Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Rotating Sword
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The sword Philip handed over was as thin as a rapier, embedded with jewels like some ceremonial ornament.
"…Why this one?"
"A spirit can dwell within that sword. It doesn't have a name yet, so feel free to give it one yourself, Professor."
"I can sense natural energy emanating from that sword."
Senior Spiritist Eponel, who had been examining it from afar, spoke up. Philip nodded.
That sword was originally meant to end up in the hands of one of the main villains, 'Spirit Princess Sapina.'
She was an exceptional spiritist who could command the highest-grade spirits of fire and wind at will, and also a swordsman who had reached the aura master realm.
In the late game, the protagonist also ascends to aura master, and his companions reach that level or close to it, so even a top-tier spiritist or aura master could be defeated without much trouble.
But the sword Felicia now held in her hands would turn Sapina into a horrifying monster.
It would fuse the power of spirits with aura to birth an entirely new force.
'To think Olson was selling something like this. Talk about rare luck.'
Philip thought as he explained how to use it.
"Ask the spirit to dwell within the sword, then infuse it with your mana."
Something like an irresistible aura emanated from the current Philip, making it hard for Felicia to refuse. So she decided to follow his instructions for now.
"Uh… yeah. Could you come inside here for a bit?"
―No.
And she was rejected immediately.
"Haha, spirits don't lend their power right away just because you've made a contract. You have to spend a long time together, grow close, and truly trust and love each other before they'll willingly help."
Spiritist Eponel chuckled as he explained. Philip sensed something was off.
"Uh… how long does it usually take for that to happen, by chance?"
Eponel pondered Philip's question for a moment before answering.
"Siqueel only opened up to me after five years. It varies by person, but at least two or three years, I'd say? It might even take decades. Unless you're born with elven affinity, it's impossible right away."
'You should've mentioned that earlier.'
Philip bit his lip in disbelief.
His lack of knowledge about spirits made it unavoidable.
'…But whatever, it's fine.'
He glanced at Felicia.
She stood there awkwardly holding the sword he'd gifted her, staring intently at Ignis.
True to its pure spirit nature, even in the form of a wolf, its eyes looked kind and gentle. Felicia seemed utterly smitten with the fluffy, fiery wolf.
'She's so into it, so what's the harm?'
Philip smiled, his hand trembling slightly.
"…Thank you so much for today, Spiritist. If you ever need my help, just contact me through the branch manager anytime."
"No need to thank me."
Eponel bid farewell and departed.
An awkward silence settled over the villa after he left.
"I should get going too; the merchant guild has me busy…"
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Branch Manager Lizriel Yusuf was the first to flee.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Philip rushed back to his room like he was escaping and picked up Neria from where she'd been lying on the bed.
―I was sleeping so soundly…
"Sleep more later. Just take a quick look at this."
―…What's going on?
"I had a bit of an epiphany."
With that, Philip channeled mana into Neria's hilt.
The process felt similar to forming aura normally, but something fundamentally different.
―What's this? Ah, it's cold!
'Success.'
―…Huh? What? Why is it cold? W-what did you do, Master?
Even fear laced Neria's voice. Not intending to scare her, Philip withdrew the mana immediately.
"Looks like I succeeded in altering the nature of the mana?"
―Huh? Why? How? Is that even possible?
"I was watching the spirits earlier, and the natural forces they wield are fundamentally no different from mana. Take light, for example. Sunlight and the glow from a firefly's tail might seem different, but at their root, they're the same energy."
―…You're doing this on purpose so I won't understand, right?
"Even a grand mage couldn't follow this. Anyway, mana is an existing energy, so it must have a wavelength…"
―Kyaaaaah! Eeeeek! Bebebebeb!
Neria's sudden screams cut him off, forcing Philip to swallow his surging urge to explain.
"Is it really that hard to listen for just a bit?"
―I'd rather hear dirty jokes.
"You're impossible."
As they bantered, Philip heard footsteps in the hallway.
'It's here.'
He stood, steeling himself mentally.
And the door opened without a knock. Among the villa's occupants, only one would enter without knocking.
"Hey, sis?"
"…"
It was Felicia Oswald's visit.
She fiddled with the hair near her ear, avoiding Philip's gaze. But as if she'd steeled her resolve, she bit her lip and finally met his eyes squarely.
"You knew it'd end up like this, so why'd you have to act so awful…?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she made an 'oh no' face. Philip barely suppressed his laughter and managed a reply.
"I'm really sorry about that time."
Felicia's eyes welled up with tears.
"If you're this sorry now, then why'd you do it back then?"
Felicia wasn't stupid.
She knew Philip no longer spent more time in the salon than at home.
She knew he was diligently instructing his students.
And that he'd never once shown irritation while facing her disdainful glares.
She had a hunch why he'd prepared the spirit contract and the mithril sword.
'She doesn't want to see me lose.'
Philip was certain she'd thought he'd lose to the Silver Knights.
The moment that realization hit, Felicia had no choice but to admit it.
Her brother's long wandering might finally be over.
She approached Philip and wrapped her arms around his neck in an embrace like some joint lock. Philip, quite flustered, hugged her back.
Soon, he heard her whisper in his ear.
"…If you change again, I really won't forgive you."
It was the moment their seven-year sibling feud came to an end.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the dramatic reconciliatory embrace with Felicia, Philip returned to the backyard first.
Felicia's affinity was far too low to maintain a materialized high-grade spirit, so the high-grade fire spirit Ignis had already been reverse-summoned.
'…I can't give up on it. Do you know how valuable that thing is?'
Philip gritted his teeth, vowing to find a way to make use of Ignis in the shortest time possible.
There had to be a method somewhere.
But for now, he needed another way to win the duel.
"Did you make up well with the Professor?"
Instructor Diana Frenhal approached and asked. Philip could tell she'd pushed Felicia's back.
"Yes. Thanks to you. I'll repay the favor someday, Instructor."
"No need. I just couldn't stand watching."
"…"
After a brief moment of thought, Philip looked at Diana and asked.
"How about a quick spar? I have something to show you."
Diana's eyes widened, but seeing his expression, she nodded. She'd never seen him so serious.
"If that's what the Instructor wants."
Soon, the two faced each other with wooden swords.
'Come to think of it, I don't even know Instructor Philip's full capabilities.'
Diana Frenhal thought as she stared at Philip taking his stance.
He gripped the long-sword-length wooden sword with both hands, aiming for her centerline.
Nothing special, nothing bad.
But she remembered the technique he'd shown during the observation class.
Diana had tried to imitate it herself, but even after over half a month, she hadn't produced anything similar.
'This should be good. What will he show?'
"You said you had something to show? Come at me first."
Diana flicked her wooden sword.
"Watch closely, Instructor."
Philip didn't hesitate and took the initiative. The wooden sword coated in sword aura moved slowly, and Diana drew up her own aura.
"Hup!"
With a kiai, Philip swung the wooden sword at Diana's side.
It was a plain horizontal slash, so Diana moved half a beat faster to block.
Defending before a strike fully commits its power was swordsmanship basics.
She executed a perfect block at the perfect timing, but something felt off. An unimaginable pressure bore down on her wrist and arm.
"…Huh?"
Her gaze shifted involuntarily, and she soon confirmed it.
Philip's sword aura was spinning furiously, shaving away her own aura in an instant.
She tried to hold out with brute force, but it wasn't enough, and she dropped her wooden sword.
"…?"
It was a complete defeat, yet she felt no sense of loss or inferiority.
From age ten, she'd wielded a sword for seventeen years now.
Faced with an attack she'd never even imagined in all that time, she was utterly dumbfounded.
"How was it?"
Philip asked.
"What?"
"That just now. The principle isn't hard, so even you should be able to do it easily, Instructor."
"…"
Philip tilted his head at Diana, who clutched her wrist with a blank expression.
Diana snapped out of it moments later. Her eyes still somewhat unfocused, she stared at Philip.
"You're saying you'll teach this to me? This… incredible secret technique…?"
"It's just spinning the aura to boost cutting power and impact. It's too basic to call a secret technique. Besides, you're basically my sister's friend—what's there I can't teach you?"
Diana felt a surge of irritation.
'If that's not a secret technique, then what is mine?'
Of course, she had a secret technique passed down in the Frenhal family.
Its name was 'Maelstrom'—a technique unleashing six strikes in an instant.
Naturally, twenty Maelstroms couldn't compare to the one technique Philip had just shown.
"Did you… invent this yourself?"
Philip nodded at her question.
"Yes. It's not grand enough to call an invention, but I made it. Name's… something like Rotating Sword, I guess. Think this would give me a shot against the Silver Knights? It's a minor trick, but it'd help."
Diana felt a hollow laugh rising at his words.
'What? Minor trick?'
She could tell he wasn't saying it with bad intent.
Still, it rubbed her the wrong way.
'…Annoying.'
Unknowingly pursing her lips, Diana furrowed her brow.
'What's with her?'
Philip could only tilt his head.