Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Training
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Training.
Black Sea.
It was a technique name that suddenly popped into my head.
It used different hanja from Dark Moon, but...
'I just thought this was it.'
A sword that cleaved through the darkness.
I had no idea why that equated to a dark sea, but...
'...This is weird.'
This swordsmanship was incredibly strange.
The moment I acquired Dark Moon and Black Sea, I realized it. These felt like some kind of arrangement meant for a specific person.
'Why?'
I couldn't understand why this swordsmanship had come to me.
Yet something about it felt off if I just accepted it outright.
Anyway.
That sword technique, which seemed to slice through the darkness, went wide of Volkan.
It was partly because I'd adjusted the trajectory myself, and partly because Volkan had reacted to my swordsmanship.
'That was close.'
As I said before, this was just a friendly spar. Aiming killing blows at an opponent could cause problems.
More importantly...
'That guy's got high status.'
Maybe on par with Rishiel, or even higher.
Up until now, I'd tried out swordsmanship from other elves.
Rishiel's had fit me best.
And practicing it had given birth to Dark Moon.
Splash!
It had missed.
But the Black Sea technique wounded Volkan anyway.
The swordsmanship Rishiel taught me, Dark Moon, poured out darkness.
And when I'd stolen the swordsmanship of the orc before me, Volkan, Black Sea had emerged.
If Dark Moon unleashed darkness...
Then Black Sea was a sword style that cut through the darkness.
'What could it be.'
Why did the orc's sword style and the elf's feel so similar, yet so utterly distant?
They seemed like polar opposites. Or more precisely...
'No, that might be too much.'
It was too far-fetched. Was something like that even possible?
No, more than that...
"Krahat!"
Right now, Volkan was grinning at me like he was having the time of his life. He looked more dangerous that way.
"Krahahaha! You! What the hell did you just do!?"
"What."
"Acting all innocent! You switched from human and pointy-ear sword styles straight to our orc swordsmanship! You bastard, how did you pull that off!? Actually, never mind that."
Volkan leveled his sword at me as he spoke.
"I'm destined to become one of the orc heroes. In your people's terms, a Sword Hero candidate."
"...".
A hero candidate?
This would be the second Sword Hero candidate I'd seen.
'No special vibe.'
I'd seen Ermé before.
And with Celi, I'd felt it. That bizarre resonance between them and my gifts.
'...But there's Rosenta.'
Rosenta, who had what it took to be a Saintess candidate.
My gift hadn't resonated with hers. The system message had simply informed me she was one.
She probably had some growth-type or hidden potential thing going on.
I narrowed my eyes at Volkan.
There was no such special feeling from him.
"You're that Sword Hero candidate the empire's been hiding away, right?"
"...?"
The empire hiding a Sword Hero candidate?
What was that supposed to mean?
The way I looked at him made Volkan's face go blank.
"What? Even the empire's gone blind...?"
He casually badmouthed the empire, then schooled his expression.
"Nah, that's not important right now. I met you, and you challenged me."
Volkan assumed his stance.
The pressure intensified. The moment he shifted, my body felt heavier, like an illusion.
...This was...
-Aura.
Rishiel had appeared beside me at some point, arms crossed, watching me.
-A guy who uses aura. Makes sense—orks revere aura, so the ones with the strongest manifestations rise highest.
And yet.
Rishiel glared at Volkan as she said,
-Manifesting aura means you're one of the talented heroes. Like me.
'...'
Like Rishiel, huh.
Then this should be easy.
I'm worlds apart from how I was back then. Rishiel hadn't gone all-out either, but now...
'...She knows a lot.'
I pushed aside my thoughts about Rishiel and eyed Volkan.
If it was aura, I knew a bit myself.
I could use it to pressure foes who emitted it.
And so...
"Ho?"
The moment I released my aura, sparks crackled around us.
A power different from mana.
It imposed pressure on the opponent.
Volkan's fierce momentum faltered a bit.
"...Impressive aura. And you handle it well."
"I'm decent at the basics."
"...".
-... .
Both of them gave me looks of utter disbelief.
What, did I say something wrong?
'Feels like I'm just basic-level.'
-Unbelievable.
Rishiel rubbed her temple like her head hurt.
Volkan eyed me strangely before speaking.
"You might actually become a real hero."
"Too bad I'm not a candidate."
"...Have all you humans gone blind? Or will you join our orc tribe?"
-Don't you dare!
Rishiel shrieked at Volkan's offer.
-Compared to those lowly orcs, we elves can treat you far better.
'Elves are a bit...'
-D-don't worry. Once I reclaim my body, I can handle all the concerns you're thinking of.
'...'
I had no desire to go elf-side. If anything, the orcs seemed more appealing.
"With your talent, you could truly lead our orcs—and even the beastkin and elves—as great chieftain."
"...Not into that."
"No lust for honor? Even more appealing!"
Volkan bared his teeth in a grin.
"Then... I'll go down now. Escort me to my inn room."
Thud!
'...Huh?'
He collapsed backward.
I approached and checked—his eyes rolled back, foam at his mouth.
...Is this dangerous?
I pulled a potion from my subspace—just in case—poured half on his wound, and fed him the rest.
I'd heard it doubled the effect, though I wasn't sure.
-No way he took that sword head-on and only passed out now?
'Seems like it.'
-Tough bastard.
Rishiel stared with a mix of disgust and envy.
-That's racial trait stuff, but damn if it isn't enviable at that level. Probably loaded with species perks.
'...'
Rishiel eyed Volkan enviously, but I was looking at him for different reasons.
'...High-status guy, and I gotta drag him to his inn room?'
That was my dilemma.
"Something going on? Need help?"
It was Lucia.
*
Lucia.
Known as the Execution Princess, a woman like spilled blood.
The system defined her as the Villainess, always carrying that odd umbrella.
...Her allure was so captivating, I even thought about just succumbing to her obsession.
"Need some help, yeah."
"Ah, just take this guy to the inn? Don't worry. I'll have a servant handle it."
"...Thanks, then."
"If you're grateful, could you spare some time now?"
She shyly extended a hand.
A blatant date invite.
'...Got some things I want to look into anyway.'
I nodded.
"Lucky me. A rejection would've left me eating alone at the restaurant, all sad."
"Just cancel it."
"Same-day cancellations cost full price. Waste of money, so I'd have gone solo."
Lucia smiled, lips curling up happily.
"Maxwell. Handle it."
"Yes, ma'am."
A presence appeared—a man.
Looked over 80, dressed as a butler, monocle on one eye.
'...Rogue.'
My instincts told me he was like me.
What kind of ability was that? He'd seemed to rise from the shadows.
"Curious, huh?"
"Popped out of the shadow in an instant. Looks like a special gift, but..."
"Oh, you saw that much? The rest is a secret. Maxwell's an important family butler."
I looked at Maxwell.
He regarded me with refined poise.
First rogue of this caliber I'd seen in this world.
'...Interesting.'
Strong.
But somehow, I felt like I could take him. Rogues used every trick. With Rogue Mastery (S), I was at the pinnacle.
So yeah, doable.
"...Kinda jealous."
"Hm?"
"Never mind. Reservation time's coming up. Shall we?"
Lucia grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
*
The place Lucia took me was ritzy. All the buildings around screamed wealth, people dressed impeccably.
Everyone looked rich or better.
'People here seem so relaxed.'
My neighborhood had that decaying vibe sometimes, but here I saw folks helping up a fallen kid.
Money breeds leisure, I guess.
That idle thought aside, we entered the place.
The interior was stylish, antique—clearly for the elite from the entrance.
"What do you think?"
"Looks nice."
"...You seem raised fancy."
"Commoner."
"Cradle doesn't discriminate by status. Slave, commoner, noble—win by ability, climb as high as you want. Like it or not."
Lucia said that, then looked like she'd slipped up.
-You're a commoner?
'...My looks are a bit refined.'
Grew up poor, maybe.
Put effort into customization.
Anyway, we ate. Some steak costing a few gold coins, booze over ten gold.
'...Tasty, but.'
Thinking of the cost soured it a bit.
Peak luxury, I suppose.
Tasty, but not that tasty.
Still, free meal, so I pretended to love it.
But what was the issue?
Lucia looked a tad sulky.
-...You're really.
Rishiel had a resigned look.
What did I even do?
We ended up back in the inn courtyard.
"Had fun today."
"Glad to hear it."
Lucia paused, looking conflicted.
I wondered what she was pondering when she blurted it out.
"Ever thought about sparring with me?"
"No, not really."
Who does she take me for, a battle maniac?
At my look, Lucia shuddered.
Oh crap, messed up.
'With the one who bought dinner.'
If there's a next time, I'll do better.
I said my goodbyes and headed inside the inn.
There was Ermé.
She was beaming, in an unusually great mood.
"Slicker than I thought."
"What?"
"Hehe, no need to hide from me. More importantly, dinner's done, so... drink with me?"
"Sure, why not."
Ermé and I drank.
Lucia spotted us midway and joined the table.
And the next day.
"...What the hell."
Lucia and Ermé were cuddling me in bed.
...Luckily, nothing had happened.