Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Training (3)
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I wanted to give up right then and there.
My legs, planted firmly on the ground, felt like they might buckle and collapse at any moment.
Blood dripped from the hand gripping my sword, devoid of any strength.
To make matters worse, forcing a change in my sword path had my arm muscles and ligaments screaming in agony.
'I've done my best at this point.'
A small voice deep in my heart whispered, 'It's okay to give up,' trying to comfort me.
Even so, I steadied my breathing once more and prepared for another bout.
'Since when have I always won?'
No matter how much of a veteran I was at [Avillon Academy], success hadn't been guaranteed from the start.
I was someone who had grown through countless failures too numerous to count, ultimately claiming victory.
Of course, there was no way I could beat Serin in my current state.
That was fine.
This very process of challenging and collapsing was the flame forging me.
"Professor Serin. Let's go again!"
Such opportunities to push myself to the limit without any real risk were rare.
I should make the most of it, to the extreme.
And above all, the sensation of gradually growing stronger felt incredible.
My body grew heavier and less responsive, yet my mind sharpened clearer and clearer.
Anyone looking would say I should stop, but I was certain I was getting stronger.
Truly enjoying this moment, I surrendered to the feeling and kicked off the ground once more.
Unbelievable.
That was Serin's impression after several more spars with Rowen.
She had felt it when blocking his initial charge and the flurry of aura-infused strikes.
His swordsmanship wasn't exceptional, nor were his abilities outstanding.
It was simply his relentless pursuit of the best with what he had been given.
Moreover, that movement ignoring the recoil to alter his sword's path and target a gap.
Without using aura, she might have taken the hit herself.
His strike had veered toward her battlefield injury, so she had instinctively unleashed aura to block it.
But Rowen's display was more than enough to surprise her.
However, as the aura's backlash left him struggling, she moved to help out of guilt.
—"Let's go again!"
Rowen stood there, gripping his sword with blood-soaked hands.
It was an injury that would hobble even seasoned knights, yet Rowen staggered back to his feet, refusing to quit.
'I was trying to end it quickly since he seemed to be overdoing it.'
His body badly hurt and aura depleted, she figured he was pushing too hard and ramped up the intensity to wrap things up.
But Rowen dragged his seemingly collapsing body forward, shattering his limits time and again.
He fell, dropped his sword, even lost consciousness briefly.
Yet he always rose to charge again.
And amid it all, Rowen's gradual growth was downright shocking.
He devoured every technique she showed like a glutton, steadily powering up.
Of course, now his body had hit its limit; he lay on the ground, unable to even stand.
"...Rowen? You're really okay, right?"
"Yes, Professor Serin. Thank you for indulging my selfishness despite how tiring it must have been to keep sparring."
His silver-blue hair gleamed under the lights, soaked with sweat.
Wounds from the spar covered his body.
Yet Rowen flashed a bright, innocent smile, overflowing with gratitude.
"Why push yourself so hard?"
He could have healed his wounds and rested before resuming training.
For some reason, the thought that Rowen was driving himself relentlessly wouldn't leave her mind.
Rowen hesitated for a long while, as if pondering his answer, before finally speaking.
"In today's class, you said knights are those who protect the weak. Hearing that, one question wouldn't leave my head."
She had indeed lectured on the mindset a strong person should have.
But what doubt could that have sparked?
"Wouldn't someone strong enough to protect everyone be too lonely? Having to forge ahead into the darkness first, with no one to lean on."
"That's... unavoidable. Without my help, people would suffer too much."
Someone strong enough to protect all would end up lonely.
He hadn't named anyone, but it felt directed at her.
"Then I'll become stronger than anyone and be a pillar you can lean on when you're tired, Professor Serin."
Rowen blushed as if unaware of his own words.
Yet he gazed at her with a pure smile, unwavering in his resolve.
A pillar she could lean on...
Truly unexpected words.
As a child, she had been hailed as a once-in-a-millennium genius, raised amid everyone's expectations.
People spoke of her as the next Imperial Knight Commander, the youngest Swordmaster ever.
Not wanting to disappoint that heavy attention, she had spent her days with a sword in hand.
Carrying those expectations, she swung her blade until she reached the pinnacle.
Having fulfilled them all, she yearned for an ordinary life.
Tending flowers, cooking, sipping tea with friends—that sort of normalcy.
But ascending to Swordmaster brought responsibilities in tow.
Peers gazed in admiration, too busy idolizing her, while those who had expected great things now hoped she'd act for their sake.
The girl who had lived her whole life in others' expectations knew no other way.
Thus, Serin Arjen faded, leaving only the Imperial Knight Commander and youngest Swordmaster to carry on.
She had thought that life would continue forever...
Yet the boy before her, now back on his feet, stared as if he would never allow it.
That gaze she had never received before tickled a corner of her heart.
"...Ugh! Don't make that face, you little brat!"
"Ow, why'd you hit me...!"
Rowen teared up from the unexpected knuckle rap that stung fiercely.
The kid was out here charming girls...!
Become a pillar for me, he says.
No wonder the female students fell for lines like that, tossed around like daily bread.
Rowen's promise to protect her tickled her heart.
But she had no desire to burden him with such weight.
Maybe if he shattered all her records someday.
For now, she intended to remain Professor Serin and his master to Rowen.
...For now!
Why do knuckle raps hurt so damn much?
It was like that in the infirmary, and the same today.
Whenever I thought about not letting Serin sacrifice herself alone, she ghosted me with a knuckle like clockwork.
My body already ached like hell, and her nuclear knuckle on top made tears well up uncontrollably.
Still, no intention of backing down on my vow.
Anyway, today's spar with Serin had to end here.
As tension eased, the pent-up pain surged in, but more than that, I didn't have strength left to twitch a finger.
Heading back to the dorm, I'd probably crash into sleep like passing out.
With that thought, I spoke to Serin.
"Professor Serin. Today's training was a huge help. Thank you for granting my unreasonable request."
"...Unreasonable? You did all the hard work, Rowen. If anything, I'm sorry I couldn't teach you better."
I had indeed achieved tremendous growth from today's session.
◆ Name:Rowen
◆ Title:Freshman
◆ Free Stat Points:0
◆ Traits
[Swordsmanship Lv. 4] → [Swordsmanship Lv. 5]
ㄴ NEW! [S: Serin-style Swordsmanship Lv. 1]
◆ Skills
◆ Unique Traits
Strength up by 2, Mana by 2, Agility by 1.
After the spar, gathering aura must have boosted my Mana significantly.
Vitality probably hadn't recovered yet, so no gain there.
More eye-catching was Swordsmanship in Traits.
Hitting Lv. 5 already, when max is 10.
Of course, higher levels get insanely hard to raise.
For a freshman, top-tier based on Trait level alone.
Plus, Serin-style Swordsmanship added as a sub-skill.
Can't exceed parent Swordsmanship level, but considering the hellish acquisition difficulty, it might be a bigger win than the level-up.
Naturally S-grade, befitting the world's top-tier sword art.
Just one day of training yielded this much growth—spars with Serin were looking even more promising.
"No sense hogging more of your time, Professor Serin. I'll head out first."
Early in the semester meant heavy workload and personal tasks.
Lingering after the spar would just be a nuisance.
Her expression looked complicated, plenty left to do.
I greeted Serin and rose to head to the dorm.
That was when—
"Wait, Rowen! I have something I want to give you."
A urgent voice caught me as I opened the door.
She hurried over, face slightly flushed, hands fidgeting awkwardly.
Training wasn't fully over?
Confused by Serin's odd behavior, I opened my mouth.
That was when—
"Will you... accept this?"
A pair of rings rested in Serin's outstretched hand.