From Serf to Swordmaster, Chapter 13
From Serf to Swordmaster, Chapter 13
"The nerve on this one."
"Look at that arm. He'll be lucky if it doesn't snap."
The watching mercenaries tossed out comments one after another. Demein snorted sharply in disbelief and added one of his own.
"Quit talking nonsense and mind your wrist. I won't stop just because you scream once I put some strength into it."
Demein planted his right arm firmly on the worktable. Berak stood across from him.
The difference between their hands was dramatic. One of Demein's fingers was as thick as two of Berak's put together. Someone snickered.
"That's not a match, it's an execution......"
Berak shut out the noise around him and slowly curled his fingers. The heat radiating from the man's thick, rough hand was considerable.
"I'm ready."
The vice-captain shouted in a booming voice.
"We start on three! Now... one, two... three!"
The moment the vice-captain shouted, explosive pressure bore down on Berak's hand. Berak instinctively moved to use his full strength, then stopped. If he suddenly exerted all of it and pinned Demein, the man's wrist seemed likely to shatter. More than anything, the heavy pressure felt 'good'—better than expected.
'This is...... quite useful.'
It felt like a boulder pressing down on his arm, but it was not a weight he could not overturn. Berak precisely analyzed the path of the incoming force and found the exact point where he could hold without being pushed back.
A horizontal sensation stimulating his body.
"Hngh!"
Demein's face twisted as he poured in more strength. Berak subtly eased his own force to match that rhythm. His arm began to tilt little by little.
"Demein! Stop dragging it out and finish him!"
"Why waste time instead of flipping him in one go?"
"Why the grim face? Don't tell me you're going to claim the kid's holding you off!"
The mercenaries joked without a hint of tension. Amid the noise, however, Berak focused only on the strain running through his muscles.
'Oh.'
As his arm tilted, the load on his muscles shifted in three dimensions. Berak savored the stimulation and controlled his speed until his arm was just short of touching the table.
「Body Proficiency + 1」
Demein's eyes slowly filled with shock as he gripped Berak's hand. He was bearing down with his full body weight now. His forearm bulged as if about to burst, and the muscles in his clenched jaw stood rigid.
But Berak's eyes remained utterly calm.
One inch. That last remaining distance to the table would not close, no matter what. Even as Demein poured out his maximum strength, Berak's arm beneath him did not budge, like a driven stake.
"......Huh?"
By then, the mood among the onlookers had shifted too.
"Why isn't it over? At that angle it should've been pinned already."
"Isn't he going too easy on him?"
「Body Proficiency + 1」
Berak felt the other man's arm trembling. He was at his limit.
'That's enough.'
Now it was time to show what he could do. Berak released the strength he had been holding back very slowly, at a steady rate.
"Hey, look at that!"
Someone let out a short yelp. Berak's arm, which had been just short of touching the table, began to rise back up.
Demein stared in shock and bore down with his other hand as he gripped the edge of the table.
Crack.
The solid hardwood worktable groaned. With a sharp crack, thick fractures spread across the top.
"Wait...... is it going up right now?"
"How do you flip it from that angle?"
Berak's arm continued its arc from the bottom, tracing a semicircle. It never stopped for even a moment.
Crunch.
The cracks along the wood grain were now spreading across the entire tabletop. Berak put his final strength into his wrist.
Boom!
The tabletop burst apart. It happened at the same instant Demein's arm slammed into the floor. The point of impact crumpled and exploded outward.
Silence settled through the thick dust. Demein stared down blankly at his own hand, buried in the shattered wood fragments.
"......."
The vice-captain, who had been watching, slowly uncrossed his arms. His gaze was fixed on Berak, who was dusting off his hands without a single ragged breath.
"Roban, you bastard. 'Strength greater than most mercenaries,' was it?"
The vice-captain muttered under his breath as he approached Berak. His shadow fell over him.
"That's quite the joke. This isn't something that can be described with words like that. It's the quality of an overwhelming warrior."
The vice-captain looked down at Berak without a word. Then he turned his gaze and gave the dazed Demein a light smack.
"Snap out of it, Demein. What a waste of that build."
Only then did Demein come to his senses, scratching his bald head sheepishly as he stood. The vice-captain tapped the hilt of the greatsword on his back and added to Berak.
"An axe, is it...... You've chosen a weapon worthy of that strength. Still, the greatsword will be waiting for your hand as well."
"I'll think about it."
At Berak's calm answer, the vice-captain nodded, looking satisfied.
"Good. You've passed the first test admirably."
The vice-captain continued.
"I'll sort out the next procedure and call for you again. Until then, wait inside the headquarters. I'll have a room given to you, so rest comfortably."
He lifted his chin toward the back.
"Demein!"
"Yes, Vice-Captain!"
Demein stepped forward, rubbing his wrist. The vice-captain wore a strange smile as he tossed out an order.
"Don't just stand there—move. Show this kid around. If you're ashamed of being beaten in strength, at least keep your mouth working."
"......Understood!"
With the order given, the vice-captain turned away without another word.
As his broad shoulders receded into the distance, the tension across the front yard finally seemed to break, and a stir went through the crowd.
Demein tried to go straight to Berak, but couldn't. The mercenaries swarmed in and surrounded Berak first.
"How does that body produce that kind of power? What do you normally eat?"
"Kid, I never imagined it. Beating the bald ogre Demein at arm wrestling......"
"Let me feel that forearm. What kind of strength......"
Demein came over with a menacing look and growled low.
"All of you, move. I've got a job the vice-captain gave me."
The mercenaries flinched at his intimidating presence and scattered. Though they still tossed out parting remarks.
"Look at Demein, throwing a fit for no reason."
"Make sure you let me feel that forearm later!"
* * *
At the far end of the front yard, stone steps led up to the building's entrance.
As the massive doors slid open to both sides, air thick with the mingled scents of wood and metal rushed out.
"This is the main hall. It's deeper inside than it looks from outside."
Demein explained as they passed through passageways lined with layered timber structures and long halls. He didn't say a single word about the arm wrestling from earlier. As if it had never happened, he focused entirely on the tour.
"Over there's the mess hall and rest area. Most people spend their time there after a mission."
Loud laughter and the clink of cups drifted from a distance, brushing past Berak's ears.
"If you go out back, there's the real training ground. That front yard from earlier is just for warming up."
Demein pointed to a narrow window.
Through it, Berak could faintly make out a wide sand floor, target dummies, and weapon racks.
"The officers use it often too, so a newbie like you should get permission before going in."
Berak looked up at Demein.
"I'm not a newbie yet."
Demein stopped and looked back at Berak oddly. He looked puzzled for a moment, then nodded as if something had clicked.
"True, the vice-captain did say something about 'procedures' earlier. Is it because of Roban's letter of introduction?"
Berak didn't bother explaining further and simply gave a light nod. Demein tapped his bald head and walked on ahead.
"Well, there must be more to discuss among the higher-ups. Either way, until the results come out, follow the rules here. Don't expect to be treated like a guest."
He gestured with his chin toward the door at the end of the hall.
"This is your room. It's just a place to drop your things and lie down, so don't expect much."
Berak opened the door. It really was a small room with only a bed and a storage chest.
"You know my name, right? I'm Demein. If you need anything else, come find me. And......"
Demein looked Berak over once, then added.
"Remember two things. First, there are areas you can't enter without permission. Aside from the places I showed you, don't set foot anywhere else if you can help it. Second, if something comes up where you need to duel rather than spar, get permission first."
"What's the difference between the two?"
Berak had a vague idea, but he asked to be sure.
"In a spar, it's a shame if blood is drawn. In a duel, it's strange if blood isn't drawn."
"......They even permit that sort of thing here."
"Better to have eyes watching, at least. Though duels that serious are rare anyway."
Demein went on.
"Then rest."
Left alone, Berak looked around the room. First he set down his axe, then placed the picture book in the storage chest.
The pouch holding his money... he still kept tucked inside his clothes.
* * *
The wait wasn't long. That evening, Demein came to Berak's room again. His expression was a little stiff.
"Listen up. You're being deployed on a mission first thing tomorrow morning."
Berak nodded calmly. Demein, if anything, narrowed his eyes and scratched his chin.
"It's a group of about ten. I'd like to tell you there's nothing to be tense about, but it's a combat mission where you'll have to swing real steel. Fortunately, the vice-captain is personally commanding this time...... but honestly, I don't remember a case where a newbie test was held on a live battlefield. And with the vice-captain personally observing, no less."
Demein lit the small candle beside the bed. Through the flickering flame, his conflicted gaze settled on Berak.
"I went through that arm wrestling myself, so I know your strength is no ordinary thing. But the battlefield isn't a place where you just use strength. I don't know what the vice-captain is trying to see, but shoving a kid like you straight in there...... seems excessive to me."
Demein let out a short sigh and stood in front of Berak.
"Well, it's a decision from above, so it's not my place to complain. But if you get carried back dead, I'm the one who'll be in trouble. So I'll teach you the basics you can use tomorrow. Listen carefully."
From Demein's reaction, Berak realized that his entrance test was not the usual one. Still, since he wanted different treatment from everyone else, he calmly accepted that he would have to prove he deserved it.
Demein first taught him hand signals. They were the minimal signals used on battlefields where voices couldn't be heard.
The gesture for scattering.
The motion signaling assembly.
The danger signal.
The stop signal meaning not to advance.
He learned only a few, but they were the ones used most often in combat.
Next came basic battlefield knowledge.
Always keep the positions of your allies in mind during battle.
Use the commander's movements as the reference point on the battlefield.
Don't chase the enemy even if they scatter.
Things like the roles of the front line, center, and rear line.
"As long as you remember what you learned today, there shouldn't be any major problems."
◎ Education
- Military Studies: Beginner
「Intelligence + 1」
「Sensitivity - 1」
When Berak stopped by the mess hall after the lesson, he felt several gazes settle on him. A few mercenaries approached with obvious curiosity. Perhaps Demein had said something beforehand, because none of them pushed too hard or made him uncomfortable.
When morning came, Berak headed to the deployment assembly point beside the rear training ground. When he arrived, no one was there yet.
Before long, mercenaries began to appear one by one. They trickled in two or three at a time until six had gathered, and then Demein joined them. The mercenaries tossed comments at Berak, who had arrived before them.
"Well, aren't you diligent? That's how a rookie should be."
"They said he's not a newbie. They'll decide after seeing him on this mission."
"Huh...? Has there ever been a case where someone who hasn't even joined gets thrown into live combat first?"
Thud.
As the vice-captain approached, the murmuring mercenaries fell silent all at once.
Standing before the mercenaries, the vice-captain spoke about the mission without any preamble.
"It's a subjugation mission."
With that one phrase, the weight of the air changed.
"The target is a Rogue Company running wild with fangs worse than beasts. They go by the laughable name 'Blood Snake.'"
Contempt showed on the vice-captain's face.
"Scum who hole up in the mountains and fields to play bandit have really crossed the line this time. From what's already been reported, they openly raided and looted two villages, and another village is believed to have been their work as well."
He paused briefly and swept his gaze over the assembled mercenaries' faces.
"Those bastards are moving south and have now nested in the neighboring territory. They wouldn't dare crawl all the way to Hellvern...... but we're going to find them and smash them before that. The territory over there submitted the request directly. That's all. Any questions?"
One mercenary raised his hand.
"How far does the subjugation go? Do we just rough them up and scatter them, or......?"
"Annihilation."
The vice-captain answered curtly. There were no further questions.
"We depart soon! Do a final check of your gear!"
Taking advantage of the brief pause, Berak asked Demein.
"Demein. What exactly is a 'Rogue Company'......?"
"That's what they call unlicensed mercenary bands not registered with the guild."
"I see. So the target is people, not monsters."
Berak had fought people before. It had been easier than expected, but it had definitely been real combat against humans.
Still, hearing that he would have to kill them gave him a strange feeling.
"You're not scared, are you?"
The vice-captain, who had come up close without Berak noticing, bent down and asked.
"No, that's not it."
"Do you think I'm being harsh?"
The vice-captain fixed his gaze on Berak for a moment, as if reading his expression.
"If you want treatment beyond the rules, you have to pay a price worthy of it. You'll have to give up the idea of learning slowly under the organization's protection. I need to see for myself whether you're the kind who can do his part even when thrown straight into the field."
His tone was firm. But the words that followed were a little softer.
"If you'd rather start from the bottom like ordinary newbies even now, I won't force you into today's mission. What do you say?"
Berak answered without hesitation.
"No. I'll show you right away this time."
The vice-captain laughed briefly and nodded.
"......Good. I'll be looking forward to it."