Path of the Sword (7)
"A Grimoire, you say?"
"That's right. This is a wicked Black Magic Book made by condensing Magi. It's also called a Grimoire."
I thought it was some suspicious book, but I never imagined it would be a Black Magic Book.
Daygan, who was carefully examining the magic book, suddenly asked me a question.
"I ask this out of an abundance of caution, but you haven't, by any chance, opened it and read it, have you?"
I flinched for a moment.
I had no idea it was a Black Magic Book, so I had just opened it.
"No? I just brought it along."
Now was the time to lie.
Daygan wouldn't suspect me of being connected to demons, but there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.
"Then that's a relief. Black Magic Books are very dangerous items. Well, it's an unnecessary worry anyway, since it's a book that Aura Users can't even open in the first place."
Since it was an item made by condensing Magi, it was certainly dangerous.
Hadn't I suffered a fatal mental attack from the Magi scattered by the Direwolf before?
By the way, what did he mean by Aura Users not being able to open it?
I had clearly opened that magic book as easily as a regular book.
"...You can't open the book?"
"You don't know, do you? Here, take a look."
Daygan grabbed the hardcover of the Black Magic Book.
Soon after, he strained his arm muscles, trying desperately to open the book.
However, the magic book remained tightly shut, not opening even a crack.
It was as if it had been glued shut, not budging at all.
"Do you understand now? Not just anyone can handle a Black Magic Book. Only demon worshipers acknowledged by the book can open it."
Then what was it that had opened so readily for me earlier?
Could it be that the god Roxanna served was one of the Seven Deadly Sins demons?
"Do you absolutely have to be acknowledged to open the book?"
"No, not necessarily. There are also ways for high-ranking mages to forcibly open it with magic, or for knights to use brute force to pry it open."
I hadn't used any such violent methods.
It seemed I really had been acknowledged by the book.
Sephirot. I engraved that now-familiar name into my mind.
Having already encountered two members of the organization, there was a high probability of meeting more in the future.
Encounters with them might be a crisis for me, but they could also be an opportunity to extract important information.
"I should go report to the council right away. You've worked hard, so get some good rest. Oh, right. There was that."
Daygan, who was putting on his coat, handed me a pouch as if he had just remembered something.
"Before I go, take this. It's the settlement and reward for the last slime subjugation."
The reward for defeating the Queen Slime had finally come to me.
As soon as I opened it, it was filled with glittering gold coins.
"The Queen Slime Core was auctioned off for 12 gold coins, and the council allocated 2 gold coins as a subjugation reward. Adding the Acid Slime settlement, it's a total of 15 Denar."
Counting them, there were exactly 15 gold coins.
If I converted all of this into Greed, it would be 7500 points.
Including the cash obtained from spoils, it was a total income of over 10,000 points.
What stat should I raise this time?
I had greatly benefited from my sensory abilities in the battle with Roxanna.
It would be a wise choice to invest all these points into senses rather than magic power and intelligence.
"I really must go now. Come back to the guild in a few days."
"Yes. See you later, Daygan."
The goblin ears in my inventory could be exchanged when I had more time.
I parted ways with him, who seemed to be in a hurry, and returned to Grace of the Rose.
Today was the day to settle things with Richard the Bull.
Before challenging him to a spar, I raised my sensory stats with 21 gold coins.
- Equivalent Exchange: Greed
- 10,400pt of Greed converted to sensory stats
My sense, which was 50, instantly increased to 68.
From 60 onwards, it took a whopping 800 points to raise a single stat.
According to this formula, from stat 80, it would require 1600 points for each increase.
It truly felt like there was no end to earning money.
"Richard-ssi. Do you have some time?"
"...Hmm? No, I feel like your energy has gotten stronger again. What kind of mystery did you pull off in just a few days?"
Richard immediately noticed that my physical abilities had improved.
He looked at me with an utterly strange expression.
Since it was something that couldn't be explained otherwise, I just replied nonchalantly.
"Rather than a mystery, it's just the result of harsh training. So, are you available to spar now?"
"Ugh. Alright. This time, it doesn't feel like it'll be easy at all..."
Muttering something, Richard and I stood in the backyard.
Tension filled the air.
Unlike before, I no longer sensed any composure from him.
"Are you ready?"
"Just come at me already."
We had already exchanged swords several times. There was no need to test the waters.
After a brief standoff, we both charged at each other simultaneously.
Clang—!
The wooden swords clashed violently.
Some of the wooden fragments, unable to withstand Richard's and my power, scattered everywhere.
"Ugh..."
I saw Richard grimacing.
Weeks ago, it might have been different, but now, in a head-on confrontation, I was clearly superior.
"Tch! No more fooling around! From now on, I'm going all out!"
"That sounds good!"
Sword and sword intertwined in the air, creating destructive roars.
We fiercely contended, neither giving an inch.
Perhaps thanks to my training and senses, Richard's sword path was now clearly visible.
True to his name, the Bull, his heavy sword style leveraged his excellent brute strength.
However, his fierce attacks also possessed flexibility, allowing for a very smooth transition between offense and defense.
A sword technique that was difficult to find flaws in, challenging and solid in many ways.
There was no way to win other than to overpower it with a superior sword.
"Is that all you've got? It's getting boring!"
"No way! Here I come!"
I gladly indulged Richard's provocation.
My own sword, established after arduous effort and repeated contemplation.
The sword strike of Perfect Sword Unity, which had even cut through Roxanna's magic, unfolded before him once again.
"W-wait! Khah! This is no joke!"
A sword dance embodying the profound principle of perfect Coordination.
Sometimes rigid, sometimes flowing gracefully, the sword swept over him like a storm.
"Kuk! When did your skill...!"
Richard, unable to keep up with my momentum and speed, fumbled and was busy only defending.
If this had been a real fight instead of a spar, countless wounds would have been carved into his body.
Now was the time to finish it with a decisive blow.
My swift sword flashed and exploded, like a tiger pouncing on a bull to kill it.
"Khaaaak!"
Richard's wooden sword shattered into pieces in an instant.
I pointed the tip of my sword at him, who was clutching his hand in pain.
"Stop, stop! Oh my, I'm dying! I give up!"
"It was a good match."
Finally, I had defeated Richard the Bull.
It felt even more gratifying because it was a fair fight, without using Wrath or Recovery.
"Well, this is quite a sight. How can a woman be stronger than me? I guess I'll have to give up my 'Bull' nickname to Rene-ssi now."
I approached the grumbling Richard.
He was someone who had readily helped me, even giving up his own time.
I felt nothing but gratitude towards him.
"While a cow or a dairy cow might suit me, a bull doesn't. Besides, I have my own nickname, Wild Horse."
"Ah, right. Wild Horse. It's like a whole animal farm here."
As Richard and I were playfully chatting, I sensed Sir Balkan's presence behind me.
He must have been watching the spar from afar, just like last time.
"Well done. I saw movements of a different caliber and a sword imbued with meaning. You have found your own Path."
"Thank you. It's all thanks to the teachings you bestowed upon me, Sir Balkan."
Richard, noticing the situation, immediately bowed and left.
Left alone with Sir Balkan, I bowed my head in humility.
"It's not my doing. It's all your own achievement."
Sir Balkan's reply contained even greater humility than mine.
An achievement I accomplished myself? Not at all.
Without his instruction and demonstrations, I would still be an ignorant fool.
"Do you remember when I called you a prodigy? Now I see that was wrong. You are a genius. A genius capable of reaching the realm of knights. You've become a completely different person from back then."
"...You flatter me."
I never thought I would be called a genius.
It was effort, but also the greatly increased sensory stats that must have completely changed my constitution.
I should dedicate this honor to Mammon, the Demon of Greed.
"Since you have perfectly passed the test, it's time to move on to the next stage. Starting today, I will teach you practical swordsmanship."
Practical swordsmanship.
Since I had solidly built my foundation with the profound principle of Coordination, was it now time to learn real techniques?
"From anti-armor techniques like Half-Swording and Sword Wrestling, to anti-personnel techniques using a cross guard. I will teach you effective defense and counter-attacks that exploit openings, in order."
My eyes sparkled at Sir Balkan's subsequent explanation.
Even if I didn't fully understand, the names themselves sounded cool.
"Don't expect too much. These are closer to miscellaneous techniques than true swordsmanship. However, on the battlefield, life and death can be decided by a momentary variable. It will be useful to learn them."
Thus began the instruction in practical swordsmanship.
After about 3 days of learning, I absorbed all of Sir Balkan's knowledge.
Since they were truly closer to miscellaneous techniques, they didn't take much effort to learn.
It was different from my initial expectations, but it was fine in its conciseness.
"Practice them directly in real combat and gain much experience. You must perfectly internalize them so you can use them unconsciously."
"Yes. I will keep that in mind."
Life and death are not determined by anything grand.
Only skill and luck.
Since luck is something a person cannot control, there is ultimately no other way than to hone one's skills.
In that regard, I was a more diligent trainee than anyone else.
"Good. When you judge that you have mastered everything, come find me again. Then we will resume the next lesson."
I bowed to Sir Balkan as he left.
What would I be able to learn in the next lesson?
I was already looking forward to it, so I reviewed the swordsmanship with excitement.
As I was doing so in the backyard for a long time, I sensed a familiar presence approaching me.
"Rene unnie!"
"Jenna?"
I turned my head at Jenna's affectionate voice.
She seemed to be eating well these days, as her gaunt, bony face had filled out nicely.
"What is it?"
"Oh, well. There's urgent news for unnie! Just now, the messenger-ajusshi came looking for unnie with this."
Urgent news. Could it be from Daygan?
I opened the letter I received from Jenna, and it was as I expected.
It stated that he urgently wanted to meet about the matter of dealing with Roxanna.
"Thank you for delivering it, Jenna."
"Don't mention it, unnie!"
Jenna smiled shyly and looked up at me.
At her lovely appearance, I gently stroked her head.
It seemed she had grown accustomed to daily life at Grace of the Rose now.
It was truly a relief that she had overcome her painful past and adapted well.
Taking the opportunity, I briefly touched Jenna's plump cheeks before heading to the mercenary guild.
Opening the door, I saw the familiar guild hall, like my own home.
As I headed straight for the counter, Daygan greeted me with a bright face.
"You're here! Let's go up to the office right away."
"Is there some good news? You're welcoming me quite warmly."
Daygan sighed and replied to my question.
"You'll see when you get there. A rather troublesome person has arrived. If you talk to them quickly, won't the distinguished guest leave?"
A guest troublesome enough to make Daygan, the guild manager, wary.
Could it be that the Councilor himself had come to find me?
Having entertained a Councilor at Grace of the Rose, he was nothing to me.
After a light knock, I boldly pushed the door open.
"Oh! It's truly a pleasure to see you here, Sister."
A man in white robes stood up from his seat with a benevolent smile.
I involuntarily hesitated at the identity of the distinguished guest, whom I hadn't even guessed.
"I am a humble servant of Father Sky. Remilios, the head priest of the Azure Sky Order's temple."
"...N-nice to meet you, Priest-nim."
A clergyman. And even the head priest of a temple.
He was the complete opposite, an antithesis to me, a subordinate of demons.