Chapter 15
Chapter 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Volkan, the Sword King
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Volkan.
Sword King, Volkan.
One word summed him up perfectly.
They said he was a legendary adventurer and a former knight.
When he was young, he'd earned the title "City Wall," and when it came to toughness, few adventurers could rival him.
That was the info Ermé had shared about the man.
To be honest...
'...He looks insanely tough.'
He had the kind of image where even if I attacked him barehanded, he'd just laugh it off with a "Kahaha! That tickles!"
So yeah, anyone would be startled to see someone like that show up.
"...And yet you don't seem all that surprised."
Volkan grumbled in a dissatisfied tone as he eyed me.
What do you mean, not surprised?
I stared at him in disbelief, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem. Anyway, what brings you to my study?"
"...?"
It was an odd pairing of words that didn't quite fit.
His study? This place?
I shot him a look, and Volkan grinned broadly.
"I might look like this, but there aren't many as smart as me."
"... "
The man really knew how to leave you speechless.
'It's not a lie, though.'
He had real skill with the sword, so he had to be sharp-minded.
People at the top of their field were usually smart across the board.
'Probably, yeah?'
They say the sharpest people sometimes act like total airheads.
Volkan could be one of those.
'He hasn't even asked why I surrendered and ran yesterday.'
Volkan was pretty...
"So why'd you surrender and run yesterday?"
"... "
"Eh, doesn't matter."
Volkan shrugged like he genuinely didn't care and wandered off elsewhere.
So my business here was browsing the teaching materials.
Normally, anyone else might feel too awkward and bolt.
But not me.
I steadfastly examined the materials. Most were similar to the ones I'd dismissed as meh before.
But a few were worth noting.
After diligently reading for a bit,
Rishiel called out to me.
-You.
'Why.'
-That old man over there is secretly watching you.
'...'
The guy really has nothing better to do.
But I've built up a tolerance for this kind of thing.
I kept steadfastly reading the materials.
-You, that old man's come closer and is staring at you.
"... "
Does he seriously have zero other tasks?
I kept reading the materials steadfastly for a moment. He got so close I could sense his presence nearby.
But I ignored him and kept looking at swordsmanship manuals.
'This one's used like that.'
Never seen a defensive move like this before.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Skill: Swordsmanship level has increased to 2.] 'Oh, it works like this too.'
Just absorbing info into my head levels it up.
Of course, in games like this, that method's limited and doesn't give much XP, so it's best early on when you can...
I was speechless.
Because Volkan was sitting right next to me.
At this point, even a normal person couldn't ignore him.
But I did, moving to the opposite side of him to keep browsing.
The moment I finished with the materials and closed the book...
"... "
"Finally looking my way."
Volkan was there.
This old coot, seriously.
"Don't make that face. It hurts my feelings."
He didn't look hurt at all.
I let out a deep sigh and spoke to the old man.
"So, what is it?"
"Nothing much. Just curious about what you pulled yesterday."
"Nothing to it."
"Well, I'm curious anyway."
What a bothersome old man.
I was sure he wouldn't keep pestering me beyond this.
Then Ermé came to mind.
She'd mentioned having business with this old guy.
'Dealing with him later's gonna suck.'
As I pondered whether to engage,
"Pardon the intrusion."
A voice that blended gentleness and allure.
Hair and eyes evoking blood-red imagery.
Eyes that curved into a slight smile the moment they met mine.
'Lucia.'
Her epithet was definitely Villainess...
-Ex-Execution Princess?
"Wh-why is the Execution Princess here...?"
Execution Princess, what?
*
"It's been a while."
Lucia greeted me in her alluring voice.
I returned the greeting.
"But why are you here?"
"Hehe, I used to dabble in swordsmanship back in the day. Sometimes I get nostalgic, so I drop by."
"...Doesn't sound right."
Volkan gave her a sly look at her words.
He glanced at me, then back to Lucia.
Glanced at me again, then back to her.
"Anyone can see what you're after."
Volkan nudged my side with his shoulder, like she obviously had business with me.
Lucia wore the gentlest expression imaginable.
"Oh? What are you talking about? Isn't this place open to everyone?"
Her voice carried a hint of slyness.
"The librarian working in a place like this shouldn't gossip about personal matters."
That's how it sounded to me.
-Don't get cocky, you old has-been shoved to the back room by the new wave.
Had to be my imagination.
No, it couldn't be. If that were true, she wouldn't have nicknames like Execution Princess or Villainess.
Volkan looked a bit dazed, like my thoughts might not be off-base.
-You know that woman?
'Yeah, we know each other.'
More than know, actually.
Because I'd stolen her "Villainess's Obsession," her fixation had latched onto me instead.
And one more thing.
'This obsession... won't come off.'
To be frank, I'd tested it a few times.
That Scavenger who attacked us? I figured he deserved to die, so I slipped it into one of their pockets.
But it didn't take long for it to crawl back into my pocket.
I got chills for real that time.
Anyway.
That's how it is.
Lucia can't help fixating on me.
And I can't help being fixated on by her.
'So this isn't that weird.'
I looked at Lucia, who was gazing at me with a soft chuckle.
"Man, you're in a pitiful spot. Marked by that woman, of all people."
"Oh? What do you mean by that?"
Her beaming smile sent an unnecessary shiver down my spine.
"I don't put much stock in rumors."
And it was true enough.
Rumors don't always come from smoke without fire.
Sometimes they do, though.
'Not with her, though.'
Execution Princess.
And Villainess.
The system called her Villainess.
And people whispered Execution Princess.
'But do they get to slap "Princess" or "King" on titles like that?'
The Empire's still kicking, and there's a kingdom too, from what I hear.
I pushed the doubt aside and looked at Lucia.
Lucia's eyes sparkled as she stared at me.
She let out a satisfied "Hehe," her lips curving loosely.
"Ah..."
A languid sigh. An alluring expression.
Like something had hooked her deep.
She was giving me an incredibly dangerous look.
'I wasn't saying that for your sake.'
Something felt off.
*
I desperately wanted to head back to the inn.
But yesterday was one thing; today, I wanted to check out the training grounds.
-The training grounds here are state-of-the-art!
-Yeah?
-Yeah! The Empire and Kingdom sponsor them. Of course, randos don't even know they exist.
I recalled Ermé's chilling chuckle.
Which made me want to use them even more.
Heading into the training area, I spotted a woman.
Volkan had been at the counter yesterday; today it was someone else.
"Welcome. I'm Hilda, in charge of the training grounds. May I have your name?"
"Han Yuseong."
"Rank 1 adventurer confirmed. As a Rank 1, there are restrictions on the training grounds. Understood?"
"Got it."
"Register today, and you can start immediately. Monthly pass is one silver. Registration period?"
"One month."
I pulled a silver from my pouch and handed it to Hilda.
She smiled and guided me.
"Here are your training uniform and towel. Note that if stolen, it's free once; if caught stealing from others, it's a one-gold fine."
"Got it."
I wanted to ask how they tell them apart, but it's a magic world.
They've got ways.
'Still.'
This feels just like a gym.
I changed in the locker room and stepped out.
What I saw was...
"... "
"Oh, so you can make that face too."
Volkan.
And next to him, Execution Princess Lucia.
Both in training gear.
"Why are you two here?"
"What else? Wear training clothes to the training grounds, you train."
"Same for me."
"Ah, I see."
I grabbed a wooden sword from the rack and a slightly smaller one.
"...Dual wielding, huh?"
"This guy's tricky."
Lucia looked flustered.
Volkan watched her, then me.
"Tricky meaning you're good with it? As expected of you, Yuseong..."
"No, tricky as in I suck with it."
"... "
Lucia blanked for a second at Volkan's words, then cheered me on.
"You've only been an adventurer a short time, so that's normal. Go on, Yuseong."
Lucia led me from beside me.
The training area was full of people wailing on straw dummies.
'But...'
They all look kinda half-assed.
"Don't underestimate them. Those are Labyrinth-sourced dummies, magic-processed. They don't break easy."
"Right. Break one, and everyone's staring."
"Staring?"
"Yeah. Dummies are tiered by rank: straw, wood, iron. A Rank 3 shattering straw? Prestigious clans would recruit you on the spot."
"Huh."
Tempting.
'I'd stick with Ermé as much as possible.'
This world's a game.
She's one of the protagonists.
Following her makes sense.
'But it'll boost my value.'
Not that I'd join another clan.
'First things first, though.'
I gripped the twin swords.
Today's manuals taught me a few things. Dual wielding sucks, for starters.
'Single swords or others are fine, but...'
Only a tiny fraction with talent can use it.
Even acclaimed Rishiel couldn't.
-I can, but one-handers suit me better.
Ermé wasn't keen on it either.
What about me?
'Obviously not.'
But I had other knowledge.
A vision from mimicking Rishiel's swordplay by chance.
'Dark Moon.'
Dark moon.
That technique used dual wielding.
'Might switch later.'
For now, dual it is.
I took stance, swords in both hands.
"Ho?"
"Huh?"
Volkan and Lucia tilted their heads at me. Focus. That's not important now.
Blue lines sharpened in view. I traced the motions in my head.
Body light.
Blades sharp.
'...!'
Something...
It clicked perfectly. A hazy something wrapped the blades.
Dark Moon.
Dark moon.
Just like the name.
Darkness descended.
And right after.
Boom!
The dummy toppled.
Silence blanketed the area.
In it, Lucia quietly said,
"Dual wielding... you said you couldn't?"
"... "
Volkan looked utterly speechless.