◈ Episode 42. It’s Been a While Since I Held a Sword (2)
I was astonished.[Lion Heart Knight Order—Training Longsword][Grade: Rare][Restriction: Lv.200][Effect: On attack, has a very low chance of inflicting the status abnormality “Stun” on the opponent.][Description: A training longsword. Its edge is dull, lowering its lethality, but it was made with such exceptional craftsmanship that its performance surpasses most blunt weapons.]
As expected of the Lion Heart Knight Order, once called the strongest in the Empire.‘A training sword is Rare grade.’And its level restriction was a whopping level 200.
If I hadn’t taken down the Great Evil, I wouldn’t even have been able to equip this, would I?
That alone was surprising enough.
But that wasn’t why I was astonished.
“Actions resonate more than words. First, take it, Sir Hoyeol.”
The training longsword Harkon handed me.
The moment I gripped it.
Memories of last night suddenly flashed through my mind.
Push-ups.
Burpees.
Running.
Pull-ups……
That had been closer to abuse than training.
And the aftereffects of that abuse, the moment I gripped the heavy longsword,
began to make themselves felt intensely.……
I truly couldn’t help but be horrified.‘I really brought this suffering on myself. And real suffering at that!!’Forget pride—this is just foolishness, isn’t it?!
But if I had realized that.‘……
I wouldn’t have been in the second year of middle school.’Which meant I had no choice but to overcome it.‘Ugh, seriously!’I overcame the muscle pain and raised the sword.
Of course, I showed nothing.
With an expressionless face, I forced myself into a stance.
I had swung daggers plenty of times.
But this was the first time since becoming a player that I had held a proper sword like this.
It was only natural that I didn’t even know how to grip a longsword.
So I searched my memories.‘……
How did Harkon hold his sword again?’What shone this time as well was, of course, Granfell’s talent.
It was enough to make the phrase “the body remembers” feel real.
Just as Harkon had done in my memory,
I gripped the sword and lowered my stance.
Since I was practically a layman when it came to swords, it would be hard for me to judge accurately……. Still, it probably wasn’t a completely clumsy stance.
Maybe it was because I had perfectly imitated him.
Why, I couldn’t even feel any openings.‘More importantly.’Judging by those reactions.
“……
How can this be.”
“……!!!”
It wasn’t just Harkon.
The knights, who had each been resting, were staring at me as if bewitched.
And rather than shrink under that attention, wasn’t I the kind of person who enjoyed it?‘If only it weren’t for this damn muscle pain……!’Holding back the pain,
I moved smoothly into the next motion.
Swish—A diagonal slash.
This, too, was an imitation of Harkon’s strike.
Well, I didn’t know how it looked to others.
After all, this was imitation through and through.‘It’s the same as magic.’In short, this was another bottomless jar.
How many damned bottomless jars can there be?
I thought that inwardly, but there was nothing I could do about it.
Still, having a bottomless jar was better than having nothing at all.
In any case, I just had to fill it, didn’t I?
“……
Oh dear, I was lost in thought for a moment.”
Suddenly, Harkon shook his head.
Then he spoke to the knights who had been watching.
“Regular training ends here. Each of you, return to your duties.”
The knights dispersed in an instant.
Only Harkon and I remained.‘……
I don’t know what this is all of a sudden, but it’s a chance.’A chance to let my body, screaming with muscle pain, rest even a little.
By the way, now I understood why a training longsword was used for training.
Because it was this heavy.
Just swinging it would be strength training.
In any case, it was the moment I was about to put down the sword.
“Sir Hoyeol, you never cease to amaze me!”
“What do you mean?”
“No, it is nothing. Could you show me that sword strike once more?”……
Hey, Mr. Harkon.
Even you’re doing this to me?
I really feel like my shoulder is about to pop out……!
But for the noble Lord Granfell to whine?
Such a word didn’t even exist in his dictionary.
With pride that transcended even the flesh, I properly gripped the sword once more and swung it.
“As expected, my eyes were not mistaken.”
You can laugh?
That was what I wanted to ask.
But not only could I not do so, Harkon didn’t even give me the chance to speak.
“Sir Hoyeol, that sword strike was indeed an imitation of my movements, was it not?”
“As expected, you noticed, Sir Harkon.”
As expected of the captain of the Lion Heart Knight Order. The number level 600 was not just for show.‘To realize at once that it was nothing more than imitation.’However, I shamelessly continued speaking.
“If I desire to learn, it is only natural that I first familiarize myself with the fundamentals. However, the only foundation available to me was your swordsmanship, Harkon.”
To summarize it in one sentence, it was simple.
It meant that only swordsmanship at Harkon’s level was worth learning. This did.
If I had even a single swordsmanship-related skill, I could have at least tried to pass it off as being because of pride. But I had nothing, not even a speck……!‘What incredible bluffing.’But since this wasn’t the first or second time,
I withdrew the sword without changing my expression.
Clack—Even if he asked me to show it one more time, I couldn’t.
The joints of my fingers were still tingling.
Fortunately, there was no request for an encore.
Soon, Harkon spoke with a serious expression.
“If that is the reason, then I, too, have no choice but to be on edge. To think you wish to begin swordsmanship through me, Sir. That fact alone is no small burden…….”
His eyes seemed to burn with enthusiasm.
“Now that I know you possess innate talent, this is no longer something I can take lightly. It seems peaceful days are over!”
Peaceful days are over.‘For some reason, that sounds ominous?’No, more importantly, innate talent?
All I had shown him was a ready stance and sword strike imitating Harkon.
Was there anything in that from which he could discern talent?
“Even if one tries to imitate it, it is not something one can imitate.”
Saying that, Harkon gripped his sword.
He entered the ready stance I had taken moments ago.
As expected, was seeing once better than being told a hundred times?
The moment I saw it, I understood what he meant.‘……
It wasn’t my imagination.’It truly was a stance with no openings.
Because no gaps could be seen,
it was a stance that made it impossible to recklessly approach or retreat.
Yes, it was like the pressure of standing before a lion.
Harkon let out a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha. Do you understand now why the knights were so startled, Sir Hoyeol? This basic stance is the final stage the knights of the Lionheart strive to reach.”
He continued.
“You merely saw such a stance and copied it!”
Now I understood why he had called me innately talented.
But that was, strictly speaking, a misunderstanding.
“As expected, your vessel is beyond measure, Sir Hoyeol.”
It’s not a vessel, it’s a bottomless jar……!
But there was no way I could say that truth
with my own mouth.
“If that is what you think, then so it must be.”
It was a plain answer.
But I knew the meaning contained within it.
Why, it had been the same with magic.‘Just when I thought I was finally escaping from writing lines.’As if talent and effort were separate things,
I had been staying up every night.
Swordsmanship probably wouldn’t be much different.
That was why I couldn’t feel happy in the slightest.
My arms and legs trembled with muscle pain.
Because I was certain this pain was nothing more than a taste of what was to come.‘……
How lonely.’That there was no one who understood my struggles.
It was while I was thinking that.
“……?”
Suddenly, messages appeared.[You have completed training that surpassed your limits.][You have fulfilled the conditions.][Rewards will be issued.]
If it was a reward for training…….‘……
It’s a stat increase!’I immediately checked my status window.
[Strength]
and [Agility] had each risen by 2 points.
I take it back.
The only one who understands my grievances really is you.
Class quest!*Hoyeol had left the place,
yet Harkon could not easily calm his excitement.
“……
Haha.”
It was pure joy.
Not joy felt as the captain of the Lion Heart Knight Order, as the Emperor’s sword and shield, but joy felt as a single martial artist.
Yes, if he had to compare it, it was akin to the elation of a miner discovering raw ore.
“Who could possibly have imagined it?”
A mage.
And one skilled enough to come and go from the Magic Tower—Sir Hoyeol was a martial talent that would astonish the world!
Harkon was certain.
“……
What you should have held was not a staff, but a sword!”
Of course, Harkon knew nothing of magic.
However, no matter how exceptional Hoyeol’s magical talent might be,
it could not match such martial talent.
That was undoubtedly talent worthy of being counted on one hand across the entire continent.
Therefore, if he had to choose between the two,
Sir Hoyeol must choose martial arts.
That was the conclusion Harkon reached.
“Unintentionally, I have come to bear a heavy responsibility.”
He absolutely could not allow Hoyeol to become disappointed in his teachings and lose interest in martial arts as well.
That was why Harkon had said peaceful days were over.
“Rather than sitting idly, I should begin training myself.”
Still, what was positive was that Sir Hoyeol did seem to have interest.‘Especially in sword aura.’Thinking that, a possibility occurred to him.
“……
Surely he won’t immediately imitate and emit sword aura as well?”
Shake, shake—Harkon shook his head.
Yes, no matter what, that would be impossible.
Even if it were possible, he would have to stop him.
Because to handle sword aura, one absolutely needed the support of absolute stamina.‘Otherwise, one will be swung around by the sword aura.’Harkon’s eye was sharp.‘Of course, Sir Hoyeol did not show it.’Hoyeol’s arms had definitely been trembling faintly.
It was only natural.
Talent and stamina were separate things.
Regardless of that talent, had Sir Hoyeol not lived as a mage until now? It was no wonder his stamina was depleted merely from taking a stance and swinging a sword.
Harkon swallowed a groan.
“I apologize in advance, Sir Hoyeol.”
Still, did he not need to build basic stamina?
Thinking of making Sir Hoyeol undergo physical training
made his heart uneasy already.
In other words, it was something Harkon could never have imagined.
The reason Hoyeol’s arms trembled?
It was because he had completed, in a mere dawn,
a volume of training that even the Lion Heart knights of the world could not endure.
In other words, it was needless worry.
“It seems I should run with him. Only then will my mind be at ease.”
Of course, that unnecessary worry did not last long....
Hoyeol did not fall behind in the slightest.
His breathing was utterly calm.
There was not even the slightest sign of fatigue.
Harkon simply could not believe it.
In the end, he shouted.
“Sir Hoyeol, are you not far too different from yesterday?!”
Was this really the same Sir Hoyeol who had struggled so much with a single longsword?*Physical training was something I welcomed with open arms.─Train your weakened body. (Repeat) ▲●Run 20 km (Success)●Push-ups 1,000 times (In Progress)●Pull-ups 500 times (In Progress)●Burpees 300 times (In Progress)
Because I could complete the repeat quest without having to set aside time for it.
Still, there had been a reward for sweating every single day.
I might not know about my martial power, but when it came to stamina, I didn’t fall behind even compared to the Lion Heart knights.
Was it thanks to that?-……
Sir Hoyeol. It seems I had been greatly mistaken about you.
Harkon also seemed to think further stamina training was meaningless.
I felt regretful inside, but there was nothing I could do.
I had no choice but to keep sweating at dawn as I had been doing.
The Magic Tower’s research room.
Before sitting at my work desk,
I headed to the teacup on the reception table.
Beside it lay a magic tool, the [Simple Lamp].
Bubble, bubble—The moment I infused mana into its circuit, boiling water was produced.
As expected of a Magic Tower magic tool, its level was considerable.
“How fascinating.”
It did not make water boil, but immediately created boiling water. Inefficient yet high-level—just the sort of magic tool that suited the Magic Tower perfectly.
“Rocket delivery should take priority over such trivial things.”
I clicked my tongue in regret.
I steeped the green tea bag I had brought from home.
One sip.
After enjoying a leisurely teatime for only a moment,
I sat at my desk and checked the parchment.
As expected, there was news delivered.
By the way, whoever it was, they were quite impatient.
This was the first time I’d seen the sender’s name at the very front. For me.
—Senior Mage of Black Magic, Matis Dean Carl.
A senior mage.
Then there was no need to look at his business.─Prove your ability. (In Progress)●Convince a majority of the senior mages. (8/20)
He must be telling me to prove my ability.
I roughly understood what he was saying.
I would check the rest in a moment.‘More importantly.’Because the news I had been waiting for had appeared on the line below.
—These are the appraisal results for the magic tools you requested appraisal for: [Vampire Count’s Orb], [Pure Emerald Crystal], and [Island Treasure, Koi Scale Silk].
I immediately checked the contents.