Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Swordsman Guild
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The day after registering at the guild.
Morning brought the start of full-fledged lessons.
Unlike my sluggish body and fatigued mind, I was filled with immense anticipation. This might just be the once-in-a-lifetime chance for me, Kim Katt, to truly become a powerhouse.
Of course, learning some basic swordsmanship for a mere five silvers wouldn't suddenly trigger some divine opportunity and turn me into a Swordmaster. But it was clear that I'd gain enough skill to boast quite a bit in the lowly adventurer scene. Most adventurers lacked any potential for growth anyway. They had little interest in self-improvement.
In that context, investing money to learn something would definitely put me ahead.
I could already picture myself strutting around lower-ranked adventurers. It was impossible not to get excited. If I truly got strong, even Winia wouldn't dare mess with me recklessly.
That's what power was. In this world where power was everything, you needed it to live like a human being.
"Swordsmanship basically comes in two types."
Karin, who had been sitting on an oak barrel wiping down her sword with a white cloth, spoke up. Her blade gleamed with a sharp edge, looking extremely high-quality. The purple sheen on the sword body suggested it was made from one of those rare metals I'd only heard about.
This world had minerals utterly different from modern Earth—mithril, adamantium, orichalcum, and the like. I didn't know much, but swords made from those were said to slice through people like tofu, turning into unimaginably deadly weapons.
"Two types, you say?"
Anyway, I tore my eyes away from her chest and focused on the lesson. It was distracting, but I hadn't paid for this just to ogle her boobs, so I reined in my lust.
"Yeah. Two."
Two... At that word, I swallowed hard.
If this crazy woman suddenly spouted nonsense about a sword for saving lives or protecting others, I'd foam at the mouth and pass out right there.
Please, no... That kind of con artist bullshit was something any middle schooler could spout.
I'd paid five silvers to learn killing techniques for self-defense, not to hear crap like that.
"No more, no less—just master this, and you'll survive as a sword-for-hire."
"Oh? Is that so?"
What exactly was it?
The way she said it with such weight made me think she might preach some truth like "cut flesh, sever bone" where winning was all that mattered. Personally, I figured it was some timeless cheat key like "strike first to win" or "backstab."
No matter the situation, the guy who draws and swings first takes half the advantage. It was an absolute truth that pierced through worldly affairs, practically my personal creed. When skills were equal, the first strike always had the edge.
"Alright, let me explain. There are exactly two types of swordsmanship. One for killing people, the other for killing monsters. And swordsmanship is the skill of protecting yourself while killing your enemy. Keep that in mind."
"..."
At that sensible statement, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was on edge thinking it'd be some letdown martial philosophy, but this is surprisingly practical. You had me worried."
"What do you take our guild for?"
Whether facing humans or monsters, both seemed like simple sword swings at a glance, but their principles were worlds apart. There were huge differences in killing people versus monsters.
For example, the difference between a cockatrice and a bandit in appearance.
They actually looked somewhat similar, making them hard to tell apart, but creatures fought according to their build. Those with arms and hands used weapons, while cockatrices with beaks used those. The ways to deal with them were obviously different.
"Swordsmanship is a martial art researched to kill opponents efficiently. If you don't kill them, you die. But even if you kill the enemy, if you're injured, it means nothing. So swordsmanship starts from the question: How can I kill with this sword without getting hurt myself?"
Ooh... Not bad.
"No matter what... as long as I don't get hurt and kill the opponent, that's swordsmanship?"
"Exactly. You get it quick. Good."
It felt just like cosmic CQC.
Hearing it made my head nod on its own.
Sure, killing the enemy meant nothing if I ended up wounded and bled out. Reality wasn't a game. No matter how many kills you racked up, if you died, it was all over. So I had to survive.
"Kids these days chase flash over substance and overlook that truth. Fancy techniques, flashy swings... Pathetic. They're useless. Cleaner to just neatly sever the neck than those impractical moves."
Hearing her casually drop psycho lines made Karin seem more trustworthy by the second.
True sword enthusiasts were always a bit off—that's who you trusted. Who'd think a guy specializing in a tool for killing was normal? Being a few screws loose was more natural. Even classic manga like Rurouni Kenshin featured plenty of those types.
"Anyway, which one do you want to learn? Training lasts a month. Pick one."
"Huh? Just one?"
"Can't teach both in a month."
Even a royal knight instructor couldn't, Karin added.
"Learning one gives you a feel for the other, but there's a difference in expertise. So, your choice?"
"Hmm, then..."
What to pick?
With only one skill point, it felt like choosing between two options. Human swordsmanship or anti-monster swordsmanship. As an adventurer, I mainly made my living hunting monsters. So maybe the monster one...
"This armor I'm wearing."
I stroked the iron breastplate I'd looted recently.
Taken from a bandit. Something you couldn't even dream of affording by just hunting monsters diligently. I still remembered that thrill.
"Got this off one bandit I killed."
"Oh? For real? You're better than you look."
"Truth is, isn't this an era where people are scarier than monsters? Monsters are whatever—you can handle them somehow. But run into someone with malicious intent, and it's real danger. So teach me how to slice people."
I'd always preferred PvP over PvE in games. Stacking buffs for boss time attacks meant nothing if you had crap controls. Control was what mattered—true skill.
Beyond that, people were scarier than monsters anyway. It was an age of murderers running rampant. Monsters could be killed easily enough, so anti-human swordsmanship for self-defense made more sense.
"Good choice. Then I'll teach you anti-human swordsmanship."
Karin hopped down from the barrel and grabbed what looked like a training iron sword from the rack behind her. Blunt-tipped and edgeless—odd design.
"Alright, shall we spar?"
"Like a skill test?"
"Yep. Draw your sword."
Karin unbuckled her purple sword from her waist and dropped it to the ground. Draw mine?
"Huh? Spar with real swords?"
"You want to learn people-slicing? Real swords are more efficient. Don't worry—it's my specialty. Come at me full force."
Her confidence let her say dumb stuff like facing a real sword with a training one. Feeling trust, I drew mine.
"With killing intent."
"For real?"
"Good spirit. By the way, if you wound me, full refund. No one's ever marked me since the guild started."
"Got it."
With her signal to start, I charged. Ambush was the best tactic; first strike the shortest path to victory. My full-power vertical slash exploded forth. A merciless blow leveraging my natural size, weight, and gender-based strength advantage.
Shiiik!
Thud!
"Ack!"
But my sword was easily blocked, and the blunt tip halted before my throat. Oh, fuck... In a real fight, my neck would've been slit right then.
"Get it?"
"In-insane... counter."
"Again."
I swung at empty air about ten more times after that. I ditched wasted motions, aiming for max efficiency while watching for her first counter, but every time, I got countered or stabbed before even swinging. No way to cope. Every bout ended before I could slash once.
Wow, this was bullshit. Karin was the real deal. No matter how hard I tried, nothing landed. All attacks ended fruitless in under a second, followed by a counter that would've taken my life in combat.
Honestly, if some guy identical to me attacked like that, I'd have no answer—just leave it to luck.
But she dominated me perfectly despite the huge height difference and training sword handicap... A true powerhouse. This world had knights who reinforced their bodies with mana besides mages. Was she one? But it didn't feel like she used enhanced strength.
Pure swordsmanship crushed me.
Street brawls were all I'd known—this was shocking.
"How's that? Getting the feel?"
"I get you're fucking amazing, but no feel yet. How'd you do it? I saw everything."
"Hmm... Thrust at their movements. The crossguard protects your hands, so just raise right and you're safe. Boldly. Swordplay starts where blades tangle."
I listened. Thrusting while reading their sword sounded easy but needed crazy dynamic vision and reflexes. Training for that? Some old-school shit. Seemed tougher than expected.
"Your motions are big. Sloppy. Normal for a newbie. Against equals maybe fine, but anyone with basic training? Dead in one second like before."
"Yeah, no one I've fought used a sword that well."
"Obviously. You'd be dead already if they had."
"True."
She raised the training sword again.
"Key is muscle memory. Memorize counters, build reflexes. Most important. Watch and mimic."
Karin thrust upward, twisting only her wrists to lay the blade sideways. I awkwardly copied. Unsure if good, but she grabbed my wrist, adjusting position like it needed slight fixing.
"Higher. Wrist more sideways."
"L-like this?"
"Yeah, that feel for now. Again."
Repeating a few times got me a decent form.
"Good. That'll do. I'll do a slow vertical slash—use that move."
"Vertical slash?"
"Slow, so don't flinch. Hesitation in blade fights is when your head rolls. Got it?"
A bit scary, but she slowly positioned for a vertical slash. I watched, then thrust up, laying my blade sideways.
Ssshh.
Her blade slid down mine, stopped by my crossguard. Mine aimed at her forehead. Exactly what she'd done to me.
"Whoa? Oh, ooh...!"
This shit!
"Well done. See? If they blindly swing full force vertical, counter like that."
I was blown away! I'd never known this. Honestly, didn't even know why crossguards existed—turns out for deflecting blades like this. Unimaginable.
"Against sword noobs, one-shot. Brutes relying on strength? Counters rule."
Total mindfuck.
"That's swordsmanship. Feel it? Motivated?"
"Hell yeah! Five silvers well spent! Can I call you Guildmaster now?"
"Sure, sure."
And so, my days of training began.