Chapter 67
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67
“So... are you saying you just winged it based on a hunch that day?”
“Well, something like that.”
Felicia arched an eyebrow at Lucian’s explanation.
A moment later, her voice drifted out, cold enough to make a winter wind feel warm.
“My Lord, what on earth were you thinking? If the trajectory of my blade had deviated even slightly from your prediction, you could have been sliced in half right then and there!”
“Hey, you were the one who used that method first. I just got the idea from watching you.”
“My situation is different because I can see mana! No wonder I couldn't predict your movements back then...!”
Even though it was a thing of the past, Felicia clutched her forehead at the sheer recklessness of Lucian’s actions. She seemed chilled to the bone at the thought that a single small mistake could have cost him his life.
“Sigh, what’s done is done. But please, never do something like that again.”
“Don’t worry. Unless there’s a talent I’m so desperate to recruit that I’d stake my life on it, I have no reason to—”
“You shouldn't do it even then!”
“Alright, alright. I get it.”
Lucian took a step back at Felicia’s firm shout. In truth, he wouldn't have taken such a risk if he hadn't known the Felicia from his past life, but he had no way of explaining that.
Only after securing her lord’s promise did Felicia nod, looking satisfied.
“Very well. I will teach you the sword as you wish. However, I am still a student myself, so please do not have high expectations. I might be good at learning, but I’m not very confident in my ability to teach.”
“Don’t feel pressured; I’m not asking for anything grand. I just need someone who can look at swordsmanship from a different perspective than others.”
Lucian forced a wry smile inwardly as he spoke. You were such a great teacher in my past life; what do you mean you aren't confident?
To be honest, Felicia had more of a knack for teaching than Sir Eisen did.
Despite having talent that surpassed Eisen’s, Felicia had a way of pinpointing exactly where those less gifted than her were struggling. Considering that geniuses often fail to understand the perspective of others, this was a talent in its own right. A great swordsman who also possessed the skill to teach meant they could raise high-level warriors.
“Above all, since my perspective is different from others, you’ll need to filter what I say appropriately. It might sound arrogant, but...”
“Actually, that’s exactly why I need your help.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that...?”
“You’ll understand once we trade a few blows.”
Lucian drew a wooden training sword and handed it to Felicia. Taken aback by the sudden spar, Felicia nonetheless began to lightly exchange strikes with him.
Clack, clack. After a few exchanges, Felicia’s eyes widened.
“My Lord, don’t tell me...!”
“It’s exactly what you’re thinking.”
Lucian gave a smirk as Felicia trailed off.
“I can see the same things you do now.”
With a flushed face, Felicia immediately led Lucian to the training grounds. She seemed genuinely delighted to share a perspective that no one else understood.
“If you see the same things I do, then you must know how to use these eyes.”
“Don’t you use them to see the enemy’s movements in advance and react?”
“That is correct. However, that method only works against knights of equal skill or those slightly better. If the opponent is significantly stronger, these eyes can actually become a poison.”
“...?”
When Lucian tilted his head in confusion, Felicia took a stance.
“It will be faster to show you directly. I will attack now, so try to block it.”
Lucian followed her instructions and took his stance. Even if the opponent had the same eyes, there was no way to block what couldn't be physically reached. However, Lucian could now see the movement of mana even from someone like Felicia.
Just as Lucian tried to react to the mana moving toward his vitals—
Whoosh!
“...!”
Lucian flinched as Felicia suddenly appeared within breathing distance. Before he knew it, he felt the cold touch of the wooden sword against his nape.
“Did you see it?”
“...I saw it. I just couldn't react to it.”
“Exactly.”
Felicia smiled and lowered her wooden sword.
“It’s easy to mistake these ‘eyes’ for being omnipotent. But if you rely on them too much, you might miss the moment to retreat. Because you can see the trajectory of the attack, you fall into the illusion that you can win no matter what.”
“So, just because I can see the trajectory doesn't mean I can block it.”
“Precisely. An ordinary knight would have realized the gap in skill the moment they saw it and looked for another way, knowing how foolish a direct confrontation would be.”
I see.
Because these eyes allowed one to overcome a moderate gap in skill, it was easy to fall into the trap of arrogance. It was invaluable advice. It would be truly stupid to choose a direct confrontation he would have previously avoided just because his vision had improved.
“Of course, you can’t always avoid a direct confrontation. There will be times when you must fight an opponent stronger than yourself. So, from now on, I will teach you how to truly use these ‘eyes.’”
“How to use them?”
“The movement of mana doesn't just show you the trajectory. The slight tremors, the thickness, the surrounding haze—all of it tells you the enemy’s speed, the power behind the attack, and the shifts in their blade.”
Felicia concentrated mana into her eyes as if telling him to follow suit. When Lucian did the same, the subtle changes she mentioned became even more vivid.
“This is good. But it’s a bit hard to distinguish. It’s too subtle.”
“You’ll get better as we practice together.”
“Practice? In what way?”
“By fighting a lot.”
Felicia gave a bright smile and gripped her wooden sword.
“From now on, I will attack you continuously. My Lord, you must watch my successive attacks and parry them with the correct timing.”
“...You aren't going to actually hit me if I fail, right? You’re going to pull your punches, right?”
“My Lord, my father said this when he taught me.”
Felicia spoke clearly, her face more serious than ever.
“Without the pain of failure, there is no progress.”
“....”
“Now, let us begin.”
Lucian shuddered as he watched Felicia’s mana flicker and surge like an explosion. For the first time since his reincarnation, he felt a slight pang of regret for his choice.
“Good work. Let’s call it a day.”
“Ugh...!”
The moment Felicia declared the end of the session, a groan escaped Lucian’s lips. It had been a week since the special training began. He had been hit so many times that he couldn't even tell where it hurt anymore.
Actually, since there isn't a spot that hasn't been hit, I guess everything just hurts.
Felicia’s training was so harsh that his previous life of leisure felt like a dream. It was so brutal that Lucian, who had suggested the training himself, had the words "let's just quit" at the tip of his tongue several times, pride be damned.
The problem was that the results of this hellish training were significant.
If there were no results, I’d have quit, but I can see myself improving every single day, so I can’t even do that.
Despite his grumbling, Lucian felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Through a week of special training, he could now utilize his ‘eyes’ perfectly. He could see not just the opponent’s movements, but also how much force they were putting into their charge and how they would react.
The same went for his swordsmanship. While his understanding of the forms remained the same, his hand-eye coordination and reflex speed had increased explosively.
At this rate, I won’t have to insist on ending things in a single strike. Instead of relying on instantaneous explosive power, it wouldn't be bad to purely exchange blows.
“I will say it once more: do not fall into the trap of arrogance.”
As if reading his mind, Felicia spoke with a serious expression.
“You have certainly become stronger, My Lord. And you likely want to test your newfound strength. But as I have said repeatedly...”
“If it’s a powerhouse I would have avoided before getting stronger, I should still be careful even after getting stronger. I know. Never let your guard down.”
Lucian accepted Felicia’s advice with total sincerity. He wasn't a knight who had dedicated his life to the sword; he was someone aiming to be a ruler. It would be beyond foolish to lose his life to a moment of competitive vanity.
“I was just thinking about the possibilities. Even if explosive power is my strength, I could be countered if the opponent is an expert in parrying techniques. For now, I should just be glad that my options have increased.”
“Yes, that is correct. It is dangerous to limit your tactics to a single method.”
At Lucian’s calm response, Felicia finally broke into a soft smile. A knight who was itching to test their skills was always the first to die. Without cold judgment, one would often perish before making a name for themselves, no matter how much power they had cultivated.
In that regard, Lucian was a lord she could feel relatively at ease with. Though he sometimes took surprisingly dangerous gambles, he never did so without a plan.
“Young Master.”
“Hmm?”
While Lucian was massaging his stiff shoulders, Hans approached with a tense expression.
“His Grace the Grand Duke is calling for you.”
After washing his sweat-soaked body and changing his clothes, Lucian headed to the Grand Duke’s office. Even as he walked, questions continued to pop into his head.
This is unexpected. Normally, Father wouldn't call for a private meeting with me in a situation like this.
Lucian was already dominating the competition for the next family head; calling him separately would only fuel rumors. It would be obvious to everyone that the next head had already been chosen. It wasn't like the Grand Duke, who usually gave his children fair opportunities while avoiding unnecessary misunderstandings.
Is it because of the suppression of the rebellion in Krepelt?
The continent had been shaken by the breaking of the Grand Accord and the Empire’s retreat, but the aftermath wasn't as severe as in his past life. This was because the Empire had preserved its strength and the First Prince was safe. However, since Krepelt had declared independence, the Empire couldn't just back down. For the sake of its prestige, it needed to reform the Allied Forces and crush them thoroughly.
It’s about time for a re-conquest. I suppose the Emperor had something to say to Father.
The Emperor had shown great favor toward Lucian during the previous suppression. It wouldn't be strange if he had specifically requested Lucian’s dispatch before the new Allied Forces were even formed.
It was with that conclusion in mind that Lucian faced the Grand Duke.
“A problem has arisen in the North.”
“...Pardon?”
Lucian tilted his head, wondering if he had misheard. To hear "the North" from the Grand Duke’s mouth, rather than the Emperor’s.
“Uh, Father. I apologize, but by the North, do you mean something related to my mother’s family?”
“Yes. That is why I called you.”
“I am already a Valdek. It is unfortunate that my mother’s line has ended, but to bring it up now...”
“It must seem sudden. I understand how you feel. The problem is that an undeserving fool has claimed the legacy that should be yours.”
“Legacy?”
“The House of Calix has recently been trying to rally the other families in the North. They claim they want to end the long-standing conflicts in the North and restore the glory of the old kingdom.”
Lucian had heard of the House of Calix. They were nowhere near the level of the House of Grimaldi, but they were a family with some recognition in the North. However, they were far from having the legitimacy required to place other families under their feet.
“They are being overly ambitious.”
“Indeed, it is an overreaching greed. They know that as well. That is likely why they are using the name of the House of Grimaldi instead of the House of Calix.”
“...!?”
Lucian blinked at the sudden mention of his mother’s family name.
Wait, the last bloodline of the House of Grimaldi was standing right here. Why was some upstart using that name?