Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: 1 Gold
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"Oh man, Guild Master, how've you been?"
"Hm?"
I pushed open the guild's front gate, and there was Karin sitting on her usual oak barrel, sharpening her blade. It was a rare metal two-handed sword gleaming purple. I waved to her.
"Last time I saw you was when I brought the staff, right? Been slicing up any people since then?"
"No, damn it. What kind of question is that?"
I'd cut down three more since then.
The training grounds looked pretty empty overall. A few bald guys swinging swords at the air were the only ones around. Business must really be slow lately—no new recruits. Sales were tanking.
Karin hopped down from the barrel and walked over. She glanced at Cloudy behind me, then asked,
"Who's the lady back there?"
"Oh, my girlfriend. Hey, Cloudy, this is the Guild Master."
Karin and Cloudy faced each other.
Hm, looking at them, a question popped into my head. Who'd win between the two? Karin was seriously strong, but so was Cloudy. Age-wise, Cloudy probably had more experience.
"...Pleased to meet you. Cloudy, was it?"
Karin spoke first after sizing her up.
"Nice to meet you too. What should I call you?"
"Just Karin."
"Got it, Karin it is."
They exchanged greetings. The looks they gave each other weren't exactly friendly—true experts recognizing experts. Made me wonder who'd win if they fought. I'd love to see it.
Cloudy whispered to me.
"Katt, she seems solid. Someone like her can teach you right. Good, I'm relieved. Glad I came to check."
"R-Really?"
She'd already figured it out that fast?
Karin gave me a look, so I walked over. She glanced around cautiously and asked quietly,
"Your girlfriend?"
"Pretty, right?"
"..."
Karin went silent at my brag.
"This doesn't make sense... How the hell did you land someone that skilled..."
She stared at my face like she was dissecting it.
"What kind of crap luck lets you snag a powerhouse like that... No, your body's decent, so if you just cut your hair, maybe? It's freaking weird. What the hell happened?"
"Eh, stuff happened. Oh, right. Black Mage Risha's doing well, by the way. She sends her regards."
"Oh yeah? Don't care about that bitch, but whatever..."
Karin's expression was odd.
Personally, I thought of myself as ridiculously handsome, but Karin clearly didn't agree. She kept scanning my face with suspicion, like she couldn't buy it.
"Anyway, why'd you come after so long?"
"To learn swordsmanship, obviously. Got some money now."
"Ho, really? Fuck yeah, you're a godsend. No one's signing up—driving me nuts. Those bastards at the next-door Martial Artist Guild are running some discount crap. No business ethics at all."
She sighed.
In life-or-death fights, martial artists were just trash. The idea that real men knock enemies down barehanded was everywhere. Pathetic losers. I pictured that martial artist getting ripped apart by an ogre.
"They're like the handicapped. Fist techniques have value, but they don't beat sword skills."
"Exactly what I mean. But kids these days don't get it."
Karin had a lot pent up. Everyone, stop wasting money on that martial artist guild crap and learn the sword. Same skill level, the one with a weapon always wins.
Grabbing an enemy's sword with grappling hands was impossible unless you were a top-tier master. No matter how skilled a fist master, they couldn't beat a sword master.
As Karin grumbled about martial artists being worthless, she suddenly clapped.
"Oh yeah. Heard a rumor a barbarian took down an ogre. You?"
She had ears everywhere.
"Well... to be precise, I was bait. Lady Isvant landed the killing blow. That's how I made the money."
"Nothing but miracles. Did I teach you that well?"
"Nah. Didn't use sword skills against the ogre at all. The stamina training helped, though."
It was a string of surprises for me too. Anyway, with money in hand, I had to learn from Karin.
"Whatever, you brought cash, so let's get to it. Place is empty, so we can start now..."
"Hold on."
I turned to Cloudy. She'd already sat in the shade. She waved when our eyes met.
"I'll watch from here!"
"Make sure you do! Alright, Guild Master, here's your pay."
I pulled 5 silvers from my pouch and handed them over. She pocketed them casually and said,
"What do you wanna learn? Month-long intensive again? Super slow right now. Oh, but if newbies join, I'll have to split time, so might get bumped sometimes."
Karin took a wooden sword and got into stance. I reached for one too, but she shook her head. Like last time, real swords are best for training. Shing. I drew my bastard sword with a sharp ring.
"Doesn't matter. Got tons of time. For today... same as before, against people. Monsters are easy with basic stamina and strength, but humans are different."
"Smart thinking. Killing monsters is pointless. Swordsmen exist to kill people."
I got into stance too. Low guard, sword pointed forward.
Karin let out a small hum of approval.
"Hm, got some edge to it... Sliced some people, huh? Nice. Nothing beats murder for improving. Kill whenever you get the chance. You need that feel to advance. Feed that blade blood."
Aiming her wooden sword at me, Karin spouted serial-killer nonsense. Just listening felt like it was corrupting my mind. Mercenary upbringing, alright—twisted values.
She truly believed only real kills built true skill. I didn't disagree entirely, but I'd appreciate if she knew I still had qualms after a few kills.
One wrong step, and I'd end up dead in hell. Eight kills so far—still on the safe side, barely.
"That's some psycho shit. How many people have you killed?"
"Dunno... If you can count, you're a rookie. Let's go."
Pa-at!
I lunged with a thrust straight at her face. She easily raised her sword and twisted my blade aside.
Chaeng!
But swordplay doesn't end there. I twisted my wrist, swung around, and aimed the other edge at her temple. Blocked easily, and her wooden tip was at my throat before three seconds passed.
"I saw it all, but that was decent. Sudden face thrust is tough to handle. Rookies panic and collapse. Dead right there."
"I see."
"You need training to defend and counter after a miss. You've got the grit, so let's drill offense-defense."
Like muscle memory. Attack like this, parry that way. Counter from there, parry their counter, transition to attack. We repeated for ten minutes straight, no breaks.
"Getting the feel?"
"Huff... huff... Kinda. I get it, but can't go further."
Dancing with swords nonstop drained me. Sweat poured down my forehead. Karin? Not a drop.
"A month is plenty... I'll get you to four exchanges against my half-effort. You're at two now."
"What level is that, specifically?"
Four against her half-effort.
"Dunno, but for adventurers, not quite C-rank. Those are trained. Like battle-hardened mercs or standing army. You're a bit short. Lacks real combat."
As always, C-ranks were legit strong.
Per Karin, C-rank matched seasoned mercs who lived by killing in wars. Shows how tough. Survive by killing, killing, killing.
Coldly, I wasn't there yet.
Maybe low D-rank at best.
"You've killed, but never fought equals, huh?"
Karin nailed it while I pondered. True. My kills were ambushes, rocks, or weaklings—no fair duels to the death.
"Yeah. Looking back, all ambushes, rocks, or weaker foes."
"That's the gap. Catch bandits or bounties alive to build experience. Fighting equals head-on is good too."
Fair fights weren't my style. I avoid stronger foes. Against people, I hold back unless I'm sure I'll win. Or run.
Even fighting, I throw rocks or sand.
If not, gang up. Win by any means. Ugly? Nah, beautiful (total lie). That's true martial arts to me.
"Sounds scary as hell. I don't do that. Learning sword's just for self-defense. And you're the one who said victory by any means is swordsmanship—now this?"
"You're talented. Waste not to try."
"Maybe if chance comes... but I'll dodge it."
No plans to actively kill more. Life was shaky enough; a few extras might push me past Cloudy's comfort into no-return territory.
This insane chat felt like Teletubbies. Anyway, she was basically a pro serial killer. No good lingering.
"One more. Come at me. Then stamina training."
We sparred more with Karin. Picked up some real gains. A month should ingrain it. After, I asked Cloudy,
"How was it?"
"Hm, she was amazing? Perfect."
"Yeah?"
She seemed more pleased than me, so I suggested running together. We ran forever, then strength training. Stamina work till past noon.
Post-workout, stripping upper body, my pumped muscles made me mutter,
"Muscles jacked as fuck."
"Huh? What?"
"Nothing."
Leaving the guild, it was still midday.
Timing was awkward. Morning training left afternoons free. Nothing to do, so I tagged along with wandering-loving Cloudy, poking around town. Basically a date.
Wonder if I'll blow all my cash like this.
Anyway, that's how I spent the month.