Infinite Mage - Remake

Rian is very diligent but his grades didn’t improve

Though I’d mastered the schema a month ago, my progress was so slow that I began to question whether I had really achieved it.

“No matter how bad I am, you won’t know unless you try. Who knows, things might work out unexpectedly if you give it a go!”

“Haha, that sounds just like you,” Tess said.

She had never seen Rian nervous. It was odd seeing Rian, who usually remained calm, unaffected even by an exam that could cost someone their limbs.

‘Well, it was like that back then.’

Tess had gotten to know Rian during his probationary period. Swordsmen are naturally fond of fighting. With 300 such individuals gathered together, the atmosphere quickly became tense. The instructors didn't interfere much, and as expected, some of the cadets began showing their true nature.

The cadets were divided into groups based on their skills. The first group was made up of those who had learned the schema, the second group consisted of the physically strong cadets, and the third group was for everyone else. The real problem was that some of the boys who ended up in the third group didn’t even care about swordsmanship—they were simply pushed into it by their parents.

Richard Feiger, leader of the first group, was relentless in bullying the boys. His savage temperament had only been worsened by his time at the military academy, where he was trained in the art of killing.

Tess didn’t care much. When it came to skill, neither the first group nor the small number of female apprentices competed for rank.

At the time, Rian’s rank was in the middle of the second group. Though he wasn’t in a position to be bullied, he didn’t get along with anyone. He had only one goal in mind when he joined the swordsmanship school: improving his skills to become a swordsman worthy of Shirone, even if graduation didn’t matter to him.

One day, in the barracks, the first group of cadets rode on the backs of weaker students and held a race. Every time they struck the boys playing the role of horses with a club, the "horses" neighed in pain.

Some cadets frowned at the scene, but most cheered on the race, as if it were a real competition. It was a small event, but one that involved real money, and anyone who expressed dislike would end up under their control.

“Faster! Win! Win!” Richard, who led the race, cheered loudly. He was always competitive, no matter how trivial the event. As the finish line came into view, the bullying intensified. The boy acting as the racehorse had to crawl with tears streaming down his face, his knees bleeding.

“Yay! I’m number 1!” Richard shouted in excitement, but as he was about to cross the finish line, something blurred in his vision. A strong shock hit the back of his nose.

“Ahh!” Richard cried out as he fell off the "racehorse." Meanwhile, the other cadets crossed the finish line one by one.

“Do it in moderation. Is this your playground?” A voice interrupted the chaos.

It was Rian, the boy with blue hair.

Richard glared at him, holding his throbbing nose. “You little...”

“Ozent Rian.”

Richard was surprised. Even among the second group, Rian’s abilities were considered mediocre. His pride was wounded by being hit by someone who hadn’t even mastered the schema.

“What are you going to do? Do you want to die?” Richard challenged.

Rian didn’t answer. He had always been reserved, and even at the swordsmanship school, he didn’t speak unless necessary.

“Look at this kid...” Richard muttered angrily, standing up to fight.

Despite the situation, no one stepped forward to help Rian. Most of the cadets were too afraid. Tess was one of the few who wasn’t concerned.

This was a swordsmanship school—standing up for the weak wouldn’t change anything. Eventually, things would be settled according to the order of power.

“Hey, isn’t that Rian? What a mess he’s in now,” Tess’s friend remarked.

The girl, taller than most of the boys, leaned against the wall, watching the scene unfold.

“Do you know his name? He doesn’t look strong,” the girl said.

“Weak, yes. But stubborn. The other day, the second group had a gathering and collected money for Richard’s birthday. Rian was the only one who didn’t pay.”

“Ah, so that’s why this happened?”

“I think he was waiting for something. But I was surprised. I thought he was quiet, but he has quite the temper.”

Tess turned her attention to Rian. He still didn’t speak, but he didn’t seem ready to back down either.

‘I’ve seen kids like him before. The kingdom is vast, after all.’

The excitement of the race died down, but the situation was still tense. Tess had grown up around warriors because of her father, the commander of an occupied territory. She knew that if someone’s sword wasn’t strong enough, it would be broken.

Richard sneered at Rian. “You think you’re tough now? It’s too late to regret it. You didn’t expect this, did you?”

“Let’s go outside. The instructor will be unhappy if they find out,” someone suggested.

Richard was far from amused. He should have begged for his life, but instead, he avoided the instructor’s eyes, leading Rian to the vacant lot behind the building. The other cadets followed, none of them interested in getting involved. They were simply there because they didn’t belong to Richard’s group.

“Hey, those of you who don’t want to be beaten, come over here,” Richard taunted. The others quickly moved to the other side, avoiding the confrontation.

“Puhahaha! Pitiful things. So, Rian, what are you going to do now? Everyone else has run off, and you’re the only one left.”

Rian, however, wasn’t about to back down. “To rely on numbers? From the start, you were doomed.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If you have no choice but to fight, then you’re no knight. You’re just a coward.”

Richard chuckled. In his eyes, the idea of being a knight was a joke. A knight only existed to tear through others in war. Chivalry was nothing more than a façade for the survivors to inflate their egos.

“Alright, let’s see if your fists are as strong as your words. Come at me, but don’t think I’ll take it easy. If I fight you alone, I’ll kill you.”

Rian raised his fists and took a fighting stance. Richard walked toward him slowly, as if taking a casual stroll.

“I’ll give you the first shot,” Richard said, flicking his fingers.

Rian threw a punch, but Richard easily dodged it, landing a heavy blow to Rian’s abdomen.

“Ouch!” Rian gasped in pain. It felt like a heavy stone had been dropped on his stomach. Was this the schema-enhanced power Richard used?

“Fool. Why am I even bothering with you?” Richard mocked, then followed up with a series of brutal hits.

Rian struggled to keep his footing. It was a bare-handed fight, but the schema was a lethal weapon. It felt as if a soldier was beating him down.

Each punch sent Rian reeling, lifting him off the ground and forcing him back down with brutal force.

‘This is bad...’ Rian thought.

Richard sneered at him. However, just as Rian seemed to falter, he sprang forward, darting toward Richard with surprising speed.

‘What? He’s still standing?’

Richard was confused. He could tell that Rian hadn’t mastered the schema. By the way Richard’s punches had landed, it seemed clear that Rian should’ve been unconscious by now.

But Rian wasn’t backing down. Instead, he focused on attacking Richard’s weak spots, blocking his view with his broad back and launching strikes from below. Richard stumbled back, struggling to react.

‘What is this kid?’ Richard thought, stunned by Rian’s unexpected resilience.

“Damn it!” Richard cursed, losing his patience. He grabbed Rian by the shoulder and shoved him away, launching a furious barrage of punches.

The sound of each hit echoed through the clearing.

The other cadets stood by, watching in shock.

After a while, when Richard stopped, Rian was crumpled on the ground, barely conscious.

But Rian wasn’t out yet. His fingers twitched weakly.

“Damn it!” Richard shouted, frustrated. He kicked Rian viciously.

At that moment, the cadets from the first group finally arrived, realizing just how serious the situation had become.

“Stop! He’s going to die like this!”

“Let go of him! You’ll kill him!”

Rian's movements gradually slowed until he stopped entirely. Pyger surveyed the scene, and the sight of the cadets' horrified expressions seemed to bring him some satisfaction.

"Listen up! If you oppose me, this is what happens! Hey, get the rope!"

Rian was completely stripped, leaving only his bottoms, his body bruised and marked from the punishment. Feiger decided to make an example of him, tying him up and hanging him from a tall tree. Blood dripped from Rian’s face as he hung, his body curled like a shrimp.

"Puhahaha! Are you a worm on a fishing pole? Why are you messing around without knowing your place?"

"Quack. Oh, I’m really embarrassed. I pretended to be unlucky, and now I’m caught properly."

Laughter and mockery echoed from all directions. It felt like a victory for them.

Tess frowned. Regardless of Rian’s weakness, he was being humiliated like this. Moreover, there were women his age here. What was Rian thinking in this moment? How badly had his spirit been broken?

"Eww..." Rian started to regain his senses. He wasn’t unconscious, but he was far from stable. The cadets were still snickering, as though they were watching monkeys in a zoo.

Tess met Rian’s eyes, trying to remain calm. Showing sympathy would only make things worse for him. However, Rian defied expectations and winked at her, giving a small smile.

"Ah, sorry about this. I didn’t mean to embarrass the ladies too."

Tess kept her nonchalant expression, but something stirred inside her.

"Puhaha! What are you saying now? Even in this situation, you’re still bluffing. Weren’t you just acting foolish?"

"Yaya! Be honest. What’s the point of acting proud when you’ve been beaten to a pulp? You look ridiculous right now."

"Are you embarrassed? Ashamed? What’s it like in front of women? You should just bite your tongue and end it."

Rian looked down at the cadets. Despite the mockery, his gaze remained calm.

"It’s fine. Even if it’s embarrassing."

"Puhaha! Well, guys like you should live like that forever. Or maybe you’re a pervert? Are you enjoying this?"

Rian responded calmly, "Because you’ll forget soon enough."

An eerie silence fell over the group, a sense of unease creeping through the air.

"I fought with everything I had, so I have no shame. And as time passes, you won’t even remember this day. But... can you really forget?"

No one answered. Their hearts pounded in their chests.

"The images of you all, too afraid to even fight, will stay with you for the rest of your lives. And you’ll regret it. If only you had fought back then, if only you had stood up. But you know what? You can’t turn back time."

The cadets' faces twisted with fear, a different kind of fear from the terror of Pyger’s violence.

"Losing is fine—you can forget the shame of defeat. But the memory of running away in fear? That stays with you forever. Whether you're eating, sleeping, or fighting, it haunts you. That’s why a swordsman’s resolve is like their life. Once broken, it never returns."

No one mocked Rian anymore.

"No one wants to remember themselves as a coward. Especially not a swordsman. The day may come when you’d rather die than look back on today. So end it here. If you want to face the future with pride, then right now, in this place—"

Rian coughed up blood and roared:

"Fight, you fools!"

His shout ignited the cadets’ spirits. Their skills varied, but their desire was the same—to be known as battlefield ghosts, the strongest swordsmen, unbreakable knights.

The air grew thick with tension. The fear in their eyes when facing Pyger was gone.

Group 1, led by Pyger, panicked.

"Shut up! Nobody cares what losers say! You wanna take me down? Then come at me! I’ll leave you hanging just like that guy!"

Tess smirked and licked her lips.

"Hmph."

Ozent Rian—a candidate for the swordsmanship academy.

"Not bad."

She lunged forward, leaping over Pyger, cutting the rope. Rian collapsed, his body battered, but he forced himself up, twisting into a cross-legged stance.

"Rian, was it? I’m Tess. Let’s fight together."

She offered a hand, but Rian just stared—still bound.

Tess’ boldness inspired the others. Despite being in the women’s division, her skills matched Pyger’s.

"I’ll fight too! I can’t just stand here!"
"If the girls are stepping up, we can’t stay back!"

Soon, nearly all the cadets—except Group 1—rallied behind Rian.

"Let’s show them! Drive those idiots out of the academy!"
"Kick them out! Kick them out!"

Pyger’s group was surrounded by nearly 300 cadets. No amount of enhanced strength could save them now.

"You brats! You wanna die?!"
"Try it, you bastards!"

A boy from Group 2 struck first. The moment Pyger turned, dozens rushed in, beating him to the ground.

"Wait! Stop!" Pyger yelled, but the cadets’ fury couldn’t be stopped.

Every member of Group 1 was getting the same treatment—even outsiders joined in.

"Instructor! Help us!"

Tess glanced back at Rian, who watched coldly.

"Sorry. Feels like I stole your moment."
"It’s fine. I never wanted to be the hero. That’s why I called you."
"What? You planned this?"

Rian’s blank stare confirmed it. Tess looked stunned.

"You idiot! The instructors won’t let this slide. They’ll report everything."

She was right. Pyger was expelled for fractures, and his followers were denied admission.

As for Rian? Despite his poor training scores, he was accepted into the Kaizen Swordsmanship Academy—ranked first among the 30 admitted.

Present Day

Tess grinned, reminiscing.

"Rian Yii, the guy who used to be like that… now stuck at the bottom."
"Shut up. Who asked for first place?"
"Still, it’s impressive. If it were me, I’d be drowning in shame. But you train nonstop."
"Freak. We graduated ages ago."
"Aren’t you worried? You’re a swordsman—you need a reputation. At this rate, you won’t make it."
"…You’re really killing the mood."
"I’m serious! What keeps you going?"

Rian looked up, thinking.

"Fame doesn’t matter. I just need to be strong. For my lord."
"Your lord? What are you—"
"I took a knight’s oath."

Tess’ eyes widened. It was like hearing a kid had gotten engaged.

"Seriously? You’re not even twenty!"

A knight’s oath was a lifelong commitment—sworn only once. Choosing a master required careful thought.

"Who is it? Someone I know? A war hero? A noble?"

She expected a legendary figure.

"Shirone."
"Shirone? Never heard of them. What do they do?"
"My friend. He’s at a magic school back home."

Tess’ jaw dropped.

"You swore loyalty to a student?! Are you insane?"
"Relax. He’s not a girl."
"Oh… good." She sighed in relief.

But Rian’s determination was unshaken.

"I believe in Shirone. That’s why I pledged my life."

Tess frowned.

"Who is this guy?"

An idea struck her.

"Can I meet Shirone?"
"What? Why?"
"You talk him up so much—I’m curious. Besides, the semester’s ending. Let’s visit him in Creas!"
"That’s sudden. And it’s far."
"I’ve got no family to visit. Let’s go! There’s even an island south of Creas—perfect for a trip!"

Rian considered it. He had wanted to see Shirone…

"Hmm. But three’s awkward. I’m bad with women."

Tess’ eyes gleamed.

"Tell Shirone to bring a friend! A pair trip—two guys, two girls. Fun, right?"

A pair trip? Rian’s hesitation faded.

"…I’ll think about it."

But he was already sold.

Tess smirked.

"Great! Now let’s ace this last evaluation!"

Final Practical Exam

Most cadets had finished. Now, it was Tess’ turn.

"No. 47, Elsaine Tess! Ready!"

At Kuan’s signal, she charged through the obstacle course. But the low blade barrier forced her to freeze—external gravity was new to her.

Most didn’t master the schema young—it was risky.

But Tess adjusted fast.

"Shift your center—now!"

She leaned back, letting momentum carry her under the blade.

"Done!"

She cleared it—no fluke. Her training paid off.

"No. 47, Elsaine Tess—clear!"

The cadets cheered. Her heart raced.

"I did it…"

Kuan’s harsh training had a purpose.

"Even a hardass teacher is still a teacher."

Tess took first place. With few left, no one could top her.

Then—

"No. 52, Ozent Rian! Ready!"

Kuan frowned. He didn’t expect much… yet something made him watch closely.

"Begin."

Rian charged forward, kicking off the ground. He cleared obstacles effortlessly—anything that didn’t require a schema was no match for his skill. But the final hurdle was the real challenge.

‘First Impact!’

He bent his upper body, planting his foot firmly—but just then, Kuan’s eyes flashed.

Something felt off. Rian suddenly sensed a blade slicing toward his neck.

‘What—?’

Before he could react, Kuan lunged at blinding speed and kicked Rian square in the face. The impact sent him tumbling across the ground, dazed and slow to rise. The instructor, furious and limping, stormed over as Rian struggled to push himself up.

“You idiot!” the man barked. “Have you lost your mind? You just threw your neck right into her blade! What, you got a death wish? How the hell are you supposed to use a schema like that?”

Rian scrambled to his feet, shouting, “I’m sorry! But I did it! The schema—!”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Do you even know what a schema is? If you can’t use one, you’re out!”

“No! It worked—I passed the strength test!”

“Strength test? What, muscle power? Stop lying—”

The strength test was simple: lift twice your body weight to prove your schema was active. Kuan glanced around, estimating Rian’s weight, then pointed to a massive chunk of stone left over from construction.

“Hey, you—come here.”

Rian took a deep breath and approached. He had passed the test before—but only by pushing himself to his absolute limit. Now, doubt gnawed at him.

“Haaah!”

He wrapped his arms around the boulder and heaved with everything he had. His legs shook, his muscles burned—but slowly, the massive stone lifted off the ground, rising above his head.

Kuan pressed a finger to Rian’s arm, feeling the vibrations of his straining muscles. His expression darkened.

‘Damn it.’

This wasn’t a schema.

In all his years training cadets, Kuan had never seen anything like this. Even the least talented could manage a basic schema with proper training. But Rian? Nothing.

Normally, he’d have cut his losses—there were plenty of other hopefuls. But Rian was different.

‘How long has this kid been pushing himself…?’

He didn’t dislike Rian. In fact, as a swordsman, he respected that relentless will. But one brutal truth stood in the way: Rian had no talent. Not even a shred.

“I’m sorry, Rian… but you don’t have a schema.”

The other cadets froze. In half a year, none had ever heard Kuan apologize.

“That’s impossible!” Rian shouted. “I’m holding this damn boulder! Then what is this?!”

Kuan sighed. “That? It’s just… raw, stupid strength.”

Rian’s face went blank. A second later—thud. The boulder slipped from his grip and crashed to the ground.

Ozent Rian. Last place confirmed.