Chapter 12
Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Land of Adventurers, Serenia
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kaseun was a really cool guy who kept his word. Though Judah had no idea what the hell he'd misunderstood, he felt like he'd just enlisted in the army and been thrown into boot camp. Like a drill instructor in a black cap, Kaseun dragged Judah through hell on the training grounds, proving that hell wasn't far away at all.
If not for the stamina he'd built up beforehand, he might've stuck out his tongue and collapsed on the field.
Kaseun's lessons lasted three hours a day. Short, if you thought about it, but an eternity when you were the one moving.
The first hour was "warm-ups"—running laps around the training ground until all his stamina was drained. Then, in the second hour, he picked up a wooden sword. At first, it was just repeating simple swings, slashes, and upward cuts. But after a few times, he naturally realized why.
The sword's path wasn't clean. If you imagined drawing a line, it wobbled jaggedly through the air.
Reality differed from games, and his body couldn't keep up with his mind. It was natural, but bitter all the same.
However, the trait [Blessing of the 1st Sovereign], [War God], and the buff from gazing at Yophiel's statue in the cathedral enabled faster growth than others. After about two weeks, he could cleanly trace all eight directions. Seeing this, Kaseun praised his talent and worked him even harder. But it was beneficial. He could clearly feel the difference between having a master and not.
Exhausted, but he felt his skills improve daily. After the grueling three-hour session, he'd return home, rest a bit, then head to the second floor to practice Shadow Heresy Arts alone, crafting artifacts and drilling dual-wielding.
A Shadow Magic Swordsman, due to skill traits, held a dagger reverse-grip in the left hand and a longsword or bastard sword in the right. Without decent strength and agility, it was highly inefficient, but to maximize skill effects, there was no choice. He wasn't practicing dual-wielding just for show or style.
Every day like that. Whenever he had time, he trained. With nothing else to do, boredom drove him to move. Laughably, training all day had boosted one stat window impressively.
[You've operated mana daily without rest. The efficiency was brutally basic, but it worked. Mana increased by 6.]
[Through relentless stamina training, Strength and Stamina stats each rose by 5 total. However, it seems basic training alone won't yield further gains.]
One year. One whole year. No level-ups, but stats rose satisfyingly.
Hilariously, even knowing this world was real, seeing a stat go up felt like scoring loot in a game. The sense of accomplishment was beyond words. To squeeze out even a little more, he trained alone on the second floor as usual today.
The second floor had two rooms; he emptied one completely. So he could swing his sword at empty air daily without anyone watching.
"Hoo..."
After a deep breath, he activated the skill.
—Shadow Heresy Arts
—4th Form: Lesser Black Artifact Creation
Mana drained as black energy rose like heat haze from his hands.
The mana clumped together, soon forming a longsword in one hand and a dagger in the other. Slowly, he imagined a virtual foe ahead. The opponent: that mercenary he'd killed here three years ago. Easiest to visualize. He took stance and swung.
Whoosh!
The axe that had swung at his head by the bed savagely cleaved the air, blocking the imagined attack. He practiced how to swing naturally, how to thrust for easy counters, assuming such scenarios.
'Not enough.'
But lately, this training no longer satisfied. Stats hadn't budged in a month.
Nothing more to gain from this. Sweat poured like rain as he drilled for ages, but one unsatisfying swing shattered his focus.
The imagined mercenary blurred and vanished.
"Haa."
Frustration drew a sigh from deep in his chest. His mind brimmed with ingrained knowledge of Shadow Sword Arts and Heresy Arts, but no practice target. He kept them secret from everyone, so no way to find one. Well, one way existed.
"...Should I head outside the castle?"
South of Serenia Castle: white wolves and black wolves fought over territory. West: crawling with monsters. North led to the knight nation <Phloria>. For his age and experience, only east or south worked. He released the longsword and dagger, disrupting mana supply; they decomposed to molecules and melted away like snow.
First, a wash. Heading downstairs, stretching his stiff body, Judah spotted movement by the window.
"Hm?"
Blinds blocked outside views, but sunlight cast a thick shadow on them. Rustling sounds too.
A thief?
But thieves wouldn't announce themselves like that. Kids again, like a year ago?
He approached and lifted the blind.
"!"
Two faces appeared; Judah startled. Two kids dangled from the window frame. The boy: blond, handsome. The girl: strange pink-tinged hair. The boy knocked twice, like asking to open the door.
'...Cain Sabrak?'
Kaseun Sabrak's grandson. Later chosen by the temple, wielder of Gabriel's sword—or in this world, a Perlneirn fragment—the hero.
'And the protagonist of the game I made.'
He'd seen him around the mansion a few times. How long had they been here?
The boy grinned brightly at him, knocking insistently. The girl beside him grimaced, teeth clenched, looking ready to fall. Judah wiped sweat from his brow with his hand and opened the window.
No sooner than he did, Cain Sabrak vaulted in with a nimble "Hyup!" landing lightly, dusting hands, scanning the room.
"Wow, this your place? Clean. Totally different vibe from the mansion."
"...Help me, Cain."
The girl, arm hooked on the frame, pleaded with a pout. Cain ignored her, strolling inside—still wearing shoes. Judah's eye twitched. But before scolding, he helped the girl first.
"Thanks."
Relieved after climbing over, she shot Cain a resentful glare and approached. Judah blocked her.
"Why?"
"Shoes off. You too."
They tilted heads, glanced at his feet—bare. They pondered briefly, nodded, removed shoes, and placed them by the entry per his instructions. They seemed fascinated walking barefoot. Judah grabbed a rag, wiped the footprints, then eyed the kids.
Three years of glimpses, no greetings. First real talk today.
"What brings you here?"
If they had a purpose, why knock on the window?
"Uh, wanted to spar?"
Cain grinned mischievously. Unexpected.
He'd guessed errands or curiosity, not sparring.
So surprising, words failed momentarily.
"Heard from Grandpa. You handle the sword pretty well now, right?"
"What?"
"Didn't care before, but he praised you a lot. Got me wanting to fight you. So, wanna spar?"
Judah stared blankly at Cain. Unlike the girl scanning the room, Cain met his eyes straight on. Eyes so clear, they seemed impossibly pure.
'As expected, the hero chosen by oracle later.'
Or just kid purity.
"Why? Don't wanna?"
Cain asked, puzzled at the silence.
Aren't you itching to spar too? Why stand there after craving it?
His gaze seemed to say that. ...Couldn't test Shadow Sword Arts, but sparring experience mattered. Yeah, perfect opportunity.
"Sure, let's do it."
"Awesome! Let's go to my place now! Grandpa's out, so we can spar secretly!"
Cain dashed back to the window and hopped out. Ignoring the perfectly good door. The girl seemed equally baffled. She sighed.
"Idiot... Should've known when he said come over."
Too focused on Cain to examine her closely.
"Liel! I went out without shoes! Wait by the door!"
Cain's voice from outside.
"Then why'd you go out the window?!"
She scowled, grumbling irritably.
Cute girl with striking light pink hair. Grown up, she'd turn heads, if she stayed this way. And surprisingly, faint mana emanated from her petite frame.
'Mage?'
Right, her name was Liel. He remembered.
First companion NPC. Cain Sabrak's childhood friend, <Liel> from Rangritis Magic Tower.
Leaves Serenia as average D-rank mage, but becomes A-rank tower lord later. Valuable early-game mage companion; many kept her mandatory. Feeling his gaze, Liel turned with a sulky glare.
"What? Got something to say?"
"Nah, just wondered if you'd go out the window too."
"Don't lump me with that idiot Cain! Climbing through in a skirt was embarrassing enough!"
Puffing cheeks in utter disgust, Judah chuckled at Liel.
"I'm Judah."
"...Liel."
Names exchanged, Cain called from outside to hurry.
Liel tugged his clothes.
"Like I said? We go out the normal door. The door. Door!"
* * *
──────────────────────
Tip 7. Spirit Sword refers to layering a new edge onto a weapon's blade—be it sword, spear, or arrow—using mana. But adding an edge to a blade is basic for warriors, like body reinforcement.
Basic mana blades from warriors just boost durability and sharpness. They can't be projected.
Spirit Sword differs. Unlike faint glows, it shines vividly and projects with power to shatter gates. Slices rock like tofu. That's Spirit Sword.
Those who wield such Spirit Swords, we honor as:
Spirit Sword Owners.
──────────────────────
「Status Window」
[Name: Judah Arshet]
[Title: None]
[Level: 4]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden A)]
[Revives: 1]
[Strength: 32 (D) / Potential A]
[Stamina: 31 (D) / Potential S]
[Agility: 27 (D) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 37 (C) / Potential B]
[Magic Resist: 51 (B) / Potential S]
[Knowledge: 13 (F) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 79 (B) / Potential A] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 3]
──────────────────────
========== Afterword ==========
Spirit Sword Owner is just Sword Master.
Anyway, guys, why are you doing this to me?!
Misunderstanding—I am a newbie writer.
First time posting in "Fusion," right?