Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Training (2)
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Elnor and Eliya had both reached a transcendent level in swordsmanship.
One was a person who could destroy the world, and the other was a person who could save it, so it made sense that they'd excel in their main discipline.
That was the harsh lesson I was ruminating on right now.
That one's own talent and the talent for teaching others were completely different things.
"So why the backstep there! Come on, use that brain crammed in your skull!"
"Are you calling this swordsmanship? It looks more like flirting than fighting. Trying to seduce the enemy or something?"
"..."
Watching the two of them trade brutal barbs like that made my head throb.
More precisely, they were locked in a heated debate over my 'curriculum.'
They were so passionate about it that everyone in the training hall was staring at us, wondering what the hell was going on.
'...It started off pretty amicable at first.'
The discussion had begun with mutual respect and courtesy, but now it had devolved into personal attacks.
'Now that I think about it, it's always been like this in the scenario too.'
These two, basically...
Were just incompatible by nature.
I'd thought that lately, with me as the bridge, they might get along a bit better. But that was apparently wishful thinking.
Tristan Ducal House and the Hero.
By the scenario's design, they were fated to oppose each other until the very end.
"..."
So...
Unless I could somehow wedge myself in between them, this was how it would always be.
'...I'll need both of them more and more as things progress.'
Just look at the Purifier boss fight—something absolutely critical had popped up that couldn't afford to be lost right now.
The further we went, the more unpredictable things became.
And the only one who could definitively crush demons was the Hero, blessed by both demon and angel.
These two were my most reliable allies. Their help was essential for progressing the scenario.
'...Even in the game, there was a route for this.'
There were paths where their relationship improved dramatically, even to the point of getting along well.
But if I tried to exploit that 'situation' directly...
I'd inevitably put myself in danger.
Mainly in the sense that a playboy could get murdered by the women involved.
And the ones on the line were the final boss and the protagonist, no less?
If I got caught, I'd be dead. For real.
"..."
No matter that I had to build a harem to prevent humanity's extinction, I had no desire to risk that.
There'd be a choice leading to that branch in the upcoming 'observation class' event.
'Absolutely not.'
Yeah. Not even if I died.
"..."
I'd had similar thoughts before and ended up in a weird spot anyway, but this time, no way.
As I was thinking that, a voice came from beside me.
"Ah, seriously! Forget this—let's just each show him! Teacher!"
"...Huh?"
Eliya shouted angrily like that, then suddenly shoved a reverse-edged sword into my hand.
It was an iron sword with the blade flipped backward.
As I blinked at it, she stepped back a bit and puffed out her chest proudly.
"Try copying it once!"
Then she drew her own sword and kicked off the ground.
A sword form. Probably one she'd developed on her own.
Free-spirited, practical, light, and lively. But her strikes were sharp and heavy.
At a glance, it looked like a haphazard string of moves, but the knights from the Knight Faculty, who had been training nearby, were all wide-eyed watching her—their flashes of improvisation tying it all together.
"There! See?"
Eliya finished her demonstration, wiped her sweat, and grinned at me.
"Now you try!"
"..."
You gotta be kidding.
"...You're supposed to teach me."
"...This is how I learned?"
"..."
"Anyone can do it, right...?"
Her voice trailed off.
Probably because she sensed the surrounding Knight Faculty students staring at us in disbelief.
My head throbbed.
Bragging about being a genius. And she'd even taught swordsmanship before.
"...You're joking, right? You don't even know the basics of teaching."
Elnor, who had been watching, sighed and scolded her.
Then she drew her sword in front of me and assumed a stance.
"I'll start from the most important basics. Downward slash first."
With that, Elnor demonstrated a few simple motions in front of me.
'Oh, whoa...'
From the lead foot, weight shift, detailed gaze control, and upper body posture. She even explained it in detail.
I'd thought she was similar to Eliya, but this was surprisingly textbook.
"Give it a try."
"Yes, this much I can do."
I gripped the sword and attempted a downward slash.
But.
"..."
"...Hm."
"...Uh..."
It was a total failure.
No, this was harder than I thought.
I'd assumed a simple downward slash, but in reality, just keeping my unsteady body from toppling over was the best I could manage.
Especially with my untrained body—if I didn't have Desperate Situation, even holding the iron sword continuously was torture. Swinging it repeatedly was out of the question.
The onlookers' expressions were awkward. If I'd just looked like a total beginner, they might've found it cute. But failing this artistically? It was giving 'what the hell?' vibes.
"...At this level, we should train basic stamina first, before swordsmanship. Teaching would be pointless. No, how come the guy who smashed those beasts so well...?"
Even Eliya looked troubled as she said that.
But.
"No, that was good."
Elnor said it deadpan, and everyone's faces twisted in confusion.
"...Pardon? That was good?"
"Yes. In a real fight, I could use it."
"..."
Eliya's expression screamed 'what insane nonsense,' but Elnor met her gaze, sighed, and drew her sword.
"Watch closely."
Elnor stepped up to a training dummy and raised her sword.
"Hup!"
With a light kiai, she swung downward.
Not in her perfect form, but exactly like my mess from moments ago—sloppy from start to finish.
Honestly, it was embarrassing to even call it a motion. Just struggling not to fall.
Normally, the blade would barely nick the dummy and bounce off harmlessly.
-!
-!!!
-!!!!!!!
An explosion like a bomb going off.
The dummy shattered into powder, the floor cratered like a meteor strike, and the shockwave cracked the walls.
"..."
"..."
Everyone in the training hall gaped at the sight.
"See?"
Elnor sheathed her sword calmly.
"No issue with the form."
"..."
Without batting an eye, she continued.
"So this man will train under me regularly from today. Understood?"
"..."
"Dawood Campbell did splendidly. No problems with the teaching method or the student's aptitude."
"...Excuse me, Student Council President."
Eliya sighed.
"What?"
"You're just forcing this to see the teacher every day, right?"
"No."
"...Feels like it? He's at this level—lecturing him is meaningless—"
"I said no. I only accept rebuttals via duel."
"..."
As Eliya narrowed her eyes and shut her mouth, my gaze was still fixed on the wreckage Elnor had caused.
'...She's gotten even stronger?'
Her physical abilities were already monstrous, but at this point in the timeline, she shouldn't be showing this much power.
Only one hypothesis fit.
'Has she already fused somewhat with the fragment?'
If the Vessel of the Demon was spiking like this, that had to be it.
Fully merging with the fragment, gaining physical specs and special abilities.
Her getting stronger was good news for the scenario, but I couldn't just celebrate.
Especially knowing how events typically unfolded in the game.
'Vessels of Demons greatly influence each other's existence.'
If Elnor had fused with her fragment, the other Vessels holding demon fragments would be affected, greatly increasing the chance of their inner demons manifesting.
In other words, this was a warning signal that another 'Vessel' would appear soon.
On top of that, it would accelerate the entire main scenario.
'...No time to relax.'
Demon Vessels usually appeared in line with scenario progress.
Which meant another Vessel besides Elnor was almost inevitable during Chapter 2.
In short...
I'd soon meet a powerful, dangerous woman who'd become obsessed with me.
I'd get dragged into multiple life-or-death events.
Getting stronger faster was essential to survive.
'Swordsmanship aside, I need to fill in other areas too.'
Top priority: holy-related abilities.
The amulet's growth was one thing, but boosting my overall survivability and coping skills meant going that route.
And one more thing.
"No, just admit you're bullshitting!"
"Hm. I did say I only accept rebuttals via duel."
"...Neither of you can teach, so shut up."
I sighed and pulled apart the two who were at it again.
Reliable allies or not.
At least I knew I couldn't learn swordsmanship from either of them.
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That left only one option.
Someone who could train both swordsmanship and divinity at once.
"...You want access to the 'storage room'?"
"Yes."
When I made the request confidently, Atalante's expression turned subtle.
"Do you even know what's in there?"
"I've met her once already."
When I took out the Ultrim of Divinity.
The sword-mad girl who slices anything within three steps.
Yuria Grayhauncher. Chapter 2's final boss.
And a prime candidate for 'Vessel' alongside the Saintess.
"..."
Right. Chapter 2's true final boss wasn't the Boy King—it was her.
The Boy King was something no player character could handle in various ways, so the actual climactic battle was with her.
"Honestly, she's not someone you want to poke right now."
Atalante sighed and pulled out a key.
As expected of someone who granted any request I made, she was honoring it—but she couldn't resist a warning.
"Her mere existence could spark a war between the Empire and the Holy Empire. That's why Elpante hid her out of sight."
With a serious face, Atalante continued.
"And you know about the upcoming observation class?"
"Yes."
"During that period, personnel from the Holy Empire, including the Saintess, will be staying at Elpante. Yuria Grayhauncher has to stay completely hidden to avoid detection."
I nodded with a wry smile at Atalante's words.
True, if Yuria's existence surfaced, it'd be a disaster in itself.
'Specifically, the sword she's carrying is the problem...'
The Holy Empire's national treasure that creates a 'Curse of Severance'—no one enters her interval, and she can't close in on foes. Something she'd stolen long ago.
As I mentioned before, it's why she slices anything within three steps like a maniac.
If Yuria were spotted by the Pontiff with that, it'd likely ignite chaos between the two nations.
That's how vital it was to the Holy Empire.
'...Which means...'
The closer the distance to the opponent, the more insanely Yuria's combat power surges with that treasure's ability.
Especially within two steps—even Elnor and Eliya charging together would likely lose.
It's precisely because of Yuria that Elnor and Eliya aren't the absolute top or pinnacle in close combat.
'...'
The issue was that the Holy Empire's treasure was tied to the Boy King and would inevitably bring a massive incident to the academy once.
It was also a key item in Chapter 2.
"So I need to hear what your business with her is. If it's dangerous, even I can't approve this request."
Atalante said gravely.
"The curse on her alone is highly threatening, and politically, she's a walking time bomb. There are endless reasons why someone important like you shouldn't approach carelessly. It has to be completely risk-free."
"Ah, in that case, no worries."
No matter how dangerous Yuria was, what I planned wasn't that risky.
Just a way to rapidly grow my divinity and swordsmanship simultaneously.
I smiled and replied.
"Nothing major. Just gonna spar with swords a bit."
"..."
"Gonna do it daily for about a week."
Atalante's face rapidly soured.
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