Chapter 24
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 24: A Sword to Protect, Not to Survive
Sparring with Zain ended.
The result was defeat without even grazing him.
It was embarrassing to even call it sparring. It was at the level of being unilaterally beaten.
Almost a fight between an adult and a child.
I realized the skill gap quickly and surrendered, but he still beat me up. Thanks to that, there isn't a single healthy spot on my body.
‘It wasn't to this extent even when fighting Alex.’
In martial arts novels, they say even a supreme master is just a somewhat strong civilian in front of government troops, and it’s exactly that look.
Outstanding adventurer, gladiator, whatever, they are nothing in front of a knight.
Zain looking down at me lying on the floor.
“Where did you learn the sword?”
“From a retired mercenary at the arena. Called Doban.”
“I see.”
“Do you know him?”
“I don't.”
“Eh.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it’s not the flow I thought.”
What I thought was.
‘What? Doban? You mean that Mercenary King Doban?’
‘To think that person was in such a place.’
Something like this.
Don’t tell me he’s a fraud?
Was the swordsmanship I learned all fake too?
That figures, this scammer bastard.
What? Repay you if I succeed?
You get nothing.
“I don't know who he is, but he seems to be someone who knows swordsmanship quite well. There are minimal basics.”
Stating the obvious.
He is my first master.
Even if nameless, his skill alone is beyond doubt.
Master. I believed in you.
I will visit you soon.
“Looking at it, you didn't defend. Is there a reason for that?”
“Because I’m not good at it. Since my physique is small, it’s easy to be pressed down by weight, so dodging is safer. Above all, I tend to believe the theory that offense is the best defense.”
Matches in the arena are not battles of technique versus technique, but battles of strength versus strength.
If I try to block something trying to crush with ignorant strength, this body which is no different from a child can’t withstand it.
I favored the strategy of dodging here and there using my small physique and digging into their embrace to fight.
“Besides, they don't treat me if I get hurt, so dodging was the best way to avoid damage.”
“I see. I understood.”
Recovered enough to stand up slowly. I dusted myself off and stood up.
“Your current swordsmanship doesn't suit a knight’s swordsmanship.”
“Is there swordsmanship that suits well?”
“A knight wields a sword to protect the master from danger. On the other hand, you wield it for yourself to survive. You might survive, but the master dies.”
“Cleaning up the danger before it becomes dangerous is.......”
“If you are going to push such irresponsible sophistry, leave the sword right now and leave Edelheid.”
“Really? Can I leave?”
“...Leave the sword and return to the mansion.”
I thought he meant releasing me.
“Seems you intend to continue.”
“I have to. Since there is no other way than that.”
“Good. I will tear down and fix your swordsmanship from one to ten.”
***
Under Zain’s guidance, Helena and I started swordsmanship training together.
Not a sword for me to live, but a sword to protect the master.
Zain said he would fix my swordsmanship from one to ten, but he didn't do basic training like stance taking.
Because even if branches extend differently, the roots are the same.
It’s not a coincidence that Doban’s teaching that stance is the beginning and end of swordsmanship comes to mind now.
—Clack!
Two wooden swords cross in the air. Dry impact sound rings in the training ground.
The person sparring with me is Apprentice Knight Helena. Since she was the only cadet here besides me, it was natural if natural.
“Hup!”
Helena bounced off my sword with a shout. Widened distance using recoil.
Brief confrontation.
Each reading each other’s breath and respiration.
Helena’s skill grasped after exchanging blows a few times.
‘Filthy solid.’
Like a textbook of swordsmanship.
Gladiators in the arena were bad at one thing if good at another, so it was possible to dig into that gap, but Helena wasn't.
Overall balance was well caught so it was difficult to find a gap.
‘So an apprentice knight is still a knight.’
Just looking at swordsmanship skill, above Alex. I realize anew that I was a frog in a well.
‘Still, it’s not like there is no way.’
I nodded my head.
Meaning for her to come.
Helena didn't hesitate.
Kicking the ground, she closes in quickly. Her orange ponytail scatters roughly in the air.
Following superfluous-less diagonal slash.
Target is my neck.
—Clack!
I tilted the blade while raising my hand. Blocked the striking sword blade.
Helena didn't rest.
Left.
Right.
Upper.
Lower.
Driving without a gap to breathe. Following without missing my sword’s trajectory, aiming only for the moment showing a gap.
In an instant, I raised the sword high. Striking down straight towards Helena’s crown.
—Thud!
Helena receives the sword laying it horizontally as if obvious.
And swung her arm immediately.
Exquisite winding strike.
My sword was swept away as if sucked in.
It was that moment. I didn't endure. Tuk, relaxed the strength of my grip.
No, precisely, I added a wrist snap to the force she struck away.
—Ting!
The wooden sword left my hand and bounced into the air. Helena’s gaze is drawn upward reflexively.
Instinctive reaction.
The fleeting moment Helena’s gaze was tied to the sword, I dug one step inside.
“——!”
Helena looks down at me belatedly. Tries to take a defensive stance but it’s already late.
My fist shot towards her defenselessly open solar plexus.
—Thwack!
“Kugh!”
Before long, the one who vomited a scream was not Helena but me. Something pushed my flank roughly.
I rolled on the floor just like that. Raising my head abruptly, Zain was looking down with narrowed eyes.
“I must have clearly told you not to go outside the circle.”
—Tap, tap.
Zain tapping the floor. There was a circle drawn on the sand.
It was so.
The homework Zain assigned to me today is to concentrate only on defense. Shouldn't even dodge the opponent’s attack.
Saying if I dodge, the master behind becomes dangerous or something.
For that reason, he drew a circle where one person could barely fit under my feet. Meaning to spar with Helena without going out of the circle.
“But what can I do when a gap is visible.”
“Gap is visible? If you dig into that gap, where does your body lean?”
“...It would lean forward.”
“Then what about your back? Who protects your master?”
“.......”
“That 1 second you went out to attack. To the enemy, it becomes a golden opportunity to strike your master’s neck.”
I was speechless.
I didn't say stupid things like ‘I can just kill quickly and return in 1 second’.
Because there is no way other knights wouldn't have had this one-dimensional way of thinking.
There is a saying that safety rules are written in blood. There must be a proper reason Zain says so.
“Don’t mistake. This is not the arena. In a gladiatorial match, if you killed the enemy you would have survived, but here, even if you sweep away the enemy, if the master dies, it is your defeat.”
Defeat.
In the arena, defeat was death. But to a knight, defeat doesn't end with just me dying.
Failing to protect the master is a humiliation and dishonor greater than death.
Even if I die, protecting the master is knighthood.
“You...!”
I turned my head at the stinging gaze felt from the side.
Helena was glaring at me with her face dyed red. Her voice trembled with anger.
“Why?”
“Not why! The wooden sword just now! You let go on purpose, right?”
“Yeah. Because you seemed very interested in my sword. It looked like you would fall for it at a glance.”
“Cowardly! To a knight, a sword is an existence more precious than a lover! Does it make sense for such a knight to use the sword as bait?”
“But I won, right?”
—Thwack!
“Ack!”
Pain exploded on my crown.
“Shut your mouth. Is sparring something you do to win?”
“But practice should be like actual combat....”
“Ssp.”
“Yessir.”
I shut my mouth sensibly.
Zain, who sighed shortly, turned his gaze to the huffing Helena.
“Cadet Helena.”
“Yes, yessir!”
“You might not like it, but this guy’s words aren't wrong. Just because we are knights doesn't mean the opponent is a knight too.”
“But...!”
Zain raised his hand and cut off Helena’s protest. And continued speaking again.
“The world cannot be all honest. There are plenty of guys who can sell their souls to the devil to live like that guy.”
“Why me suddenly....”
“With this opportunity, Cadet Helena should also learn what needs to be learned from this guy. Since he is a guy whose actual combat experience is not inferior to a knight.”
“...Understood.”
Since Zain persuaded calmly, Helena also nodded reluctantly.
“Both of you grip the sword and return to position. Spar again.”
***
Helena and I could finish the day’s training only after sparring a few more times.
“Phew.”
“It’s haaaard.......”
I caught my breath lightly, and Helena lay spread-eagle on the floor panting.
“Both of you did well. Let’s see again tomorrow morning.”
Zain leaving with dry words.
We dragged our bodies soaked in dust and sweat ploddingly towards the well.
Scooped water with a bucket and handed it to Helena.
“Here.”
“What? Giving it to me first?”
“That’s manners.”
“Seeing you throw the sword when sparring, I thought you would stab me if I showed my back.... Anyway thanks. I’ll drink well.”
Just what do these humans see me as.
Don’t disparage my skills learned risking my life.
Helena returned the bucket after drinking water gulp gulp. I also drank water and washed away dust.
“Phew, now I can live.”
Sat down on the floor. Since it’s dinner time soon, I should play until then and go.
‘Don’t tell me she won’t make me do servant work too?’
Ei, still, if a person has a conscience, she wouldn't.
...Probably.
“By the way, how old are you? You seem young but you are super strong.”
“Probably fourteen?”
“Fourteen? You look much younger?”
“Because I’m short....”
“Ah, sorry.”
It’s far too early to give up. Certainly I am short, but I’m still in growth period.
Receiving Renoa’s sponsorship, eating till bursting until now, so I will grow tall quickly.
Please.
I will say it one more time.
Please.
“Then since when did you learn the sword? I thought so when you sparred with Gerard, but fighting directly, I think you are stronger.”
“Um, it has been a few months since I worked as a gladiator? Learning the sword, two months?”
“Two, two months? Only two months? It’s a lie, right?”
Helena is surprised once more.
The reaction was subtly different from before; this time, it was an expression that she absolutely couldn't believe it.
Well, even I think it’s a nonsensical growth rate. It must mean I’m receiving that much benefit from the status window.
Of course, I am working hard enough too. Even without the status window, this much is a breeze.
No conscience?
‘.......’
Quiet.
“Two months....... You even use mana?”
“I do use it.”
“Are you really a slave? Actually from noble origin? From a knight family or something? Or a hidden son of a Sword Saint?”
“It would have been nice if so. Surely that would have been possible too.......”
“You look somewhat very sad. Sorry for some reason.”
Helena apologizes honestly and simply. An attitude unfamiliar to me.
“I’ve been thinking since we first talked, Helena doesn't seem to care much even if I’m a slave?”
“Really?”
“No? Are you cursing inside? Saying ‘This lowly slave bastard’.”
“Never did. Don’t slander.”
“Sorry.”
Still thirsty, Helena drank water one more time.
Wiping her mouth, she looks up at the sky.
“I am noble only in name, practically no different from a commoner in position. And not in a position to treat anyone lowly.”
I know most apprentice knights are from noble families with stories.
Helena seems not much different. That’s why she seems to allow informal speech too.
“Gasp, it’s the Lady.”
I followed Helena’s gaze. Second floor window of the mansion. Renoa was looking at us.
Thought it was a ghost for a moment.
“I shouldn't say this, but that person’s atmosphere is too scary.”
“Well....”
I agree. Not just atmosphere, actually a scary person too.
“Anyway. Since just the two of us have to train for the time being, please treat me well.”
Helena reaching out her hand. I held her hand and shook it lightly up and down.
“Please treat me well too.”
Soon Helena leaves the spot.
I was about to leave too, but looked at the second floor once more. Renoa looked at me then disappeared suddenly.
“Why is she like that again. Scarily.”
At this rate, I wonder if I’ll wake up from sleeping and she’ll be sticking to the ceiling watching.
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