Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.32 – The Knight is Being Reinforced (4)
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Irene Windler blinked in surprise.
"W-Why are they suddenly like that?"
The two men were abruptly preparing for a spar, leaving her—who had been innocently enjoying her dessert—in a state of bewilderment.
Irene was confused. Leira's reaction was...
"Because they're knights. Sparring to test their skills isn't anything unusual."
She responded gracefully, her attention focused solely on their movements.
She looked just like a model student studying diligently to learn even one more thing.
And she herself was now proudly proving that she was a knight candidate walking the path of the sword.
"I-Is that so?"
[Arin, if you can't understand it, just accept it. Knights duel without any particular reason.]
"...Yeah."
It was truly a barbaric culture that was hard for a mage—no, a modern person—to comprehend.
Well...
"...It's not bad, though, heh."
[Arin's into lats, huh? I prefer forearms.]
It wasn't unpleasant since it was easy on the eyes.
The girl and the ghost were intently watching the duel with different intentions.
"...Lady Irene is giving the instructor some burdensome looks."
"She does that sometimes. I'm used to it now, so I just let it be."
"Hmm, are you really okay with that? That's basically teasing."
"Teasing? What's there even to tease about?"
"......"
...What kind of denial was that?
Warriors who had reached a certain realm knew this, but physical training varied greatly depending on individual disposition and the weapons they used.
Those who wielded simple straight swords like him tended to have lean builds, while spear or greatsword users often developed massive upper bodies reminiscent of boars or bears.
In this way, physical development was a matter of choice, and possessing a body perfectly suited to oneself—rather than comparing to others—was the righteous path.
However.
'Even I'm impressed...'
There was something about Lee Han's physique that drew admiration just from its outline.
A 'special quality' that overwhelmed all advantages of disposition, weapon compatibility, and such.
What kind of training produced such a body?
'It's not muscle—it's armor.'
Crunch!
The dynamic movement of writhing muscles.
It was impossible to gauge how much power was compressed within, and it seemed like even an arrow would bounce right off.
'Similar to Uncle, but a different texture—a finished product.'
If Uncle Maximus's body was a masterpiece crafted by the heavens, then this was an ingot forged by enduring thousands, millions of pressures.
It was hard to declare one superior, and both were equally dangerous.
And moreover...
'Could it still grow further?'
...Hard to believe, but the instructor's body felt even more developed than before.
The already hyper-compressed ingot now had even higher 'density'?
"I'm curious what kind of training you've been doing."
"Fought a lot, ate well, and it just got trained up."
"...I'd love to call that nonsense, but if the instructor says it, it must be true."
"Jealous? Want me to train you?"
"No thanks. I have my own path."
Different from Uncle or the instructor.
He intended to walk the pure path of the swordsman.
Thus, steady growth from his current state was key; he shouldn't divert his gaze elsewhere.
Everyone had their own path.
Shing.
And as if proving his path was right, the atmosphere shifted the moment Roan drew his sword.
Whoosh!
The sword wind erupted as he unsheathed it.
It wasn't mere onomatopoeia; the sharp aura from his blade created a cutting gale, slicing nearby twigs in half with mirror-smooth cuts.
Man-Sword Unity.
Roan effortlessly displayed the swordsmanship realm where man becomes sword and sword becomes man.
A sword, literally.
Even without a sword in hand, he showed he could become a blade-sharp weapon incarnate.
Undoubtedly a realm higher than Sword Resonance.
"What do you think? Does the path I'm walking seem inferior to yours?"
"No, rather, a guy who digs one well deep is the scary one. Not to be taken lightly."
"Thank you for the high praise. Then..."
Whoosh!
"I'll go first—excuse me."
Roan's sword formed sword energy.
Sword Energy Expert—the wondrous pinnacle of his Fighting Technique unfurled, threatening his opponent.
Against an ordinary foe, they'd fail to respond properly and get cleaved in two.
Roan's sword energy was that sharp, brimming with the momentum to slice through all creation.
However.
Boom!
"Going lethal right from the start? Blocking it alone makes my bones ache."
"...The instructor blocking sword energy with his hand seems more lethal."
"Wanted to try it once. Won't do it twice, though. Do it twice, and I'd lose the hand."
"......"
Seeing his sword energy so casually blocked left Roan dumbfounded.
He'd thought it yesterday too, but this guy really...!
'An astonishing person.'
In every sense.
'Second time since the first class?'
Fighting this guy.
Since that first class day sparring with the arrogant cadets, it had been ages since he'd crossed blades with the sword boy.
He'd sparred plenty with others, but oddly, opportunities with him never arose.
'This guy's been slyly avoiding it.'
Regrettable for Lee Han.
Finally encountering a worthwhile opponent, yet no chances to spar.
But now, the sword boy held his blade, and Lee Han felt a pleasant satisfaction, like bringing home a stray cat that was finally playing with him.
Thus.
Slash.
"...You're wielding a hand axe instead of a wooden sword?"
"'Cause I think highly of you."
"...I'd rather pass on that evaluation."
Lee Han acknowledged this sword boy, so unlike with other cadets, he drew a bladed weapon instead of a wooden one.
Probably the first time.
Using a razor-sharp edge against a cadet, not a blunt or wooden sword.
But he saw him not as a mere cadet, but a full-fledged swordsman, hence the hand axe.
'Can't take him lightly; he's beyond cadet level.'
Yesterday was guesswork, but with his own growth, now he knew clearly.
Nobles called the sword boy 'Young Lion'?
Wrong expression—he declared it now.
'He's already a full-grown lion.'
In spear terms.
'Lv. 7 maybe?'
A hero-class fellow, stronger than most knight commanders—Lee Han held nothing back.
And so.
Hummm...!
"......"
"...Hoo."
They paused, glaring at each other in silence.
A probing phase, mutually acknowledging each other's skill.
No one showed an opening first; none could be found to strike.
Thus.
Whoosh!
Unable to find gaps, they forced them simultaneously by stepping forward.
"......Insane."
Jack, whose presence had been faint and unnoticed, trembled involuntarily watching their duel.
Not even a participant, just a spectator—yet his body tingled all over.
A terrifying clash.
'Can I ever reach that level someday, I wonder.'
Jack, Roan's subordinate since then, aimed to become a knight.
Born with assassin talent, he suppressed it to pursue the knight's path over the assassin's...
'Can I get there?'
He couldn't envision reaching their realm.
Maybe give up now and go back to the original path...
"-Watch while you eat!"
"...Th-thank you."
As negative thoughts swelled, a maid handed him drinks and fruit, startling Jack for another reason.
'C-couldn't sense her presence at all...!'
Even his lord Roan couldn't evade his presence detection— what was this maid?
"Um, I don't know much, but who's winning right now?"
"Y-Yes!?"
"Hehe, I can't tell who's got the edge."
"Ah, well..."
But before he could think, she seized control.
Somehow resisting her request felt impossible; unaware himself, Jack began explaining.
"F-First off, my lord—no, Young Master Roan—is pressing forward. With fast, precise combos, not giving the opponent any chance to attack."
"Ooh, so the instructor's at a disadvantage?"
"...No. The instructor is... blocking every single attack... with such composure."
As he explained, Jack's jaw dropped.
The instructor blocked his lord's fluid combos effortlessly.
Each strike was lethal; Jack himself would be rolling on the ground pathetically if he tried blocking.
But was the instructor struggling?
'Blocking too easily.'
Astounding.
It was like...
His lord was a swarm of bees, unable to pierce the instructor's iron wall, forced into a stalemate.
'Even with sword energy-coated slashes...'
Sword energy wasn't just cutting power; it boosted might, speed, force, penetration—like cheating.
Yet none worked; Jack was simply amazed by the instructor.
'...Indestructible!'
Before Roan's subordinate, he was one of the instructor's disciples.
He'd learned formally, so he could roughly guess the technique blocking the sword energy.
'Not just Indestructible— an application using it.'
Ha!
Admiration welled up.
Jack thought the instructor's techniques were already perfect, yet they had room to evolve.
Different from awe at his lord's talent.
For the instructor, it was...
'A pathfinder showing the way.'
Like guiding the path.
Showing that effort, or aspiring to a certain knight type, led to strength.
It would take time, but someday...!
"Hope you become a fine knight."
"!!?"
"Keep it up."
"......"
The maid vanished with light steps.
As if her business was done.
Jack felt like he'd been visited by a fairy, murmuring unconsciously.
"...That lady's no ordinary person either."
The instructor's circle had no normals.
Jack stuck out his tongue in realization.
...With a refreshing smile different from before.
Boom!!
Hummm!
Dust billowed as the ground flipped.
Roan's sword energy unleashed massive impact—a powerful, condensed strike unlike prior probes.
Yet.
"...Can't you at least pretend it hurt?"
"The shock lingers, but it's just that? More importantly, what was that technique?"
"......"
He was unscathed.
Roan even suspected he wasn't fighting a man, but a giant.
'Even frost giants aren't this tough.'
Exasperating durability.
As a wry smile formed.
"...Gotta watch the peanut gallery a bit."
"?"
"That guy, the maid cheered him up, or it'd be bad. Looked like he was heading toward blackening pre-stage."
"What's blackening?"
"Going astray."
"...I'm shocked and deflated that you have the leisure to eavesdrop while dueling me."
"Not that. I fight while seeing the whole picture. You need to fix that—focusing too much on the opponent is a bad habit. Always spread your awareness broadly."
"......"
"Charging straight ahead is good, but try expanding your vision. Otherwise, regret later."
"...I'll keep that in mind."
Roan nodded deeply.
Sensing this lesson was exactly what he needed now.
'Was I about to repeat a mistake...'
No leisure to check surroundings, lacking panoramic vision.
A flaw he'd heard before.
Not now, but before rewinding time...
He'd vowed no more narrow sight, yet... he was still green.
'Jack could indeed go astray.'
He'd urged Jack to suppress his innate talent and become a knight.
To redeem the one fated as the 'Temple's Hidden Dagger.'
But without continued care, he might revert to 'that time.'
Thus, Roan reflected.
Striving to avoid past mistakes, only to neglect the effort—what folly.
"Sigh, people always repeat idiotic mistakes."
"That's why you keep advisors around."
"Yes, I agree."
One was right in front of him.
A master pointing out his flaws...
'Ha, thought I'd never have a master in this life.'
Another arrogant prejudice shattered.
"Saying this now, but enrolling in the academy seems like a good choice."
"Suddenly?"
"Got to meet the best master."
"...Kid, flattery doesn't suit you."
He said that, but wore a pleased expression.
Then suddenly.
"That technique earlier—condensing sword energy, right? Kinda like [Thunder Drop]."
"...Influenced by Uncle, yes."
So he'd dueled Uncle and even seen Thunder Drop.
'Uncle took the duel seriously—wonder the outcome...'
Maximus, the strongest knight he knew.
Hard to imagine defeat, yet the instructor stood unharmed after seeing it—
'Maybe a draw...'
...Roan tried to conjecture, but alas, he couldn't continue.
Because.
"........."
......Too shocked,
Roan gaped blankly.
For the first time, his composure cracked into a foolish look—but unavoidable now.
Flash!
"-I can't use sword energy as naturally as you. Talent lacking, no finesse like yours. But I can sorta do sword energy-ish stuff, and fighting your uncle taught me manipulation."
How could one not act the fool?
─His axe blazed with light, hotter and brighter than Roan's own sword energy.
"Sword Energy into Gang. Shorten to 'Sword Gang'—that thing you used."
"......"
"Not a bad name, right?"
"...Ha."
Sword energy crystallized—not a star at the tip?
Roan couldn't tear his eyes from the power manifesting on the axe, thinking.
Perhaps...
─Not a draw after all.