused with lightning, far surpassed the speed of a regular sword swing.

The sheer power was incomparable to anything before.

'Just as I anticipated.'

Or perhaps, even more.

Eugene drew his sword again, executing a flawless and radiant sword strike.

The blade, glowing with brilliant lightning, cleaved the sky from side to side.

'This...'

Was the moment a genius birthed a new swordsmanship into the world the Lightning Sword Technique.

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