Until now, Krovitz had never had a proper sparring partner. Of course, within the Crosen Knights there were five men whose skills surpassed his own, but with the two groups at odds with each other, there was no way for them to cross blades.
If an opportunity to exchange sword blows ever arose, it would only be for the purpose of ending the other’s life. And so Krovitz, fighting with all his might, was now thoroughly exhilarated.
‘This is truly excellent. It’s on an entirely different level from the sparring I’ve had with my vice-captains.’
Of course, in terms of true ability, his opponent was nowhere near the level of the vice-captains under his command.
By Krovitz’s eye, the boy’s skill amounted to no more than that of a mid-level paladin at best.
Yet he was exchanging attacks and defenses with Krovitz, a top-tier Sword Master, without yielding an inch. Something utterly incomprehensible by common sense was happening.
But Krovitz had no leisure to ponder it deeply. He merely assumed it was due to the power of that unfamiliar left-handed swordsmanship. Yet as the fight continued, Krovitz came to realize one more thing.
‘What is going on? What astonishing movement. Without considerable real combat experience, it should be impossible to display reflexes like that.’
But Krovitz did not know that the opponent he was fighting had crossed blades countless times with Grand Master-class death knights.
“Huff, huff… I lost.”
Gerald, who had been gasping for breath, finally declared his defeat. Though he had fought with his characteristic fighting spirit, in the end he could not overcome the lofty wall that was the captain of the Duke Knights. As expected, the duel ended in Krovitz’s victory. Just as Albert had, Gerald too was forced to kneel after allowing several attacks to vital points. They had ended as light taps, but in a real battle, he would never have emerged unscathed.
Contrary to his earlier resolve to teach him a harsh lesson, Krovitz brought the match to a close as a thoroughly friendly duel. The fact that Gerald, who had only learned swordsmanship for a few years, had fought for nearly an hour against Krovitz, a swordsman recognized even among the tens of thousands of knights of the Crosen Empire, was in a sense nothing short of a miracle.
However, the effort and sweat Gerald had poured in to reach his current level were beyond what ordinary knights could even imagine. Thanks to the power of his left-handed swordsmanship and his countless sparring experiences with death knights, Gerald had accomplished this unbelievable feat.
Though he was drenched in sweat, Gerald’s face was unusually bright. That was because Krovitz’s ability was so outstanding that he could accept his defeat cleanly. Opportunities to cross blades with a sparring partner who was not a death knight—and a Sword Master of excellent skill at that—were not common.
Krovitz’s skill was truly remarkable. His refined forms, his strength, his offense and defense—there was nothing in any of them to criticize. Though he faced an unfamiliar yet powerful left-handed swordsmanship, Krovitz had continued to exchange attacks and defenses without wavering from beginning to end, grasped the sword paths of the left-handed style, and at last found a way to break it. A satisfied smile also appeared on the face of Krovitz, who had won the duel. It had been a splendid match, rare to see in recent days, and his opponent had been excellent as well.
‘His fighting spirit and passion for the sword—there is nothing lacking in any respect. He will grow into a fine knight in the future.’
The prejudice he had first felt toward Gerald had already vanished without a trace. He had sensed that the boy had challenged him not out of simple desire for fame or arrogance, but out of a pure passion for martial skill. He could not help but admire this junior who had shown such outstanding accomplishment.
There was only one thing he regretted: that the boy was not a knight under his command. Seeing Krovitz gazing at him silently, Gerald bowed his head sincerely in apology.
“Please forgive the rudeness I committed earlier. I only wished to receive instruction from you, Captain, and acted without considering the consequences… But I had no other intentions whatsoever.”
Krovitz quietly nodded.
“Don’t worry about it. You are more than qualified.”
Turning his gaze away from the flustered Gerald, Krovitz looked at Albert.
“Albert. I withdraw the punishment I gave you earlier. He possessed swordsmanship that would have been difficult for you to handle. You must have done your utmost, but it was likely beyond you.”
“N-no, sir. I…”
“No. I cannot say for certain, but…”
Krovitz looked over the vice-captains standing in a row.
“Among the vice-captains gathered here, there is probably no one who could defeat this boy. Of course, I mean if they fought him for the first time.”
The faces of the Duke Knights standing in line stiffened. A small mercenary boy possessed swordsmanship so impressive that even their captain praised him… Yet there was no jealousy or hostility in their eyes. Only the desire to spar with Gerald one day shone there. Krovitz began explaining the swordsmanship Gerald had shown him.
“After fighting him, I concluded that it is an extremely outstanding sword art. Because it is executed with the left hand, it is unfamiliar, and the sword paths themselves are highly unconventional, making it extremely difficult to defend against. On top of that, its degree of completion is exceptional. In a word, I can say it would not fall short compared to any swordsmanship.”
Krovitz turned his head and looked at Gerald.
“Did you create this swordsmanship yourself?”
Though he asked, Krovitz was almost certain his guess was correct. Throughout all ages, there had never been a sword art created for left-handers. Nor did knight orders accept left-handers. Therefore, if one wished to become a knight, one had no choice but to learn right-handed swordsmanship or two-handed swordsmanship. Or else use two swords altogether… Krovitz’s eyes gleamed with a certain anticipation.
‘If my guess is right, that boy has tremendous talent in swordsmanship.’
Gerald, who had been briefly flustered, silently nodded. He remembered the request Damon had made when passing on the left-handed swordsmanship to him.
[If anyone asks about the swordsmanship, just say you created it yourself. I think it would be best to bury the matter of the absolute being from another world who came with Emperor Crosen. And do not, under any circumstances, say you learned it from a black magician.]
Recalling Damon’s request, Gerald answered without hesitation. His face burned, but he could not tell the truth.
“That is correct.”
Krovitz let out an exclamation.
“Astonishing. Truly astonishing. To think you created such an incredible sword art… It seems it may not be entirely impossible for left-handers to become knights in the future.”
Krovitz fell into thought for a moment. The more he considered it, the more he coveted the boy before him. From his passion for swordsmanship to his aptitude, there was not the slightest deficiency. Moreover, no matter how Krovitz looked at him, this boy named Gerald did not appear to be twenty yet. If he had achieved this much at such a young age, his future potential was truly limitless. Krovitz smacked his lips in regret.
‘What a waste. If this boy belonged to us, there might be a possibility of a Grand Master-class knight emerging from the Duke Knights in the future… A Grand Master-class knight like the one only the Crosen Knights possess.’
At that moment, something flashed through Krovitz’s mind.
‘Come to think of it, I heard that two members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps have already received titles in Penslot…’
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Krovitz opened his mouth.
“By any chance…”
Hearing the question, Gerald answered without hesitation.
“It is true. Captain Kasim and Instructor Mitchell were personally granted titles by His Majesty the King of Penslot.”
“That is a little strange. To be members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps while also being knights of Penslot…”
Gerald smiled faintly and explained the reason.
“Though they were granted titles, they do not yet belong to the Penslot Knights. It will only apply when our mercenary corps finishes its mission and disbands. In that case, Captain Kasim will return to Arne, and I understand Instructor Mitchell will enter the Penslot Royal Guard Knights. Until then, they are unquestionably members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps.”
Hearing that, a light rose in Krovitz’s eyes.
“By any chance, do you have any desire to become a knight of a formal knight order?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
Gerald, not understanding, widened his eyes in puzzlement. Growing impatient, Krovitz hurriedly revealed his thoughts.
“I mean, do you have any intention of joining our Duke Knights? Though we are slightly inferior to the Crosen Knights, we are a first-rate knight order that compares unfavorably to no other royal guard order.”
“…”
“To be honest, I want you. I mean it when I say I would pay any price to bring you in.”
Gerald was so flustered he did not know what to do. Of course, that was a dream Gerald longed for even in his sleep. To become a proud knight of a formal knight order. Perhaps almost everyone who trained with the sword had such a dream. But for most, it ended as nothing more than a fleeting dream.
That was because the class of people who could become knights of formal orders was strictly limited. Unless one was the child of a wealthy family with financial means or a powerful noble house, becoming a knight was almost impossible. Of course, there was no law saying commoners could not become knights.
However, to become a knight, one had to undergo nearly ten years of study at an academy. Tuition at a knight academy was so expensive that an ordinary commoner household could not possibly bear it, and the cost of acquiring swords and equipment was astronomical as well. Thus, the possibility of an unwealthy commoner becoming a knight was almost nonexistent. Of course, it was not as though there were no knights of common birth at all. It was true that quite a number had become knights by earning scholarships through outstanding talent and bone-grinding training.
However, most commoner trainees who could not do so were unable to bear the tremendous costs and had to give up on becoming knights, turning their eyes instead to work as territorial guards or mercenaries. That was the reality for the commoners of Arcadia.
Gerald, too, had once dreamed of becoming a knight when he was young. But like most commoner children, as he grew older, he had to cleanly fold that dream away. After many twists and turns, he had joined the Kasim Mercenary Corps and gained powerful swordsmanship, but Gerald still cherished the dream of his childhood deep inside. And now, an opportunity to fulfill that dream was about to unfold.
But Gerald could not easily make a decision. When he thought of the comrades who had pushed and pulled him up to where he stood now, his heart grew heavy. If not for them, would he still be alive now? After considering it, Gerald shook his head.
‘If Captain Kasim hadn’t accepted me, I probably would have starved to death in a field.’
When Gerald, lost in thought, gave no answer, Krovitz grew increasingly anxious.
“Is it perhaps because our Duke Knights do not meet your expectations?”
“…”
“It is quite difficult for a foreigner to enter the Crosen Knights. That place accepts only Crosen people whose loyalty to the emperor has been confirmed. But our Duke Knights are different. Regardless of nationality, as long as one has the skill…”
Gerald quietly cut off Krovitz’s words.
“No, Captain. How could they not meet my expectations? That is far from the truth. Rather, I hardly know what to do with myself after hearing that you would accept me.”
“I-is that so? I am truly grateful you think that way.”
Gerald quietly lifted his gaze to the sky.
“Since childhood, my dream has been to become a knight of a formal knight order. The Duke Knights are truly far more than I deserve. Truly. To be honest, my desire to become a knight is overwhelming. However…”
“However?”
“I am a member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps. And I made a promise to die together with my comrades. Therefore, please forgive me for daring to refuse your offer, Captain.”
“But Kasim and Mitchell received titles in Penslot, did they not?”
“They are the leadership who guide the Kasim Mercenary Corps. But I am nothing more than an ordinary member. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to give you an answer. However, I will never forget your kindness, even in death.”
Gerald respectfully bowed his head.
“My comrades must be waiting, so I will take my leave now. Then…”
After giving a bow, Gerald turned around. Krovitz watched his back with regretful eyes. The vice-captains quietly maintained their silence. They, too, shared the same thoughts as Krovitz.
‘With that level of skill, it’s only natural to want him.’
‘Even if he is a Dragon Slayer, being a formal knight would be better than being a mercenary…’
When Gerald’s figure disappeared from sight, Krovitz let out a long sigh. But that did not mean he had completely given up.
‘We must bring that child into our ranks, no matter what.’
Having organized his thoughts, Krovitz turned around. The place he headed for was the residence of Duke Ferstein.