Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Azure Dragon Soaring Sword
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Years had passed, and I turned twelve.
Many changes had occurred since the Lion's Feast ended.
The most eye-catching change was right there in my status window.
The new perk I'd gained, Fount of Mana.
This ability that boosted my mana talent would be a huge help in my growth as a swordsman.
'Because in this world, mana is talent itself.'
All humans harbored mana within them.
A knight wrapped it around their sword and body, while a mage altered its properties outside the body to wield it.
Either way, your talent with mana was essentially your talent as a knight.
So I had high hopes for this. Maybe I could even spam spells now.
And the biggest change of all—
-Young Lady! Over here!
Ariel turned her head briefly at the maids calling her from afar.
They stood waiting with Aonian traditional attire and various accessories in hand.
"......"
She turned to look at me.
It felt less like 'Can I go?' and more like 'Do I have to go?'
I stroked Ariel's hair and told her,
"Go on. This is the time to build good relationships—they'll pay off later."
"Okay."
With that, Ariel toddled over to the maids.
She still didn't seem all that interested in getting close to others, but her social life had improved tremendously.
Our father, Gerard Leonhart, had improved her treatment a bit.
-Cease the excessive vigilance. Some closeness is now permitted.
He'd gathered the entire household and made that announcement, which had shocked me.
Our father, whose face always soured at the mention of Ariel—what had gotten into him?
Some family members looked uneasy, but the maids mostly cheered the decision.
They harbored no ill feelings toward her.
After the announcement, I asked Father why he'd made it.
-Because of you, Kline.
-Me? Really?
-You've been the one taking responsibility for Ariel all this time. I can't be fully at ease, but at least when she's with you, there shouldn't be any issues. So it's fine to ease up on the watch a little.
-I haven't done anything special. Just what any big brother would do.
-......Hm. My son, but quite the man already.
In short, since I'd been looking after Ariel so well, he was lowering her alert level.
It was an unexpected decision that felt a bit out of left field.
But that didn't matter. What mattered was that Ariel could now live a slightly more human life.
-Kyaa! Young Lady Ariel, you're so cute! The ponytail suits you perfectly.
-No matter what kimono we try, white looks the best. You look just like a Snow Maiden from Priod.
-Totally. Your skin is so pale, it matches perfectly.
The maids fussed over Ariel, dressing her up and chattering excitedly.
They seemed to like how she treated them normally, without raising her voice.
Though calling it "normal" might be a stretch.
How long did they keep her like that?
Eventually, Ariel returned to me, styled like the flower-adorned girl I'd seen at the Lion's Feast.
She still showed no particular interest in the maids.
It felt like she'd only gone because they called her, she checked with me, and I said yes.
That was enough.
I wanted her not to rely only on me.
"......"
Ariel shook her head lightly.
A white kimono with her hair tied back in a yellow ribbon.
A ponytail.
"Oppa. Am I cute?"
"Do I really need to state the obvious, like the sun rising in the east?"
"I don't get it."
"You're the cutest in the world."
"Okay."
I took Ariel's hand and started walking again.
Her cool fingers.
But they carried a slightly warmer aura than before.
Another change now that I was twelve.
I was no longer just drawing basic sword paths—I was moving on to more advanced stages.
This was swordsmanship infused with aura.
And the one teaching me was my father.
"There are countless schools of swordsmanship in the world."
The family training grounds.
A time reserved solely for me and Father, with no other users around.
The family knights had all been called north by the Empire.
Word was, they were gathering knights as a deterrent so Priod wouldn't interfere with new territorial expansions.
Thanks to that, Father and I had the vast grounds to ourselves.
Ah. No, one more person.
Ariel sat quietly in the distance, watching me, as our bloodline lesson began.
"Among them, I'm going to teach you the one most specialized in defense."
"Defense? Is there a reason?"
Why defense over offense?
I shot him a slightly dissatisfied look, but Father answered with his stone-like face.
"For your personal protection. Most noble children learn this first, to defend themselves."
"Because there are so many people gunning for them?"
"Exactly."
Father's eyes darkened.
He seemed to see some future for me.
"Someday, mighty enemies will stand before you. And the more you shield Ariel, the higher the odds."
"Hmm."
Ariel, huh.
I glanced at her.
She stared back blankly.
Me getting hurt protecting that girl.
She was way stronger than me—would that even happen?
'Maybe not.'
Still, I couldn't just leave her to fend for herself and walk away.
So maybe it was inevitable.
"This sword art is called Azure Dragon Soaring Sword. It's named for how it resembles a dragon ascending to the heavens."
"Cool name."
The name passed muster.
Dragons were always right, no matter the era. Because they're awesome.
"First, a demonstration."
Father assumed his stance and gripped his sword.
Then he ignited aura along the blade.
Swooo...
A blue energy flowed along the blade.
The epitome of pure aura.
First Form
Coiling Dragon Flow Wall
Father's legs gracefully swept the ground in a circle.
His sword followed, tracing a perfect arc.
Whoosh...
It sounded like a dragon lashing its tail.
The sound of the aura moving.
When Father completed the circle, the aura lingered in a protective ring around him.
"Whoa."
Clap clap clap.
My first time seeing it—it was incredible.
So this was swordsmanship with aura.
As I watched with sparkling eyes, Father said with his unchanging stony face,
"This is the first form of Azure Dragon Soaring Sword: Coiling Dragon Flow Wall. Swing the sword in a circle to defend with aura."
"Amazing. I can see why it's defense-specialized."
"You should be able to learn it now. It's a common entry-level art."
"Really? The 'dragon' had me thinking it'd be super strong. Guess it's surprisingly basic..."
"Hm. I won't comment on your personal views, but don't say that in front of swordsmen who've mastered it. They take pride in their school."
"Got it."
I nodded and gripped my sword.
"So I just spin like you did?"
"What are you saying? You haven't awakened your aura yet. Awaken that first, before Azure Dragon Soaring Sword."
"Then why show me the sword art first?"
"To kindle your learning spirit."
"......"
Did Father learn teaching techniques from some back-alley hack?
Why skip the basics?
"So how do I awaken aura?"
"Through the crystal orb. I'll have a maid fetch it."
"Oh. I thought it'd be filling a cup with water and floating a leaf. Lame."
"I don't follow, but this is the standard continental test. No issues with validation."
Sheesh, no, Father.
I was hoping for a mana test that splits into six affinities.
The maid handed Father the crystal orb.
It gleamed transparently.
What did this measure?
"Infuse it with mana, and it turns blue. The better your talent, the brighter and deeper the color."
"Oh? What's average?"
"Blue flecks mean success. Most hit that."
Hmm.
With Fount of Mana active, how would I do?
Turn it fully blue?
Or change the color entirely?
Excitement building, I took the orb from Father.
And infused it with mana.
Fwoosh!
The color shifted blue in an instant.
Sky blue, then sea blue, then abyssal blue.
And then—
Crack!
The orb cracked and lost its glow.
"......"
"......"
We exchanged looks.
Mine mostly asking, Now what?
"Isn't it broken? It's cracked."
"No. It's not broken."
Father sighed and approached.
He took back the cracked orb, muttering,
"I suspected, but I never thought my son would be a monster too."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Turning it fully blue is what they call a once-in-a-generation genius. Nothing beyond that has ever happened."
"Oh? So I am?"
"You're... off the charts."
Ooh, nice!
I nodded vigorously.
Yeah, that's right.
It's not just my little sister who's a prodigy. Got it? Big bro's got game too.
Pumped, I urged Father on.
I wanted to learn Azure Dragon Soaring Sword now.
"Alright, let's learn Azure Dragon Soaring Sword! Now my sword gets a dragon soul, right?"
"What? How could a dragon soul inhabit a sword?"
"Wait, isn't that what Azure Dragon Soaring Sword means?"
"No idea what you're misunderstanding, but no. It's named because the aura looks like a dragon. It doesn't actually summon one."
"Eek."
"Summoning spirits with mana is for mages. Not our knights' job... Why that face, Kline?"
No, this is unfair!
Of course I thought Azure Dragon Soaring Sword meant commanding dragons!
Where's my spirit swordsman route?!