Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Fixing the Dantian (2)
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"That's enough for today, Miss."
"Ah, no! I can do more, Miss Iris! I'm still full of energy!"
"No. Any more would be too much for you, Miss. Let's call it here and get some rest."
"Ugh..."
Sara's swordsmanship tutor, Iris, looked pityingly at Sara, who was battered and bruised from their sparring, and set down her wooden sword.
It had been three months since Iris had been selected as the tutor for the young lady of the Brace Ducal Family.
She had been teaching Sara swordsmanship during that time, but she couldn't help feeling sorry for her every single lesson.
"We'll rest and resume tonight if you'd like. Pushing further from here would strain your body."
"Master! ...Please. Just one more time. Really, just once...!"
"Miss Sara."
Iris called Sara's name in a calm but firm tone.
Sara fell silent and looked at Iris.
She already knew what was coming next.
"That's enough."
The moment Iris spoke, Sara clenched her lips in frustration and bowed her head.
Then, in a voice holding back her resentment as if against her will, she conceded.
"...Understood."
Iris turned her back on Sara, who was hanging her head in self-reproach.
As she left the training grounds, she let out a quiet sigh.
"...Haa."
The talent of Sara, whom she was teaching, was minimal.
Because of that, seeing her work so hard naturally stirred feelings of pity.
'She must want to catch up to Madam, who was a Sword Master.'
The late Madam of the Brace Ducal Family, Bella Brace.
She had been a Sword Master praised throughout the nation.
She possessed far superior aptitude even compared to Iris herself, another Sword Master of the same rank.
With her own elegant original sword techniques and a dantian superior to that of ordinary people, she had seized the position of Sword Master in an instant. She was truly a sword prodigy, a master of the blade.
Had she not died giving birth to her son, she would surely be wandering the world now, protecting unfortunate citizens from magical beasts.
'But her daughter lacks talent.'
When she was first appointed as tutor, hearing it was Bella Brace's daughter had filled her with eager anticipation. But it hadn't taken long to realize the lack of talent while teaching.
Seeing her strive to follow in her mother's footsteps despite having no gift for it only evoked pity.
The best she could hope for was Sword Expert level talent.
"Haa."
Letting out another sigh of concern, Iris headed to the guest room bath to wash off her sweat-soaked body.
As she walked, she pondered how to teach Sara more efficiently come evening.
Then, midway—
"Hah!"
A vigorous shout echoed from somewhere.
It came from the rear garden, a place rarely visited by maids or butlers.
'What is that...?'
Curiosity piqued, she stealthily hid behind a wall and peeked into the rear garden.
"Haaah!"
A heavyset man was practicing swordsmanship beyond the garden.
'The Brace Ducal Family's second young master...?'
She could see him awkwardly handling his large frame, repeatedly performing the vertical slash from the Three Fundamental Sword Techniques.
'I heard he was the debauched young master with no interest in swordsmanship or magic...'
Yet here he was, practicing alone in this secluded spot. Curiosity suddenly gripped her.
'Maybe just watch a little...'
Though it pricked her conscience, Iris was already swept up in curiosity.
"Haaah!"
The young master glared fiercely and swung his sword sharply.
-Whoosh!
Each time he shouted and swung, the sharp sound of a stroke using proper core strength and minimal arm muscles rang out.
'Hoo...'
Iris rested her chin on her hand, impressed.
'So the rumors of no interest in swordsmanship were false.'
His movements were clearly those of someone who had swung a sword consistently—a seasoned practitioner.
Movements like that wouldn't emerge if he'd neglected training at the academy. He was around Sara's level now, or perhaps a bit more refined.
"Hah!"
The young master unleashed the second stroke.
It was excellent. She could see the intent to eliminate unnecessary motions even more than before.
However, it wasn't entirely free of excess.
Too much power. Even with the intent to reduce force, the arm needed to flow more naturally with the sword, like water.
'I can't hold back.'
The meddlesome Iris approached the young master.
He had just finished training and collapsed, panting heavily.
Iris came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"May I take a look at your swordsmanship?"
"Gyaaah!"
The young master startled like he was about to faint and tumbled backward.
Heh heh.
Iris enjoyed his reaction. It was one of her bad habits.
"Wh-who are you...?"
The young master stared at her with wide eyes.
"Ah, forgive my late introduction. I'm Iris, the swordsmanship instructor recently appointed as Miss Sara's tutor."
"Iris...?"
The young master's eyes widened further.
He must have heard of her.
One of the rare three Sword Masters in the Brace Ducal Family's domain. Iris.
She was one of the famous figures who incorporated active mana manipulation into swordsmanship.
The young master reacted with exaggerated excitement, as if he knew her well.
"Iris...! The real Iris. Wow... First time seeing you in person... Well, no way I could see you otherwise."
His reaction seemed overly amazed, but whatever.
"My curiosity led me to rudely spy on your sword practice, Young Master. I apologize for that."
"Ah, no, don't worry. More importantly, you're really going to check my form...?"
"Yes. Miss Sara's training just ended, and I have time now."
"Great. I'd love that."
"Then let's start right away. Which sword technique are you most confident in?"
"Uh..."
The young master fidgeted awkwardly.
What? Was he shy by nature?
After a brief silence, he spoke up.
"Well... Truth is, I don't know any sword techniques."
"...Pardon?"
What was this nonsense?
If he'd trained consistently at the academy, he should at least manage the basic first form.
Was he euphemistically saying he didn't want to learn?
"If you're embarrassed, it's fine. It seems I've disturbed your practice, Young Master."
"No, it's not that! I really haven't learned a single form."
"You haven't learned any forms...? Not even the first?"
"Yes."
"......"
Iris couldn't comprehend.
Performing such a basic sword technique so proficiently, yet claiming no knowledge of even the first form?
"By any chance... how long have you been holding a sword?"
"...Just now."
"......"
Was he joking?
The vertical slash she'd spied on was clearly a seasoned swordsman's move.
It made no sense unless he was lying about his experience to fish for praise.
"...Very well. Allow me to teach you the first form then."
Iris inwardly scoffed and picked up the wooden sword the young master had left on the ground.
She then demonstrated the most basic technique: the first form of the Thunder Sword Arts.
A fundamental strike that crippled foes with lightning-quick thrusting, relying solely on the body without dantian aid.
Iris's body moved fluidly. She seemed to pull the sword back for a moment, then closed the distance with agile footwork, spun, and thrust using the recoil.
-Bang!
A sharp sword gale sliced through the air.
"Ooh...!"
The young master clapped from behind.
"That's the basic first form of the Thunder Sword Arts. I've shown you the example, so try imitating it once."
"Uh..."
He's surely going to mimic it exactly on the first try and boast about it.
Those seeking praise usually did that.
It was a ploy to seem talented to high-level experts like Sword Masters and beg to be taken as a disciple.
Unfortunately, Iris wasn't one to act without gain. She wouldn't even teach Miss Sara if not for the pay.
As Iris thought this—
'No way!'
Something impossible was happening.
Clumsy footwork with left and right feet tangling.
He spun trying to imitate, but his heavy body made it look pathetic.
And finally, a thrust so poor it was unbelievable as an imitation.
Anyone could tell.
This young master truly didn't know how to perform the form.
'What...? Is he an extreme actor? But that wouldn't benefit him.'
Was the earlier excellent vertical slash just luck?
No... She'd confirmed it with her own eyes multiple times.
The young master had repeated the same vertical slash over and over.
It couldn't be mere luck.
"Um... Even I think this isn't right. Could you show me once more?"
...Was this young master really picking up a sword for the first time just now?