Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Fixing the Dantian (3)
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"...That thing you said earlier about picking up a sword for the first time, were you serious?"
"Pardon? Yeah, it's true."
Iris was plunged into confusion.
That would mean he'd just performed the vertical slash for the first time ever... It was absurd.
His movements were clearly the product of long years studying the sword.
But if it was true that he'd only just picked up a sword for the first time...
...Iris needed proof for her suspicions.
"Um... Do most people usually master a form after seeing it just once?"
"No, not at all. More importantly, could you perhaps demonstrate the vertical slash one more time?"
"Pardon? Oh, sure, that's no problem."
The Young Master looked puzzled as he handed the wooden sword back to Iris.
Then, the light in his eyes changed.
He stared at the sword, assuming a stance as if he had merged with it.
It was reminiscent of Man-Sword Unity. He wasn't at that level yet, but his posture was strikingly similar.
'Hoo...'
Iris, recognizing this in the Young Master, let out a gasp of admiration.
'I can sense his steadfast determination from his eyes alone.'
Just like that, he raised both arms above his head in the prescribed motion, then brought the sword down with ruthless force.
"Hah-!"
-Boom!
Vertical slash.
It was an impeccable vertical slash. Even better than the one Iris had glimpsed earlier.
That meant he'd analyzed his flaws in that short time and improved on his own.
As expected, Iris thought her eyes hadn't deceived her.
He might not be a genius, but he undoubtedly possessed sword talent.
'But... something feels off.'
Iris harbored a doubt.
The Young Master's eyes. After executing the vertical slash, there was something strange in his gaze.
Despite performing it so admirably, he didn't look satisfied—in fact, he seemed dissatisfied.
It was as if he knew he could execute a more perfect version, but his body hadn't kept up.
'How does he even recognize that himself?'
Iris felt a spark of interest.
And so, she asked him.
"Would you... like to learn the sword from me?"
"Pardon?"
The Young Master was caught off guard by Iris's sudden proposal.
"...Are you serious?"
"I am. If you need it, I can teach you anything related to the sword, not just swordsmanship."
Iris nodded curtly as she spoke.
The Young Master fell into thought.
Even if he was Choi Jian, the pinnacle expert possessing the Young Master's body, wielding a sword in practice was a different matter altogether.
He knew ways to grow stronger quickly, but actually experiencing and mastering swordsmanship firsthand had been a challenge for him.
He had no idea what Iris had seen to make the offer, but for the Young Master, it was an incredible stroke of luck.
"...I'd love to! But there's only a month until the academy term starts... I might only be able to learn until then."
"That's plenty. If you come to me during breaks like now, there won't be any issues."
After that, Iris's swordsmanship lessons were added to my routine.
Morning fasting cardio.
Bodyweight strength training before lunch.
Sara's sword lessons, followed by separate nighttime training sessions with Iris.
It took about three weeks for this schedule to become second nature.
And so, tonight's sword lesson with Iris at the training grounds was wrapping up.
"Thank you as always."
"...You've now mastered the first two forms of the Thunder Sword Arts proficiently. Achieving this in three weeks is remarkable progress."
"You're too kind. It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Iris."
"That's true, but you have talent, Young Master. If only your dantian were intact... You'd have learned even faster."
Iris said this to me as I wiped my sweat with a damp cloth.
Is that so. Do I have talent?
I didn't feel it particularly. I was aware my body had some sword proficiency...
But the Thunder Sword Arts? Back when I was a newbie playing the protagonist, I'd mastered it in a week.
I had no idea how impressive my talent was in this world, but there had been truckloads of people more talented than me.
No complacency. I needed to keep refining it.
"By the way, the academy starts in a week, right?"
Yeah. Time flies.
Guess it's finally time to fix my dantian for real.
I'd lost a lot of weight. I could now perform basic sword techniques.
At this point, taking down a Great Eagle should be a breeze...
"Yes. Looks like I won't see you for a while."
"Don't go crying because you miss me, Young Master."
Have we grown that close over the three weeks?
Her casual joke brought a sense of familiarity.
I turned my head away from Iris and replied.
"...That won't happen."
"How heartless."
I brushed the dirt off my hands and turned my back to the training grounds.
Watching me, Iris asked nonchalantly.
"Heading off to bed now?"
"No. I was thinking of taking a short nighttime stroll."
Tomorrow, I'd be off to hunt the Great Eagle.
So I needed to prepare. Time to head to the back mountain and gather the necessary herbs.
The back mountains of the Brace Duchy were rich in herbal resources.
If I sent the maids to gather them, rumors might spread about my debauched antics again. Better to go alone.
Just as I thought that, Iris, walking beside me, spoke up.
"Mind if I tag along?"
"Pardon?"
I was taken aback.
Her joining me out of the blue like this?
This was the first time the usually curt Iris had done something like this.
...Maybe because we're about to part ways?
With the academy starting soon, I'd have to focus on Sara, leaving little time to train with Iris.
If that's why... it might be okay.
It'd be trouble if word got out that I'd snuck to the back mountains alone, but Iris didn't seem the loose-lipped type after two weeks of observation.
"Sure. Just keep where I went strolling a secret from the duchy folk."
"You're heading outside?"
"Yes. Just to the back mountains for a bit."
"Understood. I'll take that secret to the grave."
"...Not quite to the grave."
The grave? Iris had this quirky side in the strangest places.
I left the training grounds with her, heading toward the area beyond the duchy walls.
Neither of us were big talkers, so we reached the ornate iron gate at the duchy's exit without exchanging a word.
Only after passing through the gate did Iris speak to me.
"By the way, you've slimmed down a lot over these three weeks, Young Master. What's your secret?"
"Eat less, move more."
"That's the obvious answer everyone knows. I want the real secret."
"...You're already plenty pretty, Iris, so no need to lose weight."
"Are you hitting on me right now?"
"If you're going to say weird stuff, I'll go alone."
"It was a joke."
Seeing my serious expression, Iris flashed a grin.
...She was cat-like. No wonder all those guys swarmed her in the story.
Well, I knew her personality, so it didn't faze me.
"Why the back mountains?"
"Gathering herbs. Need some."
"Herbs...? You really are an unusual one, Young Master. You stick so diligently to your routines, and now suddenly you're off herb-picking in the dead of night..."
"Is that so? I think it's pretty ordinary."
"That's what's subtly hard about it. Few are as diligent as you."
"...Thank you for the praise."
Before we knew it, we'd arrived near the back mountains while chatting.
We climbed together.
No need for mountaineering gear since we weren't venturing deep into the rough areas.
About twenty minutes in...
'Found it.'
I spotted some herbs growing beside a tree with exposed roots.
They looked like weeds at a glance, but I knew their uses.
'Temporary overload of physical abilities, though the crash afterward is rough.'
Strengthening Herbs.
Unknown to most, but a favorite among savvy veterans.
I bent down and plucked a few.
Iris looked puzzled and asked.
"Isn't that just a weed?"
"No. Looks like one, but it temporarily enhances the body."
"Fascinating... How do you know about that, Young Master?"
"Just picked it up along the way."
"You really are one of a kind."
"......"
Herbs acquired. Time to head back.
Stroll over.
I retraced our steps down the mountain with Iris.
But I had no idea back then.
That we'd run into a maid heading to the bathroom right as we opened the iron gate guarding the duchy's entrance.
"......"
"......"
"......"
I should've been more cautious and checked my surroundings... My guard was down.
The maid stared back and forth between me and Iris, who had entered with me, her eyes wide.