It Seems the Demon King Has Returned to a World Where Gender Roles Are Reversed - Chapter 75

 Chapter 75 :

In chess, it is often said that the king piece is both the most useless and the most important piece on the board.

This is because, while the king can move in any direction, its range is limited to just one square around it, a restrictive ability. Yet, if the king is captured, the game ends in defeat. Thus, players strive to protect the king at all costs.

For this reason, the king piece is called the most useless due to its meager abilities, yet also deemed immensely important.

Perhaps because of this, the king piece has a unique rule that allows it to move in a way that transcends normal rules under specific conditions.

This rule is commonly known as castling.

To execute this rule, what’s needed is none other than the rook (referred to as Rukh in some contexts), a piece that hasn’t moved since the game began, even as the king makes its moves.

And right now, what Ragna needed was a move akin to castling a way to break through the current situation.

________

Ragna’s original resolve upon entering the military academy was to remain inconspicuous while searching for clues about the demons. It was an unavoidable choice.

After all, he didn’t know where Annerose’s watchful eyes might be lurking.

As such, standing out was something he couldn’t afford to do.

Although trouble arose when he got entangled with Hazel, Ragna had resolved it while refraining from using magic as much as possible. Thanks to that, while he earned the stigma of being an arrogant male knight, he avoided suspicion of being the Demon King.

That alone could be considered a success.

However, now that a clue related to the demons’ end was right in front of him, such resolutions no longer mattered. The important thing was to seize that clue by any means necessary.

Even if it meant using the power of the Demon King.

Steeling his resolve, Ragna stood in front of the door.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

“Who is it?”

A woman’s voice came from the other side of the door.

“It’s Ragna Steiner. I’ve come to discuss something.”

“…”

Silence followed, as if the person on the other side hesitated. Ragna stood patiently, waiting for a response.

“…Come in.”

Finally, the voice answered. Hearing this, Ragna reached for the doorknob.

A dry creak echoed from the hinges as the door opened, revealing the room’s interior.

The room was about 100 square feet, a neatly organized office. A bookshelf lined the wall, its books arranged meticulously. Papers were neatly stacked on the desk, a potted plant adorned one corner, and a soft-colored carpet covered the floor.

At a glance, it was clear the room’s owner was a meticulous person.

And the owner in question, seated at the desk, was quietly observing him.

A gentle smile played on her lips, but the glint in her eyes was far from kind.

They were filled with suspicion.

(Why are you here?)

Her gaze seemed to ask.

Meeting her eyes, Ragna returned a smile.

Then, he decided to greet her first.

“I apologize for visiting so suddenly, Teacher Noel.”

“…No, it’s fine. So, what brings you here? It’s rare for you to seek me out.”

Still smiling, Noel asked Ragna. In response, he answered:

“I’ve come to make a request.”

“A request?”

“Yes. I’ve decided to participate in the martial arts festival. That’s why I’ve come to seek your guidance in swordsmanship.”

“…”

At those words, the smile on Noel’s face faded.

But Ragna’s expression remained calm. A brief silence hung between them.

“…The martial arts festival. Hmm, I see. So, the rumors were true, then.”

“What rumors?”

“The incident with Hazel Granstig… You know what I mean, don’t you? It happened just yesterday.”

It seemed the rumors about yesterday’s events had reached her ears. Or perhaps she had her own way of gathering information among the students.

Either way, Ragna didn’t deny it.

“Well, maybe. So, what do you say? Will you teach me?”

“…If it’s about something like this, wouldn’t it be better to ask Lady Karen? I hate to say it, but I’m just an ordinary instructor at the academy, while Lady Karen is a great knight, worthy of the title of White Knight.”

But Ragna shook his head and replied:

“I’m sorry, but I can’t ask Lady Karen for guidance.”

“Oh? Did she refuse you?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s because learning from Lady Karen won’t help me win the martial arts festival.”

“…Excuse me?”

Noel frowned, puzzled by his words. Ragna, prepared for this moment, began to explain his purpose.

“Let me say it again. My goal is to win the martial arts festival. To defeat all the other students.”

“…”

Noel looked at Ragna with an incredulous expression. Blinking for a moment, she then asked sharply:

“Are you serious?”

“Completely serious.”

“You’re underestimating swordsmanship. Or perhaps you’re just that confident in your talent.”

Her tone was measured but laced with quiet anger. Yet, Ragna shook his head and responded:

“No, I know better than anyone that I have no talent for the sword.”

And he meant it. He knew all too well that he lacked talent in swordsmanship.

Margarita had told him so long ago.

When Ragna fell into the demon world, he tried every means to survive. One of those was swordsmanship. But watching his efforts, Margarita had sighed and said:

“You have no talent for the sword.”

But—

“Even so, I have determination. I’ll do whatever it takes to follow your teachings. So please, guide me.”

Ragna bowed his head.

Noel, still looking at him with suspicion, maintained her wary expression.

“…Why? Why are you so insistent on learning from me? If not Lady Karen, it could be anyone else, couldn’t it?”

“No. It has to be you, Teacher Noel.”

“Why?”

“If I tell you, will you agree to teach me?”

“…I’ll consider it.”

Nodding reluctantly, Noel’s expression remained skeptical. Ragna gave a slight smile and began to speak.

“The reason I’m asking for your guidance is simple.”

“…”

“It’s because you are the origin of the technique Lady Karen now claims as her signature move the Horizontal Slash.”

“……!”

---

At Ragna’s words, Noel’s expression changed. But it wasn’t just surprise it was anger.

Looking at her, Ragna recalled what he knew.

Horizontal Flash

 the Horizontal Slash.

This term was often used to praise Karen’s skill.

It referred to her signature counterattack technique, executed from a horizontal defensive stance.

Commonly regarded as Karen’s ultimate technique, it appeared, at first glance, to be a simple counterattack.

After all, its essence lay in reading the opponent’s sword trajectory from a horizontal defensive stance, creating an opening, and then redirecting the blade to strike the opponent.

If that were all, it wouldn’t have garnered such acclaim.

The true brilliance of this technique lay in the dilemma it forced upon the opponent.

The defense from the horizontal stance was nearly impenetrable.

Even if an opponent managed to break through with a hidden strike, the follow-up blow the Horizontal Flash was as swift as lightning. It was a speed that made it nearly impossible to counter with a hidden strike.

It was a technique worthy of being called a masterpiece.

But Ragna had sensed something odd about it.

“…To put it simply, the Steiner school of swordsmanship is about strength.”

“…”

“It never retreats, always advancing to cut down the opponent. It’s a style that prioritizes close-quarters combat.”

“…”

“But for some reason, there’s this one static technique. And the only one who uses it as their main technique is Karen. Don’t you think that’s strange?”

“…So, you asked Karen about it?”

“Yes. She smiled and told me, ‘This technique was passed down to me by Noel Douglas, a former instructor of the Steiner family. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but after experiencing it firsthand, I gained great insight and worked hard to master it, at least to some extent.’”

“…She said that?”

Noel’s response carried a hint of bitterness. Seeing this, Ragna was certain his guess was correct.

“You seem upset.”

“…What?”

“When I heard that, one thing came to mind. Why did you create that technique? The Steiner school prioritizes strength, close combat, and mobility. So why would someone create a technique that contradicts those principles? What was their mindset?”

“…”

“And the person who created it was a master of the Steiner school at the time. There’d be no reason to go against the school’s principles. Yet you created it. What does that mean?”

“…And what conclusion did you reach?”

“I decided not to conclude anything. You’re no longer a master of the Steiner school; you’re here, teaching at the academy. That’s answer enough.”

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Translated by Reversalnovel.web.id