14
Chapter 14
I received a scouting offer from the Princess. She offered to carve out a Barony from her territories and give it to me. To be honest, it wasn't just a good offer; it was an incredible one. Where else would I be treated like this?
However, I declined. While the Princess's proposal was flawless, I had a strategy of my own: keep my options open and align myself with the winning side.
At this stage, it was still unclear whether the Princess, the Crown Prince, or some other dark horse would emerge victorious. Therefore, I didn't want to commit to a Lord just yet.
I planned to choose my Lord once the situation stabilized and the victor became apparent. Does that seem cowardly? Games allow for retries, but life doesn't. Life is meant to be played cautiously, and if necessary, cowardly.
Having turned down the Princess, I began looking for a way to avoid failing my next exam.
The most effective method was to score high on the swordsmanship test, as it carried the most weight. But...
"What's with this sword?"
I hadn't paid much attention before, but the sword Charles was holding was completely chipped. Was House Rochefort really that poor?
"To think they couldn't even afford a proper sword..."
How on earth did the original Charles Jean Rochefort survive before I possessed this body? The poor guy must have had a rough time.
"Well, I have money now."
I can just buy a new one. With that thought, I headed to the capital's weapon shop.
The shop sold everything from swords and spears to shields, halberds, and armor. As I stepped inside, the clerk greeted me with a bright smile. The fact that I was wearing the Arcadia Academy uniform proved I was a noble, and nobles—concerned with their prestige—tend to spend lavishly.
"What can I get for you today? A sword? Armor? We have many fine pieces. Please, take a look."
"Ah, I'm looking for a sword..."
"A sword! What kind are you looking for? A dagger? A longsword? How about a bastard sword? As a type of longsword, it can be used with one or two hands, making it a reliable choice you'll never regret buying..."
The clerk began enthusiastically introducing the various options. He showed me several swords, but I had no idea which one to choose. Since Charles was frail, a massive sword seemed impractical, but if I bought one too small, wouldn't I be overwhelmed in a head-on clash?
'Damn, I should have learned some swordsmanship...'
Even a bit of fencing would have given me a reference. I'd never had any interest in physical activity, so I was completely ignorant about swordsmanship, leaving me clueless as to what type of sword to buy.
"I'm a complete beginner. Is there a sword well-suited for someone just starting out?"
At those words, the clerk brightened and pulled a sword from the rack.
"How about this one? The tip is diamond-shaped for opponents in plate armor, and the blade is thick enough to handle chainmail, making it versatile for any situation."
"An Oakeshott Type XVI, I see."
"Pardon? Oak...? Haha, sir, what a frightening thing to say! Every artisan who supplies my shop is human."
Ah, right. The Oakeshott classification was developed in the 20th century. In this era, they're still just called longswords or bastard swords.
"How much is it?"
"Normally it's 4 thalers, but if you buy it with the boots, I'll give you both for 1 ducat."
"Boots?"
"Yes. Beginners usually only focus on the weapon, but boots are a crucial element when swords clash! The right boots make footwork easier, allowing you to put the enemy in range while staying out of theirs. And these are artisan boots highly praised by many swordsmen. How about it? Just 1 ducat! You can get both for a single gold coin!"
I made 3,000 ducats selling books to the Princess. One ducat is mere pocket change. A sword and boots for this price... is it even legal for a shop to be this generous?
"I'll take them. Give me both!"
The clerk replied energetically and placed the sword and boots on the counter. Just as I was about to put down the ducat...
"Huh?"
Someone grabbed my wrist from behind and pulled me back. Then, they put the sword and boots back in their places.
I looked closer to see who it was, and it was Yuria Russell. The clerk shouted at her.
"W-what do you think you're doing, miss!"
"If you're going to do business, do it with a conscience. A sword with a diamond-shaped tip is difficult for a beginner to handle. Targeting the gaps in plate armor? A beginner couldn't possibly perform such delicate movements. This is not a beginner's sword."
"T-that's...!"
"The boots are the same. They're made of oiled leather, making them prone to slipping. Of course, for an experienced swordsman, that might be an advantage for adjusting distance with quick steps. But do you think a beginner can manage that? A beginner is better off with adventurer's boots with rubber soles. They provide more stability in a struggle of strength. For example, something like this."
Yuria picked up a pair of boots and handed them to me. They were simple, ordinary boots—quite different from the luxurious ones from before.
"The same goes for the sword. Leave the thin ones for when you're advanced. For a beginner, a moderately thick and blunt sword is more versatile and useful."
Having said that, Yuria handed me a medium-sized sword that was thicker than the previous one.
"These two. How much?"
"For those two... 1 ducat, like before."
"Still haven't learned your lesson? I told you to do business honestly and stop trying to rip off academy students who don't know the world."
"...4 thalers."
Yuria simply glared at the merchant in silence.
"I understand. As an apology for recommending the wrong items, I'll sell them near cost. Please give me 2 thalers and 12 groshen."
2 thalers and 12 groshen is exactly half a ducat. 0.5 ducats. Was it always possible to buy them this cheaply...?
Either way, I managed to buy the boots and sword at an unbelievably low price, and by the time I turned around to thank her, Yuria had already vanished.
-----
"Your equipment has changed."
Glacia spoke the moment we met.
"Hmm... To be honest, I thought you'd get ripped off by some uselessly expensive item, but you've bought something quite decent. I have a new respect for you."
Glacia Ehrenberg seemed to view me in a new light, but unfortunately, I wasn't the one who chose these.
"Yuria picked them out for me."
"Excuse me?"
"Yuria Russell. The Princess's right-hand woman. I happened to run into her at the weapon shop."
"Aha..."
Glacia let out a small smirk, as if this were exactly what she expected. Damn, she really looks down on me. Still, I couldn't argue; it was true that I was a complete novice when it came to swords.
That's exactly why I needed Glacia.
"Glacia."
"Do you need something?"
"You're a genius with the sword, aren't you?"
"Some people call me that, but it doesn't really mean much to me."
No, Glacia really is a genius. She was someone who would eventually become a Sword Master. In terms of skill, she was ranked roughly third in the world. She was a genius in every sense of the word.
"You truly are a genius. I'm certain of it. So..."
"So?"
"Please teach me swordsmanship. I'll pay you one ducat per hour."
One ducat per hour. That's ten ducats for ten hours. It was a considerable sum. However...
"No."
"What?"
"I said no."
Glacia's answer was completely different from what I had expected.
"Is one ducat not enough? Then how about one ducat and two thalers..."
"I wouldn't do it for two ducats. Give it up."
"Why!"
"Because you have no talent for the sword, Sir Charles."
"How do you even know that!"
"I saw you during the last exam."
True, the spectacle I made against the instructor during the swordsmanship test was pathetic, even to me. I might actually be untalented with a blade.
"But if I don't raise my score, I'm going to fail."
"..."
Hearing this, Glacia sighed and remained silent for a moment before replying.
"Is avoiding a failing grade all you need?"
"Yes. Well, technically..."
"If it's just about avoiding failure, hard work might make up for a lack of talent. Let's give it a try."
I almost cheered at those words.
"However."
"However?"
"If you can't keep up with the lessons, I'm quitting."
Man, I'll have to work my tail off. Opportunities to learn from the world's third-best don't come often.
-----
One hour later.
"Ack! Stop! Stop hitting me! I asked you to teach me swordsmanship, not beat me up!"
I was being unilaterally thrashed by Glacia, who was swinging her wooden sword wildly.
"Block it! Keep your sword up! You must maintain your guard against the enemy at all times! Dropping your sword because you're tired is the same as asking to be killed!"
"Argh!"
Frustrated, I swung my sword with all my might, but Glacia easily tilted her head to dodge and tripped me.
"Agh!"
Glacia brought her sword down toward me while I was on the ground. I barely managed to dodge by rolling away and shouted at her.
"What are you doing! I asked for lessons, not a beating!"
"The fastest and most effective way to learn swordsmanship is by getting hit. That's how I learned."
Ah, so she has a back-alley style...
"Isn't there a slightly gentler method?"
"Hmm, in that case..."
Whoosh. Glacia twirled her wooden sword in the air and stretched her neck to loosen the muscles.
"I'll hit you gently."
With that, Glacia charged at me once again.
...Maybe I should have found someone else to teach me.